OrangaWellbeing

It is a question that may have grated on you for sometime, does too much cheese give you weird dreams? According to new research, yes it does, but not just any dreams, more often nightmares.

We often hear we need to head outdoors more often, but is looking at a natural view from a window good enough? And what are the rewards other than physical activity?

Disordered eating - the term used for problematic behaviour not frequent or severe enough for an eating disorder diagnosis - is still cause for concern, says a researcher.

Winter can be a contagious time of year for everything from Covid-19 to the common cold, but there are ways to limit the risk of illnesses spreading from one family member or housemate to another.

It can be a concerning and confusing time for children who are exposed to images and stories about conflict.

Face yoga has gained online popularity in recent years for its promised antiaging, face slimming effects, but does it actually do anything?

The weight loss and diabetes drug, which is only available on prescription, should be on pharmacy shelves within days ending a years-long wait for the much-hyped medication.

The latest entries in New Zealand’s food composition database reflect the nation’s growing ethnic diversity and rising demand for plant-based options and allergen-friendly foods.

How many of these home remedies actually work? Are they rooted in fact or just an old wives' tale?

We are hitting the grumpiest time of the year - after Matariki there are no public holidays until October, it's cold and dark and gloomy. How do we keep ourselves feeling okay?

Harko Brown, a traditional Māori kite maker, wants to see more kites in the air for Matariki.

“If I was say a millionaire, but I was still very much struggling with my health, with food addiction, all of these different things, the money would just come in and then it would go out on all of these addictions.”

A recent Deloitte study found that only six percent of Gen Z workers aspire to leadership roles in the workplace. The reasons for that are many.

Storing a scrunched, snotty cloth up your sleeve probably wouldn't be advised, but they can offer just as much protection as a tissue if handled well.

Young adults around the world are struggling more than ever before, says the co-director of a massive global wellbeing study, and to help we need to understand why.

Shorter days and colder mornings can make regular exercise even more challenging in winter.

You might love slipping into the sheets after an evening shower, but an expert says a morning scrub delivers a fresher start to the day.

“I can't kick to the head, because I can't reach that high now, but I can take someone's knee out,” says 86-year-old martial arts teacher Mary Patu.

16 out of the 20 popular sunscreens tested didn't meet the mark, including one that was wildly out of reach.

The unpredictable nature of thunderstorms may put some on edge. Experts gave us tips to calm your nerves, children and pets.

About three percent of urban New Zealanders are considered “committed” bike riders, and even fewer get in the seat rain, hail or shine. But some do.

Workplace attitudes are slowly shifting when it comes to being sick at work. RNZ spoke to five experts about what is expected of you and what you can expect from your employer.

As the price of necessities soars in Aotearoa, food insecurity permeates daily life, exacerbating existing eating disorders and giving rise to new ones.

TikTok video claims a McDonald's coke and fries can help a migraine. Epidemiologist Dr Fiona Imlach says it may not be totally far-fetched.

The broadcaster never thought she would take the one drug she was most afraid of, but she did so in the name of research.

A random Instagram post led Sacha Willetts down a rabbit hole that introduced her to a whole new sport.

Going too far with a diet might have serious impacts on your mental health.

Claire Turnbull was stuck in a cycle of overeating and shame, even after she trained as a nutritionist and fitness coach. Her new book shares how she reprogrammed her relationship with food.

New research suggests the widespread marketing of junk food on social media is influencing the food choices of young people.

Tahlia Vosaki trains five days a week, up to four-and-half hours a day around homeschooling.

A social media trend is telling women they should be able to complete 11 proper push-ups, but it is debatable whether it is a good measure of overall fitness.

As teen anxiety and depression continue to rise, and as our rangatahi face mounting pressures, the experiences these centres offer are increasingly important.

German life coach Karin Kuschik offers handy phrases for setting boundaries and dodging drama in her best-selling book 50 Sentences That Make Life Easier.

This isn’t a national call to quit caffeine. It’s just a story about a girl who stopped drinking tea and coffee to see how it would feel.

