HEALTH

Turmeric, the bright yellow spice used in curries, reduces feelings of depression, according to a new review.

Scientists examined the results of six studies where the effects of curcumin, the main component of turmeric, were compared to those of a placebo. They concluded in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association that the results showed curcumin helps to “ease depressive symptoms”.

The spice has previously been shown to increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a compound needed for normal function of brain cells. Patients with depression have been found to have low levels.

Expressive writing may help wounds to heal faster, a study suggests. People who wrote emotionally about past stressful events two weeks before having a biopsy saw their wound heal faster than people who wrote about factual day-to-day activities.

The study by the University of Auckland in New Zealand and the UK’s University of Nottingham also found better results if patients wrote expressively before the biopsy rather than after.

Lead author Hayley Robinson said: “Results suggest when you write is important, not just what you write about.”

Babies who suffer pain are more likely to end up fat, researchers have found.

Newborns who experience pain may be at greater risk of overeating and obesity in the long term, suggests a Georgia State University study.

Baby rats that felt pain ate more of a sugary solution at each meal compared to those that didn’t. And there was a greater effect in female rats.

Experts say testosterone may protect males from neonatal pain, according to the journal Physiology & Behaviour. The theory is that this time is key for developing the cells in the part of the brain that controls eating behaviour.

ANDREW GREGORY is the Mirror’s Health Editor Nothing could be easier or more convenient than taking a regular stroll. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that walking half an hour a day cut the overall risk of heart disease by 18%.

Taken slowly – you don’t want to give yourself a cardiac arrest with your new trainers – running can turbo-boost the benefits. In one Harvard study, people who ran at least one hour per week cut their risks of heart disease by 42%. High intensity aerobic exercise, such as running, has been associated with improvements in a wide range of cardiovascular risk factors, including physical fitness, increased HDL (the good cholesterol), decreased blood pressure and decreased inflammation.

Taking a chill pill with some yoga moves can keep your ticker ticking. The calming exercise helps reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure, and by reducing stress and anxiety. In one study, researchers in India followed people with heart disease. At the end of one year, people who practised a yoga-based lifestyle, including dietary changes and stress management, found an overall drop in their total cholesterol of 23%, a decreased LDL cholesterol of 26% and an improvement of their heart disease overall between 43 and 70%.