Mum's the word

"There are good mothers and bad mothers but it's very clear in chimp society that the early years of a chimp's life are critical to their later wellbeing," Dr Goodall says. "The offspring of mothers who are protective, but not too protective; tolerant, but able to discipline; affectionate and above all supportive have less problems."

She notes offspring don't even start to leave their mother's side until the age of eight or nine. "Even at nine years of age, if a chimp accidentally loses mum they get upset and cry, but they are old enough by then to make the choice to go off themselves."

Dr Irvine says: "Talk to anyone who has achieved anything and you'll hear there is no substitute for mum. Girls see mum as a role model and boys idolise her. Mum needs help if she is going to do a good job, though. Delinquent behaviour is more likely to emerge if she is doing it all on her own."

Dad, the protector

Daddy chimp does not play a hands-on part in raising the kids. "His role is in protecting the entire area for all females and young ones," Dr Goodall says.

Young males make their first tentative moves away from mum at about seven or eight, usually for just a few hours at a time. 

"They typically choose to follow one of the adult males and may hero-worship him," she says. "By leaving the mother and imitating the chosen male they learn about male activities, communication and appropriate levels of aggression."

Dr Irvine says: "Young dads are providing much more hands-on care but many feel like a failure because they don't know how to do it like their wives, who have a different kind of hormonal love."

Fun leads to learning

The relationship between mother and child chimp is really fun, with lots of game playing. "Chimps learn really quickly when they are interested in what they are learning," Dr Goodall says.

Dr Irvine says: "Children learn so much through play; when the brain is force-fed it switches off." 

Dr Jane Goodall will be speaking at the Happiness and its Causes Conference next month in Brisbane. www.happinessanditscauses.com.au

What women are thinking

Recent research reveals just how ingrained negative body image is in women:

• Ninety-seven per cent of women will say something negative about their body every day, such as: "I hate my thighs", "I hate my stomach" or "I'm ugly", a US survey reports.
• The first thing women notice about other women is how fat they are, a UK study of 2000 women found.
• Ninety per cent of women aged 15 to 64 want to change at least one aspect of their appearance, most of all their body weight, according to an international survey.

What's fuelling the obsession?

There are four main factors contributing to women's negative body image, according to Diversi.

2. Mixed messages

Education about the difference between healthy and unhealthy foods can actually trigger eating disorders in kids. "Keeping a food diary might be great for 98 per cent of kids, but it's important we're checking on their understandings of the teachings," Diversi says. One of her young clients developed an eating disorder after "understanding" some foods can be bad. Her thinking then became, "I'm not bad, so I don't eat food".

4. Taking control

It may not be weight that is causing women to feel unhappy or unsatisfied, but it's the part that can be perceived as the easiest to control. "This is when people make the mistake of thinking the quick-fix diet will help them feel better about themselves," Diversi says. Research shows most people on quick-fix diets put all the weight back on, or more.

1. Good food guide

Focus on the health properties and nutritional value of foods instead of what they will do to your backside or thighs. "We should be looking at what's going to give us more energy, make us live longer and experience optimal health," Diversi says.

3. You versus you

A powerful practice is to commit to measuring your health, weight and worth based on how happy you are, not how your body compares with others around you.

Many styles, one aim

While the US study proved the beneficial effects of mindfulness meditation, earlier research has shown that meditation in general improves people's grey matter.

For instance, a UCLA study, published in 2009, used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to show that long-term meditators who used various meditation techniques all had larger volumes of the hippocampus and areas within the orbitofrontal cortex, the thalamus and the inferior temporal gyrus – regions known for regulating emotions – than those who did not meditate.

Knoles, who teaches Vedic meditation, which uses mantras to focus the mind, agrees that all types of meditation are beneficial for our brains.

"Closing one's eyes and settling into the simplest form of awareness is a powerful practice, irrespective of the name given to the meditation experience," he says.

Brain-building meditation

Try this five-minute mindfulness meditation practice.

• Sit on the floor or on a chair. Make sure your back is straight and arms relaxed. Alternatively, lie on the floor.
• Bring your attention to your breath for one minute. Feel your belly rise and fall.
• Widen your attention to include all your bodily sensations and any thoughts or feelings.
• Try to be a neutral observer of your thoughts. If you find yourself swept up in a train of thought, return to focusing on your breath.

Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom

• The working relationship: McAloon began cooking for Orlando Bloom after Gwyneth Paltrow introduced them and she met Miranda Kerr in the early stages of the pair's love affair. "Miranda really is so delightful and she loves great food," McAloon says. "She requested I do the food for her Vogue Australia cover shoot in LA last October and for her 60 Minutes interview and her David Jones shoot."
• Favourite food: Kerr loves wild salmon, lots of fresh vegies, quinoa, cacao powder and coconut. Bloom loves turkey burgers.
• Food quirk: "Miranda eats a lot of food – not just model quantities," McAloon says. "She and Orlando only eat certified organic food and always prefer gluten-free and low-GI options. As a result, I've started experimenting with a lot more alternative recipes. I use a lot more coconut, chia seeds and gluten-free ingredients than I did before."
• Biggest indulgence: "Miranda doesn't limit her food choices, but she will limit the amount she eats of them," McAloon says. "She and Orlando don't really drink alcohol, but Miranda will have a nice glass of Organic One wine or champagne on a special night."

