Carrots can be your new saviours against breast cancer

Risk of poor memory higher in overweight people

Overweight people are more likely to have poor episodic memory compared to people with normal weight, a British study suggests. Scientists from University of Cambridge enlisted 50 men and women in the age group of 18 to 35 and with body mass index between (BMI) 18 and 51. A BMI of 18-25 is deemed healthy, 25-30 is considered overweight, and above 30 falls under obese. The participants were given a memory test to test their ability to recall past events. People with higher BMIs scored poorly in them compared to others. Obesity is believed to affect the working of the hippocampus, an area of the brain responsible for memory and learning. The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

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Exercise reduces risk of depression in heart attack survivors

Heart attack survivors are less likely to suffer depression if they were exercising regularly before the attack, a new study claims. Researchers at Norwegian University of Science and Technology examined 189 middle-aged and older people and found that 17% of those who never exercised felt more depressed after a heart attack. Among those who exercised for a few years but stopped afterwards 12.5% showed depressive symptoms. The risk of depression was the lowest (7.5%) in those who exercised consistently. The study shows that healthy habits play a significant role when serious illnesses occur. The study was published in American Journal of Medicine.

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Eating carrots can cut risk of breast cancer

Eating carrots on a regular basis can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 60%, a Dutch study claims. Carrot contains an antioxidant called carotene which gives it a distinctive orange colour. Carotene is also found in spinach, red peppers and sweet potatoes. Researchers from University Medical Centre, Utrecht examined the diets of over 3,000 women from several European countries. It was found that in women whose diet included more carotene-rich food such as carrots and peppers, the risk of breast cancer was up to 60% lower compared to women who ate less or no carotene-rich diet. When it enters body, carotenes are converted into beta carotene which is known to act as a deterrent to certain cancers. The study appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

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Exercise before meal can help break down fructose

Exercising before a fructose-rich diet reduces the risk of fructose storage, a Swiss study suggests. Researchers from University of Lausanne enlisted eight healthy men and put them on a high fructose diet for four days. During the first few days, the participants were asked to lie down after the meal. Later they were asked to do a 60-minute exercise, 75 minutes before the meal and 90 minutes after the meal. The highest amount of fructose oxidation took place in participants who exercised before the meal. Higher fructose oxidation means lower fructose storage in body. The study shows that exercise reduces the negative effects of high fructose diet on people. Previous studies have showed that high fructose in body can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, increased triglycerides and even type 2 diabetes. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

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Rubber products of daily use contain carcinogenic chemical

A World Health Organisation (WHO) study claims that rubber products, including condoms, rubber toys, rubber gloves and car tyres contain a harmful carcinogen called 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT). The risk of exposure is more likely to occur due to skin contact with rubber gloves and rubber footwear, or due to inhalation of tyre dust. The researchers believe more study is required to understand their long-term effect on the general public. The study was carried out by WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, which when it examined an older study on workers employed in a Welsh rubber factory found that exposure to MBT can increase risk of cancers of bladder, bowel and blood.

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Compiled by Abhijit Ahaskar