Winter blues set in? You’re not alone. This time of year, shorter days, less sunlight and heavier foods combine to create a less positive outlook. Eating regularly is important to keep blood sugar levels stable (no more “Hangry” moments); and including the top nutrients needed to combat seasonal doldrums such as omega-3s, complex carbohydrates, vitamin D, B vitamins, protein and iron, are simple and effective ways to give you that summer smile even on the coldest winter day.

33% of people make a new year’s resolution to lose weight and 38% say they will exercise more. That’s a lot of people. So it’s no surprise many turn to fad diets or other extreme measures in attempt to kick-start their weight loss. Unfortunately, while doing so may produce quick results, they rarely last. Evidence shows that people who lose weight gradually and steadily (about 1–2 pounds per week) are more successful at keeping weight off. This slow-and-steady mentality is mo

Goals that take just 10 extra minutes a day (or less), and can lead to big improvements in your health and happiness Does the New Year mean a new you — or another failed New Year’s resolution? Probably the latter for most of us, psychologists say, because thinking the flip of a calendar is enough to motivate us to axe all of our bad habits and behaviours is actually really unrealistic.   We typically make resolutions around our most challenging habits, such as losing weight,

Lose weight? Start exercising more? Stop smoking? It can be daunting when your list of New Year’s Resolutions is as long as your Christmas shopping list. In addition to the post-holiday slump, not being able to keep your resolutions by February, March or even late January may increase your anxiety.   When your holiday decorations are packed up and stored away, the frustration of an unused class membership or other reminders of failed resolutions can make the later winter mont

As Christmas approaches, our world fills with twinkling lights, gift lists, and holiday shopping and stress. But beneath the rush of shopping bags and deadlines lies a quieter truth: the most meaningful parts of Christmas have nothing to do with what money can buy. The gifts that stay with us long after the wrapping paper is gone and isn’t found in the shops—they’re felt, shared, and remembered. Here are 10 priceless things money can’t buy this Christmas , yet they’re worth m

We all have them, the Christmas left overs, and as our shopping bills seem to get more expensive, we want to make use of every last scrap.   So here are a few ideas for things to do with them. Most of them do not have exact measurements, they are to taste or ratios you would prefer   Cheeseboard fondue Whisk 1 glass white wine and 2tsp cornflour together in a shallow pan, bring to the boil whisking all the time, then add 200g grated or crumbled cheese. Stir until cheese has m

Here are a few cocktails idea for your Christmas, along with a Mocktail version for the drivers or those who just don’t partake   Classic mulled wine Serves 6 750ml bottle red wine 1 large cinnamon stick, or 2 small ones 2 star anise 4 cloves 2 strips lemon zest, pared using a vegetable peeler 4 tbsp caster sugar   Put the red wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar in a large pan. Cook on a low heat for 10 mins. Remove from the heat and cool, leaving to infu

Dinner parties are back! So here are a few ideas to help them run smoothly, Maybe even help with Christmas day!   5 Thrifty ways to be a good host Warm through shop bread bought in oven before serving, and put out small dishes of butter to soften Serve tap water in a pretty jug, or a glass bottle with slices of citrus fruit, Keep a supple of ice to hand. Prepare a playlist that will last long enough to cover the whole evening – nobody wants to hear the same song over and over

Losing weight can be tricky business: When you’re insanely busy, it can be tough to focus on your goals in a healthy, sustainable way, let alone work towards them at all. It’s easy to fall into pitfalls, but hey, knowledge is power—when you know the traps you’re most likely to fall into, it’s easier to steer clear. Here are 10 weight loss mistakes 1 . FOCUSING ON WHAT YOU CAN’T EAT So many people embarking on a weight loss journey focus on what they can’t have—such as no suga

How can mindfulness improve your fitness? There is a lot of talk at the moment about mindfulness and meditation. This week we look at it in relation to our workouts What is mindfulness? “The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.” Or  “A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique” Mindful exercise is about

Looking through generations of family photos, you may notice it’s not just facial features that seem to be inherited — in many families, body shape and weight seem to get handed down just as easily as hair colour or height. But if you’re from a family where steady weight gain seems the norm, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it. Genes may play a part in terms of weight and obesity — particularly when it comes to abdominal fat — but they’re not the only factor

Pulses include beans, lentils and peas. They're a cheap, low-fat source of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, and count towards your recommended 5 daily portions of fruit and vegetables. A pulse is an edible seed that grows in a pod. Pulses include all beans, peas and lentils, such as: baked bean red, green, yellow and brown lentils chickpeas (garbanzo beans) garden peas black-eyed peas runner beans broad beans kidney beans, butter beans, haricots, cannellini beans, flage

Every October and January people all across the U.K give up alcohol for a month. Congratulations if you are just finishing “Sober for...

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Why should I start eating seasonally? You may or may not have heard the call to ‘eat seasonally’. In a world of 24-hour supermarkets,...

National Eczema Week 2025 September 15th to 21 st Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a condition that causes a person to develop patches of...

Know Your Numbers Week (Blood Pressure UK)  8 th  to 14 th September High blood pressure (hypertension)   High blood pressure, or...