Leif Nordgren (USA) Red wine and berries may improve Parkinson’s life expectancy
Recent research from Queen’s University Belfast has found that people with Parkinson’s disease who eat more flavonoids – found in foods like berries, cocoa, tea and red wine – may have improved life expectancy compared to those who don’t.
The research followed over 1,200 people who had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and showed that those who ate more flavonoids in their habitual diet had a lower chance of dying than those who consumed few flavonoids.
Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, and currently has no cure. More than 10 million people worldwide are living with the disease. The disease is caused by the brain not making enough dopamine and leads to tremors, stiffness and problems with balance.
Crocodile freed after six years with tyre around neck
A crocodile in Indonesia that had a motorcycle tyre stuck around its neck for six years was finally freed by a self-taught reptile rescuer last night.
“I caught the crocodile by myself. I was asking for help from people here but they were scared. It got caught in the trap I set up,” said Central Sulawesi province resident Tili, 35, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
After capturing the reptile, Tili used a small saw to cut the tyre and posed for photographs afterwards.
The crocodile had been elusive, only rarely resurfacing in the water, Tili said.
He set up a basic trap with a rope tied to a log with live chickens and ducks as bait. After tracking the reptile for three weeks, it appeared as though the crocodile would best Tili, as it escaped his trap twice.
“Many people were sceptical about me and thought I was not serious [about catching the crocodile], but I proved [I could do] it,” he added.
US Olympian watches birth of first child via video call
US biathlete Leif Nordgren watched his wife give birth to their first child via video call from the Beijing Olympics the day before his first race, after being apart from her since mid-November.
His wife’s due date was initially 4 February, the day of the opening ceremony.
“That was really cool,” 32-year-old Nordgren said of watching the birth of his daughter.
“It was really nice to be on video chat and talking with my wife pretty much the entire time. A really special day for our family.”
He came 87th in yesterday’s 20km individual biathlon.
“I can barely handle how cute this girl is, and I can’t wait to get home to meet her!! @caitlinnordgren we did good,” he wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of his newborn daughter.