When any of these rice grains are eaten, the body rapidly converts them to glucose in the blood stream causing a burst of energy followed soon after by an energy slump. It may fill you up, but before long you’ll feel hungry again, and therein lies the problem — after a rice meal we often […]

When times are tough, don’t despair. It is possible to change the way you see things, and expert help is always at hand… Looking back over recent headlines you could be forgiven for thinking the world is about to come crashing to an end. The only uncertainty seems to be what we will ruin first […]

Ah, summer time — sunshine, clear skies, long days, swimming, parks, picnics and public holidays. While there’s much fun to be had, it’s easy to forget the risks — our beloved warmer months can be a health hazard, and not just to our skin. So we’ve asked an expert for tips on how to stay […]

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, […]