Features - The Malaysian Insider

Sedentary time could increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes

A Dutch study has found that for each hour spent sitting down, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases by 22%. Using data from the Maastricht Study, a large cohort study carried out to...

8 auspicious Chinese New Year traditions

Chinese New Year is upon us again as the town is starting to look a little redder and the distant sounds of lion dances can be heard. A festival to welcome spring and a season of renewal,...

Mercury in seafood not harmful to ageing brain, says study

Eating seafood may lead to higher levels of mercury in the brain, but a study out yesterday found that increased mercury does not appear to raise the risk of dementia. The study in the Journal...

Positive attitude towards ageing leads to better health, says study

A recent study has found new evidence to support the idea that ageing can be just a state of mind, finding that those who have a positive attitude towards growing older also enjoy better health...

Higher fitness linked to better recovery after heart attack, says research

New research suggests that not only could a high level of physical fitness help to reduce your risk of a heart attack, but it may also increase your chances of survival if you do suffer from...

Scientists give C-section babies healthy germs

Researchers have found a way to give beneficial bacteria to C-section babies, who lose out on a protective microbial coat donned by peers delivered the natural way, a study said...

Add walnuts to your diet to improve cholesterol levels, says new study

Whether you follow a diet high in healthy fats, or low in fat and high in carbohydrates, both are effective ways of shedding the pounds, finds a new study by the University of California. However...

With relish, Kabul’s middle class embraces food truck trend

When the first Lazeez food truck arrived in Kabul, many mistook it for a rickshaw and wanted to hail a ride – the yellow chassis and three wheels so reminiscent of taxis popular in South...

Lucky or Chucky? Thai spirit dolls delight and disturb

Driving to a Buddhist temple on the northern fringes of Bangkok, beauty salon owner Natsuda Jantaptim is running through her youngest daughter's likes and dislikes. "We sleep in the same bed...

Seniors should watch their zinc levels to boost immunity

A research team from Tufts University, Boston, has found that the immune system can be boosted in seniors by increasing levels of zinc in the body. Knowing that the immune system is weakened by...

Heartbreak as historic Hong Kong village demolished

A 650-year-old urban walled village in Hong Kong – the last of its kind – will be destroyed to make way for development in what critics say is another nail in the coffin for the city's cultural...

Cut kids’ exposure to junk food ads, says study

New analysis from the University of Liverpool, UK, has added to the growing body of evidence that suggests junk food advertising really does lead children to eat more. For their research, the...

Ex-top model holds fashion world to account on anorexia

It was the stuff of dreams: walking down a Paris street one day to walking the runway as a top 20 model in the world's fashion capital. That's exactly what happened to Victoire Macon Dauxerre...

Why increasing activity levels may not help you lose weight

If you've amped up the amount of physical activity since the beginning of the year as part of your resolution but have yet to see results, the findings of a new study could shed some...

Breast is best for babies, mothers and economy, says study

Breastfeeding more babies for longer could save the global economy some US$300 billion (RM1.2 trillion) in a single year, simply by yielding smarter and higher-earning offspring, researchers said...

Passive smoking can increase weight, decrease grades

A recent US study has found that children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to show increased levels of body fat and decreased levels of cognitive ability. As previous studies in...

Why do dogs keep killing themselves at Scotland’s Overtoun Bridge?

A series of tragic events haunt the otherwise-picturesque Overtoun Bridge near Dumbarton, Scotland, leading many to rename it the "Bridge of Death." In the past fifty years, as many as fifty...

Asia leads as cosmetic surgery industry grows globally

Cosmetic surgery is on the rise globally, with the industry growing by 8.2% in 2015. The sector is growing particularly rapidly in Asia, which accounted for 22% of the market last year,...

Trump’s hair has stylists shaking their heads

Is it a combover? Contemporary art, maybe? Or, wait, a cross between an otter's tail and a blooming ear of corn? Donald Trump's signature helmet of hair has top stylists shaking their heads...

Eating soy may help women undergoing IVF

A new study has found that eating soy regularly could help protect women from the harmful effects of bisphenol A, which can interfere with IVF treatment. Bisphenol A, also referred to as BPA,...