Category: Longevity & Health

A large prospective cohort study carried out in Japan, has shown that consumption of green tea is associated with a significantly lower risk of the elderly developing functional disability problems ie impairments in the ability to carry out daily activities such as washing and dressing.

Data on green tea consumption and other lifestyle factors was collected in 2006 from 14 000 people aged 65 and over, and subjects were then followed up for three years, with information on developing disability collected from the public long-term care insurance database. The results showed that the more green tea people drank, the lower their risk of developing functional disability. In those who consumed less than one cup of green tea each day, 13% developed some functional disability, whereas in those consuming five cups or more, the corresponding figure was 7%.

(Green Tea Consumption and the Risk of Incident Functional Disability in Elderly Japanese: The Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2012.)

The results of a large study of British civil servants, suggest that satisfaction with life is associated with better cardiac health. Coronary risk factors and life satisfaction across seven areas (love relationships, leisure activities, family, job, standard of living, sex, and one’s self) were all assessed in 7956 initially healthy subjects. Participants’ health records were then examined for coronary deaths, heart attacks and angina occurring anytime over the following six years.

Results showed that higher levels of average life satisfaction, were associated with a 13% reduced risk of coronary heart disease. This reduced risk was found in both men and women, was associated with the four key life areas of job, family, sex and self, and showed in angina statistics specifically. Those reporting the greatest satisfaction enjoyed the greatest health benefits. No association was found in the areas of love, leisure and standard of living.

(Heart Health when Life is Satisfying: Evidence from the Whitehall II Cohort Study. European Heart Journal, 1 November 2011.)

A study carried out in China, has shown that eating more vegetables is associated with lower mortality rates, particularly from heart disease. The strongest protective effects seemed to come from higher consumption of cruciferous vegetables (also known as the brassica family), which include broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, radish and turnip.

Nearly 135 000 people participated in the study. Overall, the greater an individual’s fruit and vegetable consumption, the lower their risk of death, especially from cardiovascular disease. People whose diets included the most vegetables, were 15% less likely to have died during the five year study. Although benefits were observed in both men and women, in women in particular, the risk of dying was 22% lower in those who ate the most cruciferous vegetables compared to those who consumed the least.

(Cruciferous Vegetable Consumption is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Total & Cardiovascular Disease Mortality. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, July 2011.)

Researchers in Taiwan have found that exercising for as little as 15 minutes per day, can increase life expectancy by three years.

A total of 416 000 individuals took part in the study between 1996 and 2008. They were categorised into five bands according to their activity levels: inactive, or low, medium, high, very high activity. Compared to the inactive group, those in the low activity group (15 minutes exercise per day) showed 14% reduced mortality and a three year longer life expectancy. Every additional 15 minutes exercise per day, was associated with a further 4% reduction in mortality and a 1% reduction in cancer.

(Minimum Amount of Physical Activity for Reduced Mortality and Extended Life Expectancy: A Prospective Cohort Study. The Lancet, online pub, 16 August 2011.)

A collaborative systematic review by authors at the Universities of Exeter and Essex, suggests that exercising in nature offers greater improvements in mental and physical well being, compared to exercising indoors.

A total of 833 adults were included in the review, which looked at eleven controlled trials. Exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalisation, increased energy and positive engagement, along with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. People also expressed greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity, and stated a greater intent to repeat it.

(Does Participating in Physical Activity in Outdoor Natural Environments have a greater effect on Physical and Mental Wellbeing than Physical Activity Indoors? A Systematic Review. Environmental Science & Technology Journal, March 2011.)