Featured Research: Wellness & Wellbeing

Talking Point

Muscle-building shakes don't always have as much protein as they claim to

Protein supplements have become a widely popular way for avid gym-goers to pump extra protein into their bodies and bump up their muscles. Protein is essential for the overall health of the body, building and repairing its tissues and balancing the levels of energy, hormones and many other chemicals.

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Pioneering research on governance innovation at UP

The Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation (GovInn) at the University of Pretoria (UP) is the first research institution in Africa dedicated entirely to governance innovation.

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Indigenous, instant superfood for rural children

Although malnutrition is not as endemic in South Africa as in some other countries of sub-Saharan Africa, it nonetheless continues to be a significant problem, which is compounded by extreme levels of poverty in some areas.

Lecture

‘A hitchhikers guide to the galaxy of brain/body dialogues’

The title of Prof Millar’s lecture was ‘A hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy of brain/body dialogues’. He spoke about peptide hormones that regulate all aspects of body functions, including growth, energy metabolism and appetite, water and salt balance, stress and reproduction. These hormones are the target for a vast array of drugs that have found application in treating a wide range of...

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New scrum machine set to revolutionise rugby

The University of Pretoria’s Institute for Sports Research (ISR), in collaboration with the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, and the High Performance Centre (hpc), have developed a ground-breaking tool to assist rugby teams in fine-tuning their scrumming technique.

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Have your (low GI) cake and eat it

Food with a low glycaemic index (GI) is generally considered healthier because it is digested at a slower rate than high GI food, thus providing sustained energy release. However, many people prefer high GI food such as cake because it simply tastes better.