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Readers response: What’s the best book you’ve read recently, and what did you love about it?

With hundreds of new books on the market, it's hard to know what are the best to recommend. We asked our readers what the best book they've read recently is and what did they love about it, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Helen Ulgekutt - The Venice Hotel by Tess Woods, loved it start to finish. Zoy Crizzle - The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George. Great book, so easy to read and an interesting story line. I loved it. Keralie Stack - I have just finished Fallen Woman by Fiona McIntosh. A good read. Karen Peardon - The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston. A great story. Nola Schmidt - The Perfect Passion Company by Alexander McCall Smith. It was clever, witty, and gentle. June Lennie - People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. Interesting story set in different historical periods. Brilliantly written and researched. Christine Hayes - Where the Crawdads Sing, just beautiful. Sandra Moores - All That's Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien. A great debut based in Cabramatta, very compelling read. Greg Cudmore - 'To Alpha From Omega'. Although very much Australian, its themes are universal. Denise Zephyr - The Days I Loved You Most. Such a beautiful story and a beautiful ending. Marie Chong - Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy. I love all her books, she tells a good story. Yvonne Bercov - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, couldn’t put it down. Image credits: Shutterstock

Books

Readers response: What travel destination are you constantly recommending, and why?

When it comes to travelling and seeing the world, everyone has their favourite countries and cities they would go back to over and over again. These are the places we can never stop talking about, and the ones we are quick to recommend to other eager travellers. We asked our readers what travel destinations they are always recommending and why, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Marilyn CB - Canada and Alaska, absolutely breathtaking scenery! Susan Kingston Shelley - Tasmania. No passport required, no long flights, stunning scenery! What more could you want? Valerie Brown - Japan. Best food, culture, people and scenery. Karen Ambrose - Sri Lanka….fabulous! Jean Budden - The Grand Canyon, specifically helicopter ride into the Canyon. Spectacular! Patricia Tebbit - Italy. Love every part of it. Deb Moore - Scotland, because.....you have to experience it to understand how awesome it is. Bob Di Mummery - Turkey, especially Gallipoli and Cappadocia. Terry Franklin - Cook Islands. Best beach holiday destination ever! Janice Evans - Bali ... ignore the negative nonsense. Bali is welcoming, safe, friendly, easy and great value for money. Alf Morgan - Slovenia stunning country and great people. Steve Smith - India/Nepal. An absolute eye opener. Richey Newland - Estonia, Latvia and Czechia. Anita Thornton - Canada. Beautiful country, beautiful people! Rhonda Jones - India. There is just a magical feel to the country. Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

Readers respond: What is your go-to movie when you need a good cry?

There's an abundance of movies out there, but not many that can bring you to tears. While The Notebook and Beaches are clearly the fan favourites for our readers, here are a few other recommendations that you can watch this holiday season. Get those tissues ready! Carol Wardley - Its a wonderful life Watch the trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLR3gZrU2Xo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>, and stream the movie on Stan. Denyse Galle - Me Before You and A Walk to Remember Watch the trailer for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh993__rOxA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Me Before you</a> and stream it on YouTube, Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video. Watch the trailer for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3B2XBcp7vA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Walk to Remember</a> and stream it on Apple TV or Amazon Prime Video Kerrie Anne - The Remains of the Day Watch the trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jALmEb72beg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and stream it on Netflix. Ken Smyth - Dancer in the Dark. That ending... Watch the trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53vr9EiOH7g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and stream it on Apple TV. Michael Kopp - Bambi Watch the trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDGv4GIR7A4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and stream it on Disney+. Anne Connolly Finnegan - The Bridges of Madison county Watch the trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up-oN4NtvbM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and stream it on YouTube. Leone Mitchell - Love Story with Ryan O’Neal and Allie MacGraw beautiful Watch the trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYhS8q66L38" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and stream it on Foxtel Go, Binge or YouTube Julie B - The Colour Purple Watch the trailer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFMCW5-jdqM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> and stream it on Netflix. Are there any other movies that make you cry? Let us know. Image: Getty

Movies

Police recommend charges against William Tyrrell's foster mother

Detectives believe they have gathered enough evidence to bring charges against William Tyrrell's foster mother after his disappearance nine years ago. Reports from 9News shared that detectives handed a brief to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) earlier this month with evidence against William's foster mother, who cannot be named, recommending she be charged with perverting the course of justice and interfering with a corpse. Police have ben investigating the potential cause of William's disappearance in 2014, with allegations there was a deadly accident at their family home in Kendall on the NSW Mid North Coast, and the then-three-year-old's body was disposed of by his foster mother. The 58-year-old has long denied any involvement with William's disappearance. It now remains up to the DPP to give advice on whether the woman should go before a court, with any charges beginning a lengthy legal process. A judge or jury would then need to decide whether the evidence was sufficient to prove any charges. William Tyrrell was last seen alive at his foster family's home in Kendall in September 2014, with last Tuesday marking what would've been his 12th birthday. Since his disappearance, there have been many theories over the past nine years with suspects targeted then cleared, and an inquest put on hold. A new team of homicide detectives reviewed the case in 2020, but found no new evidence or remains. Since then, police have quietly been building evidence in support of allegations that William's foster mother covered up his accidental death and disposed of his body. The potential charges include perverting the course of justice and interfering with a corpse, with the latter charge carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years behind bars. Image credits: NSW Police

