https://www.scmp.com/rss/318722/feed Does eating carrots help you see in the dark? Does being wet and cold give you a cold? From urban myths to local remedies to old wives' tales, we check the truth of health claims en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Researchers in Australia have drawn a link between cardiovascular disease and hot weather, forecasting that the heart-disease burden could double by the 2050s if current climate trends continue. They found that an average of 49,483 years of healthy life were lost annually to cardiovascular disease caused by hot weather in Australia from 2003 to 2018. The authors of the study, published in the European Heart Journal on Monday, used data on illness or death caused by heart disease during that span... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3302766/hot-weather-bad-your-heart-australian-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3302766/hot-weather-bad-your-heart-australian-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Mar 2025 01:23:01 +0000 It is a label you have seen on menus, packaged foods, cans of soup, dipping sauces and in restaurant windows all around the world: “No MSG”. For decades, not using the flavour enhancer MSG, or monosodium glutamate, in a dish or product was considered a positive, as the ingredient was widely deemed unhealthy. But where did the stigma surrounding MSG come from? It all began in 1968, when the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a letter detailing symptoms of what was called “Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3293882/how-msg-got-its-stigma-and-those-redeeming-ingredient-combat-asian-hate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3293882/how-msg-got-its-stigma-and-those-redeeming-ingredient-combat-asian-hate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jan 2025 11:15:07 +0000 The most popular summer drink these days might still be Aperol Spritz, but recently there have been claims online suggesting that colourings contained in the aperitif are toxic and carcinogenic. The good news is that we checked out this claim and found that it is misleading. The concerns relate to Aperol, one of the brands of the Campari Group and an Italian liqueur used as an aperitif or a mixer in cocktails. The aromatic liqueur was invented in Italy by brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri, who... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3269760/does-aperol-spritz-cause-cancer-very-controversial-artificial-colours-heart-issue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3269760/does-aperol-spritz-cause-cancer-very-controversial-artificial-colours-heart-issue?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jul 2024 08:15:09 +0000 Over the past decade, consumers’ perspectives towards beauty products have shifted significantly to focus on skin-safe ingredients. Amid this evolving landscape, “nasties” has become a popular term to highlight ingredients that could do more harm than good; on the opposite end of the spectrum, the term “clean” is used for products that contain no harmful ingredients while bringing myriad benefits. Initially, these “bad” ingredients were favoured by manufacturers for their effectiveness,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3266172/7-skincare-nasties-you-should-be-avoiding-these-ingredients-may-have-negative-health-effects-so-why?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3266172/7-skincare-nasties-you-should-be-avoiding-these-ingredients-may-have-negative-health-effects-so-why?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Jun 2024 08:00:09 +0000 Once upon a time juice cleanses were considered the holy grail of detoxing. Previously confined to wellness retreats around the world, the trend peaked in the 2010s when every major city boasted their own “juicery”, from New York’s Pressed New York and Los Angeles’ Kreation to Wild & The Moon in Paris and Genie Juice, right here in Hong Kong. As with all health fads, the three-day (or seven-day, depending how hardcore you were) juice cleanse was soon replaced by other trends: intermittent... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3265329/what-juice-cleanses-really-do-your-body-according-experts-3-day-detox-may-be-out-vogue-judicious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3265329/what-juice-cleanses-really-do-your-body-according-experts-3-day-detox-may-be-out-vogue-judicious?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jun 2024 02:00:10 +0000 K-beauty may have dominated shelves in the past few years, but the latest slew of must-have products appearing on social media feeds are all about A-beauty: Ayurvedic skincare. Ayurveda has been popular in the global spa and wellness industries for years – treatments such as shirodhara are a mainstay in luxury spas – while Ayurvedic doctors are becoming more prevalent in the West, even as the lack of evidence for the system’s efficacy means modern science remains broadly unconvinced. Michelle... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3250420/move-over-k-beauty-ayurvedic-skincare-latest-trend-hit-high-street-traditional-indian-ingredients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3250420/move-over-k-beauty-ayurvedic-skincare-latest-trend-hit-high-street-traditional-indian-ingredients?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Feb 2024 04:00:10 +0000 Against the vibrant landscape of nail art, with its intricate designs and vivid lacquers, a quiet and refreshing revival has emerged – a new-found appreciation for the understated elegance of natural nails. Often overlooked, our nails serve both as a canvas for projecting beauty, and a reflection of our overall health. But to understand how to care for them effectively, it’s crucial to grasp the intricacies of their structure. Nails are composed of keratin, a resilient protein also found in our... