Healthwatch

• Women who eat lots of broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are less likely to suffer strokes, according to new research. An Australian study has found that women who eat three or more daily portions of cruciferous vegetables – which also include kale, bok choy and cabbage – have thinner arteries than those who ate none. Thicker arteries increase the risk of blood not being able to flow easily to the brain, possibly leading to a stroke. • Obese children who lose weight by the time they turn 13 can slash their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Previous research has found that being obese or overweight as a teenager can increase the chances of getting the disease later in life, but now a new Danish study has found that overweight kids who get down to a healthy weight by the time they enter their teens have the same risk as their peers who have never carried excess kilos.