Search

Placeholder Content Image

60-plus women are ditching the hair dye

<p><em><strong>Susan Krauss Whitbourne is a professor of Psychology and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She writes the Fulfilment at Any Age blog for Psychology Today.</strong></em></p> <p>If you’re tired of those monthly visits to the salon, or even your own sessions over the sink, you’re not alone. <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/fashion/shes-done-with-washing-it-away.html?_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leah Rozen</a></span></strong>, writing in the <em>New York Times</em>, announced to the world that she’s grey, 57, and loving it, proudly announcing that “Blondes may have more fun, but we grey gals have it made in our shade.”</p> <p>How about you? Are you battling those tell-tale roots, or revelling in the glory of your own grey locks? If so, perhaps you share Rozen’s feeling of liberation. If not, you might ask yourself whether looking young is really worth all that expense and effort.</p> <p>There are plenty of reasons to cover up our signs of a maturing scalp. In fact, as Rozen herself acknowledges, she’s definitely got the “old lady” look going for her. In our youth-oriented society, showing your age may preclude you from certain opportunities. Despite legislation, ageism still exists and can take many forms, ranging from biases against the abilities of older workers to stereotyped beliefs about their personalities and work attitudes. As their self-image and abilities change, older workers can begin to doubt their self-efficacy. A self-fulfilling prophecy can develop, resulting in their further losing the ability to perform up to par. To prevent this outcome, many older women and men take the preventative action of keeping up their youthful personas.</p> <p>Ageism may take many forms outside the workplace. One way is for younger adults just to avoid you altogether. They may not be openly hostile but instead make older adults “invisible” — that is, not worthy of any attention at all. Perhaps they’re afraid of being tainted by the aging vibes you give off.</p> <p>Risking the wrath, visible or not, of ageism can make going grey a dangerous proposition. However, thinking about how and why you’re trying to maintain your youthful image for as long as possible can give you important insights into understanding yourself and your feelings about life changes.</p> <p>You might ask yourself to what lengths you go, and are willing to go, to remain young-looking. Of course it would be ludicrous to suggest that women, and men should give up all attempts to look good. But looking good doesn’t have to mean looking young. You can get out of the youth trap and still feel great about the persona you present to the world, if not your own inner sense of self.</p> <p>Take an honest look at yourself right now. What is working and what isn’t? Which aspects of your hair, makeup and clothing reflect how you really feel about yourself, and which reflect your desire to blend in with the young crowd? If you don’t trust yourself to give the right answer, you might want to consult someone who’s objective to get a second opinion (NOT your children). It’s hard to find someone whose opinion you can trust, because virtually anyone working in clothing, makeup counters or hair salons benefits from selling you their youth-oriented products. (Just think about how much those skin creams are costing you.) If you feel that these people aren’t being honest, you might consider talking to a friend, co-worker or family member (again, not the children) who pulls off an age-appropriate look.</p> <p>Thinking about the image you try to present to the world can give you great insight into your own identity and feelings about how you are changing -and improving- over time. As we cross each aging threshold, including the changes in our hair, skin and bodily functions and appearance, there’s an opportunity to reflect on the deeper meaning of these changes to our sense of who we are. Many people try to put off the inevitable as long as possible, but eventually bounce back as they incorporate this new view of themselves into their identities. Whether grey or not, by bringing your outer image in line with your inner self, you’ll be better prepared to negotiate whatever changes come your way in the years ahead.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

