Healthwatch by Shyft

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Best takeaways, packed with practical tips, read the featured articles for your health goal here

Salt: Everything you need to know in one place

Salt: Everything you need to know in one place

Salt is an important part of our diet because it’s our main source of sodium, a mineral necessary for our body, but like carbs, they can be both friend and foe. So what does sodium do for the body? How much salt is too much per day? Which high-sodium foods should you avoid? We’ve done the research to provide all the answers. By the end of this guide, the fourth of our Foundations of Food series, we will unpack everything…

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9 minutes

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14 Mar 2024

Editor’s pick

Protein: Everything You Need to Know in One Place

Protein: Everything You Need to Know in One Place

Just like fats and carbs, protein plays a starring role in every person’s nutrition journey. But amidst the ocean of diet tips and health hacks, proteins often get a mixed rep – glorified by some and misunderstood by others.  In this comprehensive guide, the third of our Foundations of Food series, we will unpack everything about protein - the difference between ‘complete’ and ‘incomplete’ proteins, how to up your protein intake (especially if you’re a vegetarian), and answering that age-old…

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10 minutes

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07 Mar 2024

Editor’s pick

Types of Therapy: Which therapy approach is best for you?

Types of Therapy: Which therapy approach is best for you?

Embarking on a therapy journey can feel a bit like finding your way through a maze. With so many different types of therapy out there, how do you know which one is right for you? Whether you’re new to therapy or looking to switch things up, understanding the different types of therapy is the first step to choose which approach - or a combination - might work best for you.  What are the different types of therapy approaches? You might…

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4 minutes

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07 Feb 2024

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How old is your body, really? How to improve BMR and metabolic age

How old is your body, really? How to improve BMR and metabolic age

Last month, I tried one of those fancy weighing machines at my friend’s house - which measure much more than just your weight - and was shocked to discover the reading - the machine told me my ‘metabolic age’ was over 40, when I was just in my early thirties! (Compare this to my friend - whose metabolic age turned out to be in her late twenties, despite being the same age as me.) Now, I've been hearing the term…

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8 minutes

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05 Feb 2024

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What Happens When We Fall in Love? Our Brain on Oxytocin

What Happens When We Fall in Love? Our Brain on Oxytocin

The fourth, and final, of our How to Feel Good series. Check out the other parts of the series here: dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. That heady feeling you get when you’re just falling in love with someone? That might just be your brain releasing oxytocin.  Oxytocin is also called the ‘love hormone’, because it controls some of our most basic behaviors - like bonding with each other, sexual arousal, trust and romantic feelings.  What is oxytocin? Oxytocin, like dopamine and…

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3 minutes

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02 Feb 2024

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Fats: Everything You Need to Know in One Place

Fats: Everything You Need to Know in One Place

Welcome to our Foundations of Food series – where you can get comprehensive, beginner-friendly guides to the foundations of nutrition, to help you make better, more informed choices about your health. Fats have often been considered the enemy of a healthy diet. But like carbs, they're often misunderstood. Not all fats are bad for you. In fact, healthy fats are an essential component of a well-balanced diet. In this comprehensive guide, the second of our Foundations of Food series, we will unpack…

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9 minutes

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01 Feb 2024

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What Happens When We’re Feeling Low? Our Brain on Serotonin

What Happens When We’re Feeling Low? Our Brain on Serotonin

The second of our How to Feel Good series. Check out the other parts of the series here: dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins. If you’re feeling particularly content today, you might be experiencing what is known as a 'serotonin boost'. Serotonin is one of the body’s crucial neurotransmitters and hormones, and has long been associated with regulating our moods - earning it the nickname ‘the happy hormone’. In fact, serotonin is associated with our feelings of satisfaction and optimism. It also…

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3 minutes

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01 Feb 2024

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Carbs: Everything You Need to Know In One Place

Carbs: Everything You Need to Know In One Place

Welcome to our Foundations of Food series - where you can get comprehensive, beginner-friendly guides to the foundations of nutrition, to help you make better, more informed choices about your health. Carbs, or carbohydrates, are often the subject of debate in the world of nutrition - ranging from being called ‘essential’ to your diet to being labeled as ‘harmful’. There’s so much information out there to sift through that it often becomes hard to know what to believe. In this…

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12 minutes

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17 Jan 2024

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Five Foods to Help You With Your Period Pain (and Four to Avoid)

Five Foods to Help You With Your Period Pain (and Four to Avoid)

Period pain, also known as menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea, are cramps and pelvic pain that you may experience during menstruation. This happens because every month, the lining that has built up within the uterus is shed - unless you’re pregnant - and the muscles of the womb contract and relax in an irregular rhythm to do so. Prostaglandins, chemicals that induce uterine muscle contractions, are the primary cause of period pain. Estrogen, one of the primary reproductive hormones in women,…

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4 minutes

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17 Jan 2024

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Five easy mental tricks to build an exercise habit in 2024

Five easy mental tricks to build an exercise habit in 2024

It’s that time of the year again. The time we all make ‘new year, new me’ resolutions about getting fitter, eating healthier and leading a more balanced life. The problem is, many of us find it difficult to sustain the habit and most new year resolutions are dropped by March. Even if you’re already on the fitness wagon, it can be difficult to regain the motivation to start your routine after a few relaxed weeks of end-of-year festivities. We spoke to some…

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5 minutes

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28 Dec 2023

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Managing Holiday Weight Gain: Myths v/s Realities

Managing Holiday Weight Gain: Myths v/s Realities

December marks the height of the holiday season - with Christmas, end-of-year celebrations, weddings and general festive spirit. But it also brings in a challenge familiar to those of us who are trying to manage weight gain or stick to consistent nutrition routines: holiday weight gain. If you’re finding it difficult to keep on track of your health and fitness goals this time of year, you’re not alone. Is holiday weight gain real? Unfortunately, yes. Research has shown that most…

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7 minutes

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22 Dec 2023

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Mental Health Support During Pregnancy

Mental Health Support During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting time for expecting mothers, but it can also be challenging if a mother is experiencing significant anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. It can affect her physical health and the health of the foetus. Hormonal changes, physical changes, and anxiety about the future can all take a toll on a mother's mental health. Mental health during pregnancy can also have an impact on the postpartum period. Research has shown that mothers who experience mental health…

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4 minutes

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19 Aug 2023

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