https://www.scmp.com/rss/501968/feed Healthy eating articles, news and features, with a millennial focus, including food, nutrition, diet, clean eating and health. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Bernice Chan Bernice Chan At Vancouver’s Cofu Chinatown restaurant, Japanese chef Akiko Gulkison and her sous chef prepare delectable dishes: miso-glazed aubergine with snow fungus wrapped with nori and rice, radicchio cured in between sheets of kombu, and steamed soy milk custard seasoned with reduced sake and Japanese plum. They are part of an 18-course omakase vegan menu Gulkison created, to showcase vegetables as the star of Japanese cuisine – not the traditional seafood or meat. The vision was to expose the untapped... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3353078/meet-japanese-chef-making-vegan-sushi-and-omakase-vancouvers-chinatown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3353078/meet-japanese-chef-making-vegan-sushi-and-omakase-vancouvers-chinatown?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 04:45:49 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur Claire Nesbitt spent years training her palate to spot balance, structure and subtlety in a glass of wine. Now, she uses the same precision to build speed, strength and endurance in herself and her clients. From being a wine critic tasting 40 wines in a day, she has transformed into one of Asia’s fastest Hyrox athletes and a full-time coach. Hyrox, a fast-growing sport that combines running with fitness feats, became her focus after she entered the first women’s open event in Hong Kong, in 2022,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352463/how-hong-kong-hyrox-champion-went-skinny-runner-top-competitor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352463/how-hong-kong-hyrox-champion-went-skinny-runner-top-competitor?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 03:00:05 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 88th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. I have lost count of the number of times somebody has said to me, during a conversation on dementia, “Oh, it runs in my family.” Like red hair. Or long fingers. The only type of Alzheimer’s disease that really does is familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). It is caused by mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PSEN1) and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352103/what-carrying-alzheimers-gene-chris-hemsworth-means-and-how-reduce-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3352103/what-carrying-alzheimers-gene-chris-hemsworth-means-and-how-reduce-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 23:15:09 +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 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 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia’s new front-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme has been welcomed by health advocates as a long-overdue measure to tackle excessive sugar, salt and fat intake. But experts said the labels were only a first step and would do little on their own to slow Indonesia’s growing burden of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other diet-related diseases. A decree issued by the health ministry on April 14 requires ready-to-eat food and drink products to carry nutrition labels and health messages... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3351170/indonesias-new-food-labels-are-long-overdue-can-they-help-fight-rising-obesity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3351170/indonesias-new-food-labels-are-long-overdue-can-they-help-fight-rising-obesity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:40:49 +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 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan Asparagus is the favourite vegetable of chef Hector Laguna’s two boys. “My kids love asparagus with a little olive oil, salt, and then we grill them for three to four minutes,” he explains, adding that’s how they eat the vegetable at home. “But at work, asparagus is fantastic. We use them in salads, we cook them, pickle them and ferment them,” says the executive chef of Botanist in Vancouver. Asparagus signals the arrival of spring and is known for its fibrous stalks and slightly bitter taste.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3349498/how-asparagus-benefits-your-health-and-different-ways-prepare-vegetable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3349498/how-asparagus-benefits-your-health-and-different-ways-prepare-vegetable?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:07 +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 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 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 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 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan While many people like to eat avocados in guacamole, on toast or in salads, California rolls or smoothies, chef Ben Kiely has other ideas about how to use the fruit, known as “green gold” or “alligator pear”, which comes originally from Mexico and South America. Kiely, the head instructor at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA) in Vancouver, says avocados are great in desserts like ice creams and chocolate mousse. “There’s recipes, especially now with plant-based being so common [with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3348743/how-chefs-are-reimagining-avocado-beyond-guacamole-vancouver-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3348743/how-chefs-are-reimagining-avocado-beyond-guacamole-vancouver-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 22:00:17 +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 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Our health is shaped by far more than what happens in a doctor’s office. Research estimates that as much as 80 to 90 per cent of health outcomes are influenced by factors outside medical care, including diet, physical activity and other everyday habits. Yet food, one of the most powerful drivers of health, is rarely treated as medicine. The concept of food as medicine is not new, says Dr Jaclyn Albin, an internist and director of the culinary medicine programme at UT Southwestern Medical Centre... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347524/how-food-shapes-our-health-more-medicine-doctors-share-healthy-eating-tips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347524/how-food-shapes-our-health-more-medicine-doctors-share-healthy-eating-tips?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:15:09 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa On World Obesity Day, March 4, Hong Kong launched its first three-year action plan on weight management targeting rising obesity rates. Citing a Report of Population Health Survey 2020–22 conducted by the Department of Health, the government noted that over 50 per cent of Hong Kong’s adult population is overweight or obese based on their Body Mass Index. “It’s heartening to see the government taking steps to build a healthy community that promotes nutrition education and regular exercise,” said... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347273/hong-kong-governments-plan-answer-obesity-or-eating-disorder-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347273/hong-kong-governments-plan-answer-obesity-or-eating-disorder-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:15:12 +0000 Vasudevan Sridharan Vasudevan Sridharan Namita Joshi made a New Year’s resolution in January to tackle one of her long-standing problems: being overweight. A key part of her slimming journey is her weekly weight-loss injections. While the 29-year-old interior designer has made changes to her diet and increased her workouts, she said the medication has helped her lose up to 6kg (13 pounds) in the past two months. With her weight at 85kg before her treatment and height at 1.65 metres (5.4 feet), Joshi was considered obese. “My mental... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347198/indias-weight-loss-price-war-begins-semaglutide-patent-expires?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3347198/indias-weight-loss-price-war-begins-semaglutide-patent-expires?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:19:15 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan A New Year’s resolution in early 2021 to eat healthier had unexpected but welcome consequences for Shanghai native Jenny Yue. The resident of Vancouver, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, not only lost more than 22kg (48 pounds) but also took up bodybuilding and launched a freeze-dried-fruit business with her husband. Yue, 30, and husband Han, 32, from China’s Henan province, were working together as project managers to implement an online medical record system across British Columbia... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346840/how-mother-lost-23kg-8-months-took-bodybuilding-and-started-food-business?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346840/how-mother-lost-23kg-8-months-took-bodybuilding-and-started-food-business?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson Six couples who want to start families but cannot conceive are the focus of a new Netflix documentary, The Plastic Detox. The couples – two of which have been trying to get pregnant for over two years, while one has been attempting for a decade – strip as much plastic from their lives as possible over three months to see if this will help. “Fertility worldwide is going down, and it is tightly linked to chemicals that are commonly used in plastic,” says epidemiologist Dr Shanna Swan in the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345709/microplastic-dangers-and-innovators-finding-solutions-plus-8-ways-protect-yourself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345709/microplastic-dangers-and-innovators-finding-solutions-plus-8-ways-protect-yourself?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong has launched its first action plan on weight management, aiming to reduce the proportion of people who are overweight or obese to less than half the population in three years from the current 51.3 per cent of adults. On Wednesday, World Obesity Day, the Department of Health announced more than 40 measures, ranging from installing more weighing scales in government venues to exploring the inclusion of novel weight-loss injections in the drug formulary, in a bid to reverse the rising... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345436/hong-kong-launches-3-year-action-plan-help-residents-fight-flab?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345436/hong-kong-launches-3-year-action-plan-help-residents-fight-flab?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:48:43 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Social media is filled with influencers rating electrolyte supplements or even telling followers how to make their own. But experts say many of the claims about the health benefits of these drinks need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Electrolytes are electrically charged substances that help regulate chemical reactions in the body. In the context of hydration, they balance fluid levels inside and outside cells, says Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic in the US state... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345208/why-electrolyte-drinks-gatorade-and-pocari-sweat-arent-always-beneficial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345208/why-electrolyte-drinks-gatorade-and-pocari-sweat-arent-always-beneficial?