Man ditches date without a word

<p dir="ltr">A French actor has confessed to leaving his date without saying a word after she said she doesn’t eat gluten or drink wine. </p> <p dir="ltr">Renan Pacheco went out with a woman named Kimberely in Los Angeles who then proceeded to shock him from the beginning of what should have been a lovely dinner. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I arrive at the restaurant, first of all her name’s Kimberley, it’s not my favourite name but it’s fine, she’s pretty, so we sit down and we take the menu and she looks me in the eyes and she tells me doesn’t eat gluten,” he said in a TikTok video.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You don’t eat gluten? But how can you not eat gluten?</p> <p dir="ltr">“Gluten is my life, Kimberley. Gluten is croissant, gluten is baguette, how can you not eat gluten?</p> <p dir="ltr">“So I’m starting to be confused, I’m not going to lie.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Renan wanted to calm down after what he had heard and proceeded to order a glass of wine before he was shocked again when Kimberely confessed to not drinking. </p> <p dir="ltr">“How can you not drink alcohol in your life, Kimberley?” he questioned.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Alcohol is joy … so I’m sorry, I’m sorry if I left. I left the restaurant without saying goodbye.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I couldn’t stay there. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t have a love relationship with someone who doesn’t eat gluten and doesn’t drink wine. I’m sorry, Kimberley.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Viewers were left questioning the date and said Renan did the right thing of leaving. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I can understand [not eating] gluten but alcohol … no, no, no … red flag,” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m probably gluten intolerant just like I’m lactose [intolerant] but I eat it anyway because you’re right … it’s life,” another commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And then she says she’s lactose intolerant and don’t eat cheese,” someone else commented. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

This New Year, why not resolve to ditch your dodgy old passwords?

<p>Most of the classic New Year resolutions revolve around improving your health and lifestyle. But this year, why not consider cleaning up your passwords too?</p> <p>We all know the habits to avoid, yet so many of us do them anyway: using predictable passwords, never changing them, or writing them on sticky notes on our monitor. We routinely ignore the <a href="https://theconversation.com/choose-better-passwords-with-the-help-of-science-82361">recommendations for good passwords</a> in the name of convenience.</p> <p>Choosing short passwords containing common names or words is likely to lead to trouble. Hackers can often guess a person’s passwords simply by using a computer to work through a long list of commonly used words.</p> <p>The <a href="https://nordpass.com/most-common-passwords-list/">most popular choices</a> have changed very little over time, and include numerical combinations such as “123456” (the most common password for five years in a row), “love”, keyboard patterns such as “qwerty” and, perhaps most ludicrously, “password” (or its Portuguese translation, “senha”).</p> <p><span>Experts have long advised against using words, places or names in passwords, although you can strengthen this type of password by jumbling the components into sequences with a mixture of upper- and lowercase characters, as long as you do it thoroughly.</span></p> <p>Complex rules often lead users to choose a word or phrase and then substitute letters with numbers and symbols (such as “Pa33w9rd!”), or add digits to a familiar password (“password12”). But so many people do this that these techniques don’t actually make passwords stronger.</p> <p>It’s better to start with a word or two that isn’t so common, and make sure you mix things up with symbols and special characters in the middle. For example, “wincing giraffe” could be adapted to “W1nc1ng_!G1raff3”</p> <p><span>These secure passwords can be harder to remember, to the extent you might end up having to write them down. That’s OK, as long as you keep the note somewhere secure (and definitely not stuck to your monitor).</span></p> <p>Reusing passwords is another common error – and one of the biggest. Past data leaks, such as that suffered by <a href="https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/linkedin-2012-hack-what-you-need-know">LinkedIn in 2012</a>, mean billions of old passwords are now circulating among cyber criminals.</p> <p>This has given rise to a practice called “<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-credential-stuffing/">credential stuffing</a>” – taking a leaked password from one source and trying it on other sites. If you’re still using the same old password for multiple email, social media or financial accounts, you’re at risk of being compromised.</p> <h2>Pro tip: use a password manager</h2> <p>The simplest and most effective route to good password hygiene is to use a <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/electronics-and-technology/internet/internet-privacy-and-safety/buying-guides/password-managers">password manager</a>. This lets you use unique strong passwords for all your various logins, without having to remember them yourself.</p> <p>Password managers allow you to store all of your passwords in one place and to “lock” them away with a strong level of protection. This can be a single (strong) password, but can also include face or fingerprint recognition, depending on the device you are using. Although there is some risk associated with storing your passwords in one place, experts consider this much less risky than using the same password for multiple accounts.</p> <p>The password manager can automatically create strong, randomised passwords for each different service you use. This means your LinkedIn, Gmail and eBay accounts can no longer be accessed by someone who happens to guess the name of your childhood pet dog.</p> <p>If one password is leaked, you only have to change that one – none of the others are compromised.</p> <p>There are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_password_managers">many password managers</a> to choose from. Some are free (such as Keepass) or “freemium” (offering the option to upgrade for more functionality like Nordpass), while others charge a one-off fee or recurring subscription (such as 1Password). Most allow you to securely sync your passwords across all your devices, and some let you safely share passwords between family members or work groups.</p> <p>You can also use the password managers built into most web browsers or operating systems (with many phones offering this functionality in the browser or natively). These tend to have fewer features and may pose compatibility issues if you want to access your password from different browsers or platforms.</p> <p>Password managers take a bit of getting used to, but don’t be too daunted. When creating a new account on a website, you let the password manager create a unique (complex) password and store it straight away – there’s no need to think of one yourself!</p> <p>Later, when you want to access that account again, the password manager fills it in automatically. This is either through direct integration with the browser (typically on computers) or through a separate application on your mobile device. Most password managers will automatically “lock” after a period of time, prompting for the master password (or face/finger verification) before allowing access again.</p> <h2>Protect your most important passwords</h2> <p>If you don’t like the sound of a password manager, at the very least change your “critical” account passwords so each one is strong and unique. Financial services, email accounts, government services, and work systems should each have a separate, strong password.</p> <p>Even if you write them down in a book (kept safely locked away) you will significantly reduce your risk in the event of a data breach on any of those platforms.</p> <p>Remember, however, that some sites provide delegated access to others. Many e-commerce websites, for example, give you the option of logging in with your Facebook, Google or Apple account. This doesn’t expose your password to greater risk, because the password itself is not shared. But if the password is compromised, using it would grant access to those delegated sites. It is usually best to create unique accounts - and use your password manager to keep them safe.</p> <p><span>Adopting a better approach to passwords is a simple way to reduce your cyber-security risks. Ideally that means using a password manager, but if you’re not quite ready for that yet, at least make 2022 the year you ditch the sticky notes and pets’ names.</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><span><em>This article first appeared on <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/this-new-year-why-not-resolve-to-ditch-your-dodgy-old-passwords-172598" target="_blank">The Conversation</a></em>.</span></p>

