Health & Beauty / Tips & Advice
Off the Mersey beat: A tour of Liverpool’s unsung cultural treasures
A magical mystery tour of the city reveals brilliant art, architecture and stories - with only minimal Fab Four interludes. At a Liverpool city council meeting in 1974, in response to an application for the installation of the first Beatles sculpture in Mathew Street,...
Hot cross buns: History, and why we eat them at Easter
Easter wouldn’t be the same without hot cross buns. Their history can be traced back to the Hertfordshire countryside, where an old mill still bakes buns to an ancient recipe. Our guide looks at the history of the hot cross bun and why they are eaten at Easter. Hot...
Doggy destinations: 7 dog-friendly gardens to visit this spring
For the garden lover who can’t leave their pooch behind. If you want to visit some open gardens this spring and at Easter, but don’t want to leave your dog behind, help is at hand. The National Garden Scheme (NGS), which raises funds for health charities and other...
Why does spring make everything feel better? The joys of spring explained
Spring has sprung - but why does it make us feel so good? The joys of spring definitely feel like a real thing. Everything just seems more light and upbeat once the sunshine creeps in and we’re out of the depths of winter. But why do we feel so much better when spring...
The London neighbourhood that’s got it all: 10 reasons why you need to live in stylish Stratford
East London’s Stratford has been on the up ever since the Olympic Games transformed the area - and it’s only getting better. Rhiannon Evans, who has lived there for six years, tells us why it’s the place to be. It’s been 10 years since the magic of the Olympic Games...
How to look after your health at 50 and beyond
A healthy lifestyle is always important - but do your needs change at different ages? Living well is important at any age, but experts say our health priorities can change as we get older. While the principles of exercising regularly, eating well and managing stress...
Getting good sleep could add years to your life, study suggests
The findings indicate simply getting enough sleep is not good enough, and that the quality of sleep has an important role to play, researchers say. Getting good sleep could see men live almost five years longer, and women more than two years longer, than men and women...
Giving up something for Lent? Experts explain why the sacrifice is so tough
Starting on February 22nd and concluding on April 6th, this year Lent stretches over 43 days. So, if you’ve decided to go cold turkey on your favourite food or drink, you may be in for a rough ride. Six weeks (and one day) is a long time to give up anything, but have...
Why owning a pet is good for body and mind
Pet ownership should be recognised as a public health strategy due to the profound benefits for individuals, families and communities, says Steven Feldman. Troy Vettese discounts the significant benefits that pets bring to the lives of billions of people worldwide....
Spring into action! Inspiration from Europe’s leading gardens and gardeners
We may still be in the depths of winter, but in eager anticipation of the warmer months, our thoughts are already turning to spring, when our gardens come back to life in a riot of scent and colour. To help prepare for the season, we’ve collated ideas from some of our...
The truth about caffeine: How coffee really affects our bodies
Every day, around the world, 2bn cups are consumed. But what actually happens after you swallow that first mouthful? Here is everything you need to know. Coffee. Go juice. Liquid gold. The one with all the psychoactive properties. Once used by Sufi mystics as an aid...
Are booze-free tipples really as healthy as you think?
As we hit the end of the month, you may be one of millions who jumped on the Dry January bandwagon and are congratulating yourself on a decent stretch of abstinence after the excesses of Christmas and the New Year. You might not have even found it that hard. After...