Sprinkling a handful of raisins on your bowl of cereal could help you live longer.
Scientists found adding any kind of dried fruit to the morning meal slashed the risk of dying from heart disease by 18 per cent and cancer by 11 per cent.
Tucking into muesli, porridge or bran cereals first thing had a similarly beneficial effect, lowering the risk of a premature death by 10 to 15 per cent.
Scientists found adding any kind of dried fruit to the morning meal slashed the risk of dying from heart disease by 18 per cent and cancer by 11 per cent. Pictured: Stock image
But starting the day with a bowl of sugary cereal increased the chances of an early death by a whopping 40 per cent. Pictured: stock image
But starting the day with a bowl of sugary cereal increased the chances of an early death by a whopping 40 per cent, according to research published in the Nutrition Journal.
The study, from the University of Science and Technology in Anhui, China, analysed how different breakfasts affect lifespan, looking at the eating habits of 186,000 Britons.
Scientists think the disease-fighting powers of dried fruits come from the fact that the drying process concentrates natural nutrients and fibre into each piece.
Most are also a rich source of powerful antioxidants, which can ward off heart disease and cancer.
