IN A CAPSULE – CA – OCT 14
- Posted by CERC India
- Posted in monthly
IN A CAPSULE
Drinking tea ‘cuts risk of dying early’
Drinking tea can cut your risk of dying prematurely, say researchers according to the Daily Mail. A study shows that drinking tea reduces the risk of dying from causes unrelated to the heart by a quarter.
The benefits of tea are largely due to the flavonoid content – antioxidant ingredients. Experts also say tea is better than coffee, and tea drinkers are physically more active. Tea also reduced blood pressure. The study did not define the type of tea, or whether milk was added.
Cycling can be bad for bones
Cycling may be a great way to burn calories and tone your legs, but experts are warning it should not be your only form of exercise. A recent study in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise showed that keen male cyclists had significantly lower bone density in their spines than men who did a greater variety of exercises.
Cycling is a low-impact sport which is great for vulnerable joints. But during the action of pedalling the spine gets hardly any weight to bear. The solution is to include other exercise such as aerobics and weight training.
Enjoy bananas for a good night’s sleep!
Walnuts induce sleep as they are packed with protein, potassium and selenium and can help the body make melatonin, the natural sleep hormone, according to the Daily Mail. Warm, skimmed milk aids sleep, as do bananas. Both release natural chemicals to relax the body and help you fall asleep due to their calcium content.
Eat salad with your evening meal. Lettuce contains lactucarium, which has sedative properties and relaxes the brain. Foods rich in B6 and certain foods with a high glycaemic index, such as bread and pasta, can also induce sleep.
Red, itchy eyes? Watch less TV
‘Dry eye’ is a common condition whose symptoms include sore, irritated, itchy, red eyes and blurred vision. It’s a condition associated with ageing, caused when the eyes don’t produce enough tears. The eyes become red due to irritation caused by lack of lubrication. If left untreated, the syndrome can even lead to blindness says Daily Mail.
Dry eye can be aggravated by watching TV or using a computer – because one blinks less often, which further dries out the eye. Air conditioning, contact lenses, consumption of alcohol and lack of sleep are other contributory factors.
