Fiona Callingham

Doctor Amir Khan recommends grip strength as a strong indicator of healthy ageing, noting its links to independence, frailty risk and longevity. He also advises monitoring walking speed, the ability to rise from the floor without using the hands, waist size and resting heart rate. These measures can reflect muscle, cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological health, while gradual declines may signal areas for improvement or medical discussion.

Professor Tim Spector says Marmite could be considered a health food because it contains protein, B vitamins and compounds derived from brewer’s yeast. He cites a small 2017 study in which people who consumed a teaspoon of Marmite daily for a month showed brain responses associated with stress that were approximately 30% lower, although the study had only 14 participants per group and larger research is needed.

Research combining 14 observational studies involving more than 11,000 participants found that high chilli pepper consumption was associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal cancers, especially oesophageal cancer. The strongest link suggested nearly triple the risk compared with low-intake groups, while associations with stomach and colorectal cancers were weaker and not statistically significant. Scientists propose that capsaicin-related irritation of the oesophagus may play a role, though the mechanism remains hypothetical. Researchers emphasise that the findings show correlation rather than causation and note that capsaicin has also shown potential anti-cancer properties, underscoring the need for further study.