February - 2017

Fasting diet 'regenerates diabetic pancreas'

The pancreas can be triggered to regenerate itself through a type of fasting diet, say US researchers. Restoring the function of the organ - which helps control blood sugar levels - reversed symptoms of diabetes in animal experiments. The study, published in the journal Cell, says the diet reboots the body. Experts said the findings were "potentially very exciting" as they could become a new treatment for the disease. The experiments were on mice put on a modified form of

Fruit and veg: For a longer life eat 10 a day

Eating loads of fruit and vegetables - 10 portions a day - may give us longer lives, say researchers. The study, by Imperial College London, calculated such eating habits could prevent 7.8 million premature deaths each year. The team also identified specific fruit and veg that reduced the risk of cancer and heart disease. The analysis showed even small amounts had a health boon, but more is even better. A portion counts as 80g (3oz) of fruit or veg - the equivalent of a small

Hospital cuts planned in most of England

Hospital services in nearly two-thirds of England could be cut or scaled back, BBC analysis of local plans shows. The proposals are part of a programme to transform the health service and save money across 44 different areas. The BBC found 28 proposals affect hospital care, from full closures to centralising services, such as A&E and stroke care, on fewer sites. NHS England argue patients will receive better care in the community to compensate for the hospital cuts. The p

Vitamin D pills 'could stop colds or flu'

Vitamin D supplements could spare more than three million people from colds or flu in the UK each year, researchers claim. The sunshine vitamin is vital for healthy bones, but also has a role in the immune system. The analysis, published in the British Medical Journal, argues food should be fortified with the vitamin. But Public Health England (PHE) says the infections data is not conclusive, although it does recommend supplements. These, it says, should be taken for improved

Winter deaths 'halve to 24,000'

There were 24,300 excess deaths in England and Wales last winter - about half the number of the previous year. This means the number of extra deaths from December to March fell to traditional levels after the spike seen during the winter of 2014-15. The extra deaths last winter represent a 15% increase on the average for the rest of the year, according to the Office for National Statistics data. Death rates rise in the colder weather because of more respiratory illnesses. The