A great way to combat ooS (occupational overuse Syndrome) is to take breaks during your working day. Try this mini-workout to relieve neck tension and give yourself an energy boost in the office. Stressbuster 1: Rest your elbows on your desk and place your fingers at the back of your neck. Work the pads of […]

Do you dread exercise but want to get fit for summer? Research shows that if we walk for 15 minutes twice a day, we can lose about 7kg of fat in a year. Brisk walking can burn off almost as many kilojoules as jogging (1250 to 1670 an hour) but puts much less stress on […]

Feeling a bit blue but don’t want to talk about it? Try writing your worries down in a journal. You don’t have to be a published author to record your thoughts on paper – just write what comes to mind. Purchase a journal with an attractive cover that makes you want to write in it. […]

Are you unhappy with constant arguing with your partner or friends? Conflict is inevitable and natural in a relationship. But rather than dealing with it in a destructive way like arguing, you can learn to deal with conflict more effectively, making everyone feel happier and more in control. Try these tips: Learn to negotiate. Sort […]

Need a wake-up boost in the morning? Try a yoga pose to improve circulation and give you an all-over stretch. You could start with the Triangle Pose – a standing pose common to many styles of yoga. Inhale as you stand tall with your feet together. As you exhale, step your feet one metre apart. […]

Between TVs, telephones and computers, we can often be driven to distraction by the technology that surrounds us each day. Why not take a break from it all? Cook your meals on the barbecue, play a board game, read a book, walk through a park, play an instrument, go and visit a friend – get […]

If you have trouble falling asleep, are restless during the night or just don’t feel rejuvinated when you wake in the morning, take a look at our sleeping tips and sleep easier tonight! Cut out the cat-naps! If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, try not to nap during the day because you will throw […]

What we eat can affect our emotions. Treats such as chocolate and sugary, carbonated drinks can have a negative effect on your mood as they give you a short energy burst, followed by a slump and, quite often, feelings of guilt. However, there is a solution! Some foods can acually stimulate feel-good chemicals in the […]

Is it safe to cook frozen ham after eight months?

What does success really mean to you? We are so busily involved with our lives that we often forget to take the time to stop and think. We have forgotten the art of just being and of appreciating our lives. Remember to: Start with yourself and appreciate your body and all it does for you. […]

The festive season is on its way and with it comes cocktails, bubbly and beers at barbecues. There is no getting away from the fact that all alcohol is high in caloric content but you can minimise the damage by sticking to more “diet-friendly” drinks. As a rule, the best drinks to stick to are […]

Protein pump – avoid carbohydrates for breakfast and eat proteins instead. This will boost your brain’s levels of dopamine and make you feel alert as well as keeping your blood sugar steady. Choose from eggs, mushrooms or tomatoes, or yoghurt sprinkled with nuts and seeds.2. Can the caffeine – replace it with water, herbal teas, […]

If your skin is in serious need of some pampering but you haven’t had time to stock up on beauty products, try our natural and additive-free alternatives. ** Tomato oask **This is an astringent mask perfect for balancing out oily skin. Mix one ripe tomato and one tablespoon of yoghurt together and apply to the […]

Say goodbye to those extra kilos that have made themselves at home over the chilly winter months by giving your metabolism a kick start. Here are five helpful tips: Be an early bird. Try to have your largest meal at breakfast time. This will kick-start your system and give you more energy for the day. […]

How not to waste your favourite cooking oil.

It’s time to get off the sofa and tighten up that saggy winter behind! Every day, do some form of exercise that gets you up and going. oove it! Work out with at least 30 minutes of cardio, focusing on your glutes (your butt’s major muscles). The treadmill is great, or go find some steep […]

With spring approaching, it’s the perfect time to get into gardening. It’s great exercise and tones your upper body – which is great news if you love wearing strappy tops! You’ll top up on your daily dose of vitamin D from the sun – just make sure you wear a good SPF sunblock and a […]

Some people think we lose our brain cells as we get older – but this isn’t true. Studies have shown people in their 60s and 70s experience a decrease in their mental capacity of less than 1% annually, which is very minimal! A recent psychological study of the “super-young” – that is, people who look, […]

Yes, your mother was right, after all. Plunging temperatures in the toe department can open the door to viral infection. The nose walls are affected by cold feet. When the feet are cold, the nose walls contract, become cold and dry and cause the glands to stop functioning, so that dust and bacteria are no […]

