Table of contents for February / March 2024 in Readers Digest Australia

For quality products, book sales and more, call 1300 300 030 or head to Readersdigest.com.au/shop CONTRIBUTE READERSDIGESTAUSTRALIA Smart Animals Up to $100 Share antics of unique pets or wildlife in up to 300 words. My Story $400 Got an inspiring or life-changing tale? Submissions must be true, original, unpublished and 800–1000 words. Letters to the Editor and Reader Submissions Online Follow the ‘Contribute’ link at readersdigest.com.au Email editor@readersdigest.com.au Mail Reader’s Digest Magazine, PO Box 6458, Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086 Please include your name, address, phone number and email. Letters: We may edit letters and use them in all print and electronic media. Submissions: All submissions become our property on payment and subsequent publication in the magazine. We may edit and fact-check submissions. For terms and conditions, go to www.readersdigest.com.au/terms-and-conditions/submission-guidelines. We…

KNOW THE SIGNS OF COLORECTAL CANCER Unlike people over age 50, younger adults aren’t screened regularly for colorectal cancer (CRC). But their CRC rate has risen steadily since the 1990s, possibly because of unhealthy diets. A US study revealed four red flags that should prompt untested people to see their doctors: abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhoea and iron-deficiency anaemia. Study participants with one of these ailments were twice as likely to have CRC, compared to those without them. With three or more of the ailments, risk rose more than six times. The symptoms should not be dismissed in younger people. OPIOID-FREE BACK PAIN RELIEF If you’re looking for a painkiller to relieve lower back pain but want to avoid potentially addictive opioids, the main options are paracetamol (acetaminophen) and non-steroidal…

JILL HEINERTH pulls on a neoprene balaclava and adjusts her thick rubber gloves. Wearing a dry suit, red helmet and 20-kilogram tank filled with compressed air, the underwater explorer stands at the floe edge in Tallurutiup Imanga (formerly known as Lancaster Sound), Nunavut in Canada – one of the Arctic Ocean’s richest marine habitats. Heinerth is joined by her colleague Mario Cyr, two Inuit guides and a six-person camera crew. It’s June 2018, and Heinerth and Cyr are going to dive beneath the sea ice and film what they see. “The floe edge is like a moving buffet,” says Heinerth. “Every day, as it breaks away, it releases ice and nutrients into the ocean. In the summer, polar bears and narwhals, belugas and eider ducks come to feed.” It’s the…

Flora Collingwood–Norris was playing with her new puppy, Stitch, while wearing a favourite second-hand find: a coral cashmere jumper. Stitch, an excitable black poodle cross, jumped up and grabbed her sleeve and tore several holes in it with her sharp teeth. Collingwood-Norris, now 37, wasn’t about to toss the item out. “I can’t bear to throw away nice clothing just because of a hole,” she explains. As a knitwear designer based in Galashiels, Scotland, she was used to making her own jumpers, but after she was left with a handful that had dog-inflicted holes, she decided to tackle a new skill: mending. She began by reading a book called Make Do and Mend, about the innovative thriftiness that emerged during World War II. Instead of trying to make the repair…

For about two hours a week when my kids were little, I spent one-on-one time at their school with children who had reading difficulties. The reward for volunteers like me was the kids’ growing confidence and delight as words on the page started to make sense. Fortunately for non-profit organisations, the feel-good reward of helping others is universal. Nearly a quarter of all adults worldwide volunteer and about 35 per cent of people donate to charities, according to the World Giving Index, which includes data for 119 countries. It also reports that since 2021, the rate of giving has increased among the wealthiest nations. That’s a good thing because in today’s cost-of-living crisis, the demand on charities is greater than ever. Here are innovative ways people are giving back. RICE…

The climate crisis is here, today; it will only worsen in the future. The world must take steps now to mitigate its severity and its effects on the world’s most vulnerable.FRANCESCO ROCCA, PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAYS: KNOW YOUR WORTH. OTHERWISE, SOMEONE ELSE WILL TELL YOU WHAT IT IS.IMAN, MODEL By being who I am, I hope that allows others to be who they are.SAM KERR, FOOTBALL PLAYER Mistakes are the can openers of the conversations we most need to have.APARNA NANCHERLA, COMEDIAN You know the saying: Everything happens for a reason? That reason is usually physics!BILL NYE, SCIENCE BROADCASTER A piece of art is its own little world, one that conjures the feeling that everything is as it…

Winning Words 1. fracas – A: crack in the earth’s crust. B: rough, noisy quarrel. C: epithet uttered in anger. 2. abrogate – A: ignore. B: deny. C: abolish. 3. démarche – A: political initiative. B: drainage canal. C: mechanical failure. 4. chlorophyll – A: green pigment in plants. B: acidic gas. C: chemical used to purify water. 5. echelon – A: cotton blanket. B: a rank or position of authority in an organisation or a society. C: savoury seaweed dish. 6. vouchsafe – A: protect or defend. B: hide or conceal. C: allow or reply. 7. kamikaze – A: showing reckless disregard for personal safety. B: rhythmically complex. C: extremely windy. 8. antediluvian – A: archaic. B: frugal. C: rational. 9. vivisepulture – A: training vines for horticulture. B:…

