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We can’t just concentrate on cutting back on salt. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Which is the lesser of two evils?

14 Apr, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Which is worse for your health - salt or sugar?

Claims on the front of food packaging are mostly marketing, and mostly pretty meaningless. Image / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

The truth about 'wholesome', 'healthy' food labels

8 Apr, 2019 7:00am
5 minutes to read

Niki Bezzant explains why some food labels are better ignored.

Sugary drinks have been linked to premature death. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Take a break from the sweet stuff

7 Apr, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The dose makes the poison, you could say.

We can significantly reduce our risk of dementia and protect our brains when we're younger. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: What to eat to avoid Alzheimer's

1 Apr, 2019 8:31am
4 minutes to read

Dementia is a common disease in New Zealand, affecting around 70,000 people right now.

Yovana Mendoza explaining 'Fishgate' on YouTube. Photo / YouTube/Rawvana_English

LIFESTYLE

Bezzant: Influencers dish out the junk

31 Mar, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: We should take notice of them, especially when they espouse nutrition advice.

Think milk is all bad news? Think again. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Why we don't need milk, but should still drink it

25 Mar, 2019 7:00am
5 minutes to read

There are lots of myths and misunderstandings out there about dairy. So what's true?

The salt used in cooking and at the table is only about 20 per cent of what we eat. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Salt - the villain hiding in plain sight

24 Mar, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: We're focused on keeping sugar down but it may be that salt is doing more harm.

To get the best possible health benefits from a vegan diet, though, it needs to be well planned. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

How to go vegan the healthy way

18 Mar, 2019 7:00am
5 minutes to read

Going vegan is hot right now. Here's what you need to know if you are making the switch.

Can poor oral health actually cause diseases? Maybe. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Fortune smiles on good health

17 Mar, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Our mouths are a mirror, in many ways, to our bodies.

With so many different opinions on the benefits of breakfast, which one is right? Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day?

11 Mar, 2019 9:06am
5 minutes to read

Recent research has cast doubt on the way you start your day.

It looks as if establishing one healthy habit can lead us - possibly unconsciously - to starting others. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: The race is on to a better diet

10 Mar, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Looking to eat healthier? It might be as simple as moving more.

A diet consisting largely of white rice can’t be considered healthy. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: The truth about diets?

3 Mar, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Don't always trust the headlines.

It's time for a new look into what Kiwis are eating, Niki Bezzant writes. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Comment: Time for a check-up on Kiwis' latest eating habits

24 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: It's time for a check-up on Kiwis' latest eating habits, Niki Bezzant writes

Whole unhulled hemp seeds are high in both soluble and insoluble fibre. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Hemp: Should you start adding it to your diet?

18 Feb, 2019 9:02am
4 minutes to read

Is hemp truly a wonder plant? Nikki Bezzant weeds out the truth.

Symptoms of food allergies include sneezing, but also hives, breathing difficulty and swelling of the lips or tongue among others. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

A food allergy? Yeah, nah...

17 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Do you have a food allergy? Are you sure...?

Exercise and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables are your best bet in avoiding certain types of cancer. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Fruit and veges could save your life

10 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: Hair dye and power lines are unlikely to give you cancer - but what will?

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Should we stop drinking water?

3 Feb, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Comment: Nitrates could be contributing to New Zealand's very high rate of bowel cancer.

Eat ethically without giving up all you love. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: How to be an ethical eater without giving up everything you love

3 Feb, 2019 5:00am
12 minutes to read

We know we need to change how we eat, but do we have to give up everything we love?

Have a couple of fish meals and a couple of chicken meals a week. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: A diet to save the planet

27 Jan, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Planetary health diet seems broadly in line with traditional Mediterranean diet.

Build it right and a salad bowl meal can be a hearty, healthful and nutritious option. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

How salad could be making you fat

21 Jan, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

We could be sabotaging ourselves thinking we're eating a healthy option, but actually not.

