Chinese researchers have concluded that tai chi may be able to improve immune status in lung cancer survivors, and thereby potentially help to prevent tumour recurrence.

A pilot study from Hong Kong has provided preliminary evidence for the hypotheses that the anti-depressive effect of qigong exercise is due to improvement in psychosocial functioning and down-regulation of hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Practising tai chi is beneficial for diabetic patients with neuropathy, according to Korean investigators who recruited 59 diabetic patients with neuropathy to a study.

Swiss researchers have found that tai chi practice can reduce psychobiological stress reactivity in healthy subjects.

A preliminary study from Portugal suggests that practicing a short daily qigong routine can be an effective tool for the self-management of burnout in physiotherapists.

Hong Kong researchers have found that taking part in mental and physical activities can delay cognitive decline in seniors with dementia.

People who survive strokes are seven times more likely to suffer falls than healthy adults, resulting in fractures, decreased mobility and fear of further falling resulting in social isolation.

A US study has looked into the benefits of Iyengar yoga for people at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Researchers at the University of Kansas Hospital have fund that as liitle as two one-hour yoga sessions a week can significantly reduce the number of episodes of atrial fibrillation (rapid, chaotic heart beat).

A study reported in Pain journal has found that among patients with chronic neck pain, those who practised Iyengar yoga (9 weekly classes of 90 minutes each) experienced significantly less pain, pain-related apprehension and disability compared to a control group of patients who took other forms of self-care/exercise

A pilot study suggests that practicing tai chi can help people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis both mentally and physically.

A meta-analysis suggests that tai chi can help reduce symptoms of depression in older adults.

A Harvard Medical School study has found that yoga offers positive substantial benefits for people with chronic insomnia.

The great 7th century Chinese doctor and teacher Sun Simiao said, "The Tao of nurturing life requires that one keep oneself as fluid as possible." This is borne out yet again byew exercise/cancer research which has found that exercising for several weeks after chemotherapy can remodel the immune system, making it more effective at preventing secondary cancers. At the same time it adds to the evidence that for healthy people regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing cancer in the first place. (Exercise could fortify immune system against future cancers. American Physiological Society).

A joint Chinese-US research team has found that practising tai chi leads to increased brain volume and improved cognitive function in elderly people.

A study conducted in New York assigned schoolchildren with autism to either a 16-week yoga programme (yoga breathing, movement and relaxation) or control (standard morning routine).

A large, prospective cohort study carried out in Japanese seniors has found that consumption of green tea is significantly associated with a lower risk of developing functional disability (problems with daily activities, such as bathing or dressing).

Practising tai chi twice a week can help Parkinson's patients improve their balance and walking ability, according to an American study.

Seniors who practice tai chi regularly demonstrate improved arterial compliance (the ability of arteries to expand and contract with the pumping of the heart), as well as increased leg muscle strength, according to a Hong Kong study.

Not exactly research but how often do you get to see tai chi performed in space: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl6sjHGK5bg

Green tea extract has been found to lead to improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol and markers of inflammation in obese people with high blood pressure.

A team from Hong Kong has found that a four-month programme of qigong exercise helped ease symptoms and improve biological markers of disease-related stress in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Tai chi has been shown to increase brain volume in older people, as well as improve memory and thinking test scores.

Improvement in automatic postural coordination following Alexander Technique lessons in a person with low back pain.

Alexander Technique lessons are likely to lead to sustained benefit for people with Parkinson’s disease

One to one lessons in the Alexander Technique from registered teachers gave long term benefits for patients with chronic back pain. Six lessons followed by exercise prescription were nearly as effective as 24 lessons.

 In ongoing research to identify the most effective help for post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) in US military personnel, a study published in the May/June issue of The American Journal of Occupational Therapy compared 'sensory-enhanced' hatha yoga with no treatment in 70 military personnel who had been deployed in Iraq.

A US team has found that the use of tai chi alongside drug therapy may provide additional improvements in clinical outcomes in the treatment of geriatric depression.