Technology

Placeholder Content Image

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan to ditch their royal titles

<p><span>Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are making their TV debut soon, and they won’t be using their royal titles when we do see them.</span><br /><br /><span>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will go by just Harry and Meghan when they make their TV debut to celebrate Time magazine’s annual list of the world’s most influential people.</span><br /><br /><span>In a new promo shared by E! News, the pair were introduced by their first names.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFQmLf1FUA_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFQmLf1FUA_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Cantante Kattia Rizor (@cantantekattiarizor)</a> on Sep 17, 2020 at 6:23pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>Notably, in the credits they were listed as “the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.”</span><br /><br /><span>This follows as the Sussexes were said to be unhappy with the final conditions of quitting from their royal duties.</span><br /><br /><span>The main one includes the Queen banning the couple from using the word “royal” in any of their branding.</span><br /><br /><span>The TIME event will be held on September 22 in the US.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFQPPb8nqlB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFQPPb8nqlB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (@loveprinceharry1)</a> on Sep 17, 2020 at 3:03pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>It is the first time ever TIME 100 Most Influential People will be broadcast on television, rather than exclusively in its magazine.</span><br /><br /><span>Other guests on the show will be Trevor Noah, Sandra Oh, Kumail Nanjiani and John Legend. There will also be performances by Halsey, Jennifer Hudson and The Weeknd.</span><br /><br /><span>It seems Taylor Swift is among those who will be on the coveted list.</span></p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFPm5fSju0n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFPm5fSju0n/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Storm⛈ (@storm_watchh)</a> on Sep 17, 2020 at 9:10am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p><br /><span>“In a year in which we are unfortunately unable to convene the TIME100 community together in person, we are excited to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of the members of this year’s list with a brand-new experience on ABC that will allow more people to participate than ever before,” TIME studios president Ian Orefice wrote in a statement.</span></p>