News

Six-month-old children to receive COVID-19 vaccine in new recommendations

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has updated its 2023 immunisation schedule for children and individuals under the age of 18. COVID-19 vaccinations were included in the new recommendations for routine children inoculations in the United States, but it remains to be seen whether or not Australia will take the same measure into consideration - one leading infectious diseases physician is doubtful. For children in the United States, the schedule comes only as a recommendation and not as a mandate. The COVID-19 vaccinations will now feature alongside the likes of other common vaccinations for the measles, MMR, mumps, polio, chickenpox, and the flu. It was last year in 2022 that the CDC first recommended COVID-19 vaccination for children of six months and up, but it has only now been formalised. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> US vaccine schedule kids 0-6 years <a href="https://t.co/n3X0vQEGUm">pic.twitter.com/n3X0vQEGUm</a> — Irene Tosetti, MD MBA MPH (@itosettiMD_MBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/itosettiMD_MBA/status/1624741715134357506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2023</a></blockquote> Professor Robert Booy from the University of Sydney’s Infectious Diseases Institute spoke to SBS News about the United State’s approach to their vaccination recommendations, suggesting they may be “a bit gung-ho”. “They're recommending vaccinations even for children who are at mild risk," he said, “they're recommending vaccinations to all children." Professor Booy went on to add that he does not believe Australia will follow in the US’ footsteps, and that the vaccination is unlikely to be recommended for babies here. "We're taking the approach that vaccination is for children who are vulnerable - children who are at high risk and who have multiple medical problems or disability,” he explained. On the subject of Australia’s childhood vaccinations, he stated that the country is “not standing out”, as the United Kingdom is “more conservative” and equally unlikely to adopt the new US recommendations. “We're just doing similar to other countries,” he said. “The US is standing out by being a bit 'gung-ho' in recommending vaccination to all children under five." Dr Deepti Gurdasani, a clinical epidemiologist and statistical geneticist from the United Kingdom, took to Twitter to share her belief that the UK and Australia were unlikely to follow. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The US has added COVID vaccines to their routine childhood immunisation schedule from 6 months onwards. Will other countries follow? Feel little hope that this will happen in the UK or perhaps even Australia. <a href="https://t.co/NvFB8gK2I7">https://t.co/NvFB8gK2I7</a> — Dr. Deepti Gurdasani (@dgurdasani1) <a href="https://twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1624758319188692993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2023</a></blockquote> At this stage, Australians aged five and up are recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. However, the vaccinations are still recommended for children from six months to five years who are immunocompromised, have a disability, or have health conditions that increase their risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms. Images: Getty

Caring

Australian veterans report calls for 13 "urgent" recommendations

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has handed down its report, calling for 13 "urgent" recommendations to be made. The Albanese government says it will look to implement all recommendations, which include an urgent elimination of the backlog of compensation claims for veterans. The report comes after nine months of hearings across the country, which detailed abuse at all ranks of the service. Commissioners heard that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) was not doing enough to address suicides and accounts of ex‑personnel who said they were left suffering from anxiety and panic attacks due to lack of resources. Chair Nick Kaldas and commissioners James Douglas and Peggy Brown said the prevalence of suicide and mental health issues among serving and ex-serving ADF members was something “that should concern us all”. Among the recommendations, the government has been told to simplify veteran compensation and rehabilitation laws, eliminate the claims backlog and improve administration of the scheme. Another key recommendation is that people who engage with the royal commission should have increased protections. Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said the Albanese government had only seen the “confronting” report 15 minutes before it was publicly released and would go through the recommendations in detail, while working to see how the recommendations can be implemented effectively. “Unfortunately, the rate of veteran suicide in Australia is a national tragedy … It is devastating that Australia has lost more serving and former personnel from suicide than it has lost through operations over the last 10 years,” Mr Keogh said. “We recognise the importance and the significance of this report.” The 13 urgent recommendations include: <ul> <li>Simplify and harmonise veteran compensation and rehabilitation legislation </li> <li>Eliminate the claims backlog</li> <li>Improve the administration of the claims system</li> <li>The Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide advice on its funding needs</li> <li>Remove the Department of Veterans' Affairs Staffing Level Cap</li> <li>Increase protections for persons engaging in this Royal Commission</li> <li>Provide exemption from parliamentary privilege </li> <li>Limit public interest immunity claims</li> <li>Improve administrative release of information</li> <li>Co-design information to increase awareness of redactions for access requests</li> <li>Embed trauma-informed practices for information access</li> <li>Encourage up-to-date consent for information access</li> <li>Co-design education on information access mechanisms</li> </ul> Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

Another booster recommended to Aussies

A fourth Covid vaccine will be made available to more Australians as infections continue to soar across the country. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) met with health officials agreeing to expand the booster program to those aged over 50 as well as some eligibility for those in their 30s. Health Minister Mark Butler is expected to make the announcement on Friday and is urging Aussies to pull up their sleeves. “I’m very confident that, if there’s an expansion of the fourth doses by ATAGI over the next couple of days, we’ve got more than enough vaccine in the warehouses and more than enough capacity in our pharmacies in our GP surgeries to deliver that as soon as people want it,” he said. “The real challenge is to get people lining up to get it. There’s more than five million people who are overdue their third dose, so it’s more than six months since they had their second dose. “They’re still overdue their third dose and I encourage them to go out and get it.” The fourth shot is currently only available for vulnerable people and Aussies aged 65 and over. Australia is on average recording 33,000 Covid-19 cases every day. Image: Shutterstock

