We all must have come across the phase: this is why women live longer than men. These are all over the social media, where men are performing more often than not, some experiments, without gears, just for fun, "in the name of science". The caption reads: this is why women live longer. However, is there really a science to it, other than the fact that women choose to do things more safely?

In the United States, women have a life expectancy of about 80, whereas men have 75. Women outlive men and this holds true regardless of the country women live, the money they make, and other factors. In fact, it is true for most other mammals too.

Dr Dena Dubal, a professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco told the New York Times, "It is a very robust phenomenon all over the world, totally conserved in sickness, during famines, during epidemics, even during the times of starvation."

But what are the reasons? These reasons are often more complicated and less established. It is important to note that only because women are outliving men does not mean they are living a better life. In fact, women tend to have shorter health spans, which means the number of healthy years in a person's life is less in women than men, confirmed Bérénice Benayoun, an associate professor at the U.S.C. Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.

As per a 2021 study titled, Sex differences in frailty: Comparisons between humans and preclinical models, found that women are more physically grail than men in old age. They are also more vulnerable, especially after menopause and are at more risk of developing cardiovascular issues and Alzheimer's disease because of age.

The key is in figuring out what makes one sex more resilient or vulnerable.

Genetics

For things which do not find easy explanations, scientists look for their answers in genes. Many research, including a 2020 study titled, The sex with the reduced sex chromosome dies earlier: a comparison across the tree of life, suggests that the XX set of female sex chromosomes may impact longevity. However, there has not been any clarity on how it affects longevity.

Another 2018 study titled, Female XX sex chromosomes increase survival and extend lifespan in aging mice, which was conducted by Dr Dubal's lab, looked at genetically manipulated mice with different combinations of sex chromosomes and reproductive organs. It was found that those with two X chromosomes and ovaries lived longest, followed by mice with two X chromosomes and testes. Mice with XY chromosomes had shorter life spans.

"There was something about the second X chromosome that was protecting the mice from dying earlier in life, even if they had testes. What if there was something on that second X chromosome that was in some ways a sprinkle of the fountain of youth," says Dr Dubal. While scientists have not yet looked at this factor in humans, Dr Dubal suggests that humans have the same hormones and sex chromosomes, and similar reproductive system that could corroborate the similar findings in people.

Hormones

Plenty research has shown that estrogen is responsible for longevity also effect on the immune system. The data also shows that before menopause, the female immune system tends to do better. In fact Dr Benayoun said that males tend to do much worse in response to infection.

Another 2017 study titled, Ages at Menarche and Menopause and Reproductive Lifespan As Predictors of Exceptional Longevity in Women: The Women's Health Initiative, found that women who experienced menopause later in life over the age 50 lived longer than those who experienced it earlier.

Lifestyle and Behavior

There are also disparity in behavioral patterns between men and women. This includes smoking, drinking heavily, which can contribute significantly to mortality. Women also have more "health promoting behavior", believe experts. Women are also more likely to socialize than men and thus it protects them from detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness. In fact, a 2023 analysis published in Jama Network, titled, Widening Gender Gap in Life Expectancy in the US, 2010-2021, found that women are less likely to die by drug overdose or suicide.

Dialysis patients who took daily fish oil supplements had a 43 percent lower risk of major cardiovascular events, according to a large international clinical trial jointly led in Australia by Monash Health and the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash University.

Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the study found that participants who took four grams of fish oil each day experienced significantly fewer major cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, cardiac death and vascular-related amputations than those who received a placebo.

The supplement contained the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are naturally found in fish oil.

Adjunct Professor Kevan Polkinghorne, a nephrologist at Monash Health and adjunct in the School of Clinical Sciences, led the Australian portion of the trial said: "Patients on dialysis have extremely high cardiovascular risk, and very few therapies have been shown to reduce that risk," Professor Polkinghorne said. "In a field where many trials have been negative, this is a significant finding.