Courteney Cox

• The working relationship: McAloon became a regular at the Malibu home of Friends star Courteney Cox and actor David Arquette in 2005 (the couple separated last year). "I would do parties for David and Courteney almost every Sunday," McAloon says. "They never knew whether 10 or 30 people were going to turn up, but I would always say, 'No problem', and change my menu on the spot to suit. People would hang about all afternoon and I'd usually prepare hors d'oeuvre, drinks and a buffet-type spread for dinner."
• Favourite food: Cox loves Mediterranean-style dishes such as chicken breast with tomato, basil and garlic sauce, or a white fish such as halibut with herbs. Arquette likes McAloon's black bean, cumin and chilli soup.
• Food quirk: With pasta, it was always low carb. "Courteney always wanted less carbs," McAloon says.
• Biggest indulgence: Desserts, ranging from healthy to decadent. "I'd also make amazing cocktails, like agave margaritas with fresh lime juice," McAloon says.

Oestrogen - The main female hormone

What does it do? 
Oestrogen is the main female hormone, together with progesterone. It is responsible for reproduction, breast tissue and regulating menstruation and menopause. Progesterone is primarily a fertility and pregnancy hormone. Oestrogen is also responsible for skin thickness and blood flow, collagen and water content. It lowers levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and increases levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL). It is also an antioxidant and reduces the risk of heart disease.

Signs it's out of balance: 
External signs of low levels of oestrogen include low energy levels, thin, sagging skin, wrinkles and hair loss. Internally, it leads to bone weakness. High levels of oestrogen are much rarer. Breast lumps and painful breasts are signs.

What to do?
Low oestrogen levels can be redressed by taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in consultation with a health professional. High levels of oestrogen need further investigation.

DHEA - The anti-ageing hormone

What does it do? 
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is produced in the adrenal glands as well as other parts of the body. Dr Elstein says evidence suggests it boosts immunity, helps alleviate depression and regulates the effects of excess cortisol (see below), which in turn improves energy and vitality, sleep, premenstrual symptoms and mental clarity. Studies show DHEA helps bone density and can prevent or delay the onset of cancer, obesity and diabetes. It increases lean muscle mass while decreasing body fat.

Signs it's out of balance: 
Many diseases associated with ageing have been attributed to a decrease in DHEA. Symptoms of depression and weak immunity, such as recurring colds and flu, are also common.

What to do? 
DHEA is produced in several parts of the body, so it's difficult to get a true measure from a blood or urine test. Exercise, diet, stress management and nutrient supplements can increase the circulation of DHEA. DHEA supplements are only available with a doctor's prescription.

Melatonin - The sleep hormone

What does it do?
Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland in the brain and is the hormone that helps you sleep. As the sun goes down, your cortisol levels should decrease, triggering your body to produce more melatonin. It is also an antioxidant which helps fight free radicals and is believed to help prevent cancer.

Signs it's out of balance:
If you are struggling to sleep, not sleeping deeply or suffering from insomnia, you may have a melatonin imbalance. If you are producing too much cortisol, this will also affect the production of melatonin. "The later you stay awake and the longer you have the lights on at night, the less melatonin you make," Dr Elstein says.

What to do? 
"Assessment of problems with melatonin is based on patient symptoms," Dr McCoy says. If you are low in melatonin, Dr Elstein suggests going to bed earlier or taking melatonin drops under the tongue or a melatonin tablet, which requires a doctor's prescription.

Here’s the proof

In a Harvard University study, 132 students were shown a film about Mother Teresa. Researchers then tested the students’ saliva and found an immediate increase in immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody that plays a critical role in the immune system. When the students were shown a film about Attila the Hun, their antibody levels droppe.

Pass it on

Research conducted by the University of Cambridge in the UK found when we see someone helping another person, it not only gives us a good feeling, it causes us to go out and do something good for someone else.

Researchers showed 30 students a nature documentary and another 30 an uplifting segment from Oprah.

All viewers were then asked to voluntarily help with another task. Almost 70 per cent of those who had watched the Oprah segment volunteered to help compared with 40 per cent of those who had watched the documentary.

Carol Sloggett:

"The weather and everything has been so miserable lately and to get something lovely this morning, like my coffee for free, made me feel delighted. I do believe good deeds make a difference and this one little thing really lifted my spirits."

Jarka Kunova:

"It made me feel really good. I’m not normally a morning person so it took a while to comprehend, but after I got over the shock of it, it was a very nice way to start the day."

Emily Hodgetts:

"I thought it was a joke at first because it seems like something that wouldn’t normally happen. It made me feel really nice, though, and when someone is nice to you it makes you want to be nice to other people, so there is that carry-on effect as well."

