Did you know insoles are more than just for comfort - they can improve your circulatory health

Suffering from bladder problems? We investigate some common and not so common causes behind bladder symptoms

The bigger your nose, the less susceptible you are to bugs and germs.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t only have to be about chocolates, flowers and cards with soppy messages. Here are some healthy things you can do for, and with, your loved one to show how much you care.

The health benefits of eating chocolate are usually put down to the antioxidants from cocoa beans, but now researchers suggest the copper in the sweet treat may also help.

Stay active and have fun at the same time with trampolining! We’ve found 11 reasons why trampolining is good for you. 1. It’s great for your heart It provides a vigorous aerobic workout, getting your heart to increase the rate at which it pumps blood around your body. It also strengthens the muscles needed for […]

Wondering how to lose weight and keep it off? Susan Maiava’s lightbulb moment came when she tried to get her teenage son John to eat his dinner

Zinc could help prevent the blues. Research shows women who have a low intake of the mineral, which is found in foods such as peanuts and Marmite, are more likely to have depression. Studies suggest patients with major depression have low levels of the mineral, however, their levels return to normal after successful drug treatment […]

The last thing any of us want to do is make our kids sick. But giving them food for lunch that could end up full of bacteria is a real possibility, especially when the weather’s warm.

Why do we close our eyes when sneezing? This is simply a reflex, an involuntary response to a stimulus. Sneezing is triggered by irritation to the nose and as a result, electrical impulses are relayed to the “sneeze centre” in the brain.

Drinking two cups of coffee a day alters oestrogen levels in women – but  whether the sex hormone is raised or lowered depends on your ethnicity. Scientists found that Asian women who consumed 200mg of caffeine a day – equivalent to two Americanos – had elevated oestrogen levels when compared to women who consumed less. […]

A recent study found that middle age begins at 35 - at least according to those under 20. But it seem the key age is 33 when it comes to wrinkles. A sudden change in the mechanics of the skin in the early

Discover the secret to living happily and healthily with this summer's best health books

Which loaf should you reach for in the bakery aisle to improve your health?

It’s good news for the two-thirds of Britons who have a cup of tea every day – enjoying a brew may significantly reduce your blood pressure. Scientists at The University of Western Australia and Unilever discovered that drinking three cups of tea a day lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, researchers based their findings […]

Children starting secondary school start to yearn for a golden tan at the same time as their parents hand over the task of applying their own suncream, a survey has found. The worrying trend could raise the risk of teenagers developing deadly skin cancer later on in life. Researchers from the oemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center […]

Women with small breasts may be at lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those with more ample bosoms. Researchers at Harvard University, in the U.S., and the University of Toronto, in Canada, surveyed 92,106 women and found those who had a D-cup or larger at the age of 20 were at around three […]

Peter Gordon felt perfectly well when he underwent a full health check after moving to a new GP practice. Despite having no symptoms, a simple blood test revealed he had raised levels of an enzyme linked

Q: I was recently diagnosed with a hernia. It now makes my stomach appear bloated and is most uncomfortable, even with a hernia belt. The hospital implied that it would require a big operation to remove it, and would pose a risk to my heart because of my age (I am 90). Is this correct, […]

They are widely regarded as ‘healthy’ options, guilt-free alternatives to snacks such as crisps and chocolate. But most of us are unaware that many of the dips and spreads, such as hummus, that we believe are better for us are in fact very high in calories, a survey has shown. The World Cancer Research Fund […]

What to do when nerve pressure cannot be eased by painkillers.

Recently I have been taken to labelling myself as a terrible mother – because for years I ignored my nine-year-old son’s breathing problems. Lucas would have frequent slight breathlessness, occasional difficulties breathing plus numerous, persistent heavy coughs. Even after a nasty bout of pneumonia when he was four years old, which saw him in hospital […]

Kathy Twomey fell into bed exhausted after another busy day juggling work with childcare for her two children under three years old. But instead of falling asleep, Kathy stayed awake – all night and for the next three consecutive nights. “I just had so much on my plate that I couldn’t switch off. I’d get […]

WOMEN'S STUFF Kaz Cooke(Penguin, $65) Although not strictly a health guide, this whopper of a book by acclaimed Australian author Kaz Cooke includes information on general health and well-being, eating and

Try to stay positive – it’s become a common call to those who are ill as the belief has grown that having a positive attitude will not only help you get through illness, but make you better quicker. But is it true? In fact, there’s no evidence that teaching yourself to have a positive attitude […]

Resolution: Lose weightStrategy: Follow a low-GI dietSome research suggests eating a diet based on foods that are low on the glycaemic index is the best way of losing weight.This will mean choosing carbohydrate

