What vaccines you need to get before heading abroad

May 6, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Before you head on your holidays it is important that you make sure you have the appropriate vaccines.

Here’s a list of what you need or should probably get for certain locations:

South America

Yellow Fever (required)

Tetanus

Typhoid

Hepatitis A and B

Malaria

South Africa

Yellow fever (required)

Poliomyelitis

Tetanus

Hepatitis A and B

TB

Typhoid

Malaria

South East Asia

Poliomyelitis

Tetanus

Typhoid

Hepatitis A and B

Malaria

Eastern Europe

Poliomyelitis

Tetanus

Hepatitis A and B

Typhoid

Diphtheria

Always talk to your doctor to make sure you have the required vaccines, because they change form time to time. Make sure you get your vaccines at least four to six weeks before travelling.

Alicia Silverstone has some controversial advice for you, ladies

Celebrity

Apr 28, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Alicia Silverstone’s book, The Kind Mama, is aimed at mums to be, but she also has some advice for women in general.

The new book has caused much controversy surrounding Alicia’s views on motherhood and it doesn’t stop there!

The Clueless actress has claimed that tampons can make women infertile: “Unfortunately, feminine-care manufacturers are not required to tell you what’s in their products which means that noone’s talking about the potential pesticide residues from non-organic cotton and the ‘fragrances’ containing hormone-upsetting, fertility-knocking phthalates that you are snuggling up to your hoo-ha.”

Alicia also goes on to say that the vagina is the most absorbent part of the body, except she calls it a ‘chichi’.

Why getting giggly is the best workout ever

Apr 26, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Have you ever laughed so much, your side is sore and you’re completely out of breath? It feels like you’ve just finished a two-hour session at the gym!

Laughter and exercise may share more in common than you think and both are great for boosting your health. Although one is definitely much more fun…

Having a good giggle can improve blood pressure, stimulate the organs and reduce pain. Here are some other health-boosting benefits of a chuckle session:

Laughter relaxes the whole body
A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter boosts the immune system
A giggle decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins
These are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart
Having a chuckle improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Trying to be perfect could be ruining your health

Apr 18, 2014

by Amber Saunders

According to research, trying to be perfect could be ruining your health.

Fretting about getting everything right – from your job to your style and relationships – can trigger heart disease, IBS and insomnia.

Some experts say it could even be as bad for you as smoking

Dr Danielle Molnar, a psychologist at Brock University, Canada, has suggested that perfectionism should be considered as a risk factor for disease in the same way as obesity and smoking.

“We’re always promoting perfectionism and its benefits of academic and professional achievement, but it’s such a strong factor for so many illnesses, including increased infection and early death, that I think it should be considered by doctors as part of a patient’s long-term health,” said Dr Molnar.

It’s estimated that two in five of us display perfectionist tendencies.

And thanks to social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, increasing numbers are concerned about being – or appearing to be – perfect, said Gordon Flett, professor of health psychology at York University in Canada.

“It’s natural to want to be a perfectionist in one area of your life, such as your job,” he said. “But when it becomes an obsessive need for the perfect job, child, relationship, bank balance and body, it causes extreme stress and can affect not only relationships, but your health.”

Are you making these 4 common mistakes in your squat exercise?

Apr 16, 2014

by Amber Saunders

We all know that squats will give us that lovely shapely bum we all want – but are we doing them properly?

Squats will only work if we do them properly and safely.

Here are four common mistakes that occur when squatting:

1. Leaning forward/backwards
Use your core to ensure you stay balanced and are not leaning too far forward or too backwards.

2. Too quick
If you are dropping into your squat too fast, this may be an issue. Take your time and make your movements mindful and steady.

3. Go lower
Don’t be afraid to drop it down low.

4. Knees going inwards
Keep your feet rooted and if your knees have a tendency to fall inwards as your lower, try using a slightly wider stance.

Beware the afternoon nap

Apr 15, 2014

by Amber Saunders

It seems taking an afternoon nap is not such a good thing after all. This is awful news for those of us who like to catch an afternoon siesta as often as possible.

According to new research, a nap can be associated with early death. Researchers studied 16,00 British adults over 13 years who enjoyed an nap of more than hour each day. Unfortunately, when they went to check on their research, they found that 3,000 of their subjects had died from lung disease.

The research said: “After analysing the data, scientists discovered that people who slept for less than an hour in the day increased the chance of death by around 14 per cent. This number rose to 32 per cent if the nap lasted for more than an hour, and was linked to the development of respiratory illnesses.”

