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The International Agency for Research on Cancer’s new code recommends 12 lifestyle measures to boost cancer prevention: Do not smoke. Make your home smoke free. Maintain a healthy body weight. Be physically active. Limit the time you spend sitting. Have a healthy diet, containing plenty of whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits. Limit high-calorie foods…

A new study by The King’s College London has found that 18% of men and 25% of women in the armed forces reported symptoms of common mental disorders, compared to 8% of men and 12% of women in civilian life. Lead author Dr Laura Goodwin said: “The findings were not what we expected. We didn’t think…

Among patients with prostate cancer, those who smoke have increased risks of experiencing side effects from treatment and of developing future cancer recurrences, or even dying from prostate cancer. The findings, which are published in BJU International, suggest that smoking may negatively affect the health outcomes of patients with prostate cancer and may contribute to…

Aspartame is a commonly used low-calorie sweetener that can be found in a variety of foods, including: soft drinks, cereals and sugar-free chewing gum. However, this controversial sweetener has been the subject of several studies since concerns were raised in a 1996 report, suggesting a link between aspartame and brain tumours. Amid the continuing disquiet,…

Professor Ryan Donnelly from Queens University Belfast and his team have researched an alternative to hypodermic needles, as one in ten of us are said to fear them. They have developed a small patch, similar to Velcro, but containing 361 tiny needles. The device looks like a small, clear plastic patch about half a centimetre across,…

Leading obesity experts across the UK are offering their top tips for a healthy weight ahead of National Obesity Awareness Week (NOAW). Health experts from the UK Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO) will offer their advice on issues such as healthy eating, physical activity, eating behaviours and long term impacts on health, to…

Are you planning a fresh start in 2015? Are you going to eat more healthily, exercise regularly or lose weight? Statistics vary, but most estimates put the success rate for New Year Resolutions at around 10%. That’s a depressing 9 in 10 chance of failure. So how can you make sure you’re one of the…

The Hospital for Special Surgery, based in the US, ran a weekly exercise programme of tai chi, pilates and yoga for 1,400 elderly arthritis sufferers. 204 of those participants completed a survey at the end of the programme, with 80% reporting less stiffness and improved balance. “The survey results indicate that the hospital’s exercise programs…

Eating bilberries diminishes the adverse effects of a high-fat diet, according to a recent study at the University of Eastern Finland. For the first time, bilberries were shown to have beneficial effects on both blood pressure and nutrition-derived inflammatory responses. Low-grade inflammation and elevated blood pressure are often associated with obesity-related diseases. The study focused…

The King’s Fund has published their ‘Women and medical leadership’ infographic: Full details Image: The King’s Fund