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body+soul •

'I did a week-long wellness crawl through Singapore – here’s what actually worked'

The last time I was Singapore, it was my 19th birthday, and I was feeling like a proper grown-up on my first solo girl’s trip with my big sister. One night, without factoring in the near 100 per cent humidity, we drank so much, I ended up with gastritis – I know, classy stuff. Fortunately, in the intervening 16 years, the Lion City, (much like me) has gained a strong focus on health and wellbeing. In fact, Singapore has become a kind of wellness mecca. Where it was once nearly impossible to find...
Mamamia •

Planning a trip to the Sunshine Coast? These 3 budget-friendly spots should be first on your list.

I don't know about you, but these days, my ideal holiday spot is one that ticks three essential boxes: a stunning location, activities that won't break the bank and just a few of those unforgettable moments that stay with you long after the holiday ends. But before you go rummaging around for your passport, just remember — while it can be wonderful, overseas travel can also be low-key exhausting. I'm talking about long airport waits and dragging overtired toddlers through customs lines. Yeah. Th...
marie claire •

Is ChatGPT A Healthcare Revolution Or Dangerous Rabbit Hole? | marie claire

When a hard mass appeared in her abdomen a few months before her 40th birthday, Flic Manning knew something was seriously wrong. What began as occasional pain and bloating had become more persistent, and she had difficulty eating.
After two decades managing the inflammatory condition Crohn’s disease, the author and radio host was used to gastrointestinal symptoms, but this felt different.
Her GP told her it was probably just Crohn’s but referred her to a gastroenterologist to be safe. That...
The Sydney Morning Herald •

Hold my (zero proof) beer ... meet the new generation of booze-free blokes

Now that it’s over, I’m officially calling it – this was the summer when Aussies finally ordered last drinks on our toxic drinking culture. Big call? Maybe. But (as the kids would say) there’s definitely been a “vibe shift”.Mine was a typical Millennial summer, chock-full of Christmas parties, lawn bowls, beer gardens and sunset happy hours. The Aperols were ice-cold, and the extra-warm nights reminded me why I love this sunburnt country.Younger men are increasingly drinking zero-strength beer....
The Australian Women's Weekly •

How to spot ovarian cancer signs - The Australian Women's Weekly

It was a routine scan for recurring sciatica pain that would upend the life of West Australian hairdresser Kate Wylie. In late 2023, the 33-year-old noticed a niggling pain in the back of her leg. Having been treated for sciatica five years earlier, she assumed it had returned. However, upon receiving her scan results, the doctor mentioned a mass.
“The tumours were visible from the scan,” Kate says of the appointment that quickly pivoted from sciatica treatment to a referral to a gynaecologist...
bodyandsoul •

What is Addison's disease? The life-threatening condition no one’s heard of

Last month, a rare disease led to the tragic death of a 25-year-old TikTok star. Her experience was eerily like mine.In a TikTok posted on the 8th of August, Taylor Rousseau Grigg told her nearly 1.5 million followers that she hadn’t been feeling like herself in a long time.In the nearly nine-minute video, Rousseau Grigg opened up about a recent struggle to maintain her trademark vibrance, feeling as though she was fighting for life each day. Having only recently received a diagnosis after suffe...
bodyandsoul •

'Intense wellness' retreats are going viral, but are they really worth the hype?

I brought along Mum for my three-night stay in paradise, not because she needed a health retreat, as she told me the night before we arrived, “I’m as relaxed as it gets, my life is very balanced at the moment” (nice for some). No, I roped her in because she’s bloody good fun, we love to travel together, and it turns out we needed some quality time without my darling three-year-old interjecting. 
It would also turn out that we were in good company. One lunch, sitting in the dining space we found...
bodyandsoul •

How to stop body insecurity from ruining your summer holiday

Imagine yourself poolside, clutching a lychee martini, as the warmth of the sun touches your bare skin for the first time in months. If you’re anything like me, this is the image gently encouraging you to press ‘confirm’ on your accommodation booking and watch your bank balance drop from a much-dearer-than-expected flight booking. Never mind all of that, you need a holiday, and it will be so worth it when you step off that plane into paradise.
But as your dream holiday approaches, and you dust o...
bodyandsoul •

'My doctor is on TikTok – should I trust them?'

Those with a nightly doom-scrolling habit have likely been confronted at some point with one of the millions of videos on social media proffering medical advice to the masses. But have you ever wondered if the lab coat wearer on the screen is actually a qualified doctor, or a self-proclaimed expert spreading unverified information? ‘TikTok docs’ are inviting us into their virtual offices in droves. Currently, the hashtag ‘doctor’ boasts 3.1 million posts on TikTok and a whopping 17 million on In...
The Sydney Morning Herald •

Jelena Dokic has lost 20 kilos. If only she could shed the trolls

Jelena Dokic has lost 20 kilograms. And again, we’re hit with deja vu as she’s inundated with body commentary from trolls and supporters alike.For years, body trolls have dwarfed the achievements of Dokic, arguably one of the best tennis commentators we’ve seen. She has long been both vocal and powerfully vulnerable about the abuse she has faced at the hands of her ex-coach and father, and from trolls online – the latter focused squarely on her changing body.Now Dokic’s body has changed again. S...
Mamamia •

If there's one conversation to start with your kids, make it this.

