Natural Living
We invite you to explore the latest trends to maintain a healthy living environment. Our experts provide solutions to promote an environmentally friendly, sustainable home and office.
The Genetics of Weight Management
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa, the nation is in the grip of a countrywide obesity epidemic. Somewhere between Banting, The Blood Type diet, green smoothie cleanses, Paleo, maple syrup cleanses and the Holford Low GL Plan, we must be doing something wrong. It is time to face the stats and learn more about weight management.
The Threats of Mobile Telephones
Cell phone use has increased dramatically over the past 30 years with more than seven billion subscribers worldwide. This growth has raised questions over the long-term health threats these devices may pose.
Smoking – taking a positive step towards quitting
It’s not only your lungs that are compromised by smoking – every organ in your body can be adversely affected. Statistics show that tobacco kills more people than AIDS, drugs, accidents and alcohol together. But even after many years of smoking, quitting can reduce smoking-associated health risk.
Is Non-Stick Making Us Sick?
There has been a lot of controversy around the safety of non-stick pans and other cookware in recent years – with good reason. Be aware of what is used in the manufacture of your pots and pans so that you can prepare your family meals safely.
Manage Your Time to Fight Stress
Genetic predisposition can be a trigger to stress as can a wide variety of stressors in today’s fast-paced and competitive world. Dr Arien van der Merwe shares some stress-management tips from her book Stress Solutions to help you manage your time and prioritise.
You and the Pill
Birth control pills or oral contraceptives frequently lead to deficiencies of the following nutrients: folic acid, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, vitamin C, and minerals including magnesium, selenium, zinc and the amino acid tyrosine. Dr Arien van der Merwe looks at the effect of low levels of these nutrients and offers some advice.
You CAN Live to Be 100!
According to the Danish Twin Study, only about 10% of the length of an average person’s life is dictated by our genes. The other 90% is determined by our lifestyle. So, in theory, if we can come up with the optimal formula for a good lifestyle, we can come up with the formula for longevity.
The Wisdom in a Tooth
Wisdom teeth often become a problem because there is not enough space for them to erupt normally. A space shortage will cause them to get trapped behind the existing teeth, becoming impacted. The majority of problems occur when a tooth is partially erupted, thereby increasing the risk of developing gum infection and decay.
Cell Phone Use and Brain Tumours
The supposition that wireless communication devices such as cell phones could be carcinogenic has become a reality as a US government laboratory study has shown that radiation from cell phone use is linked to brain tumours. Scientific American reported that ‘the findings present some of the strongest evidence that such exposure is associated with the formation of rare cancers in at least two cell types in the brains and hearts of rats.
Sinusitis and Allergies – the Confusion Sorted
Sinusitis is a confusing topic, not only for patients but for many health practitioners as well. The confusion arises because of the many facets of this condition, problems with establishing the cause, and similarities between the symptoms of infection and those of allergy. In many cases allergy and infection coexist, feeding on each other, so that the allergic reaction also provides a home for micro-organisms and any infection (and its treatment) can trigger an allergic reaction.
Detoxifying Health Techniques
We are plagued by the pollutants of our modern world, which threaten our health and well-being on a daily basis. Thankfully we can turn to ancient methods of detoxification to ensure some measure of protection over toxic invasion.
Planning a Herb Garden
With our ongoing drought, food prices continue to rise. Now is a good time to create a herb garden as these plants are undemanding, inexpensive, nutritious and have health benefits to boot. Bridget Kitley answers frequently asked questions on how to plant the perfect herb garden.