Japanese diet to help Scottish business

Published on Monday 28 January 2008 21:05

FISHY FIGURES

THE Japanese have had a reputation as the world leaders in business. Now a group of Scottish businessmen have taken a leaf out of the books of their eastern counterparts – to see if the Japanese diet and way of life improves their professional performance.

The team of 11 have been used as guinea pigs to "turn Japanese" and see if the low-fat food and fish oils will fight the negative health effects caused by a bad day at the office.

The test, led by Dr Tom Gilhooly, of Glasgow Health Solutions, saw the team of volunteers from South Lanark Chamber of Commerce take Omega 3 supplements to mimic the Japanese diet. By the end of the trial, almost all of the businessmen had as much Omega 3 as those living in a typical Japanese fishing village, who have low incidences of heart disease.

Gilhooly tells us: "Our Scottish-based study has specifically addressed the situations in which businessmen commonly find themselves. It has shown that those suffering high levels of stress can significantly reduce their risk of this leading to a cardiac problem, by taking Omega-3 supplementation."

Worth pondering the next time you tuck into a pudding supper.

FACT OF THE DAY

4bn

RUSSIAN gas export monopoly Gazprom plans to increase its presence in the British commercial gas market tenfold to 15 percent by 2011, with an eye on further expansion.

The firm currently supplies the UK market with some four billion cubic metres (bcm) a year. Gazprom Marketing and Trading has recently moved its new, larger retail office to Manchester from the countryside.

KILLER QUOTE

"WORRYING about inflation at this time seems like fiddling when Rome burns. Interest rates are restrictive at their current levels. It is time for the MPC to lead, not follow."

Bank of England policymaker David Blanchflower – the only member of the monetary policy committee to vote for a cut in interest rates this month

GOOD DAY

JW Filshill

CONGRATULATIONS to Filshill, Scotland's oldest independent food and drink wholesaler, which has been named the best wholesale business north of the Border for the third time at the prestigious Scottish Wholesale Achievers awards.

BAD DAY

Chinese economy

WEN Jiabao, roughly speaking China's prime minister, said 2008 may be "the most difficult year for the economy" because of global and domestic uncertainties. The comments underscore Beijing's growing list of worries, with inflation running near a decade-high.