Category: Longevity & Health

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have concluded that eating apples and tomatoes may help prevent respiratory disease.

A total of 2633 adults had their lung function measured in 1991 and again in 2000. Eating more than five apples each week, was associated with increased lung function, as was having tomatoes more than three times per week. Wheezing was also less common among people who consumed apples, tomatoes and bananas.

(97th Annual Meeting of the American Thoracic Society. Reported by BBC News online 22 May 2001.)

Taking a siesta in the middle of the day seems to reduce the risk of death from heart disease, particularly in healthy young men. This conclusion on the benefits of a siesta is suggested by a survey of a general population sample of 23 681 people, who at enrolment had no history of heart disease, stroke or cancer. As well as recording napping habits, researchers asked about diet and exercise so as to allow for these additional variables.

It was found that those who occasionally napped, had a 12% lower rate of coronary mortality, whilst those who regularly napped for 30 minutes at least three times per week, had a 37% lower rate. The association was especially strong among men working at the start of the six year study: they showed a 64% reduced risk.

(Siesta in Healthy Adults & Coronary Mortality in the General Population. Archives of Internal Medicine, February 2007.)

People whose parents lived to a greater age, have been found by the time they themselves reach middle-age, to have fewer risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

In a survey of nearly 1700 people, mean age 40, 11% had at least two parents who survived to 85 or older; 47% had one parent who lived to that age; 42% had two parents who died before 85. People whose parents both survived to 85 or beyond, showed a greater tendency for normal blood pressure, lower levels of LDL (the “bad”) cholesterol, and fewer other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Similar tendencies were exhibited after a further 12 years of follow-up.

(Characteristics of Framingham Offspring Participants with Long-Lived Parents. Archives of Internal Medicine, March 2007.)

Exercising while young has a beneficial effect on blood pressure. Nearly 4000 men and women, aged between 18 and 30 at baseline, were tracked for 15 years. Participants were examined at baseline, and at 2,5,7,10 and 15 years later; blood pressure and physical activity were recorded each time.

Overall, 634 participants developed high blood pressure during the 15 year study. Those who exercised an average of five times per week and who burned 300 calories per exercise session, were 17% less likely to develop hypertension.

(Physical Activity in Young Adults & Incident Hypertension over 15 Years of Follow-Up: the CARDIA Study. American Journal of Public Health, April 2007.)

It is known that drinking tea can help to prevent cardiovascular disease. It now seems that this protective effect is negated if milk is added to the tea, so tea without milk is more beneficial.

Over three different sessions, sixteen post-menopausal women, mean age 59, were given either 500ml of Darjeeling tea, or boiled water to drink. The tea was either freshly brewed black tea, or black tea with 10% skimmed milk added. An ultrasound scan was used to measure artery cell function in the forearm, both before and two hours after drinking. Black tea was found to significantly improve the ability of the arteries to soften and relax, but this effect was absent when the tea was taken with milk: the protective catechins in the tea interacted with the milk proteins (caseins) inhibiting their effects. The milk additionally destroyed the antioxidant properties of the tea.

(Addition of milk prevents vascular protective effects of tea. European Heart Journal, on-line 9 January 2007.)