Table of contents for June 2021 in Readers Digest Australia

HEROES COME IN MANY DISGUISES. This month, we have two stories that highlight the extraordinary efforts of ordinary people. Both have endeavoured to resolve a problem and in doing so have improved the lives of others. In ‘Changing the Climate’ (page 32) we meet meteorologist Petteri Taalas who, as head of the World Meteorological Organization, spends his working day warning the world’s powerhouses of the pending climate disaster. Using the only tools he has at his disposal – his sharp scientific knowledge and an ability to share this science with political leaders in a way that doesn’t cause conflict – Taalas has grown to become one of the world’s most influential (and interesting) weather men. The other article, ‘Making A Difference: Raincoats for Change’ (page 26), depicts the positive change…

Create an indoor garden Bring the outside in by providing potted plants, such as cat grass and catnip. Boxes Empty boxes can provide endless entertainment for cats. Try stacking and taping them together to create a cat cubby house. Toys Keep a variety of cat toys, including ones that are furry, coloured, jingly, dangly and rolling, and offer them on a rotating basis to maintain interest. Electronic gadgets A wide choice of cat-specific computer apps are now available and can be a great way to amuse your cat.…

COULD YOU SLEEP BETTER UNDER A WEIGHTED BLANKET? Most people prefer to treat insomnia without drugs – for good reason, since sleeping pills can lead to a physical dependence and cause dizziness and falls. A Swedish trial recently tested a less risky option: weighted blankets. These blankets supplement the usual plush materials with pellets, chains or beads. The pressure the added weight puts on your body brings comfort and calm to some people. Compared to the study subjects who went to bed with a light cover, those who were given a six- or eight-kilogram blanket saw more improvement in both sleep and mental-health issues such as depression or anxiety. BINGE DRINKING MAY RAISE DEMENTIA RISK A paper published in JAMA Network Open looked at people’s drinking habits and the effects…

For most of my adult life, I usually avoided eggs. I had read that since yolks are full of cholesterol, eating them would raise my blood cholesterol and harm my heart health. Then, around three years ago, to lose a few kilograms, I reduced simple carbs and added more protein to my diet – including eggs. But I wondered what that would do to my cholesterol levels, so at my next medical check-up, I asked for a blood test. My doctor surprised me with this response: “We were wrong about that all along. The best research says you don’t need to avoid eggs.” To reassure me, she ordered the blood test. The results? Same healthy cholesterol levels as before. It got me wondering: how many other people were unnecessarily avoiding…

In January 1998, my daughter Hannah was deep in wedding preparations when her fiancé, Scott, was killed in a car crash. She was a 25-year-old medical student and not much interested in history, so she knew almost nothing about how people in previous times had mourned. And yet, in the months after Scott’s death, without realising it, she recreated many traditional mourning customs from around the world. Like Queen Victoria or mourners in Ancient Rome, she wore special clothes – something of Scott’s every day. She remembered him in company, taking an unintentional cue from bereaved Jews who say Kaddish, the mourner’s prayer, together in synagogue every day for up to 11 months. ‘The Scott Coffee’ group met every Sunday at his favourite spot to flip through a photo album…

I started out reading as an escape, then a chore, then a habit, then a luxury. Only now I’ve realised what a necessity it is.PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE, WRITER/ACTOR I NEVER ASK ‘WHY’ TO MYSELF. I ASK ‘HOW’. IF I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO IT, THAT FOR ME IS ENOUGH MOTIVATION.BØRGE OUSLAND, EXPLORER HARD TIMES ARE MADE HARDER BY HIDING OUT IN THAT FEELING THAT WE’RE ALL ALONE.FEIST, MUSICIAN Do what you know best; if you’re a runner, run, if you’re a bell, ring.IGNAZ BERNSTEIN, BIBLIOPHILE We have the ability to be the heroes of our families, our communities and our lives. It’s important to remind people of that truth: you have what it takes to make an impact. What is your hero’s journey?KERRY WASHINGTON, ACTOR When anger rises, think of…

Since his death on April 9 at the age of 99, so much has been written about the Duke. Outside his family and inner cycle, the world came to ‘know’ Prince Philip through photos and anecdotes, some of which offered amusing insights. Such personal glimpses have featured in Reader’s Digest as far back as the 1950s, and each one reveals an ordinary person, living an extraordinary life. Fumbling With the In-laws “Philip was generally ‘a cheerful riser, leaping out of bed’ but on some days he would turn over and not want to be disturbed. [His newly appointed valet, John] Dean, had a job trying to make him look smart, with his heavily repaired suits, well-worn shoes and his habit of putting his hands in his jacket pockets, causing it…

