Why sleeping with your partner is good for you

Jul 2, 2014

Though it may not always feel like it, sharing a bed with your partner is actually good for you. Scientists have found that while the practicalities may cause some disruption (blanket stealing, snoring, sleep talking), the psychological benefits of sharing a bed outweigh the physical disadvantages.

According to the psychologists, shared sleep promotes feelings of safety and security.

Still, it’s nice to not wake up in the middle of the night with no blankets

Here are some tips on how to get a good night’s sleep, both physically AND psychologically:

Have your own blankets
That way you can roll over as much as you like without pulling the blanket off your other half.

If one of you goes to bed later than the other, change in a different room
As quiet as you might try and be, it’s never enough.

Get a big bed
More space, less elbows in the eye.

Invest in some sort of anti-snoring device
Your other half will love you even more for it

Four surprising things that cause bad breath

Jun 23, 2014

by Amber Saunders

There’s nothing worse than being told to pop a mint in your mouth, when you go to give your other half a smooch. So avoid the embarrassment and make yourself aware of the possible scenarios in which your breath may be a bit on the smelly side.

When you have a cold
When your nose is blocked, you end up breathing in and out through your mouth more often. This dries out your mouth and reduces the saliva which is a natural cleanser and neutralises decay causing acids.

Too many sweets
You might find yourself with bad breath if you’ve been scoffing sweets. Bacteria has a sweet tooth and loves it when you indulge in that bag of jellies at the cinema. Make sure to brush your teeth properly afterwards!

Mouthwash
This is a strange one, but many mouthwashes have too much alcohol that end up drying out your mouth once the minty taste wears off. Opt for a brand with less alcohol in future.

High protein diet
When your body has to metabolise a lot of protein, it excretes ammonia through your breath, and it doesn’t smell nice.

Just how dirty is a public toilet seat?

Jun 18, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Many ladies can stress simply at the thoughts of having to use a public bathroom.

When it comes to using a toilet that hundreds of people have used before you, do you hover, cover the toilet seat with tissue or have a carefree sort of attitude?

If you are the latter, you might be pleasantly surprised to learn that your attitude is the right one to have.

Unfortunately, as the video shows, the toilet seat is not the dirtiest part of the bathroom…

What do your nails say about your health?

Jun 17, 2014

by Amber Saunders

While you may be addicted to gel nails or nail polish, it’s a good idea to go without sometimes so that you can see if your nails are in good condition. If they’re looking a bit off, it could be a sign of something more serious, so don’t just lash on the polish to cover it up and forget!

Pale nails
If your nails are looking a bit pale it could be a sign of anaemia, so you need to up your intake of iron. Pale nails can also be a sign of early diabetes or liver disease, so it’s worth getting checked out if you are experiencing any other symptoms.

Yellow or thick nails
If your nails are thick and/or yellow, you could have a nail fungus. Get yourself down to the chemist or if it’s particularly bad, book in with your GP to sort it once and for all.

Dark lines
While you may check your skin for any changes, you might forget that your nails can show signs of melanoma as well. If you develop some dark lines on your nails, it’s a good idea to get it checked out.

Grooves and dents
If you’ve noticed grooves and dents in your nails, you could have psoriasis, as people with this condition sometimes develop clusters of cells along the nail that disrupt it’s smoothness. Go to your GP for some cream to sort it out.

Brittle nails
If you find your nails breaking more often than not, you could have a thyroid problem. The thyroid gland produces a hormone that regulate metabolism, energy, and growth, and if it’s not producing enough of the hormone you will run into problems, such as brittle nails or hair loss. A simple blood test can give you a diagnosis.

Are you more likely to get an STD if you use a dating app?

Jun 16, 2014

by Amber Saunders

New research has revealed that you’re more likely to get an STD, if you use a dating app to meet your sexual partners.

Researchers got this information from 7,000 gay men who attended a sexual health clinic in LA between 2011 and 2013.

It was found that 36% of these men chose dating apps as their preferred way of meeting lovers and as a result were more likely to have common STDs, than the men who used other methods of meeting people. They were 23% more likely to be infected with gonorrhoea and 35% more likely to have chlamydia – however, there was no difference in the likelihood of being infected with either HIV or syphilis.