Body

AstraZeneca vaccine recommended only for Australians 60 and over

The AstraZeneca vaccine should now only be given to those aged 60 and above, the chief immunisation body has reportedly told the government. Nine News and the ABC reported on Thursday morning that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) made the recommendation after a 52-year-old woman died from a brain clot last week. The recommendation was given to the government yesterday, but no official decision yet has been made. It's believed the national cabinet meeting could be held this morning to discuss the issue. Some researchers and medical specialists were calling for a review of the age groups who receive the AstraZeneca jab after last week's death. The woman's death, the second believed to be linked to the vaccine in Australia, occurred after 3.6 million doses of the jab had been administered. The TGA says it reviews all deaths reported after a vaccination is administered and compares them with expected natural death rates. “To date, the observed number of deaths reported after vaccination is actually less than the expected number of deaths,” the TGA said in a statement. “Each year in Australia, there are about 160,000 deaths, equating to 13,300 a month or 3050 each week. In the most recent reporting year, two-thirds of these deaths were in people aged 75 years and over.” Last week, chief medical officer Paul Kelly said the new blood clotting case was “extremely unfortunate” but stressed it was “extremely rare”. “I will point out that it is only the second death with now over 3.6 million doses of this vaccine being given across Australia, I will point out that this remains an extremely rare event to get these serious clots, but when they happen, as we have seen in this case, it can have tragic circumstances. My heart goes out to the family, and all the friends and colleagues of this particular person,” he said during Thursday afternoon’s press conference. But he stated the AstraZeneca was still the recommended vaccine for those aged over 50, and Pfizer for under 50s. But he said AstraZeneca was still the recommended vaccine for those aged over 50, and Pfizer for under 50s. “There is definitely a much lower risk of this event, this clotting events, the older one gets. There is a definite cut point there at about the age of 50,” he said. “(The woman’s death) is clearly concerning … but I would say this – we have made those decisions based on the risk and benefit equation. At the moment, the AstraZeneca is a really important element of the vaccine rollout. But nothing is compulsory. Individuals who have concerns about any medical procedure but including and in particular the private vaccine at this time should talk to their GP about those concerns.”

Body

20% of pregnant Australian women don’t receive the recommended mental health screening

One-fifth of Australian women still don’t receive mental health checks both before and after the birth of their baby, our <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1753-6405.12999">research published today</a> has found. Although access to recommended perinatal mental health screening has more than tripled since 2000, thanks largely to government investment in perinatal mental health, our surveys show there is still some way to go before every mum gets the mental health screening needed. Mental health issues are one of the most common complications of pregnancy. <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-21557-0_11">Up to 20% of women</a> report anxiety or depression either during pregnancy or in the first year after their baby is born. Maternal anxiety and depression are associated with problems including <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673614612770">premature birth and low birth weight</a>. They can also impact child development through <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00737-019-0941-7">effects on parenting practices</a> and <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.3.022806.091401">impaired bonding</a>. In 2019, the cost of perinatal depression and anxiety was <a href="https://gidgetfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Cost-of-PNDA-in-Australia_-Final-Report.pdf">estimated at A$877 million</a>. Australia has invested substantially in perinatal mental health screening. From 2001 to 2005, BeyondBlue’s <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/8.-perinatal-documents/bw0075-report-beyondblue-national-research-program-vol2.pdf?sfvrsn=2">National Postnatal Depression Program</a> screened 52,000 women and reached out to 200,000 families. This was followed in 2008 by the <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/8.-perinatal-documents/bw0125-report-beyondblues-perinatal-mental-health-(nap)-full-report.pdf?sfvrsn=2">National Action Plan for Perinatal Mental Health</a> and the <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/8.-perinatal-documents/bw0125-report-beyondblues-perinatal-mental-health-(nap)-full-report.pdf?sfvrsn=2">National Perinatal Depression Initiative</a> in 2008-13, which supported universal screening and follow-up care, workforce training, and community mental health awareness programs. National clinical practice guidelines on perinatal mental health care were <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/8.-perinatal-documents/bw0104-perinatal-slr-tools-q1-14.pdf?sfvrsn=2">introduced in 2011</a> and <a href="https://www.cope.org.au/health-professionals/health-professionals-3/review-of-new-perinatal-mental-health-guidelines/">updated in 2017</a>. In 2019 the federal government <a href="https://www.cope.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/COPE-Release_PM-Announcement.pdf">committed A$36 million</a> to support the emotional health and well-being of Australian women and families. Has it worked? The lack of national government data collection on perinatal mental health screening makes it hard to tell whether this public health investment has paid off. Our study, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1753-6405.12999">published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health</a>, is the first to track perinatal screening over time in a national sample. It included 7,566 mothers and 9384 children from the <a href="http://alswh.org.au/">Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health</a>, which was started in 1996. We asked mothers whether a health professional had asked them any questions about their emotional well-being, including completing a questionnaire. We mapped screening rates between 2000 and 2017 and compared them to policy initiatives and clinical practice guidelines. We found the percentage of women being screened both during and after pregnancy has more than tripled since 2000, from 21.3% in 2000 to 79.3% in 2017. The percentage of women reporting they were not screened at all fell from 40.6% in 2000 to 1.7% in 2017. Our data shows a clear improvement in access to mental health screening. There was a decline in the percentage of women who were only screened once, and an increase in the percentage who were screened both during and after pregnancy. Notably, this widespread transition from single to double screening (the point marked “b” in the graph above) coincided with the introduction of the Perinatal Mental Health National Action Plan and the National Perinatal Depression Initiative, suggesting these policies have delivered real improvements. However, the timing of this transition differed by state. For example, it happened in 2008 in New South Wales, 2009 in Victoria, and 2010 in Queensland. This might be due to state-based differences in the previous policies and clinical practice, and readiness to implement national initiatives. What is still to be done? While our results show there’s been real improvement, it nevertheless remains the case that in 2017, one in five women didn’t receive the recommended mental health screening. What’s more, women who had reported emotional distress were 23% less likely, and older mothers 35% less likely, to be screened both during and after pregnancy. Screening is not yet universal – and it needs to be. There are <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-21557-0_11">barriers</a> to screening, including lack of time and potential over-diagnosis. Also, some women who screen positive for mental health problems might not engage in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937810000050">treatment</a>. However, women who are asked about their current and past mental health are up to 16 times more likely to receive a referral for further <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/birt.12067">support</a>. We need to ask mothers about their mental health. <a href="https://www.cope.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/COPE-Perinatal-MH-Guideline_Final-2018.pdf">Clinical practice guidelines</a> recommend screening for symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy and during the first year after giving birth. This can be done by trained health professionals. Access to well-integrated and culturally safe care is essential. Systematic national data collection is required if clinical best practice is to be monitored into the future. Perinatal mental health items have been developed as part of the National Maternity Data Development Project, and should be progressed as a <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/enhancing-maternity-data-collection-reporting-nmdd/contents/table-of-contents">priority</a>. Women have regular contact with the health system both before and after giving birth. This offers a great chance to identify women who need extra mental health support, and it is too important to be missed. Written by Katrina Moss, Gita Mishra and Nicole Reilly. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/20-of-pregnant-australian-women-dont-receive-the-recommended-mental-health-screening-139979">The Conversation.</a>

