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The Surprising Way Your Bedroom Air Causes Bad Sleep Quality
Read More: The Surprising Way Your Bedroom Air Causes Bad Sleep QualityMy husband is the reason I’m so exhausted. And no, it’s not that (get your minds out of the gutter!). My sleep deprivation comes courtesy of his sinuses. One night while seriously plotting my escape to the guest room, I fell down an insomnia-fuelled research rabbit hole. What I learned surprised me, especially since none…
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World Microbiome Day: The Hidden Ecosystem Connecting You and Your Pet
Read More: World Microbiome Day: The Hidden Ecosystem Connecting You and Your PetIt turns out that sharing your home with a dog or cat could mean sharing far more than companionship. Emerging research suggests that people and their pets may also share aspects of their gut microbiomes – the trillions of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that play a vital role in everything from digestion and immunity…
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Glowing Skin & Sharper Thinking: 7 Massive Sauna Health Benefits
Read More: Glowing Skin & Sharper Thinking: 7 Massive Sauna Health BenefitsNo, it’s not just you – suddenly, everyone is super into saunas now. Where once the touted sauna health benefits were frowned at, formal science has come out in force in support of this, erm, hot trend. The sauna, a mainstay of hotel spas, gyms and your super-rich uncle’s house, is now mainstream. These days,…
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Indoor Air Pollution Gets Worse In Winter – Here’s How To Fight It
Read More: Indoor Air Pollution Gets Worse In Winter – Here’s How To Fight ItDuring colder months, you’re probably going to want to light the fire, close the windows and keep cosy. And, when loadshedding hits, flick on the generator and continue to ‘Netflix and chill’. But, if you want to stay healthy this winter, this is exactly what you shouldn’t be doing – unless you’ve invested in an…
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Why A Wardrobe Refresh May Actually Be Good For Your Health – According To Psychologists
Read More: Why A Wardrobe Refresh May Actually Be Good For Your Health – According To PsychologistsIt’s easy to feel good about yourself when you slide into a pair of jeans that fit just right and there’s now research that supports the idea that when you look good, you feel good, too. New research published in the Journal of Macromarketing found a significant association between having clothes you like and having higher levels…
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PCOS Is Getting A Rebrand – And It Makes A Big Difference, Experts Say
Read More: PCOS Is Getting A Rebrand – And It Makes A Big Difference, Experts SayPolycystic ovarian syndrome, most commonly known as PCOS, is no more. Instead, doctors will now be referring to the condition as polyendocrine metabolic syndrome – or PMOS. It’s just one letter, but it makes all the difference, according to the doctors who treat it. “This is one of the most meaningful shifts I have seen in reproductive endocrinology…
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These Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms Mean You May Need A Doc, Now
Read More: These Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms Mean You May Need A Doc, NowOne of the strangest biological catch-22s is the relationship between a human being and the sun. While excess sun exposure is linked to skin cancer, too little creates vitamin D deficiency. Unfortunately, statistics show that South African women show some of the highest numbers of vitamin D deficiency, suggesting that the sun just isn’t hitting…
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10 Ways You Can Actually Lower Your Cholesterol Without Medication
Read More: 10 Ways You Can Actually Lower Your Cholesterol Without MedicationAccording to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa (HSF), 10 South Africans suffer a stroke every hour. One of the big contributors to strokes in South Africa is the prevalence of high cholesterol. Sadly, 80 percent of heart disease-related deaths in individuals under the age of 60 are preventable through a healthy balanced…
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The Risks of Tanning (And Yes, We Mean Sun Exposure Too)
Read More: The Risks of Tanning (And Yes, We Mean Sun Exposure Too)Whether you’re trying to tan or not, the South African sun has decided for you. It’s been hot – relentlessly so – and lately it feels like everyone’s getting a little sun-kissed by default. A quick coffee run, a lunch break, sitting in traffic… suddenly there are tan lines you definitely didn’t sign up for.…
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11 Subtle Signs Of Diabetes You Should Never Ignore
Read More: 11 Subtle Signs Of Diabetes You Should Never IgnoreExperts are sounding the alarm about type 2 diabetes in South Africa, as the complex disease has reached crisis levels in the country – and women are disproportionately affected. And yet, so many people are unsure about the actual diabetes symptoms in women. The full picture of diabetes in South Africa is complicated and grim.…
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Common Misconceptions About Vaccinations And The Risks Of Missing Vaccines
Read More: Common Misconceptions About Vaccinations And The Risks Of Missing VaccinesImmunisation – more commonly known as vaccination – remains one of the most effective public health interventions we have. Each year, it prevents an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines are rigorously tested for safety and continue to be closely monitored even after approval, making them…
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Common Misconceptions About Vaccinations And The Risks Of Missing Vaccines
Read More: Common Misconceptions About Vaccinations And The Risks Of Missing VaccinesImmunisation – more commonly known as vaccination – remains one of the most effective public health interventions we have. Each year, it prevents an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines are rigorously tested for safety and continue to be closely monitored even after approval, making them…
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The Moment You Feel A Cold Coming On, Do These 8 Things Immediately To Speed Up Recovery
Read More: The Moment You Feel A Cold Coming On, Do These 8 Things Immediately To Speed Up RecoveryIf you can’t remember the last time someone replied to a “how are you” message with anything other than a sneezing emoji, there’s some good news at least: with the crisp turn of autumn, we’re still a little way off from the true peak of cold and flu season. As for right now, though, the…
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Pads, Tampons, Cups & Discs: Which Menstrual Products Are Safe In South Africa?
