https://www.scmp.com/rss/323222/feed Latest news and features on wellness, including diet, mental health trends, exercise, fitness, medicine and diseases. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Julian Ryall Julian Ryall With his broad smile, Tatsumi Hokuto helps an elderly woman in a Japanese care home almost effortlessly to her feet and makes sure she is steady. At first glance, Hokuto cuts an unlikely figure for a carer role: a powerfully built 27-year-old in tight leggings and a black singlet, with the physique of a dedicated bodybuilder. But for Nagoya-based Visionary, a company that operates nursing and care facilities across Japan, that contrast is precisely the point. Visionary’s “macho carers” like... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3352178/rapidly-ageing-japans-macho-carers-lend-muscles-benefit-elderly-disabled?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3352178/rapidly-ageing-japans-macho-carers-lend-muscles-benefit-elderly-disabled?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 01:30:13 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon I was recently diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) after an overnight sleep test at a hospital. I had long known I was a loud snorer, but what finally drove me to seek medical help was persistent daytime exhaustion despite clocking a full eight hours of sleep each night. The results were alarming. A normal person has five or fewer “events” – when the airway is partially or fully blocked during sleep – an hour. I recorded 63. At one point, I stopped breathing for 77 seconds. I... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351990/ancient-chinese-sleep-advice-bedtimes-and-body-positions-state-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351990/ancient-chinese-sleep-advice-bedtimes-and-body-positions-state-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 00:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The long-term health concerns raised by vaping continue to unfold. The latest example comes from cancer researchers in Australia, who warn of a likely link to lung and oral cancer and urge governments to act now. Hong Kong health authorities, rightly, are not waiting for definitive evidence of the risk to emerge as this may take many years. Thursday was the first day of a new ban on the use of tobacco alternatives in public areas, including the first penalties against vaping offenders. Anyone... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352148/hong-kongs-new-vaping-ban-healthy-step-forward?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352148/hong-kongs-new-vaping-ban-healthy-step-forward?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson Jennifer Lynn knows she is a “guinea pig”. The 43-year-old former ice hockey player turned athletic coach, who is based in Tampa Bay, Florida, has been “stacking” synthetic peptides for the last year. It is a trend that some see as the future of medicine, but others view as a reckless gamble. “I know a lot of people who are sceptical and who are not willing to be guinea pigs,” she says. “While I never push peptides on my clients, I will tell people about my experiences if they ask. Personally, I... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351943/what-peptide-stacking-biohackers-jump-risky-trend-cheaper-stem-cell-therapy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351943/what-peptide-stacking-biohackers-jump-risky-trend-cheaper-stem-cell-therapy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre A former journalist who’s been living in Milan for well over two decades, California native J.J. Martin turned her impeccable taste and love for all things fabulous into La DoubleJ, a fashion and lifestyle label known for its bold prints, colourful aesthetic and “good vibes all around”, as the saying goes. Here, Martin shares her favourite finds from her adopted hometown of Milan and beyond. What I’m watching My favourite things to engage with are the consciousness teachings, lessons or... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3351836/style-according-jj-martin-founder-milan-based-la-doublej?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3351836/style-according-jj-martin-founder-milan-based-la-doublej?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 23:00:13 +0000 dpa dpa This pain cannot simply be a bout of side stitches. And what does the strange tingling in your fingers mean? Just a few clicks away on the internet await possible explanations for your symptoms, some of which can be very alarming. So now you are really worried. This is a case of what has become known as cyberchondria. It is not a formal diagnosis, but an unfounded fear of, or heightened attention to, serious physical illnesses based on perusal of internet content, explains Dr Heiko Graf,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351795/if-googling-your-symptoms-puts-you-anxiety-spiral-you-could-have-cyberchondria?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351795/if-googling-your-symptoms-puts-you-anxiety-spiral-you-could-have-cyberchondria?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. The end of April marked the end of Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, offering a reminder that one disease deserves greater attention in Asia: nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a type of head and neck cancer. NPC has a strikingly uneven geography. It remains endemic in East and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3352014/why-lifestyle-medicine-belongs-asias-nasopharyngeal-cancer-conversation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3352014/why-lifestyle-medicine-belongs-asias-nasopharyngeal-cancer-conversation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung This Labour Day long weekend may seem like the perfect time to catch up on some sleep, but you know what they say about Hong Kong, right? Whether you are in the mood for eating your way through a French alpine market, shaking off pre-race nerves with a Pilates-and-ice-bath combo, hunting down a rare Pokemon in Lai Chi Kok, or browsing ancient jade between glasses of wine in Wan Chai, this weekend has got you covered. Here is what is worth getting off the sofa for. 1. French GourMay As a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351960/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-labour-day-weekend-may-1-3?