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Readers response: What’s your favourite destination you’ve visited later in life and why?

When it comes to travelling, some destinations are better than others for different points in your life. We asked our readers what their favourite destination they've ever visited later in life is, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Robin Liersch - Africa! Not about the big cities but the animals, landscape and people are lovely. Nature at its best. Karen Ambrose - Sri Lanka. A fabulous tour. Sandra Way - Switzerland, such a beautiful country. Deb Moore - Scotland! The highlands. Because of my ancestry, now that I have been there I feel so very drawn back. Wendy Beckhouse - Cambodia, Angkor Wat is amazing. Beautiful people and great food. Patricia Monro - Singapore. A beautiful safe country with spectacular scenery everywhere. Our family lived there for a couple of years so our visits were perfect. Simply love Singapore. Christina Hutchings - Norway. Especially Geirangar. The people and places were fantastic. Would love to go back. Barbara Mules - Uzbekistan, not at all what I expected. So many beautiful old buildings, good food and lovely people. Elizabeth Jeffreys - Italy. Love the country, people and food. Helen Dickenson - Antarctica, the Parthenon and Machu Picchu because I never thought I could physically do it but I’m glad I managed it. Regina Johnson - South Island, New Zealand. Spectacular. Ian J Wilson - Japan, without a doubt. Val Goodwin - Croatia, wonderful place and people. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Readers response: What’s the best travel advice you’ve ever received?

When planning a holiday, it's not unlikely to receive travel advice from others who have explored the world. We asked our readers to share the best travel advice they have ever received, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Liz Mendygral - You must have travel insurance. Nancy Rogers - Travel light and clever. Anne Denise Houghton - If you are in a different country and see something you would really like to do, do it then as tomorrow you may miss the opportunity! Deedee Cullum - Get off the beaten tourist track and meet the real people. Karen Ambrose - When crossing the road in busy Vietnam cities, keep walking and the traffic will go around you. DON'T STOP! Fran Cresswell - Pack what you think you will need then take out half of it!! Bill King - Respect the customs of the country you are visiting. Lorraine Kirkwood - Pack a spare set of clothes and Pjs in your cabin luggage. When your suitcases get lost you are ok. Chris Walker - Go while you can. Terry Dolman - Book your flight way ahead. Saves mega $$. Denise Sutherland - Where your passport is concerned NEVER BEHAVE BADLY, save that for your backyard. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Eight simple changes to our neighbourhoods can help us age well

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jerome-n-rachele-251972">Jerome N Rachele</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-f-sallis-407885">James F Sallis</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-california-san-diego-1314">University of California, San Diego</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/venurs-loh-118864">Venurs Loh</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> Where we live can play a big part in ageing well, largely because of the links between physical activity and wellbeing. <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/2181/AHURI_Final_Report_No214_Downsizing-amongst-older-Australians.pdf">Research shows</a> that two-thirds of Australians prefer to age in place. That is, we want to live independently in our homes for as long as we can. Our neighbourhoods and their design can then improve or hinder our ability to get out of the house and be physically active. The rapid ageing of Australia’s population only adds to the importance of neighbourhood design. In 2016, 15% of Australians were aged 65 or older. That proportion is <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/population-groups/older-people/overview">projected to double</a> by 2056. These trends present several <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/population-groups/older-people/reports">social and economic challenges</a>, particularly for the health sector. Designing neighbourhoods in ways that promote physical activity can help overcome these challenges. <h2>Eight simple steps</h2> The following is a short list of <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-017-0471-5">evidence-based steps</a> local and state governments can take to assist older people to be physically active. These involve minor but effective changes to neighbourhood design. Improve footpaths: Research indicates that older people have a <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-older-people-get-osteoporosis-and-have-falls-68145">higher risk of falls</a>. Ensuring footpaths are level and crack-free, and free from obstructions, will encourage walking among older people – especially those with a disability. Connected pedestrian networks: Introducing footpaths at the end of no-through-roads and across long street blocks reduces walking distances to destinations. This makes walking a more viable option. Slowing traffic in high-pedestrian areas: Slowing traffic <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/images/uploads/publications/Safe-Speed-Evidence-Report.pdf">improves safety</a> by reducing the risk of a collision. It also reduces the risk of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28557669">death and serious injury</a> in the event of a collision. Age-friendly street crossings: Installing longer pedestrian crossing light sequences gives older pedestrians <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/41/5/690/47318/Most-older-pedestrians-are-unable-to-cross-the">more time to cross</a>, and installing refuge islands means those who walk more slowly can cross the street in two stages. Disabled access at public transport: Although a form of motorised transport, public transport users undertake more incidental physical activity compared with car users. This is because they walk between transit stops and their origins and destinations. Improving disabled access helps make public transport a viable option for more older people. Places to rest: <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1054">Providing rest spots</a> such as benches enables older people to break up their walk and rest when needed. Planting trees: Planting trees <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953614004109?via%3Dihub">creates more pleasant scenery</a> to enjoy on a walk. It also provides shade on hot days. Improving safety: Ensuring that streets are well-lit and reducing graffiti and signs of decay are likely to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24552845">improve perceptions of safety</a> among older people. <h2>Why physical activity matters</h2> Physical function – the ability to undertake everyday activities such as walking, bathing and climbing stairs – often declines as people age. The reason for this is that ageing is often accompanied by a reduction in muscle strength, flexibility and cardiorespiratory reserves. Regular physical activity can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14552936">prevent or slow the decline</a> in physical function, even among those with existing health conditions. Middle-to-older aged adults can reduce their risk of physical function decline <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1479-5868-7-38">by 30%</a> with regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes per week). This includes recreational physical activity, like walking the dog, or incidental physical activity, such as walking to the shops or to visit friends. By making minor changes as outlined above, the health and longevity of our elderly population can be extended. Such changes will help our elderly age well in place. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jerome-n-rachele-251972">Jerome N Rachele</a>, Research Fellow in Social Epidemiology, Institute for Health and Ageing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-f-sallis-407885">James F Sallis</a>, Professorial Fellow, Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, and Emeritus Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-california-san-diego-1314">University of California, San Diego</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/venurs-loh-118864">Venurs Loh</a>, PhD Candidate, Institute for Health and Ageing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/eight-simple-changes-to-our-neighbourhoods-can-help-us-age-well-83962">original article</a>. </div>

Travel Tips

Expert shares best destinations for solo female travellers

At 63 years old, Christina Ford is a seasoned traveller, with most of her travels being done alone. After exploring dozens of countries with just her own company, Ford has shared her tips on where to go and how to stay safe for other women who are contemplating seeing the world by themselves. When asked for her favourite destinations for solo female travellers, Ford told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-13865159/solo-travel-tips-women-best-countries-italy-canada.html">MailOnline</a> that there are two places she will also recommend. She said, “I am a huge fan of Italy and have travelled there extensively. My favourite solo place is Cinque Terre, five ancient fishing villages connected by sea, train or hiking. It's the perfect combination of healthy living, gorgeous vistas and fabulous food.” Christina also recommends her home country of Canada as “great for solo travellers”, explaining, “If you prefer something more urban, Toronto is a fantastic choice. Often described as New York run by the Swiss, it’s a great food town with safe and clean public transit. As a solo traveller, it’s easy to get a single ticket for a Broadway-style show.” “Canada is generally a safe country filled with friendly people who will gladly point you in the right direction - and probably apologise if you get lost. But part of the fun and growth of travelling is allowing yourself to get lost!” Christina went on to emphasise that “safety is crucial” for solo women travellers, and recommended to always carry a phone charger as “you never know where the day could take you” and sharing your live location with a friend or family member can provide peace of mind. She also always pins her hotel's location on Google Maps and advises “using your common sense” around “sketchy areas”, and also recommends not travelling anywhere without travel insurance. After falling in love with travelling solo, Christina wants to share how valuable travelling alone is, and urges women not to be dissuaded by seeing the world if you don’t have a companion. She said, “There are so many fabulous things about travelling solo. You’re on your own schedule, doing what you want to do. Your time is your own, and you can pivot at any moment.” “And you meet new people. Far more than if you were travelling with someone. Plus, you learn how capable you are. I’ve learned more about myself travelling alone than at almost any other time - it’s amazing discovering what great company you are!” Image credits: Instagram

