Beguiler
09-05-2008, 08:52 AM
Interesting little article, lots of things everyone has seen before. But some bear repeating, and adding some or all to our routines can only help.
Taken from The Sun online:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/health/health/article1644994.ece
1. HAVE SEX: It lowers cholesterol, boosts blood circulation and releases feel-good endorphin hormones. And do it in the morning – your blood-sugar levels are low then, so the body converts fat stores into energy.
2. HAVE A LAUGH: Scientists say laughing for 15 minutes a day could add eight years to your life.
3. ADD TOMATO TO YOUR SARNIE: A daily portion can slash your risk of heart disease by 30 per cent.
4. READ UPSIDE DOWN: Challenging the brain extends the cells’ lifespan so increasing life expectancy, say researchers.
5. GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS: Root vegetables are packed with goodness. Beetroot can help reduce the chance of a stroke and lower cholesterol, carrots are good for healthy vision, while parsnips reduce the risk of spina bifida and other birth defects.
6. GIVE BLOOD: Male blood donors are 17 times less likely to have a heart attack. Scientists claim it gets rid of excess iron, an oxidant linked to heart disease.
7. KNOW YOUR FAMILY: Being close to your mum halves your risk of high blood pressure, alcoholism and heart disease, say experts at Harvard Medical school.
8. LISTEN TO THE CLASSICS: Beethoven calms the heart, lowers blood pressure and lessens muscle tension, say researchers at Oxford University.
9. EVERYBODY SALSA: All dancing is good but with salsa you’ll burn at least 420 calories an hour.
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10. GET MARRIED: A 20-year study found that married men typically live three years longer.
11. DON’T CONFORM: You’ll live longer if you do not worry about the opinions of others. It makes you less stressed.
12. EAT YOUR CRUSTS: They have eight times the level of the cancer-busting antioxidant pronyl-lysine as the rest of the loaf.
13. DON’T JUMP: Sudden noise, like the loud ringing of an alarm clock, can increase the risk of a heart attack in people with high blood pressure, says a Japanese study. This is because it triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response, pumping up levels of adrenaline.
14. DO THE CHORES: Cleaning windows uses 80 calories in 20 minutes, vacuuming will burn 90 calories and ironing will burn 65 calories in the same time. Being fit and lean prolongs your life.
15: HAVE FAITH: Going to a place of worship regularly is linked to lower mortality rates.
16. LEARN SOMETHING NEW: Many people who have reached their 100th birthday say it is down to learning to play an instrument or a new language, says Dr Roger Henderson, author of 100 Ways To Live.
17. PAMPER THE PEARLY WHITES: Flossing daily can take six years off your age by removing toxic bacteria that cause cardiovascular disease.
18. SLEEP: But not too much. A study published in the US Archives Of General Psychiatry found people who get six to seven hours’ sleep a night live longer than those who sleep more – or less.
19. GET A PET: Owners of cats and dogs are less stressed and have lower blood pressure.
20. DON’T SMOKE: Yes, it’s obvious, but smoking is the single most avoidable cause of illness and death.
21. LIVE IN THE COUNTRY: People living in rural areas have a higher life expectancy than those living in cities. Women living in west Somerset, for instance, live an average of 84 years, while those in Manchester live only 76, according to the Office for National Statistics.
22. EAT CHOCS: Research from the Harvard School of Public Health found that people who eat a moderate amount of chocolate live longer than those who eat sweets. Chocolate contains chemicals called polyphenols, which are thought to protect against heart disease and cancer.
23. LOOK IN THE LOO: Before you flush, have a quick look to check for nasties such as blood - it could be a sign of bowel cancer, so see the doc immediately if you see anything out of the ordinary.
24. READ THE LABEL: Understand food labels — the more you know about what goes into your food, the healthier your food choices will be.
25. GORGE ON GARLIC: It’s a superfood for the heart - allicin compounds react with red blood cells to relax blood vessels and keep blood flowing easily.
26. SOAK UP THE SUN: for just 15 minutes a day, to top up vitamin D levels. Vit D is associated with decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease and depression.
27. HAVE A CUPPA: Green or black, studies show that the antioxidants in tea can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, support dental health, increase bone density and strengthen cardiovascular health. One US study showed that heart attack patients who were tea drinkers decreased their risk of death by as much as 44 per cent.
28. ENJOY YOURSELF: No, it's not an excuse to head off to the pub, but doing things you enjoy, like shopping, are just as good for your health as physical exercise, says a Harvard University study.
29. DITCH YOUR SHOWER CURTAIN: They’re an ideal breeding ground for fungal spores that can cause asthma, while soap scum build-up contains more than a billion bacteria per cubic inch. Swap to a glass door, which is easier to wipe down.
30. GO NUTS: Eating selenium-rich Brazil nuts can reduce risk of cancer by 40 per cent, while snacking on any type of nuts can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Try and stick to unsalted.