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351960/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-labour-day-weekend-may-1-3?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 02:45:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung When Taiwanese-American journalist and cookbook author Clarissa Wei gave birth to her first child three years ago, she did everything “right” – at least by Taiwanese post-partum care standards. She checked into a dedicated confinement centre, expecting a month of nourishing herbal soups, expert recovery advice and the kind of rest that Chinese tradition has prescribed new mothers for centuries. Instead, she felt lost. “To be honest, the food wasn’t great,” Wei says. “I developed post-partum... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351808/asian-american-mother-challenges-tough-chinese-traditions-new-mums-modern-recipes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3351808/asian-american-mother-challenges-tough-chinese-traditions-new-mums-modern-recipes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Carolina Malis Carolina Malis French souvenir shops are certainly cute. But if you’re even mildly skincare obsessed, you already know the real French flex isn’t a beret: it’s a pharmacy bag heavy enough to count as hand luggage. TikTok has helped turn French pharmacy shopping into a travel ritual, with #frenchpharmacy reaching more than 130 million views. In Paris, the best known is Citypharma – the kind of place you can get lost in, even if you swear you’re just grabbing sunscreen. This multilevel pharmacy is known for deep... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3351570/8-pharmacy-products-worth-buying-france-la-roche-posay-bioderma?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3351570/8-pharmacy-products-worth-buying-france-la-roche-posay-bioderma?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales At 60, Vicsland Poh is not just ageing – she is polishing a second act that challenges every cliché of the silver years. Known to her TikTok followers as the “Corridor Runway Aunty”, Poh has transformed the communal space outside her Singapore flat into a high-fashion stage. The depth of her story, however, lies beyond the camera lens. By taking up diverse physical challenges and pursuing new knowledge, she proves that a person’s seventh decade can be one of expansion. The posts on her Instagram... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351655/60-pole-dancing-singaporean-influencer-showing-how-age-well?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351655/60-pole-dancing-singaporean-influencer-showing-how-age-well?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press This is how much of Japan wakes up. It is called Radio Taiso – Exercise Radio in English – a simple yet dynamic way to start the day. Every morning at 6.30am, Japanese radio plays music accompanied by basic callisthenics instructions. Millions perform the movements in parks, workplaces, schools – and at home. Radio Taiso has an almost 100-year history. It was formally introduced in 1928, coinciding with the enthronement of Emperor Hirohito. The tradition endures because the exercises are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351549/10-minute-morning-exercise-workout-millions-japanese-people-wake-do?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351549/10-minute-morning-exercise-workout-millions-japanese-people-wake-do?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa Forget complicated wellness routines and expensive supplements: the latest health trend taking over social media looks a lot like an Italian grandmother’s daily life – and experts say it might actually work. “Nonnamaxxing”, a viral movement circulating widely on TikTok, encourages people to adopt the simple, intentional habits of an Italian grandmother, or “nonna”. The concept has captured Gen Z’s attention, but its appeal stretches across generations. At its core, the trend champions the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351279/what-nonnamaxxing-viral-health-trend-embraces-italian-grandmothers-lifestyle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351279/what-nonnamaxxing-viral-health-trend-embraces-italian-grandmothers-lifestyle?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan If you had been a fly on my study wall this morning, you might have been startled to see me rise from a seated position on the floor several times, and then time myself as I stood on one leg, first with my eyes open and then with them closed. We can do simple tests like these at home to assess how well we are ageing, allowing us to compare our chronological age (the number of years we have lived) with our biological age (how well our cells and systems are ageing). Here are five to try. 1.... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351122/are-you-ageing-well-5-simple-tests-get-picture-your-biological-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351122/are-you-ageing-well-5-simple-tests-get-picture-your-biological-age?