Latest news with #EdithCowanUniversity
West Australian
7 hours ago
- Health
- West Australian
Health professionals and community members to address evolving needs of regional communities at ECU forum
Health professionals, researchers and community members will converge at Edith Cowan University in Bunbury on Friday in a bid to address the evolving needs of southern regional communities in WA. The South Regional Health Research Forum 2025 on June 6 — hosted by the South Regional Health Research Collaborative — will focus on health research tailored for the region. South Regional Health Research Collaborative chair and ECU professor Beth Armstrong said the theme of this year's forum was Improving Rural Health Our Way — Partnering Together in Research. 'The forum provides a unique opportunity to learn about research projects, share insights and contribute to impactful health initiatives across the southern regions,' she said. 'A local approach of targeted health research, collaboration and action facilitates better health outcomes for regional communities.' Themes to be explored include ageing well in the South West, researching long-term health conditions in the regions, improving access to mental health support and culturally secure research in Aboriginal health. The community as well as health professionals are invited to attend the event which will run from 9.30am to 5pm. Tickets are available online.
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Foods That May Lower Risk of Early Death Revealed
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Adding more berries, apples or cups of tea to your daily routine could be the key to living healthier—and for longer. That is the message from a new study published in Nature Food, which shows that the quantity and variety of flavonoids in our diets could be independently linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases and early death. Researchers—drawn from Queen's University Belfast, Edith Cowan University in Perth, the Medical University of Vienna, and Universität Wien—tracked 124,805 adults between 40 and 70 for over a decade using data from the U.K. Biobank. Their findings suggest that people who consumed the highest quantity and diversity of flavonoid-rich foods had a 6–20 percent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, respiratory illness and neurodegenerative diseases—and a lower risk of dying from any cause. "Flavonoid intakes of around 500 milligrams a day was associated with a 16 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality, as well as a ~10 percent lower risk of CVD, type 2 diabetes, and respiratory disease," Benjamin Parmenter, research fellow at Edith Cowan University and co-lead author of the study, said in a statement. "That's roughly the amount of flavonoids that you would consume in two cups of tea." The researchers focused not only on the existence of flavonoids in participants' diets but also on the diversity of flavonoid subclasses they consumed. This is because it is already well known that flavonoids offer a variety of health benefits. Foods high in flavonoids include tea, blueberries, strawberries, oranges, apples, grapes and dark chocolate. A bowl of blueberries is laid out on a wooden table. A bowl of blueberries is laid out on a wooden table. Getty Images Parmenter emphasized that the diversity of flavonoids consumed was even more important than the total amount. Those who consumed the widest diversity of flavonoids had an even lower risk of these diseases, even when consuming the same total amount. The study points to it being better to eat a range of flavonoid-rich foods to make up your intake, than just tea, for instance, because different flavonoids come from different foods. The researchers noted that while the benefits of flavonoid intake are becoming clearer, the mechanisms behind why a wider variety offers greater protection are still under investigation. Nevertheless, the data points toward the idea that dietary variety—especially among flavonoid-rich foods—could be a more effective approach to reducing chronic disease risks than focusing on a single 'superfood.' Human performance scientist and longevity expert Mark Kovacs agreed that flavonoids are key to safeguarding one's health. He told Newsweek that berries are among the best foods to add to your diet to minimize chronic illness risk. He explained that blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are all loaded with polyphenols, of which flavonoids are a specific type of. "Berries support brain health, reduce oxidative stress, and may delay biological aging" Kovacs said. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about flavonoids? Let us know via science@ Reference Parmenter, B., Thompson, A. S., Bondonno, N. P., Jennings, A., Murray, K., Perez, Cornago, A., Hodgson, J. M., Tresserra-Rimbau, A., Kuhn, T., Cassidy, A. (2025). High diversity of dietary flavonoid intake is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and major chronic illness. Nature Food.
