Every March 17th, many places around the globe celebrate St Patrick’s Day with parades, costumes, wearing green, glugging down Irish beer and generally having some good old craic! Why do we wear green on this day? And more importantly, what are we actually celebrating? Continue reading
Mental stimulation basically translates to “giving your brain a good work out”! Why is this important? And how do we go about achieving good levels of mental stimulation?
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In some countries melatonin is a drug that’s sold over the counter in phrarmacies to help with insomnia and jet-lag, but melatonin isn’t only something you can find in drugstore bottles. Long before scientists worked out how to produce melatonin in pill-form, it was a hormone made naturally in the body. What does melatonin do in the body? Is its role really just to do with sleep or does it have other uses and side effects? And is it safe to take it as a supplement?
I’m a strong believer that every part of your body gives you clues about what’s going on inside, and the nails are no exception. The state of your nails could well-reflect the state of your health. Medical study has observed significant correlations between certain nail signs and specific health conditions which makes nail diagnosis a useful tool to help us better understand what’s going on in our bodies.
Nail beading is one such sign which can be informative about your health. What is nail beading? and what does it reveal about you? Continue reading
Around 17.7% of American adults have used nutritional supplements in the past year according to one recent survey. But do we really need to supplement our diets with multivitamins and minerals? And if so, why do we need supplements?
Once a year it is customary to stuff our faces with pancakes. Yes, I’m talking about Pancake Day! Or as it’s more correctly known by it’s Christian name, Shrove Tuesday. But how did “Pancake Day” arise? Why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday? Continue reading
People who commit to something and then back out are referred to as “getting cold feet”. Although it can refer to any commitment where there is timidity or fearfulness causing backtracking, it is a popular slang term for people chickening out of marriage commitment. What has the temperature of your feet got anything to do with backing out of a commitment? Continue reading
When a celebrity or politician pops up in the news for their most recent escapades, it’s not uncommon to hear the media comment that these people are “in the limelight” yet again. They mean that they’ve got our attention, as if a spotlight is shining on them and the world’s eyes are on them. But where does this phrase “to be in the limelight” come from? What’s the meaning of limelight?
Walking around any town or city, you are bound to see strolling couples almost unaware that they’re locked in palm-kiss. Why do romantic couples hold hands?
“Stop beating around the bush and get to the point already!” is a commonly heard phrase. But why would talking around a subject be like beating around a bush of all things? What is the origin of beat around the bush?
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