Health News & Info

Measuring airborne grass allergen levels instead of pollen counts will be more beneficial for hay fever sufferers as new research shows grass allergen levels are more consistently associated with hay fever symptoms than grass pollen counts.  The research, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and led by King's College London and Imperial College London, shows that measuring airborne allergen levels will help people with hay fever better control their symptoms.  1 in 4 adults in the UK suffer from hay fever from late March to September. Symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, sneezing and coughing, and itchy, red, or watery eyes. Hay fever can...

More than half of the global population consumes inadequate levels of 15 micronutrients essential to human health, including calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E, according to a new study. It is the first study to provide global estimates of inadequate consumption of micronutrients critical to human health. The assumption that these inadequate levels are confined to third world or developing countries is not true as similar inadequate levels of consumption exist in Ireland and the rest of Europe as well. The study was published in The Lancet Global Health. Micronutrient deficiencies are one of the most common forms of malnutrition...

New research suggests that what we eat – and the degree to which it is processed – may influence reproductive health in a manner well beyond calories or weight. While most discussions around processed foods focus on obesity, these findings point to a more complex interaction involving our hormonal pathways. Women reporting infertility consumed more ultra-processed foods, making up about 31 per cent of their daily intake, and scored lower on adherence to the Mediterranean diet, a healthy eating pattern rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. The Mediterranean diet was associated with higher fertility. Still, this benefit...

If you reach for water when a muscle cramp strikes, you might want to think again. New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia, has revealed drinking electrolytes instead of pure water can help prevent muscle cramps The study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, found that people who drank electrolyte enhanced water during and after exercise were less susceptible to muscle cramps than those who drank pure water. Muscle cramps are a common painful condition affecting many people, including around 39 per cent of marathon runners, 52 per cent of rugby players and...