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:15:08 +0000 Bernice Chan Bernice Chan Ten years ago when dietitian and chef Renée Chan started her healthy food brand True Nosh – rebranded as Ah Nui Asian Foods a few years ago – she was determined to avoid adding sugar and instead use a natural sweetener. She turned to dates. “I wanted to be a diabetes-friendly company, as my dad had diabetes [and passed away before her high school graduation],” she explains. Chan started using dates extensively in her cooking and baking. “I mainly use Deglet Noor dates because they’re bulkier, so... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3344691/why-dates-are-healthier-sugar-can-you-tell-medjool-barhi-or-halawi-varieties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3344691/why-dates-are-healthier-sugar-can-you-tell-medjool-barhi-or-halawi-varieties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok The Eleocharis dulcis, or water chestnut, is widely known as ma tai – “horse’s hoof” – in Cantonese and ma ti in Mandarin. The moniker may derive from its dark, glossy exterior that resembles the rough contours of an equine hoof, but thankfully, there is nothing gamy about this ingredient. Its corm – or bulb – is edible and can be consumed raw, as long as you peel away its thick and woody exterior, much like you would a real chestnut. Its flavour is sweet and mild, while its true draw is its... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343788/why-do-chinese-love-water-chestnuts-all-about-lucky-horses-hoof?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3343788/why-do-chinese-love-water-chestnuts-all-about-lucky-horses-hoof?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa Any sugar – especially too much sugar – is bad for your health, so reducing the amount you eat is always a good idea. Whether you choose to fast ahead of the new season, for Lent – 40 days of fasting and prayer – or because sugar is unhealthy, it is a chance for ⁠a fresh start. But how do you turn down a fresh muffin or a cheeky chocolate bar after exercising? A nutritionist shares ways ⁠to banish the cravings and stick to your resolution. Temporarily giving up treats like chocolate and cake is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343745/want-beat-your-sugar-cravings-how-cut-down-and-even-quit-unhealthy-sugary-foods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343745/want-beat-your-sugar-cravings-how-cut-down-and-even-quit-unhealthy-sugary-foods?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 03:16:07 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur Ben Payet’s story is not an unfamiliar one: a high-achieving professional whose health quietly slipped down his list of priorities. The finance executive moved with his wife from London to Singapore three years ago to be closer to her family. They were building a life in a new city, but Payet was carrying excess weight. When he stood on the scales in October 2024, he was shocked. It read 93kg (205lbs), a sharp increase from the 77kg he had weighed in 2019. He would go on to lose 21kg over the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343270/how-singapore-based-executive-lost-21kg-9-months-and-cured-his-knee-pain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343270/how-singapore-based-executive-lost-21kg-9-months-and-cured-his-knee-pain?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 03:15:07 +0000 dpa dpa Having a brew may be more ‌beneficial than the immediate comfort it offers, experts suggested after a new study linked drinking tea and coffee with a reduced risk of dementia. Those who drink caffeinated versions ‍of these hot drinks also have better mental skills than people who do not, the large new study found. Researchers pinpointed the number of cups each day linked to reduced dementia risk. Experts from Harvard University examined data on 131,000 health workers in the United States, who... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343295/drinking-tea-and-coffee-every-day-may-lower-dementia-risk-boost-cognitive-function?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343295/drinking-tea-and-coffee-every-day-may-lower-dementia-risk-boost-cognitive-function?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 20:15:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press For many Thais, a meal does not feel complete without an iced coffee or tea so sugary it could pass for dessert. The government, concerned about the health consequences, wants them to dial it back. Starting on Wednesday, nine major coffee chains across the country have pledged to cut the default sugar content in some of their drinks by half in a government initiative aimed at tackling excessive sugar consumption. According to the Health Department, Thais consume an average of 21 teaspoons of... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343216/thailand-cuts-back-sugar-coffee-and-tea-tackle-health-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3343216/thailand-cuts-back-sugar-coffee-and-tea-tackle-health-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:13:52 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 82nd instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Should we eat a high-fat or low-fat diet for health? This debate has shaped health advice for decades, says Emily Sonestedt of Lund University in Sweden. Sonestedt is the senior author of a study that observed that high-fat dairy products – specifically fermented options like cheese and high-fat cream – were associated with a lower risk of dementia in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342871/how-much-fat-you-should-eat-day-and-what-foods-eat-plus-why-your-brain-needs-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342871/how-much-fat-you-should-eat-day-and-what-foods-eat-plus-why-your-brain-needs-it?