Long-lasting celebrity marriages

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Long-lasting celebrity marriagesEMPICS Entertainment; AFP/Getty Images

Not all celebrity marriages crash and burn in a short matter of weeks or months. Some celebrity couples – despite their years in the spotlight – are still going strong from one decade to the next.

Take a look at some of our favourite long-lasting celebrity marriages and uncover the marriage secrets of the stars that keep them living happily ever after.

Long-lasting celebrity marriages

  • Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick: Married 14 years
    With three kids and two careers to juggle, SJP is the first to admit her relationship has been through its share of ups and downs, telling the <em>Telegraph </em>that &quot;kids can really distract you from your relationship.&quot; Their secret? To keep secrets. SJP told Parade.com:&nbsp;&quot;I like having some mystery in our relationship. I like not knowing everything about my husband. I think people should have things that are theirs, things that are the unknown to someone else. I think it’s good to have some privacy and some secrets in our lives.&quot;</div>
    <div>
    </div>

    Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick: Married 14 years

  • David Bowie and Iman: Married 19 years
    <p>
    The rock god and model goddess pairing is a common one, but what’s unusual about these two is that they’ve stuck it out for so long. One reason it works? Only one of them’s a fighter. Iman told <em>Harper’s Bazaar </em>US that: &quot;David doesn’t fight. He is English, so he just stays quiet. I’m the screamer. Then he always makes me laugh. It’s like cabaret. I keep him entertained too. I still fancy him – totally! – after all these years.&quot;</p>
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    </div>
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    </div>

    David Bowie and Iman: Married 19 years

  • Elton John and David Furnish: Civil partnership since 2005; together 12 years before that
    <p>
    Elton and David further cemented their relationship in 2005, when they became fathers via surrogate to baby Zachary. How do they make it work after all of these years? John told <em>Parade&nbsp;</em>magazine in 2010 that they say it in writing.&nbsp;&quot;Every Saturday for 16 years, we’ve sent each other a card, no matter where we are in the world, to say how much we love each other.&quot;</p>

    Elton John and David Furnish: Civil partnership since 2005; together 12 years before that

  • Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas: Married 15 1/2 years
    <p>
    The two actors have been through thick and thin together (including Griffith’s multiple stints in rehab for prescription pill and alcohol abuse), but look cosier and happier than ever. In fact, as Banderas told <em>Hello</em>! magazine back in 2010, it was their obstacles that strengthened their union: &quot;…&nbsp;there were people who literally didn&rsquo;t give us more than six months! But we love each other and above all we love our family. We&rsquo;ve figured out how to get past obstacles – and some of them have been really tough ones – in our relationship; and if you get past those you only get stronger…&nbsp;We keep moving forward, and each day we become even more united.&quot;</p>

    Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas: Married 15 1/2 years

  • Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell: Happily unmarried for 27 years
    <p>
    </p>
    <p>
    Goldie and Kurt still look as happy as they did when they started dating in 1983. Perhaps it’s because they never tied the knot. On US chat show <em>The View</em> in September 2011, Hawn said:&nbsp;&quot;We’re not gonna get married. I mean, we’re happy. I still like the idea that I’m his girlfriend.&quot;</p>

    Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell: Happily unmarried for 27 years

  • David and Victoria Beckham: Married 12 years
    <p>
    After over a decade together, four children, three countries and multiple career changes for Victoria, these two seem inseparable. Victoria says they are &quot;soul mates&quot; and David has admitted that what he loves most about his wife is that she’s &quot;an amazing mother.&quot; The soccer star told <em>Hello</em>! magazine that they always make time for each other and have a ‘date night’ once a week, while Victoria explained they focus on the kids and the relationship to keep things strong: &quot;You go into a marriage knowing there are going to be ups and downs. We&rsquo;re in the public eye so we have more to deal with than most.&nbsp;We accepted that years ago. It&rsquo;s just about us and the family.&quot;</p>

    David and Victoria Beckham: Married 12 years

  • Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson: Married 23 years
    <p>
    The Hollywood power couple is also one of Tinseltown’s longest-standing relationships, with 23 years and two kids under their belt. Wilson has said that the secret to their wedded bliss is that &quot;we want to be married to each other&quot; and told <em>Success </em>magazine that: &quot;We have a great time together; we have shared values and a desire to be committed to each other.&quot;</p>
    <div>
    </div>
    <div>
    </div>

    Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson: Married 23 years

  • Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick: Married 23 years
    <p>
    The man who famously said the secret to a happy marriage is to &quot;keep the fights clean and the sex dirty&quot; opened up to Piers Morgan on CNN about his devotion to his wife and why he wouldn’t stray: &quot;I feel like I made a commitment to this person and we enjoy spending time together, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to threaten that.&quot;</p>

    Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick: Married 23 years

  • Annette Bening and Warren Beatty: Married 20 years
    <p>
    </p>
    <p>
    Once Hollywood’s most notorious bad-boy, Beatty has been happily married to Bening for two decades and the duo have four children together. The secret to their success? Making time for themselves. &quot;I’ll tell you one secret to keeping the spark there: I think you’ve got to get away, just the two of you, with no kids. And you’ve got to spend time alone; you need to cultivate your own sense of self and nurture that as well,&quot; Bening said in the past.</p>

    Annette Bening and Warren Beatty: Married 20 years

  • Sting and Trudie Styler: Married 20 years; together for a decade before
    <p>
    Sting and Trudie have famously kept the flame of love burning with tantric sex sessions, and even though their all-night long lovemaking may have been exaggerated, the two certainly keep their bedroom antics exciting.&nbsp;&quot;I don’t think pedestrian sex is very interesting,&quot;&nbsp;Sting told US&nbsp;<em>Harper’s Bazaar</em>&nbsp;in 2011. &quot;There’s a playfulness we have; I like the theater of sex. I like to look good. I like her to dress up.&quot; As for romance, Trudie doesn’t expect flowers or chocolates on special occasions. &quot;Romantic? We like tawdry,&quot; he told the mag.</p>
    <p>
    </p>
    <div>
    </div>
    <div>
    </div>

    Sting and Trudie Styler: Married 20 years; together for a decade before

 

Jan 21, 2012 | 0 comments View Post

Flowers really do put women in the mood for love

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Flowers really do put women in the mood for lovePA

A new study has found that a woman is more likely to find a man attractive and accept a date with a stranger if she is near some flowers.

Scientists say that the man doesn’t even need to have bought the flowers himself – as long as there are some nearby, women are more inclined to be receptive to his advances.

