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Regular, structured exercise sufficient to lower risk of mental illness — study

Maintaining an active lifestyle and exercising regularly has stronger mental health benefits than intermittent bouts of intense aerobic activity, a new study has found. The Swedish study, which surveyed 36 000 middle-aged males and females over 30 days, found that frequent moderate exercise is more strongly linked...

Now cheaper to buy than rent for first-time SA home buyers – global expert

Selected properties under R1.5-million are now significantly more affordable to buy than rent, offering first-time homeowners an unprecedented opportunity to get into the property market, says global property expert, Toni Enderli. Enderli says the lowest interest rates in 50 years combined with transfer duty relief, higher...

Diabetics exposed to air pollution at high risk of lung disease — study

Diabetics living in ozone-polluted areas may have an increased risk of developing interstitial lung disease -- a condition that may exacerbate the negative effects of Covid-19, a new study notes. The US study connects insulin resistance and repetitive ozone exposure to the development of interstitial lung...

Cannabis industry could help reboot economy if laws are eased

The cannabis trade could dramatically bolster South Africa’s economy if authorities followed global trends and eased the country’s prohibitively regulated industry, according to the Cannabis Trade Association Africa (CTAA). The newly formed association says SA’s “archaic” regulations are out of synch with the global move to...

Balance blood sugar to think, learn and remember better — study

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...

Media alert: Clinical study finds vitamin D significantly reduces need for ICU treatment for Covid patients

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...

Media alert: Low intake of iron & other nutrients contributing to poor brain & immune health — study

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

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...

Women must make their own health a priority

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, other nutrients vital to counter Covid — research

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...

Vulnerable SA community gets free immune booster to help fight Covid

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...

Take extra precautions to boost immunity when fasting during COVID-19

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 could be in the genes, may be overcome — Urologist

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...

How to eat healthily and stay safe during COVID-19

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...

Protect mental health during lockdown — expert

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...

Too many nightly toilet visits may impede health, productivity – study

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 urine may signal kidney stones or tumour – see a urologist

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...

Boost immunity against coronavirus says expert

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...

Eco-friendly, affordable apartments now on sale in Parklands

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...

SA’s first, fully integrated, mixed-income housing development launches

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...

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