World of Medicine

Fruits and veggies boost happiness

A study of more than 12,000 Australians revealed that the benefits of a produce-rich diet extend beyond physical health. With every added daily portion of fruits or vegetables (up to eight), the subjects’ happiness levels rose slightly. Researchers calculated that if someone were to switch from a diet free of fruits and vege tables to eight servings per day, he or she would theoretically gain as much life satisfaction as someone who transitioned from unemployment to a job. The exact reason is unclear, but it may be related to the effect of carotenoid levels in the blood.

Hangover cure that’s a myth

Sorry, but a jug of water won’t help you after too many cocktails. In a Dutch and Canadian study, researchers surveyed 826 Dutch students on methods of relieving hangovers. More than half drank water before sleeping or during the next-day recovery. Water can prevent dry mouth, but the study found it didn’t lower the severity of hangover symptoms.

The upside of a little butter

A meta-analysis of nine studies involving a total of more than 6,00,000 subjects in 15 countries found that a modest daily amount of butter—14 g, or one tablespoon—was associated with a four per cent decrease in diabetes risk. Meanwhile, this same amount of butter didn’t seem to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke. Moderation is a good strategy when it comes to highfat foods, such as butter, and the review implied that there’s no need to avoid them altogether.

Why antioxidant pills don’t work