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3245814/nail-care-how-look-after-health-your-nails-what-their-state-says-about-your-overall-health-plus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3245814/nail-care-how-look-after-health-your-nails-what-their-state-says-about-your-overall-health-plus?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Dec 2023 04:00:16 +0000 As the demands of modern life grow, so does the need for ingenious solutions that allow us to effortlessly balance our busy routines with self-care rituals. Amid this quest for convenience and efficiency, the beauty industry has embraced the emergence of dry shampoo. Often hailed as a time-saving marvel, this effort-free hair-cleansing solution has quickly woven itself into the fabric of many user’s daily grooming rituals – but is dry shampoo merely a fleeting convenience for travellers and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3241083/how-do-dry-shampoos-work-and-are-they-bad-your-hair-spray-and-powder-solutions-living-proof-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3241083/how-do-dry-shampoos-work-and-are-they-bad-your-hair-spray-and-powder-solutions-living-proof-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Nov 2023 04:00:14 +0000 Who among us hasn’t held onto a collection of skincare products for perhaps longer than we should have? The thing about skincare though is that keeping track of expiration dates is crucial. So when do skincare products expire, and how can you determine if they are still safe to use? Let’s delve into the world of skincare product expiration and find out what signs you should watch out for. Understanding skincare product expiration Skincare products, including moisturisers and sera, can degrade... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3238572/it-safe-use-expired-skincare-how-check-if-your-moisturiser-serum-or-oil-has-degraded-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3238572/it-safe-use-expired-skincare-how-check-if-your-moisturiser-serum-or-oil-has-degraded-and-health?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:17 +0000 Medical-grade beauty treatments don’t necessarily have to entail the anxiety and even risk associated with surgical procedures or injections. Dangling the promise of stepping into a clinic and emerging with revitalised skin, diminished signs of ageing and a rejuvenated complexion, many of today’s cutting-edge treatments stop well short of anything as invasive as an actual cutting edge. Horoscopes: how does the Metal Rooster affect your luck this September? Take intravenous drips, or IVs. What... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3237790/do-wellness-iv-drips-work-and-what-are-risks-kim-kardashian-adele-and-hailey-bieber-are-all-hooked?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3237790/do-wellness-iv-drips-work-and-what-are-risks-kim-kardashian-adele-and-hailey-bieber-are-all-hooked?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Oct 2023 08:00:09 +0000 Have you ever wondered if it’s truly a bad idea to go to sleep with wet hair? We’ve all heard the old adage, but let’s dive into the science behind it and explore what you can do to protect your hair while catching those Z’s. Debunking the myth Many of us have grown up with the warning that sleeping with wet hair can lead to catching a cold. However, scientifically speaking, colds are caused by viruses, not wet hair. So why the cautionary tales? “When the hair is wet, it swells. This prolonged... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/article/3237289/does-going-sleep-wet-hair-really-make-you-sick-no-it-causes-damage-and-brittleness-take-care-your?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/article/3237289/does-going-sleep-wet-hair-really-make-you-sick-no-it-causes-damage-and-brittleness-take-care-your?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Oct 2023 09:00:08 +0000 A 76-year-old woman who had been declared dead and surprised her relatives by knocking on her coffin during her wake earlier this month has died after seven days in intensive care, her family said on Saturday. Gilberto Barbera Montoya, the woman’s son, said doctors at the state hospital where she was rushed after the incident said she died on Friday evening. Five hours into her wake her son heard her “hitting the box” with her left hand. A video showed her breathing heavily in the coffin. “They... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3224525/woman-who-knocked-coffin-during-her-funeral-dies-week-later-stroke?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3224525/woman-who-knocked-coffin-during-her-funeral-dies-week-later-stroke?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jun 2023 16:10:33 +0000 Researchers say they have debunked the urban myth that healthy underweight people “eat whatever they want and burn it off with exercise”. A study of healthy Chinese adults considered underweight, according to the widely used Body Mass Index (BMI), found they not only do not eat as much food as people with a “normal” BMI, they are also less physically active. “Our data suggests they eat about 12 per cent less than adults with a normal BMI,” the team of scientists wrote in an article published by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3185260/study-china-finds-healthy-thin-people-eat-and-exercise-less?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3185260/study-china-finds-healthy-thin-people-eat-and-exercise-less?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Jul 2022 15:00:26 +0000 Hong Kong family physician Natalie Hutchins has been inundated with calls since the city started rolling out its Covid-19 vaccination programme in February. Reassuring patients about potential after-effects of the different jabs is part of Hutchins’ daily routine, as people struggle to process the overload of information – from proven side-effects to conspiracy theories – circulating online. And she says most calls are from women. “There are a lot of scary stories circulating on the internet,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3129296/why-stop-astrazeneca-coronavirus-vaccines-because-few?