Health News

Cayenne pepper, traditionally used to heat up your meals, could also help fight cancer. Its main ingredient, capsaicin, was found to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in mice, extending their life by 30 percent. —The Journal of Clinical Investigation

The amount of toothpaste a person will use in a lifetime, provided he/she brushes twice daily for two minutes each time. —Renaissance Dental, an insurance company

If you’re sleeping less than six and a half hours a night, consider getting an extra hour and a half of shut-eye. Not only will you be more rested, you’ll be less likely to crave high-calorie snacks for energy. Researchers found that folks who got the extra sleep were 62 percent less likely to crave junk food. —Appetite

With tomatoes aplenty in our gardens, eat up. Tomatoes are a superfood, chock full of lycopene, which helps prevent the formation of blood clots, according to Finnish researchers.

Drinking two or more diet sodas per day may increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke by 30 percent. —University of Iowa

It might well be. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36 percent of folks age 19 to 49 have gone 10 years or longer since their last tetanus vaccination. Tetanus is a disease caused by a bacterial toxin that affects the nervous system, and those toxins can enter your body via any cut or scratch. People who suffer deep puncture wounds, such as stepping on a nail, are susceptible to tetanus.

Spending this much time walking every day may reduce the risk of death by up to 30 percent. —American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Here’s a reason to achieve job security: Fearing you may lose your job could increase your risk of getting asthma by 60 percent. —Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health