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What happens the moment you give up alcohol

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Alcohol has many negative effects on our health, some of which may surprise you. These include short-term impacts such as waking up with a <a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/hangovers">pounding head</a> or <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-get-so-anxious-after-drinking-heres-the-science-behind-hangxiety-240991">anxiety</a>, to <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/alcohol/about-alcohol/what-are-the-effects-of-alcohol#longterm-effects">long-term</a> effects including <a href="https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health">cancer</a>.</p> <p>If you are thinking about taking some time off alcohol, you’ll find many quick wins and long-term gains for your health.</p> <p>How long will you have to wait to feel the benefits?</p> <p>We’ve made a timeline – based on scientific research – that shows what you might feel in the first days, weeks, months and years after taking a break from alcohol.</p> <p>Some benefits start immediately, so every day without alcohol is a win for your health.</p> <p><iframe id="tc-infographic-1187" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/1187/3a7f432af336224429f29c110db908db78417797/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <h2>After one day</h2> <p>Alcohol takes <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-alcohol-stay-in-your-system">around 24 hours</a> to completely leave your body, so you may start noticing improvements after just one day.</p> <p>Alcohol makes you <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20497950">need to urinate more often</a>, causing dehydration. But your body can absorb a glass of water <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3351614">almost immediately</a>, so once alcohol is out of your system alcohol dehydration is reduced, improving digestion, brain function and energy levels.</p> <p>Alcohol also reduces the liver’s ability to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573079">regulate blood sugar</a>. Once alcohol leaves the system, blood sugar begins to normalise.</p> <p>If you are a daily drinker you may <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/alcoholism/withdrawal#symptoms">feel a bit worse</a> to start with while your body adjusts to not having alcohol in its system all the time. You may initially notice disrupted sleep, mood changes, sweating or tremors. Most symptoms usually resolve in about a week without alcohol.</p> <h2>After one week</h2> <p>Even though alcohol can make you feel sleepy at first, it <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444626196000240">disrupts your sleep cycle</a>. By the end of an alcohol-free week, you may notice you are <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08870446.2020.1743840">more energetic</a> in the mornings as a result of getting better quality sleep.</p> <p>As the body’s filter, the liver does much of the heavy lifting in processing alcohol and can be easily damaged even with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523233262">moderate drinking</a>.</p> <p>The liver is important for cleaning blood, processing nutrients and producing bile that helps with digestion.</p> <p>But it can also regenerate quickly. If you have only mild damage in the liver, <a href="https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/lyl-alcohol-and-the-liver/#:%7E:text=Because%20the%20liver%20is%20able,weeks%20after%20giving%20up%20alcohol">seven days may be enough</a> to reduce liver fat and heal mild scarring and tissue damage.</p> <p>Even small amounts of alcohol can <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j2353">impair brain functioning</a>. So quitting can help <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j2353">improve brain health</a> within a few days in light to moderate drinkers and <a href="https://movendi.ngo/science-digest/quitting-alcohol-can-improve-cognitive-function-for-people-experiencing-severe-alcohol-use-disorder-in-just-18-days/">within a month</a> even for very heavy dependent drinkers.</p> <h2>After one month</h2> <p>Alcohol can make <a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/alcohol-and-mental-health">managing mood</a> harder and worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression. After a few weeks, most people start to <a href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/alcohol-and-mental-health#:%7E:text=Regular%20heavy%20drinking%20is%20linked,few%20weeks%20of%20stopping%20drinking.">feel better</a>. Even very heavy drinkers report better mood after <a href="https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/what-to-expect-when-you-quit-drinking">one to two months</a>.</p> <p>As your sleep and mood improve you may also notice <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32216557/">more energy and greater wellbeing</a>.</p> <p>After a month of abstinence regular drinkers also report <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32216557/">feeling more confident</a> about making changes to how they drink.</p> <p>You may <a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/5/e020673">lose weight</a> and body fat. Alcohol contains a lot of <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Alcohol-and-weight-gain">kilojules</a> and can trigger hunger reward systems, making us overeat or choose less healthy foods when drinking.</p> <p>Even your skin will thank you. Alcohol can make you look <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31531169/">older</a> through <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alcoholic-skin#summary">dehydration and inflammation</a>, which can be reversed when you quit.</p> <p>Alcohol <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5513683">irritates the gut</a> and disrupts <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c6731">normal stomach functioning</a>, causing bloating, indigestion, heartburn and diarrhoea. These symptoms usually <a href="https://publications.aap.org/pediatricsinreview/article-abstract/18/8/282/36760/Alcoholic-Gastritis">start to resolve</a> within <a href="https://arcr.niaaa.nih.gov/media/671/download">four weeks</a>.</p> <p>One month of abstinence, <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/multimedia/vid-20536756">insulin resistance</a> – which can lead to high blood sugar – <a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/5/e020673">significantly</a> reduces by 25%. <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/blood-pressure">Blood pressure</a> also reduces (by 6%) and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/cancer-growth-factor">cancer-related growth factors</a> declines, lowering your risk of cancer.</p> <h2>After six months</h2> <p>The liver <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33868869/">starts to repair</a> within weeks. For moderate drinkers, damage to your liver could be <a href="https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/lyl-alcohol-and-the-liver">fully reversed</a> by six months.</p> <p>At this point, even heavy drinkers may notice they’re better at <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4590616">fighting infections</a> and feel healthier overall.</p> <h2>After one year or more</h2> <p>Alcohol contributes to or causes a large number of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/index.html#:%7E:text=Other%20chronic%20diseases,your%20chances%20of%20getting%20sick">chronic diseases</a>, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and seven different types of cancer, as well as mental health issues. All of these risks can be reduced by quitting or cutting back on alcohol.</p> <p>Alcohol increases <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/blood-pressure/faq-20058254">blood pressure</a>. High blood pressure (hypertension) is the <a href="https://world-heart-federation.org/what-we-do/hypertension/">top risk factor</a> for death in the world. A small <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12493255/">2mmHg increase in blood pressure</a> above the normal range (120mmHG) increases death from stroke by 10% and from coronary artery disease by 7%.</p> <p>Cutting back on alcohol to less than two drinks a day can <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/expert-answers/blood-pressure/faq-20058254">reduce blood pressure significantly</a>, reducing risk of stroke and heart disease. Reducing blood pressure also <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20045868">reduces risk</a> of kidney disease, eye problems and even erectile dysfunction.</p> <p>With sustained abstinence, your risk of getting any type of cancer drops. <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2795595">One study</a> looked at cancer risk for more than 4 million adults over three to seven years and found the risk of alcohol-related cancer dropped by 4%, even for light drinkers who quit. Reducing from heavy to moderate drinking reduced alcohol-related cancer risk by 9%.</p> <h2>Making a change</h2> <p>Any reduction in drinking will have some noticeable and immediate benefits to your brain and general health. The less you drink and the longer you go between drinks, the healthier you will be.</p> <p>Whether you aim to cut back or quit entirely, there are <a href="https://theconversation.com/trying-to-cut-back-on-alcohol-heres-what-works-179664">some simple things</a> you can do to help you stick with it:</p> <ul> <li> <p>set clear goals plus the smaller steps you need to take to get there</p> </li> <li> <p>pay attention to the benefits you notice from quitting</p> </li> <li> <p>monitor your progress with a <a href="https://hellosundaymorning.org/drink-tracker/">Drink Tracker</a></p> </li> <li> <p>get support from others, for example Hello Sunday Morning’s anonymous <a href="https://hellosundaymorning.org/daybreak-app/">Daybreak app</a>, <a href="https://smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au">SMART Recovery</a>, <a href="https://www.counsellingonline.org.au">CounsellingOnline</a> or <a href="https://www.soberinthecountry.org">Sober in the Country</a>.</p> </li> </ul> <p>If you are still wondering about whether to make changes or not you can check your drinking risk <a href="https://hellosundaymorning.org/nib_alcohol_self-assessment/">here</a>.</p> <p>If you have tried to cut back and found it difficult you may need professional help. Call the National Alcohol and other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 and they will put you in touch with services in your area that can help. You can also talk to your GP.</p> <p><em>We would like to thank Dr Hannah MacRae for assistance in identifying the research used in this article.</em><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/249272/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicole-lee-81635">Nicole Lee</a>, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne based), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/curtin-university-873">Curtin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katinka-van-de-ven-159873">Katinka van de Ven</a>, Alcohol and other drug specialist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>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/even-a-day-off-alcohol-makes-a-difference-our-timeline-maps-the-health-benefits-when-you-stop-drinking-249272">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Pexels / </em><em>Helena Lopes</em></p> </div>

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"Enough is enough": MasterChef star opens up on career scandals

<p>Celebrity chef and former <em>MasterChef Australia</em> judge George Calombaris has revealed the full extent of the personal and professional toll a series of scandals took on his life, including a $3 million hit to his business and a private struggle with alcohol addiction.</p> <p>In a candid interview on the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ouzo-talk/id1590955229" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ouzo Talk podcast</a>, the once high-flying restaurateur said the fallout from multiple controversies and the pandemic left him at rock bottom.</p> <p>“After Covid hit, I’m suddenly sitting in Melbourne, which is shut for now two years, sitting with my pyjamas on … looking at my phone going there’s no emails, there’s nothing to do (and I) start drinking daily,” Calombaris said.</p> <p>“I’ll never forget three months down the track I lost it one night. I got in my car, drove down the road, I don’t know where [I was]. My brother found me pissed as a fart.</p> <p>“And that was a moment, he really slapped it out of me and went enough is enough.”</p> <p>Calombaris rose to fame as a judge on <em>MasterChef Australia</em> in 2009, quickly becoming a fan favourite and building a multimillion-dollar hospitality empire. But by 2017, his reputation began to unravel after a string of public scandals.</p> <p>That year, he was caught on camera shoving a 19-year-old football fan at the A-League grand final. The incident led to an assault charge, which was eventually overturned in 2018 on appeal. Calombaris was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond and the conviction was struck from his record.</p> <p>“It was six months of pain you know, I had to go in and out of court three times, hire one of the best KC’s of the time,” he said. “I reckon it cost around 3 million bucks that, in loss of endorsements … Ridiculous, stupid, I would have rather taken that $3 million and given it to charity.”</p> <p>In 2019, Calombaris and his hospitality group, Made Establishment, admitted to underpaying roughly 500 current and former staff members $7.8 million over six years. The revelation sent shockwaves through the industry and the public.</p> <p>“We love in Australia [to] never let the truth get in the way of a good story,” Calombaris said. “The truth of the matter is that we overpaid and underpaid 51 per cent of our crew and 49 per cent of them, we had 550 team members and we found the problem.”</p> <p>“We went to Fair Work, we owned up and we paid.”</p> <p>The company repaid staff wages and superannuation and was fined a $200,000 “contrition payment” by the Fair Work Ombudsman.</p> <p>Later that year, Calombaris and fellow judges Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan left <em>MasterChef</em> after a breakdown in contract negotiations. Then came the pandemic.</p> <p>Alone, unemployed, and with Melbourne in lockdown, Calombaris spiralled, until a wake-up call from his brother forced him to confront his drinking and begin to rebuild his life.</p> <p>His story now serves as a sobering look at the cost of fame, failure and, ultimately, recovery.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Hollywood star sings to her mother in hospital during cancer battle

