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Smokers who eat fruit, vegetables regularly lower lung disease risk by 40%with breast cancer

By Chukwuma Muanya, Assistant Editor
21 March 2017   |   3:55 am
Scientists warn smokers should make sure they eat more fruit and vegetables to prevent deadly lung disease. A study found that consuming five-a-day reduces their risk of getting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 40 per cent.

Fruits and vegetables…a study found that consuming five-a-day reduces their risk of getting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 40 per cent. PHOTO CREDIT: http://agrodaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/fruit23112.jpg

*Greens intake in women associated with reduced psychological stress
*Daily consumption of tea protects elderly from cognitive decline

Scientists warn smokers should make sure they eat more fruit and vegetables to prevent deadly lung disease. A study found that consuming five-a-day reduces their risk of getting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 40 per cent.

The new findings published in the journal Thorax suggest that each extra portion of fruits and vegetables slashes the chances by an additional eight per cent.

Also, daily consumption of tea protects elderly from cognitive decline. Tea drinking reduces the risk of cognitive impairment in older persons by 50 per cent and as much as 86 per cent for those who are genetically at risk of Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear in their mid-60s.

According to a recent study led by Assistant Professor Feng Lei from the Department of Psychological Medicine at National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, China, a cup of tea a day can keep dementia away, and this is especially so for those who are genetically predisposed to the debilitating disease.

The research team published their findings in scientific journal The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging. Also, women who eat their veggies at lower risk of psychological stress. The longitudinal study of more than 60,000 Australians aged 45 years and above measured participants fruit and vegetable consumption, lifestyle factors and psychological distress at two time points, 2006-08 and 2010.

The study was published in the British Medical Journal Open. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, a 10-item questionnaire measuring general anxiety and depression. Usual fruit and vegetable consumption was assessed using short validated questions.

Fruit consumption alone had no significant association with a lower incidence of stress. There was no significant association between higher levels of fruit and vegetable intake (greater than seven daily serves) and a lower incidence of stress.

These new findings are consistent with numerous cross sectional and longitudinal studies showing that fruit and vegetables, together and separately, are linked with a lower risk of depression and higher levels of well-being assessed by several measures of mental health.

Meanwhile, former smokers can also grab the benefits from adopting a healthier diet, although the findings weren’t true for those who do not smoke.

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