Seeing as better nutrition and improvements in medicine mean that we’re probably eventually going to live for longer, it’s good to know that we’re going to feel happier as we grow older. According to reports presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in August 2009, adults in their eighties are generally more […]

Using the Internet stimulates your brain and may even help to counteract any age-related physiological changes that cause brain fog and poor memory, says a study from the University of California, Los Angeles. The study, which was reported in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, found that online searching significantly enhanced brain circuitry and helped […]

The myth is that marriage can make you mad, but psychologists have found that is really is good for your health. Clinical psychologist Dr Kate Scott from New Zealand’s University of Otago conducted the study of more than 35,000 people across 15 different countries based on a decade of surveys by the World Health Organization. […]

Plant sterols (also known as phytosterols) are natural substances that can help lower your cholesterol. They exist in wood pulp and leaves, but are also found naturally in certain foods such as vegetable oil, nuts, legumes, corn, fruit and vegetables. You can obtain higher levels through enriched margarine spreads. How do they work? When consumed, […]

Starting your day with a good breakfast is one of the best health decisions you can make. Breakfast literally means “breaking your overnight fast”. Remember it could be at least 10 hours since your last meal, so it is important to refuel your body ready for another day. Enjoying breakfast can help lift your mood […]

Next to checking e-mail and chatting to friends, the third main reason Australians use the Internet is to find information on health-related topics like diseases, treatments, nutrition, stress management, and drugs. However, health websites can contain information that is, at best, biased towards the sponsoring manufacturer’s products and, at worst, downright dangerous. Here are 10 […]

Forget hours in the gym or trying to find the time to squeeze in an hour-long yoga session, the new Sudoku diet promises to keep you slim and trim without having to leave your chair. But is it all it’s cracked up to be? Research has now found that the time spent doing a difficult […]

In a study published in Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Hong Kong researchers have discovered that tai chi can significantly improve quality of life in survivors of stroke. Stroke victims are often left with balancing problems which may not be addressed by conventional physiotherapy. However, the particular skills taught in tai chi — especially the ability […]

Chickpeas are a creamy, golden, mildly flavoured member of the legume family. High in protein and fibre, chickpeas are low in fat and have a low glycaemic index (GI) value. If you don’t think you have ever eaten chickpeas, chances are you have and just didn’t know it. They are the basis of hummus dips […]