Blueberries may lower cardiovascular risk
According to a recent two-part study, the phytochemicals that give blueberries their blue colour can significantly improve cardiovascular health. In the first part of the study, the researchers took the participants’ pressure and measured the flow-mediated dilation (FMD – a standard indicator of cardiovascular risk) of their brachial arteries. In the second part they compared drinking blueberries with drinking purified anthocyanins or control drinks that had concentrations of fibre, minerals, or vitamins equivalent to those in blueberries. They noticed that after a month of having 200 grams of blueberries each day, the participants’ blood pressure decreased by 5 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg), on average.
Diabetes linked to back pain
Diabetics have a 35 percent higher risk of experiencing lower back pain and 24 percent higher risk of having neck pain than others, say researchers who based their findings on meta-analyses of studies that assess the links between diabetes and back or neck pain outcomes. There was, however, insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between diabetes and back/neck pain. It warrants further investigation, more so since type 2 diabetes and low back pain have a strong relationship with obesity and lack of physical activity. The study also found diabetes medication could influence pain, possibly via its effect on blood glucose levels, requiring more research.