Relationships

Placeholder Content Image

Why ditching junk food improves your mood

<p>Worldwide, more than <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression">300 million people</a> live with depression. Without effective treatment, the condition can make it difficult to work and maintain relationships with family and friends.</p> <p>Depression can cause sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and a lack of interest in activities that are usually pleasurable. At its most extreme, it can lead to suicide.</p> <p>Depression has long been treated with medication and talking therapies – and they’re not going anywhere just yet. But we’re beginning to understand that increasing <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-physical-activity-in-australian-schools-can-help-prevent-depression-in-young-people-107889">how much exercise we get</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28242200">switching to a healthy diet</a> can also play an important role in treating – and even preventing – depression.</p> <p>So what should you eat more of, and avoid, for the sake of your mood?</p> <h2>Ditch junk food</h2> <p>Research suggests that while healthy diets can reduce the risk or severity of depression, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28431261">unhealthy diets</a> may increase the risk.</p> <p>Of course, we all indulge from time to time but <a href="https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/7/3/445/4558132">unhealthy diets</a> are those that contain lots of foods that are high in energy (kilojoules) and low on nutrition. This means too much of the foods we should limit:</p> <ul> <li>processed and takeaway foods</li> <li>processed meats</li> <li>fried food</li> <li>butter</li> <li>salt</li> <li>potatoes</li> <li>refined grains, such as those in white bread, pasta, cakes and pastries</li> <li>sugary drinks and snacks.</li> </ul> <p>The average Australian consumes <a href="https://www.totalwellbeingdiet.com/media/1194/2016-csiro-healthy-diet-score.pdf">19 serves of junk food</a> a week, and <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(14)00051-0/fulltext">far fewer serves</a> of fibre-rich fresh food and wholegrains than recommended. This leaves us overfed, undernourished and <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(14)00051-0/fulltext">mentally worse off</a>.</p> <h2>Here’s what to eat instead</h2> <p>Having a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372901/">healthy diet</a> means consuming a <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-dietary-guidelines-1-5">wide variety of nutritious foods</a> every day, including:</p> <ul> <li>fruit (two serves per day)</li> <li>vegetables (five serves)</li> <li>wholegrains</li> <li>nuts</li> <li>legumes</li> <li>oily fish</li> <li>dairy products</li> <li>small quantities of meat</li> <li>small quantities of olive oil</li> <li>water.</li> </ul> <p>This way of eating is common in <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-015-0428-y">Mediterranean countries</a>, where people have been identified as having lower rates of cognitive decline, depression and dementia.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29469019">Japan</a>, a diet low in processed foods and high in fresh fruit, vegetables, green tea and soy products is recognised for its protective role in mental health.</p> <h2>How does healthy food help?</h2> <p>A healthy diet is naturally high in five food types that boost our mental health in different ways:</p> <p><strong>Complex carbohydrates</strong> found in fruits, vegetables and wholegrains help <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26109579">fuel our brain cells</a>. Complex carbohydrates release glucose slowly into our system, unlike simple carbohydrates (found in sugary snacks and drinks), which create energy highs and lows throughout the day. These peaks and troughs decrease feelings of happiness and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12415536">negatively affect our psychological well-being</a>.</p> <p><strong>Antioxidants</strong> in brightly coloured fruit and vegetables scavenge free radicals, eliminate <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4290164/">oxidative stress</a> and decrease inflammation in the brain. This in turn increases the feelgood chemicals in the brain that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29339318">elevate our mood</a>.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29215971">Omega 3</a></strong> found in oily fish and <strong><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22251911">B vitamins</a></strong> found in some vegetables increase the production of the brain’s happiness chemicals and have been known to protect against both <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4019002/">dementia</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30127751">depression</a>.</p> <p><strong>Pro and prebiotics</strong> found in yoghurt, cheese and fermented products boost the <a href="https://jphysiolanthropol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40101-016-0101-y">millions of bacteria</a> living in our gut. These bacteria produce <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27466606">chemical messengers</a> from the gut to the brain that influence our emotions and reactions to stressful situations.</p> <p>Research suggests pro- and prebiotics could work on the same neurological pathways that antidepressants do, thereby <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24888394">decreasing depressed and anxious states</a> and <a href="https://jphysiolanthropol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40101-016-0101-y">elevating happy emotions</a>.</p> <h2>What happens when you switch to a healthy diet?</h2> <p>An Australian research team recently undertook the <a href="https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-017-0791-y">first randomised control trial</a> studying 56 individuals with depression.</p> <p>Over a 12-week period, 31 participants were given nutritional consulting sessions and asked to change from their unhealthy diets to a healthy diet. The other 25 attended social support sessions and continued their usual eating patterns.</p> <p>The participants continued their existing antidepressant and talking therapies during the trial.</p> <p>At the end of the trial, the depressive symptoms of the group that maintained a healthier diet significantly improved. Some 32% of participants had scores so low they no longer met the criteria for depression, compared with 8% of the control group.</p> <p>The trial was replicated by another <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29215971">research team</a>, which found similar results, and supported by a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30254236">recent review of all studies</a> on dietary patterns and depression. The review found that across 41 studies, people who stuck to a healthy diet had a 24-35% lower risk of depressive symptoms than those who ate more unhealthy foods.</p> <p>These findings suggest improving your diet <a href="https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-244X-14-132">could be a cost-effective complementary treatment</a> for depression and could reduce your risk of developing a mental illness.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/107358/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/megan-lee-490875">Megan Lee</a>, Academic Tutor and Lecturer, <em><a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/want-to-improve-your-mood-its-time-to-ditch-the-junk-food-107358">original article</a>.</p>

