The latest health panacea and longevity aid is a very unlikely one — “heavy” water.

Heavy water (HW) occurs when the hydrogen atom — the “H” in H2O — is an isotope of normal hydrogen called deuterium. Deuterium weighs twice as much, hence the “heavy” tag.

Apart from the odd chemistry lesson at school, most people will know about heavy water from the film Heroes of Telemark, a wartime adventure in which Richard Widmark leads a British raid on Telemark in Denmark. The aim is to destroy a heavy water plant which threatens London with an atom bomb attack.

According to scientists the consumption of HW adds 10 percent to the lifespan of earthworms and 30 percent to other species. Humans are thought to be in for an extra 10 years of life if fed HW products, which can include bread, cakes or even pork from pigs fed with the water.

However, a close reading of the reports indicates that HW works by strengthening cells against free radical damage. Regular readers of Sideways Health will know that we are already well armed with a great many antioxidants in highly coloured fruit and vegetables that perform the same task.

It’s not clear whether heavy water adds to that effect or, to use a pun, will be swallowed up in it. In other words, will HW be wasted on folk who already consume 6000 ORAC of antioxidants a day?

We will keep an eye on this story to see how it develops.

There’s a lot of knowing chit-chat about aphrodisiacs, as well as many urban myths. As food is nature’s pharmacy, what effect do some well-known foods have on bodily attraction?

The term “aphrodisiac” has its roots in Greek mythology when Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, rose from the sea on an oyster and gave birth to Eros. In ancient Greece, emphasis was placed upon fertility and sexual prowess rather than libido levels.

Foods which have traditionally been considered to have aphrodisiac qualities might not always seem that appetising – personally I find oysters a little hard to swallow – but using some imagination and creative presentation, why not tuck into some delicious aphrodisiac treats that are sure to start the blood flowing and set the hormones into a spin.

Strawberries are a perfect finger food — passionate red with sweet, sticky juice that is sure to tantalise your lover. They are also high in Vitamin C, which is needed for the growth and repair of body cells, keeping the skin, teeth and bones healthy. The amino acids in strawberries will help boost both libido and stamina.

Bananas are a fantastic source of energy, so feeding them to your lover will ensure they don’t run out of steam. They are rich in B vitamins which are essential in sexual hormone production and have been known to do wonders for the male libido.

Delicious asparagus is rich in Vitamin E, which is famed for its ability to stimulate increased sexual powers. Asparagus can be eaten as a finger food stem by stem. A bit of Hollandaise can really add to the sauce of this sexy starter.

Figs have always been considered an aphrodisiac food, partly due to their resemblance to sexual organs. They also contain the vital amino acids needed for a healthy sexual performance.

Basil is great for the circulation, and as we all know, sexual stamina is dependent upon blood flow. The sweet, green leaves are also said to boost fertility and our sense of safety, relaxation and well-being. The potent scent of Basil was traditionally said to attract the opposite sex.

Finally, nobody can argue that chocolate has to be the food of love. It contains a stimulant that creates a natural high, which feels similar to the effect of the release of endorphins in the brain. There are a million ways to have fun with chocolate, and containing more antioxidants than red wine, it should be great to stimulate those long lasting passionate encounters.

Rhian Gibbings

What’s your idea of a good night’s sleep? Is it seven, eight, nine, or even 10, or more, hours?

Well, it could be much less.

According to some authorities sleep is much overdone in modern times. Our ancestors made do on much less slumber at night. They were partly nocturnal and made up by napping for a few hours during the day.

The problem is that when we sleep, parts of our consciousness leave the physical envelope of the body. If that period is too long, it causes muscle inflexibility and, in some cases, lower mental performance.

It’s a well-known fact that an hour’s nap in the afternoon boosts our energy and overall thinking skills. NASA, which has studied the performances of astronauts in space, believes that a nap during the day is of immense benefit to everyone.

The optimum pattern of sleep would be four or five hours at night, plus a two-hour nap during the afternoon.

If pressures of work make that impossible, any system of splitting sleep up to reduce one big slab of unconsciousness will be beneficial.

For example, two periods of three hours is preferable to one of eight hours.

As people differ in their requirements, it’s a good idea to experiment with your personal needs, but a split sleep pattern may well deliver enormous benefits to your life.

Do certain situations make you tense and jumpy? You’d be a rare case if you didn’t have at least one tension trigger: maybe going on a date, or a speaking engagement.

One of the easiest ways to conquer this kind of anxiety is by using a mantra.

The mantra should be something redolent of calm in your life, or just a convenient phrase. One golfer uses “fairways and greens”, for example.

The trick is to keep repeating the mantra when you really are calm and quiet. The mind then associates the phrase with situations of peace and ease.

As you prepare to speak or meet and greet, repeat the mantra silently to yourself. You’ll find a sense of relaxation stealing over you and you will perform much better.