More than eight hours sleep can damage brain power

Sleeping too much in middle age can be just  as bad for you as not having enough, it emerged yesterday. A study of almost 9,000 people found those aged  50 to 64 who slept for less than six hours a night or more than eight had worse memories and decision-making abilities.

But brain power was only reduced for older adults of 65 to 89 if they slept too long. The dangers of having too  little sleep are well established, but the latest study, carried out by experts at the University of Warwick, indicates that an excess can create similar problems.

Among the older adults there was a significant relationship between their quality of sleep and cognitive skills. Previous research has shown that getting enough sleep is essential because the brain cleanses itself while the body is asleep, getting rid of harmful toxins accumulated during the day.

But it is less clear why too much sleep would be bad. One theory is that sleeping for long periods reduces the quality of sleep – making a restless period of slumber more likely. Disturbed sleep can impair memory, shrink the brain and create stress. Anyone whose body clock is regularly disrupted, such as nursing mothers and shift staff, is vulnerable.

Your lifestyle may affecting your risk of cancer?

Do you always take the lift rather than climb that flight of stairs? Or struggle to eat any fruit or veg?

If so, you could be dramatically increasing your risk of cancer - and using the quiz below, you will be able to gauge by how much. There is strong scientific evidence to suggest that lifestyle is a big factor when it comes to developing cancer.

Scientists say about 89,000 cases of cancer could be avoided if we took measures such as eating a healthy diet that includes a variety of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and pulses

Liver cancer rose substantially over the past decade - by 70 per cent among men and 60 per cent among women between 2003 and 2012, according to new figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Rates of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, have risen by 78 per cent among men and 48 per cent among women over the same period.

The main causes of liver cancer are tobacco, infections with hepatitis B and C ,and excess alcohol consumption.

But being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a diet rich in plant foods, such as cereals, pulses, fruit and vegetables, have all been proven to cut the risk of developing cancer, scientists at World Cancer Research Fund say.

Source: Dailymail

Scientists reveal the best foods to get rid of the bad breath

Battling garlic breath? Eat an apple: It can make a meal taste delicious - but linger in the mouth far longer than any diner would like. A compound in garlic cannot be broken down during digestion, which is why it is released in the breath and sweat.

Green tea, parsley and spinach may also help, according to the study published in the Journal of Food Science. One of the compounds in garlic - allyl methyl sulphide (AMS) - cannot be broken down during digestion, causing it to be released from the body in the breath and sweat.

Lemon juice, green tea, parsley and spinach may also help freshen breath. A compound in garlic cannot be broken down during digestion. This causes it to be released from the body in the breath and sweat.

10 best festival beauty products

From a mascara that won’t budge to a shower-in-a-bottle, we've found clever cosmetics that will stand up to rain, sweat and mud over a weekend

Panda eyes, greasy hair and third degree sunburn is usually the look most of us end up rocking on the Sunday after a weekend of hard survival in the great festival outdoors.

But thanks to things like waterproof make-up, multipurpose balms and cleansing products that don’t require a muddy trip to the showers, that needn’t be the case. Here are the hero products we’ll be packing this year.

If ever there was a range to keep skin super-clear , despite the copious booze consumption, tent humidity and abundant dirt, it’s Murad. Though not the cheapest face wipes on the market, they are by far the most effective. Other huge stars include the BareMinerals facial powder sunscreen, which eliminates any chance of your face looking like a polar oil slick. And for brilliant colour that lasts all day, opt for Cargo’s waterproof blusher in Ibiza, and Topshop’s two-tone summer collection shadows.

Amazing UV pictures painted onto women celebrate the female form using images of sunsets, tropical oceans and mountains lit by moonlight

In a project which marries the beauty of the female form with spectacular scenes from nature, an artist has created stunning UV images on women's backs.

John Poppleton, from California, creates incredible works of art painted directly onto human skin using fluorescent shades of lilac, orange and green and then photographs them with stunning results.

His project, called Under Black Light, consists of  'bodyscapes' of spectacular natural phenomena such as African sunsets, tropical oceans during rainstorm, and mountain ranges under moonlight.

John Poppleton, from California, creates mindblowing works of art painted directly onto human skin using fluorescent paints

In more otherworldly, eerie designs the artist depicts cosmic scenes of stars, galaxies and shimmering auroras.

His gorgeous painterly scenes are photographed under black light to produce the seemingly glowing images.

John incorporates the curves and shapes of the models into his paintings, and in some the canvas is stretches beyond the back of the model onto the background behind.