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. I refer to “Number of Hong Kong secondary students with mental illness doubles in 5 years” (April 15). The doubling of diagnosed cases, and the bureau’s own admission that figures are likely under-reported, should alarm us all. I welcome the government’s decision to extend the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3351230/pathway-hong-kong-pupils-well-being-runs-through-relationships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3351230/pathway-hong-kong-pupils-well-being-runs-through-relationships?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Scroll through Instagram and you might think ice baths are the ultimate biohacking ritual. From actor Chris Hemsworth to podcaster Joe Rogan, the message is unanimous: a few minutes in freezing water can supposedly help suppress inflammation, fortify immunity and provide a dopamine-driven mental clarity. The hype has spawned a global industry of cold-plunge tubs, recovery clubs and social media challenges. According to Danish scientist Susanna Soberg, a leading researcher on cold-water... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351096/are-ice-baths-good-you-what-you-need-know-taking-plunge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351096/are-ice-baths-good-you-what-you-need-know-taking-plunge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The Food and Drug Administration said on Friday it will offer ultra-fast review to three psychedelic drugs being developed to treat mental health conditions, including depression, the latest indication of the Trump administration’s commitment to the experimental treatment approach. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last weekend directing the FDA and other federal agencies to speed access and loosen restrictions on psychedelics, a class of hallucinogenic drugs which remain illegal... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351373/us-fda-plans-ultra-fast-review-3-psychedelic-drugs-after-trump-directive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351373/us-fda-plans-ultra-fast-review-3-psychedelic-drugs-after-trump-directive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:28:37 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Christel Krueger stared in awe at a mother hippopotamus and its offspring sleeping on a sandbar through the thick glass and murky water of their enclosure at the Berlin Zoo. Krueger, 86, and her daughter were on a specialised zoo tour in March for people with dementia that was organised by Malteser Berlin, part of the international Catholic aid organisation The Sovereign Order of Malta. On the tour with Krueger, Ingrid Barkow watched from her wheelchair as the elephants roamed their habitat,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351237/how-zoos-sights-sounds-and-smells-can-benefit-people-dementia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3351237/how-zoos-sights-sounds-and-smells-can-benefit-people-dementia?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Fret not if you did not manage to secure HK$30 (US$3.80) tickets for this year’s Hong Kong Cinema Day, as there are still plenty of events in the city to fill up your weekend itinerary. From time-limited menus of sweet treats to fun fitness events with some fluffy company, no weekend in Hong Kong will be dull. Here are five things to do in Hong Kong this weekend. 1. Dog Adoption Day: Puppy Yoga On Saturday, April 25, The Hive Sai Kung will host a fitness session alongside animal welfare... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3351074/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-april-24-26?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3351074/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-april-24-26?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:45:08 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Michaeleen Doucleff set out to examine her and her family’s relationship to – reliance on, really – screens and junk food. Why was she checking texts at every stop sign when biking with her daughter, Rosy? Why was she mindlessly devouring Pringles crisps? Why did Rosy impatiently count the minutes to nightly cartoons from the moment she got home? When was the last time they ate a whole food? At the beginning of her reckoning, Doucleff prepared herself for a lesson in willpower. If she was going... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350945/your-family-addicted-screens-and-junk-food-how-change-their-habits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350945/your-family-addicted-screens-and-junk-food-how-change-their-habits?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:15:09 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur Last month, Shashank Gangil walked through a Hong Kong hospital corridor proudly carrying a newborn in each arm. The 39-year-old real estate professional had just become a father of twins, an event that would have seemed unlikely just 18 months earlier. In late 2024, Gangil weighed 94kg (207 pounds) and faced a worrying list of health issues: high cholesterol, signs of fatty liver disease, nagging plantar fasciitis and poor sleep. For years, he had told himself that “this is genetics”, but that... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350812/94kg-he-wanted-start-family-how-he-lost-20kg-become-fit-dad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350812/94kg-he-wanted-start-family-how-he-lost-20kg-become-fit-dad?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Bryan Vander Dussen spent years as a dairy farmer before shifting to selling farm-raised beef. In the past year, he and his wife have been making another transition: cooking up recipes in their kitchen that turn organ fat from his animals into tallow balm that buyers are eager to slather on their skin. One of the tricky parts is coming up with formulas that don’t smell like pot roast. “You see it everywhere, so we were like, ‘Why don’t we do this?’” he says. “Some of the feedback is, ‘We don’t... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3350719/beef-tallow-salmon-sperm-natural-skincare-products-are-rise-do-they-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3350719/beef-tallow-salmon-sperm-natural-skincare-products-are-rise-do-they-work?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:15:29 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 87th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. One morning, in the last year of her life, my mother – in the later stages of dementia – offered to make me a cup of tea. She turned the kettle on and then described what she was doing. “There are four stages to making a mug of tea,” she told me. “I talk myself through them so that I remember: tea bag in cup, hot water, milk, then sugar.” Her delight... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350666/how-cooking-can-help-lower-your-dementia-risk-even-just-one-meal-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350666/how-cooking-can-help-lower-your-dementia-risk-even-just-one-meal-week?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:14:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press It is said that a bowl of soup made of cow bellies and legs can cure ulcers, hangovers and an assortment of other ailments – if you are courageous enough to try it. And Dimitris Tsarouhas, the owner of a restaurant in the Greek city of Thessaloniki that specialises in patsa, is striving to register the soup with Unesco as a unique and traditional dish of Greece that harks back to the time of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. That has conjured up a new dispute with age-old rival Turkey, which also... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350248/tripe-soup-being-culturally-appropriated-dispute-boils-between-2-nations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350248/tripe-soup-being-culturally-appropriated-dispute-boils-between-2-nations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Women suffering through the hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes and sleep problems that can come with menopause – all while looking in the mirror and noticing signs of ageing – are being bombarded with products. More open conversations about menopause and the time leading up to it – called perimenopause – are happening just as social media has supercharged marketing. Women are being confronted by lotions, serums and light masks that promise to rejuvenate their faces and necks, dietary... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350398/what-menopause-products-actually-work-doctors-share-how-buy-wisely-and-stay-safe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350398/what-menopause-products-actually-work-doctors-share-how-buy-wisely-and-stay-safe?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani When Marie Diamond was 15, she was run over by a truck near her home in Bruges, Belgium. “They had already covered me with a sheet,” she says. “My father thought I was gone. I was hovering outside my body, watching everything – the ambulance, my mother arriving. Then I moved through what felt like different dimensions into a space of light.” There, she says, she encountered “nine beings – like angels”, who told her: “You have to go back. You’re here to reach 500 million people.” She woke from a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health/article/3350312/feng-shui-tips-success-guru-whos-helped-rolling-stones-steven-spielberg?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health/article/3350312/feng-shui-tips-success-guru-whos-helped-rolling-stones-steven-spielberg?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Hattie Rowan Hattie Rowan Knee replacement surgery is one of the most common procedures globally. In 2023, about 3.6 million knee replacements were performed worldwide, overtaking hip implants in the joint replacement market. Ageing populations, rising obesity rates and significant technological advancements all contribute to the increase in knee operations. They are even being performed more frequently on younger patients. Given the significant recovery time and the finite longevity of the hardware – 82 per cent of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350255/how-knee-pain-can-be-fixed-exercise-rather-surgery-rugby-player-found?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350255/how-knee-pain-can-be-fixed-exercise-rather-surgery-rugby-player-found?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:15:07 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre In 2015, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts acquired a piece of prime real estate in the heart of Amsterdam. Located on the Prinsengracht in the city’s historic Canal District, the landmark building began its life as an orphanage in 1665, before becoming the Palace of Justice in the 1820s. After being vacated in 2010, it fell into disrepair and was occupied by squatters – but in 2015, the Hong Kong-based hospitality company became its new owner. It took almost 10 years to bring the neoclassical building... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3350317/rosewood-amsterdam-blends-luxury-and-heritage-heart-dutch-capital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3350317/rosewood-amsterdam-blends-luxury-and-heritage-heart-dutch-capital?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:00:09 +0000 dpa dpa When it comes to daily step goals, 10,000 is the benchmark many of us aim for. Most smartwatches come preset with this target, and while their reminders can encourage us to stay active, they can sometimes leave us feeling discouraged when we fall short. With National Walking Month in May approaching, we consulted experts to explore the key benefits and drawbacks of the 10,000-steps-a-day goal. Where did the 10,000-step goal come from and is it backed by science? While the standard is widely... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350242/pros-and-cons-aiming-10000-steps-day-and-why-less-can-be-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350242/pros-and-cons-aiming-10000-steps-day-and-why-less-can-be-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa On social media, English teacher Jak Kurdi often shares his love of books and writing. Growing up in a household that prioritised reading, he could vividly picture the worlds on the page, his imagination carrying him into each scene. “I remember as a kid having a very, very vivid imagination,” says Kurdi, 28, who teaches at Wilson Middle School in Plano, in the US state of Texas. “I was an avid reader, and then slowly I started to realise that, I think in my adulthood, I’ve lost it.” He later... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350456/do-you-have-trouble-visualising-things-maybe-you-have-aphantasia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350456/do-you-have-trouble-visualising-things-maybe-you-have-aphantasia?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Sheena Khemaney Sheena Khemaney Vitamin C serums are powerhouse products that help you achieve supple and glowing skin. The ingredient, favoured by top dermatologists, is generally used to brighten the complexion and stimulate collagen production, which helps reduce the appearance of pigmentation and other signs of ageing. Many use it before applying sunscreen in the morning. Here are four stand-out serums to consider adding to your vanity. Augustinus Bader Loyal fans of Augustinus Bader now have another one of the brand’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3350171/4-best-vitamin-c-serums-supple-and-glowing-skin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3350171/4-best-vitamin-c-serums-supple-and-glowing-skin?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Nicole Kidman’s latest role may be her most unexpected yet. The Oscar-winning actress – known for her transformative performances in 1990s and 2000s classics like Moulin Rouge, Eyes Wide Shut and The Hours, and more recently, the 2024 erotic thriller Babygirl – revealed during a recent talk at the University of San Francisco that she is training to become a death doula. Kidman shared that the death of her mother in 2024 inspired her decision. “As my mother was passing, she was lonely, and there... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3350165/explainer-what-death-doula-and-why-nicole-kidman-training-become-one?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3350165/explainer-what-death-doula-and-why-nicole-kidman-training-become-one?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 10:00:47 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung To understand why German-Chinese athlete Sofie Fella felt compelled to design a T-shirt featuring the Chinese character da – Mandarin for “big” – one must understand the rigid expectations of Asian femininity. In cities like Shanghai, Fella’s hometown, the “ideal” body is more than an aesthetic – it is a signifier of virtue. This mindset is encouraged from a young age. Even as a Harvard University rugby player and now international competitor – she plays for the German national team – Fella has... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350000/rugby-player-fighting-asian-beauty-standards-showing-women-its-ok-be-strong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350000/rugby-player-fighting-asian-beauty-standards-showing-women-its-ok-be-strong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:00:24 +0000 dpa dpa Rudolf Goetz effortlessly moves the weights up and down on the ab machine. Pushing 40kg (88lb) weights on the leg press are not a problem for the 100-year-old, either. “Many others would be groaning under the weight at 50 or 60,” says trainer and gym owner Marc Baldow with a laugh, as he watches his oldest member diligently go through his workout routine. Goetz trains twice a week at the gym in Fuerstenwalde, a small town east of Berlin in Germany, without making any fuss, despite his story... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350019/youre-never-too-old-work-out-says-100-year-old-who-hits-gym-twice-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3350019/youre-never-too-old-work-out-says-100-year-old-who-hits-gym-twice-week?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson To lose a baby is unthinkable. To do so during the Covid-19 pandemic, in isolation from your husband, family and friends, is the twist of the knife. But this was the fate of Keya Wingfield, a Mumbai-born, US-based Food Network champion chef. She gave birth to her second child, son Daksh, in February 2021. “He was sick from the get-go,” she remembers. “They just couldn’t figure it out.” Daksh’s lungs were failing him, and he spent his short life – 55 days – in a neonatal intensive care unit. He... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349480/she-was-102kg-diabetic-death-wish-after-losing-40kg-shes-thriving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349480/she-was-102kg-diabetic-death-wish-after-losing-40kg-shes-thriving?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 03:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Update: Pitt Cheung passed away peacefully in hospital on April 26, 2026. Hong Kong hairstylist Pitt Cheung Kwok-wai’s life took a sharp turn in 2020 when he was diagnosed with stage 3 nasopharyngeal cancer at the age of 38. “We never had cancer or serious illness in our family before, so it was very shocking,” Cheung says. Having treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic made the experience even more isolating, as it was difficult for friends and family members to visit him in hospital as he... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349452/hong-kong-hairstylists-cancer-battle-takes-him-and-his-brother-crowdfunding-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349452/hong-kong-hairstylists-cancer-battle-takes-him-and-his-brother-crowdfunding-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:15:07 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service The patient initially came to see Dr Mark Supiano in 2017 because her family was concerned about her short-term memory loss. While taking her history and vital signs, Supiano, a geriatrician at the University of Utah, in the United States, saw that her blood pressure was 148/86: above normal despite her taking two medications intended to lower it. “Clearly that was too high,” he says. Several factors could have contributed to the high reading, including the anti-inflammatory drug the 78-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349632/how-hypertensions-links-dementia-make-blood-pressure-control-even-more-important?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349632/how-hypertensions-links-dementia-make-blood-pressure-control-even-more-important?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre As a long-time fan of 1 Hotels – the US-based, sustainability-minded brand – I have been very much looking forward to the opening of 1 Hotel Tokyo, the chain’s only property in Asia-Pacific. Operated by Starwood, 1 Hotels has very little presence beyond the US – 1 Hotel Mayfair in London, 1 Hotel Copenhagen and 1 Hotel Melbourne are its only outposts outside the country – but it has already built a loyal following among luxury lovers who like to travel responsibly and stylishly. Located in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3349531/1-hotel-tokyo-offers-green-focused-retreat-japanese-capital-bamford-spa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3349531/1-hotel-tokyo-offers-green-focused-retreat-japanese-capital-bamford-spa?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Kee Foong Kee Foong On a windswept afternoon on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, I’m standing with arms outstretched on a stone platform beside the sea. A woman circles slowly, swirling a smoking chalice of fragrant copal resin as waves crash onto the shore just feet away from me. Incantations are offered to the four elements of air, water, earth and fire as we turn to face their cardinal directions. A drum beats. A conch shell sounds. Prayers are chanted to Father Sky, Mother Earth and the world in between. This... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3349461/wellness-retreats-mexicos-yucatan-peninsula-connect-cultural-traditions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3349461/wellness-retreats-mexicos-yucatan-peninsula-connect-cultural-traditions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Just before the holidays in 2025, Julie Hart felt stuck. A nagging problem she had struggled with for years left her ruminating all day and questioning nearly everything she had ever said, done or could do. She was considering traditional therapy but decided instead to try single-session counselling. Rather than committing to weekly therapy sessions, she would get only 60 minutes to tackle the problem. It worked. “It helped me get unstuck, is how I would describe it, in a very positive,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349215/just-one-hour-how-single-therapy-session-can-help-you-overcome-problem?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349215/just-one-hour-how-single-therapy-session-can-help-you-overcome-problem?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:15:08 +0000 dpa dpa The colour in my drink is a rich golden yellow. I raise the glass and breathe in the scent of ripe apples. My first sip tastes surprisingly dry, with a pronounced, stimulating acidity, followed by subtle tannins. Although this sounds like a wine description, there is no wine in this glass. In fact, there is no alcohol at all. Such scenes play out frequently for wine journalist Christoph Raffelt and sommelier Anne Tenschert, who run a podcast on alcohol-free drinks, which remain part of the world... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349376/alcohol-free-drinks-are-rise-heres-whats-new-menus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3349376/alcohol-free-drinks-are-rise-heres-whats-new-menus?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu In the fifth of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Charmaine Yu meets autistic twin violinists and their mother to learn how they found their voice through music. While twin brothers Hugo and Jayden Pang often struggle to navigate a world of words, the violin provides a language in which they are always understood. Turning 26 this month, the brothers have traded early struggles in communication for international stages, proving that in Hong Kong’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349210/how-autistic-hong-kong-violinist-twins-found-joy-and-confidence-music?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349210/how-autistic-hong-kong-violinist-twins-found-joy-and-confidence-music?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre In recent years, the popular beach enclave of Canggu has become Bali’s trendiest spot, dethroning places such as Ubud and Seminyak as the island’s most popular destination, at least if social media is any indication. A former fishing village, Canggu offers beautiful black-sand beaches, a lively night scene and cute independent boutiques, not to mention a Sunday market that’s hands down one of the best in Southeast Asia. The town – which attracts an eclectic crowd of surfers, digital nomads,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3348749/regent-bali-canggu-brings-coastal-luxury-islands-trendiest-beach-enclave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3348749/regent-bali-canggu-brings-coastal-luxury-islands-trendiest-beach-enclave?