New research suggests that long-term weight training may help women’s bone and metabolic health by increasing production of the growth hormone. The hormone, produced by the pituitary gland, plays an important role in bone and muscle development in women, while men rely more on testosterone. Researchers at the University of Connecticut, USA, compared different weight-training regimens, each varying in intensity. They concluded that women got the most benefit with regard to muscle and bone strengthing when they included heavy weights in their resistance weights. So it’s time to up those weights, girls!

Getting fit and healthy has to be a priority for women in this increasingly fattening age. Women with a waistline in excess of 80cm are putting themselves at risk of preventable health problems such as Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease and even certain types of cancers. Alarmingly, between 20% and 25% of the population is obese and more than half is overweight.

In July 2006, regulations were introduced in Australia to boost mandatory levels of folic acid in bread. Folate reduces the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in unborn babies. Pregnant women are advised to take a supplement, but extra folate is now included in bread flour to ensure more mums-to-be increase their intake of this vital nutrient.