olivemagazine
type: channel
link: https://www.olivemagazine.com
date: 2025-11-26T10:00:01.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Best collagen supplements UK, tried and tested by experts 2025
items: Recipes that support your mental health
items: 8 fertility foods for men
items: Digestion and exercise: the 7 common mistakes you might be making
items: 13 experts on why you’re always tired – and how to get your energy back
items: Are we going backwards on body confidence?
items: I'm a nutritionist and here's why we don’t need to worry about testosterone in our diet
items: 22 ways to find your sunshine this winter
items: These gut health tweaks will get you through winter bug season
items: Is hygge actually good for you? Here’s how to make cosy healthy
items: The best mushroom supplements 2025, tried and tested by experts
items: Your healthy winter gut reset
items: 7 expert tips to keep your gut healthy this Christmas
items: Is sleep overrated? Meet the people getting by on four hours per night
items: Has our protein obsession gone too far?
items: Best greens powder to buy, tried and tested 2025
items: 7 ways your diet can help ease hormone symptoms
items: 15 foods to fight fatigue
items: What men are getting right (and wrong) as they get more health conscious
items: I’m a health editor about to turn 50. Here’s what I wish I could tell my younger self

Best collagen supplements UK, tried and tested by experts 2025
type: item
date: 2025-11-26T09:17:38.000Z
creator: Imogen Hope
subject: Reviews
subject: Wellbeing
description: Our health experts have tried and tested marine, vegan and bovine collagen in the form of gels and powders to help you find the best option
encoded: Collagen occurs naturally in the human body and is a vital protein for the skin, bones, muscle and connective tissue. It's important that your diet contains enough protein in order to get the amino acids required for making collagen. Taking a collagen supplement could also help improve skin health and elasticity, and may help in other areas, like relieving joint pain and protecting bone density. As we age, our bodies naturally produce less collagen, so you may consider taking a collagen supplement. But, there's a lot of noise out there about which type of collagen supplement is best and how they taste – plus, they can be expensive. We put collagen supplements to the test for flavour and quality of ingredients so you can make the right choice when choosing one. Read on for the best marine, vegan and bovine collagen supplements. Looking for more healthy inspiration? Read our guides to the 10 foods to fight seasonal allergies and what is the dopamine diet. Jump to: Best marine collagen Best vegan collagen Best bovine collagen What is collagen? Types of collagen: marine, vegan and bovine What is the best form of collagen to take? How do collagen supplements work? Best collagen supplements UK at a glance Best marine collagen Best flavoured marine collagen: Hunter & Gather Rise & Glow Collagen Daily Beauty Tonic, £28.79 Best marine collagen for adding to smoothies: JS Health Vitality X + collagen, £39.99 Best marine collagen for skin: Rejuvenated collagen shots, £49 Best marine collagen sachets: Revive Collagen hydrolysed marine collagen drink, £25.89 Best marine collagen powder: Sixways raspberry flavour marine collagen, £28.66 Best vegan collagen Best vegan collagen: Shreddy Superskin, £38 Best flavour vegan collagen: Feel strawberry peach vegan collagen powder, £56.43 Best bovine collagen Best bovine collagen for skin: Innermost The Glow Booster, £29.95 Best bovine collagen: Ancient + Brave cacao and collagen, £22.40 Best blended collagen Best blended collagen: Natures…

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Recipes that support your mental health
type: item
date: 2025-11-21T11:30:45.000Z
creator: Isabella Keeling - Deputy health editor
subject: Guides
subject: Wellbeing
description: Pack in the good fats, gut-friendly fibre and nutrients with these recipes, in order to support your brain and mental health
encoded: The food you eat can have a powerful effect on your mental health and how you feel day to day. There is a strong connection between your gut and your brain, often called the gut-brain axis, which means that nourishing your body with the right foods can help regulate mood, motivation and stress levels. Certain nutrients play a key role in supporting brain health – omega-3 fatty acids, for example, are essential for maintaining healthy brain cells and have been linked to lower rates of depression and anxiety. Choline, found in foods like eggs, is also important as it supports the production of neurotransmitters involved in memory and learning. If you want to boost your mental wellbeing, try to include more foods rich in these beneficial nutrients. Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are excellent sources of omega-3 fats, while walnuts, flaxseeds and chia seeds are great plant-based options. Eggs are not only packed with choline but also provide B vitamins, which help with energy production and brain function. Leafy greens, beans, lentils and fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi can all support a healthy gut and stable mood. Watch out for highly processed foods and refined sugars as they can lead to blood sugar spikes and crashes, contributing to mood swings and tiredness. Excessive caffeine and alcohol may also disrupt sleep and increase feelings of anxiety or low mood. Next, discover recipes that pack in the plants, recipes for a healthy gut and eat the rainbow with our healthy, colourful recipes. Recipes that support your mental health Kimchi eggs Start your day with these punchy fried eggs, served on toasted rye bread alongside tangy kimchi to support friendly gut bacteria. Masala mackerel Mackerel's oily flesh means it can withstand strong flavours such as chilli and citrus – both of which are used in this dish alongside ginger, tamarind, cumin and garam masala Energising breakfast bowl Avoid the sugar spikes and crashes by swapping your morning cere…

