HEALTHY LIVING THE LATEST RESEARCH
Sitting Test a Predictor of Lifespan
H
ow easily you can lower yourself to the fl oor and stand up again is a strong indicator of how long
you will live, according to a new study in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention. Thousands of people ages 51 to
80 were asked to sit on the fl oor and then rise, using as little support as possible. They were scored on a 5-point scale, with 1 point subtracted for each time a hand or knee was used for support. The results were added together and ranked on a scale from zero to 10. The subjects were then followed for six years. A score of below
CANCER: COFFEE PROTECTS Drinking coff ee can significantly reduce the risk of dying from mouth and throat cancer, according to a study from the American Cancer Society. Those who drank more than four cups of coff ee per day reduced their risk of developing such cancers by 49 percent. Decaff einated coff ee also reduces risk, but to a much lesser degree, and tea was found to not reduce the risk. “Coff ee contains a variety of antioxidants, polyphenols, and other biologically active compounds that may help to protect against development or progression of cancers,” said lead author Janet Hildebrand.
COUGHS: CHOCOLATE CURE A natural chemical found in chocolate
TOO MUCH EXERCISE BAD FOR LONGEVITY
8 (needing more than one hand or knee support to sit and rise) doubled the risk of death. Only two people who scored 10 (sitting, rising with no use of hands or
Although exercise is essential for good health, a new study at St. Luke’s Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City found that high-intensity exercise lasting more than an hour every day can actually shorten lifespan by compromising heart health. The study authors recommend limiting vigorous workouts to 30 to 50 minutes per day.
knees) died during the follow-up period. “Our study
also shows that maintaining high levels of body fl exibility . . . and coordination are not only good for performing daily activities, but
have a favorable infl uence on life expectancy,” said study leader Dr. Claudio Gil Araújo.
GRAPEFRUIT INTERFERES WITH DRUGS
D
octors have known for years that grapefruit can dangerously interact with common blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin. But there are more than 85 newer prescription drugs that can cause problems if taken with grapefruit. For instance, after drinking grapefruit juice for three days, the concentration of common statin drugs in a patient’s body can triple. Other potential problem meds include those for anxiety, depression, seizures, and HIV. Adverse eff ects include sudden death, acute kidney failure, respiratory failure, and intestinal bleeding.
84 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MARCH 2013
called theobromine seems to stop both acute and chronic coughs, according to a clinical trial taking place in England. People with a persistent cough were given theobromine twice a day for 14 days, and 60 percent of them experienced relief. An earlier study found that the chemical was more eff ective at stopping coughs than the drug codeine. The amount of theobromine found in a chocolate bar is enough to block the nerves that
stimulate the cough reflex, say researchers.
PROSTATE: SODA BOOSTS RISK A single soft drink per day increases
a man’s risk for developing aggressive prostate cancer, says a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study followed more than 8,000 men ages 45 to 73 for an average of 15 years, and found that those who drank 11 ounces of sugar- sweetened soft drink a day increased by 40 percent their chances of developing more life-threatening forms of prostate cancer.
DIET: ‘TIRED OVEREATING’ It’s long been known that people tend
to overeat after getting too little sleep, but scientists were unsure why. A study published in the journal Sleep showed that the hunger hormones triggered by sleeplessness are completely diff erent for men and women. For men, a lack of sleep increased the production of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates hunger. For women, levels of GLP-1, a hormone that suppresses hunger, were lower after too little sleep. Researchers believe the findings may be used to devise treatments for obesity.
WOMAN/PURESTOCK/GETTY IMAGES / MAN/BANANASTOCK/THINKSTOCK / GRAPEFRUIT/ISTOCKPHOTO
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