We reveal how to get the enviable physiques of the stars. This week: Jools oliver's legsWith four young children, Jools rarely wears glamorous attire. But at a dinner for husband Jamie's charitable foundation,

It’s nearly Christmas and the thought of feasting like a king has me salivating. Like many people, our Christmas day is all about family, food and fun. When you’re trying to lose weight, Christmas can be a minefield, because the food is the most delicious, irresistible and fattening on the planet. If I’m being honest, […]

Did you know there are certain times of the day when you should be doing particular things that are good for your health? Here's a guide to how to have the healthiest day you can.   7.30am:

The pressure tends to pile on at this time of year, with so much to do in the lead up to December 25. If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed by stress, one thing you can do is make healthy food choices. Here are some options that can help keep you calm. AvocadoIf things start to […]

Some people are so difficult to buy for at Christmas. I know I'm often stuck for ideas. What about something that's good for their health? Zumba classesA blend of salsa and other Latin dance moves, zumba

Losing weight can be hard. Losing a lot of weight is a colossal battle. With its ebbs and flows, it’s hard to say whether starting this journey or finishing it is harder. Before I started, many years of procrastination had led to limp efforts of running and token diets, all of which usually lasted a […]

This is the time of year when all your good intentions about eating healthily and drinking in moderation go out the window as numerous social occasions prove very tempting. It is possible not to overindulge, here are some tips on how to survive those Christmas parties. Eat before you go outFill up on healthy food […]

It has been an intense week, but it has been worth it!Scotty has always maintained that my ideal weight is around 75kg and we've had many battles about the pros and cons of what I want and what's realistic

Vinegar has been valued for its healing properties for centuries. The ancient Greek father of medicine, Hippocrates, used it as an antibiotic, and even as recently as World War I it was used to treat soldiers'

That’s it! I’m going on a starvation diet! After this last result, I will have to if I’m going to make my target in time. The realist in me is screaming, “Don’t be a dingbat, pull your head out of the clouds. You’re not going on a starvation diet. Just admit you have done well […]

Coro star Helen Flanagan’s brave admission that she suffers from panic attacks has helped raise awareness of the problem, which will affect as many as 10% of people at some stage in their life. Having a panic attack can be very frightening and they may strike for no apparent reason. However, they’re often a symptom […]

I’m plateauing and it could not have happened at a worse time. With not long left to go in my weight-loss journey, my body isn’t functioning the way I would have hoped. Well aware how close the finish line is, I exercised my butt off this week and watched what I ate. I went to […]

After gaining 1.7kg last week, then celebrating my 44th birthday and a day at the races, I amped up my training this week with more runs than usual, bikram classes and some serious gym sessions. I really needed to move it – and it worked! I lost 1.5kg, putting me at 77.5kg. I did it […]

Shrinking waistband syndrome” is an all too-common condition. Lots of us suffer from this problem, where clothes are comfortable in the morning but mysteriously feel tight later in the day. Chances are you probably put it down to scoffing too much food. But there can be a variety of reasons for a swelling stomach. Bloating […]

Disaster has struck and I am on the verge of sinking. With high hopes of continuing my positive streak after weighing in at 77.3kg last week, I ruined it with a lack of discipline and by socialising. I only have five weeks to go in my 30-week challenge, but after gaining weight this week – […]

There’s nothing worse than lying in bed unable to sleep, or waking up repeatedly through the night. Sometimes the reasons for sleep problems are obvious, but they may also be due to factors you haven’t considered. You’re too hot Being too warm can lead to broken sleep. For a good night’s sleep your body temperature […]

Thank God the Rugby World Cup is over. Trying to lose weight during a six-week party is like trying to sleep during a rock festival. It's bloody difficult!The discipline and willpower needed to stay on

There’s a lot of confusing advice around about exactly what’s good for our health and what isn’t. Here’s the truth about some usual misconceptions. oyth: Cholesterol is always bad for you.Truth: Cholesterol is a fatty substance made mostly by the liver. We all need some blood cholesterol as it is used to build cells and […]

Break out the bubbles, my weight is now in the 70s, 78.3kg to be exact, and I feel wonderful. After weighing in at 80.3kg last week and losing a further 2kg this week, I’ve broken a barrier that was last crossed in 2006. I was totally committed to doing everything to keep the weight-loss going […]

Telling someone diagnosed with breast cancer not to worry is like telling a fish to not swim, but it’s vital to try to keep the worry under control, or it could possibly lead to a debilitating bout of depression.When clinical psychologist Gwendoline Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, a friend who had […]

I'm so happy this week. I cracked a big goal and bought a size 10. Also, after a miserable result on the scales last week, this week I lost a whopping 2.5kg. oy body was stuffed at the end of last week

