TOPIC

Wellness

Wellness
Latest news and features on wellness, including diet, mental health trends, exercise, fitness, medicine and diseases.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Snakes, such as the python above, and humans are being driven together by the effects of climate change, which experts say will result in more snakebite cases. Photo: Shutterstock
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?

Hong Kong society

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

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.

TCM practitioner Elizabeth Yau gives a patient facial acupuncture. Acupuncture has become a common TCM treatment. Photo: Elizabeth Yau
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.

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.

4
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
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.

These six destinations offer unique experiences blending cultural exploration with healing therapies, delicious cuisine and stunning natural settings. Photo: Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary
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’.

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.

A barista pours a freshly made coffee. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

videocam
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.

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.

5
Some functional foods and beverages can be good for you, a doctor says, including products that have been fortified or enriched with a specific ingredient, like drinks fortified with vitamin B, or foods for specific dietary needs, like gluten-free or lactose-free products. But many others do not live up to their marketing. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

Meditation & Mindfulness

How Transcendental Meditation transformed my life, as it did for The Beatles

It’s a simple yet profound way to achieve inner peace and reduce stress, using a personal mantra to guide the mind towards a calmer state – no wonder Hugh Jackman and David Lynch are fans.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, January 10-12

Indulge in some self-care, do yoga in a museum, get inspired by a Hong Kong ultra-running film and stock up on some half-price sports gear.

videocam
An Acme Wellness contrast therapy suite in Hong Kong featuring a cold plunge tub and sauna. Experience both and discover their benefits by joining a New Year Self Love Ritual on Saturday, January 11. Photo: Acme Wellness Hong Kong
Healthy eating

How a Japanese electric spoon could help reduce the salt in your diet

The spoon uses an electric current to make food taste saltier, so you don’t feel the need to add more, and the risks of salt overconsumption.

videocam
Health & Fitness

3 top wellness trends to make 2025 a better year

In the advent of artificial intelligence, cutting-edge wellness technology and a growing awareness of holistic health practices, there are now more ways than ever to get in, and stay in, tip-top shape.

Luxury travel

5 wellness retreat trends in 2025, from sexual healing to psychedelics

Want to restore your libido, get help conceiving, or find relief from stress and addiction? Here is what’s trending in wellness tourism.

SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain and Mexico offers a Sexual Wellbeing package - one of several wellness trends this year. Photo: Instagram/shawellness
Food and Drinks

On the Menu | Eating for work is a dream job with health risks. How I’m finding balance

Dining out often is great, but can lead to various health issues. Here’s how I’ll rein it in 2025 without compromising too much.

A doctor gives a patient a check. Photo: Shutterstock
Drugs

Inside Myanmar drug rehab centre where tough love is the prescription

Weightlifting, karate drills and tug-of-war contests are all activities at the facility in a country that produces huge amounts of narcotics.

Fame and celebrity

Why Golden Globe winner Demi Moore still looks so good at 62

Demi Moore’s latest film The Substance may be about the dangers of fame and one woman’s search for eternal youth, but in real life, Demi Moore has overcome negativity to find her healthiest self.

Mental health

How writing therapy can help you get to know yourself better

Done right, therapeutic writing can be a tool for psychotherapy and self-help. But who is it suitable for and how can you get started?

Writing therapy takes different forms, but essentially is about putting down your thoughts on paper either in a random way or through structured questions. Done right, therapeutic writing is a tool for psychotherapy and self-help. Photo: Shutterstock
Cancer

Coffee drinkers less at risk of head and neck cancers, new study finds

People who drink more than four cups of coffee a day are less at risk and even decaf coffee is found to have benefits, the analysis says.

The research from the University of Utah in the US is the latest to suggest possible health benefits from drinking coffee. Photo: Shutterstock
Art

South Korean artist Geumhyung Jeong challenges our relationship with beauty

In Geumhyung Jeong’s recent exhibition ‘Spa & Beauty’, the performance artist and choreographer explores beauty and body-care products, and our complicated relationships to them.

Science

Divisive study finds link between fluoride and childhood IQ loss

New report in JAMA Pediatrics combines data from 74 studies on fluoride exposure and children’s IQ.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
loading