The research was conducted by Dr Nicolas Gueguen, a psychologist a the University of South Brittany, who studies the science of attraction.

The Daily Mail reports that he asked 46 female student volunteers to sit a room on their own and watch a video of a man talking about himself.

Half the students watched the video in a room that contained three vases of flowers, a mix of roses, daisies and marigolds. The rest sat in an identical room without flowers.

He found that the women who watched in the room decorated with flowers rated the man as more attractive and were more willing to go on a date with him.

In a second study, the same experiment was repeated with 122 single women aged from 18 to 20.

This time, after watching the video, they were led into a room where the man was waiting. They were old he was a fellow student taking part in the experiment, but he was really an actor, recruited by the scientists.

When they were left alone, the man was instructed to talk for five minutes about the experiment and then ask the woman on a date. Each time he used the same words.

Again, the presence of flowers made the women more receptive. Half of those who watched the video in a the room without flowers accepted the offer of the date, but that rose to 81 per cent for those who had been close to the blooms.

Dr Gueguen said: “These results confirm the popular conception that flowers are able to activate romance and act as a facilitator in dating.”

Do flowers make you feel more romantic? Let us know below…

Click on the image below to see which celeb marriages have lasted a long time…

Long-lasting celebrity marriages

  • Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick: Married 14 years
    With three kids and two careers to juggle, SJP is the first to admit her relationship has been through its share of ups and downs, telling the <em>Telegraph </em>that &quot;kids can really distract you from your relationship.&quot; Their secret? To keep secrets. SJP told Parade.com:&nbsp;&quot;I like having some mystery in our relationship. I like not knowing everything about my husband. I think people should have things that are theirs, things that are the unknown to someone else. I think it’s good to have some privacy and some secrets in our lives.&quot;</div>
    <div>
    </div>

    Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick: Married 14 years

  • David Bowie and Iman: Married 19 years
    <p>
    The rock god and model goddess pairing is a common one, but what’s unusual about these two is that they’ve stuck it out for so long. One reason it works? Only one of them’s a fighter. Iman told <em>Harper’s Bazaar </em>US that: &quot;David doesn’t fight. He is English, so he just stays quiet. I’m the screamer. Then he always makes me laugh. It’s like cabaret. I keep him entertained too. I still fancy him – totally! – after all these years.&quot;</p>
    <div>
    </div>
    <div>
    </div>

    David Bowie and Iman: Married 19 years

  • Elton John and David Furnish: Civil partnership since 2005; together 12 years before that
    <p>
    Elton and David further cemented their relationship in 2005, when they became fathers via surrogate to baby Zachary. How do they make it work after all of these years? John told <em>Parade&nbsp;</em>magazine in 2010 that they say it in writing.&nbsp;&quot;Every Saturday for 16 years, we’ve sent each other a card, no matter where we are in the world, to say how much we love each other.&quot;</p>

    Elton John and David Furnish: Civil partnership since 2005; together 12 years before that

  • Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas: Married 15 1/2 years
    <p>
    The two actors have been through thick and thin together (including Griffith’s multiple stints in rehab for prescription pill and alcohol abuse), but look cosier and happier than ever. In fact, as Banderas told <em>Hello</em>! magazine back in 2010, it was their obstacles that strengthened their union: &quot;…&nbsp;there were people who literally didn&rsquo;t give us more than six months! But we love each other and above all we love our family. We&rsquo;ve figured out how to get past obstacles – and some of them have been really tough ones – in our relationship; and if you get past those you only get stronger…&nbsp;We keep moving forward, and each day we become even more united.&quot;</p>

    Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas: Married 15 1/2 years

  • Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell: Happily unmarried for 27 years
    <p>
    </p>
    <p>
    Goldie and Kurt still look as happy as they did when they started dating in 1983. Perhaps it’s because they never tied the knot. On US chat show <em>The View</em> in September 2011, Hawn said:&nbsp;&quot;We’re not gonna get married. I mean, we’re happy. I still like the idea that I’m his girlfriend.&quot;</p>

    Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell: Happily unmarried for 27 years

  • David and Victoria Beckham: Married 12 years
    <p>
    After over a decade together, four children, three countries and multiple career changes for Victoria, these two seem inseparable. Victoria says they are &quot;soul mates&quot; and David has admitted that what he loves most about his wife is that she’s &quot;an amazing mother.&quot; The soccer star told <em>Hello</em>! magazine that they always make time for each other and have a ‘date night’ once a week, while Victoria explained they focus on the kids and the relationship to keep things strong: &quot;You go into a marriage knowing there are going to be ups and downs. We&rsquo;re in the public eye so we have more to deal with than most.&nbsp;We accepted that years ago. It&rsquo;s just about us and the family.&quot;</p>

    David and Victoria Beckham: Married 12 years

  • Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson: Married 23 years
    <p>
    The Hollywood power couple is also one of Tinseltown’s longest-standing relationships, with 23 years and two kids under their belt. Wilson has said that the secret to their wedded bliss is that &quot;we want to be married to each other&quot; and told <em>Success </em>magazine that: &quot;We have a great time together; we have shared values and a desire to be committed to each other.&quot;</p>
    <div>
    </div>
    <div>
    </div>

    Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson: Married 23 years

  • Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick: Married 23 years
    <p>
    The man who famously said the secret to a happy marriage is to &quot;keep the fights clean and the sex dirty&quot; opened up to Piers Morgan on CNN about his devotion to his wife and why he wouldn’t stray: &quot;I feel like I made a commitment to this person and we enjoy spending time together, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to threaten that.&quot;</p>

    Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick: Married 23 years

  • Annette Bening and Warren Beatty: Married 20 years
    <p>
    </p>
    <p>
    Once Hollywood’s most notorious bad-boy, Beatty has been happily married to Bening for two decades and the duo have four children together. The secret to their success? Making time for themselves. &quot;I’ll tell you one secret to keeping the spark there: I think you’ve got to get away, just the two of you, with no kids. And you’ve got to spend time alone; you need to cultivate your own sense of self and nurture that as well,&quot; Bening said in the past.</p>

    Annette Bening and Warren Beatty: Married 20 years

  • Sting and Trudie Styler: Married 20 years; together for a decade before
    <p>
    Sting and Trudie have famously kept the flame of love burning with tantric sex sessions, and even though their all-night long lovemaking may have been exaggerated, the two certainly keep their bedroom antics exciting.&nbsp;&quot;I don’t think pedestrian sex is very interesting,&quot;&nbsp;Sting told US&nbsp;<em>Harper’s Bazaar</em>&nbsp;in 2011. &quot;There’s a playfulness we have; I like the theater of sex. I like to look good. I like her to dress up.&quot; As for romance, Trudie doesn’t expect flowers or chocolates on special occasions. &quot;Romantic? We like tawdry,&quot; he told the mag.</p>
    <p>
    </p>
    <div>
    </div>
    <div>
    </div>

    Sting and Trudie Styler: Married 20 years; together for a decade before

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Jan 21, 2012 | 0 comments View Post

Private abortion clinics to be allowed to advertise on TV

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Private abortion clinics to be allowed to advertise on TVPA

Advertising watchdogs ruled yesterday that private clinics that carry out abortions for profit will be allowed to promote their services on TV and radio.