Travel Tips

How do heat protectants for hair work? A chemistry expert explains

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/daniel-eldridge-1494633">Daniel Eldridge</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> Heat can do amazing things to change your hairstyle. Whether you’re using a curling wand to get ringlets, a flat iron to straighten or a hair dryer to style, it’s primarily the heat from these tools that delivers results. This comes with casualties. While your hair is surprisingly tolerant to heat compared with many other parts of your body, it can still only withstand so much. Heat treatment hair appliances frequently operate at over 150°C, with some reportedly <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00298/full#B13">reaching</a> <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289291195_Thermal_degradation_of_hair_I_Effect_of_curling_irons">over 200°C</a>. At these temperatures, your hair can end up fried. Many people use heat protectants, often in the form of sprays, to minimise the damage. So how do these protectants work? To answer that, I first have to explain exactly what heat does to your tresses on the molecular level. <h2>What heat does to your hair</h2> A large proportion of your hair is made up of proteins. There are attractive forces between these proteins, known as hydrogen bonds. These bonds play a big role in dictating the shape of your locks. When you heat up your hair, the total attraction of these hydrogen bonds become weaker, allowing you to more easily re-shape your hair. Then, when it cools back down, these attractions between the proteins are re-established, helping your hair hold its new look until the proteins rediscover their normal structure. The cuticle – the outermost protective layer of your hair – contains overlapping layers of cells that lose integrity when they’re heated, damaging this outer protective layer. Inside that outer layer is the cortex, which is rich in a protein called keratin. Many proteins don’t <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21635854/">hold up structurally</a> after intense heating. Think of cooking an egg – the change you see is a result of the heat altering the proteins in that egg, unravelling them into different shapes and sizes. It’s a <a href="https://library.scconline.org/v049n04/33">similar story</a> when it comes to heating your hair. The proteins in your hair are also susceptible to heat damage, reducing the overall strength and integrity of the hair. Heat can also affect substances called melanin and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21443842/">tryptophan</a> in your hair, resulting in a change in pigmentation. Heat-damaged hair is <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21635854/">harder to brush</a>. The damage is even more devastating if you use heat styling tools such as <a href="https://labmuffin.com/why-you-should-never-straighten-or-curl-wet-hair/">curling irons or straighteners</a> to <a href="https://library.scconline.org/v062n01/23">heat wet hair</a>, as at the high treatment temperatures, the water soaked up by the fibres can violently evaporate. The result of this is succinctly described by science educator and cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong, also known as <a href="https://labmuffin.com/how-do-heat-protectant-hair-products-work/">Lab Muffin</a>. She notes if you heat wet hair this way, “steam will blast through your hair’s structure”. This steam bubbling or bursting through the hair can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21443842/">cause substantial damage</a>. It’s worth noting hair dryers don’t concentrate heat in the same way as styling tools such as flat irons or curling wands, but you still need to move the hair dryer around constantly to avoid heat building up in one spot and causing damage. Once heat damage is done, regardless of whether it is severe or mild, the best remaining options are symptom management or a haircut. For all of these reasons, when you’re planning to heat treat your hair, protection is a good idea. <h2>How hair protectants work</h2> When you spray on a hair protectant, many possible key ingredients can go to work. They can have <a href="https://library.scconline.org/v062n01/15">daunting-looking names</a> like polyvinyl pyrrolidone, methacrylates, polyquaterniums, silicones and more. These materials are chosen because they readily stick onto your hair, creating a coating, a bit like this: <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615002/original/file-20240822-16-beyt90.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615002/original/file-20240822-16-beyt90.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615002/original/file-20240822-16-beyt90.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=225&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615002/original/file-20240822-16-beyt90.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=225&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615002/original/file-20240822-16-beyt90.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=225&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615002/original/file-20240822-16-beyt90.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=283&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615002/original/file-20240822-16-beyt90.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=283&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615002/original/file-20240822-16-beyt90.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=283&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A cartoon of coating attached to a strand of hair." /></a><figcaption>Hair protectant applies a coating to your hair. Author provided</figcaption></figure> This coating is a protective layer; it’s like putting an oven mitt on your hands before you handle a hot tray from the oven. To demonstrate, I created these by examining hair under a microscope before and after heat protectant was applied: <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615001/original/file-20240822-16-s2ufqy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615001/original/file-20240822-16-s2ufqy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615001/original/file-20240822-16-s2ufqy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615001/original/file-20240822-16-s2ufqy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615001/original/file-20240822-16-s2ufqy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615001/original/file-20240822-16-s2ufqy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=369&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615001/original/file-20240822-16-s2ufqy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=369&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615001/original/file-20240822-16-s2ufqy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=369&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="These high magnification images of untreated hair, and hair sprayed with a heat treatment spray, show what a difference it can make." /></a><figcaption>These high magnification images of untreated hair, and hair sprayed with a heat treatment spray, show how the product coats your hair strands. Author provided</figcaption></figure> Just like an oven mitt, a hair protectant delays the heat penetration, results in less heat getting through, and helps spread out the effect of the heat, a bit like in this image: <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615003/original/file-20240822-16-tf7xsj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615003/original/file-20240822-16-tf7xsj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/615003/original/file-20240822-16-tf7xsj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=233&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615003/original/file-20240822-16-tf7xsj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=233&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615003/original/file-20240822-16-tf7xsj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=233&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615003/original/file-20240822-16-tf7xsj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615003/original/file-20240822-16-tf7xsj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/615003/original/file-20240822-16-tf7xsj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=293&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Cartoon demonstrating the difference between heating unprotected and protected hair" /></a><figcaption>Hair protectant can help spread out the effects of the heat. Author provided</figcaption></figure> <a href="https://library.scconline.org/v049n04/33">This helps</a> prevent moisture loss and damage to both the protective surface cell layer (the cuticle) and the protein structure of the hair cortex. For these barriers to work at their best, these heat-protecting layers need to remain bound to your hair. In other words, they stick on really well. For this reason, continued use can sometimes cause a <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12221-010-0507-9">buildup</a> which can change the feel and weight of your hair. This buildup is not permanent and can be removed with washing. One final and important note: just like when you use a mitt for the oven, heat does still get through. The only way to prevent heat damage to your hair altogether is to not use heated styling tools.<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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/233206/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/daniel-eldridge-1494633">Daniel Eldridge</a>, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-heat-protectants-for-hair-work-a-chemistry-expert-explains-233206">original article</a>. </div>

Beauty & Style

The science of happier dogs: 5 tips to help your canine friends live their best life