When you have a mammogram the last thing you want to hear is the results are abnormal. However, if that is the outcome, what happens next? Knowing what you could be facing may help you through a stressful time. Being told your mammogram shows something abnormal is scary, but it does not neccessarily mean you’ve […]

As well as the mood swings, insomnia and weight-gain women of a certain age have to contend with, the menopause can also play havoc with skin. Deeper wrinkles, puffiness and dryness are just some of the problems exacerbated by hormonal changes during this time. “During menopause, levels of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone rapidly […]

It’s been nine years since I wore my white bikini in public. I was honeymooning in Waikiki in 2002. But it’s been three years since I wore it in the privacy of my own home. Waiting in front of a full-length mirror at Specforce Fitness for Scotty to tell me whether or not my flabby […]

Follow April Ieremia’s journey to changing her lifestyle and reaching her desired weight. Throughout the next seven months April will be pushed through her paces with only one training session per week by the director of Specforce, Scott Cottier. The remainder of the week involves some self discipline and motivation type training with certain goals […]

Did you know all body fat is not equal? That there is a type that can help you lose weight rather than gain it? Now scientists think your social life could be the key to building up this fabulous fat. Here’s some good news: If you’re trying to lose weight you may be better off […]

The pressure’s mounting. I’m eating like a horse and drinking like a fish and it’s all the Rugby World Cup’s fault. I only have 10 weeks to do whatever it takes to lose 12kg and look great for summer. As if that isn’t hard enough, I have now also added the pressure of posing in […]

osteoarthritis – or “wear and tear” arthritis – is the most common form of arthritis and affects almost half of all people over 60. Nearly everyone aged 80-plus will have this condition, which occurs as a result of the structures affecting joints mechanically breaking down. But how do you know if you’re likely to get […]

Training this week was exhausting, not only because I had to do it every day, but because I was working under Scotty’s steely gaze. He’s a very nice guy but, to be honest, I didn’t really want to see that much of him. So there I was at the gym expecting the worst and I […]

In light of our facebook fans who suffer from PCOS or Polycystic ovarian syndrome, here is a special compilation of related health articles. Acupuncture

Scientists are always coming up with new ways for us to stay healthy. ouch of it leads to the usual advice - eat lots of fruit and veges, exercise regularly and avoid processed foods. But they also come up with some rather unusual tips.

Fitness programme – week twenty of April Ieremia loses it!

Rugby World Cup fever is alive and well in Auckland. Unfortunately, the upcoming five-week party will make losing weight difficult. In order to help me with the weeks of parties ahead, I made a pact I would exercise before every night out and run the day after so my butt doesn’t find its way to […]

We seem to be powerless to do anything to prevent many cancers, but there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of getting cervical cancer. Smear tests can save lives and the cervical cancer vaccine may be able to make a big difference to the number of women developing the deadly disease. Every […]

Fitness programme – week nineteen of April Ieremia loses it!

Now 17.4kg lighter, I’m well and truly over the halfway hump, never to return again. Bounding towards the 20kg mark feels wonderfully rewarding. This week I lost 1.1kg and am celebrating because it’s been three years since the last time I was 83.2kg. However, our midway photoshoot this week highlighted a little problem that needs […]

oen often take better care of their cars than they do of themselves, and it can be up to us women to nag them to do something about health issues they may be experiencing. Show the men in your life how much you care by putting the hard word on them to get any concerns checked out.

Fitness programme – week eighteen of April Ieremia loses it!

oh my God! A miracle has happened! The weeks of intense battling to move unwanted meat off my bones have lead to a whopping 3.2kg weight-loss.Before I stepped on the scales, Scotty was talking about the

It was Wallis Simpson, the Duchess of Windsor, who famously said, “You can never be too rich or too thin.” In fact you can be too thin, and while it doesn’t pose as many health risks as being overweight, being underweight can lead to some very serious health problems. Broken bones Being too skinny increases […]

April Ieremia’s fitness programme – week seventeen Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes

Scotty has opened his new gym in the heart of Auckland city, and it’s a welcome relief. I have always preferred training in the scenic great outdoors, where I can admire the scenery – rather than training in an indoor centre, where the surroundings stays the same. But, after the recent cold snap, I am […]

Your body needs adequate fluids to function properly, and the best thing to drink is water. But like anything else, too much of it can be bad for your health.

April Ieremia’s fitness programme – week sixteen Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes

I feel great! The birds are singing, the sky is blue and I made it through a Scotty session – and loved it. Am I in love? Did I win lotto? Am I the new host of Good oorning America? None of the above. It’s my 30-day challenge. Last week I set myself the task […]

Going through menopause early can be a devastating experience. Not only can it be tough psychologically but it can have a long-lasting impact on your health, and it seems to be affecting more women than ever before.