Read More: Pads, Tampons, Cups & Discs: Which Menstrual Products Are Safe In South Africa?Since the dawn of time, women have endured the woes of menstruation: isolated for being ‘unclean’, prohibited from entering certain buildings, and most recently, stigmatised for having ‘the curse’. Although society has mostly shed (ha!) those beliefs, we’re now dealing with harmful chemicals in our menstrual products. As women continue the epic quest for safe…
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Where Should You Go For A Safe Abortion In South Africa?
Read More: Where Should You Go For A Safe Abortion In South Africa?South Africa has some of the most liberal sexual and reproductive health laws in the world. This means that, as women, we are in control of our own bodies. Women are legally entitled to a safe abortion in South Africa up to the 20th week of pregnancy. It’s been this way since November 1996, under…
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Where Should You Go For A Safe Abortion In South Africa?
Read More: Where Should You Go For A Safe Abortion In South Africa?South Africa has some of the most liberal sexual and reproductive health laws in the world. This means that, as women, we are in control of our own bodies. Women are legally entitled to a safe abortion in South Africa up to the 20th week of pregnancy. It’s been this way since November 1996, under…
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Where Should You Go For A Safe Abortion In South Africa?
Read More: Where Should You Go For A Safe Abortion In South Africa?South Africa has some of the most liberal sexual and reproductive health laws in the world. This means that, as women, we are in control of our own bodies. Women are legally entitled to a safe abortion in South Africa up to the 20th week of pregnancy. It’s been this way since November 1996, under…
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Eat This To Beat Period Bloat
Read More: Eat This To Beat Period BloatYou’re all too familiar with what happens when your period hits: you get stomach cramps, your cravings go into overdrive and eating healthfully seems like a major test of willpower. The good news is that making minor adjustments to your eating habits means you can support your body’s changing needs without feeling like you’ve lost control of your routine.…
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Itchy Bum? How To Know If It’s Haemorrhoids
Read More: Itchy Bum? How To Know If It’s HaemorrhoidsTalk about a pain in the butt: a huge percentage of South Africans encounter piles symptoms (also sometimes called jedijedi and officially known as haemorrhoids). But how to treat piles? And can you use a natural remedy? Here, everything you need to know about the pesky little suckers. What Causes Piles? Haemorrhoids (known in South…
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10 Signs Of Binge-Drinking Among Women You Shouldn’t Ignore
Read More: 10 Signs Of Binge-Drinking Among Women You Shouldn’t IgnoreIf you’re a woman and a regular drinker, you might very easily fall into the heavy-alcohol-user category. That’s because, when you look at the signs of binge-drinking, it’s scarily easier to achieve than you’d think. And from the number of dwindling nightclubs and bars globally, it seems many other people are uncoupling from booze. But…
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I Get Five Hours Of Sleep Each Night But Feel Totally Fine. How Bad Is That, Really?