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mia-cobb-15211">Mia Cobb</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> When you hear about “science focused on how dogs can live their best lives with us” it sounds like an imaginary job made up by a child. However, the field of <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/ourchangingworld?share=2ec8e0ad-5008-4b2d-ae2e-a288e2a77f50">animal welfare science is real</a> and influential. As our most popular animal companion and coworker, dogs are very deserving of scientific attention. In recent years we’ve learned more about <a href="https://theconversation.com/dogs-can-get-dementia-but-lots-of-walks-may-lower-the-risk-189297">how dogs are similar to people</a>, but also how they are distinctly themselves. We often think about how dogs help us – as companions, <a href="https://theconversation.com/meet-moss-the-detection-dog-helping-tassie-devils-find-love-142909">working as detectors</a>, and keeping us <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-owning-a-dog-good-for-your-health-238888">safe and healthy</a>. Dog-centric science helps us <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.666898/full">think about the world from a four-paw perspective</a> and apply this new knowledge so dogs can enjoy a good life. Here are five tips to keep the tails in your life wagging happily. <h2>1. Let dogs sniff</h2> Sniffing <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/animal-emotions/201902/allowing-dogs-sniff-helps-them-think-positively">makes dogs happier</a>. We tend to forget they live in a smell-based world because we’re so visual. Often taking the dog for a walk is our daily physical activity but we should remember it could be our dogs’ only time out of the home environment. Letting them have a really good sniff of that tree or post is full of satisfying information for them. It’s their nose’s equivalent of us standing at the top of a mountain and enjoying a rich, colour-soaked, sunset view. <h2>2. Give dogs agency</h2> Agency is a <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1284869/full">hot topic in animal welfare science</a> right now. For people who lived through the frustration of strict lockdowns in the early years of COVID, it’s easy to remember how not being able to go where we wanted, or see who we wanted, when we wanted, impacted our mental health. We’ve now learned that <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1250251/full">giving animals choice and control</a> in their lives is important for their mental wellbeing too. We can help our dogs enjoy better welfare by creating more choices and offering them control to exercise their agency. This might be installing a doggy door so they can go outside or inside when they like. It could be letting them decide which sniffy path to take through your local park. Perhaps it’s choosing which three toys to play with that day from a larger collection that gets rotated around. Maybe it’s putting an old blanket down in a new location where you’ve noticed the sun hits the floor for them to relax on. Providing choices doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. <h2>3. Recognise all dogs are individuals</h2> People commonly ascribe certain personality traits to certain dog breeds. But just like us, dogs have their own personalities <a href="https://scitechdaily.com/food-vs-toys-scientists-reveal-what-dogs-truly-prefer/">and preferences</a>. Not all dogs are going to like the same things and a new dog we live with may be completely different to the last one. One dog might like to go to the dog park and run around with other dogs at high speed for an hour, while another dog would much rather hang out with you chewing on something in the garden. We can see as much <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/your-dog-s-breed-doesn-t-determine-its-personality-study-suggests">behavioural variation within breeds as we do between them</a>. Being prepared to meet dogs where they are, as individuals, is important to their welfare. As well as noticing what dogs like to do as individuals, it’s important not to force dogs into situations they don’t enjoy. <a href="https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/behaviour/understanding">Pay attention to behaviour</a> that indicates dogs aren’t comfortable, such as looking away, licking their lips or yawning. <h2>4. Respect dogs’ choice to opt out</h2> Even in our homes, we can provide options if our dogs don’t want to share in every activity with us. Having a quiet place that dogs can retreat to is really important in enabling them to opt out if they want to. If you’re watching television loudly, it may be too much for <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/canine-corner/202407/how-good-is-a-dogs-hearing-compared-to-humans">their sensitive ears</a>. Ensure a door is open to another room so they can retreat. Some dogs might feel overwhelmed when visitors come over; giving them somewhere safe and quiet to go rather than forcing an interaction will help them cope. Dogs can be terrific role models for children when teaching empathy. We can demonstrate consent by letting dogs approach us for pats and depart when they want. Like seeing exotic animals perform in circuses, dressing up dogs for our own entertainment seems to have had its day. If you asked most dogs, they don’t want to wear costumes or be part of your Halloween adventures. <h2>5. Opportunities for off-lead activity – safely.</h2> When dogs are allowed to run off-lead, they use space differently. They tend to explore more widely and go faster than they do when walking with us on-lead. This offers them important and fun physical activity to keep them fit and healthy. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2AchEFiDwA8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Demonstrating how dogs walk differently when on- and off-lead.</figcaption></figure> A recent exploration of <a href="https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/we-checked-if-melbourne-really-is-a-dog-friendly-city">how liveable cities are for dogs</a> mapped all the designated areas for dogs to run off-leash. Doggy density ranged from one dog for every six people to one dog for every 30 people, depending on where you live. It also considered how access to these areas related to the annual registration fees for dogs in each government area compared, with surprising differences noted across greater Melbourne. We noted fees varied between A$37 and $84, and these didn’t relate to how many off-lead areas you could access. For dog-loving nations, such as Australia, helping our canine friends live their best life feels good. <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018957756/our-changing-world-the-science-behind-dog-welfare">Science that comes from a four-paw perspective</a> can help us reconsider our everyday interactions with dogs and influence positive changes so we can live well, together.<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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/236952/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mia-cobb-15211">Mia Cobb</a>, Research Fellow, Animal Welfare Science Centre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-science-of-happier-dogs-5-tips-to-help-your-canine-friends-live-their-best-life-236952">original article</a>. </div>

Family & Pets

5 ways to reduce everyday bills

It’s not uncommon to get to the end of the month and be surprised by a figure in your bills. But this surprise needn’t be unpleasant. There is wide a range of simple measures you can employ to reduce your monthly bills without too much effort. Follow these five simple tips and save money. 1. Food and groceries Food can be a problem area in the average Australian’s budget, either because we’re physically eating too much, eating out too much or spending too much money on groceries. But that doesn’t mean you have to transition to a Spartan diet. Here’s how you can save on your grocery bill: <ul> <li>Reduce the amount of times you’re eating out or getting takeout a week</li> <li>Use a shopping list and coupons, pay for groceries (this means you’re less likely to splurge on items that you don’t need) and buy more non-perishable foods to store and save</li> <li>Consider starting a garden and grow your own fruit and veggies</li> </ul> 2. Energy Many people have found their energy bills have been increasingly steady over the past through years, but this doesn’t mean you have to be part of that trend. With a little bit of ingenuity and not a lot of fuss you can make your house energy efficient and enjoy huge power bill savings: <ul> <li>Switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. In many cases these bulbs do cost more than traditional bulbs, but they use much less energy and can last up to 10 times longer</li> <li>Unplug unused electrical devices that are draining electricity</li> <li>Make sure you home is airtight to prevent cold drafts in winter and the loss of cool air in summer. This will also reduce your heating/cooling bills accordingly</li> </ul> 3. Cars As fuel, registration and maintenance costs start to pile up, a car can seem less like a convenience and more like a money pit rolling around on four wheels. That being said, there is a range of ways you can enjoy the access vehicle ownerships provides, without having to pay through your nose: <ul> <li>Underinflated tyres reduces the value of your cars fuel economy significantly, so make sure you take a couple of minutes to check the air pressure and reinflate once a month</li> <li>Consider selling a vehicle if you’re not using it often. Without taking the cost of parking and toll roads into account driving vehicles costs thousands of dollars a year</li> <li>Use more public transport and consider setting up car pools with friends/colleagues</li> </ul> 4. Grooming and beauty Looking and feeling great is important, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be a hugely expensive ordeal. With a little bit of ingenuity, creativity and willingness to not spend $10,000 on that jewel encrusted headdress you can still be the belle/male-belle of the ball without breaking the bank: <ul> <li>Reduce the amount of money you spend on clothing by keeping your eye on sales</li> <li>Consider lower cost alternatives to your favourite beauty products</li> <li>Cut back on the amount of times you have your hair cut and styled</li> </ul> 5. Additional entertainment expenses Your deluxe gym membership might give you access to the power lifting body attack class, but are you really getting the full value for it and the other regular entertainment expenses you’ve signed up for? There are still ways to stay entertained without having to break the bank every week. <ul> <li>Consider cancelling club memberships for places you don’t visit often</li> <li>Investigate free events and inexpensive entertainment ideas like cheap movies Tuesdays</li> <li>Magazine and newspaper subscriptions can also become expensive if you’re not actually reading the papers, as well as pay television services that can be easily eliminated</li> </ul> Image credits: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

