A Mediterranean diet is more protective against heart disease than exercise, a new study has revealed.

Spider venom may contain a long-sought secret ingredient for an effective, long-term painkiller, Australian researchers say.

A little-known condition called cachexia, which affects people with life-threatening conditions, can cause avoidable misery and strife.

The next time you reach for a snack, you may want to make it a handful of nuts because research shows they can reduce your risk of death from heart disease.

The freedom of diving is no longer restricted to able-bodied people, writes Sarah Ell.

We work shorter days than ever, spend less time on household chores and more time on social media —so why are we are all so busy and why do we brag about it? Rebecca Barry Hill looks at the busy-ness trap and how we can escape from it.

Summer sunshine makes most of us feel better, but there may be more to the benefits than just feeling good.

Getting a good night’s sleep can be challenging, especially as we age. About half of all older adults report sleeping difficulties.

Watching TV for more than two hours a day increases the risk of raised blood pressure in children, a study has found.

Italian surgeon Sergio Canavero wants to take the head from someone with an incurable illness and graft it on to a healthy body.

A game-changing trial has shown that rates of HIV infection can be slashed by treating actively gay men with an anti-viral drug when they are healthy.

Golf teenage sensation Lydia Ko says travel is a big part of being a professional golfer and was thrilled to find a New Zealand product that can help her "arrive ready" for competitions.

Young children fed small amounts of peanuts in their diet are less likely to develop a peanut allergy in later life, according to a study.

Blueberries. Green tea. Tomatoes. And, oh, that cruciferous cauliflower. All make the lists of super foods that might help prevent cancer.

A couple of close calls prove life is a series of tests, writes Steve Braunias.

Inspired by one of the best New Zealand summers on record, Alan Perrott tells a brief history of the sun, from the time Kiwis were banned from the beach, to women-only mornings at local swimming pools, and the Sunshine League’s ‘rules for sunbathing’.

Once a patient has made it through a heart attack and begins to recover, they get advice from their doctors on what to do to stay healthy and get back to normal.

A British dad launched a series of controversial ads, after a campaign for a dogs' home raised more money than one for a disease slowly killing his son.

Want to drop a dress or pants size? Then losing five kilograms, or about 5 per cent of your body weight will help that zipper start to close with ease.

Is there a link between certain diets and pregnancy complications?

The condition is usually associated with women but a new study has found one in 10 new dads are affected by postnatal depression.

Researchers have come up with the first precise risk estimates of people developing stomach cancer if they have inherited certain gene mutations.

Smokers tend to have a thinner outer brain layer than non-smokers, new research suggests.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is looking at introducing a Health Target to control child obesity.

Researchers have developed the Lung Cancer Indicator Detection device to detect chemical traces in breath which indicate a patient may have cancer.

Rich-lister Eric Watson has become such a yoga convert he's flying his yoga teacher to his $80 million ski chalet in Switzerland for two weeks.

Kiwis travelling to the Pacific are being warned to take all measures to avoid mosquito bites - as the number of people returning with viruses continues to increase.

I have never known grief, until now, at age 48. I've been spared almost all of life's horrors and most of its disappointments, and experienced more than my share of its joys. But now, I am anguished by watching the mind of someone I love turn inside out.

In a hostile, toxic world, it's soothing to let out your inner curmudgeon, writes Deborah Hill Cone. So here's her list of random irksome things.

We've asked four of our favourite health nuts to share their number one smoothie recipe.