Mental health needs compassion, not judgement

Photo Courtesy: Image by Rosy/Bad Homburg/Germany from Pixabay | For representational purpose only

Niutoli Tuccu

Licensed Rehabilitation Psychologist RCI

Mental health problems are becoming increasingly common, yet many people still fail to recognise the early signs of emotional distress. Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and emotional exhaustion are often ignored until they begin affecting daily life. Mental and emotional distress can also appear through physical symptoms. Constant stress and anxiety may lead to psychosomatic problems such as headaches, body pain, fatigue, stomach discomfort, and sleep difficulties. Early awareness and emotional support are more important than ever.

According to data shared by the Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Department during World Mental Health Day observance in 2022, nearly 20,000 people in the state were estimated to be living with severe mental illness, while around 2 lakh people experienced mild to moderate psychological conditions that often remained unnoticed. National studies by NIMHANS during 2015 to 2016 highlighted rising levels of anxiety, depression, panic disorders, and stress related conditions across India.

As a mental health professional, I have personally witnessed a sharp rise in people seeking therapy and psychological support in recent years. While this reflects growing awareness, it is deeply painful to see how many individuals still suffer emotional neglect within their own homes. Even today, depression, panic attacks, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion are dismissed as “laziness” or “attention seeking behaviour.” Such responses do not help people heal. They silently worsen the suffering.

In Dimapur, it is heartbreaking to see some individuals with untreated mental illness wandering the streets without care, support, or protection. Society is becoming emotionally distant. We speak about progress, yet many vulnerable people continue to suffer in silence around us. Mental illness is not only a medical issue. It is also a human and social responsibility.

Mental illness does not always appear in obvious ways. Many people continue their daily routines while struggling internally. Some common warning signs include:

1. Constant overthinking and excessive worry

2. Emotional numbness or persistent sadness

3. Irritability, panic attacks, or emotional exhaustion

4. Social withdrawal and avoiding people

5. Disturbed sleep and loss of motivation

6. Difficulty concentrating or managing stress

Simple ways to support your Mental Health:

1. Recognise early emotional changes and seek support early

2. Practice slow breathing and grounding techniques during anxiety or panic attacks

3. Avoid suppressing emotions or isolating yourself for long periods

4. Reduce overstimulation from excessive social media and negativity

5. Maintain proper sleep, food intake, hydration, and daily routines

6. Seek professional psychological help before symptoms become disabling

7. Create emotionally safe families and communities where people feel heard instead of judged

The 2026 Mental Health Awareness Month theme, “More Good Days, Together,” reminds us that healing becomes easier when people feel supported rather than judged. Mental health awareness should not remain limited to speeches, campaigns, or social media discussions alone. It should also be reflected in the way we listen, speak, and respond to one another in everyday life.Most importantly, asking for psychological support is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of self awareness, emotional strength, and courage. Many people around us are carrying silent psychological struggles, not drama. A little kindness and understanding can sometimes help more than we realise. Mental health needs compassion, not judgement | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→May 29, 2026

Helping Children Laugh Can Make Their Brains More Resilient and Learning Easier

SWNS via Kristine Koroleva

Laughter is the best medicine, according to an old adage. Now, new research suggests it also boosts child development.

Making children laugh can help make their brains more resilient and open to learning, according to scientists.

Laughter builds deep emotional connections and soothes youngsters’ nervous systems, making them more resilient—because laughter is not frivolous, but rather a complex biological phenomenon.

Dr. Jacqueline Harding conducted extensive studies into how laughter and play contribute to healthy brain growth, emotional well-being, and social bonding.

The early childhood expert at Middlesex University in northwest London, argues in her new book The Brain That Loves to Laugh says laughter can help children navigate life’s challenges and better handle stress.

“Hope and humor, it seems, are not just the seasoning of life, but foundational to a recipe for healthy development,” said Dr Harding.

“When we see children laugh, we witness the brilliance of the brain in action: learning, connecting, and growing.”

It precedes the neural development of speech, she explained. But it also engages a distributed network of brain regions, including motor areas and the pre­frontal cortex.

Laughter also “influences heart rate, respiration and production of antibodies.”

“It decreases the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine, and increases ‘happiness chemicals’ dopamine, serotonin and endorphins.

Credit: a4gpa (CC license)

“It can strengthen the immune system and improve memory.

“Neuroimaging studies suggest that laughter plays a significant role in brain activity, as humor is cognitively demanding and engages neuro-plasticity.

“It challenges the brain to predict and resolve tension between conflicting ideas, providing a mental workout that enhances creative thought and activates both the working memory and frontal lobes.

“On the other hand, prolonged stress negatively affects both physical and mental development. It can impair learning, increase adult stress risk, suppress immune function, and contribute to illness.”

“I believe that as we continue to wrestle with humor – this most intriguing human function – we must strive to shake off any dismissal of its frivolous nature and allow its seri­ous contribution to human learning and life in general to shine.

“In parents and their children, laughter can boost the levels of happy chemical oxytocin and enhance neural synchrony during parent-child interactions – in other words, build emotional bonds.

“These bonds are beneficial to the child and even contribute to a reduction in parental burnout and stress.”

Credit: La Priz (CC license)

But parents don’t need to rattle off jokes

Instead of jokes, simple shared play and laughter between parents and children, with eye contact, smiles, and close proximity, can all foster connection.

“Creative, happy play does its most brilliant work at a molecular level, especially at a time when the human brain is at its most receptive,” explained Harding.

“Spontaneous joyful play is an antidote to stress, as it increases levels of endorphins released by the brain.”

As well as nurturing bonds, she suggests that “humor and hope” can improve a child’s resilience to stressful events.

“The link between co-regulation and self-regulation is now well established. Co-regulation means the way in which the baby is guided by a caring and supportive adult early in life, so that they have a working model to draw upon for their own self-regulation as they mature.”

“The immune system needs a store of positive experiences from which to draw.”

Her studies show that, in a child’s brain, the limbic system—which regulates func­tions such as emotion, behavior, and long-term memory—develops alongside the brain’s executive functions that help us plan, evaluate, and make decisions.

“Stated simply, the emotional state of young children directly influences how they navigate their way through the world.”

She says that carefully finding gentle ways to introduce joy and hope, and ease the burden on their nervous system, can even help youngsters who have already experienced extensive trauma.

Dr. Harding advocates integrating humor into educational settings to reduce the cognitive load, making complex information more digestible, and refresh the current educational paradigm.