No time for a holiday? A ‘workation’ could be the answer

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mariachiara-barzotto-1449459">Mariachiara Barzotto</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-bath-1325">University of Bath</a> Imagine this: you’re lounging on the beach, waves crashing in the background. A laptop sits on the table next to your iced coffee. In between meetings, you dip into the ocean or explore a hiking trail. This is the ideal vision of “workations” – a blend of work and vacation that is <a href="https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1882649/rise-workation-hr-encourage-blurring-lines-home-away#:%7E:text=Since%20many%20people%20shifted%20to,having%20to%20take%20annual%20leave.">gaining popularity</a> worldwide. A workation allows employees to work remotely from a holiday spot, and is part of a larger shift towards more flexible working arrangements, accelerated by the COVID pandemic and the rise of digital technology. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16078055.2022.2134199#d1e474">Workations</a> can last from a few days to several weeks. The concept can be appealing to both employees and companies, but there are challenges too. So, understanding its benefits and limitations is important for workers and employers alike. The most obvious benefit for employees is enjoying a new environment while staying productive. The typical work environment can become monotonous, potentially leading to burnout, decreased creativity and dissatisfaction. A workation offers an escape from this day-to-day grind, providing a refreshing change of scenery. It combines the mental break of a vacation with the flexibility of working remotely, allowing workers to balance their professional and personal lives and <a href="https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/abas/20/1/20_0210112a/_pdf">enhance their creativity</a>. This flexibility may be particularly beneficial for those with high workloads or tight schedules, as they no longer need to sacrifice time away from work to relax. And companies can also reap rewards from approving workations among their staff. One of the most significant advantages is employee retention. Flexible work arrangements are among <a href="https://buffer.com/state-of-remote-work/2023">the top priorities</a> for employees in today’s job market, helping to reduce staff turnover. Offering the option of a workation could also make a company more attractive to prospective employees. And workers who are free to work from inspiring locations may return to their tasks less stressed, and more motivated and engaged. Studies show that remote workers often demonstrate <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1529100615593273">increased organisational commitment</a>. Another advantage is the potential for cost savings. With more employees working remotely, companies may reduce their need for large office spaces or the expensive perks offered in corporate environments such as gyms, canteens and the staffing that goes with them. But there can be challenges too. The boundary between work and leisure can become blurred, and some employees may find it <a href="https://tuprints.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/7578/1/Dissertation_Reinke_Always%20Online%20-%20Boundary%20Management%20and%20Well-being.pdf%20">hard to disconnect from work</a> – defeating the object of travelling to a different workplace. The allure of finishing “just one more task” can prevent employees from truly enjoying their surroundings, potentially leading to exhaustion instead of rejuvenation. Time zone differences can also be a challenge. Juggling meetings and collaborating with colleagues in different time zones can lead to irregular work hours that make it hard to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Distractions are another concern. Beaches, tourist attractions or even the simple novelty of being in a new place can make it difficult to focus on work tasks. Employees need to have a strong sense of discipline to remain productive. For companies, one of the primary challenges is ensuring that employees remain productive. Monitoring performance without feeling intrusive can be a tricky balance for managers to strike. Security is another major concern. Remote work often involves accessing company networks and handling sensitive information. When employees work from unfamiliar locations – particularly in public spaces such as cafes – there may be increased risks related to cybersecurity. Ensuring that employees follow security protocols, use secure wifi and protect sensitive data is crucial. Lastly, workations might not be feasible for all roles. This can lead to disparities in who can take advantage of the opportunity, potentially leading to bad feeling among other staff. For the concept of workations to succeed, both employees and employers should set clear expectations, establish boundaries, and focus on maintaining productivity while allowing time for relaxation. But, if managed properly, they could become a staple of modern work culture. In a world where flexibility and wellbeing are increasingly valued, workations offer a unique opportunity to blend productivity with personal fulfilment, reshaping how we think about work and leisure. <h2>Nine tips for having a successful workation</h2> 1. Choose the right destination Opt for a location with reliable internet access and where the time difference between colleagues and clients is manageable. 2. Set clear boundaries Establish dividing lines between your work and vacation time, and communicate these boundaries with your employer and colleagues. 3. Ensure you have the right tech set-up Bring all the necessary equipment, including noise-cancelling headphones. Double-check that you have remote access to all necessary material before leaving. 4. Plan for cybersecurity Use a secure virtual private network (VPN) to protect company data, and follow your company’s cybersecurity policies to the letter. 5. Understand your company’s remote work policy Read up on things like flexibility in terms of location, time zones, working hours and refunds for co-working spaces or tech tools. 6. Set realistic expectations Don’t expect your workation to feel like a full vacation. Plan your leisure activities around your work schedule. Be prepared to work longer or odd hours if your company operates in a different time zone. 7. Consider the local infrastructure Research amenities such as medical services, food delivery and transport. These might be important if you stay in a more remote or unfamiliar area. Have a contingency plan for health emergencies and check visa requirements. 8. Prepare for flexibility Be ready for unexpected issues like slow internet or disruptions due to local events. Back-up plans, such as access to a co-working space or alternative accommodation, can save you from unnecessary stress. 9. Stay organised Keep a work schedule and a checklist of tasks to ensure that you remain as productive as you are in your regular work environment.<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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/240485/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mariachiara-barzotto-1449459">Mariachiara Barzotto</a>, Senior Lecturer in Management Strategy and Organisation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-bath-1325">University of Bath</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-time-for-a-holiday-a-workation-could-be-the-answer-240485">original article</a>. </div>

