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Health & Wellness

Cold-water immersion such as ice baths and cold plunges are said to come with a host of health benefits, but one possible cultural counter-current in Hong Kong could be traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories. Photo: Shutterstock

Are ice baths good for you? What you need to know before taking the plunge

Ice baths and cold plunges are springing up across Hong Kong, but will traditional Chinese medicine ideas freeze them out of the market?

8 minutes ago

How a zoo’s sights, sounds and smells can benefit people with dementia

24 Apr 2026 - 7:15PM

SCMP Highlights

Alternative knee pain therapies; monthly zodiac forecast: 7 Lifestyle highlights

23 Apr 2026 - 4:19PM

Is your family addicted to screens and junk food? How to change their habits

In her book Dopamine Kids, Michaeleen Doucleff examines our reliance on ‘magnets’ that hamper happiness and explains how to overcome them.

23 Apr 2026 - 3:15PM

Ultra-processed food and screens are dopamine “magnets” that can be avoided for a better quality of life, according to biochemist Michaeleen Doucleff, whose new book Dopamine Kids explains how to reshape your family’s habits. Photo: Shutterstock

‘Hero of his own life’: how this Hongkonger beat high cholesterol in 12 months

Shashank Gangil had high cholesterol, signs of fatty liver and plantar fasciitis. Here’s how he got in top shape before his twins were born.

22 Apr 2026 - 3:36PM

A stroke paralysed pianist’s right hand. Now he wows crowds with just his left

Inspired by his music teacher, South Korean pianist Lee Hun now plays left-hand music only after a stroke paralysed his entire right side.

20 Apr 2026 - 7:15PMvideocam

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From beef tallow to salmon sperm, natural skincare products are on the rise

Cosmetics firms used to shy away from them, but now animal-based skincare products fly off shelves. Experts weigh in on their effectiveness.

20 Apr 2026 - 6:16PM

Animal-based skincare products, including beef tallow, are gaining popularity across social media and at high-end spas. But are they effective, or can they be harmful? Experts weigh in. Photo: Shutterstock

How cooking can help lower your dementia risk – even just 1 meal a week

Experts say the processes involved in cooking, from grocery shopping to following recipes, can all have a positive impact on brain health.

23 Apr 2026 - 2:02PM

Food and Drinks

Is this soup being culturally appropriated? Dispute boils between 2 nations

Greece and Turkey are arguing over a traditional soup’s origins as one restaurateur attempts to register it as a dish of Greece with Unesco.

19 Apr 2026 - 5:15PM

What menopause products actually work? Doctors share how to buy wisely

From skin serums and rings to lotions and gadgets, products promising to help women with menopause symptoms are everywhere now.

19 Apr 2026 - 3:15PM

Wrinkle-prevention skin care products are just some of the products being aggressively marketed to women entering their menopause. Doctors explain how to “navigate the marketing onslaught”. Photo: Shutterstock

Feng shui guru who’s helped the Rolling Stones, Steven Spielberg gives top tips

Marie Diamond talks about her journey to becoming a feng shui and manifestation master and gives tips on how to turn desires into reality.

19 Apr 2026 - 7:15AM

Feng shui master Marie Diamond shares her spiritual journey and how her teachings have helped others. She also shares some simple feng shui tips to set you up for success. Photo: Instagram/mariediamondofficial

Got knee pain? How exercise can help you avoid surgery, as a rugby player found

Exercise and other therapies are often preferred treatment alternatives to knee replacement surgery. Rob Naylor experienced this first-hand.

18 Apr 2026 - 12:15PM

Pros and cons of aiming for 10,000 steps a day and why less can be more

Walking 10,000 steps a day comes with a host of powerful health benefits but can be an off-putting goal for people who sit all day for work.

18 Apr 2026 - 7:28AM

Do you have trouble visualising things? Maybe you have aphantasia

Aphantasia is the inability to visualise objects or scenarios in the mind, a condition affecting up to 4 per cent of people.

17 Apr 2026 - 7:15PM

Aphantasia is the inability to create mental images in your “mind’s eye”. When sufferers attempt to visualise memories or objects, they often describe the result as having a “blank screen” in their mind. Photo: dpa

What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, April 17-19

Trying to avoid the Hong Kong Sevens this weekend? Check out an exhibition by Marino Funahashi, then enjoy a rave or two.

17 Apr 2026 - 12:33PMvideocam

Artworks in an exhibition by Japanese artist Marino Funahashi at JPS Gallery in Central. The exhibition runs until April 18, 2026. Photo: JPS Gallery

SCMP Highlights

Family of 7 ‘hot’ dentists; Hainan chicken rice roots: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From Joey Yung’s journey to Cantopop stardom to a mother’s inspiring weight loss story, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

16 Apr 2026 - 3:45PM

‘I was taught to shrink’: rugby player fights against Asian beauty standards

German-Chinese national athlete Sofie Fella urges girls and women to transcend traditional Asian femininity norms and build strength.

15 Apr 2026 - 11:00AM

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Too old to exercise? Meet the 100-year-old who works out twice a week

Rudolf Goetz, who started going to the gym in his nineties, believes you can start exercising at any age. And he is not alone.

15 Apr 2026 - 7:15AM

Rudolf Goetz is 100 years old. Remarkably, he only started going to the gym in his 90s. Photo: Patrick Pleul/dpa

She was a 102kg diabetic with a ‘death wish’. After losing 40kg, she’s thriving

Keya Wingfield comfort-ate to morbid obesity after her baby son died. An epiphany led to her losing 40kg and reversing type 2 diabetes.

12 Apr 2026 - 11:15AM

Hong Kong hairstylist’s cancer battle takes him on a crowdfunding campaign

Pitt Cheung and his brother Lego have so far raised thousands for nasopharyngeal cancer treatments not covered by Hong Kong’s public system.

11 Apr 2026 - 12:15PM

Hypertension’s link to dementia calls for stronger blood pressure control

Links between dementia and hypertension are reasons to keep blood pressure under tighter control – sooner rather than later.

11 Apr 2026 - 7:15AM

The links between dementia and hypertension mean getting high blood pressure under control is even more important than previously thought. Photo: Shutterstock

What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, April 10-12

Travel back to the Han dynasty, visit an eco-conscious market, mix cocktails and make-up, or enjoy poolside yoga this weekend in Hong Kong.

10 Apr 2026 - 10:45AMvideocam

Han dynasty pottery at “The Majestic Han: A Golden Age of Vigour and Cultural Integration” exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Sam Tsang

Just 1 hour. How a single therapy session can help you overcome a problem

Experts and patients alike praise single-session therapy, which offers a more targeted approach to counselling while saving money and time.

9 Apr 2026 - 5:15PM

Food and Drinks

Alcohol-free drinks are on the rise. Here’s what’s new on menus

From Chinese-style sparkling tea to shrubs and verjus to spirit alternatives, here are some non-alcoholic alternatives now on menus.

9 Apr 2026 - 1:41PM

Diagnosed with autism at 2, Hong Kong violinist twins found joy in music

Music has helped Hugo and Jayden Pang improve their communication skills and regulate emotional outbursts. Their mother shares their story.

8 Apr 2026 - 1:26PMvideocam

Twin violinists Hugo Pang (left) and Jayden Pang are pictured with their violins in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. The twins, now in their mid-twenties, were diagnosed with autism as toddlers. Since then, music has helped stabilise their emotions and improve their communication. Photo: Edmond So

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