Read More: I Get Five Hours Of Sleep Each Night But Feel Totally Fine. How Bad Is That, Really?There are countless sleep hacks, supplements and cosy pyjamas that may elevate your sleep game, but that doesn’t mean falling – and staying – asleep is easy. That’s why when some people feel totally fine with only a few hours of sleep under their belt, they assume it’s good enough – but that’s not exactly the case. Put simply, sleep…
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12 Types Of Headaches – And What The Pain Really Means
Read More: 12 Types Of Headaches – And What The Pain Really MeansKnow why Home Affairs queues, potty training a toddler and traffic are considered total headaches? Because regardless of the type of headache you’ve got, they all suck. Headaches impact daily activities for many women, causing them to avoid work, social engagements, or physical exertion. They’re also more common among women, peaking among women aged between…
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OTC Meds And ‘Natural’ Supplements Have Hidden Risks, Warns Pharmacist
Read More: OTC Meds And ‘Natural’ Supplements Have Hidden Risks, Warns PharmacistToo much of a good thing can be bad, sure – but just how much is too much? And what about things we think of as all-natural? “Just because something is labelled ‘natural’ does not mean it is risk-free, and easy access does not guarantee safety,” explains pharmacist Thembeka Gule of Medipost Pharmacy, a South…
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These Surprising Foods Will Work Wonders For Constipation, According To A New Study
Read More: These Surprising Foods Will Work Wonders For Constipation, According To A New StudyWhen you’re on day three of not going No. 2, most people will do just about anything to get things moving again. We’ve all been told that eating more fibre can help, but new research has some helpful advice on three things you can eat or drink to ease your constipation. The study, published in the Journal…
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Here Are The Best Sound Types For Falling (And Staying!) Asleep, According To Doctors
Read More: Here Are The Best Sound Types For Falling (And Staying!) Asleep, According To DoctorsPOV: It’s 2:00 a.m. and you can’t fall asleep. You’ve tried everything, from cognitive shuffling to counting sheep, but your brain won’t shut off. Your friend swears that white noise helps her sleep, so you head to Spotify…only to come across white, brown and pink noise options. But which colour will actually help you stop tossing and turning? Over…
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7 Perimenopause Treatments & Lifestyle Changes That Actually Work
Read More: 7 Perimenopause Treatments & Lifestyle Changes That Actually WorkYou’re likely familiar with menopause: the period of time when the ovaries stop producing oestrogen and menstruation stops. But perimenopause, its predecessor, gets much less airtime. That ends here. We’ll unpack what perimenopause is, as well as the perimenopause treatments and lifestyle adaptations you can do to make the transition better. What Is Perimenopause? “Perimenopause…
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10 Things No One Ever Tells You About Your Pap Smear
Read More: 10 Things No One Ever Tells You About Your Pap SmearThere are many awkward situations in life, from forgetting someone’s name even though you’ve met them three times, to laughing at a really inappropriate time. But a trip to the gynae is definitely near the top of the list. No matter how many times you go, you can’t help but clam up. And getting a…
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10 Things No One Ever Tells You About Your Pap Smear
Read More: 10 Things No One Ever Tells You About Your Pap SmearThere are many awkward situations in life, from forgetting someone’s name even though you’ve met them three times, to laughing at a really inappropriate time. But a trip to the gynae is definitely near the top of the list. No matter how many times you go, you can’t help but clam up. And getting a…
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Cancer Doctors Reveal The 12 Symptoms They Would Never Ignore
Read More: Cancer Doctors Reveal The 12 Symptoms They Would Never IgnoreYou’ve probably heard that some types of cancer are mysteriously rising in people under age 50. Right now, the list includes colon and rectal cancers, followed by uterine, blood, kidney and breast. And maybe you’ve also heard that when it comes to cancer, early signs can be vague. Think: Weight loss, fatigue and enlarged lymph nodes. It can be tricky…
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What Actually Happens After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis?
Read More: What Actually Happens After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis?Breast cancer accounts for a quarter (24.11%) of all cancers in South African women. In 2022 alone, there were over 11 000 new cases. And, it is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. It’s also increasingly detected in women under 40. This trend mirrors global patterns: younger women are being diagnosed with…
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Early-Onset Dementia Among Women Is Growing. Here’s How To Protect Yourself
Read More: Early-Onset Dementia Among Women Is Growing. Here’s How To Protect YourselfWe’re willing to bet your idea of a nightmare has changed radically since the days of hiding from the boogey man. Grown-up fears include: not being able to make rent, the petrol price doubling and… being affected by dementia. We have the data to back this last one up: several studies indicate that women express…
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What’s The Real Age For Perimenopause – And What Are The Symptoms?