Travel Tips

How do I know when it’s time to replace my running shoes?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-arnold-178470">John Arnold</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joel-fuller-2210202">Joel Fuller</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> Any runner will tell you there’s nothing better than slipping on a brand new pair of shoes. But how regularly should runners fork out hundreds of dollars on their next pair? Conventional wisdom tells us the average lifespan of a running shoe is around 500 to 800 kilometres. But where did this advice come from, and is it based on science? Some evidence comes from <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546585013004">impact testing</a> with machines designed to simulate the shoe repeatedly contacting the ground during running. Other evidence comes from <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/19424280.2010.519348">monitoring runners who have used shoes in the real world</a> for long periods. This research is often focused on shoe materials and structure. But we think more compelling markers for the runner are shoe comfort, performance benefit and injury risk. Rather than seeking a “one-size-fits-all” answer to how many kilometres your shoes should be limited to, it’s also better to consider individual signs based on your shoe type and its purpose. <h2>The three signs to watch for</h2> Runners tend to replace their shoes for three main reasons: <ol> <li>they believe their performance is being negatively impacted</li> <li>their shoes are leading to some bodily discomfort which may cause (or has already caused) an injury</li> <li>the shoes are no longer comfortable or “feel” as good as they used to.</li> </ol> So what does the evidence say about these factors? <h2>Performance</h2> Some shoe material properties do contribute to enhanced running efficiency. Degrading these materials by racking up the kilometres may hinder peak performance on race day. This is most clearly seen in carbon fibre plate shoes used by modern elite runners to achieve <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01420-7">rapid road race times</a>. The design features <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-1024-z">thought to drive this</a> are the combination of highly compliant and resilient midsole foam and a stiff embedded carbon fibre plate, which support energy storage and return. Runners will typically “save” these shoes for race day and replace them after fewer kilometres, compared to conventional running shoes. The available research does support the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0811-2">performance benefits of these shoes</a>. However, it’s not known how long the benefits last relative to kilometres of wear. To our best knowledge, there’s only one study on running performance and shoe wear, but unfortunately it did not involve carbon fibre plate shoes. A University of Connecticut 2020 <a href="http://hdl.handle.net/11134/20002:860659513">master’s thesis</a> investigated eight college-level runners over 400 miles (643km) of Nike Pegasus shoe use. Large reductions in running economy were reported at 240km, and this was statistically significant at 320km. No reduction was observed at 160km. So, if you’re chasing personal best times, the evidence above suggests that for peak performance, shoes should be replaced somewhere between 160 and 240km (although this is not directly based on carbon fibre plate shoe research). It appears that minimising training kilometres for your favourite racing shoes – keeping them “fresh” – could contribute to peak performance on race day, compared to racing in a pair of old shoes. <h2>Injury or discomfort</h2> The link between shoe wear and injury is unclear, and based on <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/37/3/239">minimal and often conflicting evidence</a>. One study did find that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12154">runners who alternate their running shoes</a> have a lower risk of injury than runners who run only in the same pair of shoes over a 22-week period. Runners who alternated shoes throughout the study period would have accumulated less wear in each shoe. This provides some support for the notion that accumulating too many kilometres in your shoes may increase risk of injury. Unfortunately, the exact age of running shoes was not reported in this study. However, based on the running characteristics reported, the single-shoe pair users completed an average of 320km in their shoes (after adjusting for a small fraction who had to replace shoes during the study). This was compared to the multi-shoe pair users who used an average of 3.6 pairs of shoes, ran more total kilometres, but accumulated an average of only 200km per shoe pair. <h2>Comfort</h2> Comfort and fit are the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19424280.2024.2353597#abstract">two most important factors</a> to runners when selecting running shoes. Evidence linking improved shoe comfort to <a href="https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2001/11000/relationship_between_footwear_comfort_of_shoe.21.aspx">reduced injury rates</a> or <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17461391.2019.1640288">improved running economy</a> is mixed, but reducing harms from poorly fitting and uncomfortable shoes is clearly a priority for runners. Most <a href="https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol35/iss1/293/">runners land on their heel</a>. The repeated compression of the midsole causes the material to harden, possibly after as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5534152/pdf/ijspt-12-616.pdf">little as 160km</a>, according to one study from 2017. However, there was virtually no change in the amount of cushioning runners perceived under their heel after 160km. Even after using the shoes for 640km, they felt little difference – about 3%. While at first this might seem like runners are not very good at judging when shoes lose their cushioning, it also tells us changes in perceived shoe cushioning are very gradual and may not be important for runners until they reach a certain threshold. This amount will differ from person to person, and from shoe to shoe, but research suggests it’s not until perceived cushioning reaches about a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2020.1773613?casa_token=P87vatZhOlgAAAAA%3ACu11TZmGjKc1xYsaUlEVfWvZDvcSnx3qgKL1E2DsRYwf6hMvBiyVAm-M_-4Iauq4lwHna0QMu1IRmw">10% change</a> that runners consider it meaningful. We must be careful when applying these findings to the latest running shoes which use newer materials. But you can use it as a rule of thumb – once you notice a drop in comfort, it’s time to get a new pair. <h2>When to choose new shoes</h2> Ultimately, there’s no one simple answer for when you should get new running shoes. You may also not keep close track of how many kilometres your favourite pair has racked up. Overall, we believe the most practical advice is to keep your racing shoes “fresh” (under 240km), alternate a couple of other pairs during regular training, and replace them when you detect a notable drop in comfort.<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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/238997/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-arnold-178470">John Arnold</a>, Senior lecturer, Sport & Exercise Biomechanics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joel-fuller-2210202">Joel Fuller</a>, Senior Lecturer, Department of Health Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-i-know-when-its-time-to-replace-my-running-shoes-238997">original article</a>. </div>

Beauty & Style

Readers response: What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned about yourself through travel?

When it comes to travelling, it's not uncommon to have revelations about yourself while self-reflecting in a new place. We asked our readers what the most unexpected thing they've learned about themselves is through travel, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Penny Corbin - I don't need the cathedrals, monuments, the tours, I just love walking in the space and finding my own beauty wherever it leads me. Dom Cimino - That I really love meeting people of all backgrounds. Jenny Halkett - To treat it as an adventure, and don’t be afraid to ask a qualified person for advice. Kristeen Collison - That I’m more adventurous than I thought. Angie Jansen - That I love it. Just new places, culture, food, history, the wonderful people, the adventures you have and the memories, it’s the experiencing new things and learning, exploring, being amazed. Just so grateful I can still do it. Palma Hemer - To have a sense of humour, rain hail or shine. Anne Jenkin - That I can enjoy the travel by myself but I do like meeting new people on these trips. Kath Sheppard - To try to learn basic phrases when travelling. It's definitely appreciated. Kerry Fischer - Soak up the vibe wherever you are! Every place has beauty! Jacqueline Buchanan - That a smile speaks many languages. Martin Drake - That there is just too much to see and not enough time. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Readers response: What’s your best advice for managing medications while travelling?

