Studies about seniors look at diet, financial shocks

#Middlebury #SeniorNewsLine

Here is selection of studies about seniors from around the globe:

Norway: It seems that what we’ve been told about how many servings of fruits and vegetables to eat each day to stay healthy might not be accurate. All these years we’ve been told five. The correct number is eight. Finding: For every 200 gram (.84 cup) increase in fruits or vegetables we eat, we decrease our risk of stroke and premature death by 10.8 percent. Finding: Eating canned fruit, however, increases the risk.

Australia: For years we’ve been told to be wary of the cholesterol in eggs. A new study now claims that eggs aren’t linked to heart disease, even eating up to a dozen eggs per week, if you have pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Finding: The caveat is that you must switch from butter to monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats like olive oil. Finding: The study was financed by an Australian egg website, but it’s claimed they didn’t have anything to do with the study itself.

United States: Seniors who have had serious financial shocks experience increased mortality from all causes. A study followed 8,700 seniors (some wealthy and some not) for 20 years after being assessed in 1994. “Negative wealth shock” was considered as losing more than 75 percent of net worth over a two-year period. Finding: Participants were 50 percent more likely to die if they suffered negative wealth shock during a two-year period. Finding: Those who only experienced low income during their lives were at an even greater risk of death.

Before you make changes to your diet based on studies, ask your doctor. After all, fruit contains sugar and eggs have cholesterol. While you’re there, if you’ve had a serious financial setback, let your doctor know.

(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.