IMPROVING YOUR HEALTH LIFE

Low-carb diets could shorten life, study suggests By Alex Therrien Media caption Taking out food groups not beneficial, says nutritionist A low-carb diet could shorten life expectancy by up to four years, a study suggests. Low-carb diets, such as Atkins, have become increasingly popular for weight loss and have shown promise for lowering the risk of some illnesses. But a US study over 25 years indicates that moderate carb consumption - or switching meat for plant-based protein and fats - is healthier. The study relied on people remembering the amount of carbohydrates they ate. 'Gaining widespread popularity' In the study,  published in The Lancet Public Health , 15,400 people from the US filled out questionnaires on the food and drink they consumed, along with portion sizes. From this, scientists estimated the proportion of calories they got from carbohydrates, fats, and protein. After following the group for an average of 25 years, researchers...

How much water should I drink a day? By  Kerry Torrens - Nutritional therapist What are the benefits of drinking water, how much should you drink per day, and what are the symptoms of dehydration? Discover the facts in our expert guide. When it comes to the optimum amount of water to drink each day, everyone seems to have a different opinion. So should we be drinking 6-8 glasses, two litres, or even more? Do other liquids besides water count? And what are the warning signs that you're drinking too little water? We asked registered nutritionist Kerry Torrens for her expert opinion.   What are the benefits of drinking water? When you stop to think that more than two thirds of your body is water, it's obvious how important it is to stay well hydrated. Hydration is needed for digestion, for our heart and circulation, for temperature control and for our brain to work well. Water is, without doubt, the single most essential component of the h...

We all need food every day, but our changing relationship with it through the years can have a big impact on our health. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn Share on Google+ Share by Email By Alex Johnstone   From  The Conversation Do you eat to live or live to eat? We have a complicated relationship with food, influenced by cost, availability and even peer pressure. But something we all share is appetite – our desire to eat. While hunger – our body’s way of making us desire food when it needs feeding – is a part of appetite, it is not the only factor. After all, we often eat when we’re not hungry, or may skip a meal despite pangs of hunger. Recent  research  has highlighted that the abundance of food cues – smells, sounds, advertising – in our environment is one of the main causes of overconsumption. Our appetite is also not fixed, it changes across our lifespan as we age. As Shakespe...

New generation of deodorants 'on the way' Image copyright GETTY IMAGES Experts believe they have found a better way to tackle body odour (BO). The key, they say, is understanding how skin bacteria create the smell from virtually odourless armpit sweat. Two teams, at the Universities of York and Oxford, say they have now deciphered the first step in this molecular process. It could pave the way for a new generation of deodorants designed to block this unpleasant chain of events, the journal  eLife  reports. Sweat Sweat is made by two types of glands on the skin: Eccrine glands, all over the body, produce sweat associated with exercise, which helps us keep cool and does not smell Apocrine glands, in the hairy armpits and genital areas, produce sweat containing a number of complex molecules - including proteins - that are odourless when secreted but can be turned into BO by bacteria Even very small traces of the BO chemicals these bacteria produce can smell ...

Everything you need to know about blueberries Fresh blueberries are a popular summer treat. They have a sweet flavor, and they are succulent and nutritious. Blueberries can be eaten freshly picked or incorporated into a variety of recipes. They can also be purchased frozen. They have been shown to protect against  heart disease  and  cancer , and can also help maintain bone strength,  mental health , and healthful  blood pressure . Fast facts on blueberries Blueberries contain a plant compound called anthocyanin. This gives blueberries both their blue color and many of their health benefits. Blueberries can help heart health, bone strength, skin health, blood pressure,  diabetes  management, cancer prevention, and mental health. One cup of blueberries provides 24 percent of a person recommended daily allowance of  vitamin  C. Use blueberries to top waffles, pancakes, yogurt, oatmeal, or cereal, blend them in a smoothie or syru...