https://www.scmp.com/rss/500703/feed Lily Canter is a freelance money, health and lifestyle journalist with more than 20 years' experience. She writes about fitness for Runner's World and Trail Running magazines and focuses on personal finance for Yahoo! Finance, Metro, The Guardian and the Mail on Sunday. In her spare time she is a running coach and co-host of the award-winning podcast Freelancing for Journalists. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lily Canter Lily Canter “Should you be out here in such rough conditions?” is the kind of patronising comment women in outrigger canoeing still hear regularly – especially when they are part of a crew whose members are all above the age of 50. “The boat doesn’t care about your gender. It only cares that you show up and put in 110 per cent effort,” says Eva Lind-Mallo, 53, who was on a Masters team of six Hong Kong women who raced at the World Distance Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last year. “And in our ohana... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345509/these-hong-kong-women-are-showing-whats-possible-their-sports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345509/these-hong-kong-women-are-showing-whats-possible-their-sports?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter When teaching assistant Kavita Biswas first asked for a wheelchair at the airport, she was struggling to walk even short distances. It was a world away from her active life practising yoga and dance alongside her full-time job in a Hong Kong school. Suddenly, in her mid-forties, she found herself relying on a cane and, at times, a walking frame. Knee pain had steadily taken over her life, reshaping her days and narrowing her sense of what might still be possible. The pain began around four years... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344133/how-exercise-helped-mother-tackle-serious-knee-pain-and-return-cane-free-walking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344133/how-exercise-helped-mother-tackle-serious-knee-pain-and-return-cane-free-walking?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter After his son’s death by suicide, life came to a standstill for Tony Bruno for nearly two years. “I didn’t do anything, just literally nothing, just lying around, grieving,” he says. Before the tragedy, Bruno had been active, describing himself as “a bit of a walker, hiker, runner”. But losing his 15-year-old son, Jamie, in 2017 stopped him in his tracks. It was walking that eventually helped him through his bereavement. “I slowly but surely got back into it,” Bruno says. “It did help an awful... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342368/walking-saved-him-after-sons-suicide-now-his-hong-kong-trail-walk-raises-millions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342368/walking-saved-him-after-sons-suicide-now-his-hong-kong-trail-walk-raises-millions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 04:45:36 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter In a city obsessed with efficiency, optimisation and results, walking has rarely been focused on as a health intervention. Yet across Hong Kong, a quiet reframing is taking place. Increasingly, it is being described not as light exercise or leisure, but as a form of everyday medicine, one that supports mental health, recovery from illness and ageing well, without injury or pressure. Stephanie Lown, founder of hiking group Exploring Dogs, says walking offers a rare combination of movement,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342052/how-walking-hong-kong-helping-cancer-recovery-and-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342052/how-walking-hong-kong-helping-cancer-recovery-and-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 02:59:19 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter While planning to run an ultra-marathon along the historic Silk Road, Ria Xi was alarmed when AI warned her about taking NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – while ultra-running. She jumped onto Instagram to tell her 38,000 followers “do not take NSAIDs” when running long distances because of the impact they can have on blood flow to the kidneys. Beijing-born Xi was prompted to make the “public service announcement” after she had previously been told, while seeking treatment for knee... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341642/why-nsaids-ibuprofen-and-naproxen-might-be-bad-news-long-distance-runners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341642/why-nsaids-ibuprofen-and-naproxen-might-be-bad-news-long-distance-runners?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter For many people in Hong Kong and elsewhere, January is a month of reinvention during which we feel compelled to join a gym, start dieting, detox or set an ambitious resolution. But a quieter counter-trend, known as “soft January”, is emerging. It reflects a growing desire to begin the year with gentleness rather than urgency, focusing on self-love rather than self-criticism. For Tammy Hackman, a holistic health coach who lives on Ma Wan island in Hong Kong, soft January was a personal practice... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340772/what-soft-january-new-trend-helps-you-start-year-being-kinder-yourself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340772/what-soft-january-new-trend-helps-you-start-year-being-kinder-yourself?