One of the theories for this is that since technology is making the process of meeting someone much faster, you are more likely to engage in risky or anonymous encounters.

Stay safe girls!

Five celebs you didn’t know refrain from alcohol

Jun 12, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Usually when you hear that celebs don’t drink it’s because they had a problem with it in previous lives and spent some time in rehab. However, we’ve found some celebs that actually decided to refrain from drinking alcohol, purely for the goodness of their health.

Blake Lively

The former Gossip Girl has never been a drinker. She says she’d rather curl up with her hubby Ryan Reynolds sober at the end of the day rather than hitting the red carpet after a few fancy cocktails. We can’t say we blame her!

Kristin Davis

She was the good girl in Sex and the City, and she’s a good girl in real life. Kristin gave up drinking when she was 22 as she felt drinking was hurting her career. Well, it looks like she made the right decision!

Jennifer Hudson

This star grew up in one of the rougher parts of Chicago and saw enough lives ruined through drink and drugs to know that it wasn’t a good idea. Smart girl.

Tyra Banks

No wonder this super model is, well, a super model! She hasn’t had even a taste of alcohol since she was twelve years old, and it’s obviously working for her.

James Franco

While he may have nailed the stoner look in Pineapple Express, James France abstains from drink and drugs after having some bad experiences as a teenager. Good idea!

The top five herbal teas and their health benefits

Jun 11, 2014

by Amber Saunders

We love herbal teas, and not just because they make us feel like we’re being super health, even after eating a massive bag of sweets at lunch.

Here are just a few of our favourite herbal teas:

Green tea
Green tea is an old favourite and there are plenty of reasons as to why. It is great if you’re on a detox and it’s full of antioxidants. It’s also meant to help with weight loss because it induces a thermogenic effect, which means the body gives off more heat and uses more calories at rest. Sounds good to us!

Chamomile tea
This tea is great for if you’ve had a stressful day and just need to unwind. It can also relieve bloating and indigestion.

Ginger tea
If your stomach is a bit upset, there’s nothing like a cup of ginger tea to ease the nausea. It’s also meant to have some anti-inflammatory effects, and if you add a slice of lemon and some honey it’s great for warding off a cold.

Peppermint tea
Peppermint is a digestive aid and has been used to treat irritable bowel syndrome. It’s also nice if you want something refreshing.

Dandelion tea
This one is great for relieving constipation and diarrhoea. It also enhances detoxification by stimulating urination and replacing the potassium lost in the process.

This is why we need to eat breakfast

Jun 9, 2014

by Amber Saunders

We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what we didn’t know was that it can help us burn calories.

According to new research, if you eat a good breakfast,, you will lose more calories than if you skip it.

The University of Bath divided a certain number of people aged between 21 and 60 into a ‘fasting’ group and a ‘breakfast’ group. It’s kind of obvious who did what in each group!

While the study found that having breakfast didn’t stop snacking during the day, those who did have it were more active, making them use more energy – about 442 calories worth.

Principal investigator in the study, Dr James Betts said: “The main finding from our study is that people who eat breakfast burn more calories. Most people would think this is because of reduced snacking and increased metabolic rate but actually this is due to moving around. They were more active during the period that they had eaten breakfast. People moved around if they had been fed and there are many benefits to being active.”

So, if we eat breakfast, we have more energy which we end up burning off anyway – amazing!

The things you didn’t know about keeping a healthy smile

Jun 3, 2014

by Amber Saunders

You may think that by brushing your teeth twice a day you will help keep your mouth healthy. But do you brush for long enough? And do you keep up with your dental appointments?

Recent research have shown that people with the most bacteria on the surface of their teeth and gums have an 80% increased risk of premature death, particularly from cancer.

So how can we keep our mouths healthy?

See your dentist regularly
Health guidelines advise that we shouldn’t leave longer than 24 months between dental appointments. If you have gum problems you should see your dentist every six months and those with good oral hygiene should go every 10 months.

Brush thoroughly
Twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is still enough, but brush properly. Always wait an hour to brush teeth after eating or drinking fruit juice, as acidic foods and drink soften the tooth enamel and leave it prone to damage.

