Health & beauty blog

Plain, well-sourced articles on vitamins, minerals and skincare.

A striped beach towel spread on rocks by the sea

14 October 2026 · 5 min read

After-sun: what actually helps after too much sun

An after-sun lotion moisturises and makes skin feel cooler and more comfortable, but it does not undo UV damage and does not replace sunscreen. For mild sunburn, a cool shower, a fragrance-free cream and plenty of water help. Blisters, a fever or sunburn in a child need a doctor.

An open jar of white cream resting on a rock against a dark background

14 October 2026 · 7 min read

How to read a cosmetics label

The ingredients list (INCI) runs in order of quantity, "parfum" means fragrance, and the open-jar symbol with "12M" tells you how many months to use the product after opening. Words like "natural" are not a certification, while "hypoallergenic" and "free from" have rules in the EU.

A swipe of white cream on a pale grey background

14 October 2026 · 6 min read

Moisturiser for sensitive skin: what to look for in the ingredients list

For sensitive skin, choose a fragrance-free cream (not just "unscented") with simple moisturising ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and shea butter. Test every new product on a small patch of skin for 7 to 10 days, and keep your routine short.

A spoon of white powder on dark wood

14 October 2026 · 6 min read

Natural deodorant: what it does, what it doesn't, and what to know before you switch

A deodorant hides or limits odour. An antiperspirant reduces sweat with aluminium salts, which the EU's scientific committee considers safe within set limits. A "natural" deodorant will not keep you dry, and the baking soda many contain can bother the skin.

Close-up of foam with tiny bubbles

14 October 2026 · 6 min read

Sulfate-free shampoo: who needs it and how to spot one

SLS and SLES are strong cleansers that foam well and remove oil effectively. A sulfate-free shampoo cleans more gently and may suit dry or coloured hair. But "SLS-free" does not always mean "sulfate-free": check the ingredients list.

Fresh anchovies piled on a metal tray

14 October 2026 · 6 min read

Vitamin B12: who needs a supplement, and why doses are 1000 µg

Vitamin B12 is found almost only in animal foods. The people who mainly need a supplement are vegans, and often vegetarians, older adults and people taking metformin or stomach-acid medicines long term. 1000 µg doses exist because only a small fraction of a large dose is absorbed.

14 October 2026 · 7 min read

Vitamin D for kids: how much they need and where it comes from

EFSA sets an adequate intake of 10 µg a day for babies aged 7–11 months and 15 µg for children aged 1–17. Here is where it comes from, how much is too much, and why a talk with your paediatrician comes first.

Fresh oysters on ice

14 October 2026 · 7 min read

Zinc: which form to choose and how much is enough

Zinc citrate and zinc gluconate are absorbed better than zinc oxide, while the evidence for picolinate and bisglycinate is thinner. On the label, look at the mg of zinc itself, and do not go above 25 mg a day in total, from food and supplements together, without medical advice.

Close-up of sugar cubes

3 October 2026 · 6 min read

30 days without added sugar: what really changes?

A month without added sugar usually means fewer empty calories, a little weight loss for some people and kinder conditions for your teeth. Claims of a total "reset" go further than the evidence. Here is what WHO and EFSA say, and what to expect.

A spoonful of whole cloves on a white surface

3 October 2026 · 6 min read

Do cloves lower blood sugar? What we really know

Very little. Clove extracts lowered blood sugar in animal and lab studies, but human evidence is a handful of small, short studies. Cloves are a fine spice, not a blood sugar treatment.

A white cup of coffee seen from above on a white background

3 October 2026 · 5 min read

What does research say about coffee and the liver?

Large observational studies link regular coffee drinking with a lower risk of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer. They show an association, not proof that coffee protects the liver, and coffee is no substitute for medical care.

Fresh ginger root with a few slices on a white surface

3 October 2026 · 5 min read

Does ginger really help with nausea? What studies show, and when to be careful

The best evidence for ginger is in pregnancy nausea, where reviews find a modest benefit. For travel, surgery and chemotherapy the picture is mixed. Supplements need more care than ginger in food.

Beige supplement capsules beside an unlabelled white bottle

3 October 2026 · 3 min read

How to read a supplement label (in 5 minutes)

What the numbers on a vitamin or mineral label actually mean, how much is too much, and which claims are allowed in the EU.

A glass of water with a slice of lemon

3 October 2026 · 5 min read

Lemon water every morning: what happens to your teeth?

Lemon juice is very acidic, and frequent sips of lemon water between meals are linked to dental erosion, the slow and permanent loss of enamel. You don't have to give it up, but how and when you drink it matters.

An almond on a bed of green pumpkin seeds

3 October 2026 · 5 min read

Magnesium: which form to choose and what to check on the label

Organic forms such as magnesium citrate and bisglycinate are generally absorbed better than magnesium oxide. On the label, look at the mg of magnesium itself, not of the compound, and do not go above 250 mg a day from supplements without medical advice.

A smear of white cream on a beige surface

3 October 2026 · 5 min read

Mineral or chemical sunscreen? The difference, simply explained

Both kinds of filter are approved in the EU and both protect mainly by absorbing UV light. The real differences are texture, white cast and how your skin tolerates them. What matters most is using enough and reapplying often.

Spinach leaves, lemon, cucumber and celery on a pale green background

3 October 2026 · 6 min read

5 foods we think are nutrition "champions" (but aren't)

Spinach for iron, carrots for night vision, orange juice against colds, honey instead of sugar, pink salt instead of table salt. Here is what the evidence actually says about five popular food beliefs.

A raw salmon fillet on a white surface

3 October 2026 · 5 min read

Omega-3: fish oil or a plant-based source (algae)?

Fish oil and microalgae oil both provide the same omega-3s, EPA and DHA. Fish oil usually has more EPA per capsule, while algae oil is the choice for people who do not eat fish. The EU links 250 mg of EPA and DHA a day to the normal function of the heart.

Three brown eggs on a white background

3 October 2026 · 6 min read

Is it OK to eat 3 eggs a day? What the research says about cholesterol

For most healthy adults, eggs raise blood cholesterol far less than once thought. Large studies find no link between up to one egg a day and heart disease, but 3 a day is less studied.

The coast at Petra tou Romiou in Cyprus under a sunny sky

3 October 2026 · 5 min read

How much vitamin D do you need, even with the Cyprus sun?

Sunshine is not always enough. EFSA sets an adequate intake of 15 µg a day for adults and an upper limit of 100 µg, and a large Cypriot study found that about 7 in 10 people tested had levels below 30 ng/mL.

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