Latest news with #YahooLifeUK
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
These are the secrets to long life according to the world's oldest people
A woman who lived to the age of 117 put her longevity down to eating yoghurt - and scientists say she may have been right. Maria Branyas Morera was the oldest living person in the world until she passed away at a nursing home in Spain last August. When she was alive, Morera credited her long lifespan to eating three yoghurts a day, and researchers who studied her gut microbiome have suggested they may have contributed. They found her gut was extremely healthy and that she had cells that functioned as if they were 17 years younger than her age. Scientists in Barcelona found Morera's microbiome had high levels of bifidobacteria, also known as gut microbiota, that lives in the digestive tract. Before she died, Morera said she didn't smoke or drink alcohol, enjoyed a walk every day and ate lots of fruit and vegetables. She also said she avoided "toxic people". So what are some of the other secrets to a long life, according to the people who know best... centenarians. Ethel Caterham, who lives in a care home in Lightwater, Surrey, became the oldest person in the world this month, at the age of 115. She was born on 21 August 1909 and is the last surviving subject of Kind Edward VII. Caterham said her secret to a long life was "never arguing with anyone". She said: "I listen and I do what I like." She continued driving until she was 97 and one of her sisters, Gladys, lived to the age of 104. Read more on this story from Surrey Live Kathleen Jennings, who turned 105 last October, said her longevity was down to two factors: never getting married and drinking Guinness. Born in Brixton in 1919, she celebrated her 105th birthday at a care home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, on 2 October. She received a Guinness hamper for her birthday, filled with pint glasses, an apron, chocolates and cans of the stout. When asked for advice on a long life, she said: "Drink Guinness and don't marry!" Read more on this story from Yahoo Life UK In March, Josie Church and Anne Wallace-Hadrill, who celebrated their 101st birthdays together, said always keeping themselves busy had helped them reach past a century. The pair are neighbours in Oxford and both were born on 1 April 1924. "You do what seems to be needing doing, and then you do that, and then something else takes its place," said Church. "You just go on from one thing to another. We don't engineer our lives. I think they've just engineered us." Read more on this story from Yahoo Life UK Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, 116, from Brazil, was the world's oldest person until her death at the end of April. She died a few weeks before she was due to turn 117, and was born on 27 May 1908. She said her Catholic faith was what led to her longevity, and was part of the Company of Saint Teresa of Jesus nun congregation in Porto Alegre, Brazil. She was the second oldest nun ever, after Frenchwoman Lucile Randon, who died in 2023 at the age of 118. Read more on this story from PA Media Dinkie Flowers, from Shoreham, West Sussex, turned 104 earlier this month and celebrated by dancing at her birthday party, the BBC reported. She has been dancing for 101 years and ran her own dance school until five years ago. In an interview in 2023, she said: 'Dancing has helped keep me healthy, everyone should do something, they shouldn't be on their bottom all day." Read more on this story from Yahoo Life UK
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How common is scurvy? Robbie Williams diagnosed with '17th-century disease'
Like Robbie Williams, you may think of scurvy as a "17th-century pirate disease" – certainly nothing from this millennium (ahem). But, as the 51-year-old singer found out, it isn't just the scourge of sailors. Speaking to The Mirror, he explained how he had shed two stone while taking medication, which he has likened to weight-loss drug Ozempic, and how it led to the rare diagnosis. "I'd stopped eating and I wasn't getting nutrients," he said, describing his reduced vitamin C intake. "I was sad, I was anxious, I was depressed." The Angels hitmaker explained how this bout of "ill health" caused him concern. "It's been about 10 years... I thought I was at the other end of the arc. I thought this was the end of my story, and that I would just go walking into this marvellous wonderland. So for it to return was just confusing." Scurvy is caused when you don't have enough vitamin C in your diet. You may be more at risk if you don't consume fresh fruits or vegetables, you eat little food, you smoke or you have a long-term dependency on drugs or alcohol. It most commonly affects babies, children and older people. According to the NHS, symptoms include fatigue and feeling weak, joint and/or muscle pain, feeling irritable or sad, and skin that bruises easily. In some cases, teeth can fall out as a result of swollen, bleeding gums. Although it was very prolific between the 16th and 18th centuries, with an estimated two million sailors having died from the disease, it is incredibly rare these days, owing to how readily available certain foods are and how varied our diets are these days. That said, there have been various reports of the disease in recent years, indicating that a vitamin C deficiency may be more prevalent than we might assume. An article published in the Oxford Academic journal examined the Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey (2003–05), which offered a representative sample of the low-income/materially deprived UK population. It estimated that 25% of men and 16% of women in the low-income/materially deprived population had plasma vitamin C concentrations indicative of deficiency, and a further fifth of the population had levels in the depleted range. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes Other fruits, such as strawberries and blackcurrants Bell peppers Broccoli Brussels sprouts Potatoes Supplements According to the NHS, adults aged 19-64 need around 40mg of vitamin C a day. Kids, meanwhile, need around 15mg daily. You should avoid consuming too much vitamin C, though, as this may lead to diarrhoea, stomach cramps and/or flatulence. Read more about health, food and nutrition: 5 ways to do the Mediterranean diet for less (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) Six health benefits of asparagus (and why it makes your wee smell) (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read) Would you pay £180 for strawberries? Inside the TikTok trend of expensive food (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Six health benefits of asparagus (and why it makes your wee smell)
Eating seasonal fruit and vegetables offers numerous benefits – not just in terms of freshness and flavour, but also nutritional value. These ingredients also tend to be cheaper when they are in season. While you may have seen asparagus in your local supermarket in recent weeks (climate change impacts growing seasons, and potentially the taste, depending on the weather conditions), it is technically only in season for two months of the year, from late April through to the end of June. Here, we take a look at the health benefits of asparagus, and how to prepare and cook the green vegetable. As is the case with a lot of other green vegetables, asparagus is high in antioxidants, such as vitamins E and C, glutathione and others. These ingredients can also have anti-inflammatory effects. Due to the potassium content in asparagus, the seasonal vegetable can also help reduce blood pressure – a known risk factor for strokes and heart disease. High in fibre, asparagus is also great for digestion. It also contains inulin, which is a type of fibre that acts as a prebiotic, promoting a healthier gut microbiome. Again due to its fibre content, asparagus can help reduce levels of cholesterol by binding the cholesterol in the digestive system and helping the body eliminate it. Vital for bodily function, potassium is needed to help keep the heart beating regularly and the muscles to work properly. It can also support healthy blood pressure. Research shows that foods high in folate, such as asparagus, can help protect against certain cancers, such as pancreatic cancer. Asparagus contains asparagusic acid, and when digested, the asparagusic acid breaks down into sulphurous byproducts, which in turn can make your pee smell... funky. Not everyone is affected by strong-smelling urine, though. Depending on genetic variations, your ability to smell the difference changes. Researchers have put it down to anosmia – partial or full loss smell. First of all, you want to trim off any woody ends Then you want to wash the asparagus thoroughly under cold water, to get rid of any dirt You may also wish to blanch the spears before cooking, adding them to a bowl of cold water filled with ice. This helps to retain their colour and flavour after cooking. It also means the tips are less likely to burn or dry out during the cooking process There are a number of different ways to cook asparagus, including: Roasting: Drizzle some olive oil over the vegetable with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook in the oven at around 200C for 12 minutes until tender Griddling/frying: Coat the asparagus stems in a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper before adding to the pan for around one to two minutes Steamed: Add the asparagus spears to a steamer basket and cover for around two to four minutes Read more about food and nutrition 13 high-protein breakfasts to eat as cereals fall out of favour among Brits (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read) Why cooking with lard isn't as unhealthy as you think (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) Five foods and drinks that can make you feel sad (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome explained, as Jesy Nelson opens up about pregnancy
Jesy Nelson and boyfriend Zion Foster have opened up about the "complications that come with having identical twins" in a heartfelt Instagram posting, revealing that there is a risk that one or both of her babies could die. "Normally, most twins will have two placentas that they feed off," the former Little Mix star explained. "But when you have mono-di twins, that means your twins live off one placenta which can lead to lots of complications." She then added: "I am currently pre-stage TTTS, which is twin-to-twin transfusion, and I am being monitored very closely and I have to go and be scanned twice a week. "The current situation is that every time I've gone it has got a little bit worse but we are just hoping and praying for the best." As Nelson touched on in her video, pre-twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare pregnancy condition which affects identical twins or