Mind

Placeholder Content Image

New hair alert: Judge Judy ditches signature bob for stunning new look

<p>We have watched her on our TV screens for years, and this time she has come back with a new hairdo – and it is drastically different to her signature short, neat bob many are used to. </p> <p>Judge Judy Sheindlin showed up to the Daytime Emmy Awards on Sunday with a modern look as she swept away the red carpet.</p> <p>Her long running courtroom television show, <em>Judge Judy</em>, has never seen her waver from her signature short hairstyle for more than 30 years.</p> <p>However, that hairdo was switched out for a combed-back low ponytail for the event, where she took out the Lifetime Achievement Award.</p> <p>The 76-year-old TV star told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.etonline.com/media/videos/judge-judy-shares-what-inspired-her-to-try-a-new-hairdo-exclusive-124659" target="_blank"><em>Entertainment Tonight</em></a> the change of style was inspired by wanting to lead a “simpler” life.</p> <p>“It used to take me an hour to get ready for work … or even to go out for dinner,” she said. “Hair, curling, blowing.”</p> <p>However, the new 'do hasn’t just been warmly accepted by fans, but herself as well.</p> <p>“I like it,” she said. “It’s comfortable and easy.”</p> <p>Her on-screen buddy and bailiff, Petri Hawkins Byrd, took to social media to share which look he liked best though.</p> <p>“I tried to stay out of this, y'all won't let me!” the co-star wrote in a caption.</p> <p>“I prefer my boss with the old 'do' (left) More sophisticated and 'Judy'cial.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwqIlE-hCP1/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwqIlE-hCP1/" target="_blank">A post shared by Petri Hawkins Byrd (@byrdthebailiff)</a> on Apr 24, 2019 at 5:26pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>While accepting her coveted honour at the 46th annual award show, Sheindlin said: “I have a profession that’s always been my passion. And tonight, I have this lovely honor which says I’ve done my job well.</p> <p>“Life has a beginning, a middle and an end. As most of us, I don’t remember the very beginning, I’m having an absolute blast in the middle, and if my luck holds, I won’t be around for the end.”</p> <p>Judge Judy first premiered on September 16, 1996 and is currently in its 23rd season.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Judge Judy’s new stunning, sleek hairstyle here.</p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

