In the know
Want the latest health intel? We’ve combed the science journals so you don’t have to
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The number of minutes of vigorous activity you need to do throughout the day to gain at least some of the health benefits of exercise, according to new research*. Just three or four bursts were linked with a 40% reduction in premature death from all causes. Drop and give us 20.
GOOD HAIR DAY
- Scientists at Imperial College London have used hair-follicle transplants on three patients to encourage scars to behave more like uninjured skin. The treated skin remodelled collagen to restore old growth patterns. This practice could lead to better treatments for patients with extensive scarring, both inside and outside the body.
ON YOUR MRNA GAME
- New research has found a novel method of drug delivery that could help treat conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s*. There’s a protective barrier in the brain blocking potentially therapeutic molecules such as mRNAs from reaching the brain. This new method uses the body’s own systems to trick this barrier and sneak mRNA molecules past.
WATER OF LIFE
- Your skin isn’t the only organ that will thank you for prioritising hydration. Adults who take on enough fluids develop fewer chronic conditions, such as heart and lung disease, than those who don’t, according to a new 30-year National Institutes of Health study. Struggling to hit two litres? Research suggests it’s likely to be excessive for most people, with 1.5L to 1.8L doing the trick.
Fertile ground
At the risk of overinflating the ego of the much-lauded Mediterranean diet, the way of eating that champions fruit, vegetables, legumes and healthy fats can now add another string to its bow. In a recent study, researchers from the University of South Australia identified that the diet’s anti-inflammatory properties could improve couples’ chances of conception. An affordable intervention and another use for the aubergine emoji.