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:14:30 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan How many have you had today? It is 10am and I am on my second. I will have a third before the day is out, possibly a fourth. I can feel good about every one I consume, to a point, research says. You know what I am talking about: coffee. A host of experts agree that drinking coffee comes with benefits. American longevity researcher Dan Buettner, who coined the term “Blue Zones” for places with longer life expectancies and lower rates of chronic disease, calls coffee one of the greatest longevity... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342460/how-much-coffee-should-you-drink-day-get-most-health-benefits-experts-reveal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342460/how-much-coffee-should-you-drink-day-get-most-health-benefits-experts-reveal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:15:09 +0000 dpa dpa Ageing has arguably always been a puzzle. There is the 82-year-old part-time farmer down the road who remains light on his feet, while his 60-something accountant neighbour gets short of breath walking from car to office. According ‍to a team of scientists at Vanderbilt University in the US state of Tennessee, “superagers” such as the farmer could have an innate advantage over the prematurely old, at least when it comes to cognition. According to the university, those in their 80s with brain... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341500/how-do-superagers-stay-so-young-genes-can-play-key-role-study-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341500/how-do-superagers-stay-so-young-genes-can-play-key-role-study-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson It is hard to imagine Heather Mills, one of the world’s best known veganism and animal rights campaigners, as a “Northeast sausage-and-mash girl”. “It’s so funny to think of the evolutions we go through in our short lives,” says the English entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist, who grew up in a working-class family in Northern England in the 1970s, for whom sausages were a weekend luxury. Now in her fifties, Mills’ fame stems from her former modelling career and her marriage to one of the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341276/how-vegan-activist-heather-mills-took-control-her-health-plant-based-diet-choices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341276/how-vegan-activist-heather-mills-took-control-her-health-plant-based-diet-choices?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Divia Harilela Divia Harilela Dr Nigma Talib looks more like a celebrity than a bestselling author and highly acclaimed naturopathic doctor. A quick glance at her Instagram feed reveals photos alongside the likes of Penélope Cruz, Sofía Vergara, Sienna Miller and Gwyneth Paltrow (she even gave the latter a platelet-rich plasma facial on Goop’s Netflix series). Turns out most of them aren’t just her friends, but loyal clients who have long sought her expertise and advice on how to reverse the signs of ageing, which happens to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3341007/how-dr-nigma-talib-keeps-hollywood-listers-looking-youthful-through-naturopathy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3341007/how-dr-nigma-talib-keeps-hollywood-listers-looking-youthful-through-naturopathy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 02:00:19 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales The benefits of a vegan diet are well documented. From promoting a healthy weight and reducing our risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, to improving gut health and lowering blood pressure, countless studies have found good reason to consume more plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds. Veganuary, the global January campaign, encourages people to go meat-free or reduce their intake of animal products such as dairy for the month. Besides promoting animal... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340828/how-vegan-diet-can-help-prevent-and-manage-cancer-and-foods-focus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340828/how-vegan-diet-can-help-prevent-and-manage-cancer-and-foods-focus?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:15:08 +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 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan It is hard to know whether to be more impressed by octogenarians Bob and Fran German because they regularly publish videos on their YouTube channel, or because, at 85, they remain ultra-fit and young at heart. That was not always the case. Years ago, both were diagnosed with life-changing illnesses. After returning home to the United States from a trip to China in late 1992, Fran sensed minor muscular changes but “didn’t think too much of it”. Then, one day, she woke up and could not open one... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340522/how-whole-food-plant-based-diet-keeps-85-year-old-youtubers-young-and-disease-free?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340522/how-whole-food-plant-based-diet-keeps-85-year-old-youtubers-young-and-disease-free?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 03:00:16 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A generation ago, the people of Okinawa in Japan were recognised as among the longest-lived in the world, fortunate residents of one of just five “blue zones” around the planet where a combination of healthy diet, lifestyle and positive attitude enabled them to live to a ripe old age. Today, that longevity has been turned on its head. Life expectancy for both Okinawan men and women is expected to tumble again when the results of a new study, conducted every five years, are released in the coming... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3340577/japans-okinawa-loses-longevity-crown-slow-living-makes-way-faster-shorter-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3340577/japans-okinawa-loses-longevity-crown-slow-living-makes-way-faster-shorter-future?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:30:16 +0000 Tara Loader Wilkinson Tara Loader Wilkinson January used to be about detoxes and gym sign-ups. Now, for millions, it is about giving up meat, eggs and dairy – at least for a while, as more people taste-test the vegan lifestyle. A study last year by YouGov and non-profit organisation Veganuary – both based in the United Kingdom – found that 25.8 million people worldwide took part in the month-long challenge to avoid animal products in January 2025, even if they did not hold out for the whole month. Since its launch in the UK in 2014, the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3339367/chinese-vietnamese-plant-based-influencer-makes-even-haters-love-tofu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3339367/chinese-vietnamese-plant-based-influencer-makes-even-haters-love-tofu?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 04:15:08 +0000 Chen Hong Chen Hong In a premium supermarket in Shanghai one recent weekend, 33-year-old information technology specialist Zhao Wenyu paused in front of the health food aisle, comparing protein content and ingredient lists on imported granola and organic milk – rather than checking discounts. Zhao now spends around 3,000 yuan (US$420) a month on organic food, nutritional supplements and functional beverages, up from about 1,200 yuan three years ago. “I don’t mind paying more if I am satisfied with the product’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3339394/changing-tastes-chinas-new-affluent-consumers-seek-quality-not-extravagance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3339394/changing-tastes-chinas-new-affluent-consumers-seek-quality-not-extravagance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 03:30:13 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Resolutions to improve health typically include measures such as more exercise, a healthier diet and stopping smoking. But what about safeguarding your gut microbiome? Taking steps to protect and improve it can benefit digestive health and more, says Dr Purna Kashyap, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, in the US state of Minnesota, who specialises in the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal disorders. “The microbiome is essentially a community of bacteria, fungi, viruses and all of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3339154/why-your-gut-microbiome-so-important-health-and-how-protect-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3339154/why-your-gut-microbiome-so-important-health-and-how-protect-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 09:15:16 +0000 Charmaine Mok Charmaine Mok Growing up in a Chinese household, I never found it hard to eat my greens. That is why, even as a child, I never understood the mass hatred towards broccoli and carrots – until I saw how they were being boiled to a mush, stripping them not only of flavour but of any discernible form. Some people enjoy broccoli when it is masked in a cauldron of melted cheese, but I will have it stir-fried in a flashing hot wok with plenty of garlic any day. As for carrots, I was never a fan of the cooked... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338908/2026-year-cabbage-how-vegetable-being-hailed-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338908/2026-year-cabbage-how-vegetable-being-hailed-online?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Jaclyn Hei Tsang was working at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong as a clinical dietitian in 2021 when she left her job to become a professional powerlifter. Just a year after she became a full-time athlete, she set a Hong Kong record in the under-57kg (125lb) weight class when she bench pressed 90kg at the 2022 Hong Kong Powerlifting Championships. In the same competition, she squatted 120kg and dead lifted 151kg, for a total weight count of 361kg – also a Hong Kong record. Today, the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3338847/record-breaking-hong-kong-powerlifter-and-dietitian-now-battles-bad-online-health-advice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3338847/record-breaking-hong-kong-powerlifter-and-dietitian-now-battles-bad-online-health-advice?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Embracing Dry January but still want to celebrate with bubbles? Whatever the event, these non-alcoholic sparkling teas can lend a sense of sophistication without the hangover. Chalu Designed in response to the current sober-curious wave hitting China’s Gen Z, Chalu, the Yunnan-born sparkling tea venture founded by tea expert Mia Sun and ex-Goose Island brewmaster Fraser Kennedy, offers three cold-brewed and oak-aged artisanal sparkling teas: Snow Jasmine, Volcano Oolong and Hibiscus Noir.... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/food-drink/article/3338906/sparkling-sober-5-fizzy-teas-refined-dry-january?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/food-drink/article/3338906/sparkling-sober-5-fizzy-teas-refined-dry-january?