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3129296/why-stop-astrazeneca-coronavirus-vaccines-because-few?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Apr 2021 04:45:15 +0000 Actress Rumer Willis and US talk show host Kelly Ripa both stopped drinking alcohol completely after trying a “Dry January”, the trending health kick which encourages people to give their bodies a break from booze for the first month of the year. Neither of the two had an abuse problem; they simply decided to try the regimen that began in the UK in 2013 and is now a global phenomenon. “My decision to become sober wasn’t out of a need necessarily, it was more just that I did ‘sober January’ and I... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3116471/do-it-j-lo-dry-january-means-better-skin-deeper-sleep-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3116471/do-it-j-lo-dry-january-means-better-skin-deeper-sleep-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Jan 2021 06:17:53 +0000 Feeling a bit sluggish after the holidays? Have you noticed your clothes are feeling snug? Overindulging a little during the festive season is OK. After all, it only happens once a year. But before you start searching for the latest fad diet on the internet to set your weight loss goal as part of your new year’s resolutions, let us take a closer look at some of the common nutrition myths about managing weight. Myth #1 – drinking lemon water helps with losing weight         View... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3049867/does-drinking-lemon-water-really-help-you-lose-weight-5?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3049867/does-drinking-lemon-water-really-help-you-lose-weight-5?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Feb 2020 10:00:13 +0000 Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan is known for exposing the scale of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak in 2003 – and in some circles he is also known for recommending gargling with salt water to prevent infections of the novel coronavirus. The latter advice – despite being prevalent on social media and in chat groups – is not true. The scientist never gave such advice, and the method will not work. As the coronavirus continues to spread around the world – it has... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3049261/garlic-cant-keep-coronavirus-bay-neither-will?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3049261/garlic-cant-keep-coronavirus-bay-neither-will?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:30:10 +0000 The world has officially gone mad for matcha, the finely-ground green tea leaf powder. If you are a self-proclaimed matcha lover, either because of its well-documented health benefits or its addictively bitter, delicately sweet flavour, you have likely tried the most common matcha derivatives. But how much do you really long for this tantalising, tannin-teeming plant? Nibbling on a matcha mochi right now, you say? How cute. Have a stash of those matcha Kit Kats in your pantry which were... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3033356/delicious-or-disgusting-6-weirdest-matcha-flavoured?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3033356/delicious-or-disgusting-6-weirdest-matcha-flavoured?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Oct 2019 06:00:05 +0000 More than half of Hong Kong’s population suffered from sleep deprivation in the past month, a survey has found, with an expert saying anti-government protests had taken their toll on residents. The cause of this was attributed mostly to people staying up late to watch the news, often not clocking up the recommended eight hours of sleep. A psychologist warns the trend has got noticeably worse in recent months. “Many people stay up till late at night to read or watch latest news related to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3026079/anti-government-protests-could-be-causing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3026079/anti-government-protests-could-be-causing?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Sep 2019 01:00:14 +0000 Two newborn children who contracted HIV from their mothers were among 146 infections recorded in Hong Kong in the first four months of the year, the city’s disease watchdog said on Tuesday. Dr Kenny Chan Chi-wai, a preventive medicine consultant at the Centre for Health Protection, said he believed the mothers were infected during pregnancy through sex and passed the virus to their infants during childbirth or from breastfeeding. Chan said the mothers had not tested positive for the virus in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3015056/hong-kong-centre-health-protection-reports-146?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3015056/hong-kong-centre-health-protection-reports-146?