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How light tells you when to sleep, focus and poo

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/frederic-gachon-1379094">Frederic Gachon</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/benjamin-weger-1646210">Benjamin Weger</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> Exposure to light is crucial for our physical and mental health, as this and future articles in the series will show. But the timing of that light exposure is also crucial. This tells our body to wake up in the morning, when to poo and the time of day to best focus or be alert. When we’re exposed to light also controls our body temperature, blood pressure and even chemical reactions in our body. But how does our body know when it’s time to do all this? And what’s light got to do with it? <h2>What is the body clock, actually?</h2> One of the key roles of light is to re-set our body clock, also known as the circadian clock. This works like an internal oscillator, similar to an actual clock, ticking away as you read this article. But rather than ticking you can hear, the body clock is a network of genes and proteins that regulate each other. This network sends signals to organs via hormones and the nervous system. These complex loops of interactions and communications have a rhythm of about 24 hours. In fact, we don’t have one clock, we have trillions of body clocks throughout the body. The central clock is in the hypothalamus region of the brain, and each cell in every organ has its own. These clocks work in concert to help us adapt to the daily cycle of light and dark, aligning our body’s functions with the time of day. However, our body clock is not precise and works to a rhythm of about 24 hours (24 hours 30 minutes on average). So every morning, the central clock needs to be reset, signalling the start of a new day. This is why light is so important. The central clock is directly connected to <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/07487304231225706">light-sensing cells</a> in our retinas (the back of the eye). This daily re-setting of the body clock with morning light is essential for ensuring our body works well, in sync with our environment. In parallel, <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-it-matter-what-time-of-day-i-eat-and-can-intermittent-fasting-improve-my-health-heres-what-the-science-says-203762">when we eat food</a> also plays a role in re-setting the body clock, but this time the clock in organs other than the brain, such as the liver, kidneys or the gut. So it’s easy to see how our daily routines are closely linked with our body clocks. And in turn, our body clocks shape how our body works at set times of the day. <h2>What time of day?</h2> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/627494/original/file-20241023-14-729bed.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/627494/original/file-20241023-14-729bed.gif?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/627494/original/file-20241023-14-729bed.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/627494/original/file-20241023-14-729bed.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/627494/original/file-20241023-14-729bed.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/627494/original/file-20241023-14-729bed.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/627494/original/file-20241023-14-729bed.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/627494/original/file-20241023-14-729bed.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>Matt Garrow/The Conversation. <a class="source" href="https://delos.com/blog/why-natural-light-is-important-for-mental-and-physical-health/">Adapted from Delos</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></figcaption></figure> <h2>Let’s take a closer look at sleep</h2> The naturally occurring brain hormone <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30311830/">melatonin</a> is linked to our central clock and makes us feel sleepy at certain times of day. When it’s light, our body stops making melatonin (its production is inhibited) and we are alert. Closer to bedtime, the hormone is made, then secreted, making us feel drowsy. Our sleep is also <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2019.00944/full">partly controlled</a> by <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-genom-121222-120306">our genes</a>, which are part of our central clock. These genes influence our <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-it-matter-what-time-i-go-to-bed-198146">chronotype</a> – whether we are a “lark” (early riser), “night owl” (late sleeper) or a “dove” (somewhere in between). But exposure to light at night when we are supposed to be sleeping can have harmful effects. Even dim light from light pollution can impair our <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2113290119">heart rate and how we metabolise sugar</a> (glucose), may lead to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00135-8">psychiatric disorders</a> such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, and increases the overall risk of <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2405924121">premature death</a>. The main reason for these harmful effects is that light “at the wrong time” disturbs the body clock, and these effects are more pronounced for “night owls”. This “misaligned” exposure to light is also connected to the detrimental health effects we often see in people who <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-does-night-shift-increase-the-risk-of-cancer-diabetes-and-heart-disease-heres-what-we-know-so-far-190652">work night shifts</a>, such as an increased risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. <h2>How about the gut?</h2> Digestion also follows a circadian rhythm. Muscles in the colon that help move waste <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1572-0241.2004.40453.x">are more active</a> during the day and slow down at night. The most significant increase in colon movement starts at 6.30am. This is one of the reasons why most people feel the urge to poo <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-poo-in-the-morning-a-gut-expert-explains-229624">in the early morning</a> rather than at night. The gut’s day-night rhythm is a direct result of the action of the gut’s own clock and the central clock (which synchronises the gut with the rest of the body). It’s also influenced by when we eat. <h2>How about focusing?</h2> Our body clock also helps control our attention and alertness levels by changing how our brain functions at certain times of day. Attention and alertness levels improve in the afternoon and evening but dip during the night and early morning. Those fluctuations <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2012.00050/full">impact performance</a> and can lead to decreased productivity and an <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-40914-x">increased risk</a> of errors and accidents during the less-alert hours. So it’s important to perform certain tasks that <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30923475/">require our attention</a> at certain times of day. That includes driving. In fact, disruption of the circadian clock at the start of daylight savings – when our body hasn’t had a chance to adapt to the clocks changing – <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982219316781?via%3Dihub">increases the risk</a> of a car accident, particularly in the morning. <h2>What else does our body clock control?</h2> Our body clock influences many other aspects of our biology, including: <ul> <li>physical performance by controlling the activity of our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-023-00805-8">muscles</a></li> <li>blood pressure by controlling the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-time-of-day-should-i-take-my-medicine-125809">system of hormones</a> involved in regulating our blood volume and blood vessels</li> <li>body temperature by controlling our metabolism and our level of physical activity</li> <li>how our body handles drugs and toxins by <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/17460441.2023.2224554">controlling enzymes</a> involved in how the liver and kidneys eliminate these substances from the body.</li> </ul> <h2>Morning light is important</h2> But what does this all mean for us? Exposure to light, especially in the morning, is crucial for synchronising our circadian clock and bodily functions. As well as setting us up for a good night’s sleep, increased morning light exposure benefits our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032721008612?via%3Dihub">mental health</a> and <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/101/9/3539/2806883">reduces the risk of obesity</a>. So boosting our exposure to morning light – for example, by going for a walk, or having breakfast outside – can directly benefit our mental and metabolic health. However, there are other aspects about which we have less control, including <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168952524001100">the genes</a> that control our body clock.<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/236780/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/frederic-gachon-1379094">Frederic Gachon</a>, Associate Professor, Physiology of Circadian Rhythms, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/benjamin-weger-1646210">Benjamin Weger</a>, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow Institute for Molecular Bioscience, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</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-light-tells-you-when-to-sleep-focus-and-poo-236780">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Men have a biological clock too. Here’s what’s more likely when dads are over 50

