Reader’s Digest Health Report: December 2016
We’ve rounded up the four best medical discoveries from around the world for December.
1. Fruits and Veggies Boost Happiness
A recent study of more than 12,000 Australians revealed that the benefits of a produce-rich diet extend beyond physical health. With every added daily portion of fruit or vegetables (up to eight), the subjects’ happiness levels rose slightly. The researchers’ conclusion: if someone were to switch from a diet free of fruit and veg to eight servings per day, he or she would theoretically gain as much life satisfaction as someone who transitioned from unemployment to a job. The exact reason is unclear, though it may be related to the effect of carotenoid levels in the blood.
2. Long-Lived Seniors Tend to Be Healthier
Longevity doesn’t usually mean more years with disease or disability, according to a 2016 analysis from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. By comparing Americans, Europeans and Australasians aged 95-plus to younger seniors, researchers found that serious conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis were hitting long-lived men and women later in life. Compared to people who died before reaching 95, those with very long lifespans often endured a shorter period of illness leading up to death.
3. Coffee Doesn’t Promote Cancer (Unless It’s Too Hot)
Good news for fans of coffee: it was stripped of its “possibly carcinogenic” classification during a recent meeting of the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, the agency did warn against any beverage that is served at a temperature higher than 65 C. Scalding hot liquids can conjure cells in the esophagus, contributing to esophageal cancer in the future. Meanwhile, coffee served at a moderate temperature appears to provide a mild protective effect against cancer in the uterine lining and the liver.
4. Lighter Weights as Effective as Heavy Ones
When it comes to building muscle, lifting light objects many times works just as well as lifting heavier ones fewer times, concluded a Canadian study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. With either method, the key is to work with the muscles until they’re fatigued, which is a sign of activated fibres. The study’s participants were young men, but its findings had implications for everyone, particularly those intimidated by massive weights.