Controlling blood sugar levels helped improve thinking, learning and memory in overweight people with type 2 diabetes, a new study has found. The US study examined 1 100 diabetics and those with better blood sugar control had improved cognition, short-term memory, planning, impulse control, attention, and...
A new, clinical study has found that high doses of vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced the need for ICU treatment for Covid-19 patients. The Spanish study – a pilot randomised, open label, double-masked clinical trial – investigated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on ICU admissions...
A recent study reveals that a downward trend in the intake of iron and other vital nutrients is contributing to poor brain function and other health problems. The study, by the UK’s University of Sunderland, collected micronutrient data from two national nutrition surveys and found that...
Indoor air pollution can be more toxic than outdoors and treating the air in homes, offices and other interior spaces with essential oils may be effective in countering viruses, bacteria, mould, fungi and dust mites, according to research. Indoor air pollution levels in developing countries generally...
To highlight Women’s Month, three top South African health experts have encouraged women to make their own mental, physical and nutritional health a priority and not to compromise on their wellbeing for the sake of their many other roles. International health and wellness expert Maria Ascencao...
Vitamins C, D omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, iron and selenium may be essential for immunity -- a vital weapon in the fight against Covid-19 -- and deficiency of these may make it difficult for the immune system to defend the body, a new study...
A local health company has developed an immune-boosting supplement specifically for a vulnerable community to help protect against infections like Covid-19 and is donating a month’s supply to 10 000 residents. Kevin Coyne, CEO of Coyne Healthcare, was approached to support a vulnerable Eastern Cape community...
Experts warn that while fasting has great health benefits, those pursuing fasting for health or religious reasons should take additional precautions to boost their immunity during Covid-19. Currently, over 1.9 billion Muslims globally are observing Ramadaan, a month of fasting and although there is no evidence to suggest it is unsafe to...
Bedwetting may be hereditary and is often outgrown, but if it continues beyond age five a medical evaluation by a urologist with an interest in this field is important. A large-scale study shows that bedwetting (also called nocturnal enuresis) is up to seven times higher among children with...
As South Africans stay at home during the national lockdown to help reduce infection, they’re faced with high levels of stress, uncertainty and pressure to stay healthy. SA health expert, Vanessa Ascencao says research shows that diet, nutrition, exercise and mental strength are vital for optimal immune function and to help...
South Africans have among the highest rates of stress and anxiety in the world, highlighting the need to protect their mental health during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, says health expert Vanessa Ascencao. Ascencao says the public should be conscious of their levels of stress, anxiety, and the risk of...
Nocturia (excessive urination at night), may be linked to sleep deprivation, poor health and lower work productivity, according to recent research. The condition, which a study shows affects one in three people over 30, is one of the most common urinary problems, yet only a fraction seek medical help. A US study notes that...
Blood in the urine and chronic back pain may indicate kidney stones or a tumour and anyone experiencing these symptoms should immediately consult a urologist. Dr Laurie Blake from The Urology Hospital, Pretoria, says in about a third of cases of blood in urine the reasons may be due to...
Those with a compromised immune system, men, and the elderly are at greatest risk of contracting the coronavirus according to latest data, highlighting the urgency to take action to boost immunity. Health expert Vanessa Ascencao has urged the public to take care of their health, particularly their immunity, following reports of...
High demand, supported by easier lending conditions, is driving the entry-level housing market in Cape Town with developers unable to keep up, according to property expert, Toni Enderli. Echoing reports of buoyancy in the lower end of the property market in 2019 (property priced below R1.5m), Enderli predicts this trend...
South Africa’s first, fully integrated, mixed-income, mixed-use development, aimed at reversing apartheid spatial planning and located near Cape Town’s CBD, has been launched for sale to the public. The revolutionary 22ha community comprises over 3 500 homes – some subsidised or grant funded, the remainder for sale on...
A top Japanese scientist has pointed to a powerful immune-boosting extract of the shiitake mushroom, called AHCC, to help defend against infectious diseases. Dr Kohei Homma, a Japanese biochemist and expert in nutritional medicine who visited South Africa last year, said AHCC -- a standardized extract of cultured shiitake mushroom mycelia...
The average fertility rate in South Africa is on the decline, in line with global trends, and couples unable to conceive after a year of trying should seek help from a specialist, says a leading urogynaecologist. A United Nations report notes that fertility rates in South Africa for 2020 are...
Digital detox, improved mental health, scientifically backed CBD oil and predominantly plant-based diets are among the top health and wellness trends for 2020, say three leading health experts. Nutritional consultant, Vanessa Ascencao, says a largely plant-based “flexitarian” diet will continue to gain popularity and recommends eating 70 – 80 percent...
Involuntary urination is a normal part of early child development but may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) if it continues beyond age seven and can often be effectively treated by a urologist. Bed wetting (nocturnal enuresis) is common among young children and may be...