Tai chi may promote gains in neuropsychological functioning in breast cancer survivors, according to a pilot study by American researchers.

Korean research suggests that tai chi can improve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), quality of life (QoL) and testosterone levels in patients with benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH).

Eighty-four women suffering from prenatal depression were randomly assigned to yoga, massage therapy or standard prenatal care control groups.

A study carried out in a Massachussets high school randomly divided 11th and 12th grade students into a yoga or regular physical education (PE) class for the duration of a school term

An article published in Spine journal has found that 12 weekly yoga classes for people with chronic or recurrent lower back pain (plus usual care) would be a cost-effective strategy for the National Health Service

The essence of the Chinese internal martial arts is to harmonise strength and softness.

A sytematic review of ten randomised controlled yoga trials found that yoga led to significantly greater reduction in pain of any kind compared to standard care, self care, therapeutic exercises, relaxing yoga, touch and manipulation, or no intervention.

A review of 11 studies into the effect of yoga on levels of fasting blood glucose among a mixture of diabetic patients, healthy volunteers and those at risk of diabetes, has found that 9 of the studies showed a significant decrease, indicating that yoga may be promising in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. (Role of Yoga in Preventing and Controlling Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, University of Cincinnati, Health and Education Program and Public Health Sciences).

Having a high diversity of bacterial species in the gut may protect babies against developing allergies, according to a comprehensive study of intestinal microflora in allergic and healthy infants, conducted in Sweden.

The addition of tai chi to endurance training (ET) leads to improved exercise tolerance and quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), according to an Italian study.

A study published in the MJA (Medical Journal of Australia) suggests that the incidence of cancer will rise by 60% in Australia by 2025 (compared to 2007 levels)

Tai chi has a better impact on preventing falls in the elderly than conventional physiotherapy, perhaps because it leads to an increased sense of self-efficacy in practitioners.

Taking part in a programme of qigong exercise may be beneficial for people with type-2 diabetes, according to an RCT carried out in Australia.

Yoga is a more effective treatment for chronic lower back pain than conventional GP care, according to the UK’s largest ever study into its benefits.

The first pragmatic randomised controlled trial of tai chi for people with low back pain has shown that it can improve pain and disability outcomes in this population.

A large epidemiological study carried out in Japan has concluded that green tea consumption is associated with reduced mortality from all diseases.

New research conducted at Newcastle University suggests that regular consumption of green tea may protect the brain against developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, as well as cancer.

Drinking several cups of tea daily can cut your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by more than a third, according to Dutch researchers.

A study of nearly 14,000 Japanese elders (65+) found that green tea consumption was associated with a reduced risk of functional disability over the three-year study period, even after adjustment for other possibly confounding lifestyle factors.

A large Taiwanese study has found that exercising for just 15 minutes a day can reduce mortality and extend lifespan.

Mindfulness meditation may help people who have multiple sclerosis (MS) reduce the fatigue, anxiety and depression that often accompany the disease.

A large Spanish study suggests that an active commute to school can boost girls’ scores in cognitive tests.

A systematic review by UK authors has concluded that exercising in the natural environment leads to greater benefits in mental and physical wellbeing than exercising indoors.

Prolonged sedentary periods lead to larger waist sizes and higher blood triglyceride levels, even in subjects who exercise regularly, according to Australian investigators.

Positive psychological changes that occur during meditation training are associated with increased activity of telomerase, a crucial enzyme responsible for cellular health, according to an important study from the USA.

Exercising first thing in the morning before breakfast can significantly lessen the detrimental effects of an unhealthy diet. 

Drinking several cups of tea daily can cut your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) by more than a third, according to Dutch researchers.

Regular exercise may prevent the common cold, according to a study by US researchers.

A collaborative study by scientists from China and the USA has found that 11 hours of meditation can induce positive structural changes in an area of the brain that helps regulate behaviour.

People who exercise more are significantly less likely to develop gallstones, according to UK investigators.