"Dialysis patients typically have much lower levels of EPA and DHA than the general population. This may help explain the magnitude of benefit observed in this group."

He also noted that results applied specifically to people undergoing haemodialysis for kidney failure and the findings should not be generalized to healthy individuals or to other groups of patients.

What Are Fish Oil Omega-3s?

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats known for their crucial role in brain function and overall mental health. Fish oil is particularly rich in EPA and DHA, which are vital components of cell membranes and have strong anti-inflammatory effects in the body.

These omega-3s play a critical role in human development, and they are primarily found in fatty fish and fish oil. Since many people do not consume enough fish, supplementation is often recommended to ensure adequate intake of these essential fatty acids.

Although the body can convert another type of omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), into EPA and DHA, this process is not highly efficient. As a result, fish oil supplements may provide a convenient way to ensure optimal levels of omega-3s.

Some popular sources of Omega-3 include:

• Salmon
• Cod Liver Oil
• Algae Oil
• Oysters
• Nuts and seeds, such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts
• Plant oils, such as flaxseed oil, soybean oil, and canola oil
• Fortified foods, such as eggs, yogurt, juices, milk, etc.

Budget 2026: Cheaper Fish In India

Earlier this month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a surprising tax reduction for India's fishers and marine industry, and experts say it is good news for you too.

Until now, fish caught by Indian vessels beyond territorial waters and brought back to the country for mass consumption has been treated as import, attracting customs duties and integrated goods and services tax (GST).

The combined tax burden raises costs and compliance issues, which discouraged people from deep-sea and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) fishing as well as

However, during her Union Budget 2026 presentation, Sitharaman proposed that fish caught in the EEZ and high seas by Indian fishing vessels are treated as duty-free when brought into Indian ports and treated as exports when landed at foreign ports.

This means that the market availability for Omega-3 packed fishes including salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring and sardines will significantly increase as their existing steep prices see a tremendous fall.

Malaria infected an estimated 282 million people and caused about 6,10,000 deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest World Malaria Report. The report placed strong emphasis on drug resistance, warning that it remains one of the biggest threats to global elimination goals.

WHO-recommended vaccines helped prevent roughly 170 million cases and one million deaths last year, which is about nine million more than the year before. Around 95 per cent of malaria deaths occurred in the African Region, with children under five forming the largest share.

Within the WHO South-East Asia Region, India represented 73.3 per cent of all malaria cases and 88.7 per cent of all malaria-related deaths. The report also underscored that the world is nowhere close to meeting the targets set under the Global Technical Strategy for malaria 2016–2030.

However, a group of University of Nottingham researchers have now found a key protein that is an enticing target for new antimalarial interventions. The study looked at a protein called Aurora-related kinase 1 (ARK1), which plays an important role in the parasite’s unusual cell division.

ARK1 helps control the parasite’s mitosis (cell division) and organizes a structure called the spindle, which separates genetic material so new parasites can form.

Scientists turned off the ARK1 gene using genetic engineering techniques to see what would happen. Without ARK1, the parasites could not form proper spindles and failed to reproduce, suggesting the protein could be a weak spot that future malaria treatment.

"What makes this discovery so exciting is that the malaria parasite's 'Aurora' complex is very different from the version found in human cells," senior author Rita Tewari said.

What Are Anopheles Stephensi Mosquitoes?

Anopheles stephensi is a malaria-transmitting mosquito originally found in South Asia. Unlike many other malaria vectors, it thrives in cities and breeds in man-made water sources such as storage tanks, containers, and discarded tyres. It can carry both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax parasites.

In recent years, this mosquito has spread into several African countries, where it adapts easily and shows resistance to multiple insecticides. This expansion has increased the threat of urban malaria outbreaks, as highlighted by the World Health Organization.

At present, Anopheles stephensi has been detected in nine African countries and is proving difficult to control due to widespread insecticide resistance.