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karin-hammarberg-113096">Karin Hammarberg</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> We hear a lot about women’s biological clock and how age affects the chance of pregnancy. <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821811#google_vignette">New research shows</a> men’s fertility is also affected by age. When dads are over 50, the risk of pregnancy complications increases. Data from more than 46 million births in the <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821811#google_vignette">United States</a> between 2011 and 2022 compared fathers in their 30s with fathers in their 50s. While taking into account the age of the mother and other factors known to affect pregnancy outcomes, the researchers found every ten-year increase in paternal age was linked to more complications. The researchers found that compared to couples where the father was aged 30–39, for couples where the dad was in his 50s, there was a: <ul> <li>16% increased risk of preterm birth</li> <li>14% increased risk of low birth weight</li> <li>13% increase in gestational diabetes.</li> </ul> The older fathers were also twice as likely to have used assisted reproductive technology, including IVF, to conceive than their younger counterparts. <h2>Dads are getting older</h2> In this <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821811#google_vignette">US study</a>, the mean age of all fathers increased from 30.8 years in 2011 to 32.1 years in 2022. In that same period, the proportion of men aged 50 years or older fathering a child increased from 1.1% to 1.3%. We don’t know the proportion of men over 50 years who father children in Australia, but data shows the average age of fathers has increased. In 1975 the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/births-australia/latest-release">median age of Australian dads</a> was 28.6 years. This jumped to 33.7 years in 2022. <h2>How male age affects getting pregnant</h2> As we know from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/celebrities-dads-first-time-over-age-50#when-he-was-54-simon-cowell-and-girlfriend-lauren-silverman-became-parents-to-their-son-eric-7">media reports</a> of celebrity dads, men produce sperm from puberty throughout life and can father children well into old age. However, there is a noticeable decline in <a href="https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(18)30269-3/fulltext">sperm quality</a> from about age 40. Female partners of older men take longer to achieve pregnancy than those with younger partners. A study of the effect of male age on <a href="https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(03)00366-2/fulltext">time to pregnancy</a> showed women with male partners aged 45 or older were almost five times more likely to take more than a year to conceive compared to those with partners aged 25 or under. More than three quarters (76.8%) of men under the age of 25 years impregnated their female partners within six months, compared with just over half (52.9%) of men over the age of 45. Pooled data from ten studies showed that partners of older men are also more likely to experience miscarriage. Compared to couples where the male was aged 25 to 29 years, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32358607/">paternal age over 45 years</a> increased the risk of miscarriage by 43%. <h2>Older men are more likely to need IVF</h2> Outcomes of assisted reproductive technology, such as IVF, are also influenced by the age of the male partner. A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.03.031">review of studies</a> in couples using assisted reproductive technologies found paternal age under 40 years reduced the risk of miscarriage by about 25% compared to couples with men aged over 40. Having a male under 40 years also almost doubled the chance of a live birth per treatment cycle. With a man over 40, 17.6% of treatment rounds resulted in a live birth, compared to 28.4% when the male was under 40. <h2>How does male age affect the health outcomes of children?</h2> As a result of age-related changes in sperm DNA, the children of older fathers have increased risk of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9957550/">a number of conditions</a>. Autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and leukaemia have been linked to the father’s advanced years. A <a href="https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(22)01979-3/fulltext">review of studies</a> assessing the impact of advanced paternal age reported that children of older fathers have increased rates of psychiatric disease and behavioural impairments. But while the increased risk of adverse health outcomes linked to older paternal age is real, the magnitude of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29471389/">the effect is modest</a>. It’s important to remember that an increase in a very small risk is still a small risk and most children of older fathers are born healthy and develop well. <h2>Improving your health can improve your fertility</h2> In addition to the effects of older age, some chronic conditions that affect fertility and reproductive outcomes become more common as men get older. They include <a href="https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(23)01935-0/fulltext">obesity and diabetes</a> which affect sperm quality by lowering testosterone levels. While we can’t change our age, some lifestyle factors that increase the risk of pregnancy complications and reduce fertility, can be tackled. They include: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4639396/">smoking</a></li> <li>recreational <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/tre.414">drug taking</a></li> <li><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/tre.414">anabolic steroid</a> use</li> <li>heavy <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5504800/">alcohol consumption</a>.</li> </ul> <h2>Get the facts about the male biological clock</h2> Research shows <a href="https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/23/4/458/3065332?login=false">men want children</a> as much as women do. And most men want at least two children. Yet most men <a href="https://academic.oup.com/humupd/article/23/4/458/3065332?login=false">lack knowledge</a> about the limitations of female and male fertility and overestimate the chance of getting pregnant, with and without assisted reproductive technologies. We need better public education, starting at school, to improve awareness of the impact of male and female age on reproductive outcomes and help people have healthy babies. For men wanting to improve their chance of conceiving, the government-funded sites <a href="https://healthymale.org.au/">Healthy Male</a> and <a href="https://www.yourfertility.org.au/">Your Fertility</a> are a good place to start. These offer evidence-based and accessible information about reproductive health, and <a href="https://www.yourfertility.org.au/fertility-week-2022">tips</a> to improve your reproductive health and give your children the best start in life.<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/236892/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/karin-hammarberg-113096">Karin Hammarberg</a>, Senior Research Fellow, Global and Women's Health, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash 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/men-have-a-biological-clock-too-heres-whats-more-likely-when-dads-are-over-50-236892">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Beat jet lag with these tips and tricks

