Surely high blood pressure is something only old people need to think about? Not according to a new study the ill-effects begin when people are in their 20s

The more time you spend sitting, the greater the chances of dying from heart disease or cancer, having a stroke or becoming diabetic. Even GPs now advocate standing during consultationsWe spend half our lives sitting down - and studies show it increases...

It has been linked to irritable bowel syndrome and those on gluten-free diets say they have lost weight. But is it really the cause of digestive problems - and aren't wholegrains good for us?It's hard to distil the gluten-free debate so we could just...

Few of us consume the amount of dietary fibre recommended by nutritionists and there appear to be plenty of health benefits if we up our intakeFor some people, the idea of eating more fibre is incredibly unappetising. All that chewing is a chore and then...

Recent studies have found that it is not just how long we sleep that can affect our weight, but when we wake up. Should we all be jumping out of bed at dawn?Want to lose weight? Get a good night's sleep. Research increasingly suggests that ...

For years they have been blamed for increasing our risk of heart disease, but now it appears that they may not be quite as bad for us as we once thought Can you remember when it was OK to eat saturated fats? To gobble a ...

UK drivers can legally have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, the highest in Europe. But new evidence suggests drivers should think again before having even one glass of wineDo you say no to any alcohol if you're driving home, or do you limit yourself...

Lack of folate, found in green veg, can cause abnormalities in babies, so women planning pregnancy are advised to take a supplement. Should fathers follow suit?Finally it is the turn of prospective fathers to be told what to eat - men who want to be...

The latest study shows you might. It found that snacking on nuts seven times a week reduced the risk of dying from all causes. Just lay off the salted and chocolate-covered kindThey are fatty and full of calories, but you should still grab a handful ...

Studies have found that it may help to reduce tooth decay, but is it that simpleHowever ugly it looks and however yucky it is when you tread on it, chewing sugar-free gum may be positively good for you. Studies have found that it may ...

Research has found that sugar is addictive and linked to many health complaints, but is it really so bad for us? According to two recent research papers, sugar is toxic enough to kill mice and is the drug of choice for laboratory rats, who prefer ...

There may be a difference between a food's listed calorific value, and the amount of calories it actually delivers - but only a small one.A friend of mine knows exactly how many calories are in Starbucks lattes (265 for a large one with whole milk). ...

The phthalate chemicals used in packaging are banned in some countries and have been blamed for many ailments. So should you ban them from the house?If you've had to fight though plastic packaging to get to your food you won't be surprised to hear it...

Recent reports suggest that tea can cause brittle bones - but you'll probably be safe if you drink less than a gallon a day.Do you fancy a cuppa? We drink, on average, three mugs a day. But you might want to try another tipple after ...

Recent research in Spain suggests that it does. So should you give up the late-night snacks?Does eating late make you put on weight? Or is this one of the many myths of dieting? Research published this week in the journal Obesity found that out of ...

If you swear by a hair of the dog, bananas, green tea or aspirin, you are deluding yourself. The best cure is 24 hours curled up under the duvet.In case you have never had a hangover - and a study from Boston University found that ...

One in four now try to avoid the protein, believing they have an allergy. But there is no definitive test for gluten sensitivity.Gluten-free diets are soaring in popularity, especially in the US where USA Today reports that up to one in four people seek...

We have always been told that fruit is good for us, but some new research may make you look twice at your breakfast grapefruit.We're always being told by the Department of Health to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. But it's not ...

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may reduce your risk of stroke, but supplements won't help.Most people don't eat much fish, unless it is smothered in batter and comes with chips. The National Diet Nutrition survey found that, on average, we eat...

A new study shows that the flavanols in chocolate reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and other dementia conditions by protecting brain cells and increasing blood flow around the brain.Eating dark chocolate could slow the progression of dementia, says new...