About Go Sober Be a Soberhero and go 31 days without alcohol this October – say no to the booze and yes to raising money for people living with cancer. And just like every hero’s trusty sidekick, Macmillan will be with you every step of the way to help you along your sober journey. By signing up to the challenge you’re doing something amazing for people with cancer. All the money raised by those Going Sober this October will help...Read more

Serves: 2 Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes You’ll need 1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into small chunks 1 bunch British asparagus, spears halved 3tbsp olive oil 1 shallot, finely sliced 2 handfuls of sweet corn, frozen is fine 1 tsp garlic granules 1 tbsp sliced jalapeno peppers from a jar (optional) 1 avocado, sliced 1 lime 2 eggs What to do Boil a kettle and fill a saucepan with the hot water. Add the potato chunks...Read more

Prune It is a healthy eating campaign designed to educate consumers to understand the role that California Prunes can play in helping to help reduce the fat and sugar content across a wide range of recipes. When blended into a puree, prunes offer a useful fat replacer in cooking by adding fat-like (but fat-free) characteristics that also work to enhance the flavours in both sweet and savoury dishes. In addition, the naturally occurring sugars present in California Prunes can also...Read more

TV chef Rosemary Shrager is uniting against dementia with Alzheimer’s Society by backing the charity’s Cupcake Day fundraising campaign this week. Cupcake Day, taking place on Thursday, June 15, is uniting the public against dementia by encouraging families, friends and colleagues to bake or buy cupcakes to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society. The culinary whizz has not only spoken out in support for Cupcake Day, but has also shared her tips for making the perfect cupcake: Rosemary, who presented The...Read more

"Doing moderate exercise several times a week is the best way to keep the mind sharp if you're over 50," BBC News reports. A review of existing data found both aerobic exercise and strength training appeared to improve cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, and how well people carry out tasks. The review brought together information from 39 studies in the biggest summary of the effects of exercise on mental ability to date. Previous summaries of research have had unclear...Read more

A Cancer Research UK-funded trial allowing GP surgeries to test for Barrett’s oesophagus – a condition that can increase the risk of developing oesophageal cancer – launches in the UK today. "Around three in every 100 people with Barrett’s oesophagus go on to develop oesophageal cancer so techniques that help us to prevent or diagnose the disease earlier are vital." - Dr Richard Roope This trial aims to offer the Cytosponge test, a less invasive way to test for changing...Read more

Coconut water is one of the most refreshing drinks and, in its pure state, provides many unusual health benefits. Coconut water is used in traditional medicine systems in countries such as Sri Lanka, Jamaica and Brazil to promote digestion, treat urinary infections, heart problems, arthritis, kidney stones, dry eyes and hiccups, as well as to improve male fertility and assist childbirth. Modern research shows that coconut water is more quenching than plain water for rehydration following exercise and, as a...Read more

Age UK’s Wellbeing Index finds that age isn’t a barrier to living well. The Wellbeing in Later Life Index, developed by Age UK and the University of Southampton, analysed data from 15,000 people aged 60 and over to measure the wellbeing of the UK’s older population. It looked at how people were doing in different aspects of their lives under five key areas – social, personal, health, financial and environmental. Overall it showed there is no ‘magic bullet’ for positive...Read more

The Scottish Chiropractic Association’s Good-back Gardening Guide At this time of year, Scottish chiropractors experience a seasonal influx of patients with back and neck strain caused by over-zealous gardening. Dr Ross McDonald, SCA President, comments: “The arrival of spring brings out the gardener in all of us, regardless of how fit or physically active we have been during the winter. As a result, we see an increase in gardening-related spinal injury and pain. Looking after your back properly before, during...Read more

Turmeric is a traditional Ayurvedic medicine used to treat inflammation and reduce pain. Several studies suggest that its main active ingredient, the golden-yellow curcumin, is as effective as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for alleviating knee pain in osteoarthritis. Both NSAIDs and curcumin work by reducing the production of inflammatory chemicals. NSAIDs do this by inhibiting the synthesis of two particular enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2. Curcumin works via a number of cell signalling pathways, however, including COX-2, each of which separately...Read more