Health Features

As work, family, and social obligations increasingly compete for our time, our days get busier and our stress levels get higher. Surely women’s liberation was not meant for us to simply exchange one kind of shackle for another?

US baseball star Mickey Mantle once said, ”If I had known I was going to live this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself.”  Good advice for the typical kiwi bloke whose reluctance to seek help for medical problems is a source of frustration for spouses and medical professionals alike.

Spring time!  How do you snap-out of that winter malaise? We’ve got ten tips that can help boost your energy levels.  Yes - diet, exercise and getting a good night’s sleep are on the list.  So is laughter, keeping good company and learning new skills.

Blood has fascinated mankind throughout the ages. Some cultures worship it, while some people faint at the very sight of it. So what do we really know about the fluid of life?

Our bodies are almost 75% water – every cell, tissue and organ in the body needs water to function. Dehydration can result in heartburn, stomach ache, recurring or chronic pain (such as lower back pain and headaches), mental irritation, depression and (ironically) water retention. Dehydration is also the primary trigger of daytime fatigue.

Whether you’re eight or 80 - or somewhere in between – you can benefit from the health-giving properties of regular exercise.  We’re not just talking about keeping your weight under control and your heart in good order.  These are only two of a multitude of exercise-related health benefits.  

The Nutrition Information Panels or NIP on most packaged foods can be particularly useful in managing the fat and salt in your diet. That’s because they are required to state the quantity of the very things we are trying to reduce for heart health.

If you’re stuck for a birthday present for Mum or Dad, and she’s 55 or older and he’s 45 or older, you could consider giving them an all-expenses-paid trip to the doctor

Why do so many of us suffer from lower back pain? “Overuse in the wrong environment,” says Auckland physiotherapist Ian Rainey.

Our feet walk an average 115,000km in a lifetime – nearly three times the circumference of the earth.  So, if you’re going to be using them so much, it makes sense to take good care of them. 

We all need energy. But are we consuming too much for our lifestyles?

If we were to heed the advice of Hippocrates, the Greek physician and founder of medicine, we should all be asking our doctors to write out a grocery list for us instead of a prescription to help lower cholesterol.

Feeling run-down, tired, lacking energy, need more get-up-and-go? Simple lifestyle choices related to sleep, stress, nutrition, exercise and mental ease can make a big difference.

Planning to embark on a new fitness regime? Congratulations! There are more choices than ever before. As well as favourites such as going to the gym, walking or jogging, there are plenty of other mind/body activities on the menu: Pilates, t'ai chi, yoga, and the Alexander Technique, to name but a few.

We’ve all felt pain at some time or other, but what is its function and how can we minimise it in our daily lives?