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter It was the dead of night, four days into a journey to trek 5,699 kilometres (3,541 miles) across America alone, when hiker Jessica Guo realised a mountain lion was following her. She first saw its glowing eyes close to the only water source for dozens of kilometres – one she would have liked to use to refill her supplies. She had nowhere to hide. “What you’re supposed to do when you see a mountain lion is talk to them very directly and aggressively. You want to back away, facing them and keep... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3336004/how-hiking-5700km-solo-across-america-put-life-perspective-young-consultant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3336004/how-hiking-5700km-solo-across-america-put-life-perspective-young-consultant?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 11:15:08 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter “Youth is overrated” is a mantra empowering open water swimmer Edie Hu to break records at 50 years of age. On November 20, the Hong Kong art dealer set off from the Disneyland Resort Pier to circumnavigate Lantau – Hong Kong’s largest island – in a tandem swim with friends Simon Holliday, 46, the founder of the Splash Foundation, and Brett Kruse. They were all attempting a world-first: no one had managed to circumnavigate the island before. A 12-strong support crew spread across a sailing boat,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3334850/first-woman-swim-around-hong-kongs-lantau-island-defies-her-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3334850/first-woman-swim-around-hong-kongs-lantau-island-defies-her-age?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter When her relationship ended last year, Ria Xi did what many heartbroken twenty-somethings do: she went for a run. “For my 25th birthday, I decided to run every day for 30 days. It was the only thing I could hold onto. The only thing that reminded me I had control.” Soon after her 30-day streak, running snowballed into an obsession, and she began chasing world records after quitting her Silicon Valley tech job. Within a year, Beijing-born Xi had set a world first in Egypt, completing a 567km... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3331773/after-break-beijing-born-tech-turned-ultrarunner-plans-ai-backed-silk-road-trek?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3331773/after-break-beijing-born-tech-turned-ultrarunner-plans-ai-backed-silk-road-trek?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 09:15:13 +0000 A potential cancer cure that uses a replica of a protein found in human breast milk has even greater results when given in higher doses, new clinical trials show. Alpha1H is a drug synthesised from alpha-lactalbumin, the most common protein in human breast milk, bound to a fatty acid known as oleic acid. In a recent study, it showed complete or partial response in triggering rapid tumour-cell death in 88 per cent of early-stage bladder cancer tumours. It was developed by Hamlet BioPharma, headed... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3300211/breast-milk-proteins-show-even-more-promise-against-bladder-cancer-cystitis-new-trials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3300211/breast-milk-proteins-show-even-more-promise-against-bladder-cancer-cystitis-new-trials?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2025 21:45:07 +0000 A pair of stout, bald men dressed in knee-length navy blue Bermuda shorts, long black socks and black custodian helmets are surveying the scene as we enter the arrivals terminal, having just arrived on a flight from London. I assume we’ve stumbled across a bachelor party – before realising they are real policemen, albeit adorned in the type of headwear rarely seen on the streets of Britain any longer. The encounter sets the scene for a long weekend in Bermuda. The British territory is a mix of... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3297579/bermuda-offers-much-beyond-cruise-highlights-and-beaches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/travel/article/3297579/bermuda-offers-much-beyond-cruise-highlights-and-beaches?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Feb 2025 22:15:08 +0000 Keto diets and ketone supplements have gained popularity among endurance runners for their potential to delay fatigue, but new research suggests they do not give athletes an advantage. A review of keto diet studies published in medical journal Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach did not identify any significant advantages or disadvantages for endurance runners’ aerobic performance from following a ketogenic diet or having ketone supplements. When taking part in a continuous activity such... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3285539/keto-or-high-carb-diet-endurance-running-one-better-other-data-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3285539/keto-or-high-carb-diet-endurance-running-one-better-other-data-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Nov 2024 23:45:06 +0000 Hong Kong kindergarten teacher Amber Nathaniel began to suffer from the common but debilitating gastrointestinal condition known as irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, at the age of 16. Its symptoms include bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and stomach cramps. The condition is thought to affect up to one in 10 people worldwide. Nathaniel spent years seeking medical advice and taking medication before realising that, to overcome the problem, she needed to change her lifestyle. “In the beginning it... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3281104/ibs-symptoms-relieved-through-5-simple-lifestyle-changes-hong-kong-teacher-discovers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3281104/ibs-symptoms-relieved-through-5-simple-lifestyle-changes-hong-kong-teacher-discovers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:15:08 +0000 If you are hitting the trails this season – for training or a race – make sure you pack in enough fuel during your runs. Almost half of trail runners do not consume enough calories, a new study has revealed. The findings, based on a study of nearly 2,000 trail runners, found women and men generally ate well before a race. But 48 per cent reported consuming fewer carbohydrates than the recommended amount during events lasting more than 2½ hours. The researchers also found around half of the women... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3280560/how-trail-runners-should-fuel-their-bodies-success-and-avoid-health-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3280560/how-trail-runners-should-fuel-their-bodies-success-and-avoid-health-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Oct 2024 10:15:07 +0000 If you are new to running, and in training for any of the coming running races in Hong Kong, you will want to know this: a top-down approach to strength training could be the key to reducing injury risk for novice runners. A study of 325 beginner runners found strengthening hips and core was the most effective way to reduce injury when compared with strengthening ankle and foot muscles or doing static stretches. The 245 female and 80 male athletes underwent a 24-week study in Finland where the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3279615/how-avoid-running-injuries-beginners-stronger-hips-and-core-are-key-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3279615/how-avoid-running-injuries-beginners-stronger-hips-and-core-are-key-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:15:08 +0000 A busy week with a schedule full of work meetings, children’s activities and exercise classes can often lead to nights of short and disrupted sleep. But the good news is that catching up on sleep at the weekend could lower your risk of developing heart disease by nearly 20 per cent. That is according to the findings of a new study presented to the European Society of Cardiology this month. “Sufficient compensatory sleep is linked to a lower risk of heart disease,” said study co-author Yanjun... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3277184/sleeping-weekends-could-help-protect-your-heart-study-compensatory-sleep-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3277184/sleeping-weekends-could-help-protect-your-heart-study-compensatory-sleep-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Sep 2024 11:15:07 +0000 There is good news for obese people, who are at risk of cardiovascular disease such as stroke and the kind that can cause heart attacks: exercising vigorously for 30 minutes a week can offset that risk. And for those who find it a challenge to do high-intensity exercise such as running or HIIT – high-intensity interval training – 8 to 9 hours a week of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking or cycling, will have the same effect. The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3269752/astonishing-news-obesity-and-exercise-30-minutes-week-can-offset-heart-health-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3269752/astonishing-news-obesity-and-exercise-30-minutes-week-can-offset-heart-health-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Jul 2024 03:15:09 +0000 Exercising before work could be the key to a happy day in the office according to new research. A recent study of 300 employees found early-morning exercisers were more engaged and less exhausted at work. Physical activity before work increased challenge appraisal, and decreased hindrance and threat appraisal, which had a positive impact on emotional fatigue and job related worry. “People seem to evaluate their upcoming workday as more of a [positive] challenge and less of a personal threat... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3268552/early-morning-workouts-key-better-day-office-new-study-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3268552/early-morning-workouts-key-better-day-office-new-study-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Jun 2024 02:43:10 +0000 Lily Canter Lily Canter A low-fat, plant-based diet with a daily dose of soybeans can significantly reduce hot flushes in menopausal women. The benefit of soybeans in alleviating menopausal symptoms is well established in the scientific community; the latest study combined this knowledge with a low-fat vegan diet. American researchers found that postmenopausal women who ate the plant-based diet with 86g (3oz) of cooked soybeans daily saw an 88 per cent decrease in the number of moderate to severe hot flushes they... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3267465/how-end-hot-flushes-menopause-try-low-fat-vegan-diet-soybeans-every-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3267465/how-end-hot-flushes-menopause-try-low-fat-vegan-diet-soybeans-every-day?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Jun 2024 10:15:08 +0000 Dehydrated athletes run significantly slower than hydrated runners even in temperate conditions, according to a new study which shows the importance of drinking fluid before a race. A loss of just 2 per cent body weight, excreted via sweat, can cause some runners to become up to 19 per cent slower. The research, published in the Journal of Sports Sciences, concluded that athletes competing in longer races in hotter environments should “adopt fluid intake strategies with the aim to limit... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3261821/dehydrated-athletes-perform-much-slower-when-running-those-who-intake-fluids-race-all-conditions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3261821/dehydrated-athletes-perform-much-slower-when-running-those-who-intake-fluids-race-all-conditions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 May 2024 09:30:17 +0000 Breastfeeding mothers have long been given unproven excuses not to exercise, among them the suggestion it could reduce their milk supply or make the milk turn sour. There has been little scientific research on how exercise affects breast milk or its production, however. To debunk myths with clinical evidence, researcher Trine Moholdt of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology did a study to learn more about breast milk from mums who exercised. And the results, published in Frontiers... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3260922/how-physically-active-mothers-who-breastfeed-may-protect-their-babies-against-obesity-and-diabetes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3260922/how-physically-active-mothers-who-breastfeed-may-protect-their-babies-against-obesity-and-diabetes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:15:12 +0000 It’s common to see long-distance runners jumping up and down or dashing out short sprints before a race as part of their warm-up routine. But a recent review and meta-analysis has found these types of exercises do not improve endurance performance. In fact, there is no robust evidence that explosive or high-intensity exercises before a race are effective in improving performance for shorter distances either. Indeed, there isn’t any solid evidence supporting other forms of exercise... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3260168/high-intensity-warm-marathon-no-better-gentle-jog-improving-endurance-performance-research-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3260168/high-intensity-warm-marathon-no-better-gentle-jog-improving-endurance-performance-research-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:00:11 +0000 Before discovering the power of exercise, Michelle Sum had many sleepless nights. She often suffered from insomnia, and taking a melatonin supplement – commonly used to help regulate sleep – did not help. But since she took up trail running, Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Sum has been able to sleep the whole night through, without interruption. “Before sports, my sleep was often broken. I would spend nights awake with anxiety and insomnia,” says Sum, who lives in Hong Kong. “But going from... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3259566/trouble-sleeping-more-exercise-could-be-answer-study-suggests-martial-artist-and-runner-attests-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3259566/trouble-sleeping-more-exercise-could-be-answer-study-suggests-martial-artist-and-runner-attests-its?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Apr 2024 20:15:08 +0000 When Hong Kong entrepreneur Vriko Kwok signed up to tackle an ultra marathon for six days in a row, she could not run even a single kilometre. But that did not stop the Brazilian jiu jitsu athlete from taking on the biggest sporting test of her life and challenging those who thought she was “too fat” to run. “I hated running because I never saw myself doing it. I got bullied quite badly growing up and that put me off running for a long time,” Kwok said. So, when sportswear brand Lululemon... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3259210/zero-303313km-under-year-how-hong-kong-entrepreneur-vriko-kwok-went-further-then-she-had-ever-been?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3259210/zero-303313km-under-year-how-hong-kong-entrepreneur-vriko-kwok-went-further-then-she-had-ever-been?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Apr 2024 04:00:20 +0000 Wearing make-up while exercising could be bad for the skin, and potentially lead to acne, according to new research. While exercise is great for increasing nourishing blood flow to the skin, using cosmetics on your face while working out could do more harm than good. Researchers at Korea National University of Education and Texas A&M University published their findings in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. They describe the negative effects wearing cosmetic foundation during aerobic exercise... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3257829/trend-exercising-make-bad-your-skin-study-finds-your-pores-cant-expand-let-sweat-escape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3257829/trend-exercising-make-bad-your-skin-study-finds-your-pores-cant-expand-let-sweat-escape?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Apr 2024 09:15:10 +0000 When Betty Grisoni was at rock bottom and overcome with suicidal thoughts, running saved her life. It gave her a sense of accomplishment and a reason to struggle out of bed each day. Describing herself as “a classic Hong Kong story”, the French life coach arrived in the city more than 20 years ago and threw herself into a life of working and playing hard. “I was not paying attention to my physical and mental health and I just crashed and burned. I found myself with depression and ignored it for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3257044/how-exercise-helps-treat-depression-better-counselling-or-leading-medications-and-runner-who-says-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3257044/how-exercise-helps-treat-depression-better-counselling-or-leading-medications-and-runner-who-says-it?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:15:20 +0000 People with an obsessive passion for running who seek extreme perfectionism are more likely to be injured, according to a new study. A survey of 143 recreational runners with an average age of 35 measured running related injuries against a series of physical and psychological factors. These included weekly running distance, foot type, running style, passion, mental toughness and perfectionism. Conducted over six months, the researchers at Shahrood University of Technology in Iran found knee... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3255088/psychology-running-injuries-how-obsessive-passion-and-perfectionism-can-lead-overtraining-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3255088/psychology-running-injuries-how-obsessive-passion-and-perfectionism-can-lead-overtraining-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:15:18 +0000 Alice McLeod, the quickest woman in the 2024 Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge (HK4TUC), which was held in February, wrote her training plan for the 298-kilometre (185-mile) race on the back of an airline menu on the way home from her honeymoon in July. The 31-year-old completed the demanding race in a time of 63 hours, 58 minutes and 47 seconds. The rules mean she is classified as a “survivor” rather than a “finisher”; finishers must complete the race in under 60 hours, and survivors in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3254064/quickest-woman-gruelling-298km-ultra-trail-race-hong-kong-her-planning-training-and-advice-other?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3254064/quickest-woman-gruelling-298km-ultra-trail-race-hong-kong-her-planning-training-and-advice-other?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Mar 2024 20:15:15 +0000 One hour of tai chi four times a week is “more effective” in reducing blood pressure than running or cycling, says new research. Tai chi, a practice that involves a series of slow, gentle movements and physical postures, originated as a martial art in China. It requires controlled breathing and a meditative state of mind. It has been a pillar of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, its movements designed to energise and balance the body’s energy, or qi. A Chinese study of 342 people with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3252807/how-tai-chi-may-help-lower-high-blood-pressure-better-aerobic-exercise-can?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3252807/how-tai-chi-may-help-lower-high-blood-pressure-better-aerobic-exercise-can?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Feb 2024 04:15:08 +0000 Respiratory health experts are calling urgently for lower limits on air pollution, as a report reveals that people with lung conditions including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) face heightened risks from climate change. The expert report, published in the European Respiratory Journal, compiles evidence detailing how the effects of climate change – such as from heatwaves, wildfires, and flooding – will intensify breathing difficulties for millions globally, and have a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3235676/how-climate-change-makes-lung-problems-worse-young-old-and-vulnerable-experts-sound-alarm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3235676/how-climate-change-makes-lung-problems-worse-young-old-and-vulnerable-experts-sound-alarm?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Sep 2023 10:15:09 +0000 A study of nearly 4,000 marathon runners has provided compelling evidence to dispel the myth that long-distance running damages the knees and hips. The research, published in the Journal of Sports Medicine, suggests there is no link between the prevalence of osteoarthritis in runners and their running-related history – including the number of marathons completed, cumulative years of running, average weekly mileage, and average running pace. “For those who have been closely following the science... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3234700/distance-running-bad-your-hips-and-knees-new-research-says-not-finding-no-link-between-arthritis-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3234700/distance-running-bad-your-hips-and-knees-new-research-says-not-finding-no-link-between-arthritis-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:15:09 +0000 Many people worry that vigorous exercise is harmful to unborn babies – despite a lack of evidence to justify this. Now a study has shown that performing a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session during pregnancy does not harm mother or baby. Researchers recorded maternal and fetal cardiovascular responses in pregnant women immediately before and after an HIIT workout and compared it with a moderate-intensity cycling session. The study concluded that an acute bout of HIIT exercise, as... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3230188/doing-hiit-while-pregnant-harmful-no-unborn-babies-and-mothers-actually-benefit-it-new-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3230188/doing-hiit-while-pregnant-harmful-no-unborn-babies-and-mothers-actually-benefit-it-new-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Aug 2023 20:15:10 +0000 Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) derived from the root of the Astragalus herb can significantly reduce inflammation in heart attack patients and boost immunity, according to scientific research. Researchers at Newcastle University in the UK conducted the study on older patients who were given the plant-based compound for more than a year after suffering heart attacks, alongside a group who were given a placebo. They found that a compound extracted from Astragalus root known as TA-65... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3229470/traditional-chinese-medicine-could-become-key-treatment-heart-attacks-study-finds-it-lowers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3229470/traditional-chinese-medicine-could-become-key-treatment-heart-attacks-study-finds-it-lowers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Aug 2023 08:15:18 +0000 Exercise, social interaction and keeping your brain active are the best ways to stave off cognitive decline in old age, according to a new, large-scale study. The research, involving 19,000 elderly Chinese adults, looked at the range of physical exercise, social interaction and cognitive activities that were beneficial for preventing cognitive decline. The combination of different types of activities influences cognitive function in various ways. Exercise can protect cognition by improving... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3227114/how-age-well-avoid-cognitive-decline-through-exercise-meeting-friends-and-keeping-your-brain-active?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3227114/how-age-well-avoid-cognitive-decline-through-exercise-meeting-friends-and-keeping-your-brain-active?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jul 2023 10:15:10 +0000 A new study in the heart of the Peruvian jungle is investigating the impact of ayahuasca retreats on military veterans, assessing the effect of the psychedelic plant medicine on brainwaves, the genome, gut microbiome and mental health. At a specialist retreat frequented by Hollywood stars such as Zac Efron, the 50 veterans undergo ancient rituals in ceremonies where they drink a thick brown brew made from the ayahuasca vine and chacruna bush. The drink contains a strong, non-addictive... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3219905/can-psychedelic-plants-treat-mental-health-conditions-new-study-ayahuasca-assesses-its-impact-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3219905/can-psychedelic-plants-treat-mental-health-conditions-new-study-ayahuasca-assesses-its-impact-war?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 May 2023 20:15:07 +0000 Thor actor Chris Hemsworth fasted for five days in a bid to stay young for his Disney+ TV show Limitless, in which he explores different ways humans can live better for longer by taking on physical challenges. The extreme challenge was based on the scientific theory that fasting stops the spread of toxic secretions from so-called zombie cells, which accelerates the ageing process. But does it actually work? Zombie cells are damaged cells that have gone through a process of senescence, or... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3210519/how-fasting-chris-hemsworth-did-his-disney-series-limitless-may-help-us-live-longer-stopping-zombie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3210519/how-fasting-chris-hemsworth-did-his-disney-series-limitless-may-help-us-live-longer-stopping-zombie?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Feb 2023 10:15:12 +0000 While much of the world is focused on adapting to the new norms of the post-pandemic era, researchers continue to look for clues as to what factors may make a Covid-19 infection more serious for some than for others. A large-scale genetic study, a collaboration between researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), concludes that smoking and being obese are likely to increase the risk of people contracting mild to severe Covid-19. “Our study... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3210247/obesity-and-smoking-linked-higher-risk-getting-covid-19-researcher-urges-vaccine-booster-shot-urged?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3210247/obesity-and-smoking-linked-higher-risk-getting-covid-19-researcher-urges-vaccine-booster-shot-urged?