Malaria Vaccines

The report noted that WHO approved the world’s first malaria vaccines in 2021, and 24 countries have now added them to their regular immunisation schedules. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said that new preventive tools provide reason for optimism, but many obstacles remain.

He pointed out the rise in cases and deaths, the pressure from drug resistance, and the impact of reduced funding. These factors could undermine the progress achieved over the last twenty years.

Men planning to conceive should practise caution while consuming antioxidant supplements, as excessive intake may affect sperm and early craniofacial development in babies, a Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology study shows.

Antioxidants are often promoted as powerful supplements that can help protect the body from chronic conditions, including cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and dementia.

However, researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) found that consuming high levels of the antioxidant compounds N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and selenium (Se) can alter skull and facial shape in female children, even though the treated fathers did not exhibit obvious health problems.

Dr Michael Golding, a professor in the VMBS’ Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, whose research team made the discovery said: "We know alcohol causes oxidative stress and we were looking to push back on it by adding a supplement known to lower oxidative stress.

"When we realized that offspring born to males that had only been given NAC were displaying skull and facial differences, it was a surprise because this molecule is universally thought to be good.

“When we sat down to think it through, we realized that it makes sense — you take a multivitamin to ensure that you’re in balance, but if the thing that you’re taking to ensure you’re in balance is unbalanced (the dose of antioxidants is too high), then you’re not doing a good thing.

“Sperm health is another performance metric; it’s just not one that we think about in everyday life. If you’re taking a high-dose antioxidant, you could be diminishing your reproductive fitness, and part of the journey toward the bad outcome is going to be the effects on the offspring.”

What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are important because they protect the fundamental structure of the human body, cells. They safeguard an individual's DNA and proteins from the damage caused by free radicals.

Research has shown that a diet high in antioxidants may help individuals prevent chronic diseases and mental health issues. But on the contrary, having too many antioxidants in your body could confuse your cells' responses, leading to more damage than intented.

How Do Antioxidants Protect Your Body?

Antioxidants basically neutralize free radicals in the body. These free radicals are extra atoms that are produced during the body's internal processes and also by some external factors.

Overproduction of these free radicals, during the process of oxidation in the human body, damages cell membranes and other structures, including cellular proteins, lipids and DNA. Oxidation can be exacerbated by stress, smoking, alcohol, sunlight and pollution.

In the long run, they can lead to diseases such as cancer and heart diseases. It is pertinent to note that the brain is prone to oxidative stress due to its high metabolic activity. Here, the role of antioxidants becomes particularly important as they fight oxidative stress which could otherwise lead to stroke, traumatic brain injury or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

If you take large amounts of antioxidants, then it could hamper the cell's defence mechanisms and normal signalling. Different types of antioxidants also have different properties, so they may not be interchangeable. Therefore, health experts advise people to be mindful of the amount of antioxidant-rich food they are including in your diet. Notably, studies have found that antioxidant supplements have a lower impact such as natural food items.

Here Are Top 10 Antioxidant Rich Food:

• Blueberries: Packed with anthocyanins, which help fight oxidative stress and inflammation.
• Dark Chocolate (70 percent cacao or higher): Rich in flavonoids, known for their heart health and antioxidant properties.
• Spinach: Contains vitamins C and E, flavonoids, and carotenoids, all potent antioxidants.
• Nuts (especially almonds and walnuts): High in vitamin E and other antioxidant compounds that protect cells from damage.
• Green Tea: Loaded with polyphenols, particularly catechins, which are powerful antioxidants.
• Kale: Full of vitamins A, C, and K, along with flavonoids, which support immune function.
• Tomatoes: Rich in lycopene, a carotenoid antioxidant that supports skin health and may reduce the risk of certain cancers.
• Carrots: High in beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A and offers strong antioxidant benefits.
• Avocados: Packed with healthy fats, vitamin E, and carotenoids, helping to reduce oxidative stress.
• Pomegranates: Contain punicalagins and anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that may help lower inflammation and improve heart health.