Tossing and turning, eating because you’re bored and trying to pry your eyes open after a long-haul flight. If you’ve experienced one of these while flying, I am sure you’re well aware of the woes that, unfortunately, come with jet lag. While jetting off is an exciting time, the out-of-whack body clock is most certainly not! The key to beating jet lag is understanding what it is and what is going on with your body. Put simply, jet lag means your circadian rhythm (a fancy name for body clock) is out of synch with its new environment. It’s likely to occur when you cross four or more time zones at once. While travel in the westward direction is said to be kinder on the body clock, either which way you fly, jet lag is an annoyance I am sure everyone would prefer to do without. If your trip involves travelling across five time zones, you might want to consider a stopover. Here are some other helpful little tricks that actually work. Sleep bank Prior to flying ensure you are getting enough sleep. Don’t stay up the night before a flight thinking you’ll sleep on the plane because if you can’t get to sleep on the plane you will be out of whack. Instead, in the days prior to take-off, try and get as much good quality sleep as you can. Time-zone trickery The key to beating jet lag is all the smooth transition between two time zones. Map out a plan before you get on board and set your clock to the time at your destination as you get on board. You’ll want to divide your flight time to accommodate time zone transition. For example, the flight from Sydney to LA might leave at midday but reach LAX at 5.30am. Given that 12pm Sydney is 5pm in LA, and the flight is about 13 hours, you should spend no more that the first half of the flight awake. Tailor the inflight services to your needs, even if that means missing a meal (often breakfast) so you can sneak in an extra hour of shut-eye. Dress right Although being able to easily fall asleep does have a lot to do with how comfortable you are, there are other factors, ones within your control, which you should consider. For instance wearing a good quality eye mask to block out light and choosing light, comfortable clothing made from a nice natural fabric that breathes (such as cotton) will help you get comfy and ready for sleep. Obviously lying down helps but failing be able to fly business class, at least try and choose your seat. Eat light You should watch what you eat not only before you fly but also on the flight too. Before you jet off you’ll want to steer clear of rich, heavy foods. Instead opt for lighter meals that include veggies. This is so your stomach doesn’t have to go into heavy-duty digestion mode once you’re on-board. If you can, make your pre-flight meal your main one and then eat light on the flight, leaning towards foods that are easy to digest. It’s better for your stomach to have two smaller meals when you fly allowing yourself ample digestion time in between rather that quickly eating a three-course meal. Say no to drugs Try to avoid using sleeping tablets as they tend to disrupt normal sleep cycles and may prolong jetlag. Drink H20 Water is your best ally when fighting jet lag. It’s best to buy a bottle before you board so you always have a supply with you. Most planes (unless you’re in business or above) only serve water by the glass. Limit caffeine and alcohol You should minimise, if not cease, your intake of caffeine and alcohol and ensure you are well hydrated before and during the flight. You might think a couple of glasses of wine will send you off into a nice deep sleep, but not only alcohol dehydrate you, it also tends to result in inefficient sleep. Keep active Regular physical activity – such as walking around the plane and stretching – may also be beneficial. Stop-over strategy If you have a stop-over take advantage of what is available to you. If this is not a good time to sleep for the timezone you’re heading to, don’t! Instead have a shower (they’re often at big airports and can be used by anyone for a small fee), stock up on another light meal and avoid sitting around. Going for a walk around it a good way to stay awake and stimulated. If you can get some fresh air, do! Landing strategy As soon as possible after landing you’ll want to take a shower and have breakfast – if it’s breakfast time. Look for high protein options avoiding the easy carb route and get a good portion of salads or greens. A fresh juice is also a good option. And if you like your coffee, go for it. A good shot of coffee will reboot your energy levels. Berocca can also be helpful. If it’s daytime when you land, go out and expose yourself to daylight – the stimulus will help reset your body clock by regulating melatonin. And although you may feel like going to bed, stay awake and be somewhat physically active at least until sundown. Immediately adopting the local time is the best way to crush jet lag in just a few days: don’t go to bed before 10pm when you land, and get yourself out of bed before 10am on the first morning. Nothing quite kills motivation as much as jet lag, and when you land, the last thing you want to do is head out for a nice long walk or light jog, but pushing yourself to doing just that is one of the best things for you. It will help you revitalise your numb muscles after the flight, and give you more energy during the following days. If you have a beach or pool nearby, go for a swim. It is sure to give you a revitalised feeling. The general rule is you should exercise a night if you travelled westwards, and in the morning if you travelled eastwards. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

Schapelle Corby's unique career change

Former convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has turned her creative passion into a new career move. The 44-year-old began making beach-themed epoxy clocks in her spare time, after she taught herself the art in 2020. Each clock she makes takes five days to complete, is made on recycled wood and features her signature, as she sells her creations on Instagram. “I’m self taught and through a lot of trial and error I’m happy with where I am creatively with my clocks,” Corby told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/drug-smuggler-schapelle-corbys-bizarre-career-change/news-story/91cdd64b005a180df8bff19806d6943e" target="_blank">Confidential</a>. “I’m mainly inspired to do beach theme art work. I do all the work by myself, sanding, drilling etc. All of the shells used are collected by myself mainly on the low tide of a full moon. I remember each shell I find and while I’m working on my creations I really feel love for each piece of the process.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO1v3kULRA4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CO1v3kULRA4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Schapellecorby (@schapelle.corby)</a> </div> </blockquote> Schapelle became somewhat of a reality TV star following her release from spending 10 years in Bali's infamous Kerobokan prison. She appeared on the first season of SAS Australia, before also trying her hand at Dancing With The Stars. Now residing in Brisbane, her epoxy clock business takes up most of her time. “Epoxy resin has become more than just a hobby for me. It really occupies most of my thoughts,” she said. “I’m continually thinking of an epoxy problem, and finding solutions fills my dreams also. “I’ve dreamt of certain creations vividly, woke and got to work creating what came to me in a dream. This creative art form has given me so much purpose to my days; I absolutely love this passion of mine.” Image credits: Instagram @schapelle.corby