Until now, restrictions have meant that only not-for-profit organisations have been allowed to advertise family planning services, including abortion.

This is why just one advert, by charity Marie Stopes International, has ever been aired on TV. The Daily Mail reports that when it was shown in 2010 it attracted more than 4,500 complaints.

There are more than 35 private hospitals in England that offer abortion services, with many also offering maternity and fertility services. However it is not known how many of these will choose to advertise or whether the adverts will be screened before the watershed.

The Telegraph reports that the two bodies responsible for Britain’s advertising codes, The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), said it had become impossible to justify not allowing companies to advertise because the services they offer are legal.

Campaigners have warned that this could lead to a flood of advertising that risks trivialising abortion.

Mark Bhagwandin, from the pro-life charity Life, said: “This is an extremely disappointing decision.

“The abortion industry has a lot of money behind it and these companies will have the means to run prime time television and radio advertising campaigns.

“This will trivialise and commercialise the decision to terminate a baby, putting it on the same footing as choosing other products advertised on television.

“I have no doubt that we will see a rise in abortions as a result of this.”

Matt Wilson, a spokesman for BCAP, said: “There is not going to be some sort of free-for-all saying ‘come to us to get an abortion’.

“They are not there to promote abortion, they have to promote an array of services. It is about being responsible and commercial pro-lie pregnancy services will now be able to advertise too.”

Do you think that TV adverts will influence a woman’s decision to have a termination? Let us know below…

Click on the image below for some foods that will help you fight flu…

Flu-fighting foods

  • Chicken soup
    <p>
    Chicken soup has long been a go-to cold cure thanks to its anti-inflammatory and mucous-thinning properties. Adding noodles or vegetables will help bolster the immune system with additional carbs and nutrients, and give your body a much-needed energy boost.</p>

    Chicken soup

  • Garlic
    <p>
    Not great for your breath, garlic is good for your body, thanks to allicin (produced when garlic is crushed), which helps fight infections.</p>

    Garlic

  • Mushrooms
    <p>
    These immune-boosters contain cytokines which help defend the body against viruses and tumours. A 2011 study found that the <a href=”http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2011/12/20/mushroom-omelette-could-cut-your-risk-of-pancreatic-cancer/” target=”_self”>selenium and nickel in mushrooms can also help reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer</a>.</p>

    Mushrooms

  • Sweet potatoes
    <p>
    Full of fibre and beta-carotene – which is converted to vitamin A in the body and helps with respiratory infections – sweet potatoes are among the tastiest immune-boosters. Other orange foods like carrots and squash are also good.</p>

    Sweet potatoes

  • Oats
    <p>
    Packed with vitamins E and B as well as beta-glucan, a fibre with strong antioxidant capabilities, oats have been found to help stave off flu and herpes in animals, as well as boosting immunity and healing wounds faster in humans.&nbsp;</p>

    Oats

  • Chilli peppers
    <p>
    Hot peppers have capsaicin, which will thin mucous and help with congestion. Make a warming, veggie-packed chilli dish to get a nutrient boost and energy levels up.&nbsp;</p>

    Chilli peppers

  • Strawberries
    <p>
    While vitamin C’s flu-fighting effects are debatable, it’s still a powerful antioxidant that helps lower blood pressure, boosts collagen production and acts as a natural antihistamine. Strawberries are packed with vitamin C and aid in reducing inflammation, as well as preventing cancer and promoting heart health.</p>

    Strawberries

  • Tea with honey and ginger
    <p>
    Full of antibacterial polyphenols which are anti-viral and anti-inflammatory, tea (without milk) is an easy, natural cold fighter. Add honey for energy (it will help with a sore throat and will fight off bacterial infections), and some ginger to calm an upset stomach.</p>

    Tea with honey and ginger

  • Dark chocolate
    <p>
    Here’s some tasty news: dark chocolate can help boost your immunity, thanks to high cocoa levels which support the body’s T-cells and help aid in fighting infection. In addition, dark chocolate’s theobromine content has been found to work as a cough suppressant.&nbsp;</p>

    Dark chocolate

  • Yoghurt
    <p>
    A study found that the probiotics in yoghurts with live and active cultures may reduce cold and flu symptoms, cutting the duration of a fever, cold and runny nose.</p>

    Yoghurt

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Jan 21, 2012 | 0 comments View Post

Cake and Eat It: Banana fritters with sesame caramel

Filed under:

Cake and Eat It: Banana fritters with sesame caramelJassy Davis

This week’s recipe features soft, squidgy chunks of banana deep-fried in crunchy batter and served with a golden swirl of sesame caramel. It’s not a pudding you’ll find offered much in China, but it’s a staple of the Anglo-Cantonese take-aways that opened up across the UK in the 1950s and 1960s.

These take-away restaurants were set up by immigrants who were mostly from Hong Kong. They simplified the Cantonese dishes of their homeland and adapted them to suit our notoriously sweet palate. As well as sweetening and saucing up their recipes, the take-away owners also needed to adapt their cuisine to fit the ‘starter, main and pudding’ pattern of British dining.

Dessert isn’t a regular part of a meal in China, but a bit of creativity meant British diners could finish their Chinese banquet with banana or pineapple fritters, often dipped in syrup to give them a crisp, glossy finish. So, while they may not be authentically Chinese, banana fritters are a well-loved part of eating out in Britain.

And why not? The combination of hot, crunchy batter giving way to sweet banana is delicious – especially with a scoop of slowly melting vanilla ice cream.

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Warm fritters, hot caramel and a scoop of ice-cold ice cream make the perfect end to a Chinese New Year feast

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These fritters are actually very quick to make at home. If you have a deep-fat fryer, heat it to 180°C/350°F to cook the fritters. If you’re heating oil in a saucepan (which I did), be careful with it. You can use a thermometer to check when the oil has reached the right temperature, or use the old-fashioned trick of dropping a cube of white bread in to see if it browns and sizzles.
Don’t leave the pan untended while you’re cooking, don’t drop anything into the oil (being splashed with hot oil is no fun), don’t let water get near it, and as soon as you’ve finished cooking, remove the oil from the heat and leave it somewhere safe to cool down.

