Your mum said it first! 5 health tips now backed by science

Mums know things. Not the kind of things you find in textbooks or peer-reviewed journals, but the real-world wisdom that somehow always turns out to be right! She told you to eat your greens and get some fresh air, but you’d roll your eyes. Now? Researchers are catching up, validating every single thing she told you as a kid, proving that sometimes the best health advice doesn't come from a lab coat; it comes from someone who just knew. Your mum! So, this Mother’s Day, let’s give our mums the credit they deserve!

Your mum was absolutely right. You have to eat your meals when they are supposed to. Skipping breakfast and eating dinner late is costing you your bone health. That’s right. A Japanese study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society last year found that people who skip breakfast and eat late dinners are at higher risk of osteoporosis. Missing breakfast and having dinner close to midnight may look harmless, but they are silently harming your bone health.

Remember when your mum insisted you finish your greens? She wasn't being difficult. She was trying to protect your heart, literally! Higher intake of fruit, vegetables, and dietary fibre reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. “Fibre lowers LDL cholesterol, improves blood pressure, and reduces inflammation,” Dr Kunal Sood, MD, a double-board-certified physician in anaesthesiology and interventional pain medicine, practising in Germantown, Maryland, said in a video shared on Instagram. A 2017 study by researchers from NTNU and Imperial College London found that people who ate 800 grams of fruit and vegetables every day had a reduced risk of early death by nearly a third and heart disease by about a quarter.

You were probably annoyed by your mum's bedtime teeth-brushing reminders, but they were actually protecting your heart. The latest research suggests that brushing and flossing your teeth is crucial, not just for your dental health, but also for your heart health. A groundbreaking study from Hiroshima University, published in Circulation last year, found that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium linked to gum disease, can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a heart rhythm disorder linked to sudden heart attacks and strokes. Poor dental hygiene isn't just about cavities. It can lead to cardiac complications that your mum saw coming from a mile away!

She knew it even before science did. She has been imparting this wisdom for years, and science finally agrees: an empty stomach clouds your judgement! A 2019 study from the University of Dundee suggests that people should avoid making any important decisions about the future on an empty stomach. Why? Because hunger significantly alters people's decision-making, making them impatient and more likely to settle for a small reward that arrives sooner than a larger one promised at a later date. The findings were published in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. She told you!

Your mum told you to get outside in the morning, and once again, she was spot on! Because getting the morning sun can solve 90% of your everyday problems. Let’s start with vitamin D. When UVB rays hit the skin, your body begins producing this essential nutrient, vitamin D3, which is essential for your bone health, immunity, and mood. In fact, a 2021 study by University of South Australia researchers even found genetic evidence for a role of vitamin D deficiency in causing cardiovascular disease. People with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to suffer from heart disease and high blood pressure. The findings were published in the European Heart Journal. Getting just 20 to 30 minutes of morning light will reset your circadian rhythm, which means your sleep will improve. Exposure to sunlight also boosts serotonin, a brain chemical that gives you more energy and helps keep you calm, positive, and focused! And she knew it all along!

So, this Mother’s Day, along with the flowers, just promise to listen to your mum. After all, she's been giving you the best health advice (among others) all along! Scientists are still catching up.