Money & Banking

Julie Bishop clocks up 21K steps before noon

Julie Bishop has shared how she stays fit amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 63-year-old took to Instagram on Tuesday to post the data from her daily fitness routine, which included walking, running and perfecting her handstand. “Exercise goal #covidstyle was 10k steps in morning 10k steps in evening,” she wrote. The former foreign minister shared that she ran to Cottesloe Beach in the morning and clocked up 21,630 steps by 11.30am that day. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-86OIshLb0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-86OIshLb0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Exercise goal #covidstyle was 10k steps in morning 10k steps in evening but today went mad and🏃‍♀️#cottesloe and return so 21k steps before noon😬Now what?🤷‍♀️Ah ha! Perfect a handstand!🤸‍♀️ #isolife</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/honjuliebishop/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> The Hon Julie Bishop</a> (@honjuliebishop) on Apr 13, 2020 at 11:45pm PDT </div> </blockquote> According to the post, Bishop’s activity stood at 19.7km walking and running distance and 20 flights climbed. Bishop’s “impressive” active routine received praises in the comment section. “Wow, putting us all to shame,” one wrote. “Iso inspo! Better put the Easter eggs down and get moving,” another added.

Beauty & Style

Australians on board the Diamond Princess need to go into quarantine again: It’s time to reset the clock

The evacuation of about 180 passengers pm February 20th from the cruise ship Diamond Princess to serve another period of quarantine back in Australia has raised questions about the best way to control spread of the coronavirus. The passengers had already spent 14 days quarantined on board the ship, which had been docked in Japan, and now face another 14 days at the Howard Springs quarantine facility close to Darwin. By contrast, Japan’s health ministry is allowing <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/world/asia/japan-cruise-ship-coronavirus.html">hundreds of people</a> to leave the ship without being subject to further quarantine. So what’s behind Australia’s announcement to impose a second quarantine period? And what were conditions like on board to prompt this decision? What’s quarantine? Quarantines have been put in place around the world as part of the global public health response to COVID-19 – the disease caused by a new coronavirus, now named SARS-CoV-2. The idea is to limit the spread of the virus within and between countries. Formal measures designed to limit contact between infected (or potentially infected) people are called “social distancing”. And they have been used to control communicable diseases for <a href="https://www.bible.com/bible/116/LEV.13.NLT">at least 2,500 years</a>. Today, the term <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5229a2.htm">quarantine refers to</a> the separation or restriction of movement of people who are not ill but are believed to have been exposed to an infectious disease. This differs to isolation, which is the term used for the separation or restriction of movement of people who are ill, thereby minimising onward transmission. How long should quarantine last? Quarantine periods are determined by certain characteristics of the infectious agent, most notably the incubation period. This is the period between being exposed to it and symptoms appearing. For COVID-19, the <a href="https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.5.2000062">average incubation period</a> is thought to be around six days, and can range from two to 11 days. While a <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.06.20020974v1.full.pdf">preliminary report</a> has suggested a longer incubation period of up to 24 days, this is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.25708">considered unlikely</a>. People who have been in close contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19 are considered to have been potentially exposed to the virus. As a precaution, these people are placed in quarantine, essentially to “sit out” their potential incubation period. The quarantine period of 14 days currently being used in Australia and elsewhere for COVID-19 takes into account the maximum known incubation period for this disease, plus a few extra days as a reasonable precaution. In quarantine, people will either develop the disease and have symptoms or they will remain well. In theory, if a person remains well after their period of quarantine, they are deemed uninfected and restrictions are lifted. Another factor that influences how long someone needs to be quarantined is the infectious period. That’s the period during which the infection can be transmitted from one person to another. If the infectious period starts before the symptoms (from asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic individuals), the virus can be transmitted silently. This can substantially complicate disease prevention and control. When a new virus emerges – as with SARS-CoV-2 – the infectious period is largely unknown. While the proportion of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic COVID-19 cases is not clear, it is increasingly apparent people can be infected <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2001899?query=RP">without having any symptoms</a>. However, further evidence is needed to see if these people can infect others. When is it best to extend the quarantine period? Crucial to quarantine is ensuring that best possible infection control practices are put in place to prevent ongoing transmission. It is also essential to assess real-time data about newly diagnosed cases, which tells us how effective quarantine measures have been. In some circumstances, it may be necessary to extend a person’s period of quarantine, as in the case of the Australian citizens on board the cruise ship Diamond Princess. So, what happened on board the Diamond Princess? <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports">Data from the World Health Organisation</a> (WHO) give us clues to what’s behind Australia’s decision to impose a second period of quarantine. The graph below shows there may have been up to four possible waves of infections on board, including an initial undetected wave before quarantine measures were imposed. Evidence of ongoing transmission during the quarantine period supports the decision by several countries to evacuate their citizens from the Diamond Princess, including Australia, to “reset the clock” and to impose a further 14-day quarantine period. This additional measure – while causing considerable and understandable frustration to those affected – is designed to limit transmission of COVID-19 within Australia. The rights of individuals versus public good Implementing public health measures, such as isolation and quarantine, requires decision-making that <a href="https://www.who.int/healthsystems/topics/health-law/chapter10.pdf">balances the rights</a> of individuals and public good. When appropriately designed and implemented, quarantine and isolation work. Even when quarantine is not absolutely adhered to, it can still be effective at reducing the likelihood of large-scale outbreaks. With <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92450/">SARS</a> (severe acute respiratory syndrome), these strategies were thought to have been an important part in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1691853/">controlling the epidemic</a>, though they were <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5229a2.htm">resource and labour intensive</a>. Written by Stacey L Rowe and Benjamin Cowie. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/yes-australians-on-board-the-diamond-princess-need-to-go-into-quarantine-again-its-time-to-reset-the-clock-131906">The Conversation.</a>