These fritters are best eaten as soon after cooking as possible. Keep them warm in a low oven while you quickly make the caramel – it’s easy to burn, so keep your eyes fixed on the pan while the sugar browns. The warm fritters, hot caramel and a scoop of ice-cold ice cream make the perfect end to a Chinese New Year feast. Gung Hei Fat Choi!

Banana fritters with sesame caramel

5 minutes to prepare, 15 minutes to cook
Serves 4
Cook’s note: Suitable for vegetarians

150g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
225ml sparkling water
4 bananas, peeled and sliced into 5-6 chunks each
Sunflower oil, for deep-fat frying
50g caster sugar
1 tbsp sesame seeds
Vanilla ice cream, to serve

Sift the flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl, then whisk in the sparkling water to make a smooth batter. Stir in the bananas to completely coat them.

Pour enough sunflower oil into a medium-sized pan to half fill it and heat until a small chunk of bread dropped into it sizzles and begins to brown.

Carefully lower in 4-5 chunks of banana (don’t crowd the pan) and deep-fry for 1-2 minutes, until golden brown. Lift out of the fat with a heatproof slotted spoon and drain on kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining bananas until they are all cooked. Keep warm in a low oven.

Place the caster sugar, sesame seeds and 50ml cold water in a deep, heavy-based frying pan and heat, swirling the pan occasionally but not stirring the sugar, over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat and cook for 1-2 minutes, swirling the pan frequently, or until the caramel is golden. Immediately remove from the heat.

Divide the banana fritters between 4 warm plates and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of the sesame caramel sauce.

 

Jan 20, 2012 | 0 comments View Post

Scientists say that lack of sleep can be fatal

Filed under:

Scientists say that lack of sleep can be fatalGetty

New research suggests that long-term sleep deprivation can be fatal – and it is rarely identified or treated by doctors.

The Daily Mail reports that at least 86 medical sleep disorders have been identified, all of which raise the risk of developing illnesses such as depression, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Consequently a review in Online First in The Lancet medical journal says that doctors should routinely ask patients about their sleeping habits as this may be at the root of other health problems.

The review says that around one in four adults in Britain have sleeping problems, with one in ten suffering from an insomnia disorder.

The authors, Charles Morin from the Université Laval, Québec City, Canada and Ruth Benca from the Univeristy of Wisconsin, Madison, USA said that insomnia has “substantial long-term effects” on people’s physical and psychological health.

They said: “Despite advances in diagnosis and management insomnia is still under-recognised and often goes untreated.

“In view of the high prevalence and substantial morbidities of insomnia, patients should routinely be asked about sleep problems by health-care providers.”

Research shows that people who sleep for between six and eight hours sleep per night are likely to live longer and enjoy better health. People who sleep for less than six hours are at more risk of premature death.

Figures suggest that around one third of UK adults regularly sleep for less than five hours per night, with the average being seven hours.

People with insomnia are five times more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression and are twice as likely to develop congestive heart failure and diabetes.

The review says that doctors should be more willing to treat insomniacs with cognitive behavioural therapy and drugs that haven’t been approved for combating sleeping problems, such as antidepressants and antihistamines.

Sleep expert Dr Neil Stanley, who is the ex-Chairman of the British Sleep Society, said that insomnia is “completely neglected by doctors the NHS and the Government.

He says: “Government policy makers always have something to say about diet and exercise, why don’t they get into the bedroom and tell people about the value of sleep.”

He adds: “We urgently need to pay more attention to sleep with clear advice to children in schools, parents and throughout adult life.”

How many hours do you sleep each night? Let us know below…

Click on the image below for 20 tricks to improve your sleep…

How to sleep: 20 simple tricks

  • Sleep your way to a pay rise
    <p>
    According to research by mattress and pillow brand, Tempur, getting seven hours sleep is the key to getting a pay rise. The study revealed that the chances of getting a salary increase rose according to the number of hours’ sleep achieved, with the perfect night’s kip for getting a bonus being seven hours. However, heavy sleepers were less likely to get a pay rise. Those who got seven hours sleep each night took home a total cash boost of &pound;3,960 per person last year.</p>

    Sleep your way to a pay rise

  • Take a herbal nightcap… in emergencies only
    <p>
    Dr Ramlakahn suggests sleeping aids should only be used as a last resort when other avenues have been exhausted and then only occasionally. &quot;Valerian (tablets, tincture or tea bags) is sometimes called nature’s Valium and can aid sleep for most people. Passionflower and hops also have mild sedative effects.&quot;</p>

    Take a herbal nightcap... in emergencies only

  • <p>
    </p>" href="http://www.blogcdn.com/lifestyle.aol.co.uk/media/2011/07/sleep-music-alamy.jpg" data-photo-src="http://www.blogcdn.com/lifestyle.aol.co.uk/media/2011/07/sleep-music-alamy.jpg" data-credit="Alamy">Sound asleep
    <p>
    Research has shown that background music can help ease the symptoms of insomnia and tinnitus so invest in an alarm clock with a docking station and make a soothing playlist. Or take things one step further with a blanket, pillow or even headboard with built-in speakers from sleep aid specialists, <a href=”http://www.soundasleeppillow.co.uk/”>Sound Asleep</a>.</p>
    <p>
    </p>

    Sound asleep

  • Separate the work/home boundaries
    <p>
    &quot;Talking about your work when you get home can be a good thing and a positive way of gaining support from family and friends,&quot; says Dr Ramlakahn. &quot;However, try not to let the work talk spill over into your whole evening and bedtime. If necessary, set some rules about when you stop talking about work and allow your mind to wind down and switch off.&quot;</p>

    Separate the work/home boundaries

  • Look into my eyezzzzzzzzz…
    <p>
    Following a 20-year study of insomnia, <a href=”http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleep-Like-Log-Mckenna-Paul/dp/1900148110″>Paul McKenna</a> has written a book that shows how easy exercises and simple changes in your thinking and behaviour can have a significant impact on your sleep. The accompanying hypnosis CD aims to re-set your body’s natural sleep mechanism so that you will automatically find it easier to get deep restful sleep and increased energy.</p>

    Look into my eyezzzzzzzzz...