“Maybe, just maybe, one day the value of hope, humor, and human connection will be taken as seriously as it deserves.” Helping Children Laugh Can Make Their Brains More Resilient and Learning Easier

Read More........→May 28, 2026

Is dark chocolate healthier than milk chocolate? 2 dietitians explain

 

Alexander Grey/Unsplash

Lauren Ball, The University of Queensland and Emily Burch, Southern Cross University

Easter chocolate is all over supermarket shelves. Some people reach straight for milk chocolate eggs while others pause at the darker varieties, assuming they’re healthier.

Dark chocolate has gained a reputation as the “better” choice because it usually contains more cocoa and less sugar than milk chocolate.

But is dark chocolate actually healthier?

Let’s see how the evidence stacks up.

How do they compare?

All chocolate begins with the cocoa (or cacao) bean. Cocoa beans are the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree, a tropical plant native to Central and South America.

Processing the bean gives you cocoa solids (the bitter part) and cocoa butter (the fat part that gives chocolate its smooth texture).

Chocolate is made from cocoa solids, cocoa butter and sugar. Milk chocolate also contains milk powder or condensed milk.

Dark chocolate typically contains a much higher proportion of cocoa solids, usually 50–90%.

Milk chocolate generally contains 20–30% cocoa solids, with the remaining bulk made up of milk ingredients and sugar.

How about nutritional benefits?

Because dark chocolate contains more cocoa solids than milk chocolate, it naturally provides slightly higher amounts of certain minerals.

This table shows the differences between milk chocolate (30% cocoa) and dark chocolate (more than 60% cocoa) per 20-gram serve. That’s about one row of a Lindt chocolate block.

As you can see, dark chocolate provides more minerals such as magnesium, iron and zinc. It also contains noticeably more caffeine (but far less than in a typical cup of coffee, which would contain about 100mg).

Milk chocolate offers significantly more calcium due to its milk solids, but it generally contains more added sugar.

Cocoa is naturally rich in plant compounds called polyphenols. These act as antioxidants in the body, helping to protect the body’s cells from damage.

Because dark chocolate contains more cocoa, it naturally contains higher levels of these compounds. In fact, dark chocolate contains roughly five times more flavanols (a type of polyphenol) than milk chocolate.

Compared to other foods often praised for their antioxidant content, cocoa contains around 17 times more catechins (another type of polyphenol) per serving than black tea. It also contains around three times more than red wine.

Does dark chocolate improve your health?

Research into cocoa and dark chocolate has produced some interesting findings, particularly about heart health.

Cocoa flavanols appear to help blood vessels relax and support better blood flow. Some clinical trials have reported small reductions in blood pressure and improvements in measures of blood vessel function after consuming cocoa products.

There is also broader evidence suggesting diets rich in flavanols may be linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease overall.

However, these findings come with important caveats.

Many of these trials use cocoa extracts containing high levels of flavanols. Others contain specially formulated chocolate rather than the typical chocolate bars or Easter eggs you’d find in supermarkets. The doses tested are also often far larger and far more concentrated than what people normally consume.

A large umbrella review (a review of reviews) involving more than one million participants did find links between eating chocolate and lower risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes.

But the overall quality of evidence was rated as weak or very low, largely because many of the studies were observational. Observational studies can identify patterns, but they cannot prove chocolate itself caused those benefits.

The bottom line is that cocoa does contain beneficial plant compounds but the chocolate most of us enjoy is not a health supplement.

But I thought dark chocolate has less sugar?

Choosing dark chocolate doesn’t automatically make it the healthier option, especially where sugar is concerned. Some dark chocolate contains surprisingly high amounts.

Depending on the cocoa percentage and recipe, some dark chocolate products contain 40–50% sugar.

So a 150g dark chocolate Easter bunny containing 50% sugar, for example, can contain about 19 teaspoons of added sugar.

This applies to Easter eggs too. Some dark chocolate Easter eggs sold in supermarkets still list sugar as one of their first and main ingredients, ahead of cocoa butter. This means sugar makes up a significant chunk of what you’re eating.

So it’s always worth flipping the packet over and checking the ingredients list and nutritional panel to be sure.

What to choose this Easter?

Dark chocolate has a nutritional advantage over milk chocolate. But how much depends on the cocoa percentage and how it’s been made.

As a general rule, aim for 70% cocoa or more, and flip the packet over before you buy. In a higher-quality dark chocolate, cocoa should appear first in the ingredients list – not sugar.

A higher-quality dark chocolate might have its ingredients listed in this order: cocoa mass, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, sugar, vanilla.

A lower-quality dark chocolate might look like this: sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, emulsifiers, flavour, milk solids.

If sugar is listed first, it’s the largest ingredient by weight.

Beyond that, choose chocolate you actually enjoy and watch your portion size. Remember that your overall diet matters far more than a few Easter eggs.

The real health benefit of Easter chocolate? The enjoyment of sharing it.

Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland and Emily Burch, Accredited Practising Dietitian and Lecturer, Southern Cross University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→May 27, 2026

Police Deputy Praised After 'Run-of-the-Mill' Call Turns into Emergency Baby Delivery

Rancho Cordova police deputies deliver baby (Released)

A call about suspicious activity saw a California police officer race to save a newborn’s life.

A woman was sitting between two bushes near a business in the Rancho Cordova, and Deputy Foster Tracy described the situation as “routine,” before it became anything but.

“It was zero to a hundred really fast. It was one of those calls you go to, run-of-the-mill,” Deputy Foster Tracy said. “This was definitely not something that I was prepared for at any part of the day.”

“‘Excuse me?'” Tracy remembers saying, as it didn’t really register, “‘you’re having a baby?'”

Indeed, the woman had been begging for help for “hours,” CBS News reported.

Calling for medical backup, Tracy got down on his knees and went to work as he realized there wasn’t time to waste: the baby’s head was already out.

Tracy’s partner arrived moments later and they both saw the problem as the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck. “I was concerned the baby was deceased because it was purple and blue.”

Yet their persistence was rewarded with a healthy baby and a relieved mother, who were both taken to the hospital to recover from the ordeal.The deputies have been credited with a life-saving intervention, and were praised by the mom, the police chief, and the surprised shop owners whose call had inadvertently saved a life. Police Deputy Praised After 'Run-of-the-Mill' Call Turns into Emergency Baby Delivery

Read More........→May 27, 2026

Canadian Woman Gives Free Bikes and Trikes to Thousands of Kids in the Past 14 Years

Krista Richard with Younis and Aws, two children who received one of her free bikes – credit, supplied by Richard to GNN

For 14 years, a generous soul in Moncton has been collecting donated bicycles and children’s tricycles and holding regular giveaways for families who can’t afford to buy one.

