Health News

For your diary

12th - 17th March:
St Patrick's Festival Laughter and relaxation is good for the soul so get patriotic and take part in the St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin. Go to www.stpatricksday.ie for more information.
16th - 18th April:
Spring Ideal Home Show Come and visit us and our sister title Easy Food at the Ideal Home Show, which takes place in Dublin’s RDS next April. There is something for everyone at this show. With a wide range of home improvement exhibitors, the show also features a Pamper zone which includes destination spas, dietitians, lifestyle coaching, health centres, gyms and fitness equipment etc.
7th - 11th April World: Health Day World Health urbanisation has on our collective health globally and for us all individually. With the campaign 1000 cities, 1000 lives, events will be organized worldwide. To follow the campaign or get involved go to www.who.int
25th April: Yoga Workshop Yoga benefits for a healthy body and balanced mind. Treat yourself to a one day workshop at Dublin Buddhist Centre to limit stress and gain energy. Meditation courses are offered also, aimed at helping people to set up a daily meditation practice. www.dublin
buddhistcentre.org

Big portions up weight even in the short-term

We already know that eating large plates of food can make us pack on the pounds. However Irish researchers have found that this is also the case even if the bigger portions are only eaten for short periods. A team at the University of Ulster carried out the first study in controlled conditions, of how eating different portion sizes impacts on energy intake and body weight. Forty-three men and women, who were a mixture of overweight and normal weight, were assessed. They were randomly split into two groups where they ate either standard or large portions over two fourday periods, which were spread three weeks apart.

The researchers described the results as dramatic – in just four days, men eating three large meals a day piled on an extra kilo (2.2lbs), while women put on an extra half a kilo. According to lead researcher, Prof Barbara Livingstone, people are now eating more, despite having lower energy needs. Details of these findings are published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Tea off in the Morning

Hot tea can slash your risk of kidney cancer by 15%, according to a review in the International Journal of Cancer. Try pu-erh tea, which is better than green or black tea at preventing DNA damage.