Cruising

How stress speeds up your chromosomes’ ageing clock

Ageing is an inevitability for all living organisms, and although we still don’t know exactly why our bodies gradually grow ever more decrepit, we are starting to grasp how it happens. Our new research, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ele.13426">published in Ecology Letters</a>, pinpoints factors that influence one of the most important aspects of the ageing process, at the fundamental level of our DNA. It suggests how stress can cause the biochemical body clock built into our chromosomes to tick faster. DNA - the genetic material in our cells - does not float freely in cells’ nuclei, but is organised into clumps called chromosomes. When a cell divides and produces a replica of itself, it has to make a copy of its DNA, and because of the way this process works, a tiny portion is always lost at one end of each DNA molecule. To protect vital portions of DNA from being lost in the process, the ends of chromosomes are capped with special sequences called <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/telomere">telomeres</a>. These are gradually whittled away during successive cell divisions. This gradual loss of telomeres acts like a cellular clock: with each replication they get shorter, and at a certain point they become too short, forcing the cell into a programmed death process. The key question is what this process, which plays out on a cellular level, actually means for our mortality. Does the fate of individual cells really matter so much? Does the ticking telomere clock really count down the remaining time our bodies have to live? Cellular ageing is just one of many components of ageing - but it’s one of the most important. Gradual deterioration of our body’s tissues, and the irreversible death of our cells, are responsible for the most conspicuous effects of ageing such as loss of physical fitness, deterioration of connective tissues leading to skin wrinkles, or neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. <h2>What makes us tick?</h2> Another crucial question is: are there factors that speed up or slow down the loss of our ticking telomeres? So far, our answers to this question have been incomplete. Studies have provided glimpses of possible mechanisms, suggesting that things like <a href="https://science.sciencemag.org/content/347/6220/436/tab-figures-data">infections</a> or even <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jeb.12479">dedicating extra energy to reproduction</a> might accelerate telomere shortening and speed up cellular ageing. This evidence is piecemeal, but these factors all seem to have one thing in common: they cause “physiological stress”. Broadly speaking, our cells are stressed when their biochemical processes are disrupted, either by a lack of resources or for some other reason. If cells lose too much water, for example, we might say they are in “dehydration stress”. More familiar types of stress also count. Tiredness and overwork put us under chronic stress, as does feeling anxious for prolonged periods. <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180712141715.htm">Lack of sleep</a> or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763246/">emotional stress</a> can alter internal cellular pathways, including telomere functioning. With this in mind, we asked ourselves one simple question. Can various types of stress experienced by an individual actually accelerate their rate of ageing? <h2>Stress and strain</h2> In our research, led by my colleague Marion Chatelain of the University of Warsaw (currently University of Innsbruck), we chose to look at this question as broadly as possible. Many studies have looked at this problem in specific species, such as mice, rats, and various fish and bird species (both wild and in the lab). We compiled the available evidence into a summary of the existing knowledge, across all vertebrate organisms studied so far. The emerging picture clearly suggests that telomere loss is profoundly impacted by stress. All else being equal, stress does indeed hasten telomere loss and accelerate the internal cellular clock. Importantly, the type of stress matters: by far the strongest negative impact is caused by pathogen infections, competition for resources, and intensive investment in reproduction. Other stressors, such as poor diet, human disturbance or urban living, also hastened cellular ageing, although to a lesser extent. <h2>Getting radical</h2> A natural question arises: what makes stress exert such a powerful influence on cellular clocks? Is there a single mechanism, or many? Our analysis may have identified one possible candidate: “oxidative stress”. When cells are stressed, this often manifests itself through an accumulation of oxidising molecules, such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-the-untrue-story-of-antioxidants-vs-free-radicals-15920">free radicals</a>. Residing at the exposed ends of our chromosomes, telomeres are perfect targets for attack by these chemically reactive molecules. Our analysis suggests that, regardless of the type of stress experienced, this oxidative stress might be the actual biochemical process that links stress and telomere loss. As to whether this means that we should eat more <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/antioxidant">antioxidants</a> to guard our telomeres, this certainly requires more research. I know what you’re wondering: does this mean we have discovered the secret of ageing? Can we use this knowledge to slow the ageing process or stop it in its tracks? The short answer is: no. Ageing is too fundamental to our biology to get rid of it completely. But our study does underline an important truth: by reducing stress, we can do our bodies a big favour. In the modern world, it is hard to escape stress completely, but we can make everyday decisions to reduce it. Get enough sleep, drink enough water, eat healthily and don’t push yourself too hard. It won’t buy you eternal life, but it should keep your cells ticking along nicely. <hr /> The author thanks his colleagues <a href="https://www.uibk.ac.at/ecology/staff/persons/chatelain.html.en">Marion Chatelain</a> and <a href="https://cent.uw.edu.pl/en/person/prof-marta-szulkin/">Marta Szulkin</a> for their contributions to this article and the research on which it is based.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/127728/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Written by Szymek Drobniak, DECRA Fellow, UNSW. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/tick-tock-how-stress-speeds-up-your-chromosomes-ageing-clock-127728" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Body

Life appreciation the key to better health

It’s nothing new that our thoughts can shape how we feel. Just imagine how those positive feelings are tingling through your body and telling you ‘this is going to be a great day!’ The problem is the positive feeling doesn’t seem to come on demand. But according to the <a href="http://www.heartmath.org/">Institute of HeartMath</a>, you can take control of your feelings by practicing Heartfelt Appreciation. In fact they believe that heartfelt appreciation can facilitate the healing of the human body and spirit and that sincere heartfelt appreciation uplifts, inspires and drives us to achieve that which we did not think possible. It may be hard to believe that something as simple as appreciation can make you feel happier and even give your heart a healthy boost. So keeping the potential benefits in mind let’s try a simple Appreciation Exercise right now. It only takes a minute – and you may be surprised by the results. Appreciation Exercise - Heart Breathing Focus your attention on your heart area, and breathe a little deeper than normal, in for 5 or 6 seconds and out for 5 or 6 seconds. Heart Focus: Imagine breathing through your heart. Picture yourself slowly breathing in and out through your heart area. Appreciation List Make a list of things you appreciate – people, places, activities, and pets –and choose one or two each morning to hold in your heart during the day. Choose an item again at night to hold in your heart while you rest. How do you feel? Do you notice a greater sense of ease, wellbeing or relaxation? Appreciation Breaks Take two or three appreciation breaks each day – ideally in early morning, during a midday break and upon returning home or before bed. Just follow the simple steps as above. It takes as little as two minutes to achieve mental, emotional and physical balance. Appreciation in the Moment Keep your Appreciation List close all day, in a pocket or purse, by your computer or elsewhere. In stressful moments, choose an item that can quickly evoke appreciation. It can turn a stressful day into one that flows – in 30 seconds or less. Engage the power of your heart to generate and sustain feelings of appreciation to help increase your own wellbeing. Practicing these appreciation exercises accelerates your connection with your own heart. Appreciating ourselves and others helps restore the colour to our black-and-white perception of life. By simply activating a positive feeling of sincere appreciation, you can increase your heart rhythm coherence, reduce emotional stress and improve your health. Consider practicing appreciation every day. Reprinted with permission of Institute of HeartMath. © 2013 Institute of HeartMath Written by Pernille. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/health/life-appreciation-the-key-to-better-health.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Retirement Life