  • Get your beauty sleep
    <p>
    Research suggests that after sun damage, one of the biggest causes of skin ageing comes from sleeping on traditional cotton, linen or polyester pillowcases. These fabrics absorb moisture, leaving the skin dehydrated. Silk pillows are said to minimise dehydration, which means they’ll leave your hair smoother and glossier, too! Try <a href=”http://www.silkperfect.com/”>SilkPerfect Luxury 100% Pure Silk Pillowcases</a>.</p>

    Get your beauty sleep

  • Have a brainwave
    <p>
    The <a href=”http://www.neurosky.com/People/WhatWeDo.aspx”>NeuroSky Mindwave headset</a> reads your own brain activity and transmits it to your laptop so you can visibly measure your levels of activity, which helps your mind to relax. Is this the future of controlling your own sleep patterns?</p>

    Have a brainwave

  • Exercise!
    <p>
    &quot;Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways of reducing stress hormone levels (mainly adrenaline) thus enabling you to sleep more deeply. The American College of Sports Medicine guidelines recommend three or four sessions of aerobic exercise (swimming, cycling, jogging, fast walking) for 20-30min per week,&quot; says Dr Ramlakahn. But beware of battling out on the tennis court before bed: &quot;Competitive exercise can cause the production of stimulating hormones (eg endorphins) making it more difficult to get to sleep so it might be worth delaying sleep by 45mins or so to wind down properly before getting in to bed.&quot;</p>

    Exercise!

  • Avoid bedtime battles
    <p>
    In a recent survey conducted by OnePoll, on behalf of <a href=”http://climsom.com/eng/ClimsomIndex.php”>Climsom</a>, it was revealed that 83% of people in relationships argue over sleeping habits. The majority noted their partners sleeping habits as the main contributor to a bad night’s sleep. Why not take a tip from the Scandinavians where couples each have their own duvet and would never dream of sharing. Alternatively, try a duvet from <a href=”http://www.theduvetstore.co.uk/”>The Duvet Store </a>that has each side custom-filled separately to cater to your own needs.</p>

    Avoid bedtime battles

  • Break the morning coffee/evening wine cycle
    <p>
    &quot;Caffeine has a direct impact on reducing sleep quality. The half-life of caffeine is approximately five hours. This means that it can take up to 10 hours to completely remove all of the caffeine from your body if you drink a cup of tea or coffee,&quot; explains Dr Ramlakahn. &quot;If you are having problems sleeping or are waking up, feeling tired no matter how much sleep you get, minimise caffeine and increase your fluid intake by drinking more water, herbal teas and dilute fruit juices. Remember, alcohol can also impair deep sleep quality so you are likely to wake up feeling tired and fuzzy-headed if you have overindulged the night before.&quot;</p>

    Break the morning coffee/evening wine cycle

  • Cool down, chill out
    <p>
    When we sleep our body temperature drops and if the environment doesn’t correspond to this, the body struggles to achieve its desired temperature for a comfortable sleep. Like air-con for your bed, <a href=”http://climsom.com/eng/ClimsomIndex.php”>Climson</a> cooling and warming mattress toppers</p>

    Cool down, chill out

  • Manage your time
    <p>
    &quot;Write your to-do list before leaving work instead of at the beginning of the day,&quot; suggests Dr Ramlakahn. &quot;This stops you worrying about work in the evening and you are less likely to wake up during the night thinking about tasks that have to be done the next day. If you are planning to take work home, make a commitment about whether you are really going to do it or whether it is just going to sit in your briefcase all evening creating guilt and anxiety. Ensure weekend work is done first thing on Saturday morning so that the rest of the weekend is available for rest and relaxation.&quot;</p>
    <p>
    </p>

    Manage your time

  • Good rest vs. poor sleep
    <p>
    &quot;To sleep well we almost need to let go of wanting to sleep well. In other words, the more pressure we put on ourselves to sleep, the less likely we are to actually fall asleep,&quot; explains Dr Ramlakahn. &quot;This may particularly be the case before big events (eg getting up early to catch a plane, the night before an important meeting or presentation). In these situations it might be helpful to dispel with using the word ‘sleep’ and to use the word ‘rest’. So tell yourself the night before any big event ‘it doesn’t matter if I don’t sleep tonight, I’m just going to use the time to rest’. It’s a bit of trickery but you’ll be surprised how quickly you then get to sleep &ndash; particularly if you use the technique regularly.&quot;</p>

    Good rest vs. poor sleep

  • Get some funky black-out blinds
    <p>
    Light is one of the most important external factors that affects sleep. If traditional black-out blinds don’t fit with your aesthetic vision, <a href=”http://www.velux.co.uk/”>Velux</a> has teamed up with Karim Rashid to create these funky designs.</p>

    Get some funky black-out blinds

  • How to get back to sleep
    <p>
    &quot;If you wake up during the night, try to avoid looking at your clock and registering the time. Otherwise, you are more likely to start worrying about how little sleep you will get if you don’t fall asleep again,&quot; warns Dr ramlakahn. &quot;This then reduces your chances of getting back to sleep even further! Instead, lie on your back and try to consciously relax each part of your body starting from your toes and working up to your head and face. Breathe deeply from your diaphragm and tell yourself that it doesn’t matter if you don’t fall asleep and that you will just use the time to rest and relax.&quot;</p>

    How to get back to sleep

  • Take a power nap
    <p>
    &quot;Short naps of five to 15 mins duration have been proven to be very effective at promoting energy renewal and increasing cognitive function,&quot; explains Dr Ramlakahn. &quot;A nap involves sitting or lying comfortably in a well-ventilated room, progressively relaxing muscles and breathing deeply from the stomach. You will approach a near sleep state without actually falling asleep and will be conscious of their surroundings during this time. The more adept the individual becomes at practising this technique, the more readily they are able to rapidly achieve a state of relaxation and rejuvenation. Incorporating visualisation techniques into your power nap &ndash; e.g. relaxing scenes &ndash; can make it even more effective.</p>

    Take a power nap

  • Take regular breaks during the day
    <p>
    &quot;Regularly seeking rest and recovery throughout the day is one of the most effective ways of improving sleep quality,&quot; says Dr Ramlakahn. &quot;Even a three to five minute break can be sufficient to enable the body to renew energy physically and mentally,&quot; she recommends. &quot;Use the time to go for a walk, stretch, change channels mentally, drink a glass of water or eat a piece of fruit. Also, try to take a lunch break of at least 20 to 30 minutes every day. Use the time to recharge mentally and physically and avoid checking emails or surfing the Internet during this time.&quot;</p>