Caring

5 classic isolation movies recommended by a film scholar

As a film scholar, I am constantly being asked if I am enjoying the lockdown because it has given me more time to watch films. My answer is not simple. Yes, it is good to catch up on some films I missed at the cinema, or finally get around to rewatching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9nZFUgyclE">Berlin Alexanderplatz</a>. But, for someone like me, who finds social isolation very difficult, watching movies alone can be a painful reminder of what a communal activity cinema-going usually is, as this <a href="https://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/files/iser_working_papers/2005-14.pdf">research from Essex University</a> has found. So I have started to watch films that reassure me that I am not the only one feeling lonely and going stir crazy. Here, then, are five great films about being stuck indoors or in forced isolation. Some of these may not be for the faint-hearted, but they are all well worth watching. Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) <a href="https://variety.com/1954/film/reviews/rear-window-1200417736/">Rear Window</a> may be the definitive lockdown movie. The story is simple: Jimmy Stewart’s adventure-seeking photographer finds himself trapped in his apartment with a broken leg. He begins to semi-innocently spy on his neighbours until he becomes convinced that one of them may have murdered their wife. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6kCcZCMYw38?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The film is both a mischievous examination of the voyeur in us all, and a cautionary tale about the devil making work for idle hands. It is also a testament to the power of imagination. We might not be able to have meals, complete with champagne, delivered to us by Grace Kelly, but we can make up stories about what that strange man across the street is up to. It will help pass the time. And you know he’s doing the same about you. The Exterminating Angel (Luis Buñuel, 1962) Buñuel’s <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-exterminating-angel-1968">surrealist masterpiece</a> remains cinema’s definitive portrait of societal breakdown, and 90% of it takes place in one room. Following a lavish dinner party at one of their houses, a large group of aristocrats find themselves inexplicably unable to leave the drawing room. The longer they remain there together the more the thin veneer of civilisation cracks. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ERHL5nzEMmM?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> First the servants leave and the guests are reduced to using antique vases as toilets. Soon the food and water run out and precious medication is stolen. The elderly and frail start to die. Some respond by indulging their hedonistic desires, some resort to prayer and calls for sacrifice, others kill themselves in despair. This might sound unbearably bleak, but Buñuel plays it all for the most mordant kind of comedy. Six decades have not blunted the fangs on this one. This is Not a Film (Jafar Panahi, 2011) In late 2010, Jafar Panahi, one of Iran’s greatest filmmakers, was sentenced by his government to six years in prison and a 20-year ban on making films for allegedly conspiring to produce “propaganda against the Islamic Republic”. Awaiting the final verdict under house arrest, Panahi did what any good dissident would do: he made a film. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AgZy00svH08?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Shot on an iPhone and a digital camcorder, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/movies/hes-jafar-panahi-but-this-is-not-a-film.html">This is Not a Film</a> shows Panahi going about his daily routine, speaking to his lawyers, acting out scenes from a film he expects to never make, talking about his previous work, and interacting with a few neighbours and workmen. The result is a powerful riposte to state censorship and a sly work of meta-cinema typical of its maker. But the film also has an incredible urgency about it. It is as if Panahi had to make the film simply to stay sane. A timely reminder that you don’t need expensive equipment or money to make great art, and that sometimes the best work comes out of crisis and restraint. Housebound (Gerard Johnstone, 2014) It is easy to see why Peter Jackson went <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/new-line-remake-new-zealand-772536">out of his way to champion</a> this low-budget effort by first-time writer-director Gerard Johnstone (the famed New Zealand director called it “bloody brilliant”). Like Jackson’s own early films, Housebound shoots for a difficult balance of irreverent comedy, suspense, and splatter, and somehow pulls it off. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ji8Tsuj3u0c?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The story revolves around a 20-something tearaway named Kylie who placed under house arrest in her childhood home, which her mother casually insists is haunted. At first Kylie thinks her mother is just dotty, but when she is also confronted by mysteriously opening doors, disappearing objects and noises in the night, she begins to wonder. Essential viewing for people with old, noisy houses. Extra points for the probation officer who reveals himself to be an amateur ghost hunter, and the very plucky female protagonist whose response to encountering a creepy doll is to smash its face in. Crowhurst (Simon Rumley, 2017) Independent British filmmaker <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/film-review-crowhurst-b9lrx9rbp">Simon Rumley’s retelling</a> of Donald Crowhurst’s <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/drama-on-the-waves-the-life-and-death-of-donald-crowhurst-421934.html">disastrous attempt</a> to sail solo and non-stop around the world in 1968, which ended in his disappearance and probable suicide, offers a masterclass in low-budget filmmaking. A good deal of the movie consists of Crowhurst (played by the excellent Justin Salinger) alone on a very small trimaran. Rumley, however, puts the viewer squarely inside Crowhurst’s head as his loneliness, isolation and fear of failure slowly cause him to crack. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qgWC8bJTld4?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> This is not a movie for everyone. It is intense to say the least, and the more unhinged Crowhurst gets, the more self-consciously raw the filmmaking becomes. The fact that it was championed by Nicolas Roeg, the late, great maestro of mind-bending British cinema, will be the ultimate recommendation for those looking for something more adventurous. This list is hardly exhaustive. There are many more films about isolation to watch while in isolation: from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/29/persona-review-ingmar-bergman-rerelease">Persona</a> to <a href="https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2020/04/11/1995-film-safe-has-new-meaning-during-our-coronavirus-isolation">Safe</a>, from <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-10-03-9710030449-story.html">Repulsion</a> to <a href="https://variety.com/2006/film/markets-festivals/right-at-your-door-1200519062/">Right at Your Door</a>. I just wanted to guide people to a few lesser-known films alongside a pair of classics that worth revisiting now more than ever. Stay safe and happy viewing.<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/135705/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brian-hoyle-475856">Brian Hoyle</a>, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> 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/five-classic-isolation-movies-recommended-by-a-film-scholar-135705">original article</a>.