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2019 11:18:29 +0000 Ellie Krieger, The Washington Post The words we use matter. Our choice of language not only mirrors our current way of thinking, it also has the power to shape our attitudes and behaviours over time. That’s why so many food and nutrition professionals cringe at much of the conversation around food and health today. Seemingly innocuous words and phrases that are regularly tossed around set us up for unhealthy approaches to food. I emailed several registered dietitian colleagues to identify the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3014291/low-carb-bad-food-four-phrases-make-dietitians-cringe-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3014291/low-carb-bad-food-four-phrases-make-dietitians-cringe-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Jun 2019 14:00:11 +0000 The British medical journal The Lancet last week resumed its war on “Big Food” with a report that estimates poor diets causing one in five deaths worldwide, significantly more than tobacco and smoking. Health authorities should broaden their battles against obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes - currently aimed at specific harmful ingredients like sugar, starch and sodium - and encourage communities to eat fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, seeds and nuts, the study said. In a... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3006094/poor-diets-both-among-overindulged-and-malnourished-kill-more-people-every?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3006094/poor-diets-both-among-overindulged-and-malnourished-kill-more-people-every?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Apr 2019 10:00:14 +0000 South China Morning Post has won Citi’s 2019 Journalistic Excellence Award with its story about a facility in Sichuan province that farms 6 billion cockroaches for medicinal and environmental use. Liu Yujing’s article, first published in June 2018, involved a visit to Xichang, where the insects are being bred in a two-storey building to be turned into ulcer-curing drugs. Six tonnes of cockroaches are killed with heat, and their extracts turned into 600,000 bottles of healing potion every day by... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3005596/scmp-wins-citis-2019-journalistic-award-story-about-sichuans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3005596/scmp-wins-citis-2019-journalistic-award-story-about-sichuans?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:25:58 +0000 A pilot scheme to give free flu jabs to primary pupils at school will become regular service in the coming academic year to protect against seasonal influenza, which hits the city once or twice annually, the health minister has announced. The Department of Health’s scheme to provide jabs near the beginning of the school year had been successful in pushing up the vaccination rate to about 55 per cent among primary pupils, Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee told the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2186965/pilot-scheme-free-flu-jabs-primary-schools-become?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2186965/pilot-scheme-free-flu-jabs-primary-schools-become?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Feb 2019 10:01:17 +0000 Cold season is upon us, but however hard we try to avoid catching the virus, we all catch an average of three or four colds every year. The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that affects the nose, throat, sinuses and larynx. Symptoms include a cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezes, headache and fever. More than 200 virus strains, including rhinoviruses and coronaviruses, are implicated as causes of colds. World’s most disgusting and shocking foods. Not for the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2171399/jazz-smelly-socks-vomiting-weird-and-wonderful-common-cold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2171399/jazz-smelly-socks-vomiting-weird-and-wonderful-common-cold?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Nov 2018 10:33:56 +0000 To reduce your risk of cancer, you know you should quit smoking, exercise regularly, wear sunscreen, and take advantage of screening tests. New research suggests another item might be added to this list: Choose organic foods over conventional ones. A study of nearly 70,000 French adults who were tracked for an average of 4.5 years found that those who ate the most organic foods were less likely to develop certain kinds of cancer than the people who ate the least. Why ovarian cancer is deadly:... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2169778/eating-lot-organic-food-may-help-reduce-cancer-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2169778/eating-lot-organic-food-may-help-reduce-cancer-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Oct 2018 07:00:30 +0000 Personal trainers in Hong Kong worry that busy workers are adding exercise onto an already stressful existence to the detriment of their health. Ed Haynes, founder and head trainer of Coastal Fitness Performance Training in North Point, says adding exercise to an already demanding and stressful life can end up doing more harm than good. You want a body like this? Top model shares diet, fitness and life tips “Exercise is actually stress on the body,” Haynes says. “People need to understand that.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2164553/exercising-relieve-stress-could-do-harm-long-run-without?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2164553/exercising-relieve-stress-could-do-harm-long-run-without?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Sep 2018 23:45:00 +0000 An aspirin a day is not likely to reduce the risk of a first heart attack or stroke among healthy elderly people, a new study shows. A team of researchers from Monash University in Melbourne published their findings from a seven-year study in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, on Sunday. The study of 19,000 elderly people in Australia and the United States looked at whether millions of over 70s around the world who take 100mg low-dose aspirin to preserve good health are deriving... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2164404/forget-everything-you-thought-you-knew-aspirin-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2164404/forget-everything-you-thought-you-knew-aspirin-day?