West Australian
2 days ago
- General
- West Australian
WA researchers find parents who teach kids to write through imaginative play make for better writers
WA researchers have good news and bad news for parents who want to turn their kids into better writers. The good news is that mums and dads have more influence than they realise. The bad news is that they need to make it fun — and not just for the child. Edith Cowan University research suggests that parents who make writing fun through imaginative play and creative activities produce better writers. That might look like parents and children playing a game of 'restaurant', where children construct menus and take orders, a round of Scrabble or writing birthday cards together. Those who try to help their children with writing out of a sense of guilt or make it into a negative experience are less likely to have a positive outcome. Lead author Bronte Kelso-March said the research looked at the connection between parents' motivation for and method of helping children with their writing at home and compared it to the quality of their child's writing and how they felt about it. 'What we found is when parents enjoy getting involved in writing activities with their children, they have a positive impact on their child's enjoyment of writing, and in turn, how well their child can write,' she said. 'Parents should avoid being involved in their children's writing due to their feelings of shame or 'parent guilt', or simply because they have to or should. Instead of treating it like a box ticking exercise, embed joyful writing activities in your family life.' She said treating writing like a game, not a chore, was 'key'. 'Our message to parents is don't underestimate the positive influence you are,' she said. 'You don't have to be an expert. And it doesn't have to feel like homework or be a high-level task.' Kelly Ye tries to keep writing at home fun with her six-year-old, Christian. He writes birthday cards for friends, enjoys scrawling on a whiteboard and does activity books for fun — and gold star rewards. 'Christian really likes writing family and friends names while drawing pictures to give to us and his friends,' she said. 'One of his favourite is helping write and draw our shopping list together. 'I find the more we spend time with Christian each day the better and more confident he is in writing and spelling. It is a challenge when juggling two kids while being on my own most days as my partner is away for work a lot.' Even Christian's little sister Saskia, 1, is starting to take an interest. 'Saskia loves scribbling and attempting to draw pictures and getting a hold of pens, crayons and all media she can get her hands on when she sees her brother,' Ms Ye said. 'We try to get her involved in some ways every time and her smile says it all.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts make bold suggestion for thousands of tons of outdated used EV batteries: 'It's not going to be easy'
Clean energy experts in Australia say reusing and recycling old electric vehicle batteries could be the key to reducing electronic waste across the globe. Researchers from Edith Cowan University studied predictions of how much e-waste comes from used EV batteries, per The Conversation. Right now, an estimated 100,000 EVs are on Australia's roads. Experts with the University of Technology Sydney suggest that by 2030, this could produce around 30,000 tons of e-waste, spiking to 360,000 tons by 2040. They warn that e-waste in landfills increases human health risks and the risk of fire. The experts at ECU proposed a new scale for assessing the health of EV batteries at the end of their initial use. A battery health assessment of at least 80% of the original capacity means batteries can be reused for things like smaller EVs, scooters, and golf carts. An assessment of 60% to 80% would make a battery eligible to be reused for different applications, like stationary power storage. All batteries under 60% would be mined for precious minerals to be used in new batteries. Adopting this scale would require manufacturers to make battery data accessible. Batteries are typically sealed shut, preventing access to specific data. "Old EV batteries have huge potential," wrote the creators of the EV battery health assessment scale, per The Conversation. "But it's not going to be easy to realize this." Recycling companies have proved that up to 95% of EV battery parts can be recycled. But the experts at ECU say batteries in Australia are designed with performance and safety at the forefront, with recyclability as an afterthought. In the meantime, other nations are requiring manufacturers to provide EV battery data for recyclers. The European Union will begin requiring a digital passport for all EVs in January 2027. In 2021, California passed a law requiring manufacturers to provide reports on battery health to recyclers. Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to recycle old clothes and electronics? Giving me money back Letting me trade for new stuff Making it as easy as possible Keeping my stuff out of landfills Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts make bold suggestion for thousands of tons of outdated used EV batteries: 'It's not going to be easy'
Clean energy experts in Australia say reusing and recycling old electric vehicle batteries could be the key to reducing electronic waste across the globe. Researchers from Edith Cowan University studied predictions of how much e-waste comes from used EV batteries, per The Conversation. Right now, an estimated 100,000 EVs are on Australia's roads. Experts with the University of Technology Sydney suggest that by 2030, this could produce around 30,000 tons of e-waste, spiking to 360,000 tons by 2040. They warn that e-waste in landfills increases human health risks and the risk of fire. The experts at ECU proposed a new scale for assessing the health of EV batteries at the end of their initial use. A battery health assessment of at least 80% of the original capacity means batteries can be reused for things like smaller EVs, scooters, and golf carts. An assessment of 60% to 80% would make a battery eligible to be reused for different applications, like stationary power storage. All batteries under 60% would be mined for precious minerals to be used in new batteries. Adopting this scale would require manufacturers to make battery data accessible. Batteries are typically sealed shut, preventing access to specific data. "Old EV batteries have huge potential," wrote the creators of the EV battery health assessment scale, per The Conversation. "But it's not going to be easy to realize this." Recycling companies have proved that up to 95% of EV battery parts can be recycled. But the experts at ECU say batteries in Australia are designed with performance and safety at the forefront, with recyclability as an afterthought. In the meantime, other nations are requiring manufacturers to provide EV battery data for recyclers. The European Union will begin requiring a digital passport for all EVs in January 2027. In 2021, California passed a law requiring manufacturers to provide reports on battery health to recyclers. Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to recycle old clothes and electronics? Giving me money back Letting me trade for new stuff Making it as easy as possible Keeping my stuff out of landfills Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
