So says a study from the German Institute of Human Nutrition published in the medical journal Cancer Epidemiology and Biomarkers Prevention in January 2007.

The study looked at over 200,000 women and showed that you do not even need to go to the gym to get the effect – housework had a significant reduction in breast cancer risk, specifically in postmenopausal women.

Earlier research in December 2006 had also shown this effect and found the benefit was greatest for those women with oestrogen receptor positive breast cancers.

Most people think that antiperspirants and deodorants are the same thing, but they aren’t. Antiperspirants work by clogging, closing, or blocking the pores with powerful astringents such as aluminium salts so that they can’t release sweat. (These are dangerous because aluminium can accumulate in the brain).  Deodorants work by neutralising the smell of the sweat and by antiseptic action against bacteria.

Deodorants are preferable because they don’t interfere with sweating, a natural cooling process. Even more preferable are natural deodorants as preliminary research suggests that synthetic deodorants may contain potentially carcinogenic chemicals.

The Simplest Natural Deodorant:

Baking soda works wonders as a natural deodorant because it neutralizes the odour of sweat. Just sprinkle a light covering of baking soda onto a damp washcloth. Pat on and don’t rinse off.

Basic Deodorant Powder:

• 8 tablespoons baking soda
• 8 tablespoons cornstarch
• a few drops of essential oils such as lavender or cinnamon

Place the ingredients in a glass jar. Shake to blend. Sprinkle a light covering of the powder on a damp washcloth. Pat on and don’t rinse off.

Basic Liquid Deodorant:

• 4 tablespoons witch hazel extract
• 4 tablespoons aloe vera gel
• 4 tablespoons mineral water
• 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
• a few drops of antibacterial essential oils such as lavender (optional)

Combine the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake to blend.
Makes 180ml
Shelf Life: Indefinite

Lifting weights makes your bones – not just your muscles – stronger. But don’t just take my word for it – here’s the research to prove it:

In one study, people with lots of muscle and little fat had higher bone density than those who had little muscle and lots of fat, despite the fact that the latter group weighed more (Clinical Exercise Physiology, May 2000).

In the past, it was believed that the heavier you were, the stronger your bones, but this study shows that it’s not just how much you weigh, but what type of weight you’re carrying. Muscles are better predictors of bone mineral content or density than fat mass or weight according to researchers involved in the study.

The study suggests that changes in muscle mass result in changes in bone that are three times greater than similar changes in fat. That means that if you gain a pound of muscle, you’ll increase bone strength three times more than if you gain a pound of fat.

But the reverse is also true: if you lose a pound of muscle, you’ll decrease bone strength three times more than if you lose a pound of fat. By lifting weights, you can prevent some of the loss of muscle that often occurs as you get older or when you’re trying to lose weight. If weight training isn’t for you there are plenty of other ways to build your muscle strength, for example doing gentle exercises at home – press ups, squats and sit ups, spring cleaning the house or carrying your shopping home.