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Worried Well’s search for eternal life update:

Metro Front page 30/6/10

 ‘OVARY TRANSPLANT MAY LENGTHEN LIFE’

‘Women who have ovary transplants could feel rejuvenated and live longer scientists said yesterday’

Well…actually the research was in mice that had ovary transplants, but it did extend their lifespan by more than 40 per cent.  So not quite the answer yet – but long lived mice are a start.

The media loves scares involving things we like, so what about chocolate….

Metro 24/4/10

‘CHOCOLATE MIGHT CAUSE DEPRESSION’

‘The more depressed we are the more chocolate we tend to eat, researchers have found’.

The findings ‘confirm long –held suspicions that eating chocolate is something people do when they are feeling down……But they did not tell us whether the chocolate decreased or intensified the depression’ added the California based researcher.

Luckily a quick look through the archives is all it takes to come up with some reassuring news:

Daily Express 10/7/09

NOW CHOCOLATE AND WINE CAN CURB DEMENTIA

‘Regularly eating chocolate, fruit and vegetables and drinking red wine and tea could help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, an expert will tell scientists today’

Of course those wishing to hedge their bets might want to consider the report:

Daily Mail 20/5/10

BREATHABLE CHOCOLATE THAT COULD CURB YOUR CRAVINGS GOES ON SALE

‘A lipstick-shaped aerosol that sprays particles of dark chocolate into the mouth is being hailed as providing all the pleasure of the real thing but with no need to feel guilty’.

Fine no guilt – but will I feel depressed?

Finally, no summer would be complete without the topical health scares and sure enough:

Daily Mail online July 2010

FLIP-FLOPS ‘INJURE 200,000 A YEAR’ COSTING THE NHS AN ASTONISHING £40M

‘More than 200,000 people visit their GP or even end up in hospital every year after suffering falls or developing long-term problems.

Frequent complaints include twisted ankles, but some have broken their arms or wrists after falling because their flip-flops caught on uneven ground.

Many also suffer aching toes as they constantly scrunch them up to grip the thong, while there is also the danger of the odd stubbed toe.’

You have been warned. But in the UK this summer it may not be safe to even venture outdoors….

Daily Mail online July 2010

BEWARE OF THE SUPERFLY WITH A TASTE FOR HUMANS: SUMMER SURGE OF INSECT BITES THAT SEND VICTIMS TO HOSPITAL IN AGONY

‘Wildlife experts are warning that a superfly with a taste for human blood is being blamed for a surge of infected insect bites that has left some victims hospitalised.
The experts say the Blandford fly – a tiny bug that used to be found only in streams in rural southern England – is moving into towns and cities, encouraged by the popularity of garden water features.
The balmy evenings have also encouraged people into their gardens where they are more likely to be bitten’.

So clearly the responsible thing to do is fill in the pond and stay indoors. I am starting to feel depressed ….and my chocolate has melted.