AFTER SEVEN YEARS of fighting a daunting illness, and two years of intensive treatment and finally round-the-clock care, my brother-in-law, Alistair, passed away peacefully last year. The condition that robbed him of reaching old age was dementia. He was diagnosed at just 58. In ‘Dementia Breakthroughs Offer New Hope’ (page 56), we take a look at the latest drugs as well as the advances in identifying risk factors and the importance of supporting carers. There remains so much yet to learn about the human brain and dementia. So much so that maybe if the energy harnessed to forge new discoveries in space was instead put towards unravelling the mysteries of the human brain, we might be able to secure even more breakthroughs in dementia treatments. This month, we have advice…

SESAME SEEDS are one of the best constipation remedies, according to a study published in the International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology. The oily composition of sesame seeds works to moisturise the intestines, which can help if dry stools are a problem. Add the seeds to cereals or salads for instant constipation relief, or pulverise them in a coffee grinder and sprinkle on food like a seasoning. MOLASSES One tablespoon of blackstrap molasses before bed is one of those constipation remedies that works overnight and should provide relief by morning. The ingredient was studied by the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2019 as a remedy for paediatric constipation with successful results. Blackstrap molasses is boiled and concentrated three times, so it has significant vitamins and minerals; magnesium,…

In a Hollywood journey filled with serendipitous twists and unexpected luck, few actors have experienced a career as diverse and prolific as Harrison Ford. From the fearless Indiana Jones to the sardonic Han Solo and the world-weary Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, Ford’s portrayal of iconic characters has left an indelible mark on cinema. Yet, the irony lies in how many of his career-defining roles fell into this self-proclaimed “late bloomer’s” lap by chance. Born in Chicago to Dorothy, a radio actor, and Christopher Ford, an actor-turned-advertising-executive, Harrison got disillusioned with pursuing a career on the silver screen as any significant parts after multiple a young man, having failed to land attempts. Instead, he turned to professional carpentry as a means to support his then-wife and two young sons. But…

My wife will be like, “gut reaction, yes or no?” And then show me two shades of beige paint I can’t even tell are different. @SIMONCHOLLAND We needed to leave five minutes ago for a family event and my naked husband who is applying lotion to his feet just announced that he’s “basically ready”. @ELIMCCANN *Me dressing up* Me: Do these match? I don’t want to look stupid. Wife: Well, that ship has sailed. @MILIFEASDAD I love when my husband says, “correct me if I’m wrong”, like I would pass up that opportunity. @MUMOFTW0 Nobody has ever been more surprised than a husband hearing about his wife’s plans for the second time. @LMEGORDON I’m on a business trip and I get this text from my husband, “I think the kids…

Eight years ago, neurologist Dr Dan Gibbs was sitting in a room with two dozen doctors and researchers. He was getting ready to look at brain scans – not a patient’s, but his own. They would definitively answer a question he had had for years: what was wrong with him? It started when he was 55 and working as a neurologist. He noticed he couldn’t smell certain things, like flowers. Then he began to smell things that weren’t there, like baking bread, perfume or citrus. He randomly got a clue as to what might be the cause after doing an at-home DNA test to find out more about his family tree. The results showed he had two copies of a gene, APOE4, that increases Alzheimer’s risk. He was shocked: it…

Problem Solved “Whenever I wake up in the morning, I feel dizzy for half an hour,” a man complained to his doctor. The doctor replied, “Get up half an hour later then.” SUBMITTED BY BARTHELEMY PETRO Passwords “Your password must contain at least eight characters, a number, your university roommate’s maiden name and a hieroglyph.” An ATM: “Just any four numbers.” @EDEN_EATS Bad Break Remember back in high school when you would have your friend tell the person you’re dating that you wanted to break up? The last guy I dated did that. He had his wife call me and break us up. SHANNON LAVERTY, COMEDIAN Straying Fit My dog Sam is great for exercise. I let him into the backyard, he leaps the fence and I spend the next…

While making polite small talk at a baby shower, my day was quickly ruined. “Ooh, are you expecting?!” asked a family friend, looking me up and down. I sheepishly shook my head, instantly regretting both my party dress and my plate of mini-sandwiches. Then, just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did: “Well,” she asked, “why not?” My mind flooded with reasons and retorts – “just fat, thanks,” deep-rooted doubts about my maternal capabilities, fear of climate change, or perhaps a well-deserved expletive – but, sadly, none materialised. Instead I murmured that I was busy with work and excused myself to mope for the rest of the afternoon. I’ve since recovered emotionally, but I sometimes wonder: What should I have said to a nosy question from a rude…

