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The golden age

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 […]
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Five margarine myths debunked

Cholesterol and plant sterols

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, […]
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Breakfast … the most important meal of the day

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 […]
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Your health on the Web

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 […]
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Can Sudoku keep you slim?

Can Sudoku keep you slim?

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 […]
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Healthy choices when eating away from home

With longer working hours, increasingly busy lives and plenty of “eating out” options it’s no wonder we are eating out more often. At times it can seem difficult to make healthy choices when you eat away from home, particularly when you are trying to reduce your weight. When deciding on what sandwich to have, it […]
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Breast cancer advice and survival stories

We’ve spoken with some inspirational breast cancer survivors about their journeys. Plus don’t miss ‘Five things every woman should know about breast cancer’ below. Tanya Downes felt the lump, as she was playing on the floor with her two young kids one Sunday morning in December 2007. “I really thought it was nothing,” she says. […]
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Sit up straight, stop slumping, head off your chin…

Remember being told those things by your mother or teacher? Well, according to new research from the US, they were doing more than just looking out for your back. Psychologists suggest that maintaining an upright posture can make us think more confidently. Researchers at Ohio State University conducted an experiment asking subjects to either sit […]
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Personal trainers: for you or not for you?

Once upon a time, it was only the famous and very rich who enlisted the help of personal trainers to help keep them in shape. But these days, personal trainers are popular with a wide variety of people. “Personal trainers are now very accessible and are considered to be effective,” says Lauretta Stace, Chief Executive […]
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Trans fats — the bad fats

In some countries they’re banned. In Australia, our federal government is advocating the reduction of them in our food supply. So what are trans fats? And why do we need to avoid them? Trans fats are formed when an unsaturated fat (a good type of fat) undergoes a process called hydrogenation. This changes it from […]
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Berried treasure

Love your heart. It seems a spoonful of strawberries makes the cholesterol go down. According to a new study published in Metabolism, eating strawberries daily caused a significant reduction in LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol. Even better, the participants’ LDL levels were less prone to oxidation, the chemical process that really damages your heart and arteries. Another […]
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Stress relief

Spring clean your mind

Just as too much booze and junk food can make your body sluggish, emotional baggage — in the form of negative thoughts, mental blocks and limiting self-beliefs — can clog up your mind. These three steps can help you to change: Do the opposite If something feels comfortable, it’s natural to keep doing it. But […]
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Water bottle warning

For your health (and the planet’s), you might want to rethink what you drink out of. Pamela Allardice explains why. Chemical question-mark. Along with tin-can linings, hoses, paints, dentistry composites and plastic containers, some plastic bottles are made from polycarbonate (PC) plastic (No. 7 recycling code), which contains the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA). BPA is a […]
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Fight cancer in the kitchen

Fight cancer in the kitchen

Here’s a statistic to make you think twice about what you eat: an unhealthy diet may be behind up to one-third of all cancers. It’s vital therefore to increase your intake of fruit and vegetables. They contain phytochemicals and antioxidants, which countless studies have shown help to protect, block or suppress cancer-causing cells and tumours. […]
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A cup of frothy coffee with cocoa on top, in a white mug on a saucer, placed on a wooden table.

A cup of coffee a day could keep skin cancer at bay

Your morning cuppa could be having more benefits on your health than you realise — by preventing certain types of skin cancer! A new study conducted in the US has shed some light on the role that a regular cup of coffee or tea plays in reducing the risk of skin cancer. Research shows that […]
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The health rewards of physical activity

Winston Churchill once said that whenever he felt the urge to exercise, he lay down until it went away. A reasonable sentiment you may think, given that exercise can be so painful.
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The health rewards of physical activity

Winston Churchill once said that whenever he felt the urge to exercise, he lay down until it went away. A reasonable sentiment you may think, given that exercise can be so painful. So why, you may ask, do so many people do it voluntarily? Why do joggers run the risk of stiffness and soreness the […]
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Woman climbing an indoor rock wall, focused and harnessed, with colorful holds in a climbing gym.

