Plants improve air quality by releasing oxygen and mopping up carbon dioxide but peace lilies, long needled cacti, dwarf banana plants, peperomias and spider plants can all protect against electromagnetic radiation, from mobile phones and computers. Many house plants also clean the air by mopping up toxic substances called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are given off by plastics, varnishes, glues, household cleaners and some plants. Indoor plants, chrysanthemums and English ivy are especially good at this.

Quercetin is a compound found in onions, red wine, tea and apples and studies have shown it can reduce your risk of heart disease. Researchers discovered that after the body breaks down quercetin it produces compounds which reduce inflammation that can lead to thickening of the arteries. Onions are also known to hep fight colds and breathing difficulties and are used in Chinese Medicine as a treatment for angina.

According to new research Chinese herbs are more effective at relieving period pain than drugs. The study from the University of Western Sydney, Australia, showed Chinese herbal mixtures extracted from bark and roots eased menstrual cramps and reduce the recurrence of pain over three months. The researchers tested liquorice root, cinnamon and fennel root.