Good vibrations
More than just for aesthetics, the wavy foam sole of the Reebok VibeTech (HK$499) is said to absorb the impact of the heel strike as you run, and send a wave of energy along the length of the shoe to help propel you forward. From Reebok, Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2736 7010.
Hold the carbs
It may reduce the risk of cancer and slow the growth of tumours already present, according to the British Columbia Cancer Research Centre. Scientists implanted mice with various strains of tumour cells and assigned them to one of two diets: a typical Western diet (55 per cent carbs, 23 per cent protein, 22 per cent fat) and a high-protein diet (15 per cent carbs, 58 per cent protein, 26 per cent fat). They found the tumour cells grew consistently more slowly on the second diet. Further, only one in the Western diet reached a normal lifespan, with 70 per cent dying from cancer. Only 30 per cent on the other diet developed cancer, and more than half reached or exceeded their normal life span. Scientists agree these findings are definitive enough that an effect on humans can be considered.
Olive and kicking
A good glug of olive oil in your cooking and salad dressing regularly may reduce your risk of stroke, say researchers from the University of Bordeaux in France. The study tracked 7,625 French people aged 65 years and over for six years and found that those who used olive oil intensively were 41 per cent less likely to have a stroke than those who rarely consumed it. The reasons are unclear, but lead author Dr Cecilia Samieri suggests it may be due to replacing less healthy saturated fats with mono-unsaturated olive oil. Heather Davis, a clinical dietitian at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, cautions that olive oil is a high-calorie fat and that more research is needed 'to find out how much is beneficial while still maintaining a low-fat diet'.