Health news

App y & hea lth y

Want tips from elite trainers, nutritionists and

mindfulness experts? The Centr app (from £7.83 per month, via Google Play Store and centr.com), was created by actor Chris Hemsworth and wife Elsa Pataky to offer Hollywood results at home.

Did you know that a sanitary pad takes 300 to 500 years to decompose? Switch to Love Luna Period Briefs (from £10, TU Clothing at Sainsbury’s). These leakproof undies, which can be washed and reused, are a more sustainable alternative.

Is a low salar y affecting your mental well-being?

Those in low-paying jobs are more likely to suffer with their mental health.* In fact, a study revealed that chronic stress is higher for those in poor-quality work than those who are unemployed. With over a quarter (27%) of the UK’s workforce in low-paid employment, it means that 8.8 million workers are potentially affected. What’s more, those people suffering with their mental well-being take, on average, 21 sick days off work, with almost half (44%) claiming their workload is the biggest cause of stress. So how can we minimise the effects of stress in the workplace? Talking to a trusted

Poor pay can mean higher stress colleague can help, as this triggers the release of feel-good brain hormones dopamine and oxytocin. And if you’re feeling frantic while at work, chew gum. A Cardiff University study found that students who chewed gum had a greater sense of well-being and less stress, as the act boosts blood flow to the brain. Finally, make time to tidy up your workspace. Those people who were surrounded by clutter tended to have higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their system, according to a study by the University of California.

Take honey rather than antibiotics for a cough

The sweetest treatment S uffering from a niggling cough or a sore throat? A spoonful of sugar might be better than antibiotics. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Public Health England have announced that antibiotics should no longer be administered to treat a cough. Instead, new guidelines recommend that patients opt for honey as a first line of defence for a minor cough. Other recommended treatment routes include

over-thecounter cough medicines that contain guaifenesin or pelargonium (a herbal medicine). But if a cough worsens or does not improve after three or four weeks, make an appointment to see your GP.

8 %

That’s the percentage of muscle we lose each decade from the age of 40.** It’s important to eat plenty of protein to maintain muscle mass and boost energy levels. ‘If muscles become less efficient, we can become fatigued, so ensuring we have the right nutrition is critical to support well-being, boost energy and reduce tiredness,’ says Imogen Watson, dietitian for healthcare company Abbott.