Stranded couple reveal “nightmare” moment their cruise ship ditched them

<p>Newlyweds Maria Gonzalez Roesch and Alessandro Di Palma didn’t think for one moment that their honeymoon would become a headline around the world, but that was before they were spotted running after their Royal Caribbean ship which left without them – and their passport and bank cards.</p> <p>Speaking to the <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8561251/honeymoon-couple-royal-caribbean-cruise-passports/" target="_blank">T</a><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8561251/honeymoon-couple-royal-caribbean-cruise-passports/" target="_blank">he Sun</a></em>, actress Maria described the moment the couple realised that they were left stranded after hearing the ship's horn blast as it sailed away.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuHMn58ls9S/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuHMn58ls9S/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by María González Roesch (@mariagonzalezroesch)</a> on Feb 20, 2019 at 9:45am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“There was a platform with two crew members, and they were mad with us,” said 26-year-old Maria who is originally from Costa Rica.</p> <p>“We started yelling to them, ‘Please, please let us on, the cruise is still here.’</p> <p>“But the guys said, ‘You are not going to be so lucky and we are closing the doors and leaving’.</p> <p>“Alessandro was in shock because it was his nightmare and it actually happened.</p> <p>“He was so frustrated he wanted to jump to the ship. But (the drop) was so big and dangerous.”</p> <p>Holding punctuality as a top-most priority, Maria revealed that she has never missed a train, plane or boat before, but due to the relaxing nature of their honeymoon, the pair had let their guard down.</p> <p>The ship was expected to sail at 5:30pm, but in a turn of events, left two hours earlier from the Bahamas.</p> <p>The couple reached the port a few minutes before the ship was ready to depart but didn’t realise that it was leaving so soon.</p> <p>“We thought we were on time,” said Maria. “We were there 4:10 pm or 4:15 pm and we heard the call from the ship – but there were so many cruises we thought it was another ship.</p> <p>“Then we heard the horn. When we arrived to the pier we were in shock.”</p> <p>To their horror, the vessel was getting ready to leave and they watched on as the gangway was removed.</p> <p>“I think the worst feeling was to see that the boat was still there and knowing we can go inside and see the boat leave without you,” said Maria.</p> <p>“I think I would have preferred to have been at the pier and the boat had already gone.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs9MRXclFlR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs9MRXclFlR/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by María González Roesch (@mariagonzalezroesch)</a> on Jan 22, 2019 at 3:58pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>And as if the situation wasn’t stressful enough, Maria and her husband discovered that they had left their passports and other valuable possessions on board, meaning they were stranded on the island with nowhere to go.</p> <p>Thankfully, the crew managed to return the items, including all travel documents and bank cards to the newlyweds.</p> <p>Once they reached the immigration office, they learned that they were among six other people who had missed the boat.</p> <p>“There were two other couples. One (couple) were very, very angry so we didn’t keep in touch but the other two were nice,” said Maria.</p> <p>“They were a young couple from California.”</p> <p>Upon returning home, Maria and Alessandro believed that the entire ordeal was over, but in the age of the internet, footage of the two running after the ship had gone viral.</p> <p>But despite the stressful incident, the two still saw the humorous side of it all.</p> <p>“Of course, it would be better if it didn’t happen. But it could have a positive flip-side,” said Maria.</p> <p>“Now I can say it was a funny experience and we have a good story to (tell) our kids …”</p> <p>Have you ever missed boarding a plane, train or cruise ship on your travels? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Travel Trouble

Placeholder Content Image

The royal wedding tradition Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are ditching

<p>You’d be hard-pressed to find an English wedding dessert that isn’t a fruit cake, but Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have shunned the traditional gateau in favour of a more American style cake.</p> <p>In a statement released by Kensington Palace, it was revealed that pastry chef Claire Ptak, owner of the London-based bakery Violet Cakes, has been tasked with creating an organic lemon elderflower cake for Harry and Meghan’s May 19 wedding.</p> <p>Ptak is originally from California and has already met with Meghan before, having previously been interviewed by the soon-to-be royal for her now-defunct lifestyle website, The Tig.</p> <p>“Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have asked Claire to create a lemon elderflower cake that will incorporate the bright flavours of spring. It will be covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers,” read a statement released by the Palace via Twitter.</p> <p>“Claire Ptak, who was raised in California, focuses on using seasonal and organic ingredients in her cakes.”</p> <p>“Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are looking forward to sharing the cake with guests at their wedding at Windsor Castle on May 19th.”</p> <p>In a statement, Ptak said she was “delighted” to be chosen. “Knowing that they really share the same values as I do about food provenance, sustainability, seasonality and most importantly flavour, makes this the most exciting event to be a part of.”</p> <p>London high society magazine <em>Tatler </em>describes Ptak’s bakery as an “East London hotspot” that “serves the best American-style bakes around”.</p> <p>Former royal chef Darren McGrady said he was “delighted” that the couple had chosen to ditch the traditional fruitcake for an American sponge, joking on Twitter, “I wonder how many bakers will be getting calls this morning to, ‘Please change my wedding cake to lemon elderflower.’”</p> <p>To see some of the most extravagant royal wedding cakes throughout the years, <strong>scroll through the gallery above</strong>, and tell us in the comments, what do you think of Harry and Meghan’s cake choice?</p>

