Health and Welfare

We all love bananas as a quick snack or smoothie booster, but what if this everyday fruit could do so much more than you ever imagined? There’s a fascinating trick that many people are talking about: boiling bananas to unlock their hidden power. It might sound strange, but it’s something you should try! Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world, known for their sweet taste and […]

The Department of Agriculture has gazetted changes to regulations governing mayonnaise and other dressings in South Africa. The main changes relate to “reduced oil” variants of mayonnaise, alongside stricter packaging requirements around health claims. The gazette follows the publishing of draft regulation amendments in 2023, where the department sought to change the classifications of different kinds of dressings based on their oil content. This is a revision of the previous […]

Waking at 3am every night? If you often find yourself awake at 3am. You're not alone. These are some of the reasons that might be behind the, awakenings as well as ways to enhance your sleep: Waking during the night is actually a normal part of sleep. Most people wake briefly several times but usually fall back to sleep so quickly that they do not remember it the next morning. […]

PsA (Psoriatic Arthritis) is a chronic condition that causes pain, swelling, and inflammation in the joints. It also causes dactylitis, which refers to the swelling of entire toes or fingers. This article examines how PsA can affect the feet, including symptoms, risk factors, and diagnosis. It also covers how to manage and treat the foot-related symptoms of PsA. Key takeaways Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that commonly affects […]

Feeling distracted? Hobbies can help you find ‘flow state’ and save your brain We live in what has been called the “distraction economy”: an environment full of triggers that are engineered to demand our attention at every turn. The result is often fragmented attention, loss of focus and sometimes even increased rumination and anxiety. Committing to a hobby and finding your flow can help you reduce outside noise and your […]

After nearly 100 years of development, treatments that bolster the body's immune system to fight cancer are coming of age – and saving patients' lives. When 71-year-old Maureen Sideris was treated for colon cancer in 2008, she had to go under the knife. Her treatment was successful, but the post-operative recovery process was gruelling. Fourteen years later, Sideris, who lives in New York, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer – and […]

There is a long list of foods which contain varying amounts of carbohydrates, which are broadly divided into two groups, namely starches and sugars. The different types of carbs have varying effects on your energy (blood sugar) levels, and they all differ in terms of the other nutrients they contribute to a meal (and your health) as well. Eating less-refined carbohydrates and foods lower in carbohydrates are typically associated with a […]

Not just in your head: Here's how stress causes eczema flare-ups  If your eczema gets worse when you’re stressed, you’re not imagining it. A new study explains what likely happens in the body. Research suggests that chronic stress can trigger eczema flare-ups, a common skin condition characterized by severe itching. The mechanisms by which stress causes eczema flare-ups have remained unknown, but now a study by Fudan University in Shanghai, […]

“Come on, little fella – we should get going now.” But my son was not listening. The sand in the playground was just right, so he kept digging with his new toy excavator. As I drifted back to my list of to-dos, however, the laughter was suddenly replaced by sobs. My son was not hurt, just very upset. When I looked at my phone, I saw it was well past […]