What brings you out of sleep each morning? A buzzing alarm, a child’s cry, sunlight? How we wake up and what we do immediately afterward sets the tone for the rest of the day. While I do not have a complicated morning ritual, there are a few things I do to ensure I spring into
Taking a break to walk around every 20 minutes, instead of staying seated for hours on end, helps reduce the body’s levels of glucose and insulin after eating, according to a new study. While the latest results don’t show whether these reductions have any lasting health benefits, experiencing large glucose and insulin spikes following a meal is
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a brief 10-minute massage helps reduce inflammation in muscle. As a non-drug therapy, massage holds the potential to help not just bone-weary athletes but those with inflammation-related chronic conditions, such as arthritis or muscular dystrophy, says Justin Crane, a doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster. While massage is well accepted as a
Whether you’re interested in running a marathon or staving off the chronic diseases of ageing, to reap the rewards of your efforts getting into the zone is essential. Experts say knowing and staying within your heart rate training zone is an easy way to pace the intensity of your workout. “Exercisers need to get to at least
Yoga is growing in popularity around the world. Latest estimates suggest that 15.8 million Americans and half a million Britons regularly practice yoga. Yet in South Africa, teachers claim that despite yoga becoming more mainstream, many South Africans are reluctant to try it out because of a few persistent myths. So what are some of the
In South Africa currently approximately 61% of the population is considered overweight or obese. As a result, more than half of the population not only risk developing chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, but are also potentially placing themselves under severe financial strain. This is according to Dr Dominique
If you rely on coffee or cola to make it through the day, it’s time to change up your routine. Sure, you’ll get an instant buzz, but by the time your hands stop shaking, you’ll discover that you’re even more exhausted than before.So put down that mug, step away from the vending machine and give these
According to Steve Tappin, author of The Secrets of CEOs, the vast majority of the average Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) week is dominated by 12 emotions of a possible 34 000 including intense stress, frustration, disappointment, irritation and overwhelm. “In response to these emotions, the body secretes an increased amount of cortisol, also known as the
Relaxation, visiting a spa and having a make-over have largely been in the domain of women for a long time. Men are slowly catching up: visiting an ozone sauna, having a massage or even getting a manicure. Nevertheless, the concepts of relaxation and wellness often mean different things to men and women. “Wellness was long regarded as
It’s one of the most common reasons we go to the doctor. Here’s everything you need to know to help your aching back. To be human is to have a sore back. By the time we reach age 50, 9 out of 10 of us will have experienced back pain, the leading cause of disability in