<p>Kate Beckinsale has shared an emotional video of herself singing to her mother, Judy Loe, as the 77-year-old remains in hospital while bravely battling stage four cancer.</p> <p>The tender moment, posted to Instagram, shows the <em>Underworld</em> actress gently serenading her mum with the Everly Brothers’ 1958 song Bye, Bye Love, revealing the choice had a deeply personal meaning. “When my mum was 14, she was in a harmony group with her best friends Mary, Sylvia (known as Fuzzy to this day because of an unfortunate perm decades ago), and Chris,” Beckinsale wrote. “I am a very poor substitute not being a very good singer but I want my mum’s dearest and oldest friends in her hospital room with her.”</p> <p>Beckinsale, 51, thanked her mother’s friends and signed off the post with love and humour, saying, “Love you all but most especially my mum. X and apologise to anybody in the hospital subject to my dreadful singing 🤍.”</p> <p>While the cause of Loe’s current hospital stay is unclear, the actress and her mother have been enduring wave after wave of heartbreak. Earlier this year, the family lost Roy Battersby, Loe’s husband and Beckinsale’s stepfather, who passed away at 87. He was a renowned British television director and a guiding presence in their lives.</p> <p>In a previous post, Beckinsale opened up about the compounding grief that’s taken a severe toll on her health. “I watched my stepfather die quite shockingly, my mother has stage 4 cancer, and I lost a lot of weight from stress and grief, quite quickly,” she wrote.</p> <p>She went on to reveal that the emotional strain had physical consequences. “I was in hospital for six weeks because the grief had burned a hole in my oesophagus which made me vomit copious amounts of blood, and I found eating very hard.”</p> <p>Support has poured in for Beckinsale online, with many followers sending kind messages. One wrote: “Bless you, darling Kate. I wish we could hold our mums’ hands and hearts forever and ever.”</p> <p>As she continues to care for her mother through unimaginable pain, Beckinsale’s heartfelt video stands as a raw and powerful reminder of the depth of love and the quiet ways we try to ease each other’s suffering.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Why on earth does cafe coffee taste so much better than homemade?!

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>If you start reading the labels of the various milks at the supermarket, you’ll quickly find different fat levels, added nutrients like calcium, lactose-free options, milk from goats or sheep, and ones made from plants.</p> <p>Both at the supermarket and at your local café you’ve probably also seen cartons labelled “barista milk”. These can be dairy or plant milks marketed for making specialist coffee drinks such as flat whites, lattes and others.</p> <p>But what exactly makes a product a barista milk, and how does it differ from regular milk?</p> <h2>What is ‘milk’, anyway?</h2> <p>“Milk” is a regulated term. <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2015L00462/latest/text">Food Standards Australia New Zealand</a> sets requirements on fat and protein contents for dairy milk, and it has to come from “milking animals”. These standards also state what can be added or modified; only plant sterols (a supplement to reduce blood cholesterol) are allowed.</p> <p>Despite the name, plant-based milks aren’t bound by a specific “milk” standard. Instead, they fall under broader beverage regulations, which is why you’ll see a wide variety of ingredients, protein levels, sugars and fats from one brand to the next.</p> <p>Because of this regulation, manufacturers are careful to make it absolutely clear what is in the carton or bottle so there’s no confusion between cow’s milk and soy milk, for example.</p> <h2>What is barista milk, then?</h2> <p>Barista milks, whether dairy or plant-based, are specifically formulated to foam more reliably, with a finer texture and longer-lasting bubbles.</p> <p>For cow’s milk, this almost always means higher protein content: about 4–5% in barista milk compared to the 3.3–3.5% in regular milk. You’ll often see “milk solids” listed in the ingredients; this is another name for dried skim milk, added to boost the protein content.</p> <p>Plant-based barista milks (such as soy, oat or almond) will vary a lot more, depending on the manufacturer and the plant base.</p> <p>The most common additives in plant-based barista milks are:</p> <ul> <li>vegetable oils for creaminess and thickness</li> <li>gums (such as <a href="https://www.foodingredientfacts.org/facts-on-food-ingredients/sources-of-food-ingredients/gellan-gum/">gellan</a> or <a href="https://www.foodingredientfacts.org/facts-on-food-ingredients/sources-of-food-ingredients/locust-bean-gum/">locust bean gum</a>) to increase thickness</li> <li><a href="https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/m/maltodextrin.html">maltodextrin</a> (a processed starch), also for thickness, and</li> <li>emulsifiers such as <a href="https://www.foodingredientfacts.org/facts-on-food-ingredients/sources-of-food-ingredients/lecithin/">lecithin</a> – to help stop the fats and water from splitting apart.</li> </ul> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/673858/original/file-20250612-62-s01j00.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/673858/original/file-20250612-62-s01j00.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/673858/original/file-20250612-62-s01j00.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/673858/original/file-20250612-62-s01j00.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/673858/original/file-20250612-62-s01j00.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/673858/original/file-20250612-62-s01j00.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/673858/original/file-20250612-62-s01j00.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/673858/original/file-20250612-62-s01j00.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Close-up of a stainless steel pitcher with milk foam." /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">The foam in frothed milk happens through a complex interaction of ingredients and temperature.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/steam-frothing-milk-under-pressure-coffee-1580168296">Dmytro Vietrov/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>The science of a good foam</h2> <p>Foam is essentially <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-1-4471-3807-5_1?pdf=chapter%20toc">gas bubbles suspended in a liquid</a>. Its stability depends on a complex interaction of <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-41661-4_24">proteins, fats</a>, <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2024/sm/d4sm00518j">sugars and other components</a>, as well as the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958694608000873#sec3">temperature</a> at which the milk was foamed.</p> <p>In cow’s milk, proteins such as casein and whey form <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-41661-4_24#citeas">ball-like structures that easily rearrange to stabilise foam</a>. These proteins help the milk fat and water stay held together, which is why dairy-based barista milks foam easily and the foam lasts longer.</p> <p>Fat plays a more complex role depending on temperature – there’s a sweet spot for a good foam.</p> <p>In cold cow’s milk, the fats are semi-solid and will make the foam collapse by breaking the bubble walls. But when heated above 40°C, these fats melt, spread better throughout the milk and easily interact with proteins to help form and stabilise the bubbles.</p> <p>However, <em>overheating</em> the milk (above 70°C) <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5355583/">cooks and breaks</a> the whey protein balls, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958694608000873#sec3">making it harder to create foam</a>.</p> <h2>How barista plant milks work</h2> <p>Plants make vastly different proteins compared to cows. However, the physical shape of proteins found in <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2024/sm/d4sm00518j">soy and oat milks is also ball-like</a>, making them good for foaming just like cow’s milk.</p> <p>That’s generally why you see soy and oat milks used in cafes. Barista versions of plant milks often have added vegetable oils to help mimic the fat–protein interaction in dairy. It’s what makes the milk foam stable and the liquid feel creamy.</p> <p>Some – but not all – barista plant milks will also have thickeners because they <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2024/sm/d4sm00518j">help the foam last longer</a>.</p> <p>Compared to soy and oat, almond milk is naturally low in protein. So almond barista milks will almost always contain gums, starches and emulsifiers along with added vegetable oil.</p> <p>Many plant milks also contain added sugars for flavour, since they lack the natural lactose found in dairy.</p> <h2>Is barista milk worth it?</h2> <p>Many plant-based milk formulations, especially barista ones, contain added gums, manufactured starches and emulsifiers. This qualifies them as “ultra-processed foods”, according to the <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/2A9776922A28F8F757BDA32C3266AC2A">United Nations’ classification system</a>.</p> <p>While the plant-based milk might not be inherently overly harmful, this classification invites reflection on how far these products have moved from their original, natural source.</p> <p>On the environmental side, plant-based milks typically have a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-023-00400-z">lower impact than cow’s milk</a>. They use less land and water and produce fewer greenhouse gases.</p> <p>Barista milks usually <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-08/is-it-worth-spending-more-on-barista-alternative-milk/104692788">cost significantly more</a> than their regular counterpart. This premium reflects the added ingredients and research and development cost of optimising foaming and drinking characteristics.</p> <p>For cafés, the cost is often justified because barista milks produce a more predictable and consistent end product, leading to better customer satisfaction.</p> <p>For home use, it depends on your own level of foaming skill and how much you value a perfect flat white every time.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/258583/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-chua-759559">David Chua</a>, Senior Research Projects Officer, Centre for Community Health and Wellbeing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lauren-ball-14718">Lauren Ball</a>, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a></em></p> <p><em>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/whats-the-difference-between-barista-milk-and-regular-milk-its-what-gets-added-to-it-258583">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Pexels / </em><em>Chevanon Photography</em></p> </div>

Food & Wine

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“It was an honour to have met her": Beloved TV star passes away at 96