Food & Wine

Placeholder Content Image

8 gorgeous grey-haired celebs that will make you want to ditch the dye

<p>It’s official – going grey is in. Hell, even <a href="http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/hair/g3384/silver-hair-color-ideas/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">young women are choosing to dye their hair glorious shades of silver</span></strong></a>. But if you need a little convincing, we’ve tracked down photos of some of our favourite grey-haired celebs to give you a little style inspiration.</p> <p>Whether you’re still dyeing your locks, sporting just a few silver streaks or have already gone full grey, we’ve got a hairstyle for you! Simply scroll through the gallery above to see some of the best ‘dos for every length.</p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

Popular airline ditches reclining seats

<p>The prospect of a flight without being able to recline your seat would seem unbearable for some, but passengers flying with a popular airline will have to get used to the idea after it announced it would be ditching reclining seats.</p> <p>British Airways officially announced it would be fitting non-reclining seats on 35 planes set to fly economy on short haul routes, to help slash ticket prices for customers.</p> <p>The changes, which are said to have been spearheaded by the airline’s chief executive Alex Cruz who formally worked for Spain’s low-cost carrier Vueling, received a mixed reception from passengers and could risk the airline’s elite status.</p> <p>A British Airways spokesman said: “As well as new long-haul aircraft, we have 35 brand new short-haul planes arriving over the next five years.</p> <p>“We are installing at-seat power throughout the aircraft and will soon offer on-board Wi-Fi.</p> <p>“The new aircraft will have brand new seats set to a gentle recline to ensure everyone in the cabin enjoys a comfortable journey.</p> <p>“These changes will also allow us to offer more low fares to customers.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Would you be willing to purchase less-comfortable seats for an international flight, if it meant you’d be getting cheaper airfares? </p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-insurance/?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance&amp;utm_medium=in-article-banner&amp;utm_content=travel-insurance" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/banners/Travel-Insurance_Website_GIF_468x602.gif" alt="Over60 Travel Insurance"/></a></p>

International Travel

Placeholder Content Image

Celebs who ditched plastic surgery and look better than ever

<p>Last month, Courteney Cox announced that after years of using cosmetic fillers, she’s had them all dissolved. “[They] made me look fake,” she admitted to New Beauty Magazine. “I feel better because I look like myself.”</p> <p>As it turns out, the 53-year-old <em>Friends</em> star isn’t the only celebrity turning their back on plastic surgery in favour of a more natural look and choosing to age gracefully.</p> <p>Take a look at the stunning before-and-after photos of celebrities who chose to ditch the Botox and embrace their natural beauty in the gallery above.</p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