Movies

5 reasons why a dietitian doesn’t recommend paleo (and how to adapt it)

The paleo or stone age diet, heralded as an easy way to weight loss, has the nutrition world polarised. Half love it, while the other half say it’s a modern fabrication and does not replicate how our ancestors ate. Paleo cuts out any food that wasn’t available 10,000 years ago when organised agriculture began. This removes all grains, legumes (lentils, chick peas) and dairy plus anything else that came later, such as sugar and refined oils. Many researchers dispute the paleo diet, arguing that both humans and foods have evolved since our caveman days so what we ate then has little bearing on the modern food supply. Those bright orange carrots you now buy, for instance, aren’t the same as the thin ugly carrots of days long gone. And their colour is recent – originally all carrots were purple or yellow in colour. It's also important to note that the diet is not easy for vegetarians and almost impossible for vegans who rely on legumes and grains for their protein. Here’s 5 good reasons why I don’t believe a conventional paleo diet is right for the over 50s: 1. It’s not balanced. You need a little carb from whole grains and legumes to fend off hunger and tiredness. This is especially true if you exercise – and you must for weight loss and good health! 2. It can quickly deteriorate into a carb-free regime as you eat no rice, potato, bread or pasta. 3. It eliminates the main source of calcium (in dairy such as milk, cheese and yoghurt) which you need for strong bones as you get older. Unless fortified, almond or rice milks are low in calcium and not a true replacement. While the life span of a paleo person was only 25 years, we now live until our 80s, an age that makes us prone to osteoporosis. 4. It removes the main source of fibre (grains, legumes) which you need for gut health and regularity with age. Not forgetting the body needs whole grains, which have proven health benefits like the 20 to 30 per cent reduction they create in lowering the risk of early death, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some cancers. 5. It relies too much on meat with its environmental problems. Any meat eaten should be fresh whole cuts like steak (which is expensive) and not processed such as sausages, bacon and ham, which are so popular. Don’t forget you’re not eating wild beasts but domesticated sheep and cows raised using mass production methods, even if grass-fed. What we can take from it On the plus side, paleo removes all packet and processed foods so you’re eating little added sugar (honey is ok), salt, refined oils or additives. You cook from scratch using whole foods. You eat a nutrient-rich diet from vegetables, meats, fish, chicken, nuts, seeds and fruits. Would paleo suit you? Paleo works well if you need to shed weight and if you: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Enjoy eating a higher protein intake from meat, chicken or fish</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Don’t snack between meals</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Dine out a lot. Simply order steak or fish and salad but skip the mash or chips.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">How to make paleo more realistic and balance</li> </ul> 1. Add 2 serves of whole grains a day such as rolled oats, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, brown rice, pearl barley or grainy bread (dense chewy types, not the soft pappy square ones). Remember our early ancestors DID eat wild grasses such as the wild rice harvested by American Indians – but not huge quantities and no refined flours. This could be as: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">½ cup muesli or 1 bowl of porridge with added seeds AND</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">1 thick slice grainy toast OR</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">½ cup cooked quinoa or brown/black rice</li> </ul> 2. Add 2 serves of fermented dairy foods a day such as: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">1 150g tub yoghurt</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">1 200mL glass kefir (fermented milk)</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">a thick 40g wedge of cheese</li> </ul> 3. Add 1 serve of legumes a day such as <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">½ cup cooked beans or lentils OR</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">1 small 100g can of baked beans.</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Bottom line</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Use the paleo diet as a starting point then add in these whole grains, fermented dairy and legumes. Paleo favours weight loss due to its high protein content which is very satisfying and may increase muscle mass. But don’t forget that long-term balance and enjoyment are important. Know what you can stick to for longer than a week.</li> </ul> Further reading: <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Dietitians Association of Australia: The low-down on Paleo</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">The University of Melbourne: Paleo diet: fab or fad?</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;">Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council: Grains and health</li> </ul> Written by Catherine Saxelby. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/health/nutrition/5-reasons-why-a-dietitian-doesn-t-recommend-paleo.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Beauty & Style

You can now get travel recommendations based on your ancestry

There is a common wisdom that says travelling is about finding yourself. That can soon be reality, with a new partnership between Airbnb and genetic testing company 23andMe. The two companies are looking to tap into the heritage travel industry by helping tourists connect to their roots and plan a visit to their homelands. “We’re proud to team up with 23andMe, the leader in helping people learn about their genes and ancestry, to make it easier for travelers to plan trips as unique as their DNA,” said Joe Gebbia, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Airbnb. According to <a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/story/airbnb-and-23andme-will-help-plan-a-trip-to-your-homeland">Condé Nast Traveler</a>, this is how it will work: you can take a DNA test with 23andMe, and in three to five weeks Airbnb will recommend a custom mix of accommodations, tours and classes based on your results in the countries your genes trace back to. For example, if you were found to have Southern Italian ancestry, you might be suggested to stay at a trullo in the region of Puglia. On the other hand, those with Mexican roots could receive recommendations to go on a mezcal tasting journey in Mexico City. If you have taken a similar genetic testing before this, worry not – you can still access the recommendations. The website has opened dedicated pages that correspond with 23andMe’s genetic populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and West Asia, Central America and Mexico, South America, East and South Asia, and the Caribbean and Europe to allow travellers to “easily plan an end-to-end heritage trip”. Airbnb said more and more people are taking trips related to heritage or ancestry, with 500 per cent increase in travellers using the online platform to trace their roots since 2014. The growing popularity of at-home genetic tests like 23andMe also helps make it easier for people to explore and learn more about their ancestry. The move could be seen as an example of the changing face of travel, where personalisation and service convergence are the main considerations for travel merchants in designing travel experience for customers. According to a <a href="https://us.epsilon.com/pressroom/new-epsilon-research-indicates-80-of-consumers-are-more-likely-to-make-a-purchase-when-brands-offer-personalized-experiences">2017 Epsilon survey</a>, 87 per cent of people say they are more likely to do business with travel websites or apps that offer personalised journeys.