Are your hands ageing you? 3 ways to reverse the clock

As women, we spend an enormous amount of money on lotions and potions that promise to keep the skin on our face looking younger than our years. We hope that these investments will keep others second guessing, as they fight over how old we really are. And while we hear time and time again how important it is to take care of our skin, what we fail to listen to is that this doesn’t just include our face – but our hands as well. The skin on our hands age the fastest and it makes sense as to why. They’re constantly working hard. Whether they’re exposed to the sun for long periods of time, or they’re suffering from the drying affect of dishwashing soap when washing the dishes. And here’s the cold hard truth: The skin on your face can be wrinkle free and devoid of any blemish, but if you fail to take care of your hands, it will give away your age faster than anything else. As we get older, a number of conditions can affect our hands. We experience bruising a lot easier, and the skin becomes thinner, exposing veins we didn’t even know we had. Here are the steps to ensure youthful hands for eternity: 1. Moisturise Keep a hydrating hand cream in your hand bag, on your desk, in the car, basically wherever you go, your hand cream goes too. Bonus points if it has wrinkle-fighting ingredients such as retinol or glycolic acid. 2. Protect your hands Enjoy gardening? Or maybe you’re constantly standing by the sink washing dishes. Whatever the situation, try and wear gloves if it calls for it. Not only do gloves protect your hands from sun exposure, but also harsh chemicals that we’re regularly exposed to. 3. Eat for your skin and nails Beauty starts from within, and while it may sound like a cliché, it’s an important lesson to understand. A diet rich with nutrients will stop the clock faster than expensive skincare. Look for ingredients such as Omega-3s, B vitamins, vitamin C, antioxidants and protein. Do you have any anti-ageing tips you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below.

Beauty & Style

When to turn your clocks forward one hour

As the weather slowly starts to warm up and the days start to get longer, it’s a reminder that the start of Daylight Savings is only a few weeks away. Mark the date in your diary! The clocks will go forward one hour in NSW, ACT, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania at 2 am on Sunday, October 7. Daylight Savings will remain in place for 6 months until April 7 next year, where it will be going back an hour. Daylight Saving Time is observed in NSW, ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

News

10 simple tips to get younger looking skin

As we get older, many things affect our skin. Unfortunately, some of these things we can’t do anything about, as they are part of the natural ageing process. We might get lines on our face, or our skin becomes drier and thinner. Whether these changes actually occur is largely down to our genes, and medical professionals refer to this as intrinsic ageing. Good news! There is another type of ageing that we can influence – extrinsic ageing. This is caused by our lifestyle choices, as well as the environment we live in. By taking some preventative measures, we can slow the effects of extrinsic ageing on our skin. Here are our top 10 tips: 1. Keep your face out of the sun Protect your face by using sunscreen every day. Don’t just rely on the sunscreen in your moisturiser, apply another layer of sunscreen about 15 minutes before leaving the house. In addition, sit in the shade when you can, wear large-brimmed hats, and protect the delicate area around your eyes with sunglasses. 2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate After sun damage, dehydration is probably the second most common cause of prematurely ageing skin. Water makes up around 65% of our bodies, and experts recommend that we drink 8-10 glasses of water every day. Carry a bottle of water with you wherever you go, so you can keep topped up. 3. Increase your daily dose of vitamin C A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found women over 40 with the highest amount of vitamin C in their diet were associated with better skin appearance than those who consumed lower levels. <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/vitamin-c">Good sources of vitamin C</a> are red peppers, dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli and sprouts, tomatoes, oranges and kiwi fruit. Using a high concentrate vitamin C skincare range such as D’lumiere Esthetique by Dr Lanzer is an excellent antioxidant for your skin. 4. Have a good skincare regime Follow a daily skincare routine that includes cleansing, toning and moisturising. No matter how much you want to just hit the pillow, make sure you cleanse your face before going to bed at night, and follow a regular routine every morning. <img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7268404/dr-lanzer-image-3_opt_500x334.jpg" alt="Dr Lanzer Image 3_opt"/> 5. Exfoliate Exfoliating – or the removal of dry/dead skin cells on the surface of your skin – is one of the most important aspects of your skincare routine. Increased blood circulation will help your skin to appear healthier and glowing too. Finding skin products with AHAs help to exfoliate and get rid of dead skin build-up. 6. Get enough sleep Much of the daily damage we do to our skin is repaired by our body when we sleep. But make sure you get good quality sleep, without interruptions or restless tossing and turning, for best results. Switch electronic devices off, and make sure your room is dark and not too stuffy. 7. Ditch the stress Yes, stress really does affect your skin. People who are under intense or prolonged pressure often show increased levels of the hormone cortisol, which can damage collagen and elastin and decrease the skin’s ability to repair itself. 8. Keep to a constant weight Often, weight gain or weight loss is not visible in the places where we would most like it to show. Even adding or losing as little as 4-5kg can have an effect on your skin’s elasticity and can result in sagging skin around your neck and jawline. Liposuction is sometimes the only option for genetic fat deposits that don’t respond to diet and exercise. 9. Swap chemicals for natural products Many soaps, cleansers and face washes can contain ingredients that strip your skin of natural oils, leaving it feeling dry, flaky and itchy. Consider swapping to products that contain natural ingredients and that have been made from plant-derived ingredients. D’lumiere skin products use plant extracted DNA repair enzymes to rejuvenate and repair damaged skin cells. 10. Get expert help If you have particular skin problems or feel that too much damage has been done to your skin already, you may want to consult a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon such as <a href="https://www.drlanzer.com.au/">Dr. Lanzer</a>. Facelifts, <a href="https://www.drlanzer.com.au/facelift/">mini facelifts</a>, skin resurfacing, and facial rejuvenation are all procedures designed to help you achieve healthier and younger looking skin. Visit the website for more information on these and many other procedures, or for a free facelift consultation. Remember that all surgery has risks, Dr Lanzer recommends a second medical opinion.