    Take regular breaks during the day

  • Unplug and recharge
    <p>
    It’s a miracle of modern technology that we’re now able to communicate pretty much anywhere, 24/7. But this doesn’t help when it comes to switching off. To disconnect from external pressures, unplug your phone and laptop and keep them well away from your bedside.</p>

    Unplug and recharge

  • Delay bedtime until you’ve relaxed
    <p>
    &quot;Get into the habit of winding down before going to sleep. Read a book, listen to relaxing music, have a bath and use some relaxing essential oils such as lavender to help promote sleepiness,&quot; Dr Ramlakahn suggests. &quot;Delay going to bed if necessary – you are more likely to be able to access efficient deep sleep if you have allowed the mind and body to relax than if you rush to bed feeling anxious about trying to get good sleep. You are more likely to feel rejuvenated if you have had five or six hours of efficient sleep than seven or eight hours of shallow, restless sleep.&quot;</p>

    Delay bedtime until you've relaxed

  • Feed your sleep
    <p>
    &quot;In order to get good sleep, we need a good balance of the hormones serotonin and melatonin in our system,&quot; explains Dr Nerina Ramlakahn, Sleep and Energy Coach at Capio Nightingale Mental Health Hospital in London. &quot;Adequate amounts of vitamin B6 and tryptophan are needed to boost these hormone levels and they are found in chicken, cheese, tofu, tuna, eggs, nuts, seeds and milk. So drinking a glass of milk before going to bed can help to induce sleep. Other sleep-inducing foods are oats and lettuce.&quot;</p>
    <p>
    </p>

    Feed your sleep

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Jan 20, 2012 | 0 comments View Post

Scientists fail to find the G-Spot

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Scientists fail to find the G-SpotGetty

Some men have been looking for the G-Spot for years, but now scientists say that it might not exist after all.

After reviewing 100 studies conducted over the last 60 years, researchers at the Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut found no evidence to support its existence.

Research leader Dr Amichai Kilchevsky, a urologist, blames pornography, magazines and sex therapists for putting couples under too much pressure to locate the fabled epicentre of female sexual pleasure.

He wrote in the Journal of Sexual Medicine: “Objective measures have failed to provide strong and consistent evidence for the existence of an anatomical site that could be related to the famed G-Spot.”

However he admits that “modern investigative techniques” might help to find it and said that it merits further study.

The Daily Mail reports that the G-Spot is said to be a small area inside the vagina which is packed with nerve endings and capable of providing intense pleasure when stimulated.

In 2010 a UK study also failed to prove its existence and concluded that the idea of it made couples feel inadequate about their sex lives.

Dr Kilchevsky said: “Lots of women feel almost as though it is their fault they can’t find it. The reality is that it is probably not something, historically or evolutionarily, that should even exist.”

Do you think that the G-Spot exists? Let us know below…

Click on the image below for some easy ways to boost your sex life…

Five easy ways to boost your sex life

  • Eat better
    <p>
    We’re not talking ‘sexy’ foods like oysters and Champagne, but rather swapping the bad (too much alcohol, fats and sugar) for the good (whole grains, green veg, fruit and oily fish). Not only will healthier eating have you feeling more active and energetic (an essential ingredient for your sex life), being fit will give your body image a boost. And if you’re positive about your body, you’ll be even more eager to flaunt it to your partner. Bananas are a good place to start: Potassium and vitamin B-packed, the phallic fruit reportedly also has aphrodisiac powers beyond its shape.</p>

    Eat better

  • Get moving
    <p>
    Time to hit the gym: vigorous exercise has been linked to lower impotence in men, as well as improved circulation (crucial for a rocking sex life), while exercise improves female arousal and helps women reach climax. Plus, the post-workout endorphin boost makes you feel good about yourself, and hopefully, sexier, too.&nbsp;</p>

    Get moving

  • Cuddle up
    <p>
    While pats and snuggles may not be the stuff romance novels are made of, getting close to your partner is the best way for things to heat up. Show your affection – hugs, foot rubs and cuddles can be a prelude to lust, and at the very least will put a smile on your partner’s face.</p>

    Cuddle up

  • Give your bedroom a little ambiance
    <p>
    Over-cluttered bedrooms, digital distractions aplenty and a lack of privacy (remember when you used to lock your bedroom door?) don’t exactly inspire sexiness. Transform your space from stale to sultry with&nbsp;little touches – breakfast in bed, mood lighting, new sheets, no TV for a night and no laundry on the floor – to help get in the mood for love again. &nbsp;</p>

    Give your bedroom a little ambiance

  • Get your flirt on
    <p>
    Flirting isn’t only fun, it’s good for you, too, according to scientists. Women’s bodies release oxytocin when they’re batting their eyelashes and giggling away. Make use of all of the technology at your fingertips and start sending your loved one flirty messages via text or email – the commute home will be so much more exciting that way.</p>

    Get your flirt on

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Jan 20, 2012 | 0 comments View Post

Could a daily dose of statins beat cancer?

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Could a daily dose of statins beat cancer?AFP/Getty

Experts believe that cholesterol-busting pills called statins could help to beat cancer.

The drug, which is taken by millions to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, has also been shown to block the growth and spread of tumours.

Costing as little as 40p per day, the findings are believed to have “great implications” in the battle to beat cancer.

The study, which was carried out on breast cancer, was conducted at Columbia University in New York.

Dr Carol Prives, who led the study, looked at the mutation of a gene called p53 that suppresses tumours.

The Daily Express reports that mutations in this gene have been identified as the most frequent abnormality detected in cancer, and scientists believe that understanding how it works could provide valuable information for treating or preventing the disease.

Researchers found a link between a cholesterol-building mechanism in the body and the disorganised cell growth which is characteristic of breast cancer. Both involved defective versions of p53.

More than half of human cancers carry mutations in the gene and many of these give p53 new functions that fuel the formation of cancer.

By studying cancer cells grown in an artificial system that resembles the human breast, researchers discovered that cells carrying mutant p53 grow in an invasive manor, just like breast cancer.

When levels of the mutant gene were lowered, cells grew more normally. When cells which contained mutant p53 were treated with statins they stopped their invasive growth and, in some cases, died.

Dr Prives said: “The data raises the possibility that we might identify patients whose tumours may respond to statins. Of course we can’t make any definitive conclusions until we know more. There are great implications. Perhaps one could do a clinical trial, and that may support these findings, or it may be more complicated.”

Dr Caitlin Palframan of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “We are exited that existing drugs, like statins, are showing potential in the fight against breast cancer. This research identifies a relatively large group of breast cancer patients who could be targeted with statins, though we will need to see the results of clinical trials to know whether this will work.”

