Health

Are fresh vegies always healthier than frozen?

There's a common belief fresh is best and buying frozen vegies is a cop out.

But certainly on the nutrition front, frozen veg aren't necessarily inferior, says Melanie McGrice, a spokesperson for the Dietitians Association of Australia.

"Whether fresh is better [than frozen] depends on how fresh the vegies actually are," Ms McGrice said.

PIH observes Nurses Day

This international day is celebrated around the world on 12 May (the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth) each year, to mark the contributions nurses make to society.

The theme for this year is 'A voice to lead - achieving sustainable development goals'.

PIH celebrated the day with in-house presentations and dramas staged by each departments within the hospital. The message stressed was being the voice.

Modern HIV drugs can add 10 years to life

The paper, published Wednesday, found that 20-year-olds who started with antiretroviral therapy in 2010 are predicted to live up to 10 years longer than those who first underwent similar treatment in 1996 -- when it first became widely available.

Researchers at Bristol University in the UK said the improvements are due to fewer side effects and less toxic drugs with greater options for patients who are infected with drug-resistant HIV strains.

Stretching longer isn't always better

Think about it: Most of us feel an urge to reach our arms up and lengthen our muscles before we even leave our beds.

Even animals instinctively stretch after sleep. If you've ever seen a dog wake from a nap, you probably witnessed it doing the aptly named yoga pose downward-facing dog.

With the growing popularity of yoga, stretching is increasingly regarded as one of the best ways to reduce tension and enhance movement. However, there are different ways to stretch, some of which can do more harm than good, depending on circumstances.

Is pizza healthy?

Depending on the type of crust, the amount of cheese and the toppings used, pizza can rank anywhere from nutritionally decent to a diet disaster.

Even healthy pizzas deliver a good amount of sodium from tomato sauce and cheese, so if you are watching your salt intake, you should eat with caution. Of course, the size of the slice and the number of slices you eat count, too.

Eight foods to help improve your athletic performance

But behind the training sessions, detailed scouting reports and in-depth tactical analysis, there's something going on in the kitchen that's designed to help Monaco get the better of its opponents.

Monaco's doctor Philippe Kuentz, nutritionist Juan Morillas and team dietitian Tara Ostrowe are tasked with choosing the right foods at the right time to help maximize the physical potential of each footballer at the club.

And below Ostrowe names the eight foods she gives to her players, so you too can eat like a pro.

Secrets of tea plant revealed by science

A team in China has decoded the genetic building blocks of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, whose leaves are used for all types of tea, including black, green and oolong.

The research gives an insight into the chemicals that give tea its flavour.

Until now, little has been known about the genetics of the plant, despite its huge economic and cultural importance.

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World avocado prices double after reduced harvests

Avocado prices have risen to a record due to surging global demand and reduced harvests from major producers Mexico, Peru and California.

A 10-kilogram box of Hass avocados from Mexico's major wholesale producer sells for around 530 pesos (NZD$40.94).

That is more than double last year's price, according to Bloomberg data.

Last year in New Zealand, demand was so great during the avocado shortage that thieves targeted orchards in Waikato and Bay of Plenty, filling up 'carloads' of the fruit.

Why reading is good for your health

The founder of BiblioRemedy isn't a licensed therapist, nor is she currently an English teacher, although she did work as one for 10 years in France, and has spent years shelving books at the library and in bookstores.

Courtney is a kind of book whisperer.

For as long as she can remember she's had a knack for matching people with books that fit with their intellectual interests. But some clients want more when they make an appointment with her at her office in Lexington, Kentucky.

Skin-whitening uptake sparks concern among Australian dermatologists

"Chinese people like whitening, [they consider it] beautiful — whitening and brightening because it's good," she says, smiling.

The smile is genuine, as Amanda is a fan herself.

"I use this one in the morning and at night … it can make your skin look very healthy, very clear," she says.

"It's very popular."

And this popularity is on the rise with the market for skin lighteners projected to reach $US23 billion ($30.5 billion) by 2020, according to market intelligence firm Global Industry Analysts.