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Niki Bezzant explores the pros and cons of eating spicy food and its effect on our health. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Spicy food: Should we avoid it or eat more of it?

16 Mar, 2020 8:06am
4 minutes to read

If you have ever wondered if spice is nice, or not, Niki Bezzant has the answers.

Eating healthy can be hard when navigating restaurant menus. Photo / 123rf

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: How to stay healthy when dining out

9 Mar, 2020 7:00am
5 minutes to read

Here's how to make the experience of dining out as healthy as possible.

There have been several online conspiracies about diets that will help fight the virus. Photo / AP

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Coronavirus myths busted

6 Mar, 2020 1:00pm
3 minutes to read

Social media has fuelled strange claims about diets that will help protect from the virus.

Be wary of ice creams that promise the creamy pleasure of regular ice cream with low sugar and far fewer calories. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Four foods you never need to eat

2 Mar, 2020 7:00am
4 minutes to read

Marketed as beneficial, Niki Bezzant says there's no reason to eat these foods, ever.

Heirloom tomatoes, a bottle of olive oil, and a bowl of olives on gray background

LIFESTYLE

Which is best? Paleo, intermittent fasting or the Mediterranean diet

24 Feb, 2020 7:00am
4 minutes to read

Not all diets are created equal. One of these has been found to trump the rest.

Soy has been both praised and vilified in the past. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

The truth about soy: Is it good or bad for you?

17 Feb, 2020 11:00am
5 minutes to read

Do you really know how much soy you're consuming? Niki Bezzant explains.

Here are some suggestions for loving things you can do for and with your partner to help both of you gain greater health. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

How to avoid gaining weight as a couple

10 Feb, 2020 7:49am
5 minutes to read

Falling in love can also see us fall in to some unhealthy habits.

Kids today face greater health risks than any previous generation, writes Niki Bezzant. Photo / Getty

LIFESTYLE

Why this is a tough time to be a Kiwi kid

3 Feb, 2020 11:00am
4 minutes to read

Think kids these days have it easy? Niki Bezzant explains why they don't.

Drinking less will lower your risk of many diseases, including at least six types of cancer. It'll likely improve your sleep. And it could very well see you lose a little weight as well. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

A realistic guide to easing up on alcohol

27 Jan, 2020 3:00pm
5 minutes to read

Looking to ease up on the drink? Here's how to realistically achieve lowering your intake.

Celebrities and influencers like those pictured here often post so-called

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Time to get off the social media diet

27 Jan, 2020 5:00am
10 minutes to read

COMMENT: Be wary of those self-proclaimed experts.

The breast of Barbarian duck at St Peter Stiftskulinarium, Salzburg. Photo / Niki Bezzant

LIFESTYLE

What's dinner really like at Europe's oldest restaurant?

27 Jan, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Niki Bezzant ate at the oldest restaurant in Europe.

Kim Kardashian and her sisters are known for promoting detox products. Photo / Instagram

NEW ZEALAND

How social media is harmful for your diet

26 Jan, 2020 5:00am
10 minutes to read

Social media is changing how we think about life, health and food.

Quick and easy tricks for getting a healthy dinner on the table in under half an hour. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

The secret to quick and healthy weeknight meals

20 Jan, 2020 11:00am
5 minutes to read

You'll never have to succumb to Uber Eats again.

A trip to the supermarket used to be easy. Now it can be confusing with all the different messages about food. Photo / File

LIFESTYLE

Is plant-based meat a processed nightmare? Modern food dilemmas solved

11 Jan, 2020 5:00am
10 minutes to read

Food shopping is now wrought with dilemmas.

The light and airy space decorated in luxurious creams and blues, with stunning modern chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows on one side. Photo / Supplied

LIFESTYLE

Destination Dining: Hearth, Perth

16 Dec, 2019 12:00pm
3 minutes to read

A glamorous restaurant to explore truly local and indigenous Australian ingredients.

You can find healthy snack options when you're on the road, writes Niki Bezzant. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

How to stay healthy on holiday

16 Dec, 2019 11:00am
5 minutes to read

On the road, in the air or in between this summer, here's how to maintain a healthy diet.

Every day, on average, 500 people get sick in New Zealand from food. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

How to avoid food poisoning this summer

9 Dec, 2019 11:00am
5 minutes to read

Summer entertaining can quickly turn sour if food isn't properly prepped.

Is it time for a tax on sugary drinks in New Zealand? Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Why a tax on sugary drinks won't work

8 Dec, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Are beverage manufacturers and the Government doing enough to combat sugar?