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8 fertility foods for men
type: item
date: 2025-11-20T17:32:58.000Z
creator: Juliette Kellow
subject: Wellbeing
subject: Premium wellbeing
description: Thinking about starting a family? These are the delicious fertility-friendly foods dads-to-be should be eating, according to our dietitian
encoded: To help with a healthier diet, try our sample menus and recipes for getting 10 portions of fruit and veg daily; tips for adding more fibre to your diet or check out 10 of the best foods for gut health. New research shows a worrying worldwide trend for couples trying for a baby: in the last three decades, male infertility has risen by 70 percent. In the UK and US, infertility now affects around one in seven couples – approx. 3.5 million people – and as the new figures suggest, it’s far from a female issue. It’s thought that around 30 percent of fertility problems are due to men, 30 percent due to women, and the remainder due to both or unknown causes. Male fertility specifically can be affected by a variety of factors, including genetics, hormonal imbalances, infections, injuries, health conditions, medications, exposure to pollution or harmful chemicals, being underweight or overweight, and stress. Lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking excess alcohol, being inactive and diet also have an impact. Many studies suggest diets lower in saturated fat and sugar, and richer in healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants may support healthier sperm, which is vital for male fertility. In particular, a Mediterranean-style diet – one rich in fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, pulses, oily fish, nuts, seeds and olive oil – has been found to support reproductive health in men. For example, a review of studies published in 2025 found that greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet was linked to improved semen quality, although more research is needed to understand whether these improvements translate into increased fertility or successful pregnancies. Within a Mediterranean diet, some foods stand out thanks to them containing nutrients that especially benefit male fertility. New sperm take around two to three months to mature, so aim to include more of these foods as part of a nutritious, Mediterranean way of eating for at least three months… Oily fish Omega-3 fats are a vi…

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Digestion and exercise: the 7 common mistakes you might be making
type: item
date: 2025-11-20T17:21:15.000Z
creator: Lucy Gornall
subject: Guides
subject: Wellbeing
subject: Premium wellbeing
description: How do you balance fuelling against the risk of stomach cramps or the need for an emergency toilet stop on your run? Our personal trainer has the answers
encoded: For more wellbeing guides, check out our 10 ways to boost energy, 12 fitness habits to kickstart a reset, a fitness instructor's guide to why your wearable is a waste of money and our health expert guide to serotonin – what it is and how to boost it for your health. Feeling heavy or bloated during your workouts? Perhaps you’ve been caught short mid-run and it’s made you hyper-aware of what you’re eating before you exercise. Whatever exercise-related gut issues you’ve faced, they can seriously hinder performance and make working out feel hard. “Everyone’s gut reacts differently during exercise,” says Rob Hobson, a sports nutritionist with 15 years’ experience. “Some people can run for miles on a full stomach, while others feel queasy after just a banana. It depends on your body and, often, how anxious or relaxed you feel.” During exercise, your body sends more blood to your muscles and skin to help with movement and temperature control. “This means there’s less blood going to your digestive system, slowing down digestion and causing bloating or nausea,” Rob explains. You might also get a strong urge to race to the loo, as many runners have experienced. To help reduce the chances of digestive mishaps, avoid these common mistakes… MISTAKE #1: Eating too close to your workout If you’ve gone for a jog or folded into a Downward Dog immediately after eating, you’ll be familiar with the discomfort of indigestion. If you’ve just had a main meal, it’s best to wait two to three hours before exercising, especially for endurance sports such as running. “This allows time for digestion and glycogen (fuel) replenishment without discomfort,” says Rob. “Eat a meal that contains carbs, lean protein (such as chicken, tofu or fish) and minimal fat and fibre. Chicken with white rice and veg is a good shout.” If you only have one to two hours until you exercise, tuck into a lighter snack of carbs and a small amount of protein. A smoothie with banana and protein powder or yogurt with fruit…