For most people, neurosurgery is a mysterious, high-stakes profession – but that’s part of the reason I was drawn to it as a curious child and, eventually, as a medical intern and PhD student. And while surgeons are trained to be detached and rational, some patients have left an indelible mark on my soul. Here are the stories of two who profoundly changed my understanding of both medicine and myself – and of what it means to be human. JEFF In the autumn of 1986, I was an intern at St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, having just finished medical school and begun a one-year clinical rotation to complete my qualifications. My internship was designed to provide exposure to a variety of specialties. I had spent two months each in emergency,…

Some things just grow on you. JOHN SPENCE Talk about a growth mindset. KYLER KOH Nurturing green ideas. PAUL BALIN This will give me a head start in the garden competition. HELEN GILLETT I’ve an idea, let me grow it! KAMALA DECY ALAGARATNAM Congratulations to this month’s winner, John Spence. WIN! CAPTION CONTEST Come up with the funniest caption for the above photo and you could win $100. To enter, email editor@readersdigest.com.au or see details on page 7.…

Brian Kateman, author of The Reducetarian Solution, first coined the phrase ‘reducetarian’ in 2015. Reducing meat from your diet by just ten per cent is enough to make someone a reducetarian, says Kateman. Reducetarianism backs away from the all-or-nothing approach of vegetarianism, instead providing a flexible framework for reducing the consumption of meat. Vegetarianism is growing in popularity around the world due to the significant health benefits associated with a vegetarian diet, as well as environmental and ethical reasons for not eating meat. Reducetarianism celebrates every plant-based meal because of the commitment you are making to reduce the consumption of meat. The Reducetarian Foundation (RF) encourages people to make “healthy, sustainable, and compassionate food choices” and is piloting research on the most effective ways to encourage the reduction of meat…

Having a good night’s sleep allows your body to function at its best: it boosts your immune system, lowers stress, improves mental sharpness and may even lower your chances of overeating. But as anyone who has ever sat up at night staring at the clock knows, getting the recommended seven-plus hours can be elusive. There is no shortage of techniques that really work: sleep in a darkened, cool bedroom; avoid prolonged screen time before bed; get regular exercise; and aim to wake up and go to bed at the same time every day. Here are some lesser-known ideas from around the world that are well worth a try. China Wash Your Feet Before Bed Foot massages and spa treatments that are focused on the feet – including aromatherapy and wrapping…

Q: Why do seagulls fly over the ocean? A: Because if they flew over the bay, we’d call them bagels. Q: Did you hear about the crow on the telephone pole? A: He wanted to make a long-distance caw. Q: How do penguins make a decision? A: Flipper coin. Q: What do you get if you kiss a bird? A: A peck on the cheek! Q: Why do hummingbirds hum? A: Because they forgot the words! Q: What do you call a chicken who loves telling jokes? A: A comedi-hen. Q: Why did the teacher carry birdseed? A: Because he had a parrot-teacher conference. WWW.JOKES4US.COM; CHORTLE.CO.UK…

As Hallee McCoombes approaches the finish line of the 800-metre run for kids with disability, the crowd is cheering wildly and chanting her name. The ten-year-old para-athlete had spent months preparing for the 2022 School Sport Australia Track & Field Championships in Brisbane. Now she has the hyper-focused expression that has become her trademark; anyone who has seen her compete knows that nothing will stop her now. With only ten metres to go, Hallee tunes out all the noise and pushes forward with every ounce of her strength. She doesn’t have any feeling in her waist or below her knees, but pain sears her thighs. When Hallee crosses the finish line and falls into an exhausted heap, her twin, Jada, scoops her up in her arms. “You came in third!”…

QUESTIONS 1 The banded archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix) lurks just below the surface of the water when feeding as it waits for insects that sit on plants near the shore. What hunting technique does it use to capture unsuspecting insects? It… a) stretches out its long, sticky tongue b) emits a jet of water that knocks insects out of the air c) creates a tidal wave that washes insects into the water d) jumps out of the water super-fast 2 Their prominent incisors are good for rodents, as these large front teeth help them break down food. Yet not every animal with large front teeth are members of the rodent family. Who is not a rodent? a) rabbits b) guinea pigs c) porcupines d) mice 3 During the 2010 Football World…

1. New Zealander Taika Waititi has only directed one film which he did not write. It was a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. What is it? 2 points 2. What US pop star invented a keyboard/guitar hybrid dubbed the Purpleaxxe? 2 points 3. What semiaquatic animal is the only living mammal species that lays eggs, other than the echidna? 1 point 4. Which Singapore landmark is a symbol of the nation’s independence? (a) Singapore Flyer (b) Merlion Park (c) Helix Bridge 1 point 5. What tree nuts need to be boiled or soaked before they are safe for humans to eat? 1 point 6. Malaysia is the largest nation in Southeast Asia. True or false. 1 point 7. What object accounts for nearly half of the estimated 80,000 tonnes of ocean…