<p>Australia is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved television personalities, Emmie Silbery, who has passed away at the age of 96 following a long battle with dementia.</p> <p>Emmie captured the hearts of viewers nationwide as a cherished member of the Silbery family trio on <em>Gogglebox Australia</em>, alongside her daughter Kerry and granddaughter Isabelle. On Monday, a heartbroken Isabelle confirmed the news of Emmie’s death with a deeply emotional tribute on Instagram.</p> <p>“Our Emmie, waited for me to come home for one last snuggle,” Isabelle wrote. “Her last words, ‘I’m ready to hang up now’.”</p> <p>Fans knew Emmie for her warmth, wit and wisdom, and for many, she felt like a member of their own family. Her presence on screen from 2015 brought generations together, and her absence in recent seasons was sorely felt.</p> <p>“She was 96, an orphan, a nurse, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, the oldest woman on TV, a great grandmother, an author and so much more,” Isabelle continued in her post. “Thank you for loving her as much as we did and will forever. Have a big rest now — you deserve it. Xxxxx.”</p> <p>Tributes have since poured in from across the country, with fellow <em>Gogglebox</em> cast members and Aussie celebrities expressing their grief and gratitude for having known her.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DL1b0z8TCQ9/?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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DL1b0z8TCQ9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Isabelle Richards (Silbery) (@isabellesilbery)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Beautiful Emmie. Words can’t describe what you meant to so many of us,” wrote Angie Kent. “Thank you for the countless laughs, tears, goosebumps and memories! Rest now. Your girls are so loved and looked after.”</p> <p>“It was an honour to have met her. She was a truly special woman. May she rest in peace,” commented Matty Fahd.</p> <p>Longtime co-stars Lee and Keith Riley described their heartbreak in a poignant message: “Our hearts are so heavy with sadness. Emmie was our adopted grandmother to Keith and I as we lost our grandparents years ago. You told us so many stories about your life and now they are memories for us to keep. Rest in peace, sweetheart you’ll never be far from our hearts.”</p> <p>Australian media figures also offered their condolences. Lisa Wilkinson wrote: “I’m so sad to hear the news Isabelle. What a beautiful, talented, giving soul she was, and so loved by us all. I hope she knew that. Glad you got that last snuggle. Sending love to you and your wonderful mum.”</p> <p>Actress Pia Miranda added: “I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending you and your family all the love. She was an icon.”</p> <p>In February 2023, Emmie officially stepped back from the show following her dementia diagnosis. At the time, her family shared the sad news with fans in a heartfelt message, saying, “It’s been a very challenging time for our family and we’ve had to make some difficult decisions. Emmie has been diagnosed with dementia and we wanted to be transparent about this as many families experience it.”</p> <p>Despite her declining health, Emmie made a touching final appearance in January this year during a cast reunion, where she was embraced by her co-stars in an emotional and affectionate gathering.</p> <p>“It was great to see our darling Emmie again,” wrote Lee and Keith in a video post from the day, showing the joy and love she continued to inspire, even in her final chapter.</p> <p>A symbol of strength, humour and family, <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Emmie Silbery's</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> passing leaves a deep void in the hearts of those who knew her, both on and off screen.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Sleep divorce: could sleeping separately from your partner lead to a better night’s rest?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Hundreds of years ago, it was common for married couples among the European upper classes to have separate bedrooms. Sleeping separately was a <a href="https://www.bedstar.co.uk/sleep-talk/queens-and-kings-separate-beds.html">symbol of luxury and status</a> historically reserved for royalty and the very wealthy.</p> <p>Nowadays, it’s common for married couples and other couples in relationships to sleep in the same bed. But sometimes – for reasons from conflicting schedules to snoring to sleep talking – couples might choose to sleep separately in pursuit of a better night’s sleep.</p> <p>This is known as “sleep divorce”. Though I prefer the term “sleep separation”, as this doesn’t have to be a permanent arrangement – but more on that later.</p> <p>So why might couples choose to sleep separately? And what does the evidence say about the effects on sleep quality if you sleep alone versus with a partner?</p> <h2>Why do couples opt for a sleep separation?</h2> <p>Couples may choose to sleep apart if one partner’s sleep is disturbing the other’s, or both are disrupting one another. This can happen for a variety of reasons.</p> <p>These include waking up frequently in the night, mismatched body clocks (for example, one person coming to bed later than the other), conflicting schedules (for example, shift workers), snoring, twitching legs or sleep talking.</p> <p>Parents with babies and young children may choose to sleep separately to avoid both partners’ sleep being disturbed.</p> <p>Those with conflicting preferences for sleeping environments, such as one partner liking a cool room with a fan and the other preferring warmth, may also decide to sleep apart.</p> <h2>What are the benefits of sleeping alone?</h2> <p>Many couples <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22609123/">say they prefer</a> to sleep – and sleep better – next to their partner.</p> <p>But when scientists measure sleep objectively, such as via an electroencephalogram (EEG) to assess brain waves, the data actually shows <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22609123/">poorer sleep quality</a> when co-sleeping. So sleeping alone may, in fact, mean better quality and longer sleep.</p> <p>Research also shows when one member of the couple has a sleep disorder, such as insomnia or <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/obstructive-sleep-apnoea">sleep apnoea</a> (where breathing is frequently interrupted during sleep), these people often inadvertently <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10818830/">wake up their partner</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31553049/">when they wake</a> in the night. So sleeping alone could be a good idea if your bed partner has a sleep disorder.</p> <p>What’s more, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/02654075231193449">studies have found</a> <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2644899/">sleep disturbances</a> are linked to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15164910/">reduced relationship satisfaction</a>. So sleeping apart could actually mean happier couples.</p> <p>Finally, anyone who has struggled with their sleep will know anxiety around sleep is common. Many clients I have seen who experience insomnia report sleeping alone can alleviate some of their anxiety because at least they know they won’t disturb, or be disturbed by, their partner.</p> <h2>Are there any downsides to separate sleeping arrangements?</h2> <p>Some people dislike sleeping alone, reporting comfort, and feelings of safety and protection when sleeping alongside their partner – and loneliness when they don’t.</p> <p>Sleeping separately also requires two rooms, or at least two beds. Many couples may not have these options available to them in their home.</p> <p>Sleeping separately is <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-22/couples-on-why-they-love-sleeping-separately/102448812">often stigmatised</a>, with some people seeing it as the death of a couple’s sex life. But while sleeping in separate beds may provide fewer opportunities for sex, this doesn’t necessarily mean the end of intimacy.</p> <p>Sleeping apart could mean some couples actually have more sex. We know better sleep is linked to more <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2644899/">positive feelings about relationships</a>, so it’s possible the desire to be intimate could increase after a good night’s sleep in separate beds. Sleeping apart may even mean some couples have more energy to be intimate.</p> <p>Nonetheless, if you choose to sleep separately from your partner, it’s important to have an open discussion and prioritise opportunities for connection and intimacy. One client I worked with referred to “visiting rights” where her partner came into her bed for a short period before sleep or in the morning.</p> <h2>Who should potentially consider a sleep separation?</h2> <p>You may wish to think about a “sleep separation” if you are disturbing each other’s sleep, have young children, or have different preferences in terms of temperature, light and noise, which are causing issues.</p> <p>Ultimately, if sleeping in the same bed is leading to poor sleep then sleeping apart, if it’s possible, could help.</p> <p>If you can’t sleep separately there may be other ways to reduce disturbance from a partner such as using an eye mask, white noise or earplugs.</p> <p>If you decide to try a sleep separation, remember this can be a flexible arrangement or “re-set” and doesn’t have to be permanent, or every night. Some couples find sleeping separately during the working week but sharing a bed on the weekend works well for them.</p> <p>Lastly, it’s important to talk to your GP about any persistent sleep problems, such as snoring, insomnia, or unusual behaviour during sleep (for example, shouting or walking around), as there may be an underlying sleep disorder which needs treating.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/258085/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alix-mellor-2406858">Alix Mellor</a>, Research Fellow, Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>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/sleep-divorce-could-sleeping-separately-from-your-partner-lead-to-a-better-nights-rest-258085">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / </em><em>Kampus Production</em></p> </div>

Relationships

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"Devastated": Football star dies at 28, just days after wedding

<p>Liverpool and Portugal football star Diogo Jota has died in a tragic car crash in Spain, just days after celebrating his wedding to long-time partner Rute Cardoso.</p> <p>The 28-year-old forward was killed alongside his younger brother, 26-year-old Andre Silva, in the early hours of Thursday morning near Zamora in north-western Spain. Authorities confirmed the pair died at the scene after their Lamborghini suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking, veered off the road, and burst into flames.</p> <p>The heartbreaking accident comes less than two weeks after Jota married Rute in Portugal on June 22. The couple, who shared three children, had posted a joyful photo from their wedding day with the caption: “Yes to forever.”</p> <p>Now, that forever has been cruelly cut short.</p> <p>Jota had only recently capped off one of the most successful periods of his career. In May, he helped Liverpool clinch the English Premier League title, contributing six goals across the season. He also featured for Portugal in their dramatic UEFA Nations League final win over Spain last month, coming off the bench in extra time before his team triumphed in a penalty shootout.</p> <p>In a statement, Liverpool FC expressed their devastation:</p> <p>“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” it read. “We will be making no further comment at this time and request privacy for the family, friends, teammates, and club staff as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.”</p> <p>Portuguese football is also in mourning. Pedro Proenca, President of the Portuguese Football Federation, paid tribute to both brothers, describing Jota as “much more than a fantastic player... an extraordinary person, respected by all.”</p> <p>“We have lost two champions,” he added. “The passing of Diogo and Andre Jota represents an irreparable loss for Portuguese football and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Everyone at the Premier League is shocked and devastated to learn of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre. Our sincerest condolences go to Diogo’s family, friends, Liverpool FC, and all their supporters at this heartbreaking time. Football has lost a champion… <a href="https://t.co/KG4coUHY1P">pic.twitter.com/KG4coUHY1P</a></p> <p>— Premier League (@premierleague) <a href="https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1940707922608054436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>Jota made almost 50 appearances for the national team and was known as much for his spirited play as for his humility and positivity off the pitch. A minute’s silence was held ahead of Portugal’s Women’s Euros match against Spain on Thursday, following a request from the federation.</p> <p>Jota’s career began at Paços de Ferreira in Portugal, before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2016. He was loaned to Porto and then moved to England, joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017. His performances at Wolves were electric, helping the club earn promotion and firmly establish themselves in the Premier League.</p> <p>Wolves, where Jota is still adored by fans, released a heartfelt statement: “We are heartbroken. Diogo was adored by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him. The memories he created will never be forgotten.”</p> <p>He joined Liverpool in 2018, quickly becoming a vital part of Jurgen Klopp’s side. In the 2021-22 season, he played key roles in Liverpool’s FA Cup and League Cup victories, scoring in both final shootouts against Chelsea.</p> <p>Off the field, Jota was a dedicated family man, sharing a quiet life away from the spotlight with Rute and their three young children.</p> <p>The world of football – and the families of both men – are reeling from the loss. </p> <p>Jota was 28. Andre Silva was 26.</p> <p><em>Images: X (Formerly Twitter)</em></p>

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Iconic Hollywood star found dead at 67

<p>Michael Madsen, the gravel-voiced Hollywood tough guy who made his mark in Quentin Tarantino's blood-soaked cinematic universe, has died. He was 67.</p> <p>The veteran actor was found unresponsive at his Malibu home on Thursday morning and later pronounced dead, authorities confirmed. His manager, Ron Smith, said the cause of death was cardiac arrest.</p> <p>Known for portraying menacing antiheroes and morally ambiguous outlaws, Madsen built a career playing unforgettable characters on the fringes of society – from the ear-slicing Mr. Blonde in <em>Reservoir Dogs</em> to the washed-up hitman Budd in <em>Kill Bill: Vol. 2</em>.</p> <p>“In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film... and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life,” his team – managers Ron Smith and Susan Ferris, along with publicist Liz Rodriguez – said in a joint statement. “He was one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.”</p> <p>Over a career spanning four decades, Madsen became a cult figure, equally at home in gritty crime thrillers, indie dramas, and blockbuster fare. His smouldering screen presence, weary stare, and distinctive voice earned him dozens of roles — many of them dangerous, unpredictable, and unforgettable.</p> <p>Born in Chicago on September 25, 1957, Madsen was the son of a firefighter and a filmmaker. His sister, Virginia Madsen, is an Oscar-nominated actor. He got his start on stage at Chicago’s renowned Steppenwolf Theatre, where he apprenticed under John Malkovich – an experience that shaped his early work in films like <em>WarGames </em>and <em>The Natural</em>.</p> <p>But it was 1992’s<em> Reservoir Dogs</em> that turned Madsen into a cinematic icon. As Mr. Blonde, the sadistic criminal who danced gleefully to “Stuck in the Middle With You” while torturing a cop, he etched one of the most disturbing, charismatic villains in film history. His performance earned praise from critic Roger Ebert, who wrote, “Madsen… emerges with the kind of really menacing screen presence only a few actors achieve.”</p> <p>He was originally cast to play Vincent Vega in <em>Pulp Fiction</em>, a role that eventually went to John Travolta after Madsen opted instead for Wyatt Earp – a decision he later said he regretted.</p> <p>Still, his collaborations with Tarantino remained a defining element of his career. Beyond <em>Reservoir Dogs</em> and <em>Kill Bill</em>, Madsen appeared in <em>The Hateful Eight</em> and <em>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</em>, helping bring the director’s stylised worlds to life with quiet intensity and simmering menace.</p> <p>Outside of Tarantino’s orbit, Madsen racked up credits in films like <em>The Doors</em>, <em>Donnie Brasco</em>, <em>Thelma & Louise</em>, <em>Sin City</em>, and even the James Bond adventure <em>Die Another Day</em>. He also lent his voice to video games including Grand Theft Auto III and Dishonored, and published poetry and photography that revealed a softer, more introspective side.</p> <p>Though his name became synonymous with grit and danger, Madsen's passion for art in all forms endured. His independent film work remained prolific until the end, with several projects – <em>Resurrection Road</em>, <em>Concessions</em>, and <em>Cookbook for Southern Housewives</em> – still on the horizon.</p> <p>Madsen was married three times, most recently to DeAnna Morgan. He is survived by four children, including actor Christian Madsen. His son Hudson tragically died in 2022, a loss that friends say weighed heavily on him.</p> <p>Michael Madsen may have spent much of his screen life on the edge, but behind the gruff exterior was a fiercely devoted artist who never stopped working, creating or chasing the next role. He leaves behind a legacy of fearless performances, an indelible mark on American cinema – as well as a generation of fans who will never hear “Stuck in the Middle With You” the same way again.</p> <p><em>Images: X (Formerly Twitter)</em></p>