Woolworths ditches “Homebrand” label to improve brand perception

<p>It’s the end of the white and red era. In a shock move, Woolworths has announced that it will be ditching its long running Homebrand label in what’s perceived as a bid to strengthen the brands perception in the fight against Coles and Aldi.</p> <p>The change will affect nearly 1000 products under the distinctively no frills packaging, including sugar, pasta, napkins and Neapolitan ice-cream. All products of the brand – launched in 1983 – will be adopted by Woolworths own private-label range, Essentials.</p> <p>A Woolworths spokesman confirmed the change. “We have been reviewing the products in all of our own brand ranges to ensure we deliver even greater quality and value for our customers,” he told news.com.au.</p> <p>The news comes after Coles announced it was elimination a number of its equivalent home brand labels, such as Smart Buy and Simply Less.</p> <p>Earlier this month, market research firm Canstar said customer surveys indicated Coles was making headway with its private label brands against Aldi, but Woolworths was left struggling in the dark.</p> <p>Aldi is still an easy 18 per cent cheaper than Woolworths Select brand and seven per cent cheaper than Coles brand while pricing differences to branded products sold by Coles and Woolworths remain at a whopping 30 to 40 per cent.</p> <p>Woolworths is assuring that the change will benefit its customers. A spokesperson said “When customers see each product move to the new Essentials packaging they can be assured the product will offer market-leading value for money for our customers.”</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong> </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/body/2016/03/herbal-teas-to-relax-aches-and-pains/">5 herbal teas to relax aches and pains </a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/body/2016/02/is-coconut-water-good-for-you/">Is coconut water really good for you?</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/health/body/2016/02/nutrients-that-ease-arthritis-symptoms/">Easy symptoms of arthritis with these 3 nutrients</a></em></strong></span></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Bride ditches expensive wedding dress for grandma's 50-year-old gown

<p>A 21-year-old bride from South Yorkshire decided to ditch her $1000 wedding dress when she fell in love with her grandmother's 50-year-old floral lace number.</p> <p>Connie, who married electrician Sam Bell, was shown the gown by her grandmother Margaret as a means of cheering her up when her original wedding venue was cancelled.</p> <p>Connie's mum Jo White, 47, said: 'We were all talking about Connie's wedding which was the hot topic of conversation and my mum Margaret said she had been sorting some old things out and came across her own dress.</p> <p>Margaret White, 71, wore on her wedding day in 1966. The dress cost her $50 at the time, but it actually cost Connie $70 to get it dry cleaned.</p> <p><img width="554" height="364" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/17645/brides_554x364.jpg" alt="Brides"/></p> <p>Describing how her daughter looked in the lace number, mother-of-two Jo said “Connie looked beautiful, absolutely stunning. It was so special and it was grandma's dress.”<br /> The original dress didn’t go to waste, though, Connie decided to change into it for the after party at about 9pm.</p> <p>The couple ended up having their ceremony at The Crown Hotel in Harrogat in North Yorkshire, “After securing my grandma's dress - it then spurred me on to find a venue two weeks before the big day and we managed to find another hotel. It must have been fate.”</p> <p>Speaking about her relationship with her grandmother, Connie added: “She’s my best friend. I also walked down the isle to a few Elvis Presley tracks because she goes mad for the King.”</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/02/how-to-beat-post-retirement-depression/">How to beat the retirement blues</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/02/how-to-make-retirement-happy-and-healthy/">4 tips to ensure a happy and health retirement</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/02/four-ways-to-stay-active/">From walking groups to tai chi, top 4 ways to stay active</a></em></strong></span></p>

Retirement Life

Placeholder Content Image

Emirates to ditch 1st class to break world record

<p>When Emirates unveiled their Airbus A380 over the weekend, something was missing – first class.</p> <p>Emirates new Airbus A380 boasts a record-breaking 615 passenger seats, after eliminating bulky first class seats to cater for increased economy and business class sections.</p> <p>The Airbus A380 is already the biggest commercial airliner in the world, with most configurations accommodating roughly 520 passengers. Before Emirates debuted its new plane, the record belonged to Air France, which had A380s accommodating 538 passenger seats.</p> <p><img width="497" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/11014/emirates_497x280.jpg" alt="Emirates" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><em>Image source: Twitter / Emirates</em></p> <p>The Airbus A380 features an innovative double-decker design that allows for passengers to board and alight through both the upper and lower entrance ways.</p> <p>There might be a bit of a line for the bathroom in Emirates’ new plane, with just two bathrooms added to make a total of 17. Is that going to be enough for 100 extra people?</p> <p><em>Hero</em> <em>image source: Twitter / Emirates</em> </p>

International Travel

Over 60

© Copyright 2024 OverSixty.All Rights Reserved.