Fine lifestyle reverses ageing process
A healthy lifestyle may do more than simply slow the ageing process. It could actually reverse it. Keeping physically fit, having a plant-based diet and practising stress-reduction techniques such as yoga could extend the lifespan of cells, researchers say. They studied the effect of healthy living on lengths of DNA called telomeres — tiny ‘caps’ on the ends of chromosomes that protect against the ageing process. Telomeres keep chromosomes stable and prevent deterioration when the cells containing them divide. Dubbed the ‘chromosomal clock’, they shorten as we age. This process is associated with a greater risk of early death and of conditions such as heart disease, dementia, diabetes and cancers.
Why Parents lose six weeks of sleep
Parents lose out on more than six weeks worth of sleep in a single year of caring for a newborn. Night feeds, crying infants and waking up with worry were the top three reasons cited for losing out on sleep. Insomnia and stacking up chores were also common problems that contributed to lack of sleep.
According to the new research into the sleeping habits of people from across the UK, parents are getting just 5.1 hours of sleep per night in the first year of their child’s life. This suggests that the average new parent loses 2.9 hours of sleep per night below the eight hours recommended minimum. This equates to a sleep loss of 20.3 hours per week, making up 1,055.6 hours lost in the first year of a child’s life — equivalent to 44 days.
Burgers and biscuits can depress you
Middle-aged men whose diet is loaded with junk food — such as processed meat and sugary drinks — are at greater risk from depression, according to a new study. However, researchers found eating plenty of fruit and vegetables wards off the blues. A study of 2,000 men found a healthy diet reduced their risk of developing the mental illness. And shedding the pounds by improving diet and exercising more was associated with fewer cases of the condition. Patients with depression often consume fewer nutrients, but it has been unclear whether diet is linked with the risk in healthy people. The study found those who ate most vegetables, fruits, berries, whole grains, poultry, fish and low fat cheese suffered less symptoms and a lower risk of the condition during 13 years of follow up.