When taking a trip, many people often have to factor in how their changing schedule will affect their regular medication routines. We asked our readers for their best advice on managing medications while travelling, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Kristeen Bon - I put each days tablet into small ziplock bags and staple them at one corner. All that goes into one larger ziplock bag and into my toilet bag. I store all the outer packs flat into another ziplock bag and that stays in the zip pack with my first aid kit in the main suitcase. I travel long haul up to six times a year and this is the most manageable way I have found. Diane Green - Firstly, take sufficient supply of all meds to last the time I'm away. I separate morning medications and evening medications. Then it depends on how long I'm away. I have one that needs to be refrigerated. Depending on where I travel, this can entail arranging overnight in the establishment fridge while taking a freezer pack for daytime travel. Irene Varis - Always get a letter from my doctor, with all my prescriptions for when I get overseas. Saves you a lot of trouble! Helen Lunn - Just get the chemist to pack into Medipacks. I usually take an extra week. I alway put some of the packs in my partners baggage incase my bag goes missing and a pack and a doctor’s letter in my hand luggage. Jancye Winter - Always pack in your carry on with prescriptions. Jenny Gordon - Carry a letter from doc with all medications, leave in original packaging. Double check that it isn’t illegal to carry your medication as some countries have strict regulations for things like Codeine. Always carry in carry on as you don’t want them to get lost. Nina Thomas Rogers - Be organised with all your medicines before you leave. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Is stress turning my hair grey?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/theresa-larkin-952095">Theresa Larkin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> When we start to go grey depends a lot on <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36631178/">genetics</a>. Your first grey hairs <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/67437">usually appear</a> anywhere between your twenties and fifties. For men, grey hairs <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22077870/">normally</a> start at the temples and sideburns. Women tend to start greying on the hairline, especially at the front. The most <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36631178/">rapid greying</a> usually happens between ages 50 and 60. But does anything we do speed up the process? And is there anything we can do to slow it down? You’ve probably heard that plucking, dyeing and stress can make your hair go grey – and that redheads don’t. Here’s what the science says. <h2>What gives hair its colour?</h2> Each strand of hair is produced by a hair follicle, a tunnel-like opening in your skin. Follicles contain two different kinds of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1534580720301040">stem cells</a>: <ul> <li>keratinocytes, which produce <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23204-keratin">keratin</a>, the protein that makes and regenerates hair strands</li> <li>melanocytes, which produce <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22615-melanin">melanin</a>, the pigment that colours your hair and skin.</li> </ul> There are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459156/">two main types</a> of melanin that <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36631178/">determine hair colour</a>. Eumelanin is a black-brown pigment and pheomelanin is a red-yellow pigment. The <a href="https://theconversation.com/studying-the-complex-genetics-behind-hair-colour-reveals-how-melanin-affects-us-171088#:%7E:text=Eumelanin%20is%20also%20known%20as%20the%20brown-black%20pigment%2C,is%20due%20to%20low%20amounts%20of%20both%20pigments.">amount of the different pigments</a> determines hair colour. Black and brown hair has mostly eumelanin, red hair has the most pheomelanin, and blonde hair has just a small amount of both. <h2>So what makes our hair turn grey?</h2> As we age, it’s normal for cells to become less active. In the hair follicle, this means stem cells produce less melanin – turning our hair grey – and less keratin, causing hair thinning and loss. As less melanin is produced, there is less pigment to give the hair its colour. Grey hair has very little melanin, while white hair has none left. Unpigmented hair <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6290285/">looks grey</a>, white or silver because light reflects off the keratin, which is pale yellow. Grey hair is thicker, coarser and stiffer than hair with pigment. This is because the shape of the hair follicle becomes <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6290285/">irregular</a> as the stem cells change with age. Interestingly, grey hair also grows faster than pigmented hair, but it <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/67437">uses more energy</a> in the process. <h2>Can stress turn our hair grey?</h2> Yes, stress can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6290285/">cause your hair to turn grey</a>. This happens when <a href="https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1096/fj.05-4039fje">oxidative stress</a> damages hair follicles and stem cells and <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.839859/full">stops them producing</a> melanin. Oxidative stress is an imbalance of too many damaging free radical chemicals and not enough protective antioxidant chemicals in the body. It can be <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36631178/">caused by</a> psychological or emotional stress as well as autoimmune diseases. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22077870/">Environmental factors</a> such as exposure to UV and pollution, as well as smoking and some drugs, can also play a role. Melanocytes are <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/67437">more susceptible to damage</a> than keratinocytes because of the complex steps in melanin production. This explains why ageing and stress usually cause hair greying before hair loss. Scientists have been able to link less pigmented sections of a hair strand to <a href="https://elifesciences.org/articles/67437">stressful events in a person’s life</a>. In younger people, whose stems cells still produced melanin, colour returned to the hair after the stressful event passed. <h2>4 popular ideas about grey hair – and what science says</h2> 1. Does plucking a grey hair make more grow back in its place? No. When you pluck a hair, you might notice a small bulb at the end that was attached to your scalp. This is the <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23435-hair-follicle">root</a>. It grows from the hair follicle. Plucking a hair pulls the root out of the follicle. But the follicle itself is the opening in your skin and can’t be plucked out. Each hair follicle can only grow a single hair. It’s possible frequent plucking could make your hair <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18713071/">grey earlier</a>, if the cells that produce melanin are damaged or exhausted from too much regrowth. 2. Can my hair can turn grey overnight? Legend says Marie Antoinette’s hair went <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/marie-antoinette-syndrome">completely white</a> the night before the French queen faced the guillotine – but this is a myth. Melanin in hair strands is chemically stable, meaning it can’t transform instantly. Acute psychological stress does rapidly deplete melanocyte stem cells <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-1935-3">in mice</a>. But the effect doesn’t show up immediately. Instead, grey hair becomes visible as the strand grows – at a rate of <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326764">about 1 cm per month</a>. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432488/">Not all hair</a> is in the growing phase at any one time, meaning it can’t all go grey at the same time. 3. Will dyeing make my hair go grey faster? This <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9953601/">depends on the dye</a>. Temporary and semi-permanent dyes should not cause early greying because they just coat the hair strand without changing its structure. But permanent products cause a chemical reaction with the hair, using an oxidising agent such as hydrogen peroxide. Accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10232955/">other hair dye chemicals</a> in the hair follicle <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36631178/">can damage</a> melanocytes and keratinocytes, which can cause greying and hair loss. 4. Is it true redheads don’t go grey? People with red hair also lose melanin as they age, but differently to those with black or brown hair. This is because the red-yellow and black-brown pigments are chemically different. Producing the brown-black pigment eumelanin is more complex and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1034/j.1600-0749.2002.02017.x">takes more energy</a>, making it more susceptible to damage. Producing the red-yellow pigment (pheomelanin) causes <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016953472030375X">less oxidative stress</a>, and is more simple. This means it is easier for stem cells to continue to produce pheomelanin, even as they reduce their activity with ageing. With ageing, red hair tends to fade into strawberry blonde and silvery-white. Grey colour is due to less eumelanin activity, so is more common in those with black and brown hair. Your genetics determine when you’ll start going grey. But you may be able to avoid premature greying by staying healthy, reducing stress and avoiding smoking, too much alcohol and UV exposure. Eating <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/melanin-in-hair#b-6-and-b-12">a healthy diet</a> may also help because vitamin B12, copper, iron, calcium and zinc all <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6290285/">influence melanin production and hair pigmentation</a>.<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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/239100/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/theresa-larkin-952095">Theresa Larkin</a>, Associate Professor of Medical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-stress-turning-my-hair-grey-239100">original article</a>. </div>

Beauty & Style

Aldi's surprise new business move

Aldi just keeps on giving, from being the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/australia-s-cheapest-supermarket-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cheapest supermarket</a>, to launching their own travel website, the German retailer has taken things to a whole new level. On Wednesday, the supermarket giant launched their Aldi Holidays online portal, so now Aussies can plan their next holiday with a bunch of exclusive Aldi escapes, cruises and tour deals, in a first for Aussie supermarkets. “We are excited to be taking off in a new direction to make planning and booking a holiday a more enjoyable experience for Australians and in our signature Good Different way with Aldi Holidays,” Rodney Balech, Group Director, Aldi Australia said in a statement. “This service, in partnership with Ignite Travel, will unlock incredible value and help all types of travellers create truly unforgettable experiences. “With Aldi Holidays we’re bringing our Special Buys to the skies, offering savvy travellers premium holiday options.” Aldi Holidays will have a similar concept to their bi-weekly special buys, where there will be a limited number of exclusive holiday deals, which will be available until sold out, and there are some pretty good deals on offer. Some of the Aldi holidays available include five nights in Daydream Island Resort, Whitsundays, from $899 per person twin share and seven nights in Novotel Phuket, Thailand from $599 per person twin share. They also offer a few other international packages including seven nights in the Outrigger Resort, Fiji, from $1,799 per person twin share and six nights at the Grand Mirage in Bali from $1,199 per person twin share. Aussies keen for a cruise can also snag a few deals including nine nights on a Royal Caribbean Cruise through the Pacific Islands from $1,499 or 14 nights on Celebrity X Cruise through Japan, from $4,990. “Aldi Holiday customers can expect incredible savings with these exclusively curated holiday packages including flights, local experiences and more,” Ryan Thomas, the Ignite Travel Group CEO said. “We’re excited about the future of our partnership with Aldi,” he added. Holidays can be booked online or via the dedicated Aldi Holiday Sales Centre. Image: Daria Nipot / Shutterstock.com