Body

Family tormented by alarm clock stuck in wall for 13 years

A US family has been tormented by their alarm clock for decades, forced to listen to the ring at the same time every day for the past 13 years. You see the alarm clock is wedge inside the wall of Jerry Lynn’s home in Ross Township, north of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania. So how did the bizarre set of circumstances occur in the first place? Jerry admitted to <a href="http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/06/15/stuck-alarm-clock-13-years/" target="_blank">CBS Pittsburgh</a> he’s the reason the alarm clock is in the wall. Back in 2004, he wanted to drill a hole in the wall in the bottom storey of his home for a TV cable. But he wasn’t sure where to drill so he came up with the idea to tie an alarm clock to a string and lower it through an air vent on the second storey and let the ring guide him. <img width="499" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/38462/jerry_499x375.jpg" alt="Jerry"/> Setting the alarm for 10 minutes, Jerry lowered the alarm clock but it fell into the wall. “All of I sudden I heard it go thunk as it went loose and I thought ‘well that’s not a real problem, it’s still going to go off and it did,” he said. As the alarm clock had fallen from the string, Jerry couldn’t pull it back up. He thought he would just let it ring until it ran out of battery. “That was September 2004,” he said. “It is still going off every day. In daylight savings it goes off 10 minutes to eight every night and during regular standard time, 10 minutes to seven,” he told CBS. While you’d think that the daily dings would be enough to drive someone crazy, Jerry’s family is so used to the ring it doesn’t faze them at all anymore, but it does surprise their house guests. “It starts as a soft beep, beep, beep, beep, beep and it gets more louder and closer together and you get people saying ‘what is that?’,” Jerry’s wife said.

Home & Garden

You won’t believe this new rug that’s an alarm clock

For anyone who isn’t a morning person, waking up in the morning can be a struggle. No matter how much you sleep you manage to get, the sound of the alarm clock is never welcomed. Enter Ruggie – the latest (genius, interesting, plain strange?) innovation that’s set to turn night owls into cheery morning people. The device is essentially an alarm clock built into a small rug that you keep next to your bed. When the alarm goes off in the morning, you have to physically stand on the rug for at least three seconds before it will turn off. There’s even an option to change the settings from the blaring alarm beeping to someone telling you positive affirmation. Now that’s a pretty good way to start the day! Watch the video above for a demonstration of the ruggie and tell us, would you give it a go? Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2015/12/signs-your-body-is-trying-to-tell-you/">4 signs your body is trying to tell you something</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2015/11/best-outdoor-exercise-options/">The best ways to exercise outdoors</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2015/11/how-to-start-running/">How to start running at any age</a>

News

Video: Proof that cats make the best alarm clocks

Who needs alarm clocks when you’ve got a fuzzy feline who kindly takes time out of their busy schedule of napping and grooming to wake you up? This video proves that “cat alarm clocks” are the best alarm clocks. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2015/07/photo-saves-dogs-from-euthanasia/">This picture of shelter dogs hugging saved them from death</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/07/puppy-pool-party/">What happens at a puppy pool party?</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/07/man-has-formal-dinner-with-cats/">This man has formal dinners with his cats when his wife is away</a>

News

Make-up tricks that wind the clock back 10 years

Simple and smart, these clever tricks will have you looking rested and vibrant in a jiffy.Conceal crow’s feetWave goodbye to heavy cover-ups, which makes lines more obvious, and instead, embrace brightening the area. Use a concealer under the outer third of your lower lashes and a creamy highlighter.Lift your browsHigh, full brows not only define all of your features but they do wonder in making you look more youthful. Have thin eyebrows that are on the lighter side? Fear not. Use a brow powder or pencil a shade lighter than your hair color to fill in sparse areas, then sweep a fine line right above the top of the arch. Reduce lines around mouthTo diminish the lines that run from your nose to your mouth, apply concealer one shade lighter than your skin over the shadow below the fold only, not over the entire crease. This pro trick reduces the appearance of a defined edge.<a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2014/08/how-to-feel-confident-now!/" target="_blank">Related link: How to feel confident now</a>Perk up your poutSadly the sides of the mouth tend to droop with age so to diminish this, brush highlighter on the corners and concealer just below the outer edges of your lower lip to minimize shadows.Related links:<a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2014/09/eyebrows-are-the-key-to-looking-younger/" target="_blank">The key to looking younger</a><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/01/look-fresh-after-no-sleep/" target="_blank">How to wake up looking fresh (even when you’re not!)</a><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/01/beauty-fixes/" target="_blank">6 fixes for the most annoying beauty issues</a>

Beauty & Style

Does the alkaline diet hold the key to turning back the clock?

