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Wellness

Wellness
Latest news and features on wellness, including diet, mental health trends, exercise, fitness, medicine and diseases.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Menopause kicks in before 40 for one per cent of women. Photo: Shutterstock
Reproductive health

How to spot premature menopause so you don’t miss chance to have children

Claire Blackshaw was working in Hong Kong when, undiagnosed, symptoms of early menopause began. Now she’s out to help women see signs of it.

Disease

Explainer | This condition could cause blindness. Only an eye test can detect it

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Mental health

Over 300 new genetic links to depression found in big global study

Ayurveda

Castor oil is a YouTube health and beauty favourite, but does it work?

Instagram and YouTube are full of praise for castor oil’s supposed health and wellness benefits, but a family doctor says to give it a miss.

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Castor oil has long been used as a health and beauty product, and has gained a lot of attention online recently. Photo: Shutterstock
Sex and relationships

How your remote-controlled sex toy could be hijacked by strangers

Bluetooth sex devices could leave users open to data interception by anyone within range, research suggests. AI sex robots are a new threat.

What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, January 17-19

From tasting tea to doing tai chi to an electronic music beat, five things to draw you out of your flat this weekend in Hong Kong.

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How to age well

Smokers, want to earn more money? Then quit, new study says

New research suggests that smokers are likely to earn less money than peers who abstain, and the more they smoke, the bigger the gap.

Smoking could be a cause of “reduced success in the labour market”, possibly as it undermines productivity, particularly in physically demanding jobs, and leaves smokers vulnerable to bias and discrimination, according to researchers of a new study. Photo: Shutterstock
Food and Drinks

Word on the StrEAT: Hong Kong’s F&B experts on their resolutions for 2025

Maintaining a healthier work-life balance, taking a break from social media and keeping an eye on the small steps to success are among the goals for the new year.

Healthy eating

31 years after Europe, US FDA bans Red 3 food dye on cancer fears

Substance that gives confectionery, cakes and cherries bright red hue has long been banned in cosmetics, and in EU countries from most food.

Old Hong Kong

Then & Now | How Chinese medicinal wines became just the tonic in Hong Kong

Chinese medicinal wines made with herbs or animal parts have long been the go-to remedy for all sorts of maladies, from bad breath to marital inharmony.

Executive council member Henry Tang is handed a bottle of Chinese medicinal wine by workers at a local production plant in 1998. Photo: SCMP Archives
Mental health

How to set boundaries at work to improve your mental health

Expert tips on managing your time, workload and technology for a better work-life balance.

Learning to say “no” at work is essential for protecting our physical and mental health. Photo: Shutterstock
Dementia

Dementia risk for obese, physically inactive teens found by study

Teenagers and their parents had better watch out. An unhealthy lifestyle in childhood has been linked to the onset of dementia in adulthood.

Climate change

Snake behaviour altered by climate change, habitat loss. Why we’re at risk

Rising global temperatures and growing human populations are going to increase conflict between snakes and people, experts say.

Food and Drinks

Mouthing Off | Is eating a hot dog worth shortening your life by 36 minutes?

A study on minutes of healthy life gained or lost from eating foods including pizza and bacon makes one ponder what is worth the sacrifice.

Eating a hotdog could reduce your life expectancy by 36 minutes, according to researchers at the University of Michigan in the US, who used a measure of minutes of healthy life gained or lost to calculate the effects of over 5,800 foods in the US diet. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong society

1 in 3 Gen Z Hongkongers struggle with symptoms of anxiety, study finds

Researchers behind study have called for more emotional education and resilience training in schools.

Gen Z Hongkongers are the most affected by anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms among all generational groups, an expert says. Photo: Shutterstock
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

What is acupuncture and how can it relieve pain? Experts explain

Acupuncture is a popular TCM treatment. Two young practitioners describe the ways they use it and the benefits it provides.

Hong Kong society

Editorial | Cooperation best on flu jabs for Hong Kong’s children

With peak influenza season nearing and cases on the rise in Hong Kong, it makes sense for the young and elderly to get vaccinated.

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Environment

Microplastics in tea bags work their way deep into our bodies, study finds

Scientists are increasingly concerned about the potential health implications of microplastics and nanoplastics entering human organs.

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Loose leaf tea might be a more healthy alternative to tea bags, a new study suggests. Photo: Shutterstock
Asia travel

6 wellness retreats to try in Southeast Asia in 2025

Asia has a deep well of riches when it comes to wellness resorts, from the Namia River Retreat, in Vietnam, to Shinta Mani Wild, in Cambodia.

Mental health

Why change can be good for your mental health – even though it’s hard

How do you turn and face the strange? In her own life, psychologist Esslin Terrifghena explores why change is so difficult – and how to take the leap.

CES

New health tech wearables at CES measure blood sugar, capture heart murmurs

MindMics’ earbuds and DexCom’s Stelo patches stand out at CES 2025, while an expert calls the approval process for such devices ‘pathetic’.

MindMics’s headphones were able to capture, in clinical trials, a murmur in a patient with aortic stenosis, said the company’s CEO and president Anna Barnacka. Photo: MindMics
Ageing society

How mouth-taping could reduce snoring – but beware of side effects

Mouth-taping is purported to provide many health benefits relating to sleeping and oral health, but could also be dangerous for some people.

An advert on eBay shows mouth patches being used to encourage nose breathing while sleeping. Photo: ebay.co.uk/@evansm_5354
Disease

That morning coffee is doing wonders for your health, says new study

Researchers at Tulane University have found drinking coffee in the morning appears to be better for health outcomes than caffeinating throughout the day – though they don’t know why.

How to age well

3 fitness trends for 2025, including advances in wearable tech

Leading global trends in the American College of Sports Medicine’s 2025 report include advances in wearable tech beyond tracking steps.

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Hong Kong

Run clubs have arrived in Hong Kong to combine exercise and community

This booming subculture is attracting runners of all abilities and from all walks of life to join up and enjoy a workout together – and buy the merch.

Custom merch at DOP Training Club allows people to resonate with the brand. Photo: Kin Ho Photography
Healthy eating

Iodine deficiency has made a comeback. The risks, and how to get enough

Iodised salt all but eradicated iodine deficiency years ago, but cases are now rising. Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable.

A swelling of the neck, known as a goitre, is a telltale sign of iodine deficiency. Photo: Shutterstock
Healthy eating

Explainer | What are functional foods and should you be having them?

Functional foods claiming to provide all kinds of health benefits are blowing up on social media, but few examples have scientific backing.

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Mental health

AI mirror on the wall, who’s the most stressed of all? Tech at CES says you

A robot to combat loneliness, a mirror that spots fatigue – a look at the mental health tech on show at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show.

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