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People who start the day with a glass of orange juice have been getting some good news lately. (See our report on possible cholesterol benefits in the February 2011 Healthletter.) In the latest research exploring health benefits of OJ, French scientists report that drinking orange juice-or a control beverage containing hesperidin, a key antioxidant flavonoid specifically found in OJ-was associated with significantly lower diastolic blood pressure and improved blood-vessel function

At a glance, you can learn a lot about the groceries you buy from the new industry-sponsored labels that should soon begin appearing on packages. The front-of-package Nutrition Keys labels will prominently display calories, saturated fat, sodium and sugar per serving

A new Italian study reports that antioxidants in the diet were associated with a reduced risk of the most common kind of stroke. Among 41,620 study participants, those with diets highest in total antioxidant capacity (a measure of several different antioxidant compounds and their interactions) were 59% less likely to suffer an ischemic stroke. Such strokes occur as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying the brain

Heres more evidence that eating like a Mediterranean might help protect your aging brain: In a new study comparing the eating habits and mental abilities of nearly 3,800 older Chicagoans, those who stuck most closely to a Mediterranean-style diet pattern saw a slower rate of cognitive decline with aging. People who ate most like Mediterraneans had brains that functioned as if they were several years younger

Eating just one more serving of fruits or vegetables daily cut the risk of dying from heart disease by 4% in an observational study of more than 300,000 Europeans in 10 countries. And people who ate the most produce-eight or more daily portions-were 22% less likely to die of heart disease than those eating two or fewer daily portions of fruits and vegetables

The omega-3 fats in fish oil, touted for their heart-health benefits, may have a bonus for heart patients: slowing biological aging at the cellular level. In a study of patients with stable coronary artery disease, those with the highest blood levels of omega-3s also showed the least shortening of telomeres, a sign of biological rather than chronological aging. Patients with the lowest omega-3 levels, on the other hand, had the fastest rate of telomere shortening when researchers compared measurements from the start of the study to five years later.

Two new studies point to a link between high blood pressure and increased risk of dementia. In one eight-year study of 1,403 women ages 65 and older, MRI scans revealed that those with hypertension had significantly more white matter lesions- indicating weakening of the insulation around nerve cells in the brain necessary for communication. The higher the blood pressure, the more serious the damage.

Vitamin Ds important role in bone health, already linked to protection against osteoporosis, may extend to joints and prevention of the most common form of arthritis. A new study reports that men with insufficient vitamin D levels were twice as likely to have hip osteoarthritis as those with normal vitamin D.

You know you should eat more fish. The American Heart Association recommends at least two servings a week, especially fish high in hearthealthy omega-3 fats. But fresh fish can be expensive and spoils quickly. Maybe its time to rediscover canned fish.

After age 70, a few extra pounds may not be so bad. New Australian research adds to the evidence suggesting that the rules about weight and health are different for older people- and that Body Mass Index (BMI) isnt a perfect tool. The study of 9,240 men and women ages 70 to 75 found that being overweight was associated with a 13% lower risk of mortality from all causes. Normal-weight and obese participants had a similar, slightly higher risk of death from all causes.