Don't take shortcuts when it comes to getting fibre in your diet. Photo / NZ Herald

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: We need to get high on fibre

20 Jan, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Are we getting enough of this important aspect of our diet?

Nike Bezzant has a simple resolution for you to live your best life in 2019. Image / Getty

LIFESTYLE

The simple resolution to change your life in 2019

14 Jan, 2019 10:30am
5 minutes to read

Forget about a detox. It's time to re-health.

Among the Hadza, a hunter-gatherer community in Tanzania, fewer than 2 per cent of adults are overweight. Heart disease is almost non-existent. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: What we can learn from hunter-gatherers

13 Jan, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT:Hunter-gatherer populations were, and are, seriously healthy by today's standards.

The main component of the Beyond Burger is pea protein. Photo / Supplied

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: I have tasted the future of protein

6 Jan, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The main component of the Beyond Burger is pea protein.

Millennials are increasingly driving what we're eating and shopping for. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Where's the smashed avo? How you'll change how you eat in 2019

30 Dec, 2018 5:00am
10 minutes to read

Herald on Sunday food columnist Niki Bezzant explains what's on menu.

Essentially oils are great for aroma but not for ingesting. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Sniff, but don't eat

23 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Sweet smell of Xmas.

Potentially there are lots of people avoiding lots of foods, at great expense, for no good reason. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: I am intolerant of this intolerance rort

16 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: There are lots of people avoiding lots of foods for no good reason.

What we do know about any kind of extreme diet is that they are hard to stick to long term. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Trying a new diet? Trust your gut instinct

9 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: We don't know what the long-term effects are of cutting out whole food groups.

It looks like meat, it has the texture of meat and vaguely tastes like meat, but it's made from plants. Photo /123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: A growing appetite for meat-free

2 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Have you noticed that not all is as it once was in meat section of supermarket?

There's evidence artificial sweeteners may contribute to obesity. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Are you a sugar label detective?

25 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: How much sugar in your kombucha?

The more we understand about diabetes, and the more we support others rather than stigmatising them. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Time to stop judging diabetics

18 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Health is an area where we are sometimes quick to judge others.

Right now there's no regulation around what can and can't be marketed to kids. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Let's keep our kids healthy

11 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Kids are twice as likely to be exposed to unhealthy food marketing than healthy.

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Don't cheese off the planet

4 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

How to eat dairy without trashing the planet.

Kiwis love a sausage — but choose quality over quantity. Photo / 123RF

NEW ZEALAND

Niki Bezzant: Barbecue season is upon us

28 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Kiwis eat a lot of sausages.

Meat should be seen as a garnish. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: We need to start eating smarter

21 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: How do you feel about no more rice, chocolate or coffee? It's time for a rethink.

Changes in how we eat only work if we can sustain them long term; for life, basically. Most diets are too restrictive. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Will Weight Watchers' rebranding work?

14 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: No longer will the company be focused — in name at least — on losing weight.

They're quick, versatile and nutritious and the Ministry of Health says we can eat eggs every day. Photo / File

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Eggs - The foolproof foodstuff

7 Oct, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: There are many good health reasons to include eggs in your meals.

More than ever, exercise is important for adolescents, but what they eat matters most. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: You can't outrun a bad diet

30 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Exercise and diet are key to maintaining a healthy body.

A healthy diet can contribute to mental wellbeing. Photo / Dean Purcell

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: The effect of food on your mental health

23 Sep, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: In 1970, the year I was born, Janis Joplin joined The 27 Club.

A new study published in The Lancet is good news for lovers of milk, cheese and yoghurt. The story for butter, however, was not as positive. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Eating dairy is good for your heart

16 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: New study published in The Lancet is good news for cheese lovers.

Every three seconds around the world someone develops dementia, according to Alzheimers NZ. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: The diet for a healthy brain

9 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Eating well could reduce your risk of dementia.

