How to read a food label
Grocery shopping has never been easier, with almost endless options online and in store. Choosing what to buy is a different story altogether. That’s where understanding the food label can help you make healthier choices.
Why do teenagers sleep so much?
It’s no coincidence that most teenagers will probably spend Youth Day sleeping in. Understanding their sleeping patterns is key to helping them feel more refreshed.
Ever feel like you’re wrestling a honey badger when it’s time to get your teen out of bed? You’re not alone. While it’s tempting to label dozy teens slackers, there’s real biology behind those drooping eyelids.
Burns: Where home remedies can harm
About 90% of all burn injuries happen in the home, with the kitchen being the hot spot so to speak. Open flames, paraffin stoves and scalding liquids can turn everyday activities into serious risks.
The first few minutes after a burn accident are critical, yet many people turn to old home remedies
Stressed? Your blood pressure feels it too
When your body senses danger that needs quick action, your ‘fight or flight’ response kicks in. Your heart beats faster, your breathing speeds up, muscles contract and your blood pressure spikes.
This is meant to help you deal with the threat, such as avoiding a car crash. Once it’s passed, your system will reset to normal.
Keep yourself in check
You may feel perfectly healthy – but how sure are you that all is well? Many serious health conditions develop slowly and silently, with no warning signs in the early stages. World Health Day on 7 April is a reminder to focus on prevention and early detection.
Don’t let flu disrupt your winter
Winter should be a time to slow down and enjoy moments that matter. But every year, influenza disrupts thousands of South African households, leading to missed workdays, school absences, and in some cases, hospitalisation.
When TB does not look like TB
When you think of tuberculosis (TB), you think about someone with a bad cough, right? While this is mostly the case, it isn’t the full picture, because the disease can affect areas outside the lungs.
Glaucoma: You do not see it coming
Glaucoma is known as “the silent thief of sight” because it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t warn you and it doesn’t wait. In South Africa, many people only get diagnosed once they’ve already lost vision in one eye.
Make an eye test part of your health routine – it could save your sight.
Taking care of your baby starts before birth
Antenatal care – the healthcare you receive during pregnancy – is so important that the World Health Organisation recommends at least eight visits throughout pregnancy, ideally starting before 10 weeks.
Myth-busting the HPV vaccine
FACT: Around 11 000 South African women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, with 5 900 dying of the disease every year.
One of the main causes of cervical cancer is human papilloma virus (HPV). Despite the Department of Health’s vigorous campaign to immunise again the virus, myths and misunderstandings persist about the vaccine, preventing many people from getting this life-saving protection.
Make 2026 your best year yet… Naturally
“New Year, new you” messages are everywhere right now, but putting too much pressure on yourself to stick to rigid resolutions and harsh self-criticism will set you up for failure.
What if there’s a better way to making 2026 your year waiting for you outside?
The cancer myth that puts darker skin at risk
The belief that people with darker skin can’t get skin cancer is simply false. In reality, anyone can be affected.
When people assume their skin tone protects them from the sun, they may overlook warning signs.
As a result, skin cancer in darker-skinned individuals is often caught at a more advanced stage, making treatment more difficult. Yet, skin cancer is highly treatable if caught early.
