Eating fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C may help reduce the risk of developing cataracts later in life. Researchers found that diet, rather than genetics, may be the stronger link in the progression of cataracts. “[Researchers] found that those who had reported consuming more vitamin C in their diet — at least twice the recommended dietary allowance of 75 milligrams a day for women (the R.D.A. for adult men is 90 milligrams) — had a 33 percent lower risk of their cataracts progressing than those who get less vitamin C. The researchers concluded that genetic factors account for about 35 percent of the difference in cataract progression, while environmental factors like diet account for 65 percent.” While the study was only done on female twins, the outcome seemed to be significant. Researchers also noted that vitamin C supplements were not as effective as actual foods containing vitamins. 

Stress could be giving you heart problems. A new study found that the more stressed out you are, the more inflamed your arteries may be. “They found that stress activity in an area of the brain called the amygdala, which is where emotions are processed, was linked to more inflammation in a person’s arteries… The researchers found that 35% of the people with high brain stress suffered a heart event over the nearly five-year study period. Only 5% of people with low brain stress experienced an adverse heart problem.” The study was small and needs more research, but offers a new perspective on stress and the heart.