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Use your gut feeling

2 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Why you should be excited by probiotics.

Father's Day is a great chance to remind your dad how important his health is. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: A healthy dad the best gift of all

26 Aug, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Father's Day is a great day to remind dad how important his health is.

Cutting back on processed meats and alcohol can reduce your cancer risk. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Simple steps to cut your cancer risk

19 Aug, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The biggies are really smoking and alcohol.

The fortification of bread flour with folic acid would help prevent birth defects. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Is fortification the best thing since sliced bread?

12 Aug, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Folic acid is important for women in the early stages of pregnancy.

In-season produce is cheaper, fresher and more sustainable.

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Pick the fruits of the season

5 Aug, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The answer to the issue of expensive veges is not to buy less.

Registered nutritionists are registered with the Nutrition Society of New Zealand, which has requirements for continuing education. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Not all nutrition advice is equal

29 Jul, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: "It worked for me" is a powerful sales tool. But it pays to be careful.

Not all carbs are created equal. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Dieting advice from 1966

22 Jul, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Low-carb diets aren't a new fad.

Parents have a huge part to play in helping ensure Kiwi kids don't lose the battle with the bulge. Photo / Monkey Business Images

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Nature versus nurture debate heats up

15 Jul, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: It's up to parents to help curb our kids getting fat, says Niki Bezzant.

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Obese - but by what measure?

8 Jul, 2018 9:17am
3 minutes to read

BMI. It's the measurement we love to hate.

Transparency from food outlets about what goes into some of our favourite foods would be a good thing. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Will calorie labels help fight obesity?

1 Jul, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: It can be difficult for us to know how much energy we're consuming.

Research suggests modern strains of wheat do not contain more gluten than historical strains. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Has modern wheat been modified to contain more gluten?

24 Jun, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Myth-busting tall stories about wheat.

Gluten-free choices are available in most food categories. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Why eating gluten free needn't be a hassle

17 Jun, 2018 11:43am
3 minutes to read

Liberate yourself with gluten-free options that are now easy to come by.

Fresh vegetables and chicken soup will comfort you in winter. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: How to fight off winter sniffles

10 Jun, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: It's the season of sniffles again - but do natural remedies really work?

A Ministry for Primary Industries' study found very high levels of aluminium in muffins, cakes and slices. Photo / 123rf

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Mains minus the (pesti)sides

3 Jun, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Should we be worried about pesticides in our food?

Plant-based doesn't mean a diet consisting solely of quinoa. Photo / NZ Herald

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Power to the plant people

27 May, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: "Plant-based" is a real buzzword in the world of nutrition right now.

Appetite-suppressant pill Calocurb is made from an extract of NZ hops, which are more commonly used in the brewing of beer.

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Is this a magic weight-loss pill?

20 May, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: New appetite-suppressant pill, Calocurb, has been developed.

Non-alcoholic spirit Seedlip is distilled from peas and other plants. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Niki Bezzant: Drinks for alcohol-free days

13 May, 2018 8:46am
3 minutes to read

What to drink when you're choosing not to drink alcohol?

Non-alcoholic spirit Seedlip is distilled from peas and other plants.

What to drink when you're not drinking

13 May, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Neither water or sweet juice are particularly inspiring.

We'd all do well to approach drinking with a less is more philosophy. Photo / Doug Sherring

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Why is booze so hard to quit?

6 May, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

We have a huge blind spot about alcohol consumption in this country.

Hemp - harvested from a non-psychoactive variant of Cannabis plant, different from marijuana - is an incredibly versatile crop. Photo / Duncan Brown

NEW ZEALAND

Budding hemp industry set to grow

29 Apr, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Non-psychoactive crop could be the future for New Zealand horticulture.

It is easier to eat well on a tiny budget if you have the skills, and the time.

LIFESTYLE

How to eat well on a budget

22 Apr, 2018 11:11am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: How hard is it to eat well if you're on a tight budget?