By Judy Davie **”I’m a 15 (turning 16) year old teenage girl with a height of 169cm and I currently weigh 85kg but I’ve always had a fairly solid build. I want to lose the excess weight fast, how can I do this without using weight loss tablets, shakes or drinks?” — Jenny** Oh dear, […]

By Michaela Ryan Is it okay to keep exercising when you have a cold? What about the flu? With winter bugs going around, it’s important to know how to alter your training if you do cop a germ or two.

Towards the end of winter it’s easy to abandon our resolve to eat healthily. Our energy levels are often low, making the tendency to eat comforting carbohydrates all the more tempting. This month’s meal plan will help give you the energy you need to tide you through until spring, when you’ll emerge full of life […]

This month we take a closer look at one of the less common varieties of canned fish. A little fishy There’s nothing new about sardines, but the fact that they have been largely overlooked in the omega-3 stakes is, well, just a little bit fishy! Sardines are a great health bargain as they are easy […]

Last month we looked at the pros and cons of the popular sports supplement carnitine and this month we delve deeper into amino acid land. Branched chain amino acids, valine, leucine and isoleucine are also popular supplements, but what are they and do they really work? What are BCAAs? Unlike other amino acids, the branched […]

Foods, vitamins and herbs keep your eyes healthy, help prevent vision-threatening diseases, and ease daily strain — the kind that comes from working on a computer or driving. See for yourself. Put a rainbow on your plate Free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules that harm cells) ramp up your risk of getting the most common eye […]

Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) is a herb that’s attracting attention in health research circles as a smart choice for better brain power. It’s long been a staple of Ayurveda — the traditional medicine practised in India — where it has been used to treat anxiety, depression, and mental illness. According to a report in Alternative Medicine […]

Whether you want to lose a little or a lot of weight, there are three things that can guarantee your long-term success: a healthy relationship with food, an active lifestyle and a balanced approach to living.

By Judy Davie **”My family enjoys a lot of Asian dishes. I like to stir fry meat or chicken and vegies and usually add a pre made sauce with rice. As I’m trying to lose weight I don’t eat the rice but are the sauces OK?” — Diana** The problem with many of these sauces […]

By Michaela Ryan Cycling is a great way to kill two birds with one stone — you can exercise while getting from A to B. Even taking into account the cost of your bike and gear, it’s usually cheaper than public transport or driving. It’s often quicker, too!