Do you take statins daily? Let us know below…

Click on the image below to find out how to reduce your risk of breast cancer…

Breast cancer risk factors you can control

  • Drinking alcohol
    <p>
    Drinking alcohol elevates oestrogen levels, and studies have found that cancer risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed.&nbsp;</p>

    Drinking alcohol

  • Smoking
    <p>
    While studies haven’t shown any direct link between smoking and increased risk of breast cancer, secondhand smoke may be linked to a higher incidence of breast cancer. Considering how harmful smoking is for other reasons, part of a healthy lifestyle involves stubbing out.&nbsp;</p>

    Smoking

  • Birth control pills
    <p>
    Studies have shown that women taking birth control pills have a&nbsp;slightly elevated risk of developing breast cancer, which is also related to how many years you take the pill for and when you started. Evidence suggests that&nbsp;10 or more years after women stop taking oral contraceptives, their risk of developing breast cancer returns to the same level as if they had never used birth control pills at all.&nbsp;</p>

    Birth control pills

  • Exercise
    <p>
    Studies have found that exercise helps to reduce breast cancer risk. Combine regular exercise with a healthy diet and low intake of saturated fat and alcohol for maximum benefit.</p>

    Exercise

  • Red meat and a high-fat diet
    <p>
    A diet low in saturated fats which restricts red meat and other animal fats and is rich in veg and whole grains is recommended. Some studies have found an increased risk between red meat and breast cancer. Synthetic hormones used in the meat are thought to be responsible.</p>

    Red meat and a high-fat diet

  • Breasfeeding
    <p>
    Studies have suggested that breastfeeding may lower a woman’s risk of breast cancer. It’s unclear exactly why, but it is thought that women’s oestrogen levels remain stable when breastfeeding since they do not ovulate as regularly.</p>

    Breasfeeding

  • Say ‘no’ to long-term HRT
    <p>
    Hormone replacement therapy (a combination of oestrogen and progesterone) – used to replace female hormones to treat symptoms of the menopause and prevent osteoporosis – has been linked to increased breast cancer risk. Oestrogen treatment alone, when used for less than 10 years, does not seem to elevate risk, however.</p>

    Say 'no' to long-term HRT

  • Being overweight/obese
    <p>
    Being overweight or obese is linked to higher rates of breast cancer, particularly in post-menopausal women. Excess abdominal fat is something to watch out for in particular since it raises oestrogen levels and a woman’s lifetime oestrogen exposure is directly related to her breast cancer risk.&nbsp;</p>

    Being overweight/obese

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Jan 20, 2012 | 0 comments View Post

Three-parent IVF may be made legal

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Three-parent IVF may be made legalPA

The Department of Health has asked the fertility regulator to conduct a public consultation into the acceptability of a controversial technique known as ‘three-parent IVF’.

The technique, which involves using genetic material from three parents – two women and a man – to create a baby, is currently banned in the UK.

However the procedure could help the estimated 12,000 people who have mitochondrial disease – defects in the structures called mitochondria which surround the cell nucleus.

The inherited disease is passed down the maternal line. About 100 babies are born each year with a severe form of the incurable disease, with many dying in infancy.

The technique involves taking healthy DNA from a mother’s egg, either before or after fertilisation – and transferring it into an egg donated by another woman.

This egg is than implanted into the mother to avoid passing on defects in her mitochondria.

Although the child would then have genetic material from its mother, father and the donor, it would not inherit any of the donor’s characteristics.

The Daily Mail reports that the procedure has caused an ethical storm, with critics warning that these ‘hybrid’ children could pose unknown risks for future generations.

Mitochondria are sausage-shaped ‘batteries’ which float around inside cells converting food into energy that the body can use. Each contains a tiny strand of DNA – around 37 of the 23,000 human genes, which is passed on by the mother.

Mutations in this DNA can cause around 50 serious and untreatable genetic diseases which affect around one in 5,000 children, causing symptoms such as blindness, deafness, heart and kidney problems and early-onset dementia. Many sufferers die before reaching adulthood.

If the mother’s damaged mitochondria could be cut out of the fertilisation process, it is hoped that these diseases could be prevented, saving 100 lives a year.

The Independent reports that Public Health Minister Anne Milton said: “Mitochondrial disease… can have a devastating impact on the people who inherit it. Scientists have developed a new procedure to stop these diseases being passed on. But such a procedure would not be allowed… under current laws, so we are consulting the public as to whether we should change the law.”

Professor Doug Turnbull, who will be the director of the University of Newcastle’s new research centre for mitochondrial disease, said: “If this technology proves to be as safe as IVF and as effective as preliminary studies show, I think we could totally prevent transmission of these diseases.”

However, the procedure is not without critics. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children told The Independent: “These macabre experiments are both destructive and dangerous and therefore unethical. Scientists should abandon the spurious field of destructive embryo experimentation and instead promote the ethical alternative of adult stem-cell research, which is already providing cures and treatments for the same conditions.”

The public consultation by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will start later this year.

Do you support three-parent IVF? Let us know below…

Click on the image below to find out which foods will boost your memory…

Memory-boosting foods

  • Egg
    <p>
    Eggs are rich in choline, which can help fight off the effects of ageing in the brain – researchers recently found that those with <a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/11/25/chicken-eggs-and-milk-sharpen-memory_n_1113136.html” target=”_blank”>high-choline diets performed better in memory tests</a>.</p>

    Egg

  • Apples (skin-on)
    <p>
    An apple a day could help keep your memory loss at bay since apple skin is high in quercetin, which has been found to keep brain cells healthy and help ward off Alzheimer’s.</p>

    Apples (skin-on)

  • Asparagus
    <p>
    The green veggie is rich in folate – a diet high in folic acid is associated with better memory recall and an overall higher cognitive performance.</p>

    Asparagus

  • Oily fish
    <p>
    Here’s yet another reason to integrate oily fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel) into your diet – the omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the health of the nervous system and help stave off memory loss.&nbsp;</p>

    Oily fish

  • Celery
    <p>
    Celery is high in the flavonoid luteolin, which has been found to reduce inflammation in the brain and improve memory in mice. If you’re not a fan of the vegetable on its own, try dipping it in hummus or peanut butter, or garnishing your morning tomato juice with it.</p>

    Celery

  • Tomatoes
    <p>
    Add some colour to your salad with tomatoes – research has found that the lycopene in the fruit can help protect against free radical damage (associated with dementia) and can help boost memory.</p>