“The reward of seeing kids smile and ride off on their bikes is priceless,” said Krista Richard, organizer of the Bikes and Trikes for Everyone program.

Richard collects the bikes all year round and fixes them, while holding the giveaways between April and October. Last year, some 400 children were on her waiting list—like Younis and Aws, who put on their best Friday clothes and got their hair done for the big day when they’d ride off with their first real bikes.

Richard told CBC News that she’s given away thousands of bikes and trikes over the years, and says the fresh air and time spent outdoors has more benefits than just the health of the child.

“With all these video games, there’s no social contact and people don’t know who their neighbors are anymore,” Richard said.

“But if you get a bunch of kids on their bike, then they get to know each other and then the families get to know each other, and I think the more time you spend outside the better.”

Giveaways always take place on Sunday, and there’s a small team of volunteers who mostly go to collect the donated bikes, but Krista does much of the rest herself. She even started keeping adult bikes as well, in case parents want to go riding with their kids.It’s reminiscent of a story GNN wrote last year. Working Bikes estimates it’s taken in, fixed up, and given away some 150,000 bicycles that would have been destined for landfills. Many are given away in Chicago, more still the US, but Working Bikes has collaborators in Mexico, Venezuela, Albania, Uganda, Angola, Egypt, Cuba, and many, many more countries besides where their bikes are shipped. Canadian Woman Gives Free Bikes and Trikes to Thousands of Kids in the Past 14 Years

Read More........→May 18, 2026

Your ‘recycled polyester’ leggings are not as sustainable as you think

Austin/Unsplash Caroline Swee Lin Tan, RMIT University and Saniyat Islam, RMIT University

Recycled polyester activewear and swimwear are now everywhere. Major global brands sell leggings, swimsuits and puffer jackets with labels that claim they’re “made from recycled plastic bottles”. Millions of people buy these products believing they’re making a more sustainable choice.

The logic seems straightforward. Turning existing plastic waste into clothing is better than landfill.

However, the story is more complicated. What looks like circular recycling is often a one-way trip to landfill, revealing how recycled fabrics can mask environmental problems rather than solve them.

Where the plastic really comes from

Despite images of ocean clean-ups in glossy marketing, most recycled polyester used in fashion doesn’t come from marine waste or even old clothing. Instead, it comes from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) drink bottles.

The most recent Materials Market Report shows that about 98% of recycled polyester comes from plastic bottles. Textile-to-textile recycling accounts for less than 1% of the supply. And activewear is the single largest apparel use of recycled polyester in fashion supply chains.

Consequently, many garments marketed as “sustainable” rely on plastic taken from an effective recycling system, rather than addressing fashion’s own textile waste.

How PET bottle recycling works

PET, the plastic used to make drink bottles, is one of the most successfully recycled plastics. Decades of investment in collection, sorting and reprocessing have made bottle-to-bottle recycling possible in many countries.

This works because PET bottles are uniform and collected in large volumes. There is also strong demand for recycled, food-grade material. Research shows PET can be recycled many times without losing quality, as long as it stays within the bottle system.

When PET stays a bottle, it remains a high-value material.

What happens when bottles become clothes

That recycling loop breaks when PET becomes textile fibre. To make clothing, bottles are shredded and melted into polyester yarn, then dyed, blended and sewn into garments. Fibre blends, especially polyester mixed with elastane, make textile-to-textile recycling difficult.

Most textile recycling systems are mechanical and limited in scale. They struggle with blended fabrics. As a result, most polyester clothing can’t be recycled and ends up in landfill or incineration.

In circular economy terms, bottle-to-garment recycling is downcycling. Material quality drops, and future use is limited.

There’s also another environmental cost consumers rarely hear about. Mechanical recycling shortens polymer chains, resulting in more fragile, “hairy” fibres that snap easily during domestic washing. Studies show synthetic clothing sheds microplastic fibres, making it a major source of marine pollution.

Research suggests recycled polyester may shed more microfibres than virgin polyester (made new from fossil fuels rather than recycled from plastic).

Testing by Çukurova University in Turkey found recycled polyester shed 55% more microfibres than virgin polyester. These fibres were smaller and more brittle, increasing the likelihood they travel further in aquatic environments and enter our food chain.

Are there any benefits to recycled polyester?

Compared with virgin polyester, recycled polyester usually uses less energy and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing. This is why initiatives like the 2025 Recycled Polyester Challenge have pushed brands to commit to sourcing 45% to 100% of their polyester from recycled sources.

However, these schemes have hit a major roadblock: the lack of technology to recycle old clothes. Because the infrastructure for textile-to-textile recycling doesn’t yet exist at scale, brands have been forced to “borrow” bottles to meet their targets.

This highlights the tension between immediate technical needs and genuine sustainability. The next step is building the actual technology for circularity, so brands can move past the trap of greenwashing.

A recycling ‘dead end’

When bottles become garments, they leave one of the few recycling systems that works well and enter another that can’t yet recycle most clothing. This shift is becoming a major legal flashpoint. The European Union’s 2030 Vision for Textiles mandates that by 2030, all textile products on the market must be durable, repairable, and made largely of recycled fibres.

As brands scramble to meet these targets, a global supply crunch is emerging. With new EU packaging regulations coming into effect from August 12 2026, companies will be required to make packaging recyclable and prepare for future recycled content requirements.

As a result, the beverage industry is fighting to keep its own plastic. They argue fashion is “leaking” high-quality recycled PET out of a closed loop to mask its own lack of infrastructure.

This highlights the core problem: recycling should reduce waste overall, not simply move it between industries.

Recycled polyester only works when clothes become new clothes. While investment is growing, the fashion industry’s reliance on bottles is a distraction. Until the fashion industry solves its own waste crisis rather than borrowing from the beverage sector, turning bottles into clothing remains a one-way path to waste.

Currently, the most sustainable outcome for a plastic bottle is to remain a bottle.

Caroline Swee Lin Tan, Associate Professor in Fashion Entrepreneurship, RMIT University and Saniyat Islam, Associate Professor, Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→May 06, 2026

Lifestyle changes, intake of ultra-processed foods driving obesity at alarming rate: Eco Survey

IANS Photo

New Delhi, (IANS): Obesity is rising at an alarming rate and is today a major public health challenge in India, said Economic Survey for 2025-26 on Thursday.

According to the Economic Survey, tabled in the Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the concerning trend was driven by unhealthy diets, lifestyle changes, including sedentary lifestyles, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and environmental factors.