International Travel

Top 20 book recommendations from the Over60 community

Being led on an engrossing and emotive journey through the pages of a magnificent book is an activity like no other. We asked you, the Over60 community, to share your favourite books, so you wouldn’t be short on recommendations once you finish your current read. Here are the top 20 book recommendations. 1. Wild Swans by Jung Chang “Just coming to the end of it for a second time... a true story of three daughters of China. Brilliant!” – Margaret Hallam 2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak “Magnificent read. Markus Zusak has a very interesting, unique and engaging writing style.” – Yvonne Patterson 3. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold “Very different to most books I read, a murdered 14-year-old girl tells her story of what happened after her death. I believe there is a movie too.” – Maggie Bibby 4. A Fortunate Life by Albert Facey “Not long ago I finished a book by Albert Facey. A very interesting read about his growing up in the early 1900s and experiences with WWI and life. Kids these days who think they have it tough should read it.” – Graham Jackaman 5. The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez “Life in the coffee shop during conflict in Afghanistan, the developing friendships with many complex characters. Recommended by a friend so glad she did. Great story.” – Merrilee Pawley 6. ‘Gelignite’ Jack Murray by Phil Murray “The biography of ‘Gelignite’ Jack Murray, the quintessential Aussie larrikin, motorsport icon, father of water skiing in Australia, adventurer and top all round sportsman. His type will never be seen again, and I can thoroughly recommend the book as a good read.” – Darryl Wilkes 7. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon “Drums of Autumn is book four in the Outlander series. Now reading book five... all for the second time. Highly recommend.” – Vicki Stebbins 8. The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape “I would recommend this to anyone to read, it will change your life. – Frances Van Kerk Oerle 9. Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela “It has some great background information if you are thinking of travelling to South Africa, too.” – Anne Dunnet 10. Working Class Man by Jimmy Barnes “Please read the prequel Working Class Boy first. It's like he's talking straight to you.” – Sharron Millsteed Barker 11. The Dry and Force of Nature by Jane Harper “I’d recommend both The Dry and Force of Nature by Jane Harper. Both great Aussie stories with mystery and whodunnit questions until the end. Another great Aussie series are books by Bronwyn Parry.” – Vicki Newbury 12. Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris “Fantastic read, sad but very enlightening on how humans can descend into hell and treat one another. I love books that inform us and take us into other people’s lives, it’s a great honour.” – Lee Chilman 13. The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson “Perfect for 60s age group because they will appreciate the snippets of history woven throughout this very funny tale. Loved it.” – Kerrie O'Dea 14. The Lavender Keeper by Fiona McIntosh “As usual, a great story, and just about to start its sequel, The French Promise.” – Judith Daniel 15. The Secret Children by Alison McQueen “A true story of two sisters fathered by a Scottish tea plantation owner in India in the 30s to a young Indian woman.” – Janelle Rosemary Campbell 16. Against All Odds by Danielle Steel “Love all of Steel’s books. I love how when you are reading you get caught up in her characters. They come alive. Hard coming back to reality sometimes.” – Kim McLoughlin 17. I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes “Epic in its scale, from New York 2002 to Afghanistan to Syria… keeps you so engrossed. No low points.” – Christine Kirton 18. “B” is for Burglar by Sue Grafton “I definitely highly recommend the series. I'm rereading them in memory of the lovely Sue who passed away in December.” – Wozzie Rose Mercer 19. My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier “I am reading some of Daphne Du Maurier’s books, hard going but I loved My Cousin Rachel and Jamaica Inn, reading The Glassblowers now.” – Lesley Wilson 20. All That I Am by Anna Funder “Good read about a group of German pacifists who flee Germany when Hitler comes to power.” – Margaret Shambrook

Books

Why you should ignore the hotel concierge’s recommendations

When you arrive in a new city and you’re looking for things to see and do, or the best place in town to grab a bite to eat, the hotel concierge is often your first point of call. As Isabelle Hogan, chef concierge at prestigious hotel The Carlyle in New York City, the concierge is billed to be the city’s ultimate insider at your complete disposal. “The concierge makes the impossible possible,” says Hogan. “The concierge can do anything.” But one travel expert has suggested that there are plenty of circumstances where you’re probably better off taking the concierge’s recommendations with a grain of salt. “When you're asking around for sightseeing or dining advice, avoid hotel staffers. They're often on the take,” says Time Magazine’s travel expert Brad Tuttle. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F1xyDWkfcYc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> “In fact, many hotels license out their concierge operations to companies that get commissions on bookings for certain attractions and restaurants. Instead, find establishments — shops, cafés, restaurants, galleries — that match your taste, and ask the folks there.” What do you think? Will you continue to seek out the concierge’s recommendations? Or do you think you’re ultimately better off finding your own way?