    Tomatoes

  • Cinnamon
    <p>
    Start sprinkling: By slowing blood sugar absorption, cinnamon helps to prevent cell damage and studies have found it can also improve memory.&nbsp;</p>

    Cinnamon

  • Cauliflower
    <p>
    Cauliflower is high in choline (converted to citicoline in the brain), which studies have found can help improve your brain’s frontal lobe function (aiding reasoning and memory). Get the choline you need from other cruciferous veggie sources like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage.</p>

    Cauliflower

  • Spinach
    <p>
    A study found that three servings of green leafy veg a day can slow the decline of mental performance associated with ageing by up to 40 per cent. Spinach is also high in memory-preserving folic acid.</p>

    Spinach

  • Berries
    <p>
    Studies have found that phytochemicals like anthocyanin and quercetin (found in berries) can not only help improve memory, they can even reverse the effects of memory loss.&nbsp;</p>

    Berries

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Jan 20, 2012 | 0 comments View Post

Friday Fashion Fix: Sexy flats

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Friday Fashion Fix: Sexy flatsMarc by Marc Jacobs at My Wardrobe

With the news that high-heeled shoes are now to blame for painful flat feet, and the fact that we’re so much happier when we’re not in heels (We can run! We can dance! We can actually make it through the night with our shoes on!) it’s time to consider some levelling alternatives: comfortable, easy-to-walk-in flats.

Worried that flat shoes translate to no sex appeal? Fear not – we’ve compiled a gallery of fabulous shoes that are fashion-forward, functional and feet-friendly…

Sexy flat shoes

 

Jan 20, 2012 | 0 comments View Post

Have you ever eaten Britain’s unhealthiest meal?

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Have you ever eaten Britain's unhealthiest meal?Studio 33

We all know that eating out isn’t good news for your diet and no one expects a mixed grill to be a low-calorie option.

But the publishers of Men’s Health and Women’s Health say that the Large Mixed Grill from JD Wetherspoon has the dubious honour of being the unhealthiest restaurant meal in the UK.

The gut-busting meal contains a gammon steak, rump steak, lamb chops, pork steak, two lincolnshire pork sausages, chips, peas, tomato, a flat mushroom, a fried free-range egg and six beer-battered whole onion rings.

This adds up to a whopping 1,940 calories per serving, which is 97 per cent of a woman’s recommended daily intake and 77 per cent of a man’s. It also contains 208 per cent of the Guideline Daily Amount of saturated fat, 168 per cent of the fat and 103 per cent of the salt recommended for an adult in one day.

Swapping the chips for a jacket potato and a dressed side salad won’t help either – as this actually increases the calorie count.

Tom Stone, editor the book Eat This, Not That!, which was complied by the team at Men’s Health, says: “Every restaurant in the country has some menu items like this that are nutritional nightmares, and the public deserves to know about them. Obesity in this country is rapidly catching up with the US (currently one in four Britons are clinically obese, compared to one in three Americans) and if we don’t take responsibility for what we eat the problem is only going to get worse. Eat This, Not That! shows readers exactly what they should be avoiding, but also offers healthy alternatives at every restaurant.”

But you can still eat out if you’re watching your weight. Order the Jacket Potato and Five Bean Chilli instead and you’ll save an astonishing 1,365 calories and 107.1g of fat.

The book also exposes some other calorific options at popular high street eateries.

The healthy-sounding Giardineria vegetable pizza at Pizza Express contains 925 calories, while the Sweet Chilli Crispy Chicken Wrap with Large Fries at McDonalds adds up to 920 calories.

But by using the clever food swaps outlined in the book, you can save hundreds of calories each week and lose weight without feeling like you’re missing out.

Eat This, Not That! can be purchased online for £9.99

Have you ever eaten a Mixed Grill at JD Wetherspoon? Let us know below…

Click on the image below to find out which foods aren’t as healthy as they look…

Not-so-healthy ‘healthy’ foods

  • Ready-made salads
    <p>
    Putting the word ‘salad’ at the end of a food description doesn’t make it healthy, unfortunately. So watch out for high-fat dressings, mayo and add-ons like cheese and croutons. Your best bet is to make your own; short of that, opt for a salad with vegetables and a protein and top off with a balsamic vinaigrette.</p>

    Ready-made salads

  • Cereal
    <p>
    While cereals are vitamin-fortified, they may not be the best start to your day since many are still packed with sugar (a recent report from the U.S. found that several have more sugar per serving than a handful of chocolate chip cookies). If you love starting your morning off with a bowlful, then choose a cereal with high fibre content and under 10g (ideally under 5g) of sugar per serving.</p>

    Cereal

  • Energy bars
    <p>
    If you’re trying to stave off calories with a meal replacement energy bar, you may be consuming more than you bargained for. Many are filled with added sugar, high-fructose corn syrup and saturated fats, not to mention loads of calories. Be sure to read the nutrition label – some energy bars have more in common with candy bars than you’d like.</p>

    Energy bars

  • Turkey burger
    <p>
    If you think ditching red meat from your diet and replacing that hamburger with a ‘lean’ turkey burger is a healthy option, think again. Depending on the type of turkey used, the meal can be just as high in fat and calories as its beef alternative.&nbsp;</p>

    Turkey burger

  • Muffins
    <p>
    If you’ve conned yourself into thinking that muffins are healthy (they have blueberries! and bran!) it’s time for a reality check. They are high in calories, fat and sugar – it’s like eating cake for breakfast.</p>

    Muffins

  • Sports drinks
    <p>
    Sure, they give you an energy boost, but consuming too many sports and energy drinks can also leave you jittery from caffeine and can wear down tooth enamel from all of the acidity, sugars and additives.</p>

    Sports drinks

  • Dried fruit
    <p>
    While dried fruit might seem like a healthy snack alternative, watch the quantity you consume – since there’s no water in it to fill you up, it’s easy to guzzle handfuls at once which piles on the calories. It also has a high concentration of sugar.</p>

    Dried fruit

  • Reduced fat and fat-free foods
    <p>
    While ‘fat-free’ and reduced-fat foods may sound like a blissful invention, they can actually lead you to consume more (since they seem ‘healthier’). The fat is often replaced with other undesirable alternatives like added sugar and salt.&nbsp;</p>

    Reduced fat and fat-free foods

  • Smoothies
    <p>
    Smoothies shouldn’t be a fruit replacement – they have lots of sugar and are high in calories (a large size can give you over 500 in one go). Also, if you’re ordering the drink in a shop, it could get blended with ice cream – delicious, yes, but not ideal for a weight-loss regimen.</p>

    Smoothies

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