Some of the most magical moments in parenting or mentoring kids are the conversations we have with them. The stories your two-year-old tells in babbling run-on sentences. Hearing the third grader in your class explain the nature of gravity with such enthusiasm and delight. Talking with the teens you coach and watching their brains come up with novel ways to make our world better. These conversations can light your soul on fire, fill you with awe and remind you what life is really about. But that...
Mamamia •

Why we should be focusing on glimmers in the 'hard years' of parenting.

Early parenthood, amirite?It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times and just when your head can’t take one more hours-long whine-athon, your little people go exploding your heart with paralysing joy.Last Wednesday, I got a call from a frazzled friend (also a working mum of an almost three-year-old) to tell me the weird itching that was driving her crazy at daycare drop-off was, in fact, lice. Right before that, I’d sent a crying-laughing emoji (yes hi, I’m a millennial) back to another fri...
Mamamia •

Why we should be focusing on glimmers in the 'hard years' of parenting.

It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times and just when your head can’t take one more hours-long whine-athon, your little people go exploding your heart with paralysing joy.

Last Wednesday, I got a call from a frazzled friend (also a working mum of an almost three-year-old) to tell me the weird itching that was driving her crazy at daycare drop-off was, in fact, lice. Right before that, I’d sent a crying-laughing emoji (yes hi, I’m a millennial) back to another friend’s picture of her war
The Age •

Should I have married my husband? Red flag culture would say no

Anyone who has walked down an aisle or stood under a 50-year-old gum to affirm a legally binding, lifelong pact has probably asked themselves at some point in the intervening years: “Should I have done that?″⁣ It’s normal to question the big stuff. Hell, these days it’s pretty standard to spend up to an hour researching which bar to meet at. Interestingly, last week I found myself doing both. Shortly after clinking glasses with a long-time single girlfriend, our power catch-up turned to her dati
The Sydney Morning Herald •

In a fat-phobic world, Ozempic is hardly the easy way out

Imagine living in a body that is, by overwhelming consensus, regarded as wrong. Imagine being told your entire life that you need to change it. Imagine trying everything humanly possible to do that, only to wind up exactly where you started, or worse off.

Now, imagine there’s a drug that, by many reports can maybe, finally, help you achieve what the world has been asking of you your whole life. Imagine taking it and finding it does work for you (though importantly, this is not the case for many
body+soul •

Can eating only raw food really heal… anything? We asked the experts

Right now, TikTok is abuzz with talk of a pretty old-school diet that sees devotees breaking up with their ovens in favour of 'raw-only eating’. With influencers espousing benefits like clear skin, hormone balance, lasting weight loss, better sleep, shinier hair - oh and muscle aches or joint pains? Gone.

Then there are those promising that a raw food diet, or even just a short detox (eating raw for a specified period - generally 30 days) can cure autoimmune diseases, and even help treat cancer
Mamamia •

We need to talk about the cost of divorce in 2024.

Talking about divorce when you’re in a happy marriage can feel a bit like planning for your death on your sweet 16th — it just feels… wrong.

But, much like making a will (while we’re here, take this as your cue to get on that), becoming divorce-literate is one of the healthiest things you can do for your future emotional (and financial) well-being.

The reality is, about half of marriages end in separation, so it pays to put your pragmatic grown-up hat on just in case your fairytale ending turn
body+soul •

Millennials are entering their 'millenopause' era

Along with skinny jeans, crying emojis (or emojis in general), and using our Hogwarts house to describe our personalities, millennials love making up words to signpost things we’re going through. Call me a cringey millennial, but I’m on board.

In the past, we’ve had ‘adulting’ (doing anything decidedly responsible), ‘Xennials’ (older millennials, or millennial Gen-X cuspers), and more recently, ‘hot girl walks’ (two or more women out for a walk). Now, a new term is sweeping the internet, so it’
The Age •

No ill will but you could be making your sick friends feel worse

“Oh, you’ve just had your thyroid removed? I’m so glad you’re feeling better.” Venturing out just days post-op, I hightailed it to my favourite almond-chai haunt and soon found myself in a pleasant chat with an old acquaintance. She continued: “My sister had her thyroid out. She used to be absolutely tiny, but now she’s huge.” Think before you blab. Well, that took a turn, didn’t it? Indeed, but not an unexpected one. The latest stats reveal that we make up almost 50 per cent of the Australian p
Mamamia •

'Our three-year-old son has a brain tumour. There's still so many moments of joy.'

