Chinese New Year is fast approaching, and according to Hong Kong experts, the novel coronavirus has already spread to 20 other cities in China, just ahead of the country’s biggest festival. China has confirmed that this respiratory virus can be spread from human to human. Although the majority of the cases have been in Wuhan, theContinue reading “Novel coronavirus outbreak: practical tips to protect your health during Lunar New Year”
Category Archives: General
Is your child depressed? Recognise the signs.
An increasing number of children are suffering from depression, but they are often too young to articulate how they feel. Research shows that the number of kids who have gone to the ER for suicidal behaviour has doubled in less than a decade in the United States. Suicide is the second leading cause of deathContinue reading “Is your child depressed? Recognise the signs.”
Got a stuffy nose? Tips for a better sleep.
Whether you’ve got a stuffy nose from a cold, flu or allergies, sleeping through the night can be a challenge with all that congestion. Read on for tips on how to sleep better when you are congested. Elevate your head. Congestion tends to be worse when you lie down because it is harder for the noseContinue reading “Got a stuffy nose? Tips for a better sleep.”
Stressed? Anxious? Spend time in nature.
More and more research is showing a strong connection between time spent in nature and reduced stress, anxiety and depression. Not only that, but individuals who are more connected to nature tend to be happier in general. Interacting with nature offers a variety of therapeutic benefits. For instance, calming nature sounds and even outdoor silence canContinue reading “Stressed? Anxious? Spend time in nature.”
Does gut bacteria affect your happiness?
The gut microbiome (i.e. the bacteria in our gut) has been getting lots of attention recently. Scientists are becoming increasingly aware of the key role these trillions of microbes play in health and disease. Not only do these gut microbes within us help us digest food and metabolize drugs but over the past decade, researchContinue reading “Does gut bacteria affect your happiness?”
Health benefits of a daytime nap
Need a nap? It turns out that taking an occasional nap is favourable to your health. Before you take one, read on to learn its benefits! A recent study has found that a daytime nap once or twice a week can lower the risk of heart attacks or strokes. This observational study, published in theContinue reading “Health benefits of a daytime nap”
Processed foods are bad for our health. But, what exactly is a processed food?
Many studies confirm that eating processed foods can lead to cancer, heart disease, obesity and well, early death. But, what exactly is a processed food? Using a four-tiered system called NOVA, nutrition experts and scientists classify everything we eat into one of four categories: unprocessed or minimally processed, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods and ultra-processedContinue reading “Processed foods are bad for our health. But, what exactly is a processed food?”
Thyroid illness: can we decrease thyroid antibodies naturally?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Grave’s disease are autoimmune conditions where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, which produces hormones that regulate metabolism, energy and mood. In these autoimmune conditions, the immune system creates anti-thyroid autoantibodies (aka thyroid antibodies) that damage the thyroid gland. Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism (click here if youContinue reading “Thyroid illness: can we decrease thyroid antibodies naturally?”
Reduce anxiety, naturally
Government statistics show that over 13% of people in Hong Kong aged 16 to 75 have common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. According to a 2015 study, 27.8% of Hong Kong’s primary school children have anxiety symptoms so severe that professional help is warranted (Click here to read more on stress and anxiety inContinue reading “Reduce anxiety, naturally”
What you should know about alcohol bloating and weight gain
You drink a few glasses of wine and there it is- your stomach or abdomen expands to a point where it’s uncomfortable, noticeable and embarrassing. Why does this happen? It turns out that drinking alcohol may lead to irritation and inflammation in the stomach (i.e. gastritis) which leads to bloating. Alcohol can also cause weightContinue reading “What you should know about alcohol bloating and weight gain”