All Health and wellbeing articles
-
Opinion
Not all Christians are emotionally healthy
Lucy Macdonald explores why emotional health is vital to spiritual maturity and why following Jesus doesn’t automatically heal our inner wounds.
-
Article
Green spaces can boost your mental and physical health
Dr Becky Howie reveals why it’s so important for us to be connected to nature
-
Article
Womenswear designer Karen Millen has shamed mothers who breastfeed beyond six months
As a midwife, Michelle Tant was appalled at the response to a viral video of a woman breastfeeding her toddler and points to Bible references giving credence to its benefits
-
Opinion
We need the compassion of Jesus to approach the topic of gender-neutral toilets in schools
As six schools in Scotland have been ordered to provide single-sex facilities, Michelle Tant considers how girls going through puberty might be otherwise affected.
-
Opinion
‘Why am I more vulnerable at my Slimming World group than at church?’
‘I find myself putting on a Sunday service mask of being cheerfully uncomplicated. Perhaps it’s because of a misapprehension that, as a person of faith, I should have all the answers or be able to cope,’ says Emily Bright.
-
Opinion
Womenswear designer Karen Millen has shamed mothers who breastfeed beyond six months
As a midwife, Michelle Tant was appalled at the response to a viral video of a woman breastfeeding her toddler and points to Bible references giving credence to its benefits.
-
Article
‘I work with crystals – but it’s not what you think’
Professor Delia Haynes researches the properties of many of the crystals used in pharmaceutical drugs. Here she speaks about her work, and how she marries her faith with being a scientist
-
Article
To fast or not to fast
With the growing popularity of fasting, Dr Becky Howie explains the most popular approaches and weighs up the benefits and risks
-
Opinion
What BBC’s Springwatch can teach us about God
‘In the stillness - whether I’m enjoying a mindful moment on Springwatch or admiring the majestic birds of prey at the wildlife hospital – my soul soars and I thank God for what he’s created,’ says Emily Bright.
-
Opinion
My thoughts on singer, Lorde’s honesty about her relationship with food
‘Are Celebs normalising eating disorder culture and stigmatising them more with sweeping statements about not eating to look a certain way?’
asks Hope Virgo, author and founder of #DumpTheScales -
Opinion
Justin Bieber’s wife asks for prayer for his mental health
This week is Mental Health Awareness week, and Lucy Macdonald says, ‘It takes courage to speak up. But when we do, we make space for others to do the same. The Church can be a place where honesty is welcome, pain is not judged, and healing is seen as a process, not a performance.’
-
Article
Time to stop mourning the person you used to be
Dr Becky Howie recognises that there is a natural tendency to compare ourselves to what we were like when younger. Here she provides some strategies from positive psychology, which reflect biblical wisdom, to help combat comparison culture and maintain a healthy mindset
-
Opinion
Why your body size matters to God
‘I practice self-love by standing in front of the mirror, looking at my body (a recent revelation) and telling my body how much I am grateful for it and then thanking God for it, honouring his creation,’ says Hannah Wickens.
-
Opinion
Are doctors over diagnosing mental health conditions and turning biblical, anthropological problems into illness in the process?
‘Commentators argue that, unlike physical disease, mental health diagnoses are typically not based on tests like blood work or scans. Rather, they stem from the standardized categorization of behaviours and other symptoms. The challenge, they suggest, is that once someone is “labelled” with a particular diagnosis, they may mistakenly believe they have an inherent biological flaw - which can ironically hinder their recovery,’ says Ann-Louise Graham.
-
Opinion
Is bio-hacking on your checklist for a first date?
’The Bible teaches us that we are to honour God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and while seeking to improve our health is not inherently wrong, we must not elevate any practice above our relationship with God,’ says Jemimah Wright.
-
Opinion
Caring for maternal health is more than simply a medical, or social issue, it’s also a Kingdom issue
‘This year’s World Health Day campaign also urges us to think beyond the delivery room. The importance of the mother’s wellbeing does not end after childbirth. Many women experience postpartum depression, anxiety, trauma and physical complications long after their babies are born,’ says Dr Sarah-Louise Hurst.
-
Opinion
Here’s how to celebrate Mother’s Day if you’re struggling with heartbreak from baby loss
Having lost two children at birth, Funke Oham wrote a book about her experience and now shares tips on how to navigate the pain.
-
Article
While body positivity is important, clinical obesity is a disease – is weight-loss medication a healthy solution?
Dr Becky Howie unpacks the positives and negatives surrounding weight-loss injections, and considers the impact on self-image and self-worth
-
Opinion
If Jesus was a health researcher he would first close the gender health gap
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month and Michelle Tant says: ‘As a midwife I am very interested in female reproductive health but a condition which negatively impacts the lives of millions of women globally should interest us all.’
-
Opinion
‘I believe it is important for churches and Christians to be trauma informed’
‘Many people who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACES) have a negative view of God as father and for some the church’s unaccountable leadership has caused this. The way we demonstrate consistent, authentic compassion can repair this damaging view of God,’ says Ruth Stephens.