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13 experts on why you’re always tired – and how to get your energy back
type: item
date: 2025-11-20T17:20:27.000Z
creator: Vicky Chandler
subject: Guides
subject: Wellbeing
subject: Premium wellbeing
description: It’s a common refrain, but why are so many of us so tired? Thirteen health experts with different specialisms offer their solutions
encoded: For more wellbeing guides, read 11 ways to have a better night's sleep, sleep hygiene and how to improve it, 10 foods to improve your mood and 5 tips for a mindful evening routine. It’s the time of the year where everyone is running on 10% battery. We wake up tired, stay tired, and talk about being tired as if it’s a personality trait. The morning coffee doesn’t touch the sides, the afternoon slump hits harder than ever, and even a full night’s sleep doesn’t seem to fix it. It’s not just in our heads. A survey found that one in eight of us say they felt tired all the time. We’ve built lives that drain us in ways we barely notice, screens that keep us alert long after dark, work that seeps into our weekends and diets built for convenience, not nourishment. Add to that hormones, stress, poor sleep, and pressure to 'keep up', and it’s no wonder so many of us feel like we’re running on fumes. So, what’s actually going on, and how do we fix it? We asked a line-up of experts – from doctors and sleep experts to osteopaths and productivity specialists – to untangle what’s really behind our collective fatigue and how to combat it. Some say it’s our circadian rhythm, others our hormones, our blood sugar, our posture, or even our decision load. The truth? It’s probably a bit of all of them. The Sleep Expert Stephanie Romiszewski, leading sleep physiologist and author of Think Less, Sleep More One of the biggest misconceptions is that tiredness means you need more sleep, says Romiszewski, one of the most trusted voices in sleep health. “Often it means you need better timing of sleep, or to stop fighting normal human fluctuations in energy,” she explains. “We’ve created a culture where every dip in alertness is treated as a failure, when in fact your body’s natural rhythm works in waves.” And that consistency can waver, especially at the weekends, when your social calendar shifts. “Your brain’s timekeeper, the circadian rhythm, isn’t flexible just because your calendar is,” Romi…

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Are we going backwards on body confidence?
type: item
date: 2025-11-12T16:19:20.000Z
creator: Nicola Shubrook – Registered nutritionist
subject: Wellbeing
subject: health spotlight
description: As a nutritionist working with people with eating disorders, the way weight-loss drugs are changing our attitude to slimming is changing
encoded: For more health and wellbeing guidance, check out foods for a feel-good kitchen, 15 best superfood recipes and our expert guide to the dopamine diet. Body confidence in the UK is at a crossroads. The everyday conversation around weight and appearance has shifted from supermodels and diet clubs and is now dominated by weight-loss drugs, biohacking and viral body trends. But beneath it all, the shadow of fat shaming remains. It is just evolving. The last time I remember weight loss dominating public conversation quite as much as it is today was back in the late 2000s, when size 0 was all the rage and Kate Moss’s famous quote, “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” echoed everywhere. This attitude wasn’t new to me: as a teenager in the 1990s I experienced the supermodel phenomenon firsthand. I remember pinning magazine cut-outs of supermodels – Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer – to my wall and feeling triumphant when my waist reached 24 inches, just like Tatjana Patitz (my personal favourite). Looking back, it’s clear these influences shaped my teenage relationship with my body, for I even had a brief stint on Weight Watchers when I was 16 years old. Today’s teens may not be measuring their waists against glossy magazine pages, but the pressure to conform remains the same – if anything, with weight-loss drugs becoming commonplace, there’s now even less excuse not to conform. How big an issue is being big? Obesity increases the risk of health problems like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental health problems. Today, over two-thirds of men and almost 60% of women in England are overweight or living with obesity, with around one in four adults classed as obese. These numbers are putting enormous pressure on our health system. The biggest rises are in low-income communities, where there is typically more reliance on cheaper, processed foods. But the cultural baggage that comes with weight gain doesn’t care about gender, class or your pos…

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I'm a nutritionist and here's why we don’t need to worry about testosterone in our diet
type: item
date: 2025-11-12T16:19:09.000Z
creator: Katy Bradbury
subject: Wellbeing
subject: health spotlight
description: Have you noticed everyone talking about testosterone?
encoded: Discover 7 ways your diet can help ease hormone symptoms, easy steps for a diet that will tackle the symptoms of menopause and mid-life, plus some healthy seasonal recipes for the winter months. Testosterone is a hot topic at the moment, and if you’ve been on the internet in the last couple of years, you probably haven’t escaped the attention it’s receiving from influencers and public figures. People like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk have outwardly spoken about testosterone, with Rogan being an overt advocate of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), and Musk suggesting that the government should be replaced by ‘alpha’ males with high testosterone. In the US, it’s estimated that 40% of men under 40 have considered using testosterone replacement therapy, with around 14% actually using it, and these figures are showing a steady year on year increase. But it’s not only men for whom testosterone has been getting lots of press attention. With testosterone prescriptions for women soaring in the UK for women over 40, headlines suggest that it has become ‘out of control’. With testosterone high in the public agenda, it’s worth taking a look and separating fact from fiction. What does testosterone do in your body? Testosterone is a steroid hormone (an androgen) present in all of us - regardless of sex - although men typically produce it in much higher quantities. For those assigned male at birth, testosterone is produced in the testes (the clue is in the name!), with input from the brain; for females, it’s primarily produced in both the ovaries and the adrenal glands, via the same brain axis. This axis includes parts of the brain and nervous system, along with the thyroid, reproductive organs and adrenal glands. All these parts of the body play a central role in producing testosterone, along with other hormones. Testosterone is involved in voice deepening, facial hair and balding patterns, muscle development, bone health, libido and sperm production for those with typical male r…

