HEALTH NOW
Diet dilemma
In a study that’s been heralded as “a wake-up call for the world”, researchers have found that one-fifth of preventable deaths around the globe are associated with poor diets. The study, published in The Lancet, looked at global eating habits from 195 countries between 1990 and 2017, and found that a poor diet caused 11 million avoidable deaths, the vast majority of which were from cardiovascular disease, followed by cancer and type 2 diabetes. A poor diet, researchers say, is one short on fresh veges, seeds and nuts but heavy in salt, sugar and trans fats. They add that it’s not so much what we’re eating, but what we’re not eating. For instance, the global average intake of red meat was 27g a day – slightly higher than the recommended 23g. But for nuts and seeds, where the RDI is 21g, the global average is three grams.
LIFE IS SWEET
Ice cream-lovers, we have news for you. Ice cream icons Ben & Jerry’s have launched their new line of light ice cream, Moo-Phoria. At 150-160 calories per serving, the new offering has less fat and sugar than regular Ben & Jerry’s flavours – but they’re no less delicious. Available in Chocolate Cookie Affair, Caramel Cookie Fix and the seriously delectable P.B. Dough, you’ll want to run, not walk, to your nearest Ben & Jerry’s stockist. $12.99; benandjerry.co.nz
IN THE MOMENT
If you struggle to keep your mind in the present while meditating, this tip from Millana Snow may help. The meditation teacher uses the technique of mental noting, where you note and name the thoughts that come up as you meditate. “When your mind starts to go off into tangents, you can use mental noting to bring pause and
