YOUR healthy life

The latest news on diabetes, fitness, nutrition, research and books

- KAREN FITTALL.

A berry nice idea

Eating a handful of dried goji berries five days a week may help protect your eyes against the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A disease that's responsible for half of all blindness and vision loss in Australia, one in seven Australians over the age of 50 has some evidence of AMD. What's so good about goji berries for eye health? According to recent research, adding them to the diet increases the density of lutein and zeaxanthin in the eyes, which are protective pigments that filter out harmful blue light and provide antioxidant protection. To learn more about AMD and understand your risk factors for developing the disease, visit mdfoundation. com.au/check-my-macula to take a short, one-minute quiz.

HOW EXERCISE PROTECTS AGAINST TYPE 2

Fresh research has shed light on the mechanics behind why physical activity lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes – and how it might help to manage it, too. Showing that people who did 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week had a 39 per cent lower risk of type 2, the study found that physical activity modifies the metabolism, positively changing the levels of nearly 200 compounds to produce the protective effect. And it looks like every bit of exercise counts, with people who were physically active just two days a week enjoying a 30 per cent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Feel Good Food

By Joe Wicks

HQ, $19.99

Based on the idea that what we eat has a huge impact on how we feel, this cookbook takes the stress out of healthy home cooking. From energy-boosting breakfasts to easy weeknight dinners and simple yet delicious snacks, inside you'll find more than 100 quick, tasty and nutritious recipes that are designed for energy and balance.