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22 ways to find your sunshine this winter
type: item
date: 2025-10-31T14:48:50.000Z
creator: Melanie Leyshon
subject: Wellbeing
subject: Premium wellbeing
description: It’s easy for our moods and social life to take a dive when it’s cold and dark outside. Here are sure-fire ways to keep the winter blues at bay
encoded: Here are some more ways to feel better this winter , as well as some healthy seasonal recipes and our favourite winter sun destinations. Find it outdoors Go green Exercising outdoors such as jogging, cycling and walking improves your mood and self-esteem more than working out indoors, numerous studies show. Being in nature or green spaces brings greater feelings of revitalisation and engagement. The benefits of green exercise include feeling less stressed, getting better quality sleep and more interest in sex. Walk it off Even a 10-minute stroll releases the feel-good hormones endorphins and dopamine that lower anxiety and stress. A morning walk, even when it’s cloudy, also introduces your body to natural sunlight, which promotes wakefulness and suppresses the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. This exposure regulates our circadian rhythms – the body's internal 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. By bedtime as it gets darker our melatonin levels kick in and we’re more likely to sleep better. Step it up It only takes a 15-minute jog to improve our mental wellbeing, research shows. If you’re new to running, get inspired by the Couch to 5K programme, which has you ready in just nine weeks. Get in the saddle Replace that short commute or shopping trip by car with a bike ride for both physical and mental health benefits. A 20-minute leisurely journey burns up to 127 calories, so helps balance out all the winter comfort eats. Need motivation, use the Cycle Scheme’s calculator to see the health and environmental outcomes of swapping a car or train journey for your bike. Join the Army for a session If you’re lacking motivation but respond well to instruction then an outdoor bootcamp could be the answer. This type of intense exercise will have you warmed up in no time and builds mental resilience as well as muscle power. Be Military Fit runs classes in parks around the country. They’re not for the faint-hearted, but you’ll get self-esteem boosting results. Take a cold dip Swimming in c…

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These gut health tweaks will get you through winter bug season
type: item
date: 2025-10-31T14:46:56.000Z
creator: Dr Megan Rossi
subject: Wellbeing
subject: Premium wellbeing
description: Expert advice on improving immunity, from the Gut Health Doctor
encoded: Give your gut health an extra boost with these recipes, or try a whole winter gut health reset . Alternatively, these foods might help if you already have a cold… Did you know that, on average, adults catch the common cold 2-3 times a year, and children 5-8 times a year? While there’s no cure for winter bugs like colds, you can still lower your risk of getting sick and shorten the length and severity if you do catch something. Around 70 per cent of immune cells exist in your gut, meaning your gut plays a key role in your immunity through what we call the gut-immune connection. Your microbes teach your immune cells what they need to protect you against (for instance, flu-causing viruses) and what is safe (e.g. the protein in milk). My colleagues at King's College London found that people who ate a more varied diet full of plants (which nourish your gut bacteria) had up to 40 per cent lower risk of becoming unwell with certain viruses. But it’s not just the foods you eat that can have an impact on your gut microbiome… Here are 5 small tweaks to support against those winter bugs: 1. Get smart with supplements Vitamin D is a supplement worth considering, not only for directly supporting your immune function but also for your gut health, as it helps to strengthen your gut lining. Our main source of vitamin D is sunlight, so limited daylight in autumn and winter makes it challenging to maintain adequate levels (particularly in the UK). That’s why NHS guidance recommends everyone take at least 10 micrograms per day through the winter. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is the most effective form for raising your levels, according to a review of 20 studies (compared to vitamin D2, often found in plant foods like mushrooms). Also, vitamin D is fat-soluble, meaning it’s best taken with a meal that includes healthy fats to aid absorption. Think oily fish (like salmon or mackerel), extra virgin olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds or full-fat kefir yogurt. On the probiotic front, you need…