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The Project has been axed – but someone forgot to change the passwords

<p>Move over, NSW Police social media team – there’s a new sheriff in town, and they’re armed with memes, mischief and exactly zero supervision.</p> <p>Despite <em>The Project</em> being officially axed by Network Ten last Friday, the show’s Instagram account has come alive with the kind of unhinged humour usually reserved for group chats and late-night impulse tweets. And the results? Glorious chaos.</p> <p>“The bosses really should have changed the password from Password1,” read the first sign that something was afoot – or at least, afootloose.</p> <p>What followed was a gleeful digital coup. “Well, well, well, look who is in charge now… It’s me! The social media hero (that’s what I call myself),” the mystery admin announced. “So, one question: what should I do with these accounts?”</p> <p>So far, the self-appointed “social media hero” has shared six rogue posts that are funnier than half the comedy on TV right now – and that’s not just our opinion. Former co-host Lisa Wilkinson chimed in with, “I am SO HERE FOR THIS!!” while Rove McManus, part-owner of the show’s production company, added, “I just assumed the news stopped when we did.” Mood.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLhO6vEzFDv/?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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLhO6vEzFDv/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Other ex-<em>Project</em> personalities Gorgi Coghlan and Georgia Love offered moral support in the form of popcorn and laughing emojis, which in 2025 might as well be legal tender.</p> <p>But the rogue admin isn’t just here for the nostalgia. They’ve been keeping up with current events – kind of. One post featured a video of a woman being taken out by wild winds during this week’s “bomb cyclone” in NSW.</p> <p>“We have been off air for less than a week, and a woman has been knocked over by a fridge box?” read the caption. “You just can’t make this stuff up.”</p> <p>Honestly? This person deserves their own spin-off show. Or at the very least, a raise – assuming they’re still employed.</p> <p>No word yet from Ten HQ, but we suspect someone in middle management is frantically Googling “how to revoke Instagram access”.</p> <p>Until then, we live, laugh and like.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

TV

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What is aflatoxin, the toxic chemical behind Coles’ peanut butter recall?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Coles <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-recalls/recall-alert/coles-supermarkets-peanut-butter-smooth-1kg-and-peanut-butter-crunchy-1kg">is recalling</a> two of its homebrand peanut butter products, over concerns they have been contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxic chemical linked to liver cancer.</p> <p>The supermarket chain <a href="https://www.coles.com.au/help/safety/product-recalls/coles-smooth-and-coles-crunchy-peanut-butter-1kg">has issued the recall notice</a> for Coles Smooth Peanut Butter 1kg and Coles Crunchy Peanut Butter 1kg, with the best before date of February 5 2027. They were sold in supermarkets and online nationally between May 1 and June 30 this year.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">⚠️ Food recall notice⚠️<br />Coles Supermarkets are conducting a recall on Coles Smooth and Coles Crunchy Peanut Butter 1kg with all best before dates 5/2/27. The recall is due to Biotoxin (aflatoxin) contamination. The product has been available at Coles Supermarkets and online. <a href="https://t.co/7eunBttfD3">pic.twitter.com/7eunBttfD3</a></p> <p>— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) <a href="https://twitter.com/qldhealth/status/1939606370791325892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>Aflatoxin can cause injury or illness if eaten, according to Australia’s <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/food-recalls/recall-alert/coles-supermarkets-peanut-butter-smooth-1kg-and-peanut-butter-crunchy-1kg">food safety authority</a>.</p> <p>But what is aflatoxin? How does it get into food? And what is the risk if you eat it?</p> <h2>What is aflatoxin? Where does it occur?</h2> <p>Aflatoxins are a toxic chemical (a mycotoxin) produced by fungi. The mould-like fungi that produce aflatoxins belong to a large group called <em><a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au/mycology/fungal-descriptions-and-antifungal-susceptibility/hyphomycetes-conidial-moulds/aspergillus#aspergillus-flavus-complex">Aspergillus</a></em>.</p> <p>These fungi are found in all environments, for example in soils, compost, building surfaces and on crops and other plants, and can cause infections or poisoning <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/Peanut%20pistachio%20and%20aflatoxins.pdf">in humans and animals</a>.</p> <p><em>Aspergillus flavus</em> and <em>Aspergillus parasiticus</em>, which produce aflatoxins, thrive mainly in agricultural crops but also in soils, rotting food and compost. The fungi emerge as spores and form networks of microscopic filaments that can grow on products such as grains and nuts.</p> <p>As these fungi grow they release a range of chemicals, including aflatoxins, that <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mycotoxins">can lead to contamination</a> of produce before and after harvest, or after processing.</p> <p>Aflatoxins are some of the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mycotoxins">most poisonous types</a> of mycotoxin.</p> <p>Different kinds of aflatoxins <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/natural-toxins-food/mycotoxins">usually affect</a> contaminated food (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1), crops (G2) and milk (M1).</p> <h2>Which foods are most risky?</h2> <p>Crops produced and stored in warm, humid or moist tropical locations are most at risk, as toxin-producing moulds <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/natural-toxins-food/mycotoxins">thrive in these conditions</a>.</p> <p>High-risk foods include peanuts, corn and tree nuts (such as brazil, walnut and pistachio nuts). The toxin-producing fungi <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mycotoxins">can also grow</a> on wheat, rice, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/sorghum-grain">sorghum</a> and spice crops such as turmeric, chilli, ginger and coriander.</p> <p>If animals graze on contaminated crops, their milk and meat can also become contaminated.</p> <p>Internationally, the Joint Food and Agriculture Administration and World Health Organization is responsible for setting guidelines and monitoring standards for mycotoxins via its <a href="https://www.who.int/groups/joint-fao-who-expert-committee-on-food-additives-(jecfa)/about">expert committee on food additives</a>.</p> <p>In Australia, aflatoxin food contamination <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-11/Peanut%20pistachio%20and%20aflatoxins.pdf">is not common</a>. In the past decade, there have only been <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/language/urdu/en/article/australian-supermarkets-revealed-to-be-selling-dangerous-or-banned-foods/r8z2f4pvf">a handful of recalls</a>.</p> <h2>Why are aflatoxins dangerous?</h2> <p>Aflatoxins can damage your liver and cause cancer.</p> <p>Eating <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mycotoxins">a lot of contaminated foods</a> over a short period of time can lead to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557781/">aflatoxicosis</a>, acute poisoning that immediately damages the liver. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and convulsions, and may be life-threating.</p> <p>Over <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/natural-toxins-food/mycotoxins">a long period</a>, smaller amounts of contaminated foods can lead to liver cancer, birth defects, kidney disease and immune system dysfunction.</p> <p>There is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557781/">no specific treatment</a> for alfatoxins. Management after acute or long-term exposure focuses on addressing symptoms and monitoring liver health.</p> <h2>How can I stay safe?</h2> <p>There is <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/natural-toxins-food/mycotoxins">not much individuals can do</a> to control the presence of aflatoxin and other mycotoxins in foods, as contamination occurs during agriculture and processing.</p> <p>You should store nuts and nut products in a way that stops mould growing. Use well-sealed containers kept in dry and cool conditions.</p> <p>Freezing and cooking may <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/24/13322">kill the fungi</a>, but the toxin can survive extreme temperatures.</p> <p>Unfortunately, it is difficult to see the fungi with the naked eye. However <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mycotoxins">you should avoid</a> visibly mouldy foods and throw away nuts and grains that are shrivelled or discoloured.</p> <h2>What should I do if I’ve bought or eaten these products?</h2> <p>Coles <a href="https://www.coles.com.au/help/safety/product-recalls/coles-smooth-and-coles-crunchy-peanut-butter-1kg">has advised</a> customers to return the products to stores and contact its hotline for more information (1800 061 562).</p> <p>If you’re concerned you may have eaten contaminated peanut butter, speak to a health professional.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/260194/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/thomas-jeffries-1511629">Thomas Jeffries</a>, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/charles-oliver-morton-2423921">Charles Oliver Morton</a>, Senior Lecturer in Medical Microbiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p><em>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/what-is-aflatoxin-the-toxic-chemical-behind-coles-peanut-butter-recall-260194">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Queensland Government</em></p> </div>

Food & Wine

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"Bring back The Project!": Viewers divided over new Channel 10 show

