From boosting sleep quality to cutting your stress levels, 9 reasons why reading The Sun can help you keep you healthy

PICKING up your copy of The Sun might just be the smartest move you make today. Browsing Britain’s No1 newspaper helps you have a 33 per cent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s, according to a study by Cambridge University and The Queen’s Reading Room. Picking up your copy of The Sun might just be the smartest move you make today Credit: Jon Moorhead Browsing Britain’s No1 newspaper helps you have a 33 per cent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s Credit: Getty As we revealed yesterday, academics found any type of regular reading is good for your brain — and there is an even bigger boost if it starts from a young age. But the study’s author, Professor Barbara Sahakian, urged: “It’s never too late to start.” Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! In fact, the benefits of reading don’t stop there. Studies have shown it helps you sleep better, makes you ­happier and can even improve your chance of romantic amour. Here, we share more ways our award-winning pages benefit you, according to science, of course . . . SEXIER Men who list reading as a hobby are 19 per cent more likely to get a message from a potential love match on eHarmony Credit: Getty Men who list reading as a hobby are 19 per cent more likely to get a message from a potential love match on eHarmony, while it gives women a three per cent boost. KEEP CALM Keen readers are more likely to keep their cool during a disagreement, according to a ­survey by Quick Reads. LIVE LONGER A landmark report by Yale University found that people who read books for more than 3.5 hours a week were 23 per cent less likely to die within a 12-year follow-up period. Most read in Health BE SMARTER Early reading ability actively boosts overall intelligence and possibly even improves non-verbal reasoning and general cognitive skills Credit: Getty A study on identical twins published in the journal Child Development revealed that early reading ability actively boosts overall intelligence and possibly even improves non-verbal reasoning and general cognitive skills. LESS STRESS The University of Sussex found just six minutes of silent reading slashes stress levels by 68 per cent, so pick up some reading material to calm your nerves in no time at all. MAKES YOU HAPPIER People who read daily are more than twice as likely to describe themselves as ‘very happy’ Credit: Getty A HarperCollins study found that people who read daily are more than twice as likely to describe themselves as “very happy” (39 per cent) compared to non-readers (18 per cent). Beyond just immediate happiness, regular readers scored 28 per cent higher on overall life satisfaction scales and were significantly more likely to say they felt their daily activities were “worthwhile”. SLEEP BETTER A 2021 clinical trial proved that reading a printed book in bed significantly boosts sleep quality and reduces middle-of-the-night tossing and turning Credit: Getty A 2021 clinical trial proved that reading a printed book in bed significantly boosts sleep quality and reduces middle-of-the-night tossing and turning. Of those who took part, 42 per cent who read a book in bed reported improved sleep quality, compared to 28 per cent of non-readers. BEAT LONELINESS The National Literacy Trust found reading stops one in five ­people from feeling isolated, because our brains connect with ­fictional characters just like they are real-life mates. There is also the opportunity to join book clubs and meet like-minded people. BETTER SPOKEN The Centre for Longitudinal Studies at UCL tracked thousands of people over decades and found regular reading for pleasure expands your word power by up to 26 per cent. FORGET WORRIES The Scottish Book Trust found 92 per cent agreed that reading has been important to them in times of anxiety throughout their lives, while 97 per cent agreed that reading helps them to relax. Comment now