Benefits and Risks of Different Swimming Stroke

You know swimming is great exercise. But each stroke has different benefits and risks:

• Front crawl. The fastest stroke and the best back-strengthener. Also tones the glutes, abs and shoulders. This stroke is a good joule burner (420 per ten minutes). However, the commonest problem is not breathing properly (the key is to exhale evenly underwater). Have lessons if necessary.

• Breaststroke. Expands the lungs and works the chest, legs, shoulders and triceps. Burns only 250 joules per ten minutes. Warm up before trying this stroke or you could damage your knees or back. Do not keep your head out of the water as it's bad for your neck.

• Backstroke. Tones stomach, back, legs, arms and shoulders. A good antidote to a day at a desk and adds variety in your pool sessions. Burns 35 joules per ten minutes. Do not have your head too high or your hips will sink.

• Butterfly. Stretches and strengthens the body and burns 625 joules per ten minutes. Poor technique can damage shoulders and back.

For Skin Like a Peach

If you’re keen to look after your face but blanch at the cost of skincare products, you can make cleansers, toners and nourishers from fruit, vegetables and other foodstuffs.

Many fruits have a nourishing, revitalizing and astringent action. Some vegetables fight inflammation and contain vitamin A. Here are some recipes to try:

• Cucumber cleanser. Peel, seed, puree and sieve one-quarter of a small cucumber. Stir two tablespoons of honey into two tablespoons of the juice and add a tablespoon of full-fat milk. Apply to the face and neck for 20 minutes, then wash off with bottled water.

• Banana anti-ageing face mask. Mash a small banana and stir in two tablespoons of fresh double cream, one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of potato flour. Apply for 30 minutes and then rinse off.

• Lemon toning mask. Beat one egg white until stiff, and then fold in the juice of half a lemon. Apply to the face for 20 minutes, and then wash off.

Are Soft Drinks Really Bad for Your Teeth?

Yes, though some types are worse than others. Acids dissolve tooth enamel, and that can lead to cavities.

Canned or bottled iced tea and lemon-lime drinks dissolved enamel fastest; colas were less damaging. Diet drinks were no better than full-kilojoules ones.

No need to give up on soft drinks. Drink them with means; (food helps absorb acid) or in one sitting (sipping all day bathes teeth in acid). Swishing with water after every drink helps too.

Are Chemicals in Microwave Popcorn Dangerous?

You can continue to eat your favorite movie munchies without fear. The chemical in question is diacetyl, used to make butter flavorings.

Diacetyl is found naturally in real butter and it’s safe to eat. But at industrial levels, when large amounts of hot vapors containing diacetyl are breathed in for long periods, it may damage delicate lung tissue.

So, the bottom line is that the amount if diacetyl released from individual bags is so small that there’s no evidence it poses any risk.

Sneaky Signs Of Diabetes

They symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be tricky, which helps explain why millions of people have the disease but don't know it. You may know the classic symptoms of fatigue, recurrent infections and frequent urination. Lesser known signs.:

• Bad breath (a smell like nail polish mover). Excess sugar in saliva prompts bacteria growth, which help create foul-smelling gases.

• Swollen gums. Increased bacteria can lead to inflammation and bleeding.

• Blurred vision. Sugar in the lens of the eye makes it swell and refract light improperly.

• Frequent thirst. In an effort to eliminate sugar, the body demands plenty of fluids.

If you have two or more symptoms, and any other risk factors (being over age 40 or overweight; having a family history of diabetes; having high blood pressure or cholesterol), see your doctor.

Allergy Danger: Your Car

Your wheels can make you wheeze. Car air vents are allergen magnets. And research shows that even people who don't own pets have cat and dog dander in their cars - it sticks to our clothing. How to quell auto-induced allergies:

• Keep it dry. Moisture collects in the air-conditioning unit, which could lead to mould. Turn the air conditioner off a few minutes befor eyou stop the car, leaving the fan on, vents open, to dry it out.

• Keep in clean. The biggest irritants are dust and pollen. The solution: vacuum and wipe the inside of your car weekly.

• Keep it sealed. Roll up windows and set the vent to "recirculate" at peak allergy times - morning and night.

Test Your Biological Age

You probably know how many years you’ve been alive, but some doctors are now more interested in “biological ageing” – the physical decline that comes with age – a process that actually happens at different rates in different parts of the body in different people. To a certain extent it’s under our control through lifestyle choices.

Some private clinics offer tests that build an overall picture using a battery of measurements. Many can’t be taken at home, including grip strength, breathing and DNA analysis. But to give you a tater, here are some tests we can all try. Don’t panic if you get an alarming score: the tests aren’t conclusive in isolation.

• Balance – Stand on your left leg with your right leg bent behind you, your hands on your hips and your eyes closed. Time how long you last before losing your balance. Use your best score of three. 70 plus seconds biological age in the 20s; 60-69 sec 30s; 50-59 sec 40s; 40-49 sec 50s; 30-39 sec 60s; 20-29 sec 70s; under 20 sec 80s

• Reaction – Ask a friend to hold a ruler 45cm above the thumb and forefinger of your writing hand. When he drops it, measure how far it falls before you catch it. Under 15cm age in the 20s; 15-24cm 30s; 25-29cm 40s; 30-35cm 50s; over 40cm 60s.

• Skin elasticity – Pinch up as much skin on the back of your hand as you can. Then release it and time how long it takes to lie flat again. Under 1 second age in the 20s; 1-2 sec 30s, 3-4 sec 40s; 5-10 sec 50s; 11-30 sec 60s; 33-45 sec 70s; 46 plus sec 80s

• Cholesterol – Look in the mirror at your eye. Is there a white arc around the edge of your cornea? It is caused by fatty deposits and the longer and more complete the line, the more it indicates a prolonged fatty diet. An unbroken ring is a cause of concern in middle age.

• Mental agility – Count backwards from 100 in sevens: 100, 93, 86, etc. Time how long it takes to get down to zero. If you’re under 40 you should manage it in less than 20 seconds, 40-60 under 25 seconds. Now think of as many fruit and vegetables as you can in a minute. If you’re under 60 you should get at least 15. If you struggle with either you need to cognitive exercises.

A Clothes Call

“My feet are killing me! ” It’s a common complaint of high-heel-wearing women, and while it may be a slight exaggeration, there’s no question that your wardrobe cab wear you out. Fashions that can lead to pain – and other problems:

•  Neckties – According to a recent study, wearing a necktie that’s tied too tightly raises pressure in the eyes, which can lead to glaucoma.

• Shoes – Blisters, corns and bunions we know about. But wearing high-healed shoes, whether they’re stilettos or stacked, increases your risk of knee osteoarthritis.

• Tight pants – Doctors suspect that wearing pants that are too snug around the waist may lead to heartburn. And one study even linked the style to endometriosis.

Your Nails Are Telling You Something

Eyes may be the window to the soul, but the shape and color of fingernails and toenails can provide a glimpse of the state of your health. You should look out for:

• Pale or bluish nails may indicate anemia.
• Pink color slow in returning when the nail is squeezed may be a sign of decreased blood circulation.
• Clubbed nails shaped like the back of a spoon may mean cardiopulmonary disease or asthma.
• Spoon nails, which dip inward, could mean certain types of anemia or injury.
• Pitted nails with punched-out spots may signal psoriasis.

If you have any of these nail problems, see your doctor.