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You are listening to NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing.
Eating peanuts may lower your risk of dying of a heart attack.
U.S. and Chinese researchers examined the link between nut consumption and mortality among low-income and racially diverse populations. They found that intake of peanuts was associated with fewer deaths, especially from heart disease.
While research has previously linked nut consumption with lower mortality, those studies focused mainly on higher-income, white populations. This study was the first to discover that all races, black, white and Asians alike, can potentially increase heart health by eating nuts and peanuts.
Researchers say peanuts are not nuts but legumes, but peanuts contain many nutrients and chemicals that are similar to nuts. For individuals who can't afford tree nuts, peanuts may serve as a substitute.
The results were based on three large ongoing cohort studies. Participants included more than 70,000 Americans of African and European descent who were mostly low-income, as well as more than 130,000 Chinese from Shanghai.
The study found a 19 percent reduction in total mortality and a 26 percent reduction in cardiovascular mortality, for individuals who ate the most nuts or peanuts, compared to those who ate the least nuts or peanuts.
The study results reinforced earlier research that suggested health benefits from eating peanuts and nuts.
Currently, the American Heart Association recommends eating four 43-gram servings of unsalted, unoiled nuts each week. However, nutrient-rich nuts are also high in calories, so don't eat too many if you're watching your weight.
This is NEWS Plus Special English.
The West Australian Symphony Orchestra has launched an official partnership with the China Philharmonic Orchestra, which will see the Australian orchestra performing in Beijing in 2017.
Leaders from both organizations gathered in Perth for the launch of the partnership, which was described by Australian musicians as the "most significant relationship that any Western orchestra has in China".
The program was given the go-ahead last month after the federal government announced a 39,000-U.S dollar grant to the orchestra to develop a "symphony cultural bridge" between the classical music organizations in the two countries.
The West Australian Symphony Orchestra was not expected to announce concerts in China when the funding was granted, but the decision to tour was aimed at strengthening trading and cultural ties with one of Western Australia's biggest trading partners.
The economic relationship is growing fast between China and Australia, particularly Western Australia.
Musicians from both orchestras have organized cross-nation visits in the coming years, which are expected to strengthen ties between Western Australia and China.
Last year, three members of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra performed shows with the China Philharmonic Orchestra throughout China.
Chinese musicians have also announced they will perform classical pieces in the schools and hospitals of Perth, as well as at the University of Western Australia next year.
