May - 2018

'Ban cartoon characters' on unhealthy food, MPs say

Cartoon or fictional characters, like Tony the Tiger and the Milky Bar Kid, should no longer be used to promote unhealthy food, a group of MPs says. The proposed ban would also mean that film or TV characters like superheroes could no longer appear on such foods. But characters like the Jolly Green Giant could still promote healthy food, the health select committee says. Other recommendations include a ban on junk food adverts before the 9pm TV watershed. The MPs' report come

Bank holiday warning over gardening and DIY accidents

With the bank holiday weekend coming, many of us may be planning to trim the lawn or do a bit of home improvement. But surgeons have urged us to take care, saying there can be a spike in accidents involving gardening and DIY equipment at this time of year. Severed fingers and broken bones are among the gruesome injuries one surgeon says she often encounters. It comes as figures show there were 25,763 gardening and DIY-related injuries in England from 2014-17. The accidents we

Water resistant sunscreen claims ‘meaningless’, says Which?

Water-resistant sunscreen products work much less well after they have been worn in the sea, a consumer group has warned ahead of the summer holiday season. Which? tested two products claiming to be water resistant and found the sun protection factor (SPF) dropped by up to 59% after 40 minutes in salt water. Cancer Research UK welcomed the study, warning no sunscreen is 100% effective. But a group representing sunscreen makers called the research alarmist. Current UK tests al

Exercising regularly 'can keep heart and arteries young'

Getty Images Exercising four to five times a week is necessary to stop the main arteries to the heart from stiffening up, research suggests. Two or three exercise sessions a week kept only some arteries healthy, a study of 100 people in their 60s found. The researchers said any form of exercise reduced the risk of heart problems. But the right amount of exercise at the right time in life could reverse the ageing of the heart and blood vessels. The study, published in The Jour

Should we sleep and wake early to boost our health?

When a recent study looked at health differences between late and early risers, it appeared to make grim reading for night owls. Increased risk of early death, psychological disorders and respiratory illness were the stark findings from the paper, which backed up other research suggesting late-nighters are more likely to suffer ill health. But is being a night owl really bad for you and does it mean some of us should ditch the late nights and lie-ins to become more like morni

Ditch cranberry juice for urine infections

Drinking lots of cranberry juice is no way to fix a urine infection, say new draft guidelines from health body the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Although some studies have claimed it may help, NICE says there is not enough good evidence to recommend it. Instead, people should drink plenty of water or fluids and take painkillers. They can also speak to their doctor who might prescribe antibiotics, but these drugs will not always be necessary. Urinary tract