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Feb 2023 08:15:07 +0000 Neuroscientists have discovered a potential new drug for treating epilepsy. The research team at City University of Hong Kong have found a way to treat temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in mice by suppressing neuroinflammation. This form of epilepsy is one of the most common worldwide. Although medications are available to treat its symptoms, one third of TLE patients remain unresponsive to current treatment. Dr Geoffrey Lau Chun-yue, an assistant professor in the department of neuroscience,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3209195/epilepsy-drug-development-takes-new-approach-treating-condition-which-sees-one-10-suffer-seizure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3209195/epilepsy-drug-development-takes-new-approach-treating-condition-which-sees-one-10-suffer-seizure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Feb 2023 03:22:20 +0000 Researchers have identified a mechanism that could unlock the treatment of obesity by making overweight people feel full. Led by a team at Hong Kong Baptist University, they discovered an enzyme that plays an important role in the process of sating appetite and said drugs could be developed that target it to manage obesity. The findings, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, have significant implications for China, which has caught up with the US on rates of obesity. More than half a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3184815/want-lose-weight-always-hungry-research-suggests-way-help?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3184815/want-lose-weight-always-hungry-research-suggests-way-help?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Jul 2022 23:15:18 +0000 Psychedelic drug treatment is the latest Hollywood trend, with A-listers Seth Rogen, Miley Cyrus, Susan Sarandon and Harry Styles all talking openly about their experiences with LSD and magic mushrooms. Recent Netflix documentary series Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics and Hulu original series Nine Perfect Strangers have also helped to bring the world of psychedelics into mainstream culture for the first time in half a century. A recent report from the UK-based independent research... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3180297/what-microdosing-using-psychedelic-drugs-tiny-amounts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3180297/what-microdosing-using-psychedelic-drugs-tiny-amounts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jun 2022 09:45:14 +0000 Doing 30 to 60 minutes of muscle strengthening exercise a week could help lower your risk of death by up to 20 per cent, a study shows. The research, conducted at Tokyo University in Japan, also shows a link between strength training and lower risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. The findings, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found no evidence that more than an hour a week reduces the risk further. Previous research indicated that muscle strengthening activity... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3173130/one-hour-week-strength-training-lowers-risk-death-20pc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3173130/one-hour-week-strength-training-lowers-risk-death-20pc?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Apr 2022 23:15:11 +0000 If you need a boost and think buying yourself a treat will make you feel better – some so-called “retail therapy” – then think again. New research shows people derive less “purchase happiness” when they feel financial stress and they also leave worse reviews. The study by Duke University in the United States looked at all income levels and its findings were consistent across the board. Whether people bought a material object or an experience, those who perceived themselves to have financial... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3170395/truth-about-retail-therapy-if-money-tight-it-wont-make?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3170395/truth-about-retail-therapy-if-money-tight-it-wont-make?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Mar 2022 23:15:20 +0000 Those of you who gave up alcohol – or tried to – for Dry January may want to consider recommitting to it. The latest research suggests even moderate alcohol consumption – drinking just a few glasses of wine or beer a week – is associated with a reduction in brain matter. A study of 36,000 adults in the UK has shown that going from drinking one unit of alcohol a day to two a day is associated with the equivalent of ageing by two years. This is the difference between one half pint (284ml in UK,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3170067/more-alcohol-you-drink-faster-your-brain-shrinks-going?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3170067/more-alcohol-you-drink-faster-your-brain-shrinks-going?