Society

Obesity is no picnic for those who struggle with it, but new research sheds some light on why so few ever find their way to a healthy weight. It turns out that overweight and obese folks hold starkly different views on diet and exercise than their normal-weight peers, the study found. Namely,...

Society

There's new research suggesting that a switch over to e-cigarettes can help cigarette smokers kick their habit -- even if initially they didn't intend to. The small British study of 40 people "found that vaping may support long-term smoking abstinence," lead researcher Dr....

Society

If you have diabetes, there is no reason you should have to avoid certain fruits. In fact, there is no such thing as a “bad” fruit. Fruits are an important component of a healthy, balanced diet as they are loaded with powerful nutrients and antioxidants that promote health. Many...

Society

Your liver plays an important role in keeping your body functioning – in fact, it performs more than 500 functions that involve processing everything you eat and drink. It’s also the largest organ in your body and weighs around 1.4kg. You need to keep your liver healthy and...

Society

Most important meal of the day or totally fine to skip? Debatable, apparently. Either way, here’s what happens when you do. Your muscles Thanks to overnight fasting, your muscle glycogen levels are at their lowest when you wake up. Hit the gym early and research shows you’ll...

Society

One of the first food groups dieticians, nutritionists and every random person in the comments of a Facebook post will tell you to boot is carbohydrates. They’ve been blamed for the obesity epidemic and have become the undoubted scapegoat for weight gain. But a new study from St...

Society

If you’re anything like me, you could probably down an entire large bag of popcorn during one 30-minute episode of Friends. You could probably even finish it in half the time if it’s slathered in cheddar cheesy goodness. But, of course, that begs the question: Is popcorn...

Society

A Westernised diet—high in sugary, fatty junk food and low in whole grains and produce—has been linked to obesity, cognitive problems, and even a declining sperm count. But there may be something that can help blunt some of its effects: green tea, as a study published in The FASEB...

Society

Who needs caffeine? There are some days when you just can’t stop yawning, even after a full night’s rest. But coffee may not solve the problem, and it could actually make things worse—especially if you’re adding a bunch of fake sweetener to stay within your recommended...

Society

Getting old is an inevitable process, but one that brings with it a number of changes that can take some getting used to. Without a doubt, one of the most troubling effects of natural ageing is the diminished physical capabilities. Things you used to take for granted become increasingly...

Society

Almond milk is everywhere. You pour it in your coffee, whirl it into your morning smoothies, or just drink it straight out of the carton. Sure, it’s a little watery. But it’s made from almonds, so it MUST be good for you. Not so fast. A 2017 review in the Journal of Food Science and...

Society

You can have the best exercise plan and fitness instructor but it’s all worthless if you aren’t motivated. When it comes to motivation, internal passion trounces intimidation any day of the week. This way of thinking aligns almost perfectly with a model of behaviour called self...

Society

I cannot do an early morning workout without a cup of caffeine goodness. I get up and head straight to the kettle before I do anything else. Coffee first, then I can function. But is this good human behaviour? Surely this addiction is actually harmful to my body? The news is good, fellow addicts:...

Society

If you suffer from a mental illness like depression, does it it mean you have a disability? Surprisingly, the answer is yes – but it also depends. A mental illness can be considered a disability only if you choose to declare it as such. If you do, your employer is legally obliged to give...

Society

My best thinking happens in the shower. Whenever I have to do something mentally taxing, I always take a long, ponderous shower before I get started. I would have done so before sitting down to write this article, but I couldn’t—because this is a story about taking cold showers,...