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 18:00:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse New regulations come into force on Monday in Britain banning daytime TV and online adverts for so-called junk foods, in what the government calls a “world-leading action” to tackle childhood obesity. The ban – targeting commercials for products high in fat, salt or sugar – is expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories from children’s diets each year, according to the health ministry. The restrictions, which cover television advertisements before 9pm and all digital platforms, will cut... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3338803/uk-begins-world-leading-junk-food-ad-ban-curb-childhood-obesity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3338803/uk-begins-world-leading-junk-food-ad-ban-curb-childhood-obesity?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:36:27 +0000 Susan Jung Susan Jung The celery we get in supermarkets comes in the form of long, clean, tidy stalks that are eaten as a vegetable; sometimes the aromatic leaves are attached. The plant, though, also yields tiny pieces of fruit called celery seeds, which are used as a spice. Although the seed is small, the flavour is strong – and, surprise, celery-like. It is used in alternative medicine. According to the University of Maryland Medical Centre, in the United States, the seeds are used as a diuretic and to treat... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338463/celery-seeds-many-uses-flavouring-bloody-marys-and-indian-food-treating-gout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338463/celery-seeds-many-uses-flavouring-bloody-marys-and-indian-food-treating-gout?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:15:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The new year is a time when many try to take up new, good habits and commit to improving health and wellness. But resolutions, lofty as they may be, can turn daunting quickly with all the advice and sometimes contradicting information coming at you from news reports, advertisers, influencers, friends and even politicians. But they do not have to be. This year, experts mostly say to keep it simple. As 2026 arrives, here is what you can skip, what you should pay attention to and how to get... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3338104/6-health-and-wellness-tips-2026-keep-things-simple-sleep-and-move-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3338104/6-health-and-wellness-tips-2026-keep-things-simple-sleep-and-move-more?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 08:15:08 +0000 Christina Ko Christina Ko “Wellness” is more than just a buzzword these days – it’s a term whose meaning has expanded from spa treatments and detox holidays, to preventive healthcare and longevity protocols, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and fertility, and energy healing and fortune-telling. In a landscape where consumers are spoiled for choice, what will be getting you excited this year? Ancient wisdom, new format Traditional Chinese medicine is getting not-so-traditional these days, as a globalised Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3338243/wellness-2026-shaman-rituals-ikigai-pool-sound-baths-four-seasons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3338243/wellness-2026-shaman-rituals-ikigai-pool-sound-baths-four-seasons?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 23:00:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan There exist thousands of books that focus on longevity and healthy ageing, including bestsellers like Lifespan: Why We Age – and Why We Don’t Have To by David Sinclair, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia, and Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old by Andrew Steele. Recent years have also seen a huge rise in lifestyle medicine, consumer health products, longevity retreats, documentaries like The Man Who Wants to Live Forever, and published advice on... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337449/what-are-secrets-long-and-healthy-life-longevity-expert-reveals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337449/what-are-secrets-long-and-healthy-life-longevity-expert-reveals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 23:15:07 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott Health and wellness are areas of huge interest to people globally as they seek to live longer, healthier and happier lives. Understandably, these topics resonated strongly with Post readers in 2025. Most popular was a story in our “Decoding dementia” series about a neurologist who uses five simple tests of cognitive function – including drawing a clock – to help gauge the health of a patient’s brain. Stories about weight loss also struck a chord in 2025, including one on how resistance training... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337287/7-top-health-and-wellness-stories-2025-weight-loss-fitness-old-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3337287/7-top-health-and-wellness-stories-2025-weight-loss-fitness-old-age?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 04:45:08 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales After wrapping up a successful, decades-long career in the car industry two years ago, Christer Ekberg could have chosen to spend the rest of his days like many other retirees, putting his feet up and enjoying a well-deserved break. Instead, the 71-year-old former chief operations officer of Eurokars Group Singapore, who has lived in the city state since 2001, dedicates his time to helping seniors stay strong, fit and active. A certified personal trainer, Ekberg has always been passionate about... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3336985/how-strength-training-keeps-71-year-old-top-shape-and-what-he-teaches-other-seniors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3336985/how-strength-training-keeps-71-year-old-top-shape-and-what-he-teaches-other-seniors?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 23:15:09 +0000