Health News: Eat Healthy, Be Happy

Eat Fruit, Be Happy

You already know that taking in the recommended daily amounts of fruits (two cups) and veggies (three cups) has health benefits, but new research shows that eating more—eight cups of each per day—can boost your happiness. —American Journal of Public Health

Phones and Kids

What’s the right age to let youngsters have a smartphone? According to parents in a recent study, 11.9 years is the average age they say they gave kids a phone. —Family Online Safety Institute

Curb Road Rage

You’re 78 percent more likely to be in a car crash if you’re an angry driver—so stay calm. —Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Gut Check for Chronic Fatigue

Bacteria found in the gut is being used to diagnose—with 83 percent accuracy—chronic fatigue syndrome. Blood and fecal samples look for “abnormal” bacteria, that is, bacteria that is less diverse with fewer good bacteria, the kind that has anti-inflammatory properties. About 1 million Americans suffer from the condition. —Cornell University

Counteract the Effects of that Desk Job

You don’t have to worry about being stuck at your desk for hours on end— as long as you’re exercising an hour or more each day, that is. A recent metaanalysis of 16 studies of more than 1 million people found no correlation between how much time people spent sitting and how soon they died—as long as they stayed active. —The Lancet

5+

The number of servings of nuts per week that folks need to eat to reduce inflammation, which is linked to heart disease and cancer. Walnuts are especially heart healthy because they’re chock full of omega-3s. —Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Bookworms Live Longer

Folks who read books more than 3.5 hours a week had a 23 percent decrease in mortality compared with those who didn’t read at all. And those who averaged 3.5 hours of book reading had a 17 percent lower risk. Researchers theorize that because books are longer and more complicated than, say, websites and streaming screens, and have more complex plots and characters, they require more brainpower. —Yale University

Vitamin A Gets an 'A' for Allergy Relief

Eating a diet high in vitamin A and fiber can beat food allergies by boosting the immune system. It’s believed that fiber helps bacteria in the stomach make short-chain fatty acids, which control allergic reactions, while the vitamin A helps those cells function at peak performance. —University of Australia

8.9 Million

The number of fractures that occur annually worldwide. To combat osteoporosis, get plenty of exercise and eat a diet rich in calcium, protein and vitamin D. —American Bone Health