You may have read that it's important to eat certain foods based on your blood type. Depending on whether your blood type is O, A, B or AB, proponents of the blood type diet say there are foods to eat and foods to avoid for optimal health and a longer life. Can eating certain foods based on blood type really help you live longer? The blood type diet was first introduced in 1996 by a naturopathic physician, Peter D'Adamo who alleges that even the spices you put on your food could contribute to better health and should be individualized for your specific blood type. The theory is that certain foods and even the type of exercise you do should be individualized. For instance, if you have type O blood you should eat plenty of meat and fish protein, vegetables and fruits but stay away from legumes - at least so the dietary guidelines say. Recommendations for weight loss include avoiding dairy, corn and wheat and filling up on red meat, broccoli, spinach and olive oil. Type A ind
Credit: Morguefile Professor Barbara Sahakian says it’s time to put the same focus on mental health as we do on physical health. Sahakian who is an expert on cognitive enhancers says mental health is just as important as physical health. We all know the importance of exercise and diet, but there isn't the same emphasis on staying mentally fit. Brain issues are a leading cause of disability, but Sahakian says mental health is something we take for granted. "Just as joggers check their pulse rate, we should encourage individuals to regularly keep an eye on the state of their mental health. Often people wait too long to seek help, making their condition more difficult to treat.” To help improve mental health she recommends innovation and technology. “Innovation which promotes enjoyable cognitive training for example through the use of games on iPads and mobile phone apps will be of great benefit to healthy people and those with mental health problems alike”