HEALTH NOTES

WARNING TO REGULAR ASPRIN TAKERS AFTER HEART STUDY

AN aspirin a day doesn’t necessarily keep heart problems away, a study has shown. The groundbreaking report, carried out by the London branch of the American College for Cardiology, claims too many people are popping a daily aspirin without having any known heart disease or a recommendation from the doctor.

Study author Colin O’brien said: “For a lot of us, taking one aspirin a day brings little benefit and a high risk of other health complications, such as internal bleeding. People must see their GP for advice.”

EATING EARLIER COULD HELP US TO LOSE WEIGHT

DIETERS who struggle to give up their favourite dishes will be encouraged by research that suggests eating meals earlier can help them shed pounds.

A US study found that overweight people eating all three main meals by 2pm burned more fat than when they ate the same food over a longer time. Researchers say this could be the key to weight loss without having to change what we eat. Author Eric Ravussin, of Louisiana State University, said: “Coordinating meals with circadian rhythms, or your body’s internal clock, may be a powerful strategy for reducing appetite and improving metabolic health.”

VITAMIN D COULD AID CANCER SURVIVAL

VITAMIN D doesn’t appear to reduce a person’s risk of developing cancer, but a daily dose of the supplement could up your chances of surviving it. When researchers at Michigan State University, US, analysed data from 10 randomised trials looking at the impact of dietary supplements, they found vitamin D does seem to reduce the risk of dying of cancer by 13%.

Vitamin D plays a role in regulating cell growth and scientists suspect it helps make cancer cells less aggressive.

“The take-home message is that vitamin D might carry a benefit for the cancer population,” said Dr Tarek Haykal, one of the researchers.