“It is affecting people across all age groups and increasing the risk of NCDs such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, impacting both urban and rural populations,” the Survey said.

Citing data from the 2019-21 National Family Health Survey (NFHS), the Survey said that 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of Indian men are overweight or obese. Among women aged 15-49 years, 6.4 per cent are obese, and among men, 4.0 per cent are obese. The prevalence of excess weight among children under five has risen from 2.1 per cent in 2015-16 to 3.4 per cent in 2019-21.

As per estimates, more than 3.3 crore children in India were obese in 2020, and it is projected to reach 8.3 crore children by 2035.

The Economic Survey also flagged concern over the rising UPF market in the country, which is displacing long-established dietary patterns, worsening diet quality, and is associated with increased risk of multiple chronic diseases.

“India is one of the fastest-growing markets for UPF sales. It grew by more than 150 per cent from 2009 to 2023. Retail sales of UPFs in India surged from $0.9 billion in 2006 to nearly $38 billion in 2019, a 40-fold rise. It is during the same period that obesity has nearly doubled in both men and women. This mirrors the global rise of obesity, parallel to dietary shifts,” it said.

“The rising use of UPFs imposes a substantial economic cost through higher healthcare spending, lost productivity, and long-term fiscal strain,” it added.

The Survey also cited comprehensive, multi-pronged initiatives launched by the government to prevent, manage, and reduce obesity in the country.

The interventions include POSHAN Abhiyaan & Poshan 2.0, Fit India Movement, Khelo India, Eat Right India, Nationwide Awareness Campaign - ‘Aaj Se Thoda Kam’ and AAMs, the School Health Programme, and Yoga promotion.These aim to promote a holistic approach that integrates health, nutrition, physical activity, food safety, and lifestyle modifications and continue to advance the goal of a healthier, stronger, and obesity-free India. Lifestyle changes, intake of ultra-processed foods driving obesity at alarming rate: Eco Survey | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→April 27, 2026

How do ionic hair dryers work? Can they do what they promise?

 

Zhenzhong Liu/Unsplash

Magdalena Wajrak, Edith Cowan University

If you’ve been in the market for a new hair dryer, you’ve likely seen advertising for ionic ones. Some claim to produce negative ions in the millions – with or without the help of added minerals like tourmaline.

The broader claim is usually that these ions break water molecules into micro-droplets, resulting in faster drying and reducing frizz to give you super smooth, shiny-looking hair.

Are ionic hairdryers actually capable of doing what they claim? To understand this, we need to briefly delve into some fundamentals.

Wait, what is an ion?

All matter is composed of invisible building blocks called atoms. But they’re not the smallest things we know of. Atoms contain subatomic particles – protons, neutrons and electrons.

Every atom has a nucleus, a very dense centre made up of protons and neutrons. The number of protons determines what chemical element the atom is. Hydrogen has one proton, carbon has six, oxygen has eight, and so on. Molecules are groups of two or more atoms that form a chemical element; an oxygen molecule consists of two oxygen atoms, for example.

How does all this relate to ions? This is where electric charge comes in. All subatomic particles have an electric charge. Protons have a positive charge (+), electrons have a negative charge (-) and neutrons are, as the name suggests, neutral.

The nucleus has a positive charge overall, thanks to all the protons. Negatively charged electrons surround the nucleus because opposite charges attract. This is called electrostatic force, and it is this force that actually keeps the electrons from flying off away from the nucleus.

But electrostatic force is pretty weak. When materials touch or are rubbed together, we get the triboelectric effect – electrons can transfer from one surface to the other. This produces ions: positively or negatively charged atoms or molecules. For example, a negative oxygen ion is oxygen that’s gained an extra electron.

What do ions have to do with hair, then?

For the most part, hair is composed of large complex molecules called keratin proteins. In turn, keratin molecules are composed of various chemical groups, such as carboxyl groups, amino groups and disulfide groups. These can gain or lose electrons.

So, when hair is dried with hot air or is subjected to friction, keratin fibres lose electrons via the triboelectric effect – they become positively charged.

Remember electrostatic force? When hair strands are positively charged they push away from each other, and you get frizz and fly-aways.

This is why hairdryer manufacturers have come up with the idea to neutralise the positive charge with negative ions from the hairdryer. In theory, this should return the charges in your hair to neutral and therefore reduce frizz.

How do hair dryers generate negative ions?

This part is just physics. Although different manufacturers may use slightly different methods, most ionic hairdryers use high voltage applied to a fine wire inside the hairdryer.

This creates a very strong electric field near the outlet where the hot air is blowing. It sends electrons into the surrounding air, producing negatively charged ions – mostly oxygen and nitrogen. The airflow then carries these ions out with the hot air.

To increase the number of negative ions produced during this process, some ionic hairdryers incorporate a mineral called tourmaline which emits negative ions naturally.

Although theory does support the claim that negative ions might neutralise the electrostatic charge of positively charged hair, in practice the amount of ionisation generated by the ionic hairdryers is very small because they’re limited by the voltage applied (typically 1,600V).

Sure, you could generate a huge amount of negative ions with enough electricity, but that’s beyond the scope of an everyday beauty appliance.

The effect would likely be subtle

Overall, this means the effects from an ionic hair dryer would likely be subtle.

Other factors will play a more significant role in smoothness – such as your hair type, hair quality (whether it has been chemically damaged by bleaching or dyes) and what products have been used on the hair prior to drying.

There is also no scientific proof that ionic hairdryers dry hair faster by breaking up water droplets more efficiently, although some studies have demonstrated that ions enhance the evaporation rate of water.

Ultimately, before investing in a very expensive hair dryer, you may want to look at improving the health of your hair in general. Negative ions – while plausible in theory – can only take you so far.

Magdalena Wajrak, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, Edith Cowan University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→April 15, 2026

A brief history of denim – and why the ‘perfect pair’ of jeans remains elusive

Rose Marroncelli, Nottingham Trent University

Denim is present in practically every country in the world and is widely adopted as one of the most common forms of everyday attire. Its appeal spans generations and social groups: jeans are worn worldwide by those who follow fashion and those who do not, by people seeking to stand out and by those who prefer to blend in. However, many of us have never found the perfect pair.

Although denim has been produced since the 16th century, its association with American culture and durable workwear emerged during the Californian gold rush of the 1850s. It was during this time that Levi’s – now arguably the most recognisable denim brand – was established.

Levi Strauss, an immigrant entrepreneur who arrived in California from Bavaria in the 1850s, opened a dry goods business catering to miners. One of his customers, the tailor Jacob Davis, developed the innovative use of metal rivets to reinforce stress points in work trousers, making them more durable. Strauss and Davis jointly patented this technique, and the Levi’s brand was born.