other multiples. It occurs when both twins share one placenta – and therefore, have one source of blood, oxygen and nutrients, essential for development within the womb. These types of pregnancies may also be referred to as monochorionic. When the blood vessels are not evenly dispensed for both babies, then, it can cause an imbalance where one twin is getting more than the other, and one or both of them run the risk of malnourishment and even organ failure. Likewise, if one twin is receiving too much blood, they may be susceptible to heart complications. According to the Colorado Children's Hospital, approximately 1 in every 250 pregnancies are identical or monochorionic and approximately 2 out of 3 of these pregnancies are monochorionic-diamniotic. Of these pregnancies, 10%-15% develop TTTS. Roughly one-third of all twins will be identical and two-third non-identical, per the NHS. More than 60% of twin are born prematurely, before the 37-week mark, meaning their organs and bodies have not fully matured. When there are multiples involved, there is a higher risk of premature birth, meaning they may be very small when delivered, and they may need help breathing, eating and fighting infection when they are born. Many multiple birth babies are placed in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Women carrying multiples are more than twice as likely to develop high blood pressure in pregnancy. It can also lead to early detachment of the placenta. Although lots of pregnant women suffer with anemia, those carrying multiples are twice as likely to experience it than those carrying singles. According to John Hopkins Medicine, multiple birth babies are about twice as likely to have congenital abnormalities. This is especially likely when twins share a placenta. Heavy bleeding after birth affects about 1 to 5 in 100 women who have a baby, but those carrying multiples are at greater risk of this happening. Read more about pregnancy These are your working rights during pregnancy and maternity leave (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read) I was 'clinically dead' when I gave birth to my daughter (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read) Having been alone in hospital with twins, I know neonatal care leave is key (Yahoo Life UK 9-min read)
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sophie and Edward reveal the two things they do to keep their marriage strong
It's been a busy week for the royals (and ex-royals). Meghan and Harry have been hosting the annual Invictus Games in Canada and brushing shoulders with Nelly Furtado; the Princess of Wales joined a primary school trip to the National Portrait Gallery in London; and, in a surprise twist, King Charles made a martini under the watchful eye of Stanley Tucci and mixologist Alessandro Palazzi. But in the steep climbs of Kathmandu, Nepal, Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, were quietly off planting magnolia trees and meeting veterans and widows at the Gurkha Welfare Trust centre – as Edward's mother and father, the late Queen and Prince Philip, had done in 1986. Just as the trees his parents planted were thriving – 'gosh, they've done very, very well', Edward exclaimed – his marriage to Sophie, which has lasted more than 25 years, has stood the test of time. The pair first met in 1987, when Sophie was working for Capital Radio. They began dating and got engaged in January 1999, before their wedding that June – the couple's first dance was said to have been to Sixpence None The Richer's 'Kiss Me'. Edward is the only one of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's children to not have divorced. Speaking to The Times on their six-day trip to Nepal, the couple attribute their success to two things: humour and a healthy slice of competition. 'There was a wonderful confusion because they wanted us both to plant the tree, but Sophie was then going to go and plant a rhododendron,' Edward said. 'Well, hang on a minute. If you're going to plant the rhododendron, I should plant the tree – there was a lot of banter going on.' According to the paper, Sophie laugh and agreed that they are 'always' competitive with one another. She also joked about their upcoming trek to the mountain village of Ghandruk, which they did on Sunday, stating: 'Got to be competitive going up those hills.' Another key ingredient to their happy marriage is the fact they are 'best friends', as Edward put it. Sophie replied: 'That's true. There's always got to be humour – especially when you're travelling and you've got no idea what's about to happen. You've got to laugh.' Generally speaking, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have managed to stay out of the public eye compared to their other royal counterparts. Their children, Lady Louise Windsor, 21, and James, the Earl of Wessex, 17, also manage to keep things low-key, despite their familial connections. That said, according to The Times, Prince William is keen to give the couple more official duties and a bigger role when he becomes King. Read more about the royals Royal baby names and their meanings, as Princess Beatrice calls daughter Athena (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read) How Meghan is using social media to usher in her new influencer era (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read) "Fashion does matter – why what Kate wears will always be important" (Harper's Bazaar, 3-min read)