1. What constellation is depicted on the Australian and New Zealand flags? 1 point 2. Until the 1970s, what was notable about the pubs in Ireland on Saint Patrick’s Day? 2 points 3. Artist J.M.W. Turner illustrated some of which Scottish writer’s poems and stories? 1 point 4. What led to recent discoveries of 40,000-year-old mosses in the Canadian Arctic? 1 point 5. University of Warwick researchers had success treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria with a remedy from what ninth-century book? 2 points 6. What country is the world’s leading producer of coconuts? 1 point 7. What country was first known as Chersonesus Aurea, or peninsula of gold? 1 point 8. What species has finger prints so similar to our own that crime investigators might confuse them with human prints? 2 points…

Loyal Companion My late father, who was a doctor with the army medical corps, believed, “If I had my way, I would not send my children to school, but subscribe to Reader’s Digest!” ‘DNA Detector Dog’ by Fay Grimsey (Smart Animals, March) was an interesting read. It is worth noting that dogs featured four times in this issue and, symbolically, dogs represent loyalty, obedience, devotion and the Vedas (oldest scriptures of Hinduism). SHIVRAM RAVI All About a Healthy Heart While cardiologists have outlined how to overcome heart problems ‘How to Keep Your Heart Young’ (April), not much attention has been paid to outdoor physical exercises. Top sports coaches recommend that 30 minutes of Fartlek running (periods of fast running intermixed with periods of jogging or brisk walking), coupled with breathing…

You don’t want to get out of bed and, once you finally do, you can’t find the energy to exercise. During the day, you lack the ability to concentrate on anything. Just like paper cuts and bad dreams, fatigue happens to everyone at some point. It’s a common ailment, reported by as many as one-third of people visiting their doctor. In many cases, fatigue is a normal response to life circumstances: stress, a change in sleeping patterns, a heavy workload. Since we can’t always avoid these things, Dr Tom Declercq, a specialist in primary care, suggests giving yourself more rest than usual during these times to restore energy levels. “It’s very important to listen to your body when it’s asking for more sleep,” he says. But here’s the tricky thing:…

On a typical wet Singapore afternoon back in October 2013, Dipa Swaminathan, a Harvard-educated telecommunications lawyer, was driving home after working out at the gym when she noticed two road cleaners crouched under cardboard sheets near her home. They were completely drenched. That is so sad, Dipa thought as she drove past. She stopped the car and reversed back to where the migrant workers sheltered, rain pounding down heavily against them. Rolling down her window, Dipa asked the men to get into her car so she could take them to her house for cover. The workers shook their heads. “We are muddy and we will dirty the car,” said one. “I can wash my car, hop in!” Dipa insisted. Dipa drove the workers to her home, where they took refuge…

Your sense of smell is largely responsible for your ability to taste food. “Flavour is really an integrated experience that combines what happens on your tongue – that’s sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy – with smell,” says Asifa Majid, a psychology professor. “When you put something in your mouth, the molecules go into your nasal cavity. Your tongue might be able to tell that there’s fat in that chocolate, and that’s something the brain finds very rewarding, but the formal chocolate experience comes from all the molecules going into your nose.” For many people, a fading sense of smell may be just a natural part of ageing Women outperform men when both groups are asked to identify a certain number of scents. That holds true across all age groups. “This…

In the last ten years, ‘gluten’ has become a buzzword – and a bit of a dietary demon. For most people, gluten – a protein found in many types of grains – is totally harmless. But for others, foods with gluten can cause a number of problems ranging from abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea and bloating, to anxiety and fatigue. “Gluten is a challenge to our guts because it can be hard to digest,” says nutritionist Beth Trimark-Connor. “In people with coeliac disease, gluten damages cells in the intestine and provokes an attack response from the immune system. When the immune response doesn’t stop attacking the gluten, it may turn on the body itself.” Some people without coeliac or a gluten intolerance or sensitivity have reported experiencing benefits from going gluten free,…