Events across the Tasman have brought climate change into sharp focus. Photo / Australian Red Cross

NEW ZEALAND

Niki Bezzant: Australia is finally waking up to climate change

1 Dec, 2019 5:01am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: There is a link between a healthy (or unhealthy) planet and healthy people.

You could spend weeks vineyard touring, but there's more to Margaret River than wine. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Margaret River: What's beyond the vines?

25 Nov, 2019 5:00pm
3 minutes to read

There's much more to Margaret River than wine.

How much nicer would it feel to hit January feeling fit and well-nourished rather than over-stuffed and sluggish? Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

How to keep your diet on track this festive season

25 Nov, 2019 7:18am
5 minutes to read

In the most overindulgent time of the year, Niki Bezzant explains how to keep eating well.

It is recommended we eat three or more servings of vegetables a day. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Dieting messes with our heads

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

COMMENT: I can't believe I am writing this again, but here it is: diets don't work.

What we eat is personal and often varies from what we know we should be eating or not eating. Photo / 123rf

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: We are (only human in) what we eat

23 Nov, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: We want to eat less meat and more veges but at end of the day, food is personal.

How might we know if we could be at risk? Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: The warning signs for diabetes

18 Nov, 2019 7:00am
4 minutes to read

One hundred thousand Kiwis are walking around with this chronic health condition.

The jury is out on the efficacy of probiotic supplements. Photo / NZME

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Probiotics may prove bitter pill

10 Nov, 2019 5:01am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Do probiotics do us more harm than good?

Strongman Patrik Baboumian appears in The Game Changers. Photo / Supplied

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: The problem with The Game Changers and vegans

3 Nov, 2019 5:01am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The Netflix film The Game Changers is a compelling narrative.

Sugary drinks contribute to type 2 diabetes, obesity and tooth decay. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Time has come for sugar tax

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

COMMENT: A tax on sugary drinks is needed. Now.

There are many processed foods that I wouldn't be without, writes Niki Bezzant. Image / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

The processed foods that are good for you

21 Oct, 2019 11:00am
5 minutes to read

Revealed: The processed foods you may be overlooking in your healthy diet efforts.

Women are subject to often overwhelming pressure and judgement about appearance. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Why we need to talk about men and body dissatisfaction

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

Speaking to each other about issues could be life saving.

We need to ensure we're getting enough calcium from food to maintain our skeleton. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: How to look after your bones

14 Oct, 2019 7:00am
4 minutes to read

Are you getting enough from food to maintain the health of your bones?

A predominantly plant-based diet is still the most healthy one. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: The truth about red and processed meat

13 Oct, 2019 5:05am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: A predominantly plant-based diet is still the best.

Nuts, seeds, legumes and grains are a good source of fibre to help with constipation issues. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

The gut health issue no one wants to talk about

7 Oct, 2019 7:00am
4 minutes to read

There's one gut issue we're less keen to talk about, but probably affects many of us.

The famous Barossa Valley wine region is on Adelaide's doorstep. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Live like a local in ... Adelaide

7 Oct, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

With its thriving food scene and park-like setting, Adelaide's perfect for a mini break.

The importance of plant foods is one of the few things everyone in the nutrition community can agree on. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: 15 years of nutritious advice

6 Oct, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

COMMENT: How have our diet trends changed in the past 15 years? Niki Bezzant explains.

Around 670,000 New Zealanders suffer from arthritis in its various forms. Image / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

The best foods to curb arthritis symptoms

30 Sep, 2019 7:00am
4 minutes to read

A leading cause of disability in New Zealand, here are some key ways to curb the pain.

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Eat less meat, not more meat-free alternatives

22 Sep, 2019 5:05am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Nutritionally, you may not be doing yourself any favours.

Fish is an excellent source of protein, iodine, healthy fats and vitamins. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: How to eat more fish for less

16 Sep, 2019 7:00am
4 minutes to read

There are tons of often-overlooked fish species that are economical and delicious.

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Mistrust of farmers is misplaced

15 Sep, 2019 5:05am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: My experience of growers of our food is that they love what they do.

Providing a lunch every day could be the thing that allows a child to learn and thrive. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: 'Food insecurity' a real worry

8 Sep, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Money plays an important part in our access to safe and healthy food.