The frightening thing about the finding is that while napping won’t bring about lung disease, it is actually a sign that you may already have respiratory problems.

So what are we to do about our much loved naps? Wait for more research perhaps.

5 ways to sweeten your food without sugar

Apr 15, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Many people are trying to cut down on their intake of sugar for health reasons but sometimes it can be hard.

Here are some great alternatives that will ensure you still get your sweet fix!

Each alternative does still contain natural sugars and so should also be eaten in moderation.

1. Honey
Honey adds a great sweetness as well as a subtle flavour to coffee, tea or porridge.

2. Agave syrup
This syrup comes from the agave plant and is a lot sweeter than honey meaning you need less. However, it is very high in fructose so don’t overdo it.

3. Dates
Dates are a great addition to granola or baked goods that need a sweet kick.

4. Maple syrup
This yummy syrup isn’t only for your pancakes! Use it like you would honey.

5. Brown rice syrup
Derived from brown rice, this syrup has a great depth of flavour.

6. Coconut sugar
This sugar alternative is made from the sap of the coconut flower. It is great for baking and has a lower Glycemic Index than regular sugar.

The 5 worst fad diets that exist

Apr 14, 2014

by Amber Saunders

There are so many fad diets out there but none have proved as successful as simply eating a balanced diet with lots of fruit and veggies and getting 30 mins of exercise each day.

Here are the 5 worst fad diets we have ever heard of.

1. The Baby Food Diet
This diet was famed by celebs for a while and consists of eating only baby food. Er, yum? While baby food may be good for babies, it’s certainly not good for grown women!

2. The Cabbage Soup Diet
Restricting yourself to one meal a day and only cabbage soup is a sure-fire way to go absolutely insane.

3. Lemon Detox
Lemon water with maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Only. For ten days. Just no, it slows down metabolism and will not be good for you.

4. The Air Diet
Putting food close to your mouth and not actually eating it. Torturous and definitely not a healthy mindset.

5. Grapefruit Diet
Similar to the cabbage soup diet but with grapefruits. Sounds repetitive, boring and pretty gross.

Remember that nothing will ever beat a long-term healthy mindset of a balanced diet and exercise.

5 reasons you may not be losing weight

Apr 14, 2014

by Amber Saunders

You’re doing everyhting you should be doing; eating healthily, exercising and still you can’t seem to lose those few pounds.

Well, maybe one of these reasons could be why!

1. Stress
Stress can cause you not to lose weight as it causes fat storage and increases appetite. Try to spend 10 minutes each day relaxing and calming through meditation.

2. Eating “healthy”
Sometimes you may think you are eating healthy, but in fact are not. Just because a yoghurt says it is “fat-free”, doesn’t mean there is not sugar in it. Make sure to read your food labels thoroughly.

3. Weekend waste
If you eat healthy Monday through Friday and then binge all weekend on take-away and alcohol, you are wasting all of your week’s work. Try to strike a happy medium or have a “cheat meal” rather than a “chat day”.

4. Skipping breakfast
Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism for the day and you shouldn’t underestimate the power of this when it comes to weight-loss.

5. Just cardio
Only doing cardio may be another reason you have plateued in your weight-loss. Try to mix up and vary your work-outs so that you incorporate fat-burning weight exercises too.

Do you know what 200 calories really looks like?

Apr 10, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Counting calories can be an effective way to lose and maintain your weight – but what does 200 calories actually look like?

This informative and interesting video might shock you when you see how much broccoli or apples you can eat before hitting 200 calories in comparison to how much of a fast-food burger you can eat before hitting the same number.

Study shows how green tea can boost working memory

Apr 10, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Who knew that even more benefits could be added to the list for green tea?

In a study completed at the University of Basel in Switzerland, it was found that extract of green tea can improve the working memory.

The finding shows that drinking green tea can improve cognitive functions and it could be used as a treatment for cognitive impairments such as dementia.

One of the professors leading the study, Prof. Stefan Borgwardt, said that “our findings suggest that green tea might increase the short-term synaptic plasticity of the brain.”

Could running actually be bad for your health?

Apr 7, 2014

by Amber Saunders

A new study conducted by the Cardiovascular Research Institute in Pennsylvania, U.S. has revealed that too much running may actually be harmful to our health.

The research carried out by Dr Martin Matsumura and his team suggests that too much running may actually decrease the lifespan rather than increase it.

The study included 3,800 female and male runners with an average age of 46.

Dr Matsumura has said that “increasing mileage and pace, the benefits of running seem to disappear.”

He also suggests running no more than 2-3 hours a week at a moderate pace to reap the great benefits of running healthily and safely.