Life Style

Is it worth “waiting” for this guy? I often feel I’d be better off without him, but then he tells me how much he needs me. He’ll be pleasant for a day, and I get comfortable and lulled into complacency again, and I don’t leave. One of the things that stops me from leaving is fear of being alone in my old age.How can I break this pattern of his frequent outbursts and my accommodation of it? This seems like a pattern of abuse to me. What should I do?- PatternAdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.A. You can’t change S or make him more accommodating, but you can change how accommodating you are of him.Right now, S can’t imagine losing you and is doing the bare minimum to keep you around, but he’s also not having to deal with any consequences if he doesn’t do more. Just because he is aware he is “di...

Switching to this more optimal diet could lead to noticeable improvements in your sleep in as little as two weeks, said Marie-Pierre St-Onge, an associate professor of nutritional medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the director of the Center of Excellence for Sleep and Circadian Research.St-Onge has conducted dozens of clinical trials and other studies over the years examining the relationship between food and sleep. Her research has shown that what we eat influences how we sleep and that how we sleep in turn influences what we decide to eat the next day.Meat, poultry and seafood contain a lot of tryptophan, especially salmon, chicken breast, turkey, beef, pork, clams, tuna, eggs and yogurt. Photo / 123RFPoor diet may lead to poor sleepEating the wrong foods can disr...

Rather more authoritatively, a recent Telegraph report revealed that diet drinks like mine can be just as bad for our health, despite being the sugar-free option. Experts suggest artificial sweeteners could disrupt the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut, creating sugar cravings. Further reports stated that the artificial sweeteners used in soft drinks, such as aspartame and sucralose, may also, in some cases, prompt insulin resistance over time and, according to a recent study, are associated with one in 10 type 2 diabetes cases.My own medical advice has piled up recently. It was actually my GP’s and dentist’s advice to switch to water, two months ago. When I complained how thirsty I was, my GP booked me for blood tests for diabetes, which came back as negative. Expert advice to “drink...

Over in the Waikato, Raglan’s reputation precedes it. One of Aotearoa’s most renowned surf spots, the laidback coastal township is built on surfing culture. According to online sources (who are far more qualified to speak on surfing than us), Raglan can be enjoyed by both beginners and aquatic superheroes alike: neighbouring Ngarunui Beach is said to be more entry-level, while advanced surfers can hit the swells at Whale or Manu Bay.READ MORE: The Gold Coast surf towns that are reviving the glory days of holidayingRaglan is known as a bustling surf town. Photo / 123rfIn the Coromandel, holiday hotspot Whangamatā also boasts a solid surfing reputation. Regarded as one of the best surf destinations in New Zealand, it is hailed online as a good beach break with several peaks, producing both l...

The Social Organisation of Sexuality, which reported on a survey of 3432 people in the United States, defined a “sexless marriage” as a couple who aren’t engaging in sexual activity or are having minimal sexual encounters.Sexual abstinence is defined as 'a choice to refrain from engaging in any form of sexual activity'. Photo / 123rfWhat are the effects of not having sex?“Abstaining from sexual activity can have a variety of effects on individuals, both physically and emotionally.” One of the most immediate effects might be a change in the individual’s hormone levels. Regular sexual activity is known to boost the levels of certain hormones, like oxytocin and endorphins, which are associated with feelings of happiness and reduced stress. Therefore, “abstaining from sex may potentially lead ...

Kava is entirely legal in New Zealand, regulated as a food under the Food Standards Code.The legal standing of the drink was further solidified by a 2020 decision by an international food standards body, the Codex Alimentarius Commission.The decision established that the root, when mixed with water, was legally a drink and able to be traded internationally.Aotearoa’s kava culture, drawing on the traditions of our Pacific peoples, has become more visible in recent years with new businesses starting up and sportspeople and entertainers extolling its virtues.AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.Now in its sixth year, Four Shells wasn’t the first kava business in Auckland but has previously moved to meet the market by being the first to offer delivery via popular apps such as Uber Eats.Kava is sol...

Doctors can use your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels to predict your risk for heart disease and suggest possible treatments. So start by visiting your GP to get your numbers checked, said Dr Sadiya Khan, a preventive cardiologist at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.A visit with your primary care doctor also offers an opportunity to talk about your health goals. You can discuss what might be getting in the way of meeting them – and map out a path for change.“It can feel overwhelming if you’re trying to do all of it at once,” Khan said. But you can talk to your doctor about starting with what’s easiest or what changes would make the biggest difference.Meeting with your primary care doctor provides a chance to discuss your health goals. Photo / 12...

The bladder is a compliant balloon which, when filled to capacity with 500ml of urine, initiates a neurological reflex causing the muscles in the wall to contract while simultaneously relaxing those around its opening – allowing for the free flow of urine. Rather than this (truly marvellous) synchronised process, the muscles in those with an overactive bladder contract spontaneously, resulting in the frequent passing of small amounts of urine (frequency) and the urgent need to do so. This can be corrected by drugs such as oxybutynin that inhibit the nervous impulses to the muscles of the bladder wall.Nocturnal polyuriaThe distinctive feature of this woman’s query is that she experiences frequency only at night, passing prodigious volumes every time. This nocturnal polyuria, as it is known,...

A plunger or a drain auger (a long flex that can be fed down the pipe) can help with more stubborn blockages, but if none of this works, you might need to remove and clean the U-bend. Place a towel and a small bucket underneath, then carefully unscrew the joints holding the U-bend to the in-flowing and out-flowing pipes. An adjustable wrench (hardware store again) will loosen them.If the joints are tight, spray with WD-40 or firmly tap with a hammer (this disrupts the grip). Once the U-bend is free, discard the build-up of muck, and clean with a brush or cloth. Replace and gently retighten the joints. Remember not to clamp them on too tightly in case you need to remove them again in the future.A plunger or a drain auger (a long flex that can be fed down the pipe) can help with more stubbor...

In addition to being thin, the skin on your lips lacks certain moisture-locking characteristics that other areas of skin have, such as hair follicles, oil glands and a thick layer of dead skin cells, Rogers said. That’s what makes lips “so soft and sensitive”, she added.When our lips are exposed to environmental stressors like ultraviolet light, air pollutants, cold or hot temperatures and certain foods and drinks, they can become dry and irritated, said Dr Sam Awan, a dermatologist in McKinney, Texas. Licking your lips, which you’re likely to do when they’re dry, can worsen the problem because the digestive enzymes in saliva can cause irritation.That’s why chapped lips are so common, Awan said.Overuse of some lip balms can create a cycle of irritation and dryness, leading to dependence. P...