A large part of human milk consists of complex sugars that are undigestible by babies, but American scientists have worked out that its purpose is instead to influence the composition of bacteria in the infant’s gut.

A study by Swedish researchers has revealed that with regular exercise, teenagers genetically predisposed towards obesity can lose weight and keep it off.

A team of American scientists has reported that regions of the brain involved in emotional regulation are larger in long-term meditators than in non-meditators.

Canadian psychologists have found that people with low self-esteem can actually feel worse after repeating positive statements about themselves.

Children who spend more than two hours a day watching TV have double the risk of developing asthma, a UK study has found.

US researchers exploring the cognitive benefits of interacting with nature have found that walking in a park in any season, or even just viewing pictures of nature, can help improve memory and attention.

Being moderately overweight can reduce lifespan by two to four years, according to a major new study of obesity and mortality carried out in the UK.

Breast-feeding reduces the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by approximately 50% at all ages throughout infancy, according to the results of a German case-control study.

Being physically active improves brain blood flow and cognitive ability in older women.

Breathing exercises can help asthma patients control their symptoms, according to a Scottish study.

Vigorous exercise may protect women against breast cancer.

Binge drinking increases the risk of stroke, according to the results of a Finnish prospective cohort study.

Nutrition and lifestyle changes may modulate gene expression in the prostate and decrease men’s risk of developing prostate cancer.

More than 50% of deaths in women from chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease could be avoided if they don’t smoke, watch their weight, exercise and eat a healthy diet low in red meat and trans-fats.

Researchers from the USA have found that happiness can spread from person to person.

Babies delivered by Caesarean section have a 20% higher risk than those delivered normally of developing type 1 diabetes.

An American randomised controlled trial has compared the lipid-lowering effects of lifestyle changes plus dietary supplements with a standard dose of a statin drug.

Listening to enjoyable music may be good for cardiovascular health, a US study suggests.

Loss of sleep, even for a single night, can trigger the body’s inflammatory response, increasing the risk of heart disease and autoimmune disorders.

People who live near green spaces are healthier.

Prolonged, unabated grief, known as complicated grief, activates neurones in the brain’s reward centres, possibly giving memories of lost loved ones addictive qualities.

Men and women in happy marriages have lower blood pressure than single people.

Drinking chlorinated water while pregnant can harm the foetus.

Physically active women are less likely to get breast cancer.

Men who exercise often are less likely to die from cancer than those who don't exercise.

Breastfeeding during the first months of life appears to raise a child's verbal IQ, according to a study of nearly 13,889 children carried out in Belarus.

Women who breastfeed for longer have a decreased chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Adverse experiences in childhood increase the risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

Healthy lifestyle behaviors during the early elderly years are associated not only with enhanced life span in men but also with good health and function during older age.

Chronic anxiety can significantly increase the risk of a heart attack for men.

People who start drinking alcohol in later life immediately decrease their risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Combining four healthy lifestyle habits can add as much as 14 years on to your lifespan.

Individuals who are physically active are biologically younger than those with sedentary lifestyles.

Even if you are over 65, improving your diet and lifestyle can still lead to significant health benefits and decrease your chances of developing chronic diseases.

The biggest risk for a midlife crisis is not divorce, ill health or losing one's job, it’s merely the act of aging itself.

Babies delivered by elective caesarean section before term carry up to a fourfold increased risk of breathing problems, compared with babies delivered vaginally or by emergency caesarean section.

Babies with only a limited variety of bacteria in their faeces one week after birth are more likely to develop atopy as infants.

Experiments in which students were given small amounts of cash windfalls with instructions on how to spend it, showed that those who gave the money away (donating to charity or giving a gift) were happier at the end of the day than those who blew it on themselves (to pay a bill or indulge in a treat).

Extroverts tend to be overweight, while anxious types are more likely to be thin.

Professional and high-income households are the heaviest drinkers, according to figures from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Lonely people are prone to illness and early death because their immune system genes are dysregulated.