Everyone makes — and breaks — the same resolutions every year, whether it’s to eat better, lose 10 kilos, or give up the grog. Here are seven easy resolutions that are actually realistic and achievable, and which will have a positive effect on your health. Skip synthetics When you go to the January sales to […]

Diabetics, listen up! According to new research, taking an extract of pine bark may help. Previous studies have shown that pycnogenol supplementation also reduces blood clotting (which is critical for diabetics, who often suffer from impaired circulation), lowers LDL (‘bad’) and raises HDL (‘good’) cholesterol. Your Say: Have you tried pine bark extract or anything […]

Adding a handful of nuts a day to your diet for a year or more may help prevent, and even undo, a collection of risk factors for heart disease. Spanish researchers have found that along with a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish, that adding nuts to your daily food intake is more […]

**Dear Judy, I have heard kangaroo is low in fat and good to eat when on a diet. However, I’m worried that if I give it to the family we could all end up with parasites! Is this true? Thanks, Erin** It’s funny that this rumour has become so widespread. The answer is there is […]

The weather is warming up, which means it’s time to fire up the barbie. However, cooking meat — beef, pork, chicken or even fish — at too-high heats can trigger the formation of dangerous chemicals. The smoke created by fat falling onto coals can contain carcinogenic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which settle back […]

According to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (168:154-158), a sedentary lifestyle won’t just trigger weight gain and predispose you to diseases like type 2 diabetes — it can actually make you age faster. The study, of over 2,000 twins, found that those who exercised for at least 199 minutes per week were […]

Even when it’s justified, nursing a grudge can harm your health. Try these five steps to make peace with your past. Anger and hostility increase your risk of many health problems, from headaches and colds to hypertension and insomnia. Researchers have found that people stewing over a grievance have higher blood pressure, increased heart rate, […]

By Judy Davie Let’s face it, you know you should cut out sweet treats if you want to lose weight but sometimes when the urge hits there’s nothing else to do but satisfy it. Let these sweet swaps below be your guide and when the cravings strike, choose one of our lower energy swaps so […]

By Judy Davie It’s always cheaper to buy fruit and vegetables when they are in season and it’s always easier to lose weight when you eat plenty of low energy vegetables and fruits. This month we focus on fresh in season fruit and veg with the added bonus of extra fibre. You’ll feel full but […]

Having a snuggle with your loved one isn’t just about the feel-good factor anymore, new research shows that hugging and kissing can actually fight stress levels too. Researchers at the University of Zurich in Switzerland have found that intimacy can lower levels of stress hormones in the body and improve psychological health. But, there’s a […]