Health Noise

Its official! Skipping a meal adds healthy years to one’s lifespan (First published on Business Day Life/Business Day) We all dread becoming old and decrepit. But what if someone told you that you could reach a 100 and still be energetic and engaged? Now there is scientific evidence that fasting (or calorie restriction) prevents much of the deterioration associated with aging.  For centuries scientists have tried to discover why we deteriorate as we age. Although it was known that genes and lifestyle affected one’s lifespan, and how well one aged, the full story was far from understood.  Professor Ben Loos, who heads a neuro research group in the department of Physiological Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch, says that the breakthrough came in the early 2000s, when scientists developed the capability to investigate the detailed molecular biology of how cells age. Their conclusion: the way we age is greatly determined by the way in which cells dig...

We are all experiencing a mixture of feelings: frustration, loneliness, isolation, uncertainty and even fear. And while the move to Level 3 has allowed some of us to go back to work, the onset of cold, dry weather will provide just the conditions COVID-19 is said to prefer. And the annual flu season is upon us.  No surprise, then, that experts are recommending that we redouble our efforts to stay mentally and physically healthy.  Nola Dippenaar, Professor Emeritus at the University of Pretoria’s Medical School and owner of Health Insight, believes that our choices directly determine our present and future health.  She believes that most COVID-19-positive people experience mild or no symptoms because they have a healthy immune system. By contrast, high morbidity is associated with weakened immune systems due to pre-existing conditions, particularly when combined with old age.  Building up one’s immune system starts with a balanced diet, at least 3...

Why maintaining even some fitness routine is important   (First published on: Maverick Life/Daily Maverick:  28 April 2020) The benefits of exercise are well-known: it builds immunity as well as improves our general sense of well-being by reducing anxiety. And even during lockdown, it’s worth trying to keep working out. But what effect could a drop in our fitness regime have on the overall goals we had achieved? Research suggests that exercise is not only associated with overall physical health but also improves mental health. In the USA a Lancet survey conducted between 2011 and 2015 among 2.1 million individuals over 18 years, found that those who did moderate exercise three to five time per week were 43.2% less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression compared to those who did not exercise. Professor Ross Tucker a Cape Town-based sport scientist, recently spoke about the benefits of detraining or diminished training during lockdown in an online prese...

End diet derangement syndrome Confused about which diet to follow? Tired of contradictory advice? One approach seems to have the thumbs-up from most experts.  By Iza Trengove Trying—and failing—to shift those extra kilos, no matter how hard you try? Some experts now say that your brain simply has its own sense of what your body weight should be, and programs the body to return to this “set point”, no matter how much exercise we do or what diet we follow.  Needless to say, these experts have advice about how to coach your brain and body to accept a new “set point”.  This new (and discouraging) concept joins the plethora of contradictory and confusing diets out there, contributing to the feeling that the decks are unfairly stacked against the poor dieter.  Some say the key is to count calories and eat six small meals day. Others insist a high-fat low-carbohydrate (HFLC ) diet is the ultimate weight loss strategy. And then there is the bunny-hugging...