Tuesday, 11 May 2010

Live to be 100+

A recent study found that people who live to be 100+ whilst staying happy and healthy have the following in common:

  • They still live in their own place looking after themselves
  • They have contact with a family member (or equiv) at least once a week
  • They take part in social get-togethers two or three times a week
  • They stay physically active engaging in regular physical exercise doing something they love--e.g. gardening, athletics...
  • They don't smoke
  • Some don't mind alcohol but in moderation
  • They don't internalize negative emotions choosing to have a positive outlook on life 
More...

Friday, 16 April 2010

Boost Your Immune System



It has now been discovered that eating fibre can boost  your immune system.  Below is a brief extract from the ABC's Catalyst program which explains how:
"Kendle Maslowski
"Once insoluble fibre reaches the large intestines, the bacteria in the gut there use it as a food source and they ferment it, and this produces by-products called short chain fatty acids.

"NARRATION
"These short chain fatty acids bind to a receptor on immune cells. This binding instructs immune cells to dampen down inflammation.

"Kendle Maslowski
"This research is new and exciting because for the first time we've shown a direct link between fibre, bacteria in our gut and control of our immune system.

"Professor Charles MacKay
"The connection between diet and the immune system was somewhat of a fringe topic in immunology. Now we have this molecular link because a breakdown of fibre, so-called short chain fatty acids actually directly stimulate our immune cells and relate to arthritis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and other things."