Category: HEALTH NEWS

HIF’s hospital coverage has gotten even better over the last 12 months. Now HIF members are covered for private treatment at almost 1,300 hospitals around Australia – that’s 534 private overnight hospitals and day facilities for inpatients, plus 750 public hospitals. Read on to learn more about our improved hospital coverage across Australia, our latest no-gap arrangements and our in-home hospital services.

Perth – are you preparing for the SIDS & KIDS WA Beach Run? If you’ve been following our blog posts recently, you’ll know that our new personal fitness expert Matt Fuller has been coaching our readers on how to prepare for a physically challenging event. The team here at HIF have also been busy turning Matt’s advice into action, which is why he has kindly complied another short training plan to complement his previous post. In this article Matt explains how to introduce speed, agility and shuttle runs into your training preparations, and also offers guidance on whether or not to run barefoot in the sand!

National not-for-profit health insurer HIF remains the best value health insurer for members following the Federal Government’s premium increase announcement for 2015.

Have you ever enjoyed a day off training, then hit the gym a day later to find getting out of bed or even walking to your car a major physical feat? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! According to HIF fitness blogger Brian Killian, “This type of feeling is so common, it’s actually got its own label – Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness – or DOMS for short”. So what causes it, how dangerous is it, and more importantly should we stop training when suffering from it?

Do you load up on carbs, whip up a proteinshake,or perhaps just enjoy a rest? Whatever your routine, you may be interested to know that there’s a key window of opportunity when it comes to muscle recovery. According Susie, “Muscle glycogen restoration is significantly enhanced when a mixture of both carbohydrates and a small amount of protein is consumed within 30 minutes of finishing a session…” In this post, Susie explains the importance of nutrition and hydration (post work-out) and also discusses why waiting for a carb free dinner may not be the best thing to do by your body.

Have you tried beach running? If you’ve answered yes, you’ll know it can be quite a challenge, both physically AND mentally! In fact, our new fitness blogger Matt Fuller says, “This type of running is a far greater challenge than running on a hard surface because of the uneven ground and the fact that there is less traction due to the moving sand particles. On the plus side however, it will provide you with a greater cardiovascular workout (therefore burning more calories) which will help to build greater strength and muscle tone.”

Do you struggle to include exercise in your daily routine? According to Brian, it’s a common problem: “With so much to do and such little time to do it, exercise is often the first thing we let go when time is limited. Sometimes I actually feel that getting to the gym and back is the hardest part!” Luckily for us though, Brian has compiled a handy list of things you can do right now, which will make for a fitter, healthier and happier you (no gym required).

Did your new year’s resolution include weight loss? According to research conducted by Twitter, ‘losing weight’ was the third most popular resolution for 2015, with ‘being happy’ taking the number two slot and ‘working out’ topping the list. With this in mind we asked our resident health and well-being expert Susie Burrell for her top 5 tips on how to drop those extra few kilos and take control of our weight….

How long does a retainer last, and what's the best way to clean one? These are the questions that Olivia, 15, asked our resident dental health expert recently…