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Mar 2022 10:15:15 +0000 Trail running in Hong Kong is booming as more people lace up their sports shoes each year to enter races or just to stay active during the coronavirus pandemic. How do you fuel yourself for trail running if you have recently switched to a vegan diet or are trying to cut down on meat, a food source commonly associated with athletic recovery? Record-setting elite athletes Vlad Ixel and Scott Jurek, who compete in many Hong Kong ultra marathons – races of any distance over 42km – believe a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3164211/veganuary-hong-kong-trail-runners-their-plant-based-diet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3164211/veganuary-hong-kong-trail-runners-their-plant-based-diet?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Jan 2022 08:15:17 +0000 There is an app for almost everything, whether it’s organising family activities, booking appointments, or finding a local product or service. Apps can also be hugely beneficial for mental and physical well-being, giving users the tools to stay active, stress-free and healthy. This became particularly apparent during Covid-19 when much of the world went into lockdown. The eHealth app market exploded during this period as people shifted from gym workouts to digital classes, and has continued to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3160815/five-health-fitness-and-wellness-apps-better-sex-sleep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3160815/five-health-fitness-and-wellness-apps-better-sex-sleep?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Dec 2021 10:15:17 +0000 New research suggests exercise can help people cope with grief after the loss of a loved one by alleviating feelings of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Exercise can create a sense of freedom and enable the bereaved to express their feelings while providing a distraction and escape from grief. A team of researchers from three British universities reviewed eight different types of bereavement for the study, including that triggered by loss of a parent, spouse, patient,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3160553/how-exercise-and-outdoor-activities-help-grief-and-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3160553/how-exercise-and-outdoor-activities-help-grief-and-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Dec 2021 10:15:12 +0000 An “accidental” potential cancer cure developed from breast milk has reached a new milestone following human trials. Results from phase II trials of a drug made from alpha-lactalbumin, the most common protein in human milk, bound to oleic acid, have shown to be effective in killing bladder cancer cells. The biggest advantage of the drug known as Hamlet is that, unlike traditional therapy, it does not harm healthy cells, so there are no side effects. The protein compound’s impact on cancer cells... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3139611/human-trial-results-breast-milk-derived-cancer-cure-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3139611/human-trial-results-breast-milk-derived-cancer-cure-show?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jul 2021 20:15:18 +0000 Eating 18 grams of mushrooms a day could lower the risk of cancer, a new study suggests. Individuals who eat two medium-sized mushrooms daily have a 45 per cent lower risk of cancer compared to those who do not eat mushrooms, according to Pennsylvania State University research, published in Advances in Nutrition. For centuries, Chinese medicine practitioners have used mushrooms, which are rich in vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants, as a treatment for illness including lung disease. Some of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3135636/eating-two-mushrooms-day-could-lower-cancer-risk-45-cent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3135636/eating-two-mushrooms-day-could-lower-cancer-risk-45-cent?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Jun 2021 11:15:17 +0000 Gossip is viewed by many as baseless trash talk – but it plays a role in creating social connection and building trust, researchers say. Rather than being a social taboo, gossip enables learning about the world indirectly through other people’s experiences. Neuroscientists at Dartmouth College, in the US state of New Hampshire, studied gossip and found it was a way for people to help each other and to share personal experiences. “Gossip is a complex form of communication that is often... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3135157/gossip-not-all-bad-experts-say-it-can-be-useful-and-helps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3135157/gossip-not-all-bad-experts-say-it-can-be-useful-and-helps?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 May 2021 12:15:07 +0000 Pregnant women, particularly those from ethnic minorities, are at increased risk of severe Covid-19, according to a global study. They are also more likely to be admitted to intensive care or to need invasive ventilation than women of reproductive age who have the virus but are not pregnant. Pre-existing conditions in pregnant women such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes also increase the risks, research by the University of Birmingham in the UK and the World Health Organisation... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3134197/pregnant-women-have-higher-chance-severe-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3134197/pregnant-women-have-higher-chance-severe-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 May 2021 20:15:11 +0000