Would you have known it was National Chili month if I hadn’t told you? Well, now you do.
Did you know that the main “ingredient” in a chili is capsaicin? And that capsaicin can be used in a cream or ointment to help relieve pain? The burning sensation that the cream gives by stimulating the pain signals in your body, researchers believe.
People often use a capsaicin cream to help relieve neuropathic (nerve) pain, such as that from shingles (herpes zoster) or diabetic neuropathy, a complication of diabetes. When I had shingles a few years ago, I did try a capsaicin cream …read more

Remember the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ Well, those with sleep apnoea might want to add an banana to that as well.
Someone with obstructive sleep apnoea experiences recurrent choking when their throat closes during sleep, making it a potentially life-threatening disorder. Because of this, many people who suffer from this disorder end up wearing uncomfortable and cumbersome CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) apparatus during the night.
Now some researchers in Australia have found that having a banana smoothie nightcap might just help keep the throat open and therefore reduce this risk of choking.
The study, conducted by a …read more

 Yes, it’s that time again. Actually, it’s a little late this week because of all the giveaway logistics that I’ve been trying to juggle. But I promise, this Healthbolt Carnival is worth the wait.
So I hope you’re comfortable, get something to drink (coffee, tea, chai latte, or maybe a wine or beer), and are ready to wander through the blogosphere to see what health and fitness bloggers have been writing about…
First, a little humor to start you off with Madeleine from Mad Kane’s Humor Blog who’s Fishing For Company.

Fiona King from U.S. PharmD lists the 50 Best Video Games for …read more

When it comes to holidays, many of our usual routines get mislaid as we rush around, shopping, partying, visiting, traveling, and generally try to fit way too much in way too little time.
One of the first things to go, besides the exercise, is healthy eating habits. We overindulge in all our favorite, but not necessarily, healthy foods.
As a result, we have lots of fun and good times. But we can also end up gaining extra weight that tends to stick around, even when the holidays are over.
But not to worry, help is at hand. Kaiser Permanente has put together some …read more

Think you could give up sugar?
Want to try?
Then maybe you should sign up for the 30 Days Without Sugar Challenge that Scott Olson is putting together to celebrate next month’s inaugural National Sugar Free Month.
As Scott says “The New Year is a time for looking ahead, a time for renewal and reflection, a time to set new goals, and (typically) a time for weight loss. Why not make this year’s commitment to lose weight a more permanent healthy step by making a pledge to do without sugar for 30 days.”
The author of the book Sugarettes, Scott is making it his …read more

Sugar.
It’s everywhere.
In fact, it’s almost impossible to avoid and according to Dr Scott Olson, in his book Sugarettes, it’s as addictive as cigarettes.

I’ve just finished reading Sugarettes and I got to say, it was a real eye opener. Who knew that sugar was so prevalent in society today? Seems that everything we eat and drink has sugar in it and the more processed the food, the more the sugar content. 
In Sugarettes, Scott Olson looks at how sugar affects the body and why we should look at it as an addiction and a leading cause of not only obesity but also …read more

I mentioned this e-cookbook briefly in one of last month’s The Monday Sidebar.
Since then, I’ve discovered that there is a ‘free teaser version’ of  The Testicle Cookbook available, complete with the history of testicle cooking, five recipes and how-to videos. So if anyone’s interested in ‘cooking with balls’, this one’s for you…
            
Click here to read the sample version of The Testicle Cookbook.
And here if you want to purchase the full version…

Sounds like a strange question but, in a nutshell,  that’s what a group of Canadian researchers wanted to know. So they recruited 14 women and put their brains (and their stomachs) to work.
After performing one of the three different tasks for 45 minutes – relaxing in a sitting position, reading and summarizing a text, or completing a series of memory, attention, and vigilance tests on the computer – the women were provided with an all-you-can-eat buffet to dig into.
The researchers measured the sponstaneous food intake of the students following each activity and discovered that the women ate 203 more calories …read more

Two of the Food Matters DVD giveaway seem to be missing.

We have heard and got the addresses of …
Humairah Irfan
Greg
Mubina
Still need to hear and get addresses from…
Tina O
CanCan
Please email me your mailing address ASAP, otherwise I might have to draw another name out of the hat!!!
As for everyone who didn’t win a copy, do think about buying your own copy of the DVD or watch the full documentary online for only $4.95. It’s definitely worth the investment.

Thanks everyone for entering the Food Matters DVD giveaway.
The five winners are…
Humairah Irfan
Mubina
Tina O
CanCan
Greg
Please email me your mailing address by Friday 12th September. If I don’t hear from you by then, will draw another name out of the hat!!!
As for everyone who didn’t win a copy, do think about buying your own copy of the DVD or watch the full documentary online for only $4.95. It’s definitely worth the investment.