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The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Ultra-processed food may pave the way for Parkinson's
A new study suggests that regular consumption of ultra-processed foods may increase the risk of developing early signs of Parkinson's disease. Ultra-processed foods include mass-produced bread, crisps, cereals, and fizzy drinks, which contain preservatives, artificial colours and flavours, and additives like emulsifiers. The study, published in the journal Neurology, tracked 43,000 people over 26 years, monitoring their health status and dietary habits through questionnaires and medical exams. Participants who consumed 11 or more servings of ultra-processed food per day had a 2.5-fold higher chance of showing early signs of Parkinson's disease compared to those consuming fewer than three servings. An author of the study, Xiang Gao from Fudan University in China, said reducing the intake of processed foods and increasing the consumption of whole, nutritious foods could be beneficial for maintaining brain health.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
How much coffee you need to age healthily
Drinking four cups of coffee a day boosts a person's chances of avoiding sickness as they age, a Harvard study has found. The biggest coffee drinkers, who consume four strong 150mg Americanos a day, had a 13 per cent higher chance of healthy ageing than people who drank almost no coffee at all, the scientists said. Almost 50,000 women were followed by Harvard academics for 30 years in a comprehensive investigation into the health benefits of caffeine consumption on ageing. The research found that caffeine itself was linked to marginal health improvements. However, 80 per cent of all caffeine ingested came from coffee and when focusing on coffee specifically, the effect was found to be stronger. There was no benefit for tea or decaffeinated coffee, however. 'While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee's impact across multiple domains of ageing over three decades,' said Dr Sara Mahdavi, study author from Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health. 'The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee – not tea or decaf – may uniquely support ageing trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function.' Fewer than 4,000 of the women in the study met the criteria for 'healthy ageing', marked as at least 70 years of age and free of any major chronic health conditions, with no memory or cognition problems and no mental health concerns. Caffeinated soda drinks were found to have a negative impact on health and one glass a day lowered the odds of healthy ageing by almost a fifth. 'These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health,' said Dr Mahdavi. 'Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviours such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking. 'While this study adds to prior evidence suggesting coffee intake may be linked with healthy ageing, the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation.' She told The Telegraph the women who aged well 'were also eating well, exercising and avoiding smoking', adding: 'Coffee may support healthy ageing when it's part of an overall healthy lifestyle but it's not the main driver.' Less likely to die of heart disease The study was presented at the annual conference of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando and supports a 2022 study which found that moderate coffee drinkers of three cups a day were 12 per cent less likely to die over an 11-year period. They were also 17 and 21 per cent less likely to die of heart disease or stroke, respectively, according to researchers at Semmelweis University in Budapest and Queen Mary University in London. Previous research from scientists at Soochow University in China also found three cups of coffee a day halves the risk of developing numerous heart conditions. The research revealed that people who drank three cups a day were 48 per cent less likely to develop multiple cardio-metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke. The study also found that drinking two cups of tea daily reduced the likelihood of developing these conditions by a third, compared with drinking none.
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Silent' condition suffered by 1 in 5 people in the UK raises your risk of bowel cancer by 24%, shock study reveals
A HIDDEN condition suffered by one in five Brits has been linked to one of the fastest growing cancers in young people in the UK. Having nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - a condition where excess fat accumulates in the liver, usually seen in people who are overweight and obese - may raise the risk of early-onset bowel cancer, a new study suggests. Suffered by around 13 million people in the UK, NAFLD often presents with no symptoms and increases the likelihood of developing a range of health issues, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Now, scientists say the condition causes inflammation in the body that can lead to cancer. The team of researchers found people under the age of 50 with a history of NAFLD were up to 24 per cent at greater risk of bowel cancer than those with no history of liver disease. Those who showed early signs of the disease had a 12 per cent greater risk than people with no history of the condition. They suggested the inflammation caused by NAFLD may travel to the bowel, damaging cell DNA and leading to the formation of cancer cells. Nearly five million adults aged 20 to 49 took part in the study. Men living with NAFLD were also found to be 17 per cent more likely than women to be to get bowel cancer The researchers suggested this is because men are more likely to smoke and be obese - risk factors for liver disease. They wrote: "Our findings revealed a strong link between NAFLD and early-onset colorectal [bowel] cancer in young adults, suggesting the importance of implementing effective preventative