April Ieremia’s fitness programme – week fifteen Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes

In her first training session with Scotty in five weeks, April gets on his bad side - and pays for it

Sitting at a desk all day has been linked to a variety of health problems – and not just obvious ones such as sore backs and weight-gain. Here’s why it’s a good idea to get up from your desk and move around regularly. Bowel cancerResearch has shown that people who work for 10 or more […]

April Ieremia’s fitness programme – week fourteen Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes

Catch up with all of April Ieremia's diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes   When I started this weight-loss column I set an ambitious goal for myself of losing 30kg in 30 weeks. oy

You may think you’re doing the responsible thing by only drinking once or twice a week, instead of indulging every day. But those Friday night drinks after work could prove to be worse for your health than spreading them out over the week if you tend to overdo it. A new study has found binge drinking […]

April Ieremia's fitness programme - week thirteenCatch up with all of April Ieremia's diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes

Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes Crawling out of bed at 6am for training last week was hell. It was cold, wet and far too early for someone who had just come back from a summer holiday in North America, but it had to be done. It had […]

For many New Zealanders, dairy products are a prominent part of our diets. But some of us who experience uncomfortable symptoms - like bloating and abdominal pain - may not realise that milk-based foods could be to blame.

April Ieremia’s fitness programme – week twelve Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes

Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes It’s been gruelling, but my tour of Alaska and Canada is over – and I’m now overweight. Three weeks away from home without the support of my trainer or the comfort and routine of home has been memorable, but it’s a setback […]

Periods made the news recently, thanks to comments about them being responsible for women taking more sick leave than men. While that's not true for most of us, some women's lives are turned upside down once a month thanks to crippling pain. Here's what to do about it.

April Ieremia’s fitness programme – week eleven Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes

Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes After a week without exercise due to a sprained ankle, my body is changing. My clothes are complaining, my skin is straining and my arms are dimpling. I jumped onto some scales on the ship and checked it three times before accepting […]

Staring at yourself in the mirror is not generally seen as a very healthy way to spend your time. But, in fact, taking a long look at your face could be good for you. Your features can give away clues to your health - if you know what to look for.

We all know that things like junk food, smoking, drinking too much alcohol and being a couch potato are bad for us - but are you aware that seemingly harmless things you do every day could in fact be bad for you? Here's what the experts say...

April Ieremia’s fitness programme – week ten Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes

Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimes Prepared for the onslaught of food and lack of time to exercise, I headed to Alaska armed with an iron-clad will, running shoes and a busy programme of wilderness hiking. But within 24 hours my plans went up in smoke. Hosting a […]

Catch up with all of April Ieremia's diary entries and accompanying exercise regimesBelow is a guide only of how the week could work for you. oon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Cardio 1 Cardio

Catch up with all of April Ieremia's diary entries and accompanying exercise regimesIt's been a challenging week and it's about to get even harder. I'm off to Alaska and Canada for three weeks, so I'll

Nasty coughs are common at this time of year, but they're not just caused by seasonal bugs. Here's an overview of different types of coughs and what could be causing them.

Catch up with all of April Ieremia's diary entries and accompanying exercise regimesBelow is a guide only of how the week could work for you. oon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Cardio 1 Cardio

Catch up with all of April Ieremia's diary entries and accompanying exercise regimesWhen I was a kid and did something well, I'd get a reward. Now I'm older, but nothing's changed - I'm still gunning

If your child appears to have trouble learning and seems to be “away with the fairies” they could have a hearing problem. There’s often one in every class – the kid who seems to be off in a world of their own and has difficulty paying attention or following instructions. Some develop behavioural problems and […]

Cold and flu season is upon us again, but just because it's winter, it doesn't mean you have to succumb to these viruses. There are things you can do to decrease your chances of getting them, and recovering more quickly if you do.

Catch up with all of April Ieremia's diary entries and accompanying exercise regimesThe honeymoon phase is over, so what's next? Like a new relationship, I started this programme with child-like enthusiasm,

Catch up with all of April Ieremia’s diary entries and accompanying exercise regimesIntroduction* * This training program from Specforce Elite Training is designed to carry on from the last six weeks of fitness and build that metabolism towards leading a healthy lifestyle through self-discipline and determination. This is not a quick fix, but a long […]

I've just done an inventory of the contents of my handbag and found, among other things, a small water bottle, a book, a camera, a diary, my makeup bag, a fold-up umbrella and two hardboiled eggs. No wonder it's heavy, and no wonder I often have knots of pain in my shoulder!