Stem cell clinics: experts insist claims of cure-all are medically unproven

Ampoules containing a medium for stem cell storage. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Reuters For the past decade stem cells have sparked huge excitement among scientists, dramatic media coverage about breakthroughs that could mean a cure for some of the nastiest diseases, and hope – sometimes desperate – among patients that the reality will match the hype. That has fuelled a booming trade in stem cell tourism – people heading to clinics abroad and forking out large sums for what are called stem cell treatments but which are... [Read More]

America’s $88bn anti-ageing industry: dangerous and with no scientific backing

Suzanne Somers says she will still be having sex with husband Alan Hamel when she’s 94 – and he’s 105. Photograph: Jason Merritt/Getty The desire to defy age is as ancient as human history, but in the past 10 years a multibillion-dollar industry has sprung up in America promising decades of extra life and good health beyond your 100th birthday. However, a new book has revealed a disturbing lack of safety regulation, outrageous unproved medical claims, risky products that could cause serious health problems,... [Read More]

Chocolate can be good for women’s hearts, say researchers One or two 19g-30g servings of dark chocolate a week led to a 32% reduction in risk of heart failure, says the study. Photograph: Howard Shooter/Getty Images An occasional chocolate... [Read More...] People with disabilities deserve to be seen and heard | Shantha Rau Barriga Doreen Aciro recovers from reconstructive surgery following an attack by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda. Photograph: Riccardo Gangale/AP In the aftermath of war, civil unrest... [Read More...] Acne Diet Cure Acne is skin condition that occurs mainly in adolescence and early adulthood and affects the sebaceous glands. However, it does not always disappear after puberty. Nearly half of women and one in four... [Read More...]

Cycle training pays off in Sheffield Wendy Melia cycling in Sheffield. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian It has cost public funds the equivalent of a metre of modern highway and led to a council-estimated... [Read More...] acne best acne treatments revealed – top acne Get unbiased acne treatment reviews for the best acne treatments on the market and get rid of your embarrassing teenage or adult acne and blackhead scars. [Read More...] Is barefoot running good for you? Zola Budd (No 151) ran barefoot in the 1984 Olympics, but is it any good for the rest of us? Photograph: BTS Are there really any benefits to barefoot running? Studies into barefoot... [Read More...]