<p>Just weeks after Channel 10 confirmed the shock axing of <em>The Project</em>, its replacement show <em>10 News+</em> made its prime-time debut – and reactions have been anything but quiet.</p> <p>The new current affairs program, hosted by seasoned journalists Amelia Brace and Denham Hitchcock, launched Monday night with bold promises and a serious tone, setting itself apart from its long-running predecessor.</p> <p>“Firstly, we’re not here to tell you what to think. We’re not here to scare or depress you,” Hitchcock told viewers in the show’s opening minutes. “We will give you facts, information you can trust, the truth,” Brace added, outlining the show’s mission for “digging deeper with investigations and original reporting you won’t see anywhere else”.</p> <p>Despite landing a world-exclusive with convicted drug smuggler Debbie Voulgaris – speaking from a prison cell in Taiwan – and featuring an interview with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the show failed to win over many of <em>The Project</em>’s former fans.</p> <p>“Seriously Channel 10!” one viewer wrote on social media. “There’s enough depressing news already out there and now you’ve brought it to us at 6pm! Bring back The Project.”</p> <p>Another slammed the show as “A Current Affair, yawn!” while one frustrated viewer branded it “a SNOOZE FEST of a show with NO SOUL”, accusing the network of underestimating its audience.</p> <p>“Cut and paste of Channel 9’s A Current Affair. Not interested. Already changed channel,” another viewer declared.</p> <p>The comparisons to <em>A Current Affair</em> – and the shift in tone from <em>The Project</em>’s lighter, panel-style format – were a recurring theme in the online backlash.</p> <p>“Genuine feedback and not at all a criticism of the hosts,” one person commented, “but this show is so vastly different from The Project and more like A Current Affair. It’s not unique... Was it just a cost-cutting measure all along?”</p> <p>Others went even further, suggesting the show might not last the year. “Give it a month,” one viewer said. Another quipped, “Are the hosts AI-generated?”</p> <p>Still, <em>10 News+</em> wasn’t without its defenders. Some viewers praised the show’s content and approach.</p> <p>“Loving @10NewsPlus – strong launch story. Is this the new Schapelle Corby story we all need to know about?” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). “10 News should be very proud.”</p> <p>“I liked 10 News+. It was very interesting and I liked the interview with the astronaut,” another added.</p> <p>For now, Channel 10 is betting on its revamped format to reinvigorate its 6pm slot. Whether audiences warm to the serious tone – or keep demanding the return of <em>The Project</em> – remains to be seen.</p> <p><em>Images: Network 10</em></p>

TV

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"It hurts like a b***h!" TV star axed ahead of 2026 season

<p>After nearly a decade at the helm, longtime <em>Australian Survivor</em> host Jonathan LaPaglia has been axed from the show ahead of its 2026 season.</p> <p>LaPaglia, 55, who has hosted the Channel 10 reality series since its 2016 revival, confirmed in an emotional Instagram post that he had been “blindsided” by the decision, delivered via a phone call from the network.</p> <p>“<em>Australian Survivor</em> has seen some of the most epic blindsides over the last 10 years, but this one might just be the craziest of them all… because it happened to me,” LaPaglia wrote.</p> <p>He explained that Channel 10 thanked him for his contribution but said they were “going in a different direction” after recent ratings dips, prompting what he described as not a tribe swap, but a “HOST SWAP®.”</p> <p>LaPaglia, who has already filmed the upcoming 13th season titled <em>Australia v The World</em>, described the decision as painful.</p> <p>“I wish I could say, ‘Before we go to vote, tonight is a little different….no one’s going home.’ But I can’t. None of that non-elim bulls**t tonight! Someone IS going home. And with no idol in my back pocket, that someone is me,” he said.</p> <p>He also paid tribute to the show’s crew, contestants and loyal fans, calling it “one of the greatest adventures” of his career. “It is without a doubt the hardest challenge of all to snuff my own torch,” he added. “But here goes; ‘JLP… the tribe has spoken.’”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLghpD-tzIv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLghpD-tzIv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by @jonathanlapaglia</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>While no official replacement has been named, it’s widely rumoured that <em>Survivor</em> alum and <em>Deal or No Deal Island</em> winner David Genat, 45, will step into the role. Genat, who won<em> Australian Survivor: All Stars</em> in 2020, recently <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/aussie-tv-star-wins-9-2m-on-game-show-the-largest-in-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made global headlines</a> after winning a staggering $US5.8 million ($A9.2 million) on the US game show.</p> <p>LaPaglia will return for one final season when <em>Australia v The World</em> airs later this year – an instalment he has called “probably our best season EVER” – then ended it all with one last thought on being let go from the network this way:</p> <p>"Whoever said a blindside is the most humane way to put someone down is an idiot. It hurts like a b***h!”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Neighbours star splits from billionaire husband

<p>Former <em>Neighbours</em> actress and pop star Holly Valance has reportedly split from her husband, billionaire property developer and Reform UK treasurer Nick Candy, after 13 years of marriage.</p> <p>According to <em>The Sun</em>, the couple parted ways in recent weeks and are heading for divorce. Valance, 42, and Candy, 52, married in 2012 in a star-studded ceremony in California attended by 300 guests. They share two daughters.</p> <p>“This has been a very difficult period for both Nick and Holly, and they are keeping things private out of respect for their family,” a family friend told the newspaper. “The joint parenting of their two amazing daughters remains their top priority.”</p> <p>“They’ve had to juggle a demanding lifestyle. Between family, public life, and Nick’s intense work commitments, it’s been a tough balance,” the source added. “This is a family matter and they’re doing their best to handle things thoughtfully.”</p> <p>A spokesperson for Valance said there would be no official comment, adding: “The privacy of all parties involved is respectfully requested.”</p> <p>The couple are known for their political connections and involvement with Reform UK. In 2022, they visited former US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, accompanied by party leader Nigel Farage.</p> <p>Valance first rose to fame playing Felicity ‘Flick’ Scully on <em>Neighbours</em> before launching a successful pop career, including her chart-topping debut single “Kiss Kiss” in 2002. She later appeared in a string of television and film roles and reached the semi-finals of <em>Strictly Come Dancing</em> in 2011.</p> <p>Candy is one half of the high-profile Candy brothers, renowned for developing luxury properties in London.</p> <p><em>Image: Woman's Weekly</em></p>

Relationships

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Lung cancer screening is about to start. Here's what you need to know

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>From July, eligible Australians will be screened for <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/nlcsp">lung cancer</a> as part of the nation’s first new <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/cancer/screening-for-cancer">cancer screening</a> program for almost 20 years.</p> <p>The program aims to detect lung cancer early, before symptoms emerge and cancer spreads. This early detection and treatment is predicted to <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1911793?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&amp;rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&amp;rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed">save lives</a>.</p> <h2>Why lung cancer?</h2> <p><a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated-files/publications/report-lung-cancer-screening-enquiry/pdf/report_on_the_lung_cancer_screening_enquiry_0.pdf">Lung cancer</a> is Australia’s fifth most diagnosed cancer but causes the greatest number of cancer deaths.</p> <p>It’s <a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated-files/publications/report-lung-cancer-screening-enquiry/pdf/report_on_the_lung_cancer_screening_enquiry_0.pdf">more common</a> in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, rural and remote Australians, and lower income groups than in the general population.</p> <p><a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated-files/publications/report-lung-cancer-screening-enquiry/pdf/report_on_the_lung_cancer_screening_enquiry_0.pdf">Overall</a>, less than one in five patients with lung cancer will survive five years. But for those diagnosed when the cancer is small and has not spread, two-thirds of people survive five years.</p> <h2>Who is eligible?</h2> <p>The lung cancer screening program only targets people at higher risk of lung cancer, based on their smoking history and their age. This is different to a population-wide screening program, such as screening for bowel cancer, which is based on age alone.</p> <p>The lung cancer program <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/nlcsp">screens people</a> 50-70 years old with no signs or symptoms of lung cancer such as breathlessness, a persisting cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, becoming very tired or losing weight.</p> <p>To be eligible, current smokers must also have a history of at least 30 “<a href="https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/pack-year">pack years</a>”. To calculate this you multiply the number of packets (of 20 cigarettes) you smoke a day by the number of years you’ve been smoking them.</p> <p>For instance, if you smoke one packet (20 cigarettes) a day for a year that is one pack year. Smoking two packets a day for six months (half a year) is also a pack year.</p> <p>People who have quit smoking in the past ten years but have accumulated 30 or more pack years before quitting are also eligible.</p> <h2>What does screening involve?</h2> <p>Ask your GP or health worker if you are eligible. If you are, you will be referred for a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan. This uses much lower doses of x-rays than a regular CT but is enough to find nodules in the lung. These are small lumps which could be clumps of cancer cells, inflammatory cells or scarring from old infections.</p> <p>Imaging involves lying on a table for 10-15 minutes while the scanner takes images of your chest. So people must also be able to lie flat in a scanner to be part of the program.</p> <p>After the scan, the results are sent to you, your GP and the <a href="https://www.ncsr.gov.au/">National Cancer Screening Register</a>. You’ll be contacted if the scan is normal and will then be reminded in two years’ time to screen again.</p> <p>If your scan has findings that need to be followed, you will be sent back to your GP who may arrange a further scan in <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/nlcsp/about#the-screening-pathway">three to 12 months</a>.</p> <p>If lung cancer is suspected, you will be referred to a lung specialist for further tests.</p> <h2>What are the benefits and risks?</h2> <p><a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1911793">International</a> <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(25)00082-8/fulltext">trials</a> show screening people at high risk of lung cancer reduces their chance of dying prematurely from it, and the benefits outweigh any harm.</p> <p>The aim is to <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1911793?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&amp;rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&amp;rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed">save lives</a> by <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/nlcsp/about#why-screening-is-important">increasing the detection</a> of <a href="https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/lung-cancer/diagnosis/staging-prognosis/">stage 1 disease</a> (a small cancer, 4 centimetres or less, confined to the lung), which has a greater chance of being treated successfully.</p> <p>The risks of radiation exposure are minimised by using low-dose CT screening.</p> <p>The other greatest risk is a false positive. This is where the imaging suggests cancer, but further tests rule it out. This varies across studies from almost <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2777242">one in ten to one in two</a> of those having their first scan. If imaging suggests cancer, this usually requires a repeat scan. But about <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2777242">one in 100</a> of those whose imaging suggests cancer but were later found not to have it have invasive biopsies. This involves taking a sample of the nodule to see if it contains cancerous cells.</p> <p>Some people will be diagnosed with a cancer that will never cause a problem in their lifetime, for instance because it is slow growing or they are likely to die of other illnesses first. This so-called overdiagnosis varies from <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2777242">none to two-thirds of lung cancers diagnosed</a>, depending on the study.</p> <h2>How much will it cost?</h2> <p>The Australian government <a href="https://lungfoundation.com.au/advocacy/national-lung-cancer-screening-program/">has earmarked</a> A$264 million over four years to screen for lung cancer, and $101 million a year after that.</p> <p>The initial GP consultation will be free if your GP bulk bills, or if not you may be charged an out-of-pocket fee for the consultation. This may be a barrier to the uptake of screening. Subsequent investigations and consultations will be billed as usual.</p> <p>There will be no cost for the low-dose CT scans.</p> <h2>What should I do?</h2> <p>If you are 50-70 and a heavy smoker see your GP about screening for lung cancer. But the <a href="https://www.ilcn.org/smoking-cessation-in-lung-cancer-screening-the-latest-randomized-controlled-trial-evidence/">greater gain</a> in terms of reducing your risk of lung cancer is to also give up smoking.</p> <p>If you’ve already given up smoking, you’ve already reduced your risk of lung cancer. However, since lung cancer can take several years to develop or show on a CT scan, see your GP if you were once a heavy smoker but have quit in the past ten years to see if you are eligible for screening.</p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ian-olver-1047">Ian Olver</a>, Adjunct Professsor, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a></em></p> <p><em>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/lung-cancer-screening-is-about-to-start-what-you-need-to-know-if-you-smoke-or-have-quit-253227">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / </em><em>Towfiqu barbhuiya</em></p> </div>

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What causes the 'winter blues' and why is it more common in women?

