The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| Eating fish linked to longer life, says US study Posted: 02 Apr 2013 08:01 AM PDT UPDATED @ 11:07:06 PM 02-04-2013  A new study reveals more good news for those who make fish a regular part of their diet. — shutterstock.com picWASHINGTON, April 2 — People age 65 and older who eat fish may live an average of two years longer than people who do not consume the omega-3 fatty acids found mainly in seafood, a US study suggested on Monday. People with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids also had an overall risk of dying that was 27 per cent lower, and a risk of dying from heart disease that was 35 per cent lower than counterparts who had lower blood levels, said the study. The research was led by scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health and was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. While other studies have demonstrated a link between omega-3 fatty acids and lower risk of heart disease, this research examined records of older people to determine any link between fish-eating and death risk. Researchers scanned 16 years of data on about 2,700 US adults aged 65 or older. Those considered for the study were not taking fish oil supplements, to eliminate any confusion over the use of supplements or dietary differences. Those with the highest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids found mainly in fish like salmon, tuna, halibut, sardines, herring and mackerel, had the lowest risk of dying from any cause, and lived an average of 2.2 years longer than those with low levels. Researchers identified docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as most strongly related to lower risk of coronary heart disease death. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was strongly linked to lower risk of nonfatal heart attack, and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) was most strongly associated with lower risk of dying from a stroke. The findings persisted after researchers adjusted for demographic, lifestyle and diet factors. "Our findings support the importance of adequate blood omega-3 levels for cardiovascular health, and suggest that later in life these benefits could actually extend the years of remaining life," said lead author Dariush Mozaffarian, associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health. "The biggest bang-for-your-buck is for going from no intake to modest intake, or about two servings of fatty fish per week," said Mozaffarian. — AFP-Relaxnews |
| Being mindful can reduce stress hormone cortisol, says study Posted: 02 Apr 2013 07:48 AM PDT  A new US study reveals that practicing a technique called mindfulness can reduce cortisol in the body. — shutterstock.com picNEW YORK, April 2 — A new study adds to a growing body of evidence that mindfulness meditation could be the elixir to the ailments of modern life. The latest study finds that focusing on the present — or being mindful — can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. "This is the first study to show a direct relation between resting cortisol and scores on any type of mindfulness scale," said Tonya Jacobs, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California Davis Center for Mind and Brain. Findings were published this week online in the journal Health Psychology. The new study is the latest to come from the Shamatha Project, a comprehensive controlled study of the effects of meditation training on mind and body. The project has drawn the attention of both scientists and Buddhist scholars including the Dalai Lama, who has endorsed the project. In the new study, the team used a questionnaire to measure aspects of mindfulness among a group of 57 volunteers before and after an intensive, three-month meditation retreat. They also measured cortisol levels in the volunteers' saliva. At the retreat, the participants learned mindfulness skills such as breathing techniques and "observing the nature of consciousness," the researchers explained. Individuals who scored high on the mindfulness questionnaire also had low levels in cortisol, both before and after the retreat. Subjects whose mindfulness score increased after the retreat also showed a decrease in cortisol. Another recent study published in the journal Brain, Behavior & Immunity in 2012 finds that mindfulness meditation can help older adults battle feelings of loneliness while also boosting health. A prior study also found that mindfulness meditation, along with moderate exercise, was linked to a reduction in the severity of colds and flu during winter. — AFP-Relaxnews |
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