Almost all New Zealand teenagers use social media. RNZ spoke to four who don't.

Small acts of resistance known as "micro-feminism" can help women feel empowered at work.

Research from the University of Chicago looked at 'superagers' - people over 80 years who have the memory of someone decades younger - to try to understand why.

"You might have a sore back after you've worn high heels that day, but we've got no link between that and chronic long-term back pain."

Stats New Zealand data shows hundreds of thousands of us are working in our 70s, 80s and even 90s. Venetia Sherson, 77, asks, What keeps us at our posts?

Whether you’re signing on for a new job, have a child at school, or going to the hospital, there are crucial moments when you’ll be asked to provide an emergency contact. But what happens when you have no one to call on?

The popularity of weight loss drugs has caused a shortage in recent years, but how effective are they at helping with food addiction and obesity in the long term?

The research found “significant changes” in the brains of people who were overworking, which is a combination of physical and emotional overexertion, as well as a lack of rest.

The aim of the challenge is to avoid all those things you don’t actually need to buy.

During perimenopause oestrogen levels begin to drop which decreases bone density and muscle mass.

While many patients have their surplus embryos discarded by IVF clinics, some find themselves attached to the microscopic cell cluster.

Solo downtime can relieve stress temporarily, but taking care of other people is how we build resilience.

On the day we celebrate mums, people who haven't realised their dreams of having children can get slammed by 'invisible grief'.

From a celebrity-spruiked success to a relic of diet culture. How a changing world of nutrition led to Weight Watchers' bankruptcy.

It's what all the fitness folks are doing but what is proffee? How do you make it? And is it good for everyone?

Ready-to-wear clothing – garments picked from a rack of identical items - has really only been a thing for a relatively short time in history, especially in women’s clothing.

Is it mood, FOMO, the desire to impress? Or maybe some tricky behavioural triggers we're not even aware of?

There’s doom and gloom about everything. But after a cancer diagnosis, Nigel Latta, the clinical psychologist, author and veteran TV presenter, isn’t buying in.

Staff at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital are being trained to help their patients look on the bright side by a team of 'clown doctors'.

You might be one of the many people with 'inattentional blindness' – a brain glitch that makes it hard to clock unexpected objects in our visual field, and chatting on the phone while driving especially risky.

Less than 1 percent of models during recent runway shows were plus-sized. Some fear it shows fashion is on a worrying trajectory away from inclusivity.

Many boys and men who are already feeling defensive mishear the phrase as a criticism of maleness itself, says Australian sociology professor Michael Flood.

We asked three psychologists for their take on the Let Them theory — what's worth taking on board, and if there is anything to be cautious about.

Centenarians have strong genes on their side, but we can have "a very good shot” at reaching 93 with a healthy lifestyle and the right attitude, says longevity researcher Tom Perls.

Plastic, wood, bamboo, glass or ceramic? Experts weigh in on what's safest.

Scroll through social media and you'll likely find a reel promoting hot cross buns as a good pre-workout snack. Two sports dieticians share their thoughts, along with what and when to eat before exercising.

The Easter holiday period marks a busy time on the roads - and with it, an increase in roadside accidents. An emergency doctor shares what you can do to help if you witness one.

Seasonal plenty or cooking conundrum? This episode of RNZ podcast Thrift looks at getting creative with vegetables.

An understudied mental technique for falling asleep involves thinking of random words.

Dermatologists share their verdict.

To help create architectural guidelines for dementia-friendly housing, an Auckland researcher is interviewing people who live with the condition.

Wellness studios are seeing more young people swap drinks for steam, turning sauna sessions into a new way to relax, connect and sweat it out with mates.

Exercise doesn't need to be expensive, Katy Gosset learns in the latest episode of RNZ's Thrift podcast.

"Has anyone seen my Lorazepam?" Parker Posey’s Southern-drawled plea has thrust an anti-anxiety drug into the spotlight in the latest season of Mike White's dark comedy.

Maureen Maclean says 16 years of regular yoga classes has strengthened her body and also boosted her social life.

Have you ever felt like your body odour changes from one day to the next?

