10 Important Health Tips

1 Tea off in the morningHot tea can slash your risk of kidney cancer by 15 per cent, according to a review in the International Journal of Cancer. Try pu-erh tea, which is better than green or black tea at preventing DNA damage.

2 Sleep smarterToo much sleep, or not enough of it, can kill you. A British study found that getting more than nine hours of sack time a night, or less than six, doubles your risk of an early death from any cause. Aim for seven to eight hours a night.

3 Pop in your lenses post-showerSoaping up while wearing your contacts can expose your eyes to infectioncausing waterborne microbes, say University of Illinois at Chicago researchers.

4 Drink wine, stay leanPolyphenols, the compounds found in red wine, help your body block fat absorption, an Israeli study found. Red-wine marinades work, too.

5 Check your neckAn American Journal of Medicine study found that a mildly underactive thyroid can boost your heart-disease risk by 65 per cent. A quick blood test can assess your level of thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH).

6 Scent your air safelyAvoid air fresheners with phthalates, as it may disrupt hormone processes, the US Natural Resources Defence Council says.

7 Boost your defencesAn Archives of Internal Medicine review reports that 400IU of vitamin D a day cuts your risk of an early death by 7 per cent.

8 Lean backParking your torso at a 90-degree angle strains your spine, say Scottish and Canadian researchers. Instead, give your chair the La-Z-Boy treatment and recline the seat back slightly. The ideal angle is 45 degrees off vertical.

9 Steam your broccoliItalian researchers recently discovered that steaming broccoli raises its concentration of glucosinolates (compounds that fight cancer) by 30 per cent. Boiling lowers the levels.

10 Stretch it out Genes linked to heart disease, diabetes and obesity can be "turned on" if you sit for hours on end, reports a Diabetes study. Hit the "off" button by taking hourly laps during TV, book and web sessions.