Indoor climbing

Most busy working mothers will readily admit to having been driven up the wall at some stage … and not having particularly enjoyed the experience. But Diane Westaway absolutely loves going up walls and makes sure it happens several times a week! “It’s such fun and if you can incorporate the kids, you’ll love it!” […]
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A drink a day keeps brain fog at bay?

According to a study from Chicago’s Loyola University, reported in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, moderate drinkers — defined as women who drank one alcoholic beverage a day and men who drank one or two — have less memory loss than teetotallers. Although long-term alcohol abuse can certainly harm the brain, moderate drinking […]
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Eco friendly eating

Most of us are aware of the relationship between what we eat and good health, but do our food choices also affect the health of our environment? Reducing our emphasis on animal foods in favour of more plant-based foods is one way we can help to reduce our impact on the environment. This is partly […]
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A broken red heart with halves joined by a safety pin, symbolizing an attempt to mend or heal.

Divorce damages health, re-marrying won’t help much

Research has shown that divorce and widowhood are detrimental to people’s long-term physical health, and getting re-married won’t help much. A study led by Professor Linda Waite of the University of Chicago examined the health histories of 8652 people aged between 51 and 61. Results showed that divorced people in the sample experience 20 percent […]
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Yoga? No sweat

Doing the Downward-facing Dog pose may keep undesirable symptoms of menopause, like night sweats and hot flushes, at bay.
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Yoga? No sweat

Doing the Downward-facing Dog pose may keep undesirable symptoms of menopause, like night sweats and hot flushes, at bay. In a study from India’s Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, 228 perimenopausal and menopausal women aged 40 to 55 years were divided into two groups: one in which participants performed yoga exercises and meditation for eight […]
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Ditch the Doc!

Want to zap zits, tame your tummy, or heal heel pain?Here are 10 trustworthy home remedies to beat your everyday health hassles. Zap those zitsApply a drop of tea-tree essential oil to blemishes three times a day to discourage infection and speed up healing. Research has found that 5 per cent tea-tree oil is as […]
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Could a pill halve your body fat in a week?

Scientists in the US are working on a pill that could decrease the amount of fat stored in overweight people by almost half in just one week. Thus far, scientists at Indiana University have tested the drug on mice, finding that after seven days their body weight was decreased by a quarter and fat content […]
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Kilojule cutting could be key to longer life

A 20-year study of monkeys in the US has found that reducing the kilojoule intake slowed the ageing process and increased their lifespan. The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center monitored 76 rhesus monkeys — 30 since 1989, and 46 since 1994 — to study what cutting their diet by 30 percent would do to them. […]
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Pick two, and call me tomorrow

Spending time in nature has long been known to ease anxiety. Now a Kansas University study, reported in HortTechnology (18:563-568), proves that plants actually accelerate healing. The study, of 90 patients recovering from an appendectomy, found that those with potted plants in their rooms needed less pain medication, had lower blood pressure and reported experiencing […]
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Nag your man

Men’s health: What he needs to know

Men are usually pretty good at looking after their cars, their families and their mates. But sometimes they need a little more encouragement to look after their own health. So the aim of Men’s Health Week (June 15 – 21) is to raise the level of awareness about men’s medical issues, and encourage our fellas […]
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A person sitting at a desk, snapping a pencil in half out of frustration.

Anti-depressants: the real story

The drug millions of Aussies are taking – what it does for weight, sex and you! More than 12 million anti-depressant scripts a year are prescribed in Australia – and rising. But are we taking mood-enhancing meds too far? Next time you’re at an office lunch, chances are at least one or more of the […]
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Grains and weight gain: Fact or fallacy?

For many Australians losing weight and maintaining weight is high on their list of priorities. And when it comes to weight, there is a lot of talk about grain foods – including bread, pasta and cereals – and the role they may play in weight gain. But do grains really contribute to weight gain? Or […]
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Beat the afternoon slump

We may not experience it every day of the week, but sometimes our motivation and energy levels can dwindle significantly in the hours after lunch. Why? It has a lot to do with the natural rhythms of our body – we have a biological tendency to hit an energy lull in the afternoon. But it’s […]
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Will avoiding carbs after 5pm will help me lose weight?