<div class="theconversation-article-body">Winter is here. As the days grow shorter and the skies turn darker, you might start to feel a bit “off”. You may notice a dip in your mood or energy levels. Maybe you’re less motivated to do things you previously enjoyed in the warmer months.</p> <p>The “winter blues” can feel like an inevitable part of life. You might feel sluggish or less social, but you can still get on with your day.</p> <p>However, if your winter blues are making everyday life difficult and interfering with your work and relationships, it could be the sign of something more serious.</p> <p>Seasonal affective disorder is more than a seasonal slump – it’s a <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/symptoms/">recognised psychiatric condition</a>. Here’s what to look for and how to get help.</p> <h2>What is seasonal affective disorder?</h2> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395623001899?via%3Dihub">The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders</a> officially recognises seasonal affective disorder as a recurrent major depressive disorder “with seasonal pattern”.</p> <p>In other words, the condition shares many symptoms with major depressive disorder, but it also follows a seasonal rhythm. While this might be most common in winter, the disorder can also occur in <a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder">summer</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/symptoms/">Symptoms include</a>:</p> <ul> <li> <p>persistent low mood or feelings of sadness</p> </li> <li> <p>loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed</p> </li> <li> <p>low energy and fatigue, even after lots of sleep</p> </li> <li> <p>changes in appetite</p> </li> <li> <p>weight gain or weight loss</p> </li> <li> <p>difficulty concentrating</p> </li> <li> <p>sleeping more or less than usual</p> </li> <li> <p>feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness</p> </li> <li> <p>in some cases, thoughts of self-harm or suicide.</p> </li> </ul> <p>Research suggests seasonal affective disorder affects up to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/PRBM.S114906">10% of the global population</a>.</p> <p>Although it can affect anyone, it is more common in <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4673349/">women</a>, people aged between <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4673349/">18 and 30 years</a>, and those living <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08039480902799040">far from the equator</a>, where winter daylight hours are especially limited.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395623001899?via%3Dihub">review</a> of the Australian research on seasonal affective disorder showed the highest proportion of Australians with seasonal affective disorder was found in the most southern state, Tasmania (9% of the population).</p> <h2>What causes it?</h2> <p>Unfortunately, the exact cause of seasonal affective disorder is still poorly understood.</p> <p>Some theories propose it is primarily caused by a lack of light in the environment, although we are not exactly sure how this leads to depression.</p> <p>As sunlight is responsible for the production of vitamin D, some have suggested a lack of vitamin D is what causes depression. However, the evidence for such a link is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530312022000431">inconclusive</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.31887/DCNS.2007.9.3/alewy">Others</a> suggest a lack of light in winter delays the circadian rhythms which regulate our sleep/wake cycle. Poor sleep is related to many mental health difficulties, <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-a-strong-link-between-anxiety-and-depression-and-sleep-problems-and-it-goes-both-ways-76145">including depression</a>.</p> <h2>Seasonal affective disorder can be treated</h2> <p>Fortunately, there are several evidence-based treatments for seasonal affective disorder. Relief may be found through a combination of approaches.</p> <p><strong>Bright light therapy</strong> is usually the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/2017/6867957">first treatment recommended</a> for seasonal affective disorder. It involves sitting near a specially designed lightbox (with a strength of 10,000 lux) for about 20 to 30 minutes a day to mimic natural sunlight and help regulate the body’s internal clock.</p> <p><strong>Cognitive behavioural therapy</strong> aims to help people develop some flexibility around <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/treatment/">the negative thoughts</a> that might maintain seasonal affective disorder symptoms (for example, “I am worthless because I never get up to anything meaningful in winter”).</p> <p><strong>Lifestyle changes</strong> such as regular exercise, time spent outdoors (even on gloomy days), a balanced diet, and good sleep hygiene <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/treatment/">can all support recovery</a>.</p> <p><strong>Antidepressants</strong> – especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/treatment/">may be prescribed</a> when symptoms are moderate to severe, or when other treatments have not worked.</p> <h2>What else helps?</h2> <p>Even those without seasonal affective disorder might need to fight the winter blues. So, what works?</p> <p><strong>Prioritise social connection</strong></p> <p>Schedule regular, achievable and pleasant <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-024-02722-1">activities with friends</a>, such as trivia at the pub or a brisk walk.</p> <p><strong>Reframe winter</strong></p> <p>Rather than dreading the cold, see if you can embrace what is special about this time of year. The mindset of “<a href="https://denmark.dk/people-and-culture/hygge">hygge</a>” (a Danish and Norwegian term for cosiness and contentment) may help.</p> <p>Let winter be your excuse for snuggling on your couch with a thick blanket and hot chocolate while catching up on books and TV shows. Or see if there are any winter-specific activities (such as night markets) where you live.</p> <p><strong>Maximise daylight</strong></p> <p>Taking a walk during lunchtime <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/treatment/">when the sun is out</a>, even briefly, can make a difference.</p> <h2>The bottom line</h2> <p>If your “winter blues” last more than two weeks, start interfering with your daily life or feel overwhelming, then it might be time to seek professional help.</p> <p>Speaking to your GP or mental health professional can help you get support early and prevent symptoms getting worse.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/259375/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kelvin-shiu-fung-wong-1468053">Kelvin (Shiu Fung) Wong</a>, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>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/trouble-getting-out-of-bed-signs-the-winter-blues-may-be-something-more-serious-259375">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / </em></p> </div>

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How old are you really? Are the latest ‘biological age’ tests all they’re cracked up to be?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>We all like to imagine we’re ageing well. Now a simple blood or saliva test promises to tell us by measuring our “<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/cristiano-ronaldo-shocking-biological-age">biological age</a>”. And then, as many have done, we can <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/07/25/entertainment/khloe-kardashian-40-learns-her-biological-age-is-28/">share</a> how “young” we really are on social media, along with our secrets to success.</p> <p>While chronological age is how long you have been alive, <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/chronological-aging">measures of biological age</a> aim to indicate how old your body actually is, purporting to measure “wear and tear” at a molecular level.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Cristiano Ronaldo is biologically 29 years old! 😱</p> <p>CR7’s WHOOP stats put his body at 12 years younger than his actual age! 💪</p> <p>Cristiano’s dedication to his health and longevity is second to none 👏</p> <p>(Via <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cristiano</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/WHOOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WHOOP</a>) <a href="https://t.co/PwKqc77031">pic.twitter.com/PwKqc77031</a></p> <p>— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/DAZNFootball/status/1925894821203321009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>The appeal of these tests is undeniable. Health-conscious consumers may see their results as reinforcing their anti-ageing efforts, or a way to show their journey to better health is paying off.</p> <p>But how good are these tests? Do they actually offer useful insights? Or are they just clever marketing dressed up to look like science?</p> <h2>How do these tests work?</h2> <p>Over time, the chemical processes that allow our body to function, known as our “metabolic activity”, lead to damage and a decline in the activity of our cells, tissues and organs.</p> <p>Biological age tests aim to capture some of these changes, offering a snapshot of how well, or how poorly, we are <a href="https://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2022.1107">ageing on a cellular level</a>.</p> <p>Our DNA is also affected by the ageing process. In particular, chemical tags (methyl groups) attach to our DNA and affect gene expression. These changes occur in predictable ways with age and environmental exposures, in a process called methylation.</p> <p>Research studies have used “epigenetic clocks”, which measure the methylation of our genes, to estimate biological age. By analysing methylation levels at specific sites in the genome from participant samples, researchers apply predictive models to estimate the cumulative wear and tear on the body.</p> <h2>What does the research say about their use?</h2> <p>Although the science is rapidly evolving, the evidence underpinning the use of epigenetic clocks to measure biological ageing in research studies is <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39743988/">strong</a>.</p> <p>Studies have shown epigenetic biological age estimation is a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5940111/">better predictor</a> of the risk of death and ageing-related diseases than chronological age.</p> <p>Epigenetic clocks also have been found to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770725001277?dgcid=rss_sd_all">correlate strongly</a> with lifestyle and environmental exposures, such as smoking status and diet quality.</p> <p>In addition, they have been found to be able to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8484046/">predict</a> the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.</p> <p>Taken together, a growing body of research indicates that at a population level, epigenetic clocks are robust measures of biological ageing and are strongly linked to the risk of <a href="https://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2022.1107">disease and death</a></p> <h2>But how good are these tests for individuals?</h2> <p>While these tests are valuable when studying populations in research settings, using epigenetic clocks to measure the biological age of individuals is a different matter and requires scrutiny.</p> <p>For testing at an individual level, perhaps the most important consideration is the “signal to noise ratio” (or precision) of these tests. This is the question of whether a single sample from an individual may yield widely differing results.</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-022-00248-2">study from 2022</a> found samples deviated by up to nine years. So an identical sample from a 40-year-old may indicate a biological age of as low as 35 years (a cause for celebration) or as high as 44 years (a cause of anxiety).</p> <p>While there have been significant improvements in these tests over the years, there is considerable <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-022-00248-2">variability</a> in the precision of these tests between commercial providers. So depending on who you send your sample to, your estimated biological age may vary considerably.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Khloé Kardashian, 40, learns her biological age after confessing bad eating habits <a href="https://t.co/vlipIl9Im2">https://t.co/vlipIl9Im2</a> <a href="https://t.co/s1zRdpht0K">pic.twitter.com/s1zRdpht0K</a></p> <p>— New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1816322940532650399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2024</a></p></blockquote> <p>Another limitation is there is currently no standardisation of methods for this testing. Commercial providers perform these tests in <a href="https://www.livescience.com/health/ageing/new-biological-aging-test-predicts-your-odds-of-dying-within-the-next-12-months">different ways</a> and have different algorithms for estimating biological age from the data.</p> <p>As you would expect for commercial operators, providers don’t disclose their methods. So it’s difficult to compare companies and determine who provides the most accurate results – and what you’re getting for your money.</p> <p>A third limitation is that while epigenetic clocks correlate well with ageing, they are simply a “<a href="https://frontlinegenomics.com/opinion-direct-to-consumer-epigenetic-tests-are-not-getting-enough-scrutiny/#:%7E:text=Companies%20claim%20that%20epigenetic%20variants,in%20the%20usual%20DTC%20scrutiny">proxy</a>” and are not a diagnostic tool.</p> <p>In other words, they may provide a general indication of ageing at a cellular level. But they don’t offer any specific insights about what the issue may be if someone is found to be “ageing faster” than they would like, or what they’re doing right if they are “ageing well”.</p> <p>So regardless of the result of your test, all you’re likely to get from the commercial provider of an epigenetic test is generic advice about what the science says is healthy behaviour.</p> <h2>Are they worth it? Or what should I do instead?</h2> <p>While companies offering these tests may have good intentions, remember their ultimate goal is to sell you these tests and make a profit. And at a cost of around A$500, they’re not cheap.</p> <p>While the idea of using these tests as a personalised health tool has potential, it is clear that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jun/13/biological-age-startups-why">we are not there yet</a>.</p> <p>For this to become a reality, tests will need to become more reproducible, standardised across providers, and validated through long-term studies that link changes in biological age to specific behaviours.</p> <p>So while one-off tests of biological age make for impressive social media posts, for most people they represent a significant cost and offer limited real value.</p> <p>The good news is we already know what we need to do to increase our chances of living longer and healthier lives. These <a href="https://theconversation.com/you-cant-reverse-the-ageing-process-but-these-5-things-can-help-you-live-longer-214580">include</a>:</p> <ul> <li>improving our diet</li> <li>increasing physical activity</li> <li>getting enough <a href="https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/47/1/zsad253/7280269">sleep</a></li> <li>quitting smoking</li> <li><a href="https://theconversation.com/how-much-stress-is-too-much-a-psychiatrist-explains-the-links-between-toxic-stress-and-poor-health-and-how-to-get-help-222245">reducing stress</a></li> <li>prioritising social connection.</li> </ul> <p>We don’t need to know our biological age in order to implement changes in our lives right now to improve our health.</p> <p><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><em><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/257710/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />By </em><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hassan-vally-202904">Hassan Vally</a>, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>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-old-are-you-really-are-the-latest-biological-age-tests-all-theyre-cracked-up-to-be-257710">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / Cottonbro Studio</em></p> </div>

