Health
‘I’m 86 and I credit my long life to a habit picked up during the time I spent in the army’
A combination of factors such as genetics, diet, and lifestyle choices influences longevity.
Exercise is another, and an 86-year-old man has shared the secrets behind his long, crediting a habit he picked up after seven years in the army.
Peter Thomas spoke on his TikTok account about how his main priority throughout his life has been health.
He said: “I watch everything I put in my mouth and work out daily. I was very lucky. When I was in service, you had to work out.
The 86-year-old said he got used to working out in the army and stuck with it
TikTok/PeterHThomas
“You had to do your drills and all your training. After seven years, it became part of my everyday custom.”
Exercising became a “habit” for the octogenarian, and he encouraged others to work out regularly.
Peter advised: “I beseech you that if you do not have a regular workout program, you change that and make health one of the most important things you must do every day.
“Your health is the most important asset that you have. Look after it.”
At 86, Peter is still full of life and has no intention of retiring. He said: “I will never retire. Retirement is just a word. What I do with my life is have a whole bunch of fun.
“I feel that I have a purpose. It is a huge need that you fulfil your own way. [Have a] think if you are doing good and giving back.”
Peter finds his purpose through his one-minute series on social media, which he described as an “adventure”.
He added: “I am blessed and honoured that I can give back at this time and have so much fun doing it.”
‘Your health is the most important asset that you have’
TikTok/PeterHThomas
The 86-year-old encouraged focusing on what you will do with your life and finding a sense of purpose for motivation.
Peter said: ” I hate the word retirement. It makes me think you are doing nothing. Retirement is a waste of time.
“So, what will you do to have fun, enjoy and be passionately involved in your later years of life? You have to have a purpose; if you keep your purpose, that is your retirement.”
An 81-year-old has recently shared his secret to old age, naming a longevity-boosting activity he does every morning.
Manchester has been crowned Britain’s healthiest city in new research as an impressive 72 per cent of residents maintaining physically active lifestyles.
The comprehensive study by Drug Testing Kits UK awarded Manchester an immaculate Wellbeing Environment Score of 100 out of 100, placing it at the top of rankings across 30 UK cities.
The northern powerhouse achieved its leading position despite 32 per cent of its population being classified as obese and 17 per cent identifying as smokers.
Manchester’s success stems from excellent access to gyms, healthy restaurants, and green spaces, which researchers found helps balance out existing health risks.
Manchester’s success stems from excellent access to gyms, healthy restaurants, and green spaces
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Belfast secured second place with a score of 98, boasting even higher physical activity levels at 75 per cent of adults staying active and a superior obesity rate of just 27 per cent.
Meanwhile the Northern Irish capital also recorded the cleanest air quality in the study with a score of 33.
Popular tourist hotspot Plymouth claimed third position with a score of 95, maintaining 60 per cent of adults in active lifestyles and a smoking rate of 16 per cent.
However, the seaside city’s 29 per cent obesity rate provides a solid foundation for further public health improvements.
Oxford ranked fourth with a score of 94, distinguished by the lowest smoking rate in the entire UK at just seven per cent of adults.
The university city matched Manchester’s impressive 72 per cent physical activity rate, although almost half (49 per cent) of residents are currently classified as obese.
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Bristol completed the top five with a score of 87, leading all cities in physical activity at 76 per cent of residents staying active.
The study employed a sophisticated Wellbeing Environment Score methodology to evaluate health conditions across Britain’s major urban centres.
Drug Testing Kits UK analysed eight key metrics grouped into health baselines and wellness infrastructure categories to rank the 30 cities.
The comprehensive assessment included smoking prevalence, physical activity levels, air quality measurements, and availability of green spaces.
Researchers also examined access to healthy restaurants, gymnasiums, and spa facilities, with gym availability receiving double weighting in the final calculations.
The research has emerged against a disconcerting backdrop of deteriorating national health statistics
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The research has emerged against a disconcerting backdrop of deteriorating national health statistics, with UK heart disease deaths rising for the first time in 50 years, according to government data.
This alarming trend coincides with 28 per cent of British adults now being classified as obese, highlighting the urgent need for effective public health interventions.
Sales Director at Drug Testing Kits UK James Gunter said: “With UK heart disease deaths rising for the first time in decades, it’s clear that cities play a bigger role in public health than ever before.
“This data shows that access to gyms, green spaces, and clean air can help offset poor lifestyle habits.
“When healthy choices are easier to make, people are more likely to stick with them, and that’s where city design makes a measurable difference.”
Health
Common ingredient found in energy drinks might ‘fuel’ cancer cells in those with existing condition
Enticed by energy drinks’ high caffeine and sugar content, it’s no wonder that plenty of individuals reach for a can to acquire an extra boost to help them get through the day.
However, the latest research on the beverage has identified a common ingredient which might promote the growth of certain cancer cells.
A new study published in the journal Nature has revealed that taurine, a common ingredient found in energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar, may promote the growth of leukaemia cells in patients who already have this type of cancer.
Researchers used genetic tools to block taurine from entering leukaemia cells in human cancer cells and mouse models.
A common ingredient may promote the growth of certain cancer cells, experts warned
GETTY
When taurine was prevented from reaching the cancerous cells, it cut off a vital resource that the cancer needed to survive, leading to improved disease outcomes in their experiments.
The study found that cancer cells can hijack taurine to fuel their growth, according to Dr Wael Harb, a haematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute. “They use taurine to help them multiply more quickly,” he explained.
Study co-author Dr Jeevisha Bajaj, an assistant professor at the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute, discovered that taurine can be produced by bone-forming cells in the bone marrow microenvironment, the tissue inside bones where myeloid cancers begin and expand.
The research showed that leukaemia cells use taurine to encourage metabolic changes, including the breakdown of glucose to create energy for their functions.
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The researchers emphasised that their findings do not suggest taurine causes cancer in healthy individuals.
“We do not have any evidence that taurine, or any other ingredient in energy drinks, can increase the risk of leukaemia in healthy people,” said Dr Bajaj.
Dr Harb confirmed that taurine is “generally safe” to have in energy drinks for those without cancer. “That doesn’t mean that taurine causes cancer,” he added.
“But in people who already have cancer, it may fuel it,” he warned.
The researchers emphasise that their findings do not suggest taurine causes cancer in healthy individuals
GETTY
Taurine is a naturally occurring amino acid that may help regulate blood pressure, improve cardiac fitness, and enhance vascular health, with potential anti-ageing properties.
Still, doctors have said that healthy individuals do not need to stop drinking energy drinks based on these findings – a claim that is supported by the study’s researchers.
However, for patients with leukaemia, Dr Harb recommends discussing energy drink consumption with their doctor, including how often they consume such beverages.
“More research is still needed on how to manage taurine with cancer care,” Dr Harb noted.
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