New studies, books, apps and more to help you stay well in mind and body.
WHY CHOCOLATE FEELS SO GOOD!
It’s the question chocoholics everywhere have pondered while tucking into a truffle: what makes chocolate so utterly irresistible? Finally, scientists have an answer. Apparently, it’s all about the tactile sensation of solid chocolate turning into a smooth emulsion as the cocoa particles are released in your mouth. Having fat on the outside of the chocolate enhances feel and texture, but fat deeper inside the chocolate does not, say researchers from Leeds University. It’s hoped these findings might lead to a new generation of healthier chocolates, but with the same feel and texture. Yes, please!
FAST-TRACK BRAIN BOOSTER
Stay sharp by adding an extra six minutes of exercise to your daily routine to boost brain power in middle age. Taking six-toseven minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) every day could improve your cognitive performance, according to a new study from University College London. Researchers found more intense exercise is better for memory and mental processes, such as planning and organisation. While being sedentary or doing light intensity activity is associated with poorer brain power. Examples of MVPA include brisk walking, cycling, tennis, badminton and jogging, as well as plenty of spring cleaning activities such as vacuuming, washing windows, mowing the lawn and mopping the floor.
APPY AND YOU KNOW IT
Reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s with lifestyle changes backed by research in COGNITION (£5 per month, foodforthebrain.org). The app shows how to dementia-proof your diet and lifestyle by understanding your personal level of risk and then providing a plan. Activate the app by taking a test at: foodforthebrain. org/the-cognitive-function-test.
BEING FRIENDLY
It’s often said nature holds all the secrets for good health – and now one more has been unlocked. Limonoids are a group of organic chemicals made by plants that can be used to make bee-friendly insecticides. They were too complicated and expensive to synthesise, but now, researchers have discovered how plants make limonoids so they can be produced on host organisms in larger quantities, and more sustainably. Scientists mapped the genome of the chinaberry tree, a mahogany species, and completed a molecular analysis. The aim is to encourage more widespread use of anti-insect limonoid, azadirachtin, for crop protection. It’s effective, fast-degrading and bee-friendly, but not widely used due to limited supply.
DECODING YOUR DIET
Researchers have