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Sep 2018 14:01:04 +0000 With World Cup fever coursing through the veins of Hong Kong’s legions of soccer fans, local medical experts warn that bingeing on matches could be deadly. Staying up late for games, lounging on a sofa for hours and snacking on fast food loaded with salt, fats and carbs all put more stress on the heart and affect blood pressure, not to mention the risk of a heart attack for soccer fans amid an emotional roller coaster as their teams battle it out in Russia. It is especially risky for men with an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2153158/why-watching-world-cup-could-kill-you-late-nights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2153158/why-watching-world-cup-could-kill-you-late-nights?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Jun 2018 05:00:30 +0000 Elsa Lee Chik-yan’s formative years were in the 1960s and ‘70s when girls were not pushed towards sports, but at 50 years old she has made up for lost time by taking up trail running. “When I grew up it was not like girls now – they [now] wear sportswear, they are cool and fit and people admire them,” she said. “Girls and boys were different,” said Lee, who works in banking. “Girls were not encouraged to be sporty.” But as her half-century approached, Lee and a group of friends decided to run... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/2149744/hong-kong-woman-takes-trail-running-50-show-peers-they?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/2149744/hong-kong-woman-takes-trail-running-50-show-peers-they?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Jun 2018 09:24:06 +0000 We are, apparently, what we eat. Not just the amounts and volumes we consume – in a physically obvious eat-too-much-you’ll-get-too-fat kind of way. No, according to latest research, what we eat impacts us invisibly, intangibly: how we think, how we feel. Food and mood, say the scientists, go hand in hand. You can eat your way to happiness – not the instant gratification in a bar of good chocolate or a slice of great cake (the sort of instant gratification that, of course, leaves you filled with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2143992/why-you-cant-eat-your-way-happiness-one-womans-story?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/2143992/why-you-cant-eat-your-way-happiness-one-womans-story?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Apr 2018 05:00:45 +0000 Eva Chan, a mother of two, began to notice that her then six-year-old daughter was emotionally unstable and became nervous easily. The girl would get sick and have diarrhoea before a test, and nipped herself so hard that she left red marks all over her arms. When she was nine, she told her tutor that she wanted to kill herself by jumping off a building. It was then that teachers and social workers warned Chan that the girl’s problems could be more than just behavioural.  Her daughter, now 10,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2143588/nine-year-old-girl-hong-kong-told-her-tutor-she?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2143588/nine-year-old-girl-hong-kong-told-her-tutor-she?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Apr 2018 03:01:30 +0000 When she was pregnant, mother-of-two Jasmine Smith made sure she enjoyed a varied diet. The 34-year-old founder/designer of Raven + Rose, a lingerie label in Hong Kong, ate a huge array of foods so her children would be exposed to them from the get-go. The only foods she avoided were raw fish, shellfish and some cheeses, because of their potential to cause food poisoning. Her doctors never advised her to stay away from particular foods, including allergenic ones like peanuts and eggs. “In the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2126118/how-stop-your-baby-having-food-allergies-eat-right-during?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2126118/how-stop-your-baby-having-food-allergies-eat-right-during?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jan 2018 11:16:34 +0000 Can eco-therapy help with anxiety and depression? The short answer: yes Caroline Sprod enjoys hiking with her husband and dogs every weekend near their home on South Lantau. “For me, walking in nature isn’t just about getting exercise,” says the development director for Asia-Pacific for the non-profit organisation Room to Read. “It’s also de-stressing. Life in Hong Kong can get pretty hectic, so being in nature helps relieve some of the pressure. I see it as an escape and as a way to connect... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2123464/why-stressed-hongkongers-should-take-hike-not-pill-and-let?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2123464/why-stressed-hongkongers-should-take-hike-not-pill-and-let?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Dec 2017 10:49:24 +0000 Does the type of coffee you drink affect your health? The short answer: yes Vanessa Lee loves her coffee. The assistant coffee trainer from The Coffee Academics, which operates speciality coffee shops in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Singapore, usually enjoys hers black and without sugar. “For maximum flavour, I go for beans that have been lightly roasted,” she says. “And I like filter coffee, because the paper filter absorbs most of the coffee oil, [including the compounds cafestol and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2122759/how-drink-your-coffee-maximum-health-benefits-now-doctors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2122759/how-drink-your-coffee-maximum-health-benefits-now-doctors?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Dec 2017 23:18:08 +0000 Is skipping breakfast associated with cardiovascular problems? The short answer: Yes We’ve all heard of the benefits of tucking into a healthy breakfast every morning. Besides giving us an energy boost so that we can take on the challenges of the day, the morning meal is said to help jump-start our metabolism, prevent us from overeating, and improve our concentration and performance at work or in school. Instagrammer Michael Zee’s symmetrical breakfasts, huge in Hong Kong – how they became an... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2116544/how-skipping-breakfast-sets-you-bad-food-choices-all-day-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2116544/how-skipping-breakfast-sets-you-bad-food-choices-all-day-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Oct 2017 11:45:37 +0000 Can being in a good mood boost the effectiveness of your flu shot? The short answer: Yes The facts: As Hong Kong gears up for the start of the dreaded flu season, you might be considering getting the flu vaccine. It is not such a bad idea if you want to protect yourself from the virus. Flu vaccine supply is effective, Hong Kong health officials insist, as they urge public to get shots According to Dr Tony Wong, a general practitioner at The London Medical Clinic in Central, the flu vaccine works... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2116024/flu-shot-prep-why-de-stressing-influenza-vaccine-can?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2116024/flu-shot-prep-why-de-stressing-influenza-vaccine-can?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Oct 2017 10:32:21 +0000 Can ingesting parasitic worms help treat certain diseases? The straight answer: the jury is out Would you eat worms or their larvae to help cure what ails you? Helminthic therapy – the deliberate ingestion of a controlled number of live parasitic roundworms called helminths – is gaining popularity in treating chronic autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. Whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) is an example of a helminth that is typically... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2110102/can-eating-parasitic-worms-or-their-eggs-treat-some-diseases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2110102/can-eating-parasitic-worms-or-their-eggs-treat-some-diseases?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Sep 2017 07:19:50 +0000 Is it true that, the more you perspire the more calories you burn? The short answer: No. Chances are a long run in the hot afternoon sun will leave you drenched in sweat, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have burned any more calories than usual. That’s probably not what you want to hear, but the truth is, perspiring profusely after a workout doesn’t translate to anything more than water loss (sorry!). How skin patch can diagnose your health while you sweat According to Nathan Solia, a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2101066/if-you-sweat-more-while-exercising-do-you-burn-more-calories?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2101066/if-you-sweat-more-while-exercising-do-you-burn-more-calories?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Jul 2017 04:15:26 +0000 Are you unhealthy if you don’t have a bowel movement daily? The short answer: No If you’ve ever worried that your digestive system might not be quite right because your bowel movements aren’t as regular as your friends’, don’t fret. As long as you’re generally healthy, there is no such thing as a normal number when it comes to the frequency of going to the toilet. “It really varies from person to person,” says Dr Luk Yiu Wing, a specialist in gastroenterology at The London Medical Clinic in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2100716/are-you-unhealthy-if-you-dont-move-your-bowels-every-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2100716/are-you-unhealthy-if-you-dont-move-your-bowels-every-day?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Jul 2017 09:06:03 +0000 Is trimming the ends of your hair the only way to get rid of split ends? The short answer : Yes Split ends (trichoptilosis) don’t just ruin a good hairdo; they can also damage healthy hair and worsen the condition of hair that’s already damaged. The market is flooded with products that claim to “repair” split ends, but do such hair treatments really work? Unfortunately, no, says Leonica Kei, principal trichologist at H’AIR Trichologist by Leonica K in Singapore. “These products, marketed as a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2099681/cutting-your-hair-only-way-get-rid-split-ends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2099681/cutting-your-hair-only-way-get-rid-split-ends?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jun 2017 04:47:33 +0000 Is the “80/20” rule true when it comes to weight loss? The short answer: Yes We know that in order to lose weight, it’s important to watch what you eat and engage in moderate exercise regularly. But which is more effective at helping you get the body you want – diet or exercise? According to some personal trainers and nutrition experts, the answer is diet. In fact, they believe that 80 per cent of weight loss is the result of making healthy changes to your diet, while the remaining 20 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2098440/80/20-rule-true-when-it-comes-weight-loss-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2098440/80/20-rule-true-when-it-comes-weight-loss-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jun 2017 07:01:43 +0000 Are all processed foods bad for you? The short answer: No In a bid to eat “clean” or more healthily, the more diet-conscious among us are choosing whole, unprocessed foods over processed ones. The former, we’re told, are more nutritionally dense since they’re likely to be in as close to their natural state as possible, while the latter tend to hold less nutritional value. According to Sally Shi-Po Poon, a dietitian, and director of Personal Dietitian, the term “processed foods” applies to any... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2097670/are-all-processed-foods-bad-you-not-necessarily-say-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2097670/are-all-processed-foods-bad-you-not-necessarily-say-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jun 2017 04:45:45 +0000 Can some ingredients in skincare products find their way into your bloodstream? The short answer: Yes Many of us apply creams, serums, toners, and other products to our skin without giving much thought to what they contain and whether some of those ingredients can enter our bloodstream. But if you’re looking to minimise the amount of toxins and chemicals in your life, you may want to read the ingredient label on these products. Some contain harmful chemicals that could enter your... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2096488/can-ingredients-skincare-products-enter-bloodstream-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2096488/can-ingredients-skincare-products-enter-bloodstream-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jun 2017 04:47:42 +0000 Can brain games make you smarter? The short answer: No Brain games such as puzzles, teasers, riddles, crosswords, and quizzes are marketed as easy and effective ways to expand your mind and increase intelligence. Many of us play these games in the hopes that they will sharpen our memory and improve our brain function. Unfortunately, brain games do not make us smarter. According to Dr Kin-Lun Tsang, a specialist in neurology at Hong Kong’s Matilda International Hospital on The Peak, at best they... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2095535/no-playing-brain-games-wont-make-you-smarter-theyre-just-bit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2095535/no-playing-brain-games-wont-make-you-smarter-theyre-just-bit?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 May 2017 04:45:35 +0000 Can the overuse of charcoal peel-off masks damage your skin? The short answer: Yes The facts: Charcoal peel-off masks are the latest skincare trend. If you’re active on social media, you’re sure to have come across videos of users applying the thick, black paste onto their faces, waiting for the product to dry, and then peeling the mask off. As the mask dries and hardens, it traps impurities like blackheads, whiteheads, dead skin and oil plugs, all of which get pulled from the skin when the mask... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2094599/can-charcoal-peel-masks-damage-your-skin-if-used-too-often?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2094599/can-charcoal-peel-masks-damage-your-skin-if-used-too-often?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 May 2017 04:31:57 +0000 Can a stressful event or lifting heavy objects increase a pregnant woman’s chance of miscarrying? The straight answer: No The facts: If you’ve ever been pregnant, you may have been advised by well-meaning friends and relatives to avoid events that are emotionally stressful, taxing or upsetting. They may also have suggested you not move or carry anything heavy, so as to minimise your risk of losing your pregnancy. It’s a common belief, especially in Asian communities, that anything that causes... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2091968/can-stress-or-heavy-lifting-increase-womans-risk-miscarrying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2091968/can-stress-or-heavy-lifting-increase-womans-risk-miscarrying?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 May 2017 11:02:59 +0000 Ovarian cancer is known as the silent killer because its initial symptoms are often subtle. In Hong Kong it is the sixth most common cancer among women and the seventh leading cause of female cancer deaths, according to the city’s Department of Health. In 2014, 563 new cases were diagnosed, and incidence of the disease is expected to rise in the coming years. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of confusion and ignorance about the disease. It is rarely detected when at an early stage. And, while the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2090839/five-common-myths-about-ovarian-cancer-busted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2090839/five-common-myths-about-ovarian-cancer-busted?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Apr 2017 08:03:47 +0000 If you’re taking birth control pills, must you wait for them to be “fully cleared” from your system before you can fall pregnant? The simple answer: No If you are taking birth control pills but are contemplating becoming pregnant in the near future, you may wonder how long it’ll take you to conceive after discontinuing use of the pills. After all, it’s a common perception that it takes some time for the hormones in birth control pills to be totally eliminated from your system before you have a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2089492/must-you-completely-clear-your-system-birth-control-pills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2089492/must-you-completely-clear-your-system-birth-control-pills?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Apr 2017 09:15:21 +0000 Question: Does being sleep deprived increase your desire for junk food? The short answer: Yes The effects of sleep deprivation are well known. Bleary eyes and gaping yawns aside, not getting enough shut-eye at night is associated with decreased focus, alertness and concentration, problems with memory, difficulty making decisions, an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure, depression, and emotional instability. Skimping on sleep also has a well-documented link... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2087081/hunger-games-how-lack-sleep-can-trick-you-junk-food-obesity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/2087081/hunger-games-how-lack-sleep-can-trick-you-junk-food-obesity?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Apr 2017 22:30:15 +0000