Question: Will avoiding carbs after 5pm will help me lose weight? Answer: There is nothing magical about not eating carbs after 5pm – this is an arbitrary cut-off point. A search of the National Library of Medicine Medline database of more than 4800 scientific journals failed to find a single study that lends support to […]
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Crank up your creativity

When you’re juggling a hectic schedule and never-ending to-do lists, it’s easy to get bogged down. If you could do with a booster shot of creative juice, try these ideas: 1. Write a soap opera When life is not going according to plan, it’s satisfying to enter a world where you can control what your […]
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Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts — a role model for ‘real women’?

Julia Roberts has been branded one of the bravest ladies in Hollywood after brandishing her ‘mummy midriff’ in a skimpy bikini in Hawaii recently. View our picture gallery featuring our favourite heroines of real women On holiday with her husband, cinematographer Daniel Moder, 40, and their children, the 41-year-old Pretty Woman (1990) star showed her […]
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Are fresh vegetables better than frozen ones?

Question: Are fresh vegetables better than frozen ones? Answer: Ideally, we would all be growing fresh vegetables from our flourishing vegetable patch in the back garden. For most of us, this scene is unfortunately far from reality, instead relying on our local supermarket for fresh and even frozen vegetables. This week we aim to clarify […]
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Do Aussies hold the secret to happiness?

There must be something good in the air Down-Under — according to a recent survey, at least two-thirds of Australians believe they hold the key to being happy. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) tested 22,000 people as part of its 2007/08 National Health Survey and found that around a third of Australians exhibit some […]
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The no-diet weight loss strategy that actually works

Can you really lose weight without ‘dieting’? long term and keep it off? In a healthy way? Yes if you know what it takes to lose weight: creating an energy deficit. Energy or kj’s work like this; you intake energy from food and you use it to sustain your body (all functions such as breathing, […]
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Blood pressure news

The bioflavonoid nutrient quercetin is best-known for its anti-cancer prowess and its ability to optimise the body’s utilisation of vitamin C. Now, according to a study from the University of Utah, published in The Journal of Nutrition, it appears that taking a daily supplement of 730mg of quercetin can also significantly lower both systolic and […]
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Mealtime madness: keeping your kids nourished

If you feel as though you need to be a professional negotiator and full time chef just to get through dinner time with your kids, you’re not alone. Getting your kids to eat what you’ve made is a common struggle amongst parents. And, doing it with little fuss or complaint seems to be equally as […]
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An anti-inflammatory diet

An anti-inflammatory diet

An anti-inflammatory diet If we could take a sneaky peak into the ‘inbox’ of scientists throughout the world, chances are the most common word would be inflammation. And whilst we may think of this as your knee swelling when you cop a knock in sport, this kid is a little different. The correct terminology for […]
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Why you should consider the colours that you wear and surround yourself with

Research shows that colours have a profound effect on your mood, emotions, and behaviour. They can energise you, making you move and think faster, and they can also help you feel more relaxed and improve your concentration. For example, experiments show that pink helps to calm anxiety; it has also been discovered that blood pressure […]
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Fall in love with food

When thinking about food we sometimes look at it as a simple necessity of life. A great way to value food and the essential relationship we have with it we can is by “falling in love” with the food that we eat. So, what does it mean? And why is it important to love what […]
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National Heart Week

Your Heart: What is it Hungry for? May 3rd marks the beginning of National Heart Week – a good time to think about looking after our hearts so that we can enjoy a happier, healthier life. Most of us know the things to avoid for a healthy heart, like saturated fat and smoking. But what […]
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Add sparkle with citrus

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 […]
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Drink tea, it might help your cholesterol levels

Unsung antioxidants

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 […]
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A woman in workout shorts and tank top performing a forward lunge stretch on a neutral background.

Strength training for women; the secret to an amazing body at any age

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 […]
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Calcium meal plan: The weight-loss mineral

Calcium meal plan: The weight-loss mineral

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 […]
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Be happy without being perfect

Be happy without being perfect

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!
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Good for your gut

Good for your gut

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 […]
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Wife beater given a bravery award

Make gratitude an attitude

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 […]
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Sleep slashes diabetes risk

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 […]
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You are what you drink

You are what you drink

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 […]
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Good for your gut

Five things every woman should know about ovarian cancer

February is Australia’s Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and The Weekly wants every woman to know the signs and risks associated with this disease. Most women with ovarian cancer experience at least one symptom of the disease in the year prior to their diagnosis. Abdominal bloating, abdominal or back pain, appetite loss or feeling full quickly, […]
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Two women smiling warmly at each other, displaying a close bond.

