Health

Reports this week revealed that pregnant Cate Blanchett is experiencing cravings for pickles and ice cream, making her one of the estimated 68% of pregnant women experiencing similar unusual food hankerings.

Childhood obesity, infant mortality and keeping children safe in the home are three areas of research which will benefit from £42 million of government funding, it’s been announced.

Sixty thousand new doctors will be specifically trained in the next ten years to identify and treat people who are drinking too much. Medical schools have been allocated £650,000 to do a scoping exercise next financial year to see how alcohol misuse training can be added to the curriculum.

A new national breastfeeding helpline - backed by £150,000 a year - that will provide practical support and information to the 450,000 breast feeding mothers in England, was launched by Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo this month.

Almost one in five medical tourists have run into problems after travelling abroad for treatment, says Which?

The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets may be one of 2008’s hotly anticipated book releases, but it seems it’s our obsession with A-listers rather than their fad diets that is piquing our interest, as the majority of British women’s diet and fitness plans for 2008 were long-term lifestyle changes rather than short-term fixes.

The average middle aged adult's heart is five years older than its owner according to new research released by Lloydspharmacy. Based on an analysis of heart health checks conducted at branches of Lloydspharmacy, and using a protocol developed by Unilever and Boston University, the study shows that people's hearts are aging faster than they should.

'Tums on the run’ is a classic holiday tale. If you catch a holiday bug, it can literally upset your longed-for summer break. With up to 50% of holidaymakers suffering from traveller’s diarrhoea each year, chances are that you have been the victim of such an experience.

Breakthrough ice technology developed by a British company means that many thousands of women with non-cancerous breast tumours can now be successfully treated in their doctors surgery rather than having to endure a hospital operation.

Being in ‘great shape’ is to glow with health, have clear skin, bright eyes and a spring in your step. You are strong and resilient. All these outward signs of being in shape start from the inside.