strategies, particularly in populations with a growing burden of metabolic dysfunction." While the team from South Korea said more research is needed, they recommended early bowel cancer screening for people with NAFLD. What causes NAFLD? There are a number of factors that can cause a build-up of fat in the liver. Being overweight or obese, especially with excess belly fat, is a major risk factor, as it increases the amount of fat in the liver. High blood sugar levels and insulin resistance associated with type 2 diabetes are strong risk factors for NAFLD - when cells don't respond properly to insulin, it can lead to increased fat production and accumulation in the liver. Elevated cholesterol, especially triglycerides, in the blood can also contribute to fat buildup in the liver. Other contributing factors include a diet high in processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy fats, a sedentary lifestyle, and having sleep apnoea. What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer? IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough. While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver. If you notice any of the signs, don't be embarrassed and don't ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems. The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include: Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example Pain or a lump in your tummy Extreme tiredness Losing weight Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness. In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction. Other signs include: Gripping pains in the abdomen Feeling bloated Constipation and being unable to pass wind Being sick Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools. But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease. Bowel cancer screening in the UK 2 Bowel cancer screening through the NHS is available to individuals aged 50 to 74 who are registered with a GP in England. The screening involves a home test kit (FIT kit) that's sent to the individual every two years. It looks for blood in a sample of your poo - a sign of bowel cancer. If you are 75 or older, you can still participate by requesting a home test kit by calling the Bowel Cancer Screening helpline 0800 707 6060. While the NHS only recently lowered the screening age to 50 in England and Wales, some individuals and organisations are pushing for even earlier screening, with some suggesting 30 as a potential lower limit. Bowel cancer rates are rising among people under 50 in the UK, particularly in England. While the exact reasons are still being investigated, experts point to factors like poor diet, obesity, and potentially even childhood toxin exposure. A study published in the Lancet Oncology reported that England saw one of the steepest increases in bowel cancer rates among young adults compared to other countries.
Medscape
12-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Does Eating Nuts, Seed, Corn Raise Diverticulitis Risk?
Women who consumed nuts, seeds, or corn had no increased risk for diverticulitis, contrary to historical data suggesting these foods may trigger the condition. METHODOLOGY: Although prior research has challenged the historical assumption that intake of nuts, seeds, and corn precipitates diverticulitis, it was conducted exclusively in men and did not control for overall diet quality. Researchers analyzed data from 29,916 women aged 35-74 years enrolled between 2003 and 2009 in an ongoing prospective cohort study. All participants were free of inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, and cancer at baseline. Diverticulitis was self-reported, and food frequency questionnaires were used to calculate dietary index scores and intake of nuts, seeds, and corn. Associations between dietary factors and diverticulitis risk were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographic and health covariates. TAKEAWAY: After a mean follow-up of 13.9 years, 1531 incident cases of diverticulitis were identified. Women with diverticulitis tended to have older age, current or former smoking habit, heavy alcohol usage, and overweight. Intake of peanuts, nuts, and seeds was not associated with an increased risk for diverticulitis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] for highest vs lowest quartile, 1.07), nor was intake of fresh fruits with edible seeds (aHR, 1.06). Corn intake was inversely associated with diverticulitis risk, with those in the highest quartile having a lower risk (aHR, 0.86). Women in the highest quartile of adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet had a 23% reduced risk for diverticulitis (aHR, 0.77), with similar reductions for the Healthy Eating Index (aHR, 0.78) and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (aHR, 0.81), and a nonsignificant trend for the Alternative Mediterranean diet (aHR, 0.91). No association was found between any dietary component or pattern and the risk of developing diverticulosis. IN PRACTICE: 'Our findings refute the widely held belief that dietary intake of particulate matter should be avoided to prevent diverticulitis,' the authors wrote. 'Diets with widely documented health benefits are also associated with a reduced risk for incident diverticulitis.' SOURCE: The study, with first author Trevor Barlowe, MD, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was study published online in Annals of Internal Medicine . LIMITATIONS: The study was observational and could not establish causality. Diverticulitis diagnoses were self-reported, introducing risk for misclassification. Although the analyses were adjusted for multiple confounders, the presence of bias from unmeasured confounders is possible. DISCLOSURES: Study funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health. The authors disclosed having no relevant conflicts of interest. Credit Lead image: Pakhnyushchyy/Dreamstime Medscape Medical News © 2025 WebMD, LLC Cite this: Does Eating Nuts, Seed, Corn Raise Diverticulitis Risk? - Medscape - May 12, 2025.