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MasterChef star shares joyous family news

<p>Adelaide chef and MasterChef favourite Callum Hann has shared some wonderful news – he and his wife, Crystal Jagger, have welcomed a beautiful baby girl into their growing family.</p> <p>Callum, who first won hearts as a 20-year-old contestant on the second season of MasterChef Australia in 2010, is now embracing his most rewarding role yet: fatherhood. The couple’s newest arrival, named Fleur, was introduced to the world in a heartwarming Instagram post on Tuesday.</p> <p>“Welcome to the world baby girl. We love you so much and you are the perfect addition to our little family,” Crystal wrote, alongside a sweet photo celebrating their newest bundle of joy.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLRkj2VTBVC/?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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLRkj2VTBVC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Crystal Jagger (@crystal_jagger)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Fleur joins big sister Elle, born in 2020, and brother Henry, who arrived in 2022. The happy news comes as Callum continues to juggle his busy career as a chef, author, entrepreneur and contestant on MasterChef: Back to Win, all while enjoying life as a proud dad of three.</p> <p>Congratulations to the Hann-Jagger family on their newest addition!</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Why women turn to illegal cannabis despite rising medical demand

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>The number of women using medicinal cannabis is growing in New Zealand and overseas. They use cannabis treatment for general conditions such as <a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/jwh.2020.8437">pain, anxiety, inflammation and nausea</a>, as well as gynaecological conditions, including <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40445778/">endometriosis</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39766334/">pelvic floor conditions</a>, and <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10314536/">menopause</a>.</p> <p>However, their experiences with medicinal cannabis remain under-explored in research and overlooked in policy and regulation. As our work shows, they face several gender-specific barriers to accessing medicinal cannabis. Some of these hurdles lead women to seeking cannabis from illegal markets.</p> <p>New Zealand introduced the <a href="https://www.health.govt.nz/regulation-legislation/medicinal-cannabis/about-the-medicinal-cannabis-scheme">medicinal cannabis scheme</a> five years ago to enable access to legal, safe and quality-controlled cannabis products for any condition a doctor would deem suitable for a prescription.</p> <p>A <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39418607/">recent analysis</a> found the number of medicinal cannabis products dispensed has increased more than 14-fold since 2020, with more than 160,000 prescriptions administered during 2023/2024.</p> <p>In the first two years of the scheme, women were the primary recipients of medicinal cannabis prescriptions. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of prescriptions issued to female patients <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-regions-age-groups-and-ethnicities-using-the-most-medicinal-cannabis/LNG7NHEDI5GYJMG6SCER7B3HKQ/">doubled to 47,633</a>.</p> <p>Our findings from a <a href="https://nzdrugtrends.co.nz/">large-scale national survey</a> show that although women perceive physicians as supportive of prescribing medicinal cannabis, they were less likely to have prescriptions than men. This is similar to <a href="https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-024-00992-1">findings from Australia</a>.</p> <p>Potential reasons include the <a href="https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/annual-update-key-results-2022-23-new-zealand-health-survey">cost of visiting health professionals</a>, unpaid care-giving duties, lower workforce participation and a <a href="https://www.women.govt.nz/women-and-work/gender-pay-gap">pay disparity</a> – all creating barriers to accessing health services.</p> <p>Women were also more likely not to disclose their medicinal cannabis use to others, citing it would be less accepted by society because of their gender.</p> <h2>Gendered risks in illegal cannabis markets</h2> <p>Our <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687637.2025.2481297?src=#d1e531">latest study</a> aligned with <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1536">Australia</a> in finding that women often seek cannabis from illegal sources because of perceived lower prices. Many could not financially sustain accessing legal prescriptions because medicinal cannabis is not funded by New Zealand’s drug-buying agency Pharmac.</p> <p>Study participants discussed the health risks of accessing illegal cannabis such as consuming products without knowing how strong they are or whether they have been <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/news/news/tga-warns-consumers-about-potential-harm-unlawfully-supplied-medicinal-cannabis">contaminated</a> with harmful substances.</p> <p>They also characterised illegal cannabis markets as unsafe and intimidating for women, with little legal protection and the presence of predatory male sellers. Some even described gender-specific experiences of physical assault, intimidation and sexual harassment, particularly when cannabis buying occurred in drug houses or locations controlled by the seller.</p> <p>Women accessing medicinal cannabis in illegal markets increasingly relied on female suppliers, viewing them as safer and more reliable. Some also helped connect others to these suppliers and used social media to warn other women of unsafe male suppliers. This created informal women-led support networks for access.</p> <h2>Accessing legal prescriptions</h2> <figure class="align-right "><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>One of our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2025.2476989">recent studies</a> found many women begin their journeys with medicinal cannabis online via social media, often leading them to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-09021-y">cannabis clinics</a> with a strong digital presence. Women are now a growing demographic for specialised medicinal cannabis clinics in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32019776/">New Zealand</a> and in <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229921000819">other countries</a>.</p> <p>Cannabis clinics have a reputation among medicinal cannabis consumers for being more knowledgeable and positive about treatments than general practitioners and other health providers. Women have been encouraged by positive online testimonies from other women using cannabis treatments for gynaecological and other conditions.</p> <p>Female medicinal cannabis patients also described the financial burden of accessing a prescription, including consultation fees and the costs of products as barriers to access.</p> <p>Their relationships with their GPs strongly influenced their decision to seek a prescription. Those with prior experiences of having their pain underestimated or misdiagnosed in mainstream care were more likely to source legal medicinal cannabis from cannabis clinics.</p> <h2>Policy and practice</h2> <p>The current scientific evidence for using medicinal cannabis for gynaecological conditions is still emerging. Clinical trials are under way in Australia to evaluate cannabis treatment for <a href="https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/nicmhri/research/research_projects/medicinal_cannabis_and_endometriosis">endometriosis and period pain</a>.</p> <p>Women’s reliance on online sources and personal recommendations to learn about medicinal cannabis highlights a gap in public awareness and government education about the legal prescription scheme. <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/hc/HC22122">Hesitance to discuss and recommend cannabis</a> treatment among GPs also persists as a barrier to access.</p> <p>Online peer networks on social media platforms are promoting women’s agency and informing their decision making around medicinal cannabis, but also raise the risks of misinformation.</p> <p>Although marketing of medicinal cannabis to women may improve their engagement with the prescription scheme, it may also put them in a vulnerable position where they are encouraged to pursue expensive treatment options which may not be effective.</p> <p>The collective findings from our studies indicate complex financial, social and systemic factors affecting safe and equitable access to medicinal cannabis for women. To improve women’s engagement with New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis scheme, we suggest GPs should have informed and non-stigmatising discussions with female patients to explore when medicinal cannabis might be an appropriate treatment option.</p> <p>Better access to good official consumer information about medicinal cannabis and greater investment in clinical trials for gynaecological conditions would also improve and support women’s decision making about their health.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/258797/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vinuli-withanarachchie-1278697">Vinuli Withanarachchie</a>, PhD candidate, College of Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-kunenga-ki-purehuroa-massey-university-806">Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-wilkins-1110463">Chris Wilkins</a>, Professor of Policy and Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-kunenga-ki-purehuroa-massey-university-806">Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marta-rychert-1108013">Marta Rychert</a>, Associate Professor in Drug Policy and Health Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/te-kunenga-ki-purehuroa-massey-university-806">Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University</a></em></p> <p><em>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/more-women-are-using-medical-cannabis-but-new-research-shows-barriers-push-some-into-illegal-markets-258797">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / Binoid CBD and </em><em>Alesia Kozik</em></p> </div>

Caring

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Five common habits that might be harming your liver

