One simple, do it yourself equation can tell you if it’s time to put down that slice of cake and pull out your runners!

Body mass Index (BMI) has been a useful tool in determining obesity for many years but we have always known it has its limitations.

It does not differentiate between those who weigh more from lean muscle tissue and those who weigh more from unhealthy fat tissue.
And more importantly, it does not tell us where the fat is deposited.
This is vital information as researchers have found having a larger waist circumference increases the risk of death from any cause! And around the waist is where we increasingly tend to store fat with age.

Caffeine can have benefits for some, for others it can be problematic. So what is the truth about this much loved substance? Varying tolerance levels amongst people makes it difficult to provide a simple conclusion. Even small amounts of caffeine for some people can lead to very unpleasant side effects such as insomnia, heart palpitations, anxiety and irritability. Whilst for others, it improves their concentration, mood and energy levels.

For those with an anxious predisposition or who are particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine, any amount can exacerbate or lead to hyperactivity, paranoia, insomnia and irritability. Unborn infants are particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine hence why it is often recommended to limit consumption to no more than 1-2 cups a day whilst pregnant. Breast feeding mothers may also choose to minimize or avoid coffee too.

It is possible to provide your child with a lunch box filled with nutritious and balanced food that will actually come home empty. A little inspiration is all that’s needed to prepare school lunches bursting with goodness! Below are a few helpful tips to get you started.

Keep it interesting

Using a Bento-type lunch box or separate containers will enhance your child’s experience of healthy options and the opportunity to create her own food combinations. She can enjoy her own mini picnic straight out of the lunchbox!

Make the most of leftovers

1 in 5 people aged 16-85 years, experience depression and other associated disorders. Yet 65% of them will not access treatment due to a lack of resources or social stigma. In view of this the role of exercise as an alternative treatment becomes all the more important. It is not only food for thought, but nourishment for the soul to know research has found 3 truths:

For an inactive person, only a very small increase in activity level elicits an improvement in mood.

The more exercise a person suffering from depression does, the better the outcome.

The higher the level of depression, the stronger the positive response to exercise is.