Blue jeans were originally a seen as symbol of labourers (like the miners) and they also gained a strong association with cowboys. In the decades that followed, denim jeans evolved from practical workwear into one of the most iconic and enduring symbols of global fashion and culture. Film stars such as Marlon Brando and James Dean popularised the jeans and t-shirt look to a young generation in the 1950s. These films personified motorcycle-loving nonconformists, and 1950s Hollywood embraced denim as the garment of rebellion.

Today, the cultural significance of denim jeans has moved beyond early associations with workwear, the cowboy and the teenage rebel, to become a staple worn by people of all ages and backgrounds.

Finding the perfect pair

Denim jeans are often seen as a problematic fashion product in terms of sustainability, because their production leaves a considerable environmental footprint.

Cheap prices on the high street can encourage consumers to treat denim products as short-term items, reducing their lifespan. Cotton, which is commonly the main fabric for denim, is incredibly water intensive; the production of one pair of jeans uses approximately 7,500 litres of water.

Different components involved in the making of a single pair of jeans, such as denim, thread, cotton and buttons, can originate from different countries all over the world. This raises questions regarding the environmental costs involved in the production process. Further issues include that jeans are often not made from single fibre materials and therefore cannot be recycled.

Adding to sustainability concerns, at the consumer level, the perfect pair of jeans remains an elusive concept. But in a recently published book chapter, I explain that the perfect pair of jeans is elusive for a reason. Jeans have to be correct for the individual wearer in terms of comfort, social and personal identity, and also the complexity of fit.

Previous reports have focused on women’s struggle to find jeans that fit and are flattering. The inability to find the perfect pair of jeans may encourage overconsumption, due to repeated purchasing based on poor fit.

My research shows that this is an issue which applies to all genders. The men I spoke to noted how they resented paying a higher price for brands like Levi’s, so spent less by purchasing cheap, high street alternatives. This attitude can lead to overconsumption, as low price points achieved through low-quality production often compromise product longevity.

This demonstrates the perpetuating cycle of fast fashion, driven by cheap, low-quality production, and contradicts the original purpose of jeans of being highly durable and having longevity. The combination of highly environmentally damaging production processes with overconsumption results in even greater environmental harm.

Retailers can make efforts to reduce the trend of overconsumption with better fitting garments. However, fit is a complex issue for retailers as well as consumers. For the retailer, producing jeans in a wide range of sizes and styles is often not cost effective, and complex sizing systems can also confuse the consumer.

Technology could provide future solutions to improving the accuracy of fit. Personalised virtual fitting, made possible through improvements in 3D human shape recognition, could ensure improved fit for the consumer. This would benefit online shoppers, although the technology does remain in its infancy, and is yet to be adopted by major online fashion retailers. Virtual fitting rooms also cannot replicate the feeling of denim next to the skin, so although the fit may be perfect, comfort could be compromised.

Ultimately, the enduring challenge of finding the “perfect pair” of jeans highlights not only the garment’s cultural significance but also the opportunity for the fashion industry – and consumers – to move toward more sustainable, better-fitting and more thoughtfully designed denim for the future.

Rose Marroncelli, Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→April 07, 2026

Used Diapers Turned into New Ones Thanks to Super-Recycling Japanese Towns and New Innovation

Japanese diaper brands on a shelf – credit 維基小霸王- CC BY-SA 4.0.

In the 1990s, a pair of Japanese municipalities estimated that the landfill they shared was going to be full by 2004.

Unless they did something to start reducing the size of their waste streams, the towns would have to sacrifice more precious land, or truck their waste much farther afield to another site.

Their response was to ramp up recycling of the clearest categories such as glass, paper, and metals, before moving on to more complicated streams, particularly a very stinky one: dirty diapers.

“Ultimately, our top priority is to reduce our trash and extend the life of the landfill,” Kenichi Matsunaga, an environment official for the city of Shibushi, told the Japan Times.

Billions of diapers—used by the very youngest and the oldest in society, are discarded every year in Japan. Made of layered, super-absorbing fibers and other materials, they aren’t readily recyclable.

Located in Kagoshima Prefecture, a new recycling initiative for diapers separates and shreds this core material in a way that prepares it for reuse while saving millions of tons of landfill-bound waste.

Shibushi, and the nearby town of Osaki, recycle 80% of household waste—some four-times the national avergae. Here, the company Unicharm aimed to pioneer its diaper recycling method where locals are already used to sorting their trash.

Residents’ diapers are collected, but only if their names are written on the bags to ensure accountability. Then, they’re washed and shredded until their component elements of plastic, pulp, and super-absorbent polymer (SAP) are separated.

Previously, GNN has reported that the company has used this material to make toilet paper, but now have advanced their method and machinery enough to reuse the pulp in diaper manufacturing.

The recycled diaper toilet paper – credit: Osaki Municipal Government’s SDGs Promotion Council

The process uses ozone, a sterilizing gas, to clean and deodorize the pulp to the point that it passes sanitary requirements. The company is currently working on ways to prepare the SAP for reuse, and expects progress by 2028.

The country is probably the only one in the world where more diapers are produced for incontinent elders than for babies. Larger and more robust, they take up more space in landfills.Japan wants to aim for 100 cities and towns to be recycling diapers by 2030, “or at least to start talking about it” reports Japan Times. Used Diapers Turned into New Ones Thanks to Super-Recycling Japanese Towns and New Innovation

Read More........→April 05, 2026

Worried about feeding your baby solid foods? Here’s what you should know

Lillian Krikheli, La Trobe University and Samantha Turner, La Trobe University

When you have a baby, mealtimes can be messy and stressful.

If you’re a new parent you may be unsure what, when, and how to feed your little one. And you may also worry about choking, particularly when it’s time to start feeding your baby solid foods.

For babies starting solids at the recommended age of six months, it’s important to offer foods in a variety of different ways. Purees can be a helpful starting point, but they shouldn’t be the only texture a baby experiences.

Research suggests not waiting too long to introduce lumpy or textured foods. Infants who start eating lumps at 10 months or later were more likely to develop feeding difficulties and become selective eaters.

So if you’re a parent, where do you start? And what other foods are good to try?

Why texture matters

Mealtimes are crucial for a child’s development because they’re an opportunity to explore different textures and develop oral motor skills.

