London: A doctor has claimed that walking daily for half an hour is equivalent to taking a “magic pill” that combats ageing and prevents early death. Dr James Brown, from the School of Life and Health Sciences at Aston University, told the British Science Festival in Birmingham that it could help prevent obesity and diabetes, lower the risk of some cancers, relieve depression and anxiety, increase mobility and reduce the chance of hip fractures by 40 per cent among old people.
Pay $ 1 mn to park your vehicle in New York
New York: The underground parking space attached to a luxury apartment block in Manhattan’s SoHo area has been fixed at $250,000 (£155,000) per tyre. It is four times the price of an average American home. At $6,666 (£4,125) a square foot, they are considerably more expensive than the nine three-bedroom flats they are attached to, which are on the market for up to $10.45 million (£6.47 million), or $3,140 (£1,943) a square foot.
Broken heart can kill the elderly early
London: A research by the University of Birmingham has found that broken heart can cause early death in elderly people because grief weakens their immune system. Bereavement causes stress hormones to become unbalanced in the elderly and can lead to a reduction in immune system cells. Scientists recruited about 100 participants, half of whom were aged over 65, while the others were aged 18 to 45. In each group, half had suffered a recent bereavement. They found that hormones became unbalanced in the elderly. Young people have a more robust immune response but this weakens with age. The study could explain the phenomenon whereby couples married a very long time die within a short space of time of each other.
Regular consumption of mangoes good for obese people
Oklahoma (US): A study by researchers at Oklahoma State University, College of
Human Sciences, has found that regular consumption of mango by obese people may lower blood sugar levels and does not negatively impact body weight. "We are excited about these promising findings for mangos, which contain many bioactive compounds, including mangiferin, an antioxidant that may contribute to the beneficial effects of mango on blood glucose. In addition, mangos contain fibre, which can help lower glucose absorption into the blood stream," said Edralin Lucas, the leader of the research. "Our results indicate that daily consumption of 10 grams of freeze-dried mango, which is equivalent to about one-half of a fresh mango (about 100 grams), may help lower blood sugar in obese individuals."
Earth’s ozone hole can be closed in 30 years
London: The earth’s damaged ozone layer which caused an environmental crisis in the 1980s and frightened millions of people will be “well on track” for recovery by mid-century, the UN said. The fragile shield of gas protects the planet from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which cause skin cancer, cataracts and damage vegetation. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons, gases used in spray cans, fridges and insulation foam, were found to be damaging the ozone layer and their use was restricted under the Montreal Protocol in 1987.
Shaming fat people would be counterproductive
London: Scientists say that making fat people feel bad about their weight only makes them heavier and that weight discrimination should be treated like sexism or racism. “Shaming and blaming” fat people is counterproductive and society needs to confront one of “the last socially acceptable forms of prejudice,” they said.
Well-wishers donate £1.2 mn to gutted dogs’ home
London: Traffic on the M6 was brought to a standstill as people flocked to donate to Manchester Dogs’ Home after a suspected arson attack left 53 dogs dead. In the 48 hours since the blaze, well-wishers gave more than £1.2 million in cash and hundreds donate dog blankets and beddings for the 150 surviving dogs left homeless. Overwhelmed staff were forced to ask well-wishers to stay away from its sister site in Warrington, Cheshire, after more and more people came to help. A spokesman for the charity said: “At the moment the response has been so great Cheshire Dogs Home is gridlocked, so till further notice please be patient and stay away from our Cheshire home.”