Travel Tips

Things to remember when booking a group tour

When it comes to travelling abroad, many people opt to take part in a group tour to get the most out of their holiday. However, there are always a few logistics to iron out before you book your trip, because running into issues on a tour can make or break your vacation. Thankfully, travel expert Dilvin Yasa has shared her go to tips for getting the most out of your group tour. Budget accordingly When planning your group tour, budgeting is one of the most important factors, as these trips are rarely all-inclusive. Dilvin Yasa told <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/things-first-timers-get-wrong-on-group-tours/61fa10d2-ce80-40bb-ab92-9008b3d9296d">9Travel</a> it’s important to “read the itinerary carefully before you book and add up all the exclusions until you arrive at your 'real figure'.” Extra costs on a group tour could include lunches, dinners, attractions and additional activities, so make sure you factor these potential costs in. Know your geography Yasa advised against skipping between different destinations, as strict time constraints could prevent you from partaking in back to back tours. “If the itinerary doesn't list distances or time between destinations, hit up Google Maps to get an idea of how long you're expected to be in transit during each leg of the tour.” Don’t arrive at the last minute The travel expert said if you’re heading on a group tour, don’t leave it until the day the tour departs to arrive at your destination. “The last thing you want is to miss a connecting flight or hit any other sort of delay that could see you miss the first or two of the tour you've paid for,” Yasa said. “Aim to arrive the day before at the very latest and give yourself a little extra free time at the tail end as well - just in case.” Keep some cash on hand While most of your tour should already be paid for before you depart, you should always be prepared for extra expenses. Especially when travelling to more remote locations, or if you’re visiting smaller food vendors or markets, you shouldn’t assume everywhere will take card payments. Yasa said, “Make sure you have local currency on you at all times and you're good to go.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

New research proves travelling can slow down the ageing process

It turns out that going on holiday is good for you in more ways than one. According to new research conducted at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, travelling can actually slow the ageing process both physically and mentally. The study, published in the <a title="Journal of Travel Research" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00472875241269892#:~:text=The%20principle%20of%20entropy%20increase%20provides%20a%20dynamic%20perspective%20to,Silva%20%26%20Annamalai%2C%202008)." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Travel Research</a>, is believed to be the first-ever that applied the theory of entropy - the general trend of the universe towards death and disorder – to tourism. "Tourism isn't just about leisure and recreation. It could also contribute to people's physical and mental health," ECU PhD candidate Fangli Hu said. "Ageing, as a process, is irreversible. While it can't be stopped, it can be slowed down." According to the research, travelling, exploring new corners of the world and engaging in unique and relaxing activities can stimulate stress responses and elevate metabolic rates, positively influencing metabolic activities and the body's self-organising capabilities. "Leisurely travel activities might help alleviate chronic stress, dampen over-activation of the immune system, and encourage normal functioning of the self-defence system," Fangli added. While some people prefer relaxing holidays, others prefer to stay on their feet and keep active during their travels, enjoying the many well-known benefits of exercise. It can "enhance the body's immune function and self-defence capabilities, bolstering its hardiness to external risks". In response to their study, the experts suggested that "travel therapy could serve as a groundbreaking health intervention." Despite the positive results of the research, experts also warned that travelling can exposed to infectious diseases, accidents, injuries, violence, water and food safety issues, and concerns related to inappropriate tourism engagement, which in turn will have the opposite effect on our health. "Conversely, tourism can involve negative experiences that potentially lead to health problems, paralleling the process of promoting entropy increase," Fangli said. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

How to revive your curls without paying salon prices

Maintaining curly hair takes a lot of time and effort and sometimes no matter what you do, the frizz just cannot be tamed. While getting your hair done at the salon can be a treat, having to pay salon prices to get softness, shine and definition for your curls is just not sustainable in the long run. Enter <a href="https://www.johnfrieda.com/en-au/home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Frieda</a>'s newest Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery range, which is now infused with repairing ceramides designed to transform frizzy and damaged hair. The Miraculous Recovery Repairing shampoo and conditioner are two of my personal faves, as I could feel the difference in how soft my hair felt after the first use. Not only are the products safe for colour-treated hair, they also made my curls more manageable and easy to style, with the effects lasting for two days, which is amazing considering how quickly my curls can go limp. I also loved how subtle the scent was, and found the most effective way of applying the conditioner was to comb it through my hair with a detangling brush in the shower, as it helps distribute the product evenly. While different curls all need slightly different care, I found the shampoo provided the perfect balance of cleaning build-up on my hair without leaving it dry or flaky. The star of the range was definitely the All-in-1 extra strength serum, which provided extra protection for my colour-treated and chemically treated hair. I love that you can apply this product through wet or dry hair, and it was the perfect way to revive my curls. The Finishing Creme was a bit too thick for my fine, curly hair, but for those with tighter curls or those looking for some extra moisture during more humid days, a light layer of the product would surely tame any flyaways or frizz. With most of their products retailing for around $20 it is an affordable solution to bringing life back into colour-treated and damaged curls. The product can be found in all major supermarkets and pharmacies across <a href="https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/shop-online/5571/john-frieda-haircare" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AU</a> and <a href="https://www.chemistwarehouse.co.nz/shop-online/5571/john-frieda-haircare" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ</a>. Images: Supplied

Beauty & Style

Readers response: What are your tips for saving money effectively?

During a time where many people are struggling with the cost of living crisis, many are finding different ways to pinch the pennies. We asked our readers for their top tips for saving money efficiently, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Anita Thornton - Every month the bank takes a specified amount out of my current account and puts it in a goal saver account! It soon mounts up. Jo Davidson - Do your own cooking, cleaning and anything that you can do yourself. Barry Webber - Know the difference between spending money and wasting money. Peter Connolly - Save first, and spend afterwards. Heather O'Flynn - Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves, even if it's a bit outdated now. You can ask your bank to move a set amount from your everyday account into a progress saver account each week and if you set it and forget it, you will get good compounding interest. Erlinda Nabong Mayers - Shop as you need, not as you want. Margie Buckingham - Have a goal to aim for. Len Rawlings - Don't spend if you don't need to. Image credits: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

The travel hack giving travellers two holidays in one

When it comes to a long-haul flight, a stopover can be exactly what you need to stretch your legs and recharge before the next leg of your journey. But some eager travellers are getting even more out of their stopovers, by booking a few nights in their stopover destination and effectively getting two holidays in one. The “two-for-one holiday” trend is especially popular for those travelling from Australia and New Zealand, as it takes many, many hours to travel from Oceania to Europe, the US, or basically anywhere else in the world. Rather than looking at layovers as a hassle that just prolongs your journey, data shows that travellers are opting to use them as a way to explore new destinations and extend their holidays. According to data from travel search engine <a href="https://www.skyscanner.com.au/">Skyscanner</a>, there has been a notable uptick in bookings for long-haul flights to destinations such as Istanbul, London, Shanghai, and India. When travelling to Europe or the US, many travellers stopover in Asian cities such as Hong Kong, Bangkok in Thailand, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, or Singapore. Alternatively, many stopovers occur in the UAE and Middle East area, with some flights stopping in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, or even Qatar. It’s easy to book your stopover holiday when booking your flights. Just select your original flight to your final destination, but change your second flight to leave the stopover destination a few days later. Skyscanner's travel expert Cyndi Hui told <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/holiday-hacks-two-in-one-stopover-destination/9e77c117-3a14-49a0-903f-b9847bc92fe0">9Travel</a> of the travel hack: "With Australia being so far from many global hubs, taking the time to enjoy a stopover instead of rushing through airports allows Australians to truly make the most of their travel experiences". "It's a savvy way to make the most of their travel time, turning what used to be just a stopover into a memorable part of the adventure." Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