Imagine you’re eating a piece of toast. This involves performing a range of movements including holding, biting, chewing and swallowing. All of these actions require different muscles to work together, and only improve through practice. But that practice is only effective if it involves real food, as opposed to non-edible teething toys and isolated oral exercises like jaw opening and closing or cheek puffing.

When starting solid foods, many parents rely on purees and pouches as convenient ways to feed their babies. There’s nothing wrong with puree in itself. Many of our favourite foods resemble purees. Think of buttery mashed potato, yogurt, ricotta and applesauce.

The problem arises when purees and pouches become the only texture parents offer their babies, particularly early on. Babies who only eat pureed foods have less opportunity to develop the skills needed for eating and drinking. And research suggests children who frequently eat pouched foods are more likely to become fussy eaters.

So there’s nothing inherently bad about pureed foods. But feeding your baby varied foods gives them more opportunity to develop crucial oral motor skills.

Does it matter how I feed my baby?

There are various ways to start giving your baby solid foods.

One common approach is “baby-led weaning”. That’s where parents encourage their baby to feed themselves, rather than fully spoon-feeding them. This can encourage your baby to be more independent and explore food on their own. But it may also make mealtimes messier and more time-consuming for parents. And it can also feel daunting for parents who are concerned about choking.

However, one 2016 study found babies who feed themselves are no more likely to choke than babies who are spoon-fed. Foods which are suitable for baby-led weaning include strips of omelette, ripe avocado wedges or well-cooked corn on the cob. However, the researchers emphasised the importance of preparing foods appropriately and using risk minimisation strategies. These include avoiding high-risk foods such as popcorn, cutting round foods such as grapes and cherry tomatoes, and supervising babies whenever they eat.

An ‘in-between’ option for feeding is to offer your baby purees, while giving them a degree of independence. For example, you may pre-load a spoon for your baby to bring to their own mouth. You can also pair purees with larger foods, say a broccoli floret dipped in hummus. These combinations will help your baby develop eating skills while you become more confident with feeding your baby.

No matter what feeding approach you take, infant first aid training is a must for parents and carers. And if your child was born premature, has a developmental delay or has specific nutrition requirements, it’s best to speak to a paediatrician before giving them solid foods.

When you have a picky eater

Even if your baby transitions well to solid foods, toddlerhood can bring a new set of challenges.

Toddlers tend to be selective about what foods they do or don’t eat. They may also become more cautious around unfamiliar foods. These are both normal parts of a child’s development.

But problems can arise when parents pressure toddlers to eat food they don’t want to eat or when they aren’t hungry. Even small gestures, such as using a “spoon as aeroplane” or asking them to take “one more bite” in front of the TV or tablet, can put pressure on children. As a result your child may eat that next mouthful but, over time, they may develop a negative relationship with food and mealtimes.

As parents and carers, our role is to offer food at predictable times and in positive mealtime environments. Some ways to do that include:

• trusting they’ll eat as much as they need
• eating shared meals when possible
• modelling enjoyment of different foods during shared meals
• offering new foods alongside familiar favourites
• giving children multiple opportunities to see and try new foods, even if they don’t eat them the first time.

Unfortunately, babies and toddlers won’t love every meal you make them. But in time they’ll come to learn about, and even enjoy, a world of different textures and tastes.

Lillian Krikheli, Lecturer in Speech Pathology, La Trobe University and Samantha Turner, Lecturer in Speech Pathology, La Trobe University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→April 04, 2026

‘Cuddle therapy’ sounds like what we all need right now. But will it actually help?

Glen Hosking, La Trobe University

Cuddle therapy is having a moment. The idea for this emerging therapy is for you to book in a specified time with a “professional cuddler”.

Websites promote cuddle therapists as specialists in platonic touch, offering a service to people who wish to cuddle for friendship, to relax or manage emotional challenges.

The aim is to find connection and improve your mental health and wellbeing.

But does it actually work?

Here’s what you need to think about before booking in.

What is cuddle therapy?

Cuddle therapists offer consensual, non-sexual cuddles in a structured and safe environment, designed to be free from criticism, bias, conflict and any behaviour or conversation that may feel unsafe or threatening.

Cuddle therapists are not official or regulated professionals. There do not appear to be any accredited training programs or professional bodies that oversee and regulate cuddle therapy.

However, there are numerous people who promote themselves as professional cuddlers, and whose services are said to offer a range of psychological and physiological benefits.

These include reductions in depression, anxiety and loneliness, improvements in social skills and immune functioning, lowered blood pressure and a decreased risk of heart disease.

Providers suggest cuddle therapy can also lessen symptoms of post‑traumatic stress disorder, enhance a person’s capacity to recover from experiences of sexual or physical abuse, and reduce cravings associated with substance use.

Comforting claims, sparse science

Despite such claims, there do not appear to be any published peer‑reviewed studies that directly examine the psychological or physiological effects of engaging a professional cuddler.

There is, however, a broader body of research exploring the benefits of non‑sexual physical touch, including hugging and gentle, sustained contact.

Such touch has been associated with reductions in daily stress and improvements in overall wellbeing. Physical touch has also been identified as a way of conveying empathy, social bonding, and care.

Most of this research focuses on touch in close relationships – such as with partners, parents or friends – rather than touch delivered by a practitioner as part of a paid service. So, we don’t know if these findings translate to cuddle therapy.

There are however, known impacts of physical touch, including prompting the release of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin interacts with other neurochemicals, most notably dopamine, which supports feelings of comfort and connection.

Together, these neurochemical responses help explain why sustained touch can have a calming and soothing effect.

Professional cuddles need professional boundaries

Because cuddle therapy involves physical touch, emotional vulnerability and power dynamics between therapist and client, it raises a number of important ethical and professional issues.

1. Provide informed consent

If you’re thinking about cuddle therapy, ask what the service does and does not involve. Get a clear explanation about the boundaries of the service, where touch is and is not permitted, and the structure of the session.

You’ll need to provide explicit and informed consent before proceeding, and you can withdraw consent at any time.

2. Professional boundaries must be clear

A cuddle therapy relationship should remain professional at all times.

It is not OK for your cuddle therapist to express personal or romantic interest, or that the connection is becoming “special” or exclusive in ways that go beyond the agreed‑upon service.

Likewise, a practitioner should never pressure you to share personal information or disclose more than you are comfortable with.

Maintaining firm boundaries helps ensure the interaction remains safe, respectful and centred on your wellbeing rather than blurring into a personal relationship.

3. Watch you’re not becoming dependent

You may seek cuddle therapy because you are vulnerable, including but not limited to being lonely, depressed or in emotional pain. It is understandable that a touch‑based session may help you feel cared for, grounded or safe in the moment.

