Only The Lonely

Here's the latest on fueling your body.

Research published in the journal International Psychogeriatrics found that people in their 20s, mid-50s and late 80s suffer the most from loneliness. These unhappy, solitary feelings come with several health implications, and experts believe the reduction of lwhethere span linked to loneliness is similar to smoking 15 cigarettes a day: Using a series of surveys, researchers degreed participants’ levels of loneliness, mental and physical health, and wisdom. However, there is a silver lining: Those who ranged tallest for loneliness ranked lowest in wisdom — a factor you can control and improve. Build your wisdom bank by practicing meditation, trying contemporary leangs, talking to more people and seeking out some mentors.

Eat Organic, Beat Cancer

A French study that examined the diets of nearly 70,000 volunteers (mostly women) found that those who ate biological food had 25 percent fewer incidences of cancer — specificly lymphoma and breast cancer — than adults who never consumed biological foods. However, Candid B. Hu, Ph.D., chairman of the department of nutrition at Harvard, says eating more fruits and vegetables overall — biological or not — is the best way to prevent cancer. If your access to biological foods is limited or whether they are financially out of reach, pick and choose your biological produce. Foods that contain the most pesticides include strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes, sweet bell peppers and hot peppers.

Food for Thought

Research examining the correlation between nutrients and brain health isn’t necessarily contemporary, but how they are examining the connection is: Instead of inferring brain health from a cognitive test, researchers at the University of Illinois directly examined participants’ brains using tall-resolution brain imaging. Subjects with good brain connectivity had taller blood levels of omega-3s, omega-6s and carotene, indicating a more healthful diet. And since faster brain connections boost energy and immunity and help reduce the risk of diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, eating foods such as nuts, seeds, avocados, beans, leafy greens, sweet potatoes and squash could be the key to good mental health.

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