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Is hygge actually good for you? Here’s how to make cosy healthy
type: item
date: 2025-10-31T14:46:21.000Z
creator: Vicky Chandler
subject: Wellbeing
subject: Premium wellbeing
description: The Scandinavian trend that makes winter more enjoyable is still going strong. But it does come with health risks – here’s how to avoid them
encoded: If you’re looking for more ways to cosy up and relax, try our 5 tips for a mindful evening routine, enjoy some of these healthy comfort foods or try these breathing exercises for a better night’s sleep. It’s that time of year again. The light begins to fade at 4pm, pyjamas become the outfit du jour and a night in on the sofa is infinitely more appealing than going out. A blanket, a hot drink, a flickering candle, this, you tell yourself, is hygge. The Danish concept of hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is all about comfort, calm and contentment, a gentle antidote to the chaos of modern life. It’s the word the Danish use to describe taking time to relax and enjoy the quieter pleasures of life. Its popularity now is the reason we stockpile throws and buy candles in bulk the minute the temperature dips. However in the UK, we have taken hygge perhaps a little too literally and many of us use it as an excuse to start hibernating, and subsequently leading a less healthy life, the moment October hits. While there’s nothing wrong with slowing down, research suggests that too much ‘cosy’ might not be doing our health any favours. The problem isn’t the feeling of comfort itself, it’s what it often comes with: sealed windows, smoky fires, paraffin candles, hours indoors and very little movement. That combination, according to scientists and health experts, can impact everything from lung function to mood regulation. But before you blow out your tea lights and start panic-ventilating, know this: you can absolutely keep your hygge habit, you just need to make it a little healthier. When cosy turns to coughing If you associate the smell of a crackling fire or a cluster of candles with calm, you’re not alone. But behind that glow lies a less romantic truth: these staples of winter comfort aren’t exactly doing wonders for your health and they’re major contributors to indoor air pollution. “Candles and incense release more fine particulate matter (PM) – a dangerous toxin that can enter t…

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The best mushroom supplements 2025, tried and tested by experts
type: item
date: 2025-10-24T13:59:49.000Z
creator: Kerry Torrens – Nutritionist
subject: Reviews
subject: Wellbeing
description: Find our reviews of the best mushroom supplements available in the UK, tried and tested, from drinkable powders to capsules
encoded: Functional mushrooms seem to be everywhere, which isn’t surprising thanks to their suggested benefits of improved focus and energy, regulating stress and strengthening immunity. When used as a wellness tool, so-called ‘adaptogenic’ mushrooms – like reishi, lion’s mane and cordyceps – are said to help us cope better with life’s ups and downs. These varieties, as well as the likes of maitake, shiitake and chaga, are also said to have medicinal properties that may extend to helping us fight obesity and slow the ageing process. However, despite such publicised acclaim, as the research currently stands, there is not enough evidence to fully validate these or other alleged health benefits. Read on for everything you need to know about the best mushroom supplements, tried and tested. Jump to: Best mushroom supplements at a glance Best mushroom supplements to buy in the UK 2025 What are mushroom supplements good for? What we looked for during testing How much should I take? How should I take a mushroom supplement? How we tested mushroom supplements Best mushroom supplements at a glance Best capsules – mushroom supplements Together Health Mushroom 5, £27.99 OTO Mushroom Complex, £39 Zooki Lion's Mane Focus+, £39.99 FourFive Lion’s Mane Mushroom: Energy & Focus, £21.99 Paused Ultra Focus, £19.99 Grass & Co FOCUS Lion’s Mane Mushroom Capsules with Ginseng + Omega 3, £26.50 Solgar Reishi Shiitake Maitake Mushroom Extract, £33.95 Best tablets – mushroom supplements Nutrition Geeks Lion’s Mane Focus +, £9.99 Best powder - mushroom supplements Spacegoods rainbow dust, £39 DIRTEA Cordyceps Powder, £38 DIRTEA Lion’s Mane Powder, £34.99 everystate Cacoa and Mushroom superblend, £45 Verve Honest Mushrooms, £49 Best mushroom supplements to buy in UK 2025 Best capsule mushroom supplements Together Health Mushroom 5 Available from Bodykind (£20.99), Superdrug (£22.39), Together Health (£27.99) Star rating: 4.5/5 Free from artificial additives and preservatives and manufactured using clea…

