Stress is a fact of life. Never more so as we barrel headlong toward the ’20s of the 21^st Century. Never in the history of humankind have people been more stressed out and anxious than in this age of technology, information overload, professional and social complexity, and political pandemonium. And make no mistake, stress takes its toll, physically and emotionally.   

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Highly stressed people are at greater risk of long-term health problems and premature death than those who are more chilled out. Those with high levels of stress combined with depression are 48 times more likely to have a heart attack or die. People with heart problems on top of their stress and depression live in a “psychosocial perfect storm”. These were the findings of a study at Columbia University in New York.

Whether it is the shock...

That’s right  -  stress is going nowhere and you cannot hide from it. You will always have to cope with financial obligations, techno-creep, rush-hour traffic and, worst of all, toxic people.

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Sudden cardiac arrest is responsible for 75% of sudden deaths on the sports field.

Every now and then a heartbreaking story hits the news of a seemingly healthy and young sportsman, or sportswoman, who drops dead in the middle of a sporting match or some bou...

In recent years, doctors have started to prescribe probiotics together with all antibiotics. Why is this, and what do probiotics do?

Meaning of ‘probiotic’

The word...

Your child has come home from school with a runny nose and red cheeks. This is nothing out of the ordinary: children pick up viruses easily from other children, especially in day-care settings or at school.

Viruses spread by means of droplets in the air, or from being transferred by hand onto surfaces or objects, such as toys or table tops. When these are touched, and the child then tou...

Early in the twentieth century, antibiotics changed the world of medicine. But we could be losing our best weapon against bacterial infections – and you could be contributing to it.

In the days before antibiotics, many bacterial infections, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, proved to be fatal to millions around the world. Also...

When children suddenly develop a high fever, it is alarming for parents.

What does this mean, and what action should you take?

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Alcohol abuse plays a role in more than 60% of road deaths in South Africa.  Strict new proposals to try and curb drunk driving are being put forward to the Department of Justice. But what are the penalties now in force?

Legal alcohol limit

As the law currently stands (Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1998), the legal limit for driving must be less than 0.05g of alcohol per 100ml of blood. In a br...

The legal blood alcohol limit in South Africa is 0.05g of alcohol per 100ml of blood.  Put differently, it is the equivalent of 0.24mg alcohol per 1000ml of breath.  What exactly does this mean to you?

In an ideal world, nobody who has had anything to drink will get behind the steering wheel of a car. But we don't live in an ideal world.

Alcohol the main cause of road fatalities

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You are at a party, and you have had a few drinks. How long does it take for you to be sober enough to drive?

There are several things to consider here:

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YES - you can definitely go to jail for drunk driving.  And it could be for a lot longer than one night.

If you are arrested for drunk driving, you will spend at least one night in a police cell. In certain cases, such as in the case of repeat offenders, you could be looking at six years behind bars. Or 25 years, if your charge is changed to murder.

Schedule 2 offence

Currently, the Road Traffic Management ...

Ever looked around yourself and felt a wave of stress and anxiety about all the ‘stuff’ around you? And then – mentally exhausted, or defeated? 

Well, truth is that there is an undeniable link between ‘clutter’ and your state of mind. Specifically, the obvious connection between feeling ‘stressed’ when your environment appears to have spun out of control. 

Definition of clutter 
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Lighting a braai? Make your meal as healthy as possible by using lemon juice to tenderise your meat.

Humans have been cooking meat over open fires since ancient times and, today, braaiing is still as popular as ever.

In recent years, however, research has shown that exposing meat to high temperatures and cooking foods for prolonged periods over the coals may generate cancer-causing substances called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

F...

Preserving meat with smoke adds flavour and rich colour. But eating smoked or processed meat too regularly can come at a price.

If you love tucking into bacon, kassler chops and smoked chorizo sausages, you’re probably well acquainted with the wonderful flavours that smoking can impart to meat.

But, as with all high-fat, high-salt and cured meats, smoke-cured meat should be eaten in moderation. 

“Smoke is composed of many wonderful compounds,...

Braaiing or switching on the grill to cook your food quickly at a high temperature? Follow these simple steps to keep your meal as healthy as possible.

Cooking makes food more appealing, easier to digest and, quite often, healthier.

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Most South Africans don’t need much of an excuse to light a fire. But when last did you consider what your Saturday-night braai could be doing to your health?

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Getting diarrhoea is nothing unusual, but if left untreated, it could be life-threatening.

Everyone gets diarrhoea or loose stools from time to time. It's just human. Mostly it clears up by itself within two to three days with the help of some over-the-counter medication.  But when does it become dangerous?

Diarrhoea c...

It's not just an army that marches on its stomach – you do as well. And gut health affects so many more aspects of your life than most people think.

Millions and millions of fungi and bacteria and other organisms live inside your gut – in your intestines and your colon. Yes, it's a bit creepy to think about it, but without them you wouldn't survive very long as these good bacteria truly are responsible for making your body work. ...

Whether you have a digestive disorder or not, keeping your digestive tract healthy is one of the most important things you can do for your body.

If your gut works efficiently, your body will get its energy from the food you eat. And not just energy – it also helps the immune system fight off disease and keeps other important processes going, such as blood clotting, the fighting off of inflammation, cell division and heart contractions....