There have, as always, been a number of articles this week in the press which focus on optimal living. This is a precis of what we have come across.
Research published in Medscape strongly points to wider health benefits of increased cardiorespiratory function. This is generally known. If one improves heart health it increases overall health but this piece of research looked at the relationship between improved heart and lung function and Prostate cancer. The Swedish study looked at the health of 58,000 men from 1982 to 2019 and assessed each over a period of 6.2 years. The study evidenced that all-cause mortality from many cancers (and other diseases) was reduced with cardiovascular exercise.
Arthritis:
Another, study in Medscape, looked at arthritic knee pain and diet (and can be linked to effects on other joints) demonstrated that pro-inflammatory diets increase the pain of knee osteoarthritis. Australian researchers looked at 950 patients, whose average age was 63 years. They assessed the knees by MRI and cross referenced against diet. Those people with diets higher in processed foods, alcohol, sugar, red meat, fats and fried foods experienced greater levels of pain and disability. This link takes you to the ‘Arthritis care’ website and a page describing pro and anti-inflammatory foods (the bad guys and the good ones). https://arthritiscare.com.au/5-worst-foods-to-eat-if-you…/
Children
The news this week has been damning about the health of our early years children with a report from the Academy of Medical stating that infant mortality is higher than 60% of similar countries. Tooth decay, being overweight and, obesity (there is no such thing as puppy fat) and the rise in children’s mental health are cited as the main culprits. In addition to the rise in lifestyle diseases children are experiencing, vaccination rates have dropped below World Health Organisation safety thresholds producing conditions where potentially severe childhood diseases can take hold. The report also cites the health of parents in pre conception as a precursor to childhood health or lack of it. This is a link to a page on the NHS site regarding activity in under-fives https://www.nhs.uk/…/physical-activity-guidelines…/
Spending time on digital games is not going to end well.
Health Research
Increasingly research is pointing us in the direction of simpler diets. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have cake and beer (unless it is uncle Tom’s birthday and not every day) but we should, perhaps be aware where excess is likely to lead us. Regular exercise helps all aspects of our life from healthy heart and lungs to improved bone strength and reduced frailty in later years, mental health and lower likelihood of diabetes and other lifestyle diseases.
Any regular exercise is better than none but three times a week is good. This is a link to the NHS guidelines for exercise: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/
If you need help getting back to fitness because of injury and want to improve your health we can help.
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