Health aNd Fitness Guide

Telling smokers about their ‘lung age’ may make them quit smoking, according to a study in the British Medical Journal. Researchers subjected 561 smokers aged above 35 to a test that recorded the volume and rate at which they exhaled air. While they advised everyone to quit smoking, half of the group were told about → Continue reading »

Husbands create seven extra hours of housework per week for women. Wives save their men an hour of chores each week, according to researchers at the University of Michigan. The study, based on time diaries kept by participants and questionnaires, found that on average household chores for women dropped about 35 per cent, from 26 → Continue reading »

1. Regular exercise - Perhaps the most important step in regulating cholesterol levels. Some doctors prescribe a walk for 40 minutes, every day. Exercise burns extra fat which is metabolised. 2. Maintain weight - The focus should be on managing the weight, not looking slim. Increase physical activity and reduce caloric intake in a systematic manner. → Continue reading »

Dealing with stress is routine for modern people. According to the US National Library of Medicine, the best way to reduce stress is figuring out what is causing it and revealing it to a trusted person. A balanced diet, exercise, and enough sleep can keep your body and mind immune to stress. Try meditation or → Continue reading »

A group of obscure chemical compounds, called phthalates, was in the news recently. They are found in scores of consumer products, and are linked by some to a variety of health problems. A primer on this new chemical hazard: What are Phthalates? Phthalates are a family of chemical compounds that come in the form of oily, colourless → Continue reading »