A Beneficial Breakfast Option, Pedalling Away Hunger, Ways to Stop Greys and more

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

Many studies have linked health benefits to drinking coffee, but a recent study by scientists at Harvard and Tulane universities found that the benefits are specifically linked to the time of day people drink the brew. After examining the health and habits of more than 40,000 adults, the scientists found that drinking coffee only in the morning hours was associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease and death from all causes compared to not drinking coffee. Interestingly, people who drank coffee all day did not experience the same risk reduction.

Photo Credit: Valentyn Volkov/ Getty Images. Coffee Beans: Klaus Arras/ Getty Images

A Beneficial Breakfast Option

A new study finds that people who regularly eat yogurt, which contains live strains of beneficial bacteria, may be protected from certain kinds of colon cancer. Researchers at Harvard’s Mass General Brigham Hospital examined data from 1,50,000 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, who have been providing information for decades. The researchers found that people who ate two or more servings of yogurt a week had a 20 per cent lower risk of developing a specific type of colorectal tumour. Eating yogurt, including yogurt containing the probiotic Bifidobacterium, may help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut, which can prevent inflammation and decrease the risk of colon cancer.

Pedal Away Hunger

Feel like snacking? Jump on a bicycle instead. In a study, doing an hour of moderate-­intensity exercise led to reduced hunger in people who carried ­excess weight. Researchers from Iran and Australia, publishing in the journal Physiological Reports, attribute the effect to exercise altering the level of specific appetite-related peptides produced by muscles during exercise. The findings may encourage more people to work out as part of a weight-loss plan. However, the researchers say the same effect may not exist for everyone, as heavier bodies react differently to exertion. 

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Five Cheers for Flossing

It’s a routine many of us dislike, but it turns out that flossing your teeth has benefits beyond keeping your mouth clean and healthy. A new study at the University of South Carolina found that regular flossing may reduce the risk of stroke. In the study, people who flossed at least once a week reduced their risk of ischemic stroke—the most common type—by 22 per cent. They were also 12 per cent less likely to develop atrial fibrillation, which can trigger strokes. The results are not completely surprising, as past research has linked bad oral health to inflammation and hardening of the arteries, both of which are stroke risk factors.

A Way to Stop the Greys?

A Japanese university study published in the journal Antioxidants found that an antioxidant called luteolin, found in many fruits and vegetables, may help stop or slow hair from turning grey. The studies were done on mice, who received the luteolin both internally and externally. While more research is needed to confirm that the antioxidant has this effect in people, for now, it can’t hurt to add luteolin­-rich ­vegetables like peppers, spring ­onions, ­radicchio, celery, spinach and broccoli, and fruits like lemons, oranges, cantaloupe and kiwis to your diet. The antioxidant has been linked to a host of health benefits, including lessening inflammation and pain, and protecting against heart disease.

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