A global issue

Dengue is a virus transmitted to humans through the bites of female Aedes mosquitoes. Ironically, the most common way mosquitoes contract it is through feeding on humans who are infected with the virus.

Dengue affects between 50 and 100 million people in tropical and sub-tropical regions each year. It occurs naturally in more than 110 countries across South-East Asia, the Western Pacific regions, Africa, the Americas and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates two-fifths of the world's population, 2.5 billion people, are at risk of contracting dengue.

There is no continuous transmission of dengue in Australia. Outbreaks are initiated by travellers and residents arriving into Australia with the dengue virus, who are then being bitten by local mosquitoes. An average of 100 new cases are reported each year, almost all in North Queensland.

Queensland Health declared the worst dengue outbreak in over 50 years during the 2008-9 wet season, with more than 1000 cases reported.

DHF alert

Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication of dengue infection that causes the same dengue fever symptoms but is followed by a further, rapid deterioration as the fever subsides. Dr McCoy says, "A small proportion of people who get dengue go on to develop DHF, but there is no way of telling who it will be."

DHF symptoms include liver enlargement, gut bleeding and, in severe cases, circulatory failure. The circulatory system begins to fail as the fever drops, the patient goes into a critical state of shock and dies within 12 to 24 hours if left without medical treatment.

It's estimated 500,000 people with DHF require hospitalisation each year, the majority of whom are children. About 2.5 per cent of those affected die. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for dengue fever. Dr McCoy says paracetamol is recommended to manage the aches and pains.

"If someone has dengue fever, we keep an eye on blood counts and fluid levels from day three of the illness until a few days after the fever subsides," he says. "A very small percentage develop DHF and this monitoring tells us if they have it or not."

Dr McCoy says symptoms don't usually extend past the fever, but there is a risk of post-viral infection which can cause longer-term tiredness and low moods.

"A tax should apply to junk food, sweets and carbonated drinks"

Dr Steve Hambleton, president of the Australian Medical Association.

"People complain about us turning into a nanny state, but the AMA poll provides pretty strong evidence that most people are in favour of an unhealthy food tax. The health impacts of things like smoking, alcohol and junk food are not covered by the tax already imposed on these things. But they should be."

"It would be better to make fruit and vegies free"

Dr John Tickell, anti-obesity campaigner

"A junk-food tax is a good idea, but it's virtually impossible to implement because there are so many lobby groups. As a nation, we spend $13 billion on cigarettes each year and $13 billion on fruit and vegetables. If the government had any guts, which they don't, they'd double the price of cigarettes, which kill us, and give fruit and vegetables away for free. Type 2 diabetes used to be a condition that came on in your late 40s, but now kids as young as six are getting it because they are eating too much junk and sitting in front of computers all day. There is all of this evidence and Julia Gillard is about to spend $36 billion of our tax dollars on making computers go faster."

"A junk-food tax's revenue must be invested in health promotion"

Dr Ronald McCoy, from the Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners

"We need a punitive tax on junk food so healthier foods become economically appealing. But it must be part of a broader, multi-faceted approach to addressing lifestyle-related illnesses. The money raised must go back into health promotion. We spend so many resources on reducing the impact of alcohol, but research shows low fruit and vegetable consumption imposes the same health risks." 

* At the time of printing

I stick to an alkaline diet

Anthony Robbins, 51 founder of Anthony Robbins Empire

His success: Robbins has been an adviser to world leaders, including Nelson Mandela and former US president Bill Clinton, and is an authority on peak performance and a best-selling author.

Health Secret: "My number one health tip is to look after the delicate acid-alkaline balance in the body, which can be measured with a urine or saliva test. The easiest way to do that is to 'go green' by introducing lots of fresh green vegetables like spinach, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage and bok choy into your diet. The vast majority of organs, and especially your blood, have to be slightly alkaline for good health. This keeps oxygen flowing into the blood cells."

I don't eat wheat

Naomi Simson, 47 founder of Redballoon.com.au

Her success: Last year, Red Balloon, an online experiential gift service, generated $33 million in revenue across Australia and New Zealand.

Health Secret: "You are absolutely useless to anyone unless you have your health. Soon after I started Red Balloon I gave up wheat. It doesn't work with my body and I was bloated and puffy all the time. I recently got the flu, but that was the first time I had been sick in 13 years and I believe not eating wheat has a lot to do with that long run of great health. I believe exercise should counter-balance your lifestyle so I do yoga and walk as an antidote to my busy work and family life."

I opt for alternative treatments

Robert Kiyosaki, 64 Founder of rich dad, poor dad empire

His success: Robert Kiyosaki self-published Rich Dad, Poor Dad in 1997 because nobody else would touch it. It is now available in 109 countries and has been translated into 51 languages.

Health Secret: "I am into health, not medicine. I love alternative practitioners such as naturopaths, acupuncturists and chiropractors. I eat heavy amounts of dark greens like broccoli, rocket and bok choy and combine that with light protein such as fish or chicken. I take natural herbs and vitamins every day to supplement my diet."