US Life Expectancy Hits Record

Diet is healthy and satisfying, doctors say

(NEWSER) - A Mediterranean getaway may be too expensive these days, but a taste of the region is just what the doctor ordered. The most thorough study to date of the Mediterranean diet confirms long-held beliefs about its health benefits, writes Dr. Peter Libby in the New York Times. It’s “lower in saturated fat, more varied, and often more satisfying.” More»

Too much time in the chair increases risk of just about everything

(NEWSER) - Hey you, reading this at your computer: You might want to get up and stretch. A new study shows that every hour per day spent in front of that monitor raises your risk of early death from heart disease by a whopping 18%—ie, someone who spends an average of two hours a day is 36% more susceptible than someone who spends none, even if they're not obese and exercise. It also raises the risk of dying from cancer by 8%, and all causes 11%. The Australian study actually looked at more than 8,000 people who watched more than four hours of TV a day, but the problem isn't the tube, it's sitting down for long periods, the Independent reports. More»

Coffee, caffeine may have health benefits

(NEWSER) - Get this: Coffee's not bad for you, and it could have health benefits. New studies do a better job of separating the effects of coffee from those of its formerly frequent partner, cigarettes, the Los Angeles Times reports. And when you look beyond caffeine, "coffee is a complex beverage with hundreds, if not thousands, of bioactive ingredients," a Canadian researcher notes. Among the health benefits:

• Diabetes: Studies suggest the chlorogenic acid in coffee cuts the risk for Type 2 diabetes.

And slow walkers may be at higher risk for dementia: study

(NEWSER) - If you're a slow walker or someone with a weak handshake, it may not bode well for your future. A new study finds that those who walk slowly may be more likely to develop dementia later in life, the BBC reports. Researchers looked at brain scans, walking speeds, and grip strength for 2,410 people aged, on average, 62 years. Eleven years later, 34 of them had developed dementia, and researchers found the risk was higher in those who had a slower pace. More»

Test of drug niacin halted when results became clear

(NEWSER) - Raising your “good” HDL cholesterol might not be such a good idea. A federally funded study into the effectiveness of the HDL booster niacin has been abruptly cut off, after it became clear that the drug did nothing to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke—and in the case of one type of stroke, may actually have increased it, officials announced yesterday. The finding is a major blow to what had been a promising treatment for cardiovascular disease. More»