Ovarian cancer symptoms

It’s Australia’s first Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and the medical experts have a very simple, yet very strong message for us: “Know the symptoms of ovarian cancer!” There is currently no screening test to detect this disease, so becoming aware of these signs, and knowing our own bodies, can save our lives. This year in […]
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Woman thinking, holding a marker, in front of a whiteboard filled with mathematical equations.

Think smarter, not harder

Are you sometimes stumped by the simplest question? It has nothing to do with being stupid, and everything to do with learning how to think more efficiently. Here’s how: Hit ‘pause’ Avoid wasting time by asking people to repeat themselves (or misunderstanding what you were asked to do) by taking a ‘verbal photograph’ of the […]
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Can you pinch an inch?

Belly Fat Fears

It seems your stomach really does have a mind of its own. While researchers have previously believed that hunger signals only originated in the brain, new research published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (22:7) indicates that fat cells themselves produce a substance, called neuropeptide Y, which helps you […]
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Hello, sunshine

Hello, sunshine

Nicknamed the ‘sunshine vitamin’ because your body makes it from sunlight, vitamin D is essential for overall health. However, even in sunny Australia, you might not be getting enough, says Pamela Allardice. Bone densityVitamin D (which is technically not a vitamin, but a hormone which your body produces in response to UVB rays) builds a […]
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Keep smiling: How to stay upbeat in trying times

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 […]
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Tea set with cup and teapot, ginger root on a wooden tray.

Happy new you!

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 […]
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Brown capsules spilling from a glass jar onto a surface, often associated with herbal supplements.

Pick pine bark for diabetes

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 […]
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Nuts every day keeps heart disease at bay!

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 […]
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Good-for-you barbeques

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 […]
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Get moving

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 […]
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Which ouch is which? Pains you shouldn’t ignore

**As brave as we are, there are definitely different types of pain that we shouldn’t ignore. “If you experience pain of any description — sharp, dull, constant or fluctuating — if it is unusual for you, you should go to a doctor,” explains Dr Sue Reddish, a GP at The Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s […]
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What do you do if your Pap test result is abnormal?

So you’ve had your regular two-yearly Pap test … but this time the result has come back as “abnormal”. What does this actually mean? We asked expert, Kate Broun, manager of PapScreen Victoria, to explain. From July 2009, the vaccine is free for girls in year seven. For more information about Pap tests and cervical […]
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Chew on this: eating fast makes you fat!

Forget obsessing about what you eat and take a good hard look at the way you eat! Japanese scientists have discovered that eating your food quickly makes you three times more likely to be overweight. The research conducted by Professor Hiroyasu Iso and colleagues from Osaka University in Japan, showed that it’s not just eating […]
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Pizza to please

With a recent surge in gourmet offerings the scope of today’s pizza is huge. No longer is it simply a high fat, high salt takeaway food best limited in the diet. Let’s explore what’s hot in the latest offerings and how best to choose a pizza to please. That’s the TICK Smart choices Base – […]
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Magic mushrooms

Fire up a slow metabolism

When your metabolism is in peak condition, you can rev up the rate at which you burn fat. Start your engine with these six tips. 1: Eat breakfast There is a link between eating breakfast and increasing the kilojoules you can burn, perhaps because your metabolic rate slows while you sleep. The best breakfast is […]
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Berry good for you

Berry good for you

Cranberries are well-known for their ability to treat urinary infections, but just how they did so has been a mystery till now. Research from Massachusetts Worcester Polytechnic Institute (www.wpi.edu) has demonstrated how tannins in cranberries interact with E. coli bacteria at a molecular level, creating an ‘energy barrier’ that actually stops the bacteria from getting […]
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A person in Kendo gear holds a shinai sword and helmet, wearing traditional protective armor against a black background.

You can be a ninja too!