However, you should also watch for signs you are becoming dependent on a practitioner for emotional stability or comfort. This might include believing you can only feel calm, safe or OK after seeing that specific practitioner or wanting increasing contact or more cuddle therapy sessions.

4. It’s no cure for complex issues

Similarly, while cuddle therapy can offer temporary relief and a sense of connection, it is not designed to resolve underlying psychological issues or replace professional mental health care.

So cuddle therapy should be viewed as a supportive experience, but not a cure for broader or more complex emotional challenges.

Key takeaways

Taken together, cuddle therapy is an emerging practice centred on consensual, non‑sexual physical touch delivered in a structured environment. It’s promoted online as a way to reduce distress and enhance emotional wellbeing.

Cuddle therapy remains unregulated, with no formal training pathways or governing bodies overseeing professional standards. So service providers, rather than empirical evidence, largely shape public information about cuddle therapy.

Evidence suggests a range of benefits of physical touch. However, if you do pursue cuddle therapy you should ensure there are clear boundaries, you provide informed consent, and know you can withdraw that consent at any time.

Glen Hosking, Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology, La Trobe University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→April 01, 2026

Health Tips for Kids!

As parents, it is difficult to ensure that the children are having a balanced diet that they need. Instead of worrying much, just include the following foods in kid’s diet, and rest assured that the child is getting the much needed nutrients essential for his healthy growth. Also, take down some of these dietary tips to keep a check on their diet and health.

Whole grain cereals like cornflakes, brown bread, brown rice, popcorn, etc are nutritionally high in dietary fiber, antioxidants, protein, dietary minerals and vitamins. Starting your child’s day with whole grain products will keep him full and active for a long time. A variety of Vegetables should be included in the diet as these are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. These can be consumed raw, boiled, steamed or stir fried in little oil. Avoid French fries or any other deep fried vegetables.

Daily intake of Fruits is known to reduce risk factors of some serious diseases in the long term. Providing with adequate amount of fruits is the best thing you can do to ensure your child’s good health. Fruits are best eaten fresh, do not cut and store them in refrigerator for long! Also, sodas and other soft drinks can be replaced with fruit juice at home.

Milk is one of the most nutritious foods rich in vitamins A, B12, D, protein, phosphorous, riboflavin, potassium, calcium and niacin. Milk and milk products should be a significant part of your kid’s daily diet. Eggs are a rich source of proteins, vitamin A, calcium and iron. Including eggs into your child’s daily intake in several preparations would add variety to the daily meals.

HealthTips for Kids!

• The diet of a child should be balanced and must meet his nutritional requirements. It should includes variety of nutritious foods offering plenty of proteins, vitamins and minerals and less of fat, sugar, cholesterol, sodium and calories. Make sure that diet of the child is light and easily digestible.
• It’s good to bake, roast or poach foods instead of cooking spicy, oily and fried foods for kids.
• Serve fruit and vegetable juices, vegetable soups and low fat milk instead of cold drinks, sweetened sodas and fruit-flavored drinks.
• Ice-cream and other desserts can be substituted with yogurt smoothies.
• For snacks in between meals, salads can be served with different delicious salad dressings.
• Drinking plenty of water keeps the body hydrated and healthy.
• Involve the child in activities like dancing, gardening and other sports of his interest.

Help the child to give up mental tension, anxiety, anger and fear so that they remain mentally as well as physically active. The Kitchen Clinic: Health Tips for Kids!

Read More........→April 01, 2026

Personal transformation in 6 simple steps

New Delhi, (IANSlife) Often we have had moments of self-introspection in our lives where we have questioned ourselves- where is our life heading and what is the purpose of our life? We would have also felt the need to improve ourselves and the urge to explore ourselves better and walk on the path of personal growth. In pursuit of happiness, people today are actively adopting the path of personal transformation.

The journey of personal transformation

Life is unpredictable and challenging. We never really know what might happen in the next two minutes or even two hours from now! Amid such unforeseen circumstances, knowing our purpose in life, outgrowing ourselves, and possessing the power to deal with roadblocks can feel satisfying. Investing in ourselves can be a truly rewarding and memorable experience, which only personal transformation can offer.

The process of self-transformation is all about knowing ourselves better, changing some aspects of who we are and how we are leading our lives, and taking action to bring about a transformation. It is a conscious, well-thought decision and a form of commitment to ourselves where we want to bring about a positive change.

The ultimate guide to personal transformation

Whether it is a homemaker, a corporate employee, an entrepreneur, a parent, a college student, or even a middle-aged adult, being vulnerable, not knowing how to handle a crisis, and inability to face setbacks is common. The bottom line is any individual can be prone to negativity and issues in any aspect of their life. And all of us are looking for solutions or the path to obtaining the solution. It is a personal transformation that we are in search of.

The very core of self-transformation lies in a positive state of mind. And the key to personal transformation is understanding that the changes come from within. If we want to lay a strong foundation for a better tomorrow, then ‘now’ is the right time to take a closer look at the only thing we can change to achieve the same: ourselves. Here is a six-step guide for a successful personal transformation experience:

A clear vision

The first step in this journey begins with simple questions - What do you want to achieve in life and Why is it important to me personally?

Seeking answers to these questions will help you identify the purpose of your life. The ultimate goal is to become a better version of ourselves. Having said that, a specific, well-defined goal is essential to walk on the right path and track your progress. When it comes to specific goals think across multiple areas of your life; health, relationships, emotional well-being, career, finances, Adventures & experiences you would like, etc.

Take it slow but be consistent

Rome was not built in a day! Similarly, personal transformation cannot happen overnight. It is a gradual process and it certainly won’t be a linear pathway. On some days, the progress will be tremendous, and on some days, you’ll find yourself taking a few steps back. Recognise that this IS the path towards growth, there is no path to growth that doesn’t include setbacks. This understanding keeps us moving forward and making consistent progress toward our goals.

Learn and upskill yourself

An integral step in the self-transformation process is to increase your knowledge bank. Utilize the power of the internet and read inspirational stories about people who conquered their fears and emerged victorious, and learn about tips and tricks from people who created their own personal transformation pathway. Read books, browse through blogs, groups, and communities, and watch documentaries. In fact, even connect with like-minded people, socialize with them, and gather first-hand accounts of their journeys. Who knows, you could end up making some long-lasting friendships and find a mentor who will be able to guide you on your journey! Once you have a positive environment around you, your innate passion will drive you to make efforts every day and the inspiring stories of community members will motivate you to take another step in your journey ahead.