Taken from The Sun online:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/health/health/article1644994.ece
1. HAVE SEX: It lowers cholesterol, boosts blood circulation and releases feel-good endorphin hormones. And do it in the morning – your blood-sugar levels are low then, so the body converts fat stores into energy.
2. HAVE A LAUGH: Scientists say laughing for 15 minutes a day could add eight years to your life.
3. ADD TOMATO TO YOUR SARNIE: A daily portion can slash your risk of heart disease by 30 per cent.
4. READ UPSIDE DOWN: Challenging the brain extends the cells’ lifespan so increasing life expectancy, say researchers.
5. GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS: Root vegetables are packed with goodness. Beetroot can help reduce the chance of a stroke and lower cholesterol, carrots are good for healthy vision, while parsnips reduce the risk of spina bifida and other birth defects.
6. GIVE BLOOD: Male blood donors are 17 times less likely to have a heart attack. Scientists claim it gets rid of excess iron, an oxidant linked to heart disease.
7. KNOW YOUR FAMILY: Being close to your mum halves your risk of high blood pressure, alcoholism and heart disease, say experts at Harvard Medical school.
8. LISTEN TO THE CLASSICS: Beethoven calms the heart, lowers blood pressure and lessens muscle tension, say researchers at Oxford University.
9. EVERYBODY SALSA: All dancing is good but with salsa you’ll burn at least 420 calories an hour.
Advertisement
10. GET MARRIED: A 20-year study found that married men typically live three years longer.
11. DON’T CONFORM: You’ll live longer if you do not worry about the opinions of others. It makes you less stressed.
12. EAT YOUR CRUSTS: They have eight times the level of the cancer-busting antioxidant pronyl-lysine as the rest of the loaf.
13. DON’T JUMP: Sudden noise, like the loud ringing of an alarm clock, can increase the risk of a heart attack in people with high blood pressure, says a Japanese study. This is because it triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response, pumping up levels of adrenaline.
14. DO THE CHORES: Cleaning windows uses 80 calories in 20 minutes, vacuuming will burn 90 calories and ironing will burn 65 calories in the same time. Being fit and lean prolongs your life.
15: HAVE FAITH: Going to a place of worship regularly is linked to lower mortality rates.
16. LEARN SOMETHING NEW: Many people who have reached their 100th birthday say it is down to learning to play an instrument or a new language, says Dr Roger Henderson, author of 100 Ways To Live.
17. PAMPER THE PEARLY WHITES: Flossing daily can take six years off your age by removing toxic bacteria that cause cardiovascular disease.
18. SLEEP: But not too much. A study published in the US Archives Of General Psychiatry found people who get six to seven hours’ sleep a night live longer than those who sleep more – or less.
19. GET A PET: Owners of cats and dogs are less stressed and have lower blood pressure.
20. DON’T SMOKE: Yes, it’s obvious, but smoking is the single most avoidable cause of illness and death.
21. LIVE IN THE COUNTRY: People living in rural areas have a higher life expectancy than those living in cities. Women living in west Somerset, for instance, live an average of 84 years, while those in Manchester live only 76, according to the Office for National Statistics.
22. EAT CHOCS: Research from the Harvard School of Public Health found that people who eat a moderate amount of chocolate live longer than those who eat sweets. Chocolate contains chemicals called polyphenols, which are thought to protect against heart disease and cancer.
23. LOOK IN THE LOO: Before you flush, have a quick look to check for nasties such as blood - it could be a sign of bowel cancer, so see the doc immediately if you see anything out of the ordinary.
24. READ THE LABEL: Understand food labels — the more you know about what goes into your food, the healthier your food choices will be.
25. GORGE ON GARLIC: It’s a superfood for the heart - allicin compounds react with red blood cells to relax blood vessels and keep blood flowing easily.
26. SOAK UP THE SUN: for just 15 minutes a day, to top up vitamin D levels. Vit D is associated with decreased risk of diabetes, heart disease and depression.
27. HAVE A CUPPA: Green or black, studies show that the antioxidants in tea can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, support dental health, increase bone density and strengthen cardiovascular health. One US study showed that heart attack patients who were tea drinkers decreased their risk of death by as much as 44 per cent.
28. ENJOY YOURSELF: No, it's not an excuse to head off to the pub, but doing things you enjoy, like shopping, are just as good for your health as physical exercise, says a Harvard University study.
29. DITCH YOUR SHOWER CURTAIN: They’re an ideal breeding ground for fungal spores that can cause asthma, while soap scum build-up contains more than a billion bacteria per cubic inch. Swap to a glass door, which is easier to wipe down.
30. GO NUTS: Eating selenium-rich Brazil nuts can reduce risk of cancer by 40 per cent, while snacking on any type of nuts can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Try and stick to unsalted.