Health

The zesty scent of lemon essential oil is not only refreshing; it’s a blues-buster as well. A study published in Neuroimmunomodulation shows that depressed patients who inhaled lemon oil each morning needed fewer antidepressant drugs than those who did not; other research suggests that lemon oil improves mood, concentration, and accuracy. It is thought that […]

Two antioxidant flavonoids that you’ve probably never heard of – kaempferol and luteolin – may hold the key to fighting ovarian cancer, often called ‘the silent killer’ because it has few symptoms and is usually only diagnosed at an advanced stage. A study of 66,940 women at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, USA, published […]

Strength training does not make you 'big'. To get big muscles you need to train a lot, very hard and with very heavy weights and you also need testosterone. This is hard enough for men and extremely difficult for women...

The facts Strength training does not make you ‘big’. To get big muscles you need to train a lot, very hard and with very heavy weights and you also need testosterone. This is hard enough for men and extremely difficult for women. Muscle is denser than fat, as it stores water and energy. Pay more […]

By Judy Davie Studies have found that a diet with increased amounts of the mineral calcium are effective for weight loss. With that in mind, this energy-reduced meal plan focuses on calcium found largely in milk, cheese and yoghurt, canned salmon (with the bones) almonds, sesame seeds, and fortified soy products. Day one | Day […]

Give yourself a gold star Prioritise tasks Settle for 85 per cent Bless the mess YOUR SAY: Are you a perfectionist needing to cut yourself some slack? Tell us below!

Give the Mylanta a miss. When tummy troubles strike, try these natural stomach soothers to relieve unwelcome gurgles, hiccups and burps. Get herbal help Ginger has antispasmodic properties and is excellent for settling stomach upsets and easing nausea. Take it in capsule form; or, nibble candied ginger. A cup of chamomile tea will relieve indigestion […]

In a study from Miami University, psychologists divided people into three groups, each of which was instructed to keep a different kind of journal. One group recorded daily events, another recorded problems, while the third group listed everything they were grateful for. The researchers found that this third group scored much higher on tests for […]

The two best-known risk factors for type 2 diabetes are a lack of physical activity and overindulgence in refined and processed foods. Now, according to a study published in the journal Sleep, it appears getting a good night’s rest also protects against diabetes. The study, authored by James Gangswich, PhD, of Columbia University in New […]

Did you down a glass of ordinary orange juice at breakfast? Do try to keep up! The new and incredibly nutritious ‘super-juices’ provide a wealth of health-promoting ingredients. Pamela Allardice shows you four wiser ways to wet your whistle. Amazing acaiThe berries of the Amazonian acai palm (Euterpe oleracea) produce a claret-coloured juice with a […]