A handful of almonds a day boosts 'good' cholesterol that protects against heart disease

• Just 43g improves cholesterol levels by 19% and plaque removal from the body
• Previous research reveals an increase in good cholesterol reduces heart disease
• Adding almonds into the diet has multiple benefits aside from heart health
• The healthy snack also contains a good source of fats, vitamin E and fibre

A handful of almonds a day boosts 'good' cholesterol levels, new research reveals.

Eating the nuts every day increases levels of so-called 'good' cholesterol while also improving plaque removal from the body, a study found.

Just 43g of almonds improves good cholesterol levels by 19 percent, as well as boosting the removal of its 'bad' counterpart, research reveals.

Previous research reveals an increase in good cholesterol, and a decrease in bad, reduces a person's risk of heart disease.

Study author Professor Kris-Etherton from Pennsylvania State University, said: 'If people incorporate almonds into their diet, they should expect multiple benefits, including ones that can improve heart health. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4788442/Handful-almonds-day-boosts-good-cholesterol.html

Active children may lower their risk of heart disease and even cancer in later life

Exercising in youth permanently 'turns down' genes that cause inflammation

• Exercise before maturation turns down genes even if a high-fat diet is eaten
• These effects continue in mice even once the animals have reached adulthood
• Past research has linked fatty diets to increased activity of inflammation genes
• Inflammation has been associated with obesity, heart disease and cancer 

Children who exercise may be at less risk of heart disease and even cancer in later life, new research suggests.

Mice who are physically active before reaching sexual maturity have 'turned down' genes for inflammation, even if they eat a high-fat diet, a study found.

These effects continue even once the mice reach adulthood, the research adds. 

Past research demonstrates eating a fatty diet increases the activity of genes that cause inflammation.

Inflammation has previously been linked to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease and cancer. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4750334/Exercising-early-life-prevent-future-cancer.html

Is air pollution poisoning your body? Tiny particles of pollution in the air we breathe are blamed for thousands of deaths a year. This test reveals who's most at risk

• Air pollution is responsible for 29,000 premature deaths a year in Britain
• London has by far the worst air pollution problem in the country 
• Good Health and King's College London gave 6 people air pollution monitors
• They recorded levels of black carbon in subjects' surrounding environment

We all know about the perils of smoking, drinking, overeating and sitting for too long. But we're less cautious about another, less visible killer: air pollution.

Yet increasingly studies are showing that microscopic pollutant particles in the air, generated by petrol and particularly diesel engines and other man-made sources, can have serious health effects. 

Air pollution is responsible for 29,000 premature deaths a year in Britain - ten times the number of people killed in road accidents - according to a review by the Government's scientific advisory group, the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2639878/Is-air-pollution-poisoning-body-Tiny-particles-pollution-air-breathe-blamed-thousands-deaths-year-This-test-reveals-whos-risk.html

Arguing with your partner is bad for your HEART

• People who think their partner is often unsupportive are more likely to develop heart disease 
• Being unsupportive is actually more damaging to the arteries than overall marriage quality, say researchers

Arguing with a partner isn't just upsetting - it's also bad for your heart. People who think their partner is unsupportive are more likely to develop heart disease, a study has found. 

Scientists at the University of Utah found people who say their spouse is sometimes supportive but also sometimes upsetting have higher levels of artery calcification.

This suggests their arteries are diseased and they are at greater risk of premature death. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2553850/Arguing-partner-bad-HEART-Couples-war-thicker-arteries.html

Breakfast sets you up for the day...and your LIFE

• In 1981, researchers asked teenagers to record their breakfast habits
• The same participants were asked to undergo a health tests 27 years later
• Young people who ate poor breakfasts were 68% more likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome as adults
• Metabolic syndrome is a collective term for diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity

Eating a poor breakfast in your teenage years can inflict long-lasting damage on your health almost three decades later, according to a new report. Swedish researchers found that people who ate poor breakfasts during adolescence displayed more signs of metabolic syndrome 27 years later, compared with those who ate more substantial breakfasts.

Metabolic syndrome is the medical term for a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, and it can cause an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. 

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By studying the same group of participants 27 years apart, researchers in Sweden found that skipping breakfast, or eating poorly in the morning, during adolescence increases the risk of diabetes and obesity by up to 68 per cent in adults Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2548678/Breakfast-sets-day-LIFE-Missing-morning-meals-increases-risk-diabetes-obesity-later-life.html

When 'good' cholesterol turns BAD

• Good' cholesterol can become dysfunctional and lose its protective properties - when this happens it starts to promote inflammation
• Protein in 'good' cholesterol oxidises in artery walls and stops promoting to cardiovascular health but starts to cause coronary artery disease
• People with higher blood levels of dysfunctional 'good' cholesterol are at greater risk of heart disease

Everyone knows they should avoid ‘bad' cholesterol but new research suggests even ‘good' cholesterol is not as innocent as it may seem.

U.S. researchers have discovered that so-called ‘good' cholesterol can turn bad. They say the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) – or ‘good' cholesterol – can become dysfunctional, lose its protective properties and start to encourage inflammation and the clogging of arteries.

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'Good cholesterol' - such as that found in olive oil and avocados - can turn bad and cause arteries to become clogged

The researchers, at the Cleveland Clinic, say the benefits of ‘good' cholesterol have been reported extensively but that all clinical trials of drugs designed to raise ‘good' cholesterol levels have failed to show that it improves heart health. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2546606/When-good-cholesterol-turns-BAD-Substance-clog-arteries-cause-heart-disease-researchers-claim.html

Chocolate and red wine can help stave off diabetes

• High content of flavonoids in foods may regulate blood glucose levels
• Flavonoids are antioxidants found in berry fruits, red wine and chocolate
• They can protect against a wide range of health issues including obesity 

It sounds like the ingredient list for an indulgent dessert. But red wine, chocolate and strawberries are more than a guilty pleasure. They could all help guard against diabetes. A study found for the first time the high content of flavonoids found in berry fruits may regulate blood glucose levels, and stave off type 2 diabetes.

Flavonoids are antioxidant compounds found in plants, as well as tea, red wine and chocolate, which can protect against a wide range of diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, some cancers and dementia. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2542415/Chocolate-red-wine-help-stave-diabetes-High-levels-antioxidants-regulate-blood-glucose-levels.html

Sugar is 'the new tobacco': Health chiefs tell food giants to slash levels by a third

• Doctors and academics say levels must be reduced by up to 30 per cent
• They found that even zero-fat yoghurts can contain five teaspoons of sugar
• Heinz tomato soup has four while a Mars bar has eight teaspoons of sugar
• Obesity and diabetes already cost the UK over £5billion a year

Food giants are being told to cut the amount of sugar they use because it has become the ‘new tobacco’.

Doctors and academics say levels must be reduced by up to 30 per cent to halt a wave of disease and death.

They found that even zero-fat yoghurts can contain five teaspoons of sugar, while a can of Heinz tomato soup has four. 

Doctors and academics say levels must be reduced by up to 30 per cent to halt a wave of disease and death

The equivalent of 11 teaspoons are found in a small Starbucks caramel Frappuccino with whipped cream. A Mars bar has eight. To read more, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2536180/Sugar-new-tobacco-Health-chiefs-tell-food-giants-slash-levels-third.html