You’re probably brushing your teeth wrong – here are four tips for better dental health

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clement-seeballuck-583867">Clement Seeballuck</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicola-innes-388237">Nicola Innes</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> We all know the advice for healthy teeth – brush twice daily and don’t eat too much sugar. So why do those of us following these instructions find we sometimes need a filling when we visit the dentist? The truth is, there’s a little more to preventing tooth decay than these guidelines suggest. Here’s what you need to know. <h2>Brush up on your skills</h2> How you brush makes a big difference. The mechanical act of brushing removes the very sticky dental plaque – a mixture of bacteria, their acids and sticky byproducts and food remnants. It forms naturally on teeth immediately after you’ve eaten but doesn’t get nasty and start to cause damage to the teeth until it reaches a certain stage of maturity. The exact amount of time this takes isn’t known but is at least more than 12 hours. Bacteria consume sugar and, as a byproduct, produce acids which dissolve mineral out of the teeth, leaving microscopic holes we can’t see. If the process isn’t stopped and they aren’t repaired, these can become big, visible cavities. Taking two minutes to brush your teeth is a good target for removing plaque and you should brush at night and one other time daily. Brushing frequently stops the bacteria developing to a stage where the species which produce the most acid can become established. Electric toothbrushes can be <a href="https://www.cochrane.org/CD002281/ORAL_poweredelectric-toothbrushes-compared-to-manual-toothbrushes-for-maintaining-oral-health">more effective than manual brushing</a> and a small toothbrush head helps to reach awkward areas in the mouth, while medium-textured bristles help you clean effectively without causing harm to gums and teeth. The main thing, however, is to get brushing! <h2>Use fluoride toothpaste and disclosing tablets</h2> Most of the benefit from brushing comes from toothpaste. The key ingredient is fluoride, which evidence shows <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD002278/full#CD002278-abs-0003">prevents tooth decay</a>. Fluoride replaces lost minerals in teeth and also makes them stronger. For maximum benefit, <a href="https://www.cochrane.org/CD007868/ORAL_comparison-between-different-concentrations-of-fluoride-toothpaste-for-preventing-tooth-decay-in-children-and-adolescents">use toothpaste with 1350-1500 ppmF</a> – that’s concentration of fluoride in parts per million – to prevent tooth decay. Check your toothpaste’s concentration by reading the ingredients on the back of the tube. <a href="https://theconversation.com/childrens-toothpaste-the-facts-80508">Not all children’s toothpastes are strong enough</a> for them to gain maximum benefit. Your dentist may prescribe higher strength fluoride toothpaste based on their assessment of your or your child’s risk of tooth decay. Plaque is difficult to see because it is whitish, like your teeth. Disclosing tablets are available in supermarkets and chemists and they make plaque more visible, showing areas you may have missed when brushing. <h2>Spit, don’t rinse</h2> At night, you produce less saliva than during the day. Because of this, your teeth have less protection from saliva and are more vulnerable to acid attacks. That’s why it’s important to remove food from your teeth before bed so plaque bacteria can’t feast overnight. Don’t eat or drink anything except water <a href="https://www.sign.ac.uk/assets/sign138.pdf">after brushing at night</a>. This also gives fluoride the longest opportunity to work. Once you’ve brushed, don’t rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash – you’re washing away the fluoride! This can be a difficult habit to break, but can <a href="https://www.sign.ac.uk/assets/sign138.pdf">reduce tooth decay by up to 25%</a>. <h2>No more than four ‘sugar hits’</h2> Intrinsic sugars are found naturally in foods like fruit and they are far less likely to cause tooth decay than added or <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/sugar-salt-and-fat/free-sugars">free sugars</a>. Free sugars are generally those added to foods by manufacturers but also include honey, syrup and fruit juices. These are all easy for bacteria to consume, metabolise and produce acids from. However, it can be difficult to tell which are the worst sugars for teeth. For example, although normal amounts of fruit are fine, fruit juices have sugar liberated from the plant cells and heavy consumption can cause decay. <a href="http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/guidelines/sugars_intake/en/">The World Health Organization</a> and <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/how-much-sugar-is-good-for-me/">NHS</a> recommend free sugars should ideally make up less than 5% of your daily calorie intake. So what does this look like? For adults and children over about 11 years old, this is around 30g – about eight teaspoons – of sugar daily. A 330ml can of Coke has <a href="https://www.coca-cola.co.uk/drinks/coca-cola/coca-cola">35g of sugar</a>. The <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phe.c4lfoodsmart&hl=en_GB">change4life app</a> is helpful to track how much sugar you consume in your diet. Although not as important as how much, how often you eat sugar also matters. Simple carbohydrates like sugar are easier for bacteria to digest than proteins or complex carbohydrates. Bacteria produce acids after they metabolise sugar which causes demineralisation. Fortunately, through the actions of fluoride toothpaste and the remineralising effects of saliva, your teeth can recover from the early stages of these attacks. It’s like having a set of scales – trying to keep the balance between sugars on one side, fluoride toothpaste and cleaning on the other. Typically, your teeth can be exposed to four “sugar hits” – episodes of sugar intake – daily without irreversible damage to the teeth. Why not try counting how many sugary hits you have a day? This includes biscuits, cups of sugary tea or coffee and other snacks with refined carbohydrates like crisps. A simple way of cutting down would be to stop putting sugar in hot drinks and limiting snacking. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, spit don’t rinse, eat and drink nothing after brushing, and don’t have sugar more than four times daily. Easy!<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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/103959/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clement-seeballuck-583867">Clement Seeballuck</a>, Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Dentistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicola-innes-388237">Nicola Innes</a>, Professor of Paediatric Dentistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/youre-probably-brushing-your-teeth-wrong-here-are-four-tips-for-better-dental-health-103959">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Readers response: What airline will you always prefer to travel with?

When it comes to travelling, many people have their preferences of their favourite airline after past good experiences. Many seasoned travellers always opt to fly with their preferred airline (when it's possible), instead of running the risk of an uncomfortable experience. We asked our readers which airline they will always prefer to travel with, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Irene Hood - Singapore Airlines. Lovely cabin crew, smooth flights every time. David Slattery - Had quite a few nice flights with Turkish, both short and long haul. Sue Packer - Just came back from Europe with Emirates, great service, great food and the plane left on time! Rick Kehoe - Qantas if available. I have never had a bad flight experience after many flights both domestic and international. Anita Thornton - Finnair is a great airline! Diane Green - For overseas travel, Japan airlines gave the best service. For domestic, Virgin. George Jan Cafcakis - Qatar! It’s definitely the best. Russell Campbell - Singapore, but I just travelled on Vietnam Airlines and they were also good. Goldie Kilford - Air New Zealand for sure. Peter King - Safety: Qantas. Service: Qatar. On time: Lufthansa & Swiss. Friendly Crews: Fiji Air and Air New Zealand. Best Cattle Class Seat Pitches: All Nippon, Korean, Japan. Worst Airline: Jetstar! Image credits: Shutterstock

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The travel hack giving travellers two holidays in one

You’re probably brushing your teeth wrong – here are four tips for better dental health

Readers response: What airline will you always prefer to travel with?

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