Kids are learning about health and nutrition. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: An apple a day keeps impetigo away

1 Sep, 2019 5:01am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Fruit in schools is helping keep kids healthy.

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Sweet nothing done to improve food labels

25 Aug, 2019 3:00pm
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: We need more transparency.

Soup makes us feel full, and people tend to eat less for the rest of the day when they have it. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

The healthiest comfort food to eat this winter

19 Aug, 2019 7:00am
4 minutes to read

If you want to lose weight, soup could be your go-to meal this winter.

The way we produce our food matters, says the IPCC, and dietary choices can help reduce emissions and pressure on land. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: There are no healthy people on a ravaged planet

18 Aug, 2019 5:01am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: We are in the midst of what the authors called a "global syndemic".

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Health ratings not written in the stars

11 Aug, 2019 3:00pm
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Change can only be a good thing.

All sausages contain some plant matter. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: The wurst of both worlds

4 Aug, 2019 5:15am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: When you're trying to cash in on a trend, you need to apply a bit of common sense

Nourishing our bodies well by eating lots of antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruit is a great start in the fight against winter ills and chills. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

What to eat to battle winter colds and flu

29 Jul, 2019 7:00am
5 minutes to read

Niki Bezzant on the foods that will help keep you well this winter.

Discarded single-use plastic bags can present a hazard to marine life. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: We need to use less plastic, now

28 Jul, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Less than 20 per cent of waste plastic generated globally each year is recycled.

Labels clarify just how much sugar there is in Froot Loops. Photo / File

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Shining light on food facts

21 Jul, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: IT can be hard to get as much information as we'd like about the food we eat.

Choice architecture could make a big difference to our lives. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: A simple trick could help us lose weight

14 Jul, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Let's re-arrange how we choose what we eat.

What would be wrong with a zero-alcohol-on-tour rule? Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Our attitude to drinking is all wrong

7 Jul, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Why do we need to ingest a harmful toxin in order to relax?

Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. That's the same category as asbestos, for the record. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

The uncomfortable truth about alcohol

1 Jul, 2019 7:00am
5 minutes to read

There's really no positive way to spin the alcohol story. Niki Bezzant explains.

The trick for older people is to get good amounts of protein in when less nutrients are needed. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Are you getting enough protein?

30 Jun, 2019 7:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The older you are, the more you need.

Seafood on the Sunshine Coast. Photo / Supplied

TRAVEL

From bush tucker to fine dining on the Sunshine Coast

25 Jun, 2019 7:00am
6 minutes to read

Niki Bezzant eases into the Sunshine Coast.

Use snacks as useful opportunities to get a bit more nutrition, rather than as treats. Photo / Getty Images.

LIFESTYLE | Food & Drink

Niki Bezzant: The healthy way to snack

24 Jun, 2019 7:00am
5 minutes to read

"Snackification" is a big and growing trend. Don't get caught out by it.

Cooking red meat at high temperatures can create harmful compounds that increase cancer risk. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Steaks are high

23 Jun, 2019 7:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Some sobering news for meat lovers.

Eating plant-based meals is the basis of a cancer-preventing diet. Photo / Getty Images

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: How to prevent cancer

17 Jun, 2019 7:00am
4 minutes to read

Eating lots of vegetables and fruit is the basis for a cancer-preventing diet.

Pretty yoga poses are a start but they aren't the be all and end all. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: 'Wellness' can be bad for you

16 Jun, 2019 10:55am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Women rarely blame the dodgy advice, or its source. They blame themselves.

The more often we eat veges and fruit, the more our mental wellbeing increases. Photo / 123RF

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: How your diet can improve your mood

9 Jun, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Taking GST off fresh fruit and veges could improve physical and mental health.

Governments around the world have implemented sugar taxes - but not New Zealand. Photo / File

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: Govt shows weakness on sugar tax

2 Jun, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The only people who don't support tax are those making sugary drinks - and Govt.

Sodium is a significant contributor to stroke, heart disease and kidney disease. Photo / Getty Images.

LIFESTYLE

The hidden ingredient that's as dangerous as sugar

27 May, 2019 7:00am
4 minutes to read

Salt is responsible for the disease-related deaths of three million people a year.

A pie and beer diet is only likely to leave you craving a healthy salad. Photo / Supplied

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: The real reason you can't resist fast food

25 May, 2019 7:00pm
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Low-quality, highly processed foods don't satisfy us - so we eat more and more.

Healthy food can deeply influence how our genes operate or express themselves in our bodies. Photo / File

LIFESTYLE

Niki Bezzant: The 'fire hose' food you need to eat

19 May, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Niki Bezzant on the study of the interplay between food and genes.