Travel Tips

This is the diet recommended for older people

As we age it continues to be important to look after ourselves and eat well. Unintentional weight loss and malnutrition in older people is very common. Often people do not realise they have lost weight or are losing weight. It can be a very gradual process, noticed by others commenting on weight loss or noticing your clothes do not fit properly. Malnutrition results in a loss of muscle, which can reduce our ability to move as well as we used to and to care for ourselves. Malnutrition also slows our recovery from illness, increases the risk of infections and means that wounds take longer to heal. Reasons for weight loss can range from recovering from illness, chewing or swallowing difficulties, depression, loneliness, or financial concerns. I receive many referrals from GPs and other health professionals with concern for weight loss and fatigue in elderly people. With a little bit of encouragement, discussion about ways to increase energy intake and, in some cases, using a supplement for a short period of time, their weight increases. They report feeling they have more energy, are sleeping better, appetite improves and they are once again enjoying meals and socialising. If you find yourself in this situation here a few things that can help get you back on track. 1. Eat regularly, ensuring you enjoy 3 meals a day plus snacks in-between. 2. Make use of prepared meals, e.g. frozen meals from supermarket, MOW (Meals on Wheels), Eat (delivered fresh meals). You might use these for a short period of time, or on an ongoing basis. 3. Fortify your food. Don`t be afraid to use extra fat, butter, oil, cream. Previously you may have been advised to avoid these to try and lose weight or for other health reasons. But at this time of your life these foods are ok and will help with weight gain. Use of gravies and sauces will make meals tasty, moist and higher in calories. You can also add milk powder to cereal, and sauces, custards etc. to give an extra protein boost. 4. You may use a supplement drink, like Complan, Ensure or a milky milo. Have this as an extra rather than a meal replacement. 5. Avoid drinking with meals as this can fill you up and you may not be able to eat your full meal. 6. Eat foods containing calcium - at least three servings of calcium-containing foods a day for good bone health. Dairy products are our best sources but calcium is also found in nuts, grains, green veg and bones of tinned fish. 7. Eat nutrient dense foods. Follow the ideal plate plan – one quarter of the plate protein, one quarter starch/carbohydrates and half of the plate vegetables. Have at least two serves of protein a day. Use good quality protein, like meat, fish, chicken, eggs and dairy products. This will ensure you are getting enough protein to prevent muscle wasting and enough iron in your diet. A diet low in iron can led to fatigue and the inability to heal properly. 8. Buy foods on special and in season. It doesn't need to be expensive to eat well. Smaller servings of good quality food is nutritionally better than a large serving of an inferior food. For example, use premium mince instead of standard mince and fish fillet instead of fish fingers. 9. Make sure you get outside and enjoy some sun as this will help boost your vitamin D levels. Elderly people are at risk of being low in vitamin D, which is essential for good bone health. Just a walk around the garden or sitting outside will help. You can also get vitamin D from eggs, dairy products and oily fish. If you are unable to get outside then you may need a vitamin D supplement. 10. Make sure you get yourself up every morning and change into day clothes. Leave the bedroom for sleeping and not a day room. It sounds silly, but staying in bed all day or hanging about in your pyjamas all day can affect your mood. 11. Talk to your friends and family and arrange meals together. Try new foods and enjoy old favourites. Eat well and enjoy your later years. Written by Judith Walsh. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Body

7 surprising foods that exceed the recommended daily sugar intake

It's common knowledge that soft drinks, ice creams, lollies and other sweet treats are high in sugar, but there's a large number of surprising foods that are laden with enough added sugar to exceed the recommended intake in just one serving. Much of the sugar consumed these days is hidden in processed foods that are not usually seen as sweet, and in some cases they're even perceived as healthy. The World Health Organisation's (WHO) sugars intake for adults and children guideline recommends adults and children should consume less than 10 percent of their total energy intake in free sugars. However, WHO's Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, director, Dr Francesco Branca said there is evidence that shows there is additional health benefits in reducing intake to below five percent. That's roughly 25 grams or six teaspoons per day. "We have solid evidence that keeping intake of free sugars to less than 10 per cent of total energy intake reduces the risk of being overweight, obesity and tooth decay." She said the recommendation is based on analysis of the latest scientific evidence that shows, first, that adults who consume less sugars have lower body weight and, second, that increasing the amount of sugars in the diet is associated with a weight increase. The WHO guideline does not refer to the sugars in fresh fruits and vegetables, and sugars naturally present in milk. Some of the everyday foods on our supermarket shelves that will tip consumers over the six teaspoon limit, or get them fairly close, in just one serving look fairly innocent. Foods like simmer sauces, baked beans, yoghurts, canned soups, muesli bars and breakfast cereals can all be high in added sugar. Eating just one 300g serving of baked beans will get you close to the limit with a surprising five and a half teaspoons of sugar. Products with excessive sugar Pams, honey soy simmer sauce - 37.2g or 9 teaspoons of sugar per serving. Sun Rice, sweet and sour chicken with rice - 28.3g or 7 teaspoons of sugar per serving. Wattie's Beanz, baked beans - 22.5g or 5.5 teaspoons of sugar per serving. Fresh 'n Fruity, dreamy lemon - 21.3g or 5 teaspoons of sugar per serving (about 1 tsp is from naturally occurring sugar). Wattie's Soup of the Day, tomato with capsicum - 18.5g or 4.5 teaspoons of sugar per serving. Tasti Snak Logs, carob coated fruit and nut - 15.4g or 4 teaspoons of sugar per serving. Hubbards, Fruitful Breakfast toasted muesli - 14.2g or 3.5 teaspoons of sugar per serving. Nutritionist’s advice Healthy Food Guide nutritionist, Claire Turnbull, recommends people aim to keep their free sugar intake to six teaspoons, or below, a day. "To avoid hidden sugars on the supermarket shelves it is best to eat whole foods." She said people often don't realise how much sugar is in sauces and dressings and it pays to look at the label. "Some simmer sauces can have a huge amount of sugar in them and should be used incredibly occasionally." To make simple, healthier decisions she said to choose unsweetened dairy products, 'lite' baked beans which have a reduced amount of salt and sugar and to forgo muesli bars all together for a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts instead. "Our taste buds are forever changing and will adapt in a couple of weeks". Written by Laura Baker. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Related link: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2016/09/the-truth-about-eating-small-frequent-meals/">The truth about eating small frequent meals</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2016/09/is-wheat-really-killing-us/">Is wheat really killing us?</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2016/09/simple-trick-to-losing-weight/">The simple trick to losing weight</a>