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse First it was protein, now it is fibre: the “maxxing” mindset has permeated social media, as wellness influencers insist that loading up on certain nutrients is the key to vitality and a life-changing gut glow-up. These viral diet trends rooted in extreme optimisation are affecting how people eat and what companies sell – but are they actually healthy? The concept of “proteinmaxxing” insists that more is better when it comes to the macronutrient found in foods like nuts, meat and dairy, which is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349125/are-food-health-trends-fibermaxxing-and-proteinmaxxing-actually-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349125/are-food-health-trends-fibermaxxing-and-proteinmaxxing-actually-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 86th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. I was startled by a comment from a friend recently: she told me that she almost never uses the internet. I work, cook, shop and walk listening to podcasts. I read the news online each morning. I use the internet to research, find supper recipes, search for new books to read and download the latest episodes of favourite radio shows. The trace of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348949/why-internet-use-can-actually-lower-your-dementia-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348949/why-internet-use-can-actually-lower-your-dementia-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:15:08 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso From representing her home country on magazine covers to running a global beauty brand, British-Filipina model Georgina Wilson-Burnand is the quintessential “It” girl in all respects. The former host of Asia’s Next Top Model co-founded Sunnies Studios in the Philippines back in 2013, and has since expanded it from what was once a small line of stylish sunglasses to a full-on beauty brand offering a wide range of eyewear services as well as skincare and cosmetic products. Wilson-Burnand – a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3348471/georgina-wilson-burnand-reveals-her-beauty-secrets-travel-favourites-and-white-lotus-obsession?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3348471/georgina-wilson-burnand-reveals-her-beauty-secrets-travel-favourites-and-white-lotus-obsession?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse In a corner of suburban Singapore, Betty Boon vaults a guardrail, crawls underneath a slide, executes forward shoulder rolls and scales a steep slope, finishing the course to applause. “Good job!” the 69-year-old’s coach cheers. This is “geriatric parkour”, where around 20 retirees learn to tackle a series of relatively demanding exercises, building their agility and enjoying a sense of camaraderie. Boon, an upbeat grandmother, says learning parkour has aided her confidence and independence as... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348892/why-singaporeans-aged-60-plus-are-learning-parkour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348892/why-singaporeans-aged-60-plus-are-learning-parkour?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:15:08 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson The Easter break offers a chance of escape for many Hongkongers, but that holiday joy often comes with a hidden tax: jet lag. Jet lag is the cognitive and physical misalignment that your brain and body experience when arriving in a new time zone. Known more formally as desynchronosis, it is more than a lack of sleep – it is a state of biological confusion. Los Angeles Times journalist Horace Sutton may have been the first person to use the term “jet lag”, in a piece he wrote in 1966. “If you’re... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348783/how-frequent-fliers-are-beating-jet-lag-using-apps-timeshifter-and-stopjetlag?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348783/how-frequent-fliers-are-beating-jet-lag-using-apps-timeshifter-and-stopjetlag?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani Bill Maeda, who has 2.2 million followers on Instagram and more than 450,000 subscribers on YouTube, is not your conventional fitness trainer. He eats McDonald’s. He does not count reps. And he sometimes has clients exercise for just 10 minutes a day. While that approach might sound counterintuitive in an industry often built on intensity, for Maeda, 57, fitness has never been about punishment or perfection. It is about something far simpler: finding a way to move that people can actually... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348756/colon-cancer-survivor-who-became-viral-fitness-trainer-isnt-afraid-eating-mcdonalds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348756/colon-cancer-survivor-who-became-viral-fitness-trainer-isnt-afraid-eating-mcdonalds?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Carolina Malis Carolina Malis There’s a specific shade of green that now lives in the skincare aisle, the kind that promises to calm, repair and reset your complexion in a single swipe. Add a few reassuring words like microbiome-friendly, barrier-supporting or soothing, and suddenly everything from your cleanser to your lip balm is positioned as emotional support skincare. And it makes sense. Most of us feel a little frazzled, so the idea that our skin might also need calming down is oddly comforting. But the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3348379/secret-calm-epidermis-might-be-soothing-anti-inflammatory-skincare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/trends/article/3348379/secret-calm-epidermis-might-be-soothing-anti-inflammatory-skincare?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:00:07 +0000