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Your healthy winter gut reset
type: item
date: 2025-10-22T08:38:27.000Z
creator: Emma Hartfield
subject: Wellbeing
subject: health spotlight
description: Now's the perfect time to take a look at your digestive health for an overall wellbeing boost
encoded: Winter is a busy time for most of us. And that means it’s especially important that we look after ourselves – and in particular, our gut health. A healthy gut has been linked to improved immunity, reduced risk of depression (it’s seasonal affective disorder time) and resilience against stress – aren’t we all a bit full-on as Christmas approaches? The mechanism by which our gut plays such a key role in our wider wellbeing still isn’t fully understood. The millions of nerve cells that line the gut are connected to the brain, in what’s been described as the gut-brain axis. There’s also the vagus nerve, which physically links the brain and colon. It’s perhaps these connections that result in the interplay between gut health and mental health, while we know that a large proportion of our immune system is located in the gut. It’s not difficult to take care of our gut. Diet, as you’d expect, plays an important role. There are some foods we should eat more of (fermented foods, from cheese to keﬁr) and some foods we shouldn’t (high-sugar foods and alcohol can both cause inﬂammation which can damage the stomach). But the easiest way to improve gut health is to feed the good bacteria that create a helpful microbiome. The microorganisms that live in your digestive system feed on prebiotics, ﬁbres that we can’t digest but which instead are broken down by our digestive microbes. Different microbes thrive on different prebiotics, which is why we’re advised to eat a wide variety of plant foods. Famously, a study found that eating 30 or more different plant foods a week increases bacterial diversity – a key measure of gut health. So aiming to eat as many different plant foods as we can is a simple but effective way to better health. Plant foods include fruit and vegetables but also herbs and spices, nuts and seeds, beans and pulses, and wholegrains such as brown rice, quinoa and wholemeal bread. Try these simple suggestions to add more plant ﬁbre into your diet. Quick and easy tips …

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7 expert tips to keep your gut healthy this Christmas
type: item
date: 2025-10-21T14:55:02.000Z
creator: Catherine Rabess
subject: Wellbeing
subject: health spotlight
description: Catherine Rabess is a dietitian who also has IBS – here she explains how to navigate overindulgence during party season and the triggers to avoid
encoded: Chestnuts roasting, prosecco ﬂowing, gut hurting. Christmas is a time of indulgence, which often means discomfort and digestive issues. And if you already have a sensitive gut, it’s prime time for bloating, frequent dashes to the loo, acid reﬂux and, in my case, IBS. I’ve worked as a dietitian for nearly 15 years, specialising in gut health for over half of that, so people often assume I glide through the festive season powered by willpower and ﬁbre, eating all the right food and reaching 30 different plants a week. The reality? I’m a human bin for cheeseboards and chocolates, like the rest of us. But I also suffer with IBS, and for years Christmas felt less like a holiday and more like a time of concern about my symptoms and how I would cope. I’d eat something ‘harmless’ and spend the next few hours regretting it, in pain on the sofa with my trousers undone. The anxiety surrounding what foods I should avoid, so as not to trigger symptoms, often made it worse. Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of gut-brain interaction. Although the gut appears normal, its communication with the brain is disrupted, leading to functional gut problems and pain. It affects up to one in ﬁve people in the UK, 10% of the global population and is more common in women than men. The symptoms vary wildly but can include bloating, cramping, constipation, diarrhoea and gas. Add Christmas excess into the mix and it’s easy to see why many of us feel uneasy by New Year’s Eve. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Over the years I’ve learned to keep my gut (mostly) happy at Christmas without missing out on the joy. Here’s what I do and why. The trigger: rich food I’d hope that nobody was counting their macros on Christmas Day. But a big increase in fat – particularly saturated fatty foods such as pigs in blankets, roasties, creamy desserts and cheesy canapés – can be a major trigger for IBS symptoms. High-fat meals slow down the stomach emptying, which can lead to bloating, nausea and indigestion…

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Is sleep overrated? Meet the people getting by on four hours per night
type: item
date: 2025-10-17T11:11:22.000Z
creator: Pete Wise
subject: Wellbeing
subject: Premium wellbeing
description: Whether it’s due to work pressure, parenthood or preference, a significant minority of people sleep far less than the norm. We interviewed three short sleepers to learn how they get by while the rest of the world slumbers
encoded: Imagine sleeping for just four hours per night. It was enough for Margaret Thatcher, but humans usually require around seven to nine hours for optimal health and cognitive function. This isn’t a blanket rule – some groups are better served by different sleep durations, such as those who are recovering from illness (who need to sleep more than they normally would) and younger children (toddlers should be having 11-14 hours). Most people in the UK say they sleep for seven hours per night, and the equivalent figure rises to eight hours in the US. While this means that most of us are getting at least the minimum amount of sleep we need, it also highlights that millions must be sleeping less. In fact, around 4% of people in the UK and 8% in the US claim to sleep for fewer than five hours per night. What leads to people sleeping so little, and how does this lifestyle affect their health and happiness? We spoke to three people – with very different reasons for only sleeping around four hours a night – and asked sleep expert Dave Gibson, a registered osteopath, hypnotherapist, stress management coach and founder of The Sleep Site for his advice. Short-sleeping by choice: “Four hours per night is the rhythm that works for my life and work.” Hailey Rodaer, a marketing director in Reno, Nevada, US, thinks that four hours is just right: "It may be strange for someone to say they choose to sleep only four hours a night, as this is generally seen as unhealthy. But in my experience, it has become the rhythm that works for life and work. "I naturally wake up at around 3.30am, and these early and silent periods are the most productive times. I am at my sharpest and complete my strategic work before the world comes to life. It started with a difficult product release where I reduced sleep so that I could meet my deadlines, but I found that my body adjusted. "However, I still pay close attention to my health and visit the doctor regularly while also engaging in a daily workout. My ene…