By Glenda Kwek You close your eyes and inhale deeply, with your back straight and legs folded. In the still room, the silence is punctuated by a low voice, encouraging you to clear your mind and concentrate on the present. As your chest rises and falls, you feel a growing calmness spreading through your body. […]
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Stopover eating tips

Whether you’re planning an exotic holiday or road trip this summer, chances you’re going to get stuck at an airport or road stop where there is limited food choices available. So here are some top tips to keep your healthy eating goals on track while you are in transit. Vending machines Smart buys: Ditch the […]
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Spice whirl

Spice whirl

Spices are some of the healthiest ingredients in Mother Nature’s pharmacy and offer a multitude of benefits, including easing joint pain, improving circulation and – according to Ayurvedic medicine – stoking your agni, or inner fire, therefore making you feel more energetic. Here are five of our favourite healing spices (including one we bet you’ve […]
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Tea toughens bones

Tea toughens bones

An Australian research study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition has found that women who were regular tea drinkers had a 2.8 per cent higher hip bone-mineral density and lost less bone (1.6 per cent versus 4 per cent) than those who did not drink tea. The women who participated in […]
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Running over the hill

There's always debate over whether there is a magic age that runners should hang up their shoes in favour of less stressful exercise pursuits like walking or swimming. Find out what the recent research says.
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Running over the hill

There’s always debate over whether there is a magic age that runners should hang up their shoes in favour of less stressful exercise pursuits like walking or swimming. But visit the many seniors running groups or take a look around your local running track and you’ll see a fair share of incredibly active, incredibly fit […]
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Magic mushrooms

Magic mushrooms

Improve immunity and prevent cancer with a little help from medicinal mushrooms, says Pamela Allardice. Here are four fungi you need to know about. For centuries, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has prescribed certain mushrooms — shiitake, maitake, reishi and turkey tail — for their health-promoting effects. Along with other common mushrooms, like button and Portobello, […]
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Hello, sunshine

Happy hormones

By choosing foods, supplements and herbs that balance hormones, you’ll feel healthier, happier – even sexier. Try these tips from Pamela Allardice. 1 Minerals matter 2 ‘B’ calm 3 Herbal help 4 Veg out 5 Slow down Caution: Herbs should not be taken during pregnancy or while breast-feeding. Seek professional advice before taking any herbs […]
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Woman relaxing on a bed while reading a book.

7 ways to create quiet space

When we get stressed, a common response is to distract ourselves with more activity. Taking time out helps you to see things clearly and gain resilience to deal with challenges. Here’s how to turn a corner of your home into a haven for relaxation and renewal. 1 Find the right spotWalk slowly through your home […]
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Sleep yourself slimmer

Dozens of studies point to the importance of sleep in maintaining good health in general and warding off depression, heart disease and diabetes, in particular. It also appears that getting enough sleep is crucial to weight loss. Researchers from Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University, studying nearly 70,000 middle-aged women, have found that those who slept […]
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Rate your fitness

Just how fit are you really? Take our quick quiz to see how your fitness stacks up!
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Rate your fitness

Just how fit are you really? Take our quick quiz to see how your fitness stacks up! 1: How many times per week do you participate in an organized sport or set activity (i.e. Going for a jog/walk) a) 3 or more times / week b) 1-2 times / week c) 0 2: How often […]
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Cover of "Trying to Conceive" book featuring feet of a couple in bed, with a red background and white text.

Can stress affect your fertility?

There’s a lot of information about the physical problems that can cause infertility. But did you know that your emotions are another factor that can contribute to conception difficulties? “I experienced some intense emotions and fears when I was trying to conceive,” says Michaela Ryan, author of newly released book Trying to Conceive. “After a […]
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Wife beater given a bravery award

Immune boost — now that’s something to smile about

Did you know that Australian studies estimate that every year the flu causes 18,000 hospital admissions and 1.5 million missed work days? With the winter months bringing more colds and flu, it’s time to address your lifestyle patterns and seek as many ways as possible to boost your immunity. Ultimately we know that a healthy […]
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Not so hot news about sausages

Key findings in a recent study by the Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH), show that only 2% of sausages in Australian supermarkets meet acceptable salt levels. AWASH revealed that one single sausage sandwich at your local barbecue could contain as much as 6grams of salt or 100% of the maximum […]
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Fresh green fruits and vegetables in a refrigerator, including lettuce, apples, cabbage, grapes, and avocados.