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>The liver is one of the hardest working organs in the human body. It detoxifies harmful substances, helps with digestion, stores nutrients, and regulates metabolism.</p> <p>Despite its remarkable resilience – and even its ability to regenerate – the liver is not indestructible. In fact, many everyday habits, often overlooked, can slowly cause damage that may eventually lead to serious conditions <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cirrhosis/">such as cirrhosis</a> (permanent scarring of the liver) or liver failure.</p> <p>One of the challenges with liver disease is that it can be a silent threat. In its early stages, it may cause only vague symptoms like constant fatigue or nausea.</p> <p>As damage progresses, more obvious signs may emerge. <a href="https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/liver-health-2/symptoms-of-liver-disease/">One of the most recognisable</a> is jaundice, where the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow. While most people associate liver disease with heavy drinking, alcohol isn’t the only culprit. Here are five common habits that could be quietly harming your liver.</p> <h2>1. Drinking too much alcohol</h2> <p>Alcohol is perhaps the most well-known cause of liver damage. When you drink, your liver works to break down the alcohol and clear it from your system. But too much alcohol overwhelms this process, causing toxic by products to build up and damage liver cells.</p> <p>Alcohol-related liver disease <a href="https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/lyl-alcohol-and-the-liver/">progresses in stages</a>. At first, fat begins to accumulate in the liver (fatty liver), often without any noticeable symptoms and reversible if drinking stops. Continued drinking can lead to <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-related-liver-disease-arld/">alcoholic hepatitis</a>, where inflammation and scar tissue begin to form as the liver attempts to heal itself.</p> <p>Over time, this scarring can develop into cirrhosis, where extensive hardening of the liver seriously affects its ability to function. While cirrhosis is difficult to reverse, stopping drinking can help prevent further damage.</p> <p>Even moderate drinking, if sustained over many years, can take its toll, particularly when combined with other risk factors like obesity or medication use. Experts recommend sticking to <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/calculating-alcohol-units/">no more than 14 units of alcohol</a> per week, and including alcohol-free days to give your liver time to recover.</p> <h2>2. Poor diet and unhealthy eating habits</h2> <p>You don’t need to drink alcohol to develop liver problems. Fat can build up in the liver due to an unhealthy diet, leading to a condition now called <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease">metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease</a> (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).</p> <p>Excess fat in the liver can impair its function and, over time, cause inflammation, scarring, and eventually cirrhosis. People who are overweight – particularly those who carry excess weight around their abdomen – are more likely to develop MASLD. <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease">Other risk factors include</a> high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gZQ3VFHq17E?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Diet plays a huge role. Foods high in saturated fat, such as red meat, fried foods and processed snacks, can raise cholesterol levels and contribute to liver fat accumulation. Sugary foods and drinks are also a major risk factor. <strong>In 2018</strong>, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-018-1711-4">a review found</a> that people who consumed more sugar sweetened drinks had a 40% higher risk of developing fatty liver disease.</p> <p>Ultra-processed foods such as fast food, ready meals and snacks packed with added sugar and unhealthy fats also contribute to liver strain. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000291652366188X#sec6">A large study found</a> that people who ate more processed foods were significantly more likely to develop liver problems.</p> <p>On the flip side, eating a balanced, wholefood diet can help prevent – and even reverse – fatty liver disease. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9370227/">Research suggests</a> that diets rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, and fish may reduce liver fat and improve related risk factors such as high blood sugar and cholesterol.</p> <p>Staying hydrated is also important. Aim for around eight glasses of water a day to support your liver’s natural detoxification processes.</p> <h2>3. Overusing painkillers</h2> <p><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10645398/">Many people turn to</a> over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol for headaches, muscle pain, or fever. While generally safe when used as directed, taking too much – even slightly exceeding the recommended dose – can be <a href="https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.13656#:%7E:text=As%20the%20toxic%20metabolite%20of,predispose%20patients%20to%20liver%20injury.">extremely dangerous</a> for your liver.</p> <p>The liver breaks down paracetamol, but in the process, produces a toxic by-product called NAPQI. Normally, the body neutralises NAPQI using a <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Glutathione">protective substance called glutathione</a>. However, in an overdose, glutathione stores become depleted, allowing NAPQI to accumulate and attack liver cells. This can <a href="https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/researchers-shed-new-light-paracetamol-causes-liver-damage/#:%7E:text=Paracetamol%20is%20an%20effective%20treatment,came%20out%20worse%20than%20Britain.">result in acute liver failure</a>, which can be fatal.</p> <p>Even small overdoses, or <a href="https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/analgesia-mild-to-moderate-pain/management/paracetamol/">combining paracetamol with alcohol</a>, can increase the risk of serious harm. Always stick to the recommended dose and speak to a doctor if you find yourself needing pain relief regularly.</p> <h2>4. Lack of exercise</h2> <p>A sedentary lifestyle is another major risk factor for liver disease. Physical inactivity contributes to weight gain, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysfunction – all of which can promote fat accumulation in the liver.</p> <p>The good news is that exercise can benefit your liver even if you don’t lose much weight. <a href="https://gut.bmj.com/content/gutjnl/60/9/1278.full.pdf">One study found</a> that just eight weeks of resistance training reduced liver fat by 13% and improved blood sugar control. Aerobic exercise is <a href="https://liver.org.au/news/exercise-for-fatty-liver-disease-has-benefits-beyond-weight-loss/#:%7E:text=%E2%80%9CExercise%20can%20benefit%20liver%20health%20by%20reducing,physical%20strength%20and%20body%20composition%2C%E2%80%9D%20she%20says.&amp;text=To%20reduce%20liver%20fat%2C%20it's%20recommended%20that,of%20at%20least%20moderate%20intensity%20aerobic%20exercise.">also highly effective</a>: regular brisk walking for 30 minutes, five times a week, has been shown to reduce liver fat and improve insulin sensitivity.</p> <h2>5. Smoking</h2> <p>Most people associate smoking with lung cancer or heart disease, but many don’t realise the <a href="https://www.journal-of-hepatology.eu/article/S0168-8278(22)00029-0/fulltext">serious damage</a> it can do to the liver.</p> <p>Cigarette smoke contains thousands of toxic chemicals that <a href="https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/living-with-a-liver-condition/stopping-smoking/">increase the liver’s workload</a> as it tries to filter and break them down. Over time, this can lead to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4088100/">oxidative stress</a>, where unstable molecules (free radicals) damage liver cells, restrict blood flow, and contribute to scarring (cirrhosis).</p> <p>Smoking also significantly raises the risk of liver cancer. <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8683172/">Harmful chemicals</a> in tobacco smoke, including nitrosamines, vinyl chloride, tar, and 4-aminobiphenyl, are <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/what-is-a-carcinogen#bottom-line">all known carcinogens</a>. <a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/liver-cancer/risks-causes">According to Cancer Research UK</a>, smoking accounts for around 20% of liver cancer cases in the UK.</p> <h2>Love your liver</h2> <p>The liver is a remarkably robust organ – but it isn’t invincible. You can protect it by drinking alcohol in moderation, quitting smoking, taking medications responsibly, eating a balanced diet, staying active and keeping hydrated.</p> <p>If you notice any symptoms that may suggest liver trouble, such as ongoing fatigue, nausea, or jaundice, don’t delay speaking to your doctor. The earlier liver problems are detected, the <a href="https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/information-and-support/love-your-liver/free-liver-scan/#:%7E:text=Finding%20liver%20disease%20early%20means,t%20give%20anyone%20a%20diagnosis.&amp;text=Liver%20scans%20are%20also%20available,to%20check%20your%20liver%20health.">better the chance of successful treatment</a>.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/256921/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dipa-kamdar-1485027">Dipa Kamdar</a>, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/kingston-university-949">Kingston University</a></em></p> <p><em>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-common-habits-that-might-be-harming-your-liver-256921">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Pexels / </em><em>Andrea Piacquadio</em></p> </div>

Body

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How sleep loss can lead to weight gain – and worse

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>You stayed up too late scrolling through your phone, answering emails or watching just one more episode. The next morning, you feel groggy and irritable. That sugary pastry or greasy breakfast sandwich suddenly looks more appealing than your usual yogurt and berries. By the afternoon, chips or candy from the break room call your name. This isn’t just about willpower. Your brain, short on rest, is nudging you toward quick, high-calorie fixes.</p> <p>There is a reason why this cycle repeats itself so predictably. Research shows that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-022-00747-7">insufficient sleep disrupts hunger signals</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101514">weakens self-control</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2018.02.010">impairs glucose metabolism</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23539">increases your risk of weight gain</a>. These changes <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0250-18.2018">can occur rapidly</a>, even after a single night of poor sleep, and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14926">can become more harmful over time</a> if left unaddressed.</p> <p>I am a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sTqquL0AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">neurologist specializing in sleep science</a> and its impact on health.</p> <p>Sleep deprivation affects millions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data-research/facts-stats/adults-sleep-facts-and-stats.html">regularly get less than seven hours of sleep</a> per night. Nearly three-quarters of adolescents <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data-research/facts-stats/high-school-students-sleep-facts-and-stats.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com">fall short of the recommended 8-10 hours sleep</a> during the school week.</p> <p>While anyone can suffer from sleep loss, essential workers and first responders, including nurses, firefighters and emergency personnel, are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i5210">especially vulnerable</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13154505">due to night shifts and rotating schedules</a>. These patterns disrupt the body’s internal clock and are linked to increased cravings, poor eating habits and elevated risks for obesity and metabolic disease. Fortunately, even a few nights of consistent, high-quality sleep can help rebalance key systems and start to reverse some of these effects.</p> <h2>How sleep deficits disrupt hunger hormones</h2> <p>Your body regulates hunger through a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra2402679">hormonal feedback loop</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171367">involving two key hormones</a>.</p> <p>Ghrelin, produced primarily in the stomach, signals that you are hungry, while leptin, which is produced in the fat cells, tells your brain that you are full. Even one night of restricted sleep <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23616">increases the release of ghrelin and decreases leptin</a>, which leads to greater hunger and reduced satisfaction after eating. This shift is driven by changes in how the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23616">body regulates hunger</a> and stress. Your brain becomes less responsive to fullness signals, while at the same time <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13051">ramping up stress hormones</a> that can increase cravings and appetite.</p> <p>These changes are not subtle. In controlled lab studies, healthy adults reported <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00662.x">increased hunger and stronger cravings</a> for calorie-dense foods after sleeping only four to five hours. The effect worsens with ongoing sleep deficits, which can lead to a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13051">chronically elevated appetite</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r6pItuOoGxc?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Sleep is as important as diet and exercise in maintaining a healthy weight.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Why the brain shifts into reward mode</h2> <p>Sleep loss changes how your brain evaluates food.</p> <p>Imaging studies show that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms3259">after just one night of sleep deprivation</a>, the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control, <a href="https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.111.027383">has reduced activity</a>. At the same time, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0250-18.2018">reward-related areas such as the amygdala</a> and the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain that drives motivation and reward-seeking, become <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsx125">more reactive to tempting food cues</a>.</p> <p>In simple terms, your brain becomes more tempted by junk food and less capable of resisting it. Participants in sleep deprivation studies not only rated high-calorie foods as more desirable but were also <a href="https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.111.027383">more likely to choose them</a>, regardless of how hungry they actually felt.</p> <h2>Your metabolism slows, leading to increased fat storage</h2> <p>Sleep is also critical for blood sugar control.</p> <p>When you’re well rested, your body efficiently uses insulin to move sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cells for energy. But even one night of partial sleep can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2009-2430">reduce insulin sensitivity by up to 25%</a>, leaving more sugar circulating in your blood.</p> <p>If your body can’t process sugar effectively, it’s more likely to convert it into fat. This contributes to weight gain, especially around the abdomen. Over time, poor sleep is associated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000444">higher risk for Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome</a>, a <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/metabolic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351916">group of health issues</a> such as high blood pressure, belly fat and high blood sugar that raise the risk for heart disease and diabetes.</p> <p>On top of this, sleep loss raises cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2013-4254">Elevated cortisol encourages fat storage</a>, especially in the abdominal region, and can further disrupt appetite regulation.</p> <h2>Sleep is your metabolic reset button</h2> <p>In a culture that glorifies hustle and late nights, sleep is often treated as optional. But your body doesn’t see it that way. Sleep is not downtime. It is active, essential repair. It is when your brain recalibrates hunger and reward signals, your hormones reset and your metabolism stabilises.</p> <p>Just one or two nights of quality sleep can begin to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00301.2013">undo the damage from prior sleep loss</a> and restore your body’s natural balance.</p> <p>So the next time you find yourself reaching for junk food after a short night, recognize that your biology is not failing you. It is reacting to stress and fatigue. The most effective way to restore balance isn’t a crash diet or caffeine. It’s sleep.</p> <p>Sleep is not a luxury. It is your most powerful tool for appetite control, energy regulation and long-term health.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/255726/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joanna-fong-isariyawongse-1470879">Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse</a>, Associate Professor of Neurology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-pittsburgh-854">University of Pittsburgh</a></em></p> <p><em>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/sleep-loss-rewires-the-brain-for-cravings-and-weight-gain-a-neurologist-explains-the-science-behind-the-cycle-255726">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / Ron Lach</em></p> </div>

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