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Has our protein obsession gone too far?
type: item
date: 2025-10-17T11:09:55.000Z
creator: Rob Kemp
subject: Wellbeing
subject: High protein
subject: Premium wellbeing
description: Is protein the secret to a strong, lean physique, or part of an unregulated industry that’s harming our health?
encoded: Walk into any supermarket today and it feels like the entire food aisle has enrolled in CrossFit. Protein is everywhere. You can now buy high-protein bagels, protein-fortified yogurts, protein cereals, even protein chocolate bars. Over on TikTok, people are making 'protein bread' out of tuna and eggs. There’s probably a protein version of your favourite snack lurking just one aisle over. It’s no longer just for gym bunnies either, the word 'protein' has become a halo health claim. But how much of this is hype? And could we be doing more harm than good by chasing higher and higher grams? Who’s already hitting the mark UK guidelines put protein needs at roughly 0.75g per kilogram body weight for sedentary adults – about 56g for men and 45g for women daily. However, the most recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows that we’re generally overshooting that: the average man consumes 87.4g, and the average woman 66.6g. Rob Hobson, registered nutritionist and author of Unprocess Your Life, insists that this is partly down to the fact that many of us are falling into the trap of misunderstanding what protein can (and cannot) deliver. “Protein has almost become shorthand for ‘good health’,” says Hobson. “It’s added to everything from breakfast cereals and yogurts to snack bars and bottled drinks – but not all these foods are inherently good for us.” Many of these products are ultra-processed and deliver very little beyond the protein itself, often with added sugars, sweeteners or other additives. Both the protein overload and the additives can lead to notable side-effects. These concerns have become a key element in fitness guru Joe Wicks’ latest health campaign. In a recent TV show, Joe Wicks: Licensed to Kill, he and Dr Chris van Tulleken created a deliberately hyper-processed protein bar – dubbed the 'Killer Bar' – to expose how easily ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can be marketed as 'healthy.' Wicks’s message is blunt: “Protein has become this thing that’s in everyth…

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Best greens powder to buy, tried and tested 2025
type: item
date: 2025-10-07T14:50:16.000Z
creator: Lucy Roxburgh
subject: Reviews
subject: Wellbeing
description: Have you tried a greens powder? Our experts have tried and tested some of the biggest brands, including Huel and Shreddy, to bring you our verdict
encoded: We all know we need to eat our greens and the benefits of getting our daily veg. In the busy hustle and bustle of daily life, more and more people are adding greens powders to their diet as a quick and easy way of getting some potential nutrition. Brands such as Huel, Shreddy and Free Soul are becoming familiar on social media, often making big health claims about their potential benefits, from boosting immunity and relieving bloating to improving appearance of skin, hair and nails. The greens powders we tested varied in the number of total ingredients, ranging from six to 91. We tested all the greens powders just mixed with water, but you could also add to a morning smoothie or juice. They also vary widely in price – ours cost from between £13-£97 a packet. With so many greens powders on the market – many of them fairly expensive – it can be hard to know where to begin and what is worth the investment. We put top brands of greens powders in the UK to the test, so you can make informed choices when you buy. Read on the find out the best greens powders to buy. For more like this, check out our reviews of the best matcha to buy and six healthy coffee brands to try. Jump to: Best greens powders to buy in 2025 What are greens powders? How we tested greens powders What do nutritionists really think about powdered greens? What should you mix greens powders with Best greens powders at glance Best greens powder overall: Free Soul greens (mango flavour), £29.99/150g Best greens powder for a range of flavours: Protein Works Super Greens Extreme, £15.49/250g Best greens powder for on-the-go: AG1 Food Supplement, £79/30 servings Best spiced greens powder: Bioglan Supergreens, £12/70g Best greens powder for variety of ingredients: Huel Daily Greens, £50/250g Best for widest suggested health benefits: Verve Transparent Greens V80 Powder, £75/300g Best greens powder for minimal ingredients: Rheal Superfoods Clean Greens, £25/150g Best greens powder for protein: Naturya Organic Gre…

