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NEWS<br />
SUPP SPOT<br />
Flying long haul? Bring a little natural<br />
medicine into the equation, says Fay<br />
Higginbotham at Solgar (solgar.co.uk)<br />
Sitting still for long periods at altitude can<br />
make you more vulnerable to thrombosis,<br />
otherwise known as a blood clot, especially<br />
if you like to snooze the time away. Drinking<br />
regularly and strolling up and down the aisle<br />
are enough for most people to keep the<br />
circulation flowing, but if you want to take<br />
precautions without turning to medication you<br />
could consider pycnogenol (a product derived<br />
from pine bark). Research shows that it has a<br />
blood thinning effect comparable to aspirin,<br />
but, unlike the painkiller, it also supports<br />
venous tone, enabling dilated veins to return<br />
to normal more quickly. This means that you ‘ll<br />
actually be able get your shoes back on after<br />
a flight! Don’t shove it to the bottom of your<br />
bag once you arrive at your destination though<br />
– studies suggest that pycnogenol can also<br />
reduce sunburn damage (and wrinkles).<br />
“They say that laughter is the best medicine,<br />
and it turns out that there may actually<br />
be some truth to this” - p17<br />
WHAT’S THE BUZZ ABOUT?<br />
SUPERCHARGING<br />
Did you know that the groceries in your<br />
shopping basket can be ‘supercharged’<br />
to give them superfood status? That’s<br />
the claim of James Wong, the botanist<br />
behind new book How to Eat Better<br />
(£20, Octopus Books). “Improving the<br />
nutritional benefits of crops really isn’t<br />
that complicated,” says James, who<br />
believes hard science should play a<br />
bigger role in our food choices. “It’s just<br />
about how you choose to select, store<br />
and cook them. Little changes can have<br />
surprising impacts.” Were you aware, for<br />
example, that simmering tomatoes<br />
doubles their lycopene content? Or that<br />
chopping salad leaves the night before<br />
using them boosts polyphenols by 50<br />
percent and cooked green bananas are<br />
one of the healthiest sources of<br />
carbohydrates? Well, you do now!<br />
Marmite<br />
Already one of Britain’s most popular<br />
spreads, Marmite is now improving<br />
your brain too! Researchers have<br />
discovered that a teaspoon a day<br />
increases levels of a neurotransmitter<br />
known to regulate brain activity.<br />
Say thanks<br />
Giving voice to our gratitude is<br />
good for our emotional wellbeing,<br />
according to new research which<br />
suggests that saying thank you<br />
contributes to the long-term<br />
success of relationships.<br />
Home birth<br />
A recent study of women giving<br />
birth amid perceived increased<br />
risks – being over 35, overweight<br />
or having undergone a C-section<br />
– found that home births are more<br />
likely to have a positive outcome.<br />
The<br />
BAROMETER<br />
Muffin tops<br />
Forget beach body diets – a more<br />
compelling case for losing a few pounds<br />
might be the increased cancer risk<br />
associated with carrying excess weight.<br />
However, just one in 10 of us are<br />
motivated to lose weight to up our odds,<br />
says new research.<br />
Anxiety<br />
Researchers from the University of<br />
Toronto have found a correlation<br />
between anxiety and migraines.<br />
Yellow fingers<br />
A new study has revealed that children’s<br />
hands can carry significant traces of<br />
nicotine just by touching contaminated<br />
items and surfaces.<br />
NATURAL HEALTH 15
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