World of Medicine

The Bacteria In a Smooch

How much do you share in a kiss? Dutch researchers tracked how kissing affected the oral bacteria of 21 couples. They asked one person in each pair to consume a probiotic yoghurt drink with specific bacterial strains (to track their spread) and then to share a ten-second kiss with his or her partner. The average kiss transferred as many as 80 million bacteria. Sound icky? Not quite. Experts say exposure to someone else’s bacteria could help strengthen your immunity.

Preterm Delivery Linked To Heart Risks

Women who experience spontaneous preterm delivery (before 37 weeks) may have a greater likelihood of heart disease, according to a new Dutch study. Mothers of preemies had a 38% higher risk of coronary artery disease, a 71% higher risk of stroke, and more than double the risk of overall heart disease. Researchers say these women may be prone to inflammation, which is linked to preterm delivery and common among heart disease patients.

New Diet Plan for Diabetes

People with diabetes are often told to eat small meals throughout the day, but fewer, bigger meals may be better. Czech researchers analysed data from a study comparing two diets in 54 people with type 2 diabetes. The participants were split into two groups and ate either six small meals a day for 12 weeks or a large high-fibre breakfast and lunch (but no dinner) for 12 weeks, then swapped for 12 more weeks. The two meals a day groups reported feeling less hungry, lost more weight, had lower blood sugar, and noted stark improvements in mood.