All about physical, mental and social wellbeing.
You’re probably aware that going to the supermarket when you’re hungry is a bad idea. Research published back in 1969 showed that people tend to buy more food if they hadn’t eaten recently and were hungry. But that’s not the only way hunger affects the choices we make.
Do you find it hard to get enough exercise? Exercise plays a critical role in sleep regulation, maintaining a healthy body weight and overall mental wellbeing. But what goes through your mind when you're on a run or sweating through a gym class? Are you having fun? Or are you pushing through because it's for exercise? While the answer may seem irrelevant, your mindset actually has the power to completely derail your healthy goals.
Pseudo-insomniacs are rare cases that complicate the classical rules of sleep science. While they perceive themselves to be awake all night, traditional lab tests show nothing other than completely normal sleep. ‘Pseudo-insomniacs’ have made scientists take a closer look at the sleeping brain, but the science of sleep is still far from being completely understood.
We’ve all heard claims chocolate is healthy. But if you’re anything like me, you’ve wondered if that’s a vicious rumour started by a chocolate multinational. I’m delighted to tell you in fact scientists have found plenty of evidence for the health benefits of chocolate eaten in moderation. But there are a few things you need to know. A long but not so sweet history The Latin name for cocoa, Theobroma, means “food of the gods”. […]
You’ve just flown halfway across the globe and the clock tells you it’s morning but your body tells you it’s bedtime. You’re tired and dazed. You can’t think straight and it take days to start feeling normal again. Jet lag. Is it just an annoyance, or something more serious? And among the many touted remedies, could a new smartphone app be the answer?
It’s late. Really late. And you need to be up early. You’re tossing and turning. The later is gets the more stressed you feel. How are you going to get through the next day so sleep deprived? What if I told you all you need is to <em>believe</em> you got enough sleep?
Water: it covers 97% of the planet, makes up almost two-thirds of each of us, and is a requirement for life as we know it. But did you know too much of it can kill you?
Think having a treadmill at your desk is a ridiculous fad? It may not be realistic for most workplaces but the idea is strongly rooted in science. You’re probably aware that sitting down all day is bad for your health. But just how bad? And is there anything you can do, short of quitting your desk job?
You've suffered a gunshot wound. You're losing blood and your organs are failing fast. Would you let doctors drain your blood and chill your body to 10 ºC, entering a state of clinically-dead, suspended animation, to buy precious time that may save your life? This radical technique is being trailed by a group of doctors at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania.
We have known for a long time that eating less (much less) can prolong life in many animals. Given fasting diets are currently all the rage, I decided to investigate the science. Is fasting also good for humans?
Dr Jen Martin 