Embrace the change

Transformation will be a challenging journey and will require bidding goodbye to comfort and stability. Growth will be accompanied by discomfort and fear. You will have to step into new environments, meet new people, and build connections. The sooner you realize and accept this fact, the faster you will be able to embrace the self-transformation process. You will have to push yourself to work through it and shouldn’t let anything put you down.

Track your progress

Once you achieve your goals and look back at how far you have come, your heart will be filled with a sense of pride and achievement. Hence, it's strongly recommended to break down your vision and journey into milestones, sub-goals, and stages. This will help you keep track of your progress, observe the small goals you accomplish, and even give you an opportunity to celebrate small victories as you go along the way, further pushing you to keep up the momentum.

The right perspective

Throughout your personal transformation journey, having the right approach and perspective is critical for your success. You must understand life isn’t about accomplishment or glamour. It’s about meaningful experiences and enjoying every moment. We should lead healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives and not waste them in anxiety, fear, or stress. And personal transformation will guide you on the same path.

To sum up

If life gives you lemons, make lemonade! This proverbial phrase encourages optimism and suggests that any adversity in life (compared with the sourness of lemons) can be dealt with with a positive attitude. We can imbibe such an optimistic approach only when we have covered the journey of personal transformation and have outgrown it as an individual.Self-transformation paves the way for self-improvement and changes our lives for the better. The process is long and continuous and requires patience, hard work persistence, and, most importantly, a mentor. Today, there are various dedicated organizations providing access to proven life design strategies, a holistic approach to transformation, fun and immersive learning experiences, and the opportunity to attend specially curated retreats, summits, festivals, etc. Such companies are turning personal growth into lifelong adventure and facilitating learning about different life aspects and personal breakthroughs while fostering connections with the sole objective of helping people achieve their personal, business, and spiritual goals. Personal transformation in 6 simple steps | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→March 20, 2026

Cure Skin Problems with Papaya!

In traditional medicine, papaya (Carica papaya) are considered to be anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic and analgesic, and are used to treat infections. Fruits are spherical or pear-shaped having yellow skin when ripe. The flesh is bright orange, with small black seeds clustered in the center. The ripe fruit is juice and sweet that makes it delicious and extremely enjoyable! Though papaya is believed to be native to Southern Mexico and Central America, today it is cultivated extensively all over the tropical regions.

The fruit is low in calories (39 calories/100 g) and contains no cholesterol; however, is a rich source of antioxidant nutrients such as carotenes, vitamin C and flavonoids, the B vitamins, folate, pantothenic acid, minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and fiber. The milk like juice from unripe fruit called latex, contains the most concentration of an proteolytic enzyme called papain, other enzymes like peptides and chymopapain A and B that are useful in skin related problems. These nutrients also colon cancer, atherosclerosis, infections, colds and flu. The vitamin A, C and E content of papaya are said to offer protection against heart diseases.

Papaya has been proven natural remedy for various skin ailments. Pulp of ripe papaya fruit when applied topically over face helps get rid of acne as well as the ugly scars. Papaya fruit is not only beneficial in removing hyper-pigmentation, but its application is also found beneficial in removing tanning, sunburn and age spots. Topical application of a blend of papaya, yogurt and honey twice a week can give the desired results.

Owing to the high levels of alpha hydroxy acids and papain enzyme contained in the fruit, regular application of fruit pulp helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles off the skin. Eating ripe papaya regularly helps to have normal bowel movements, cures constipation and keeps a check on weight! This further improves the digestive system of our body and keeps skin glowing with health! The Kitchen Clinic: Cure Skin Problems with Papaya

Read More........→March 20, 2026

⁠Best jobs for travel lovers ( list of 10 )

By Bharat Gatha: With many jobs and professions requiring frequent travel, some professionals purposefully choose these opportunities that afford them the chance to see the world. During the job search process, professionals must consider how much travel is required to perform a specific role successfully. By carefully evaluating the travel requirements candidates can make informed decisions about jobs that are a compatible fit for their circumstances, preferences, and career aspirations.

For wanderlusts, a career that offers the opportunity to get paid to explore new places is a dream come true. In these roles, accommodations and travel expenses are often covered allowing the person to immerse themselves in other cultures.

Now let’s look into the top 10 jobs or professions that are best for travel lovers.

Flight Attendant

A flight attendant is a trained personnel who ensures the safety and comfort of passengers on the aircraft. They provide customer service, conduct safety demonstrations and respond to emergencies during flights. The average salary of a flight attendant starts at $39077.

Airline Pilot

An airline pilot is a professional responsible for flying and navigating planes, and other aircrafts. He/she is also responsible for carrying out pre-flight checks, developing flight plans, ensuring safety and integrity of aircraft and maintaining communication with the flight crew and air traffic controllers. The minimum salary of airline pilots starts from $108544.

Management Consultant

Management Consultants work closely with domestic or international clients to provide business solutions to organizational issues involving maximizing business performances, business processes, and revenue streams. They offer expertise in a range of fields, such as business management, marketing, business strategy, supply chain and employee productivity. The average salary starts from $92345.

Auditor

An auditor examines an organization’s records, accounts, and finances to ensure accuracy and compliance as well as identify and mitigate risks. There are several branches within auditing, from financial, environmental, health and safety, external, internal, forensic, and IT. As auditors have to attend clients and company meetings, they have to travel extensively.

Tour guide

A tour guide takes visitors through historical sights, museums, geographic destinations, and outdoor excursions telling them about relevant cultural, historical, and practical knowledge. An average salary of a tour guide starts at $35290.

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

They travel to various locations to sell products and devices to medical professionals such as doctors. A medical representative usually earns a hefty sum of $75806 a year.

Diplomat

A person can be a diplomat to a country and work for his nation’s foreign service. The diplomats are employed at various embassies around the world. A professional working as a diplomat can travel around to attend various meetings and discussions. They earn an average of $97246 per year.

Professional Interpreter

A professional interpreter is a good profession to choose if anyone wants to travel around. The job is to translate the language and they can easily work in media, public sector, legal, and medical fields. They earn an average $53543 a year.

Construction Managers

Construction Managers are persons who oversee the development of buildings, roads, and other projects. Although they have an office-based job, they have to travel around to sites to check everything is going in order according to plan. They earn an average of $91022.

Travel Nurse

A travel nurse is a health professional who travels from place to place on short-term contracts. When contracts end, they either extend the contracts or move on to any other location to any other hospital. Travel Nurses earn $114279 a year. ⁠Best jobs for travel lovers ( list of 10 )

Read More........→March 19, 2026