A man diagnosed with a rare, incurable lymphoma claims that he has been able to cheat death for 13 years by eating apricot kernels.

Paul Reid insists that the 'cancer-killing' properties in the kernels, rich in vitamin B17, and a strict vegetarian diet have cured him, despite the doctors telling him he would live for just five more years.

"I don't think my journey has been unscientific, it's just that there's been no science in a big way applied to it,” the Age quoted him as saying.He added: "We're not immortal, but I believe I'll be healthy from taking this direction.”

However, health experts are worried that Reid is among the growing number of cancer patients who are putting their faith in 'anti-cancer' diets promoted by alternative health practitioners, which may not always work.

Diabetic retinopathy could be associated with poorer memory and diminished brain power in people with Type 2 diabetes, according to a new research.

For the study, researchers at Edinburgh University looked at 1,066 people with type 2 diabetes aged between 60 and 75.

Participants in the study completed seven tests focusing on memory, logic and concentration to establish their level of brain function.

The researchers found that those with retinopathy had worse scores on most of the individual tests, as well as on general cognitive ability, compared with those without the condition.