Exercising for as little as 15 minutes a day can add three years to your life, researchers say.

Just a short burst of vigorous activity, rather than gruelling hours at the gym, reduced the risk of dying early by 14 per cent and the cancer risk by 10 per cent, according to a study of 400,000 people.

Every additional 15 minutes of exercise a day further reduces the risk of early death by 4 per cent and cancer by 1 per cent.

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They may be known for helping you over an embarrassing episode of constipation but prunes have another very useful effect.

Scientists have found that post-menopausal women can protect themselves against osteoporosis and bone fractures by simply eating around 10 of them a day.

Florida State and Oklahoma State academics proved that dried plums are far better than figs, dates, dried strawberries, dried apples, and raisins for improving bone density.

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If you’re a woman cutting calories to lose body fat – not muscle – you may want to increase your protein intake. New findings from the University of Illinois suggest that older women who stick to a higher protein weight loss diet – as opposed to a higher carbohydrate reducing plan – not only lose more weight, they also gain more muscle.

Women who diet are at greater risk of losing muscle mass and muscle strength, consequences that could undermine balance, mobility, overall strength and physical performance. Loss of muscle can even impact how well women perform everyday tasks like walking upstairs or getting up from a chair.

Research has shown that older adults who get more protein in their diet are less likely to lose muscle as they age. Yet many women cut back on protein when trying to lose weight.

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Weightlifting can do more than just build muscle – it can also help smokers kick the habit, say researchers.

A team from The Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island found men and women are twice as likely to quit smoking if they do regular resistance training.

It builds on previous studies that found aerobic exercise can reduce cigarette cravings as well as control weight gain after kicking the habit.

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She’s the world’s highest-paid supermodel – and Gisele Bündchen leaves her admirers in no doubt why in her latest ravishing photoshoot.

The Brazilian beauty, who’s a natural flaunting her body in her bra and pants, donned a flaming red and sizzling reds of underwear for her latest campaign.

The 31-year-old mother-of-one showed off the latest creation for brand Hope – and showed why she’s worth a massive £92million.

Highlights include a cropped coral blazer and black tailored shorts, though casualwear is the main focus of the collection.

Wriiting about the project on her blog, she said she found it even more fulfilling than just modelling alone.

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* New fitness craze sweeping America
* Participants use silk hammocks to improve blood flow and stretch spine
* Can also form cocoons to find zen state
Aerial acrobatics and the attainment of spiritual tranquility may seem unlikely bedfellows.

Yet the two disciplines have been combined to create the latest craze sweeping fitness studios across America – upside down yoga.

AntiGravity Yoga, the brainchild of acrobat and gymnast Christopher Harrison, involves a thorough workout a few feet above the ground in a silk hammock that can close around the person inside to form a peaceful pod.

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Paracetamol, one of the world’s most widely taken painkillers, may boost memory.

Researchers believe it acts on key brain cells that control recall, and have now begun a clinical trial.

It follows a pilot study by the same team whose as yet unpublished results show people taking daily paracetamol performed better on memory tests.

The average Briton takes 106 paracetamol tablets each year, usually to lower fever or relieve mild to moderate aches and pains.

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Dieters who want to control the amount they eat while dining out have an unlikely new ally: big forks.

A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research finds that diners who used large forks ate less than those with more modestly sized utensils.

While previous studies have examined portion sizes and their effect on how much people eat, researchers at the University of Utah assessed the impact that bite sizes had on the overall quantity of food consumed.

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He was dramatically fired from hit comedy series Two and a Half Men earlier this year, to be replaced by Ashton Kutcher.

But Charlie Sheen’s character in the series, Charlie Harper, faces a somewhat stickier end in the first episode of the forthcoming season.

According to reports, the jingle writing womaniser will be killed off, with cast members past and present attending his funeral.

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The dog days of summer are upon us, but you don’t have to put your workout routine on the back burner just because it feels too hot to exercise.

Instead of using the heat as another excuse to skip my workout, I get creative with my summertime activities so I can keep up my fitness goals.

Stretch With the Sun
On days when I know it’s going to be a scorcher, I set my alarm for an early morning yoga session. It’s a win-win for me: I get my workout done before it gets too hot and I start my day on the right foot.

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