News

New sleep times recommended by experts

A significant number of Australians aren't getting enough sleep, if new guidelines by the US-based National Sleep Foundation (NSF) are anything to go by. The NSF, considered the leading authority on sleep, has updated its official recommendations after convening an 18-member panel. It included six sleep specialists and experts from 12 health organisations, such as the American Academy of Paediatrics, American Neurological Association and the American Geriatrics Society. The panel reviewed over 300 recent studies into sleep and then voted on how much sleep is appropriate at different age brackets across a lifespan. The recommended sleep times are: <ul> <li>Newborns (0-3 months): Sleep range narrowed to 14-17 hours each day (previously it was 12-18)</li> <li>Infants (4-11 months): Sleep range widened two hours to 12-15 hours (previously it was 14-15)</li> <li>Toddlers (1-2 years): Sleep range widened by one hour to 11-14 hours (previously it was 12-14)</li> <li>Preschoolers (3-5): Sleep range widened by one hour to 10-13 hours (previously it was 11-13)</li> <li>School age children (6-13): Sleep range widened by one hour to 9-11 hours (previously it was 10-11)</li> <li>Teenagers (14-17): Sleep range widened by one hour to 8-10 hours (previously it was 8.5-9.5)</li> <li>Younger adults (18-25): Sleep range is 7-9 hours (new age category)</li> <li>Adults (26-64): Sleep range did not change and remains 7-9 hours</li> <li>Older adults (65+): Sleep range is 7-8 hours (new age category)</li> </ul> Charles A. Czeisler, NSF chairman of the board, said this was the first time any professional organisation had developed age-specific recommended sleep durations based on the world's scientific literature linking sleep duration to health, performance and safety. According to the chiropractors association of Australia over 1.2 million Australians experience sleep disorders, and sleep on average about 1 to 1.5 hours a night less than we did 100 years ago. Professor Philippa Gander, director the Sleep/Wake Research Centre at Massey University in New Zealand, says the fact that we’ve been taking sleep for granted is concerning. "With all the pressures of modern life we think we'll get more out of life by cutting back on sleep. But the No 1 message that's coming out of the last 50 years of sleep research is that we pay a price for not getting enough sleep." As well as the health impacts over a long amount of time, we pay a price in terms of how we function and feel when we're awake. "If affects your emotional status, your ability to perform any number of tasks and affects your ability to reason," says Gander. She sums it up by saying there are three important requirements for good health. "We all know the first two – diet and exercise. But the third factor is sleep – that's the message now clearly coming through." Written by Aileen Nakhle. This article first appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2016/02/evening-rituals-to-have-a-stress-free-life/">6 evening rituals for a stress free life</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2016/02/tips-to-happily-coexist-with-a-snorer/">Tips to happily co-exist with a snorer</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2015/12/6-signs-you-need-more-sleep/">6 signs you need more sleep</a>

Body

This brilliant website will recommend the perfect book for you

If you love reading, but have a hard time deciding what to read next, have we found a great solution for you. The website What Should I read next? Provides top-notch recommendations based on what you’ve already read. We gave the site a test-run and its suggestions were spot-on. So next time you’re looking for some quality reading material, give it a spin. You can visit <a href="http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/" target="_blank">What Should I read next? here</a>. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2015/07/most-expensive-cities-for-hotel-stay/">Revealed: the most expensive cities in the world to book a hotel room</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/07/queensland-barbershop-quartet/">This Queensland barbershop quartet just scored Australia's first ever medal at an international competition</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/07/comedian-motivates-grandson-to-learn-cursive/">Find out how this hilarious comedian motivated her grandson to learn cursive handwriting</a>

News

How much should you really be eating? Here we look at portion sizes vs. recommended serves

Most Aussies don’t know the difference between a portion and a serve. A recent Australian study from the University of Newcastle compared what adults and children consider typical portions of common foods (such as rice, pasta, cereal, ice cream, meat, vegetables, soft drink, milk, and chocolate) with the standard serving size. The results showed there was a big disparity between what people deemed to be a typical portion size and the nationally recommended serve. So what’s the difference?A serving is a set amount of food or drink (for example, one slice of break or one cup of milk) and a portion size is the amount of food that you choose to eat for a meal. Just say your portion size at breakfast is a small tub of yoghurt and one cup of muesli. This would equate to half a serve of yoghurt but four serves of muesli. So how much should I be eating? The amount of kilojoules you should be consuming will depend on various factors such as your age, gender, height, weight and physical activity levels. However, for the average adult, these are the recommended servings for five food groups. Grain foods: 6 servings (One serve = 1 slice of bread, ½ cup cooked rice or ½ cup cooked pasta)Vegetables: 4-6 servings (One serve = ½ cup cooked veg or legumes, ½ potato)Fruit: 2 servings (One serve = 1 apple, 1 banana, 1 ½ tablespoons dried fruit)Dairy: 2 ½ — 4 servings (One serve = 1 cup milk, 2 slices of cheese, ¾ cup yoghurt)Lean meat or nuts: 2 ½ — 3 servings (One serve = 65g cooked meat, 100g cooked fish, 2 eggs, 80g cooked chicken, 170g tofu)Related links: <a href="/news/news/2015/02/guilt-free-foods/" target="_blank">The eight guilt-free foods that burn more calories than they contain</a><a href="/news/news/2015/03/healing-chinese-foods/" target="_blank">5 healing foods you should have in the kitchen</a><a href="/news/news/2015/02/foods-that-are-addictive/" target="_blank">You’re most likely to get “addicted” to these foods</a>

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5 reasons why a dietitian doesn’t recommend paleo (and how to adapt it)

You can now get travel recommendations based on your ancestry

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Why you should ignore the hotel concierge’s recommendations

This is the diet recommended for older people

7 surprising foods that exceed the recommended daily sugar intake

New sleep times recommended by experts

This brilliant website will recommend the perfect book for you

How much should you really be eating? Here we look at portion sizes vs. recommended serves

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