Clean between teeth
A lot of decay and gum disease occurs between the teeth caused by food and the build-up of plaque, so this area shouldn’t be neglected. Floss once a day by sliding it gently up and down between your teeth, then curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gum line.

Chew gum after meals
Saliva is the tooth’s natural protective mechanism, and chewing gum helps produce it. Chew sugar-free gum after a meal or snack to increase saliva flow.

Scrape your tongue
Many toothbrushes have a scraper on the back for cleaning the tongue. Contrary to popular belief, the bacteria it removes is not connected to serious health conditions – but removing it may make us more pleasant to be around.

Use a mouthwash
This can be useful if it has additional effects, such as preventing decay or build-up of bacteria. But be warned, mouthwashes can’t replace brushing.

Monitor your gums
Our gums naturally start to recede as we age, but this can also indicate gum disease. Look out for bleeding gums as this is the first sign of the condition and means you need to see a dentist.

Can the internet really play doctor when you’re sick?

May 28, 2014

by Amber Saunders

When you’re feeling a bit peaky, it’s only natural to want to find out what’s up doc…and fast!

But putting your faith in the internet for a spot-on diagnosis is the worst thing you can do, according to a new study.

It found that nine in ten Wikipedia entries on common medical conditions were just plain wrong.

The doctor’s behind the study said it’s because the website lets ordinary users create, delete and edit entries – boosting the risk of mistakes big time!

Lead author Robert Hasty warned, “Researchers should not use [Wikipedia] as a primary resource because those articles do not go through the same peer-review process as medical journals.

“The best resource when looking for a diagnosis is to speak with your physician, who can take into account your medical history and other factors to determine the best course of treatment.”

Since its launch in 2001, Wikipedia contains more than 31 million entries in 285 languages, at least 20,000 of which are health-related.

The study backs up surveys showing as many as a quarter of women have misdiagnosed themselves on Google.

A survey of 1,000 women in 2012 found they often wrongly diagnosed themselves as having breast cancer, thrush, diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma.

Oops!

What can your feet tell you about your health?

May 26, 2014

by Amber Saunders

While your eyes may be the window to your soul, some health experts reckon your feet can say a lot about what’s going on on the inside.

Cold feet
Cold feet could be one of many signs of an underactive thyroid or poor circulation. A simple daily medication can ease symptoms, with a blood test determining if you suffer from the condition.

Frequent foot cramping
Foot cramping can mean dehydration and nutritional deficiencies. If you’re exercising make sure you’re taking in enough water, as dehydration can lead to cramping. Also upping your intake of calcium, potassium and magnesium may help.

A sore that won’t heal
A cut, sore or blister that won’t heal can be warning signs for diabetes or skin cancer. Go to your doctor if you’re worried and be extra careful when checking your body, paying attention to every inch of skin – including between toes.

Flaky or itchy skin
This could be a fungal infection, most likely to be athlete’s foot. There are plenty of over the counter remedies to treat the irritable symptoms, and keeping your feet as cool and dry as possible will also help. It could be caused by eczema or psoriasis.

Enlarged big toe
If your big toe becomes suddenly enlarged, it could be your body showing signs of an inflammatory issue, like gout.

Bunions
Far from only being caused by tight footwear, bunions could actually be an inherited faulty foot structure. Speak to your doctor as surgery is often an option.

Heel pain
This could be a sign of strain on the ligament. Ease up on intense workouts, and where sensible footwear while the pain eases.

10 foods with more potassium than a banana

May 23, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Potassium is a super important nutrient for muscle strength, a healthy heart and a good nervous system.

And if you don’t get enough – 3,5000 mg a day – it could lead to tiredness, muscle cramps, heart palpitations and dizzy spells. Yikes!

Bananas are packed with potassium, with around 430 mg in each medium-sized serving.

But going bananas is certainly not the only way to load up on potassium, and in fact, there are plenty of foods that are even more packed with the nutrient.

Here are 10 common foods with more potassium than a banana.

1. Potato (1,081 mg)
2. Sweet potato (896 mg)
3. Spinach (839 mg)
4. Baked beans (752 mg)
5. Raisins (544 mg)
6. Avocados (540 mg)
7. Yoghurt, low-fat (531 mg)
8. Orange juice (496 mg)
9. Melon (494 mg)
10. Tuna (484 mg)