In the interests of maintaining good eyesight, there are some symptoms or strange occurrences which you simply must not ignore. Consult an optometrist if you experience any of the following: When lots of black dots suddenly appear in your vision, it could mean you have a vitreous detachment, when the gel-like substance in the eye […]

You may be proud that you always get so much done, but nevertheless feel inexplicably unfocused, panicky and tired. We are human beings, not human doings! Women often pride themselves on being able to do many things simultaneously, but suffer as a result. So be mindful – this means doing one thing at a time […]

Do you feel like all your relationships end in disaster? If so, it’s likely you always go for the same sort of partner – someone you don’t respect or who treats you badly. This could stem from your past. Can you identify anyone with similar characteristics who once had a strong influence on you? Chances […]

Feeling anxious? Suffering period pain? Then brew up a cup of chamomile tea. one of the most popular herbal teas, chamomile contains oils with powerful soothing and anti-spasmodic qualities. It’s ideal for settling the mind and body; is used to help gastritis, peptic ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome; and is said to help with a […]

Initimacy is the ultimate energy source and not just with your partner. It’s about meaningful connections between friends, family, colleagues and even pets. Here’s how to experience its energising power: Spend time with friends who lift your spirits and limit the time you spend with people who bring you down. Be touched more often – […]

Get your juicer out and make a delicious, immune-boosting fruit and veg cocktail. Try this recipe for fighting off colds and flu – it’s a tangy mix of vitamin C – packed orange and phytonutrient-rich capsicums. Peel an orange, leaving on as much of the pith as possible. Juice it with 100g each of red, […]

Your hair – is it your crowning glory or a sorry reminder of your slackness in the mane maintenance department? If you haven’t already, book in to see your hairdresser once every six weeks – your hair will love you for it. Regular trims not only keep split ends at bay, they will maintain your […]

Try a morning s-t-r-e-t-c-h for a great start to your day. The first move you should make when you get out of bed is a full-body stretch. Lie down flat on your back on the floor and stretch your fingertips as far as you can in one direction and point your toes in the other. […]

Learning to manage stress involves trying to communicate your feelings in constructive ways. It pays not to dwell on the past but to use it as a lesson, moving forward all the time and trying not to repeat previous mistakes.

The power of music to alter our feelings is phenomenal. A stirring classical piece can calm like chamomile, a power ballad can evoke romantic memories, while a frantic-paced dance track can have you moving your booty like nobody’s business. So why not rev up your spirits by adding a soundtrack to your day? Turn on […]

Tap into these top ten tips to brighten your day. Read good news – 99 percent of the world’s news seems bad and if that’s all you read, you’ll think nothing good ever happens. Read stories that inspire or move you and show the strength of the human spirit. 2. Take daily baby steps towards […]

Laughter really is the best medicine and we don’t do it enough. Back in the 1950s, people laughed for 18 minutes a day but these days we laugh for less than six minutes daily. Studies show laughter reduces stress, stimulates circulation, improves breathing, boosts the production of pain-killing endorphins and even increases immune-system activity. So […]

Your friend is late for your lunch date. How do you react – do you shrug your shoulders and enjoy the extra time or do you get so worked up you decide to cross your pal off your Christmas card list? If your response is the latter, ponder this. You may not always be able […]

Your body changes constantly throughout your menstrual cycle, so if you’re aware of how your hormones are affecting you, you’ll be able to face each phase with confidence. Here’s how: **Days one to seven (menstruation) ** Get exercising to help ease cramps. Your skin is extra-sensitive right now, so indulge in a massage! **Days eight to […]

Knowing that many nutrients are involved in brain and hormone function, scientists have been researching the link between food and mood. Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between depression and the consumption of refined sugar and caffeine. To enhance your mood, try following these golden rules for the next ten days. Eat wholefoods. Cut out processed […]

Beauty Editor Justine Williams provides a handy guide to putting together a beauty survival kit. The first item no-one should be without is clear lip gloss or lip balm. “Lips always look better with a little gloss. Whether you want your lips to look entirely kissable or delicately shined, gloss is the fastest and easiest way […]

Want to stop snacking, smoking, or biting your nails? Try these five top habit-breaking tips: Understand how bad habits take hold – and that they can be broken. Cross your arms in front of you, then cross them with the opposite arm on top. Does it feel strange? That’s because the other way is a […]

And it’s full of fibre too! Researchers have discovered that some apples contain more anti-oxidents than others and that Red Delicious apples are especially good.