Sitting is killing us
Research into the perils of sitting continues, with a study from The Toronto Rehab Foundation reporting the amount of time an individual sits during the day is associated with a higher risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and even death, regardless of regular exercise.
“More than one half of an average person’s day is spent being sedentary – sitting, watching television, or working at a computer,” says senior scientist at the Foundation, Dr David Alter. “It is not good enough to exercise for 30 minutes a day and be sedentary for 23-and-a-half hours.”
Salmon is a protien-rich food.
Junk Free June
Improve your overall wellness, kick-start healthy habits, and win prizes at the same time with ‘junk free june’. Participants will ditch takeaways, fizzy drink and other ‘junk’ food for a month to raise funds for the cancer society, and can score points to put towards healthy prizes along the way. For details visit www.junkfreejune.org.nz
Protein workout
You don’t have to bust a sweat to rev up your metabolism – try snacking on protein-rich foods such as cottage cheese, salmon and quinoa. Protein is harder to break down than carbs and fibre, so your body burns extra energy while reaping all the nutritional benefits. Win win!
Posture is important when eating and digesting food.
Sit up straight
If you suffer from heartburn, that spicy curry may not be completely to blame. Your posture when eating a meal is an important component for digestion. Slouching on the couch while eating can put pressure on the stomach, forcing acid into the gullet and promoting indigestion. To minimise reflux, eat meals sitting on a chair with your knees level and feet flat on the floor.
Want a Happier life?
The secret may be as simple as showing kindness to others. Researchers at Stanford University say practising more compassion can lower blood pressure, boost immune response and increase calm in as little as two weeks. Specialists in ‘compassion science’ now have their own research centre at the university, and the study focuses on the power of innate human traits such as empathy and altruism.
Hair piece
Whether you prefer a short pixie crop or sport a mane that would make Rapunzel jealous, the thickness of your hair is partially determined by its natural colour. More follicles mean thicker locks, and blondies lead the pack with an average of 146,000 of them. People with black hair have about 110,000 hair follicles, brown manes contain around 100,000, and redheads have a head count of about 86,000.
Live More Awesome
Is the brainchild of two Kiwi blokes who have suffered from depression. The charity aims to reduce the stigma around mental illness, and inspire others to talk openly about depression and how to cope with it. For an A-Z guide of practical, down-to-earth tips for dealing with the ‘black dog’, visit livemoreawesome.co.nz.
Additional reporting by: Sheree Mutton
Photos: Getty Images
