Wildcard

You’re standing in a supermarket aisle, weighing up whether to buy a microwave meal or a bunch of fresh carrots. We all know making healthy eating choices can be tough. That’s especially true if you are hungry, or have a hungry household to feed. There are so many reasons for this, and many are outside…

Words escape you. Your skin tingles. You are overwhelmed by how small and insignificant you really are, bursting with a feeling that is hard to define. This is awe. Awe is a complex emotional state we experience when the enormity of what we see or feel transcends what we understand. It can be positive or…

Most people know about “good” and “bad” cholesterol. But few realise there is another type called lipoprotein(a). It can raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes, even in people who do everything right. This lesser-known cholesterol particle, often written as Lp(a), is gaining increasing attention from researchers and drug companies. Lp(a) isn’t included in…

NeeDoh is the latest squishy sensory toy to go viral. Social media is reporting how these blobs of gel are flying off the shelves, and are in short supply. But squishy sensory toys have been around much longer than this latest fad. You might remember putty, slime or stress balls. So why are these products…

Frozen shoulder can make simple tasks – such as lifting your arm, sleeping on your side, getting out of bed, putting on a bra, driving or playing with your kids – painful and challenging. This condition usually starts with pain suddenly developing in the shoulder and stiffness. Over time, the pain and stiffness get worse….

Pregnancy can be a time of joy and anticipation. But it can also be a nerve-wracking experience, with many factors affecting when and how a baby arrives. A new study, published today, suggests when pregnant women are exposed to high levels of humid heat during pregnancy, they are more likely to have a preterm birth….

Are you surrounded by screens? Today, we rely on technology to do everything from sending emails to ordering food. But being constantly connected can leave us physically and mentally exhausted. That’s why some people are doing “digital detoxes”, the practice of staying away from devices and social media for a set period of time. The…

Thinking about autism has evolved. Just three decades ago, autism was a relatively rare and clearly defined condition, diagnosed in people with limited verbal language and highly repetitive behaviour. Today, autism is diagnosed along a spectrum of a wide range of abilities, from people who may require 24-hour care to those able to live independently….

Menstruation is once again a hot topic on social media, thanks to a new health trend known as “cycle syncing”. It involves aligning your diet and exercise habits to each phase of your menstrual cycle. For example, you may only do gentle exercises such as yoga or eat more fermented foods during the first phase…

You might have heard people talking about their nervous system being “overloaded” or “dysregulated” when they’re going through periods of heightened stress. Or perhaps you’ve been offered ways to “heal” or “reset” your nervous system on social media or at expensive wellness retreats. But how does the nervous system actually work? And can it be…

Have you ever baked or decorated a birthday cake? Interest in elaborate cakes is booming, driven by social media trends and television shows such as Is It Cake?. This means products such as edible glitter and colourful dyes are becoming increasingly common at children’s parties and other social events. But a recent incident, where a…