Eat your calcium

Surprising findings from a new study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicate that women who get most of their calcium from food have higher bone density than women whose calcium comes mainly from tablets – even when the supplement takers have a higher average calcium intake. The survey of postmenopausal women was […]
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Perfect posture

This month we talk to Dr George Janko, Medical Director, McKinnon Sports Medicine centre on why it’s worth perfecting your posture when you’re active. Spine in line? You only have to look at a spine to see how its various curves may, affect the pressure areas on discs, facette joints, spinal nerves, ligaments and muscles. […]
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Say “Chi”

According to practitioners of Chinese medicine, good health is controlled by a flow of energy called chi. By pressing certain points on your head you can stimulate chi, relieve tension and tone the tiny muscles, acting like a natural face-lift. Got five minutes? Let your fingers do the walking. 1 Close your eyes. Place the […]
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Lean and Mean…Pork?

A recent study into the nutrition composition of pork conducted in conjunction with CSIRO has dispelled a common misconception that the meat is high in fat and best limited from the diet. In fact the survey found that lean, trimmed pork is just a lean as skinless chicken. Let’s explore the nutrition benefits of pork […]
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Is your fridge a health hazard?

Badly stored food can harbour a formidable range of disease-causing bacteria. Make sure you stay safe and that your fridge is well-stocked and clean with these 10 tips: 1 Invest in a good quality frost-free fridge so you don’t have to worry about defrosting it. 2 Put a small bowl of vanilla essence on a […]
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Less stress with aromatherapy

Good scents make good sense when it comes to nixing stress. According to a study from the School of Dentistry at Japan’s Meikai University, test subjects who inhaled lavender or rosemary essential oils for five minutes were found to have reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva samples as well as significantly […]
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Get good and mad

Getting angry every so often is, in fact, a very healthy thing to do, while keeping it all pent up inside is not. These seven ideas will help you vent your vexations more constructively. Take a break. Anger lowers inhibitions and causes you to blurt out things you later regret. In the heat of the […]
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Create ripples

Imagine you have tossed a pebble into a pond and you are watching the ripples spread out. The same principle applies to your life — your smallest action can have far-reaching effects. By seeking opportunities to pay a compliment, show kindness, offer a helping hand or just listen with courtesy at least once every day, […]
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Stay safe

If that little voice inside you tells you that something or someone spells danger, take action immediately. To stay in control and safe wherever you are, remember: Don’t put your keys in plant pots or mailboxes.They are the first places that a burglar will look. Never put your name and address on keys. Don’t open […]
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New flu fighter

It’s the sneezin’ season, and it seems that, when it comes to improving your immune system so it can fend off flu, everything old is new again. As long ago as 400 B.C., Hippocrates — nicknamed “the father of medicine” — called the elder (Sambucus canadensis) his “medicine chest”. The dark purple berries and white […]
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The office day-spa

Some days are so hectic and stressful, emergency measures are called for. These three relaxation methods from Pamela Allardice need no special equipment – just five minutes and a floor. 1 Unclench every muscle This exercise is a powerful stress-buster; it also boosts your cognitive processing abilities, so you think more clearly. Lie on the […]
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Traffic driving you nuts?

Anxiety accounts for 45 per cent of all mood disorders, according to a recent report published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and for the millions of Australians who commute daily by car, rush-hour can be a major source of stress. With traffic-related anxiety and road rage now formally recognised as a certified medical condition, […]
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Women’s soccer: Bend it like … Cheryl?

By Glenda Kwek She sprints down the side of the field, evading two players chasing after her. Running towards the centre of the pitch, she sidesteps another defender and takes a hard swing at the ball. As it sails into the top right-hand corner of the goal, she yells “I love football!” But this “football” […]
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Can chiropractic cure hypertension?

That’s the intriguing finding of a new study from the University of Chicago Medical Center published in the Journal of Human Hypertension. When 50 individuals with a misaligned Atlas vertebra (located high in the neck) were given a one-time specialised chiropractic adjustment, researchers noted that their blood pressure decreased dramatically – in fact, at a […]
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