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7 ways your diet can help ease hormone symptoms
type: item
date: 2025-09-26T11:22:57.000Z
creator: Emma Hartfield
subject: Guides
subject: Wellbeing
description: We speak to health coach and nutrition advisor Charlotte James on the links between what you eat and your hormonal health
encoded: 1. Watch your sugar intake Eating a lot of sugar will disrupt insulin – itself a hormone. “Insulin is our blood sugar regulation hormone, and has a lot to say for things like weight gain, mood swings, night waking and period pain,” says health coach and nutrition advisor Charlotte James. These are not the kind of issues you want to encourage if you are already experiencing hormonal symptoms. 2. Eat plenty of plant fibre The goal of eating 30 different plant foods a week is to increase the variety of plant fibre in our stomach, leading to a healthier gut microbiome. As Charlotte explains, “Our guts need to be in a good state to properly break down and eliminate excess hormones. If this doesn’t happen it can lead to recirculated oestrogen, heavy periods, sore boobs and headaches.” Plenty of fruit, veg and wholegrains is also the cornerstone of a nutrient-rich, diverse diet, which will help to set your body up to counter hormone fluctuations. 3. UPFs are doing you more harm than you realise Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) contain a lot of artificial additives that your body may struggle to process. “They are high in endocrine disrupting chemicals (things that look like hormones) and place a high toxic load on your liver, disrupting the normal function of hormones hugely,” says Charlotte. They are also thought to harm your gut health – “They can disrupt the microbiome due to high levels of preservatives” – which will have a knock-on effect on your overall wellbeing. And if your diet is packed with UPFs, you won’t be getting enough of the good nutrients from wholefoods that keep your body healthy. 4. It’s true, meat can boost your testosterone “Low testosterone can be associated with low sex drive, low mood, difficulty with orgasm, insomnia, muscle loss, bone loss and crying easily,” says Charlotte. In terms of foods to counter this, she recommends zinc-rich foods: “Oysters, pumpkin seeds, beef liver, beef and chicken – particularly if you have had a meat-free period in the…

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15 foods to fight fatigue
type: item
date: 2025-09-25T12:58:36.000Z
creator: Emma Hartfield
subject: Wellbeing
description: Coffee and sugar-laden snacks aren’t a sustainable solution to tiredness. Here are the nutritionist-approved foods to add to your shopping basket and your weekly menu instead
encoded: Feeling a little under par? Lacking in vim or va va voom? However you want to phrase it, most of us frequently struggle with fatigue and fluctuating energy levels. And while a coffee or a quick sugar boost can get us through, these end up sabotaging us in the longterm. Instead, choosing the right foods can play a crucial role in supporting sustained energy throughout the day. We’ve asked expert nutritionists to choose their favourite fatigue-fighting foods. According to certified nutritionist Kerry Torrens, “The best strategy is to make sure most of your diet includes low-GI, complex carbs alongside plenty of protein.” Complex carbohydrates, such as wholegrains, oats, pulses, nuts and seeds, release glucose into the blood steadily. This helps to avoid spikes of energy, which tend to be followed by a low, or crash, instead providing a consistent source of energy. There are other key nutrients, such as B vitamins and the minerals magnesium and iron which also play an important part in how the body harnesses and uses energy from food. Expert interviewees: Nicola Shubrook, owner of clinic Urban Wellness, registered nutritionist and certified functional medicine practitioner Kerry Torrens, registered nutritionist, member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine, and a member of the Guild of Food Writers Jo Williams, registered nutritionist with a specialism in public health 1. Oats Oats are a complex carbohydrate, providing a steady release of energy which helps prevent the blood sugar crashes that can lead to fatigue. They’re also high in a soluble fibre called beta-glucan. Nutritionist Nicola Shubrook explains: “Beta-glucan is also beneficial in helping us manage our blood sugar levels, with studies suggesting it helps to lower levels of blood glucose after a meal and improves our sensitivity to the blood sugar-managing hormone, insulin.” Check out our healthy oats recipes for lots of inspiration, including these blackberry baked oats. 2. Spinach…

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What men are getting right (and wrong) as they get more health conscious
type: item
date: 2025-09-18T16:16:50.000Z
creator: Rob Kemp
subject: Wellbeing
description: The latest men’s health diagnosis: progress made, but mistakes still looming
encoded: Gym memberships are up, conversations about male mental health are less taboo, and we’re finally acknowledging that diet matters more than just “smashing the cardio.” There has been a definite sea change in the way men approach health. Fitness has gone mainstream – no longer a punishment for a heavy weekend, but a lifestyle that shapes how we eat, train, sleep, and recover. That’s the good news. But for every smart move men have made, there’s still a blind spot, a habit, or a cultural hang-up that holds us back. From skipping GP appointments to misusing supplements, we’re progressing