1. abridged – A: adapted. B: shortened. C: translated. 2. riffle – A: skim. B: brainstorm. C: copy from. 3. saga – A: beach read. B: memoir. C: heroic tale. 4. prosaic – A: uplifting. B: dull. C: overly wordy. 5. omnibus – A: road atlas with coloured illustrations. B: collection. C: paperback. 6. scrivener – A: critic. B: writer. C: bookbinder. 7. stanza – A: romance. B: library shelf. C: poem part. 8. lexicon – A: dictionary. B: villain. C: twisty plot. 9. hyperbole – A: overstatement. B: understatement. C: nonsense word. 10. elegy – A: scientific paper. B: mournful poem. C: beautiful quotation. 11. tome – A: horror story. B: poetry slam. C: large book. 12. vignette – A: comedic play. B: short scene. C: reading glasses. 13.…

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THERE WAS A TIME when people always put the cat out before going to bed. In past generations, cats were generally free roaming, but these days cats are very much part of the family and typically spend most of their time indoors. Living inside has benefits – contained cats are less likely to create a nuisance in the neighbourhood, be exposed to infectious diseases, get into fights with other cats, kill wildlife or be hit by a motor vehicle. They generally have a longer life expectancy than outdoor cats. Dr Warren shares her expert knowledge on managing indoor cats. CATS MAKE GREAT INDOOR PETS Cats are naturally very clean and they love to sleep; in fact most cats sleep for around three-quarters of the day. Confining a cat is not…

There are many ways laughter may well be the best medicine. While it can’t cure diseases, scientists say it has measurable health benefits: it’s good for your heart, brain, relationships and your overall sense of wellbeing. Laughing triggers the brain to release feel-good neurotransmitters. Dopamine helps the brain process emotional responses and enhances our experience of pleasure; serotonin buoys our mood; and endorphins regulate pain and stress, and induce euphoria. A recent study even showed that laughing with others releases endorphins via opioid receptors, which suggests that laughter-produced euphoria is like a narcotic – but without the obvious drawbacks. Beyond a mood lift, laughing often may also help prevent a heart event. Common daily challenges can cause chronic stress. The continual fight-or-flight response causes our blood vessels to constrict and…

Deodorant? No, I’ve never needed to buy any. People just give it to me, complete strangers sometimes.@SAINTED61 I’m sick of men’s 3-in-1 bodywash-shampoo-conditioner. Throw toothpaste in there. @COMRADTWITTY My twins hate to brush their teeth. So I just convinced them that it’s fun to brush someone else’s teeth. Problem solved. @HUNZ74 The fact that Head & Shoulders doesn’t have a bodywash called Knees & Toes disappoints me. @THEREALSASSY1 Dry shampoo is the equivalent of unicorn blood for hair – it’ll keep it alive, but it’ll be a half life, a cursed life. @ELLIEPEEK…

Bad breath is nothing new. And ever since humans have spent enough time alongside their fellow humans to appreciate just how potent a case of halitosis can be, we have sought ways to improve our breath. As in most other areas of life, those Ancient Egyptians were all over those bad breath cures – after all, what’s the point of having a gold-and-jewel encrusted bed and glamorous make-up if your breath makes people wither on approach? Not only did the Egyptians create recipes for ‘toothpaste’ out of natron (a salt which performed double duty embalming mummies – versatile!), they also made breath-sweetening pellets of frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon and honey. Ancient Greek guru Hippocrates instructed his adherents to combat bad breath by swilling red wine followed by spices. While we’ve no…

In 2018, the polling firm YouGov asked almost 20,000 adults which of the five senses they would miss the most if they lost it. Sight was by far the number one answer, at 70 per cent. Next came hearing, taste, then touch. Smell was at the bottom, with just two per cent saying they would miss it. Had the survey been done in the wake of the pandemic, the results might have differed, since many of those who got the illness experienced anosmia: a loss of smell. The link between COVID-19 and anosmia became clearer, wrote Brooke Jarvis in The New York Times Magazine in January, when a newly formed group of specialists (the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research, or GCCR) surveyed thousands of COVID-19 patients from 40 countries. They…

When was the last time you used a telephone box? I mean to make an actual phone call – not to shelter from the rain. Ages ago, right? I ventured into a phone box once last year – but that was to get some privacy while I answered my mobile, so that doesn’t really count, does it? Oh, and in 2012 some tourists asked me to photograph them mounting a red telephone box in tribute to a One Direction album cover. I’m not sure that counts, either. No, the last time I used a phone box for its authentic, intended purpose was … 2006. Fifteen years ago! I was producing an Edinburgh Fringe Festival stage play and conducting auditions in my grotty London share house. In the vain hope that…