Read More: What’s The Real Age For Perimenopause – And What Are The Symptoms?Perimenopause is perhaps the most misunderstood part of a woman’s life. We make a big(ish) deal of your first period and especially pregnancy, but when ovaries start winding down, so do helpful discussions about it. “Perimenopause is a tipping point that can shape a woman’s long-term health and quality of life,” says Dr Juanri Jonck,…
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Sleepmaxxing Is TikTok’s Latest Obsession – But Do These Sleep Hacks Really Work?
Read More: Sleepmaxxing Is TikTok’s Latest Obsession – But Do These Sleep Hacks Really Work?From “sleepy girl mocktails” to mouth taping, #sleepmaxxing has exploded on TikTok. The trend promises deeper, longer sleep through hacks, supplements and devices – but are these viral tricks worth trying? To find out, we spoke to Dr Rob Henst, a sleep scientist and co-founder of Sleep Science, a sleep consultancy practise in Cape Town. He explained…
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Exactly How To Do Supplement Stacking, From A Pharmacist
Read More: Exactly How To Do Supplement Stacking, From A PharmacistQuick: count the number of supplements you take a day. There’s the omegas for brain boosting, the nootropics in your coffee, maybe a sleep supplement or magnesium, too. But now, tailoring your supps for max impact, also known as supplement stacking, is gaining traction. When done right, supplement stacking can bridge nutrient gaps, enhance results…
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10 Scarily Common Diabetes Myths That Can Put Your Health At Risk
Read More: 10 Scarily Common Diabetes Myths That Can Put Your Health At RiskFact: diabetes is the number one cause of death among South African women, according to Statistics South Africa’s latest data. The only thing overshadowing it is Covid-19, which only reflects the year in which the stat was captured – 2021. Diabetes is now responsible for more deaths in S.A. than heart disease, cancer and HIV.…
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13 Next-Gen Biohacks Every Wellness Girl Should Know
Read More: 13 Next-Gen Biohacks Every Wellness Girl Should KnowFrom red light facials to AI-powered wearables whispering your next best move, the biohacking boom is having a very feminine glow-up. Once the domain of Silicon Valley tech bros, today’s wellness upgrades are more holistic, body-aware, and designed to work with your hormones, brain and gut – not against them. We rounded up the smartest,…
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Do You Really Need A Parasite Cleanse?
Read More: Do You Really Need A Parasite Cleanse?A woman sits over a sink that is filled with water. Her feet are submerged. Excitedly, she brings the phone camera to focus on the water and zooms in. There, squirrelling and squirming, are long, dark strands. They’re worms, she says, the evidence of a successful parasite cleanse. Videos like these on TikTok abound –…
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Here’s How Contraception Can Impact Your Oral Health
Read More: Here’s How Contraception Can Impact Your Oral HealthWhen women think about birth control, they usually focus on the usual suspects – their periods, skin, mood, maybe even weight. But have you ever stopped to think about how your contraception might impact your oral health? Yup, your birth control can affect your oral health. Whether you’re on the pill, patch, injection or an…
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Is It Ever OK To Hold In Your Pee? Here’s What Experts Say
Read More: Is It Ever OK To Hold In Your Pee? Here’s What Experts SayThere are times when you have no choice but to hold in your pee – but is it actually safe? And is it true that if you hold it in, you’re creating UTIs for yourself? Whether it’s because you’re powering through work e-mails at your desk or you’d rather avoid the horrors of a public…
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Tight Hips Or Legs? Here’s What A Physio Recommends
Read More: Tight Hips Or Legs? Here’s What A Physio RecommendsWhether you’re glued to a desk, logging daily kilometres on the road or just feeling a little stiff lately, lower body tightness is a common complaint – and one that can lead to bigger problems if left unchecked. So we called in a pro to help us understand what’s behind that nagging tension and how…
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5 Tips To Prevent Stained Teeth & Brighten Your Smile
Read More: 5 Tips To Prevent Stained Teeth & Brighten Your SmileLet’s be honest: our efforts to prevent stained teeth and brighten our smile are thwarted by other priorities. Mornings without coffee feel incomplete, and a good weekend just isn’t the same without a glass of wine (or two). Whether you’re sipping your frothy cappuccino during a quick Zoom meeting or clinking glasses of Merlot at…