Scrubbing the ubiquitous chemicals isocyanate and xylene from the planet would mean a whole lot less eczema, says a US allergy researcher.

On 26 March 2020, Kate Newton’s street in Auckland went into lockdown along with the rest of the country. Five years later she tracked down her old neighbours.

Ozempic is in, body positivity is out - and a new social media trend isn't helping.

Writer Olga Khazan decided that her personality needed an upgrade when she realised she constantly noticed the bad things about life, but not the good things.

Forgiveness helped course correct Young New Zealander of the Year finalist Ben Purua's life after his role in a man's murder. What can we learn from that?

Women have long been sold the message that a ‘flat’ tummy is something that is both ideal and achievable. The reality is that it's not.

A long hot shower may be comforting, but will it make you any cleaner than a quick soapy rinse?

While hikers everywhere attempt to be the fastest to complete their journey, Venetia Sherson contemplates the joy of a gentle trudge.

Former professional rower Oonagh Cousins says an arts-based workshop for people with Long Covid helped her feel less alone.

The symptoms of burnout are insidious, a clinical psychologist says.

With garlic setting you back $4 a bulb, this spice can be found at your Indian grocer for a fraction of the price.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's suggestion of a Marmite sandwich and an apple for lunch wouldn't keep a child full or feed their brain sufficiently, according to local health and education experts.

About 90% of adults consume caffeine daily mostly through tea and coffee, so of course our kids are curious.

The idea that we need to wear scented sprays on our bodies to be clean is simply not true, says an English anatomy professor.

We know a lot about how hunger can impact young minds when it comes to learning, but hydration can play a big role too.

Colour Me Menopausal is a new activity book for adults that uses humour to educate about the phase of life when a woman's reproductive years comes to an end.

When the Wellington writer quit alcohol, she started to gain weight. What followed was two years of extreme dieting.

Weekly music therapy sessions help six-year-old Kiara find her voice as she finds her rhythm.

Here's what to consider this summer before your child runs starkers along the beach.

Tradwife doesn't go to work. Brat turns up late and hungover. Demure is on time and appropriately dressed. Can you keep up?

Sleepovers might seem like a rite of passage. That doesn't always have to be the case.

Some parents think introducing alcohol to their kids at a young-ish age "like the French" is a good idea. It's not.

Which sunscreen offers the best protection? Are more expensive ones better?

Men tend to overestimate their swimming ability, sometimes leading to a devastating loss. Even a rudimentary flotation device can help.

With an exceptionally hot summer on the cards, experts are sounding alarm bells.

Why does it feels so satisfying? And - importantly - is there a polite way to switch from yes to no when end-of-year obligations overwhelm?

Mike McIntyre folded down his client's ear to get a "clear workspace" for his clippers and spotted an angry-looking skin lesion.

Migraine sufferers have an 'invisible disease' that keeps them off work and out of normal life, writes Rachel Choy.

Black spatulas and other black plastic kitchen items can contain flame retardant, which probably isn't great for your body.

"Even if you do win, you're on a high for a little while but then you're like, 'Oh s..., what do I do next?"

There has been a period product revolution in the last decade - but are NZ teens using them?

There can be a huge difference in what your local doctor costs - even just across the street.

A new mass sports event is coming to New Zealand next year and all the fitness folks are amping up for it.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder or ARFID is an eating disorder that revolves around an aversion to food and eating.

When you drive south down State Highway 1, you can't ignore the exit number: 420. That number - spoken as four-twenty - is cultural slang for weed.

How can we take the edge off the daylight savings transition?

Bowls of Weet-Bix. Loaves of bread. Packs of noodles. It it actually necessary?

Gadgets allow us to track how much we eat, what we eat, our sleep and exercise but experts say they're not always making us healthier.

Over the past four years, terminal ovarian cancer has been shoving Cora Torr, 61, towards life's exit door. To offset this rude intruder, she's enlisted the help of a death doula.

"If that is the best tool you have in your tool box that is telling you something," says a counsellor, sucking some air out of the #cartime balloon.