After Henry, who was just two at the time, fell over and hit his head while chasing a bird, he was taken to hospital for tests as a precaution. But the results revealed something much worse than Alex and Mark could've ever imagined – there was tumour the size of a mandarin growing in their toddler's head. 16 months on, the brave Queensland family share what they've learned as they support their little boy through the fight of his life. You can never see it coming. "I think I floated away from my
body+soul •

Why thin people aren't necessarily healthier

There are links to higher body weight and certain diseases

Dr George Balalis, a bariatric, upper GI and general surgeon based in Adelaide tells Body and Soul, “In Western cultures, such as Australia, the U.S and U.K, there are increased risks related to increased weight.” He says these may include “high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, sleep apnoea, and atrial fibrillation,” among others. But despite this, Dr. Balalis does not believe that weight by itself is a perfect determinant of heal
body+soul •

Having a low body confidence day? These tips can help

If you’re out there in the world, living in a body you often struggle to love, then you dear friend, are in excellent company. A recent study from The Butterfly Foundation found that over 90 per cent of young people feel dissatisfaction with their bodies, with further research across multiple English-speaking countries suggesting body image distress is on the rise across all ages and gender identities.

Over the past several years, many of us have been discovering new ways to be in better union
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Travel Stories

body+soul •

'I did a week-long wellness crawl through Singapore – here’s what actually worked'

The last time I was Singapore, it was my 19th birthday, and I was feeling like a proper grown-up on my first solo girl’s trip with my big sister. One night, without factoring in the near 100 per cent humidity, we drank so much, I ended up with gastritis – I know, classy stuff. Fortunately, in the intervening 16 years, the Lion City, (much like me) has gained a strong focus on health and wellbeing. In fact, Singapore has become a kind of wellness mecca. Where it was once nearly impossible to find...
Mamamia •

Planning a trip to the Sunshine Coast? These 3 budget-friendly spots should be first on your list.

I don't know about you, but these days, my ideal holiday spot is one that ticks three essential boxes: a stunning location, activities that won't break the bank and just a few of those unforgettable moments that stay with you long after the holiday ends. But before you go rummaging around for your passport, just remember — while it can be wonderful, overseas travel can also be low-key exhausting. I'm talking about long airport waits and dragging overtired toddlers through customs lines. Yeah. Th...
bodyandsoul •

How to stop body insecurity from ruining your summer holiday

Imagine yourself poolside, clutching a lychee martini, as the warmth of the sun touches your bare skin for the first time in months. If you’re anything like me, this is the image gently encouraging you to press ‘confirm’ on your accommodation booking and watch your bank balance drop from a much-dearer-than-expected flight booking. Never mind all of that, you need a holiday, and it will be so worth it when you step off that plane into paradise.
But as your dream holiday approaches, and you dust o...
bodyandsoul •

'Intense wellness' retreats are going viral, but are they really worth the hype?

I brought along Mum for my three-night stay in paradise, not because she needed a health retreat, as she told me the night before we arrived, “I’m as relaxed as it gets, my life is very balanced at the moment” (nice for some). No, I roped her in because she’s bloody good fun, we love to travel together, and it turns out we needed some quality time without my darling three-year-old interjecting. 
It would also turn out that we were in good company. One lunch, sitting in the dining space we found...
Mamamia •

The 7 cultural experiences you wouldn’t expect to find in the USA.

The nifty thing about a country as vast and diverse as the USA is that no two visits will ever look the same.Sure, there are some absolute must-sees and bucket-list experiences that most tourists will have heard of — I’m talking about The Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and of course, a ferry trip out to see Lady Liberty herself. But when traversing a country made up of states and territories, each with its own stories to tell, you’re bound to come away with some unique experiences under your travel...
Mamamia •

'Yes, holidays are different with a toddler. But they’re so worth it.'

Remember when holidays meant sleep-ins and long brunches, devouring books on the beach, and letting your worries melt away with the tide? Yeah, me either. Those memories have faded along with my tan.Since having a kid, my mini breaks have generally included a mini breakdown (or six). On our recent trip, by the time we got on the plane to leave, I was questioning if the whole thing was even worth the trouble.Watch: Holidays? What holidays with kids? Post continues below.And while I am a huge prop...
Mamamia •

'I went on a holiday without my toddler. I can’t recommend it enough.'

There’s a soft urgency in parenting. As joyous as the days can be, there’s always something lurking beneath the surface, stimulating your sympathetic nervous system. Maybe it's a potential tantrum or a blow-out nappy at an inopportune time. Maybe it’s the precarious lunch order you risk
leaving uneaten at the table thanks to a surprise meltdown over a spilt babycino. It’s all part of the ride, but it does take a toll. For me, the past two years have brought with them a beautiful new baby boy, bu...