Lower IQ raises risk of heart disease

HEART OF THE MATTER

Washington: A new study, conducted by researchers in the UK, has shown that having a lower than average IQ is in itself a risk factor for heart disease.
    In the study of over 4,000 people, David Batty and his colleagues at the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh found that IQ alone explained more than 20% of the difference in mortality between high and low socio-economic groups.
    The researchers found that the results were the same even when known heart disease risk factors were taken into account. "We already know that socio-economically disadvantaged people have worse health and tend to die earlier from conditions such as heart disease, cancer and accidents," BBC News quoted David Batty, who led the study for the Wellcome Trust and the Medical Research Council, a saying.
    "Environmental exposures and health-related behaviours, such as smoking, diet and physical activity, can explain some of this difference, but not all of it," he added. The research team studied a group of 4,289 former US soldiers from all walks of life. As expected from past trends, those on low incomes and with less education had a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
    However, when the researchers took into account intelligence or cognitive function, commonly referred to as IQ, and controlled for nine other known heart disease risk factors, IQ alone explained 23% of the differences in mortality between the highest and lowest socio-economic groups in the study.
    They offer several possible explanations for this - low IQ scores might simply be a marker of underlying poor health or intelligence might lead to greater knowledge about how to keep healthy. Batty said, whatever the explanation, the findings imply the IQ of the public should be considered more carefully when preparing health promotion campaigns.
    The study has been published in the European Heart Journal. ANI

HEALTH BENEFITS OF TOMATOES

 Free radicals in our body can be flushed out with high levels of lycopene, which is found abundantly in tomatoes. Several types of cancers can be fought by high levels of lycopene.
    Researchers have discovered that men who consumed 10 servings of tomatoes a week can cut the risk of developing prostate cancer by 45 per cent and seven servings of raw tomatoes a week, lower the risk of developing rectal colon or stomach cancers by 60 per cent.
    Cooked tomatoes are richer than raw ones — cooking tomatoes in olive oil allows your body to absorb the lycopene better.
Tomatoes do not lose their nutritional value after being cooked.
    They're are rich in potassium and contain niacin, vitamin B6, and folate, which are great to have a healthy heart.
    Tomatoes are rich in two anti aging free-radicals — iycopene and beta carotene. These nutrients are enhanced when tomatoes are heated or cooked. While picking up tomatoes, make sure you choose ones that come in the brightest shades of red — these have high amounts of betacarotene and iycopene.
    Since they contain lots of fibre and are low in calories, tomatoes are a great food to include in your diet if you're keen on losing some pounds.
    Betacarotene gets converted into vitamin A once you eat it. Vitamin A helps in the development of healthy skin, hair and aids vision, development of bones and teeth.

Kardashian’s diet secret out

 Kim and Khloe Kardashian are launching their own diet cleanse. The US reality TV stars have created a supplement and Kim insists it is the only product of its type she has been able to use. She said: "It's a lemonade-based cleanse. It's ready to go! Khloe has lost 20lbs off it. I tried the pepper ones for literally half a day. I couldn't stick to it! But I can totally do this." Khloe, 25, is thrilled with her new toned figure, but added the change in her physique is also down to a new fitness regime. She explained: "I try to do 30 minutes of cardio, mandatory. Obviously if I have more time, I want to do weights, but really cardio is what works for me. Cardio leans me out, and still works muscle definition too. "I eat whatever I want until noon. From noon on, I watch what I eat. I only drink champagne. 100 calories in a glass, and I'm good." Kim has also been discussing her ever-changing hairstyles. The 28-yearold stair recently sported a blonde flowing look, shortly followed by a short brunette bob, and revealed she loves nothing better than switching her style. She wrote on her blog: "I love experimenting with hair looks! It keeps things interesting and new, and thanks to the amazing and talented hair stylists who create my looks, I know I'm always in good hands and my hair will always look red-carpet ready!"

WATER BABY! Kim Kardashian

Nourish your bones!

Body BASICS

Maintaining your bones with diet and excercise keeps you fit for longer!

Did you know that 90 per cent of the calcium in a human body is stored in our bones and teeth? Calcium is an extremely important mineral as it helps in the development of a healthy body structure/ skeleton early in life. It minimises weakening of bones as one ages. A balanced and nutritious diet, rich in calcium and vitamin D, helps in absorbing calcium and is a must for maintaining healthy bones.
INSUFFICIENT DIETARY CALCIUM CAN BE HARMFUL I
It results in greater demineralisation which leads to further reduction of calcium from the bones. A calciumrich diet also helps in maintaining proper blood pressure, heart beat and nervous system. Research has also revealed that there is a positive correlation between calcium intake and the incidence of premenstrual syndrome. This mineral plays a vital role in controlling osteoporosis, a condition in which deficiency of calcium leads to weak and fragile bones, further increasing the incidence of fractures in elderly people. Excess weight, obesity also tends to worsen this condition.
CALCIUM IS RECOMMENDED FOR EVERYONE I Including pregnant or breastfeeding women, who should include the specified quantity of calcium in their diets: Infants — 300 mg Children — 600-800 mg Adults — 1000 mg Pregnant women — 1300 mg L a c t a t i n g mothers —1300 mg Post-menopausal women —1200 mg
SOME FOODS THAT ARE A RICH SOURCE OF CALCIUM ARE I Cheese, tofu, yoghurt, calcium fortified soy drink, orange juice, canned sardine and also fresh fish. Soy products are highly recommended for postmenopausal women as they help in building strong bones. Chinese cabbage, turnips, mustard greens, dried figs, soy nuts should also be included in regular diet. Avoid excessive intake of animal protein, as it obstructs the absorption of calcium.
VITAMIN D IS IMPORTANT FOR HEALTHY BONES I
It helps in calcium absorption. An hour of direct sunlight everyday is ideal for the human body. Fish oils and eggs are also a rich source of vitamin D and should be included in the daily diet. Excessive alcohol should be avoided as it reduces the ability of the bones to absorb vitamins and calcium. Regular exercise in any form, running, skipping, aerobics, tennis, weight training and brisk walking is a must for healthy bones.
(Jyoti Arora, team leader — nutrition & dietitics, Artemis Health Institute, Gurgaon)