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Your weekly dose of evidence
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Macaroni cheese, hearty soups and piping hot stews. That’s the stuff winter mealtimes are made of. But have you ever wondered why we’re drawn to these comfort foods as the temperature drops? Why do they make us feel so good? And why doesn’t a bowl of salad do the trick?
Megan Lee and Jacqui Yoxall from Southern Cross University in Queensland explain why. They say it’s a combination of happy chemicals in the brain, an evolutionary trick, and memories of what we ate as a child that influence our winter eating habits.
And they say you still get the same comforting feeling from nourishing soups as you do from eating foods rich in saturated fat and carbohydrates. So winter eating doesn’t need to be unhealthy.
So tuck in and enjoy!
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Anna Evangeli
Deputy Editor: Health+Medicine
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You’re not imagining it. Our bodies really do crave macaroni cheese and other comfort foods as the temperature drops. Here’s why.
from www.shutterstock.com
Megan Lee, Southern Cross University; Jacqui Yoxall, Southern Cross University
Research into our brain, gut and childhood memories tells us why we reach for macaroni cheese rather than salad in winter.
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From the archives: cravings and comfort foods
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Kacie Dickinson, Flinders University
Around 60% of Australians over the age of two years exceeded the recommended daily maximum intake of salt.
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Clare Collins, University of Newcastle
A recent study was reported to have found that eating pasta wouldn't make you put on weight, This is actually true, so long as you're following a low GI diet.
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Sara Twogood, University of Southern California
Women might find themselves reaching for sweets and potato chips in the two weeks before their period, even if they don't have a diagnosis of PMS. An OBGYN explains these cyclical food cravings.
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Merlin Thomas, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Of all the homemade winter cure-alls, chicken soup is the best known and most loved. In fact the term “chicken soup” has become idiomatic for all things restorative; benefiting every possible problem from…
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Mental health and well-being
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Mental illness is more common among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders than in the non-Indigenous population.
From shutterstock.com
Maree Hackett, UNSW; Geoffrey Spurling, The University of Queensland
A culturally specific screening tool for depression has been successfully tested among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This is why it's so important we start rolling it out.
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Socioeconomic disadvantage is a known risk factor for mental illness.
From shutterstock.com
Graham Meadows, Monash University; Anthony Cichello; Anton Neville Isaacs, Monash University; Frances Shawyer, Monash University
In Australia, the highest rates of mental illness can be found in the poorest sections of society. But poor people with mental disorders often struggle to access the care they need.
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Living in a group environment is part of learning how to manage without using drugs.
Shutterstock
Julaine Allan, Charles Sturt University; Alice Munro, UNSW; Susan Collings, University of Sydney
Residential drug rehab programs usually last for around eight weeks and include everything from counselling sessions to household chores, which help build connections and support between residents.
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Expert answers to serious, weird and wacky questions
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Richard Wardle, Australian Bureau of Meteorology
In 1887 Queensland’s chief weatherman Clement Wragge began naming tropical cyclones, using names from the Greek alphabet, fabulous beasts and politicians who annoyed him.
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Jan Hoole, Keele University
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Top picks from the week
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As keen as we may be to hear about any health benefits of drinking coffee, the headlines aren’t always what they seem.
Janko Ferlic/Unsplash
Andrew Carey, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Caffeine may be able to increase the function of what we call 'brown fat'. But we shouldn't immediately scramble for the closest long black or flat white and expect to see the kilos drop.
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Laser treatment may need to be repeated for permanent hair loss and isn’t for everyone.
from www.shutterstock.com
Rodney Sinclair, University of Melbourne
How well laser therapy works depends on your type of hair and skin, the type of laser and the skill of the person operating it.
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For women who have had gestational diabetes, maintaining a healthy diet can help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on.
From shutterstock.com
Clare Collins, University of Newcastle; Hannah Brown, University of Newcastle; Megan Rollo, University of Newcastle
Women who have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. But regular checks, a healthy diet and exercise are can help to manage this risk.
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Look familiar? Don’t fret, there are better ways.
Shutterstock.com
Kelly Dombroski
Vanuatu has banned them outright, while many Chinese families use just one every 24 hours. So why are Australians still sending millions of dirty nappies to landfill every single day?
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