There are a lot of diets around these days, which promise to do everything from helping you shed kilograms to helping you put more weight on. A lot of these eating regimes, however, simply address the ingredients of the food, and the amount you eat. On the contrary, the alkaline diet looks at what is going on inside your body and seeks to right an imbalance brought on by modern life.So what exactly is the alkaline diet? Well it involves eating mainly alkaline foods in order to keep the body’s pH between 7.35 and 7.45. The ultimate aim is to eat 80 per cent alkaline foods and 20 per cent acidic foods. What does this mean for our insides? Well our digestive tracts should alternate from an alkaline and acid pH environment so when digestion begins in your mouth, which works best as an alkaline environment, then the stomach should be at an acidic level, your small intestines should be alkaline, and your large intestines should be acidic.As the average modern diet is sugar-rich and loaded with preservatives and fats, this balance is often disrupted. In other words, the foods we’re eating today could be responsible for throwing this delicate alkaline/acidic balance out of whack. The Alkaline Sisters, the creators of the diet, believe that this imbalance can be the cause of things like the common cold or a rash, all the way through to heart disease or cancer. So they believe this imbalance can be corrected by following some simple rules.You can eat:<ul><li>Most vegetables (especially leafy greens)</li><li>Some root vegetables (beetroot, carrot, parsnip, etc)</li><li>Some fruits like lemons, avocados, limes and tomatoes</li><li>Grains and legumes</li><li>Some nuts like almonds</li></ul>While you should avoid (or eat in moderation):<ul><li>Most meats (chicken, pork, beef, veal, fish)</li><li>Dairy products</li><li>Some nuts like cashews, peanuts, and pistachios</li><li>Anything with sugar or artificial sweeteners</li></ul>All of those leafy green vegetables are believed to help bring the imbalance back from a more acidic level throughout our bodies, to a more ideal level. And as an added bonus, a diet loaded with leafy greens has been known to reverse the growth of grey hair – allowing people to grow their natural hair colour again.Related links:<a href="http://oversixty.com.au/health/wellbeing/2015/02/what-is-clean-eating/" target="_blank">Just what is clean eating?</a><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/news/news/2015/02/foods-that-age-you/" target="_blank">Here are three diet mistakes that age you</a><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/health/eye-care/2015/02/vitamins-for-eye-health/" target="_blank">You should be taking these four vitamins for your eyes</a>

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Beauty sleep is the new black. Ensure your shuteye turns back the clock with these tips.

Studies have shown that women who report consistent poor sleep have increased signs of ageing and their skin heals less rapidly than those who claim regular good sleep. Getting enough sleep matters not only for the way we look but because it also impacts our mood, energy levels, productivity and metabolism. It's the best beauty product there is! So make sleep a priority. You'll look better and younger too. Here are tops tips for getting anti-ageing quality beauty sleep.1. Turn off all your technology an hour before bedtime. The blue lights radiated from your iPhone and laptops stimulate your mind, so no more checking Facebook and emails while in bed. 2. Cut the caffeine. Tea and coffee should be avoided after 3pm for an optimum night's sleep. Need something warm before you hit the pillow? Try calming chamomile tea to aide relaxation. 3. Get your beauty sleep. Taking Qsilica Beauty Sleep Tablets 30 minutes before bed will calm your muscles and mind thanks to the natural ingredients, including valerian root, tart cherry and hops. Use alongside Qsilica Beauty Sleep Night Cream on your face and neck as a moisture barrier to enhance your skin's cellular regeneration. Ross Norris from Qsilica says, “The magnesium, tart cherry, hops, chamomile and valerian improve your sleep quality which allows the body to naturally spend more time regenerating your skin,” she explains, adding, “This regeneration is boosted by the presence of silica, grape seed extract and French maritime pine bark extract. These ingredients ensure that not only do you wake feeling refreshed mentally, but also physically.”4. Keep cool. Bodies sleep better when you're slightly cool, and we do heat throughout the night so keep pyjamas light and breezy and find bed sheets that works for you – we like linen or high-thread cotton for breathability and texture. 5. Create rituals. Read a passage of a book, meditate, do some relaxing yoga or prepare your outfit for the day ahead. No matter what your ritual is, repeating a non-stimulating act before bed every night will put your mind into sleep mode.

Beauty & Style

5 Surprising healthy habits that hold back the clock

While the birthdays keep coming, there are plenty of ideas out there to keep you feeling your best and leading a full and active lifestyle. Here are five simple tips you might not have thought of:Lift those weights Maintaining your strength isn’t just about pumping those biceps. Good posture, for instance, keeps your bones in their correct position, reducing wear and tear on joints and keeping your body functioning better. When your muscles are strong, activities like getting out of a chair or holding a door open are much easier. If you decide to lift weights, start with something relatively light. If you don't have weights, you can use a can of soup, a book or a bottle of water. Try doing a few exercises while you watch TV. Another way to build muscle is to use a resistance band, which is great for strengthening arms and legs.Eat more fibre Linked to better health and even longer life, fibre can improve your health in three ways:-       It helps your colon work better-       It reduces the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer-       It may help lower your cholesterol levelMen should get 30 grams of fibre per day; women should get 21 grams per day. The best sources of fibre include unrefined, natural food like fruit and veggies, seeds, nuts, pulses and wholegrains. Do a daily mini-cleanse The average person carries up to 4.5 kilos of unhealthy toxic waste in their body, according to Dr Gillian McKeith, naturopath, nutritionist and author of You Are What You Eat. Too many fatty and sugary foods can overload your liver, affecting bodily functions and overall health. To minimise the nasties in your system, try cutting down on the sugar, fat and alcohol while eating more unprocessed food. You can also try a daily mini-cleanse by drinking a warm cup of water with a squeeze of lemon first thing in the morning, 30 minutes before eating.Chew each mouthful 20 to 30 times Dr McKeith also recommends chewing slowly until each bite liquefies (when it’s most easily digestible). "Really savour each mouthful and capture the flavour of your food. It's when your food is chewed that the digestive process begins," she explains. Good digestion allows your body to absorb the maximum nutrients from food. A 2006 study showed that chewing slowly and taking a break between each bite can cut 10 per cent off your daily calorie count, partly because it takes 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it's full.Breathe deeply Shallow breathing deprives the brain, blood and cells of oxygen, affecting concentration and making you feel tired, cranky and stressed. It stimulates the body's natural “fight or flight” response, which can keep you in a state of high alert and affect overall health. Just taking a few deep, purposeful breaths can help switch off the response, and make you feel instantly calm and vibrant.

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5 Surprising healthy habits that hold back the clock

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Does the alkaline diet hold the key to turning back the clock?

Beauty sleep is the new black. Ensure your shuteye turns back the clock with these tips.

5 Surprising healthy habits that hold back the clock

5 Surprising healthy habits that hold back the clock

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