Health & Fitness

The month of Ramadan will soon be commencing with a spiritual zeal spread among Muslms For them it’s the time of giving to others and trying to be humble in their needs and desires, sometimes fasting during the month can take a toll on one’s body. Below we have tips to stay fit during Ramadan. One may struggle during the initial phase of fasting before the body gets used to the daily routine. With all the changes to the eating and sleeping habits. Staying fit during Ramadan in hot weather can prove to be a task, and even harder for those who adhere to the month-long fast. Some people might engage in planning way ahead in order to stay healthy and hassle-free during this holy fast. One doesn’t have to choose between their physical health and religious observances, you can …

Having a responsive and supportive partner minimises the negative impacts of an individual’s depression or external stress on their romantic relationship, according to a new research. The findings of the study were published in the journal ‘Social Psychological and Personality Science’. The research was led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst social psychologist. Paula Pietromonaco, professor emerita of psychological and brain sciences, drew on data from her Growth in Early Marriage project (GEM) to investigate what she had discovered was an understudied question.“I was really surprised that although there’s a ton of work out there on depression, there was very little in the literature looking at the kinds of behavior that partners could do that would buffer the detrimental effects of depression,” said Pietromonaco, whose co-authors are Nickola Overall, professor of psychology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, …

A new research has shown how drinking sugary beverages early in life may lead to impaired memory in adulthood.The findings of the study were published in the journal ‘Translational Psychiatry’. The study is the first to show how a specific change to the gut microbiome — the bacteria and other microorganisms growing in the stomach and intestines — can alter the function of a particular region of the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sugar-sweetened beverages are a leading source of decreased sugar health in Americans’ diets. Nearly two-thirds of young people in the United States consume at least one sugary drink each day. Neuroscientist Scott Kanoski, associate professor of biological sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, has studied the link between diet and brain function for years. His research has …

While a narcissist is known to portray a self-centred nature and is likely to put himself above others, it has been found that they are tougher mentally than others. Supporting studies confirm this, but also highlight an underlying insecurity. Yes, you heard it right. Moreover, these people feel less stressed and find themselves less vulnerable to depression as compared to others, according to a study published in the journal — Personality and Individual Differences. While narcissism may be viewed by many in society as a negative personality trait, Dr Kostas Papageorgiou, Director of the InteRRaCt Lab in the School of Psychology at Queen’s, has revealed that it could also have numerous health benefits. Dr Papageorgiou explained: “Narcissism is part of the ‘Dark Tetrad’ of personality that also includes Machiavellianism, Psychopathy and Sadism. There are two main dimensions to narcissism — …

A great tool has been around for a while but deserves all the attention it gets. Medicine Price Registry (MPR) can be used to find out what you can expect when your doctor prescribes you treatment; find out if there are cheaper generics that you can use instead; and make sure that you aren’t being overcharged for medicine prices Created by OpenUp’s director Adi Eyal when he decided to find out how much medicine really should be costing him, Medicine Price Registry (MPR) is a simple but effective tool. Using regularly updated prices, users can search for the name of the medicine they are looking for. Results will include the cost of different doses, a list of generics (if they exist) and basic product details. This is particularly useful for people with prescriptions for chronic medication, as you will be …

This is an inspirational short video excerpt of Swami Abhedananda from the Chinmaya Mission, South Africa. There comes many instances in life when we come across certain people or incidents or actions which make us feel small and suffocated. What is it that we need to have to develop an inner power and strength to remain afresh, alive and alert in such circumstances? Find out your answers in a nutshell in this 4-mins short video of Swami Abhedanandaji. Chinmaya Mission South Africa Ramayana: Chinmaya Mission Durban

On his way to studying to be a family medicine physician, Dr Kartik Naidoo has worked as a software salesman, a Hindi teacher and even qualified as a computer engineer. But it’s his groundbreaking work in reproductive health that earned him a 2020 Discovery Foundation Award. Naidoo believes that empowering women through education and control of their reproduction, would help solve most problems in the world. This belief has led him to do research for his MMed in family medicine on patients in the community of Mossel Bay in the Western Cape. He explored their attitudes, beliefs and expectations, as well as the social influences that play a role in family planning in the community. “The issues involving reproduction provide a window into fundamental beliefs and attitudes that a community has. It is in understanding these that, I believe, the …

Actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who loves binging on his favourite food once in a while, recently gave fans a glimpse of the ‘strict diet’ he is on for his upcoming film ‘Black Adam’. The 48-year-old actor recently shared a video on Instagram, where he revealed what he eats for breakfast as he prepares for his role in the forthcoming film. Addressing viewers watching the clip, which was taken in Hawaii, Johnson said that the role requires “strength, conditioning, character and story study,” but also a well-planned diet, which he described as “the most important thing.” According to Johnson, breakfast for him includes whole eggs and egg whites, beef tenderloin, oatmeal, and blueberries, as well as gluten-free Ezekiel English muffins with Smart Balance butter, Stevia and cinnamon added for extra sweetness. The ‘Jumanji’ star also pairs the meal with powdered …

A large study of people in 28 countries found men aged 50 and over had a 60 per cent greater risk of death than women, partly explained by heavier rates of smoking and heart disease in men, although the gap varied across countries. The new research was published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). “Many studies have examined the potential impact of social, behavioural and biological factors on sex differences in mortality, but few have been able to investigate potential variation across countries,” writes Dr Yu-Tzu Wu, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, and Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, United Kingdom, with coauthors. “Different cultural traditions, historical contexts, and economic and societal development may influence gender experiences in different countries, and thus variably affect the health status of men and women,” added Wu. The study examined …

Having studied medicine at the University of Cape Town, Dr Veena John realised she wanted to be a paediatrician. This was during her fifth year as a medical student on rotation at Somerset Hospital in Cape Town. That decision is now improving the lives of children in communities in the Eastern Cape, her home province. John, 34, works as a paediatric consultant in the ICU at Frere Hospital in East London. She is busy completing her MMed in paediatrics with the help of a Discovery Foundation Award. Her research focuses on the prevalence of HIV in newborn babies with low birth weight. ‘Paediatrics captured my heart early’ John says she knew early on that she wanted to be a paediatrician. “It was during my fifth year that there was a measles outbreak in Cape Town. I was on rotation at …