Study shows the more dietary antioxidants the lower the risk of stroke.

The higher the intake of antioxidants in Swedish women, the lower the chance of stroke. Women with no history of cardiovascular disease at baseline showed a 17% lower risk of stroke when they consumed the highest amounts antioxidant-rich foods compared with the lowest amounts. In women with cardiovascular disease, those consuming the most antioxidant foods experienced a 57% reduction in stroke risk compared to those eating the least.

PositiveTip: Fruits and vegetables are the richest source of dietary antioxidants. Consume plenty of them each day.

Mothers of young children get less exercise.

Canadian researchers reported at OBESITY 2011 that moms of children under 6 years of age get less physical activity than those who do not have children at home. This study found these women averaged 6.38 minutes less of moderate to vigorous intensity excercise each day--or about 45 minutes per week, almost one-third less than the recommended 150 weekly minutes!

PositiveTip: Dad, step-up and do your wife a favor: watch the kid(s) while she exercises! Short of that, Mom: bundle-up the children and take them with you for a brisk walk.

Insomnia increases death rates in men four fold.

The Penn State Cohort Study of over 741 men followed for 14 years finds that men suffering from insomnia and sleeping less than 6 hours nightly had 4 times the risk of dying than men that had normal sleep. A trend of insomnia and short sleep coexisting with diabetes and/or hypertension brings with it increased risk of over 7 fold. In women their was no increase in deaths associated with insomnia or short sleep.

PositiveTip: If you suffer from insomnia do not ignore it. Set regular sleep/wake times, exercise daily at least 30 minutes, avoid caffeinated beverages, and skip late, large meals.

Moderate exercise reduced the onset of arthritis symptoms in women age 72-79 by 46%.

The Australian Longitudinal Study of Women followed two groups of women (ages 48-55 and 72-79) for three years who had reported no arthritis symptoms. Those exercising 1.5 hours per week experienced significantly less arthritis symptoms, and 2.5 hours per week showed an even greater preventive effect. Moderately active middle age women reduced their risk by 29% while the older age group reduced it by 46%.

PositiveTip: The older we get the greater the benefit of exercise. It helps prevent arthritis symptoms and aids in better management of the pain and stiffness.

Exercise reduces upper respiratory tract infection in men and women especially under stress.

A Swedish study of more than 1500 men and women found that moderate to high levels of physical activity was associated with reduced upper respiratory tract infections. Benefits of physical activity were greater for those under high stress.

PositiveTip: Exercise regularly. Brisk walking is an excellent form of physical activity, and improves immunity and lung function while reducing stress.

Brisk walking 3 hours a week improves postmenopausal breast cancer survival.

The Women's Health Initiative study conducted at Yale School of Public Health found that postmenopausal breast cancer survivors live longer if they walk briskly for three or more hours per week, compared to survivors who had low levels of activity. This held true even if the women had not been active before their diagnosis.

PositiveTip: Walking regularly is an excellent form of exercise with many health benefits. Try to walk 4-5 times a week for 30 minutes a day. Can't walk for 30 minutes straight? Then walk 10 minutes three times a day. It all counts toward improving your health!

Eat more -- but have less body fat!

Active women who walk the most steps per day have less body fat, lower BMI, and smaller waist circumference. They also have lower insulin levels and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity than less active women even though the more active women consume more calories, protein and carbohydrates. 

PositiveTip: Walking is a great weight control tool, and every step you take throughout the day counts.

Women eating the most red meat had highest risk of stroke.

The connection between eating red meat and the risk of ischemic stroke was assessed in a study of more than 34,000 Swedish women. After an average followup time of 10.4 years, the women who consumed 3.6 ounces (102 g) or more daily had 42% higher risk for stroke compared to those who ate 0.9 ounces (25 g) or less daily.

Women who had never smoked and did not have diabetes but ate the most red meat still had a 68% higher risk. These results are also consistent with findings from the Nurses' Health Study.

PositiveTip: Cutting back or eliminating red meat intake appears to reduce the risk of stroke in women.