People who are active in their communities are more likely to be up on the latest health advice, suggesting that contact with diverse groups of people may be good for health.
Researchers from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard University in Boston, USA, did a study and based their findings on data from 2,968 adults. The findings of study were published in American Journal of Public Health.
Participants reported whether they belonged to any community group - fraternal organisations, professional associations, church or volunteer groups. They were also asked to recall any messages about heart attack and stroke that they'd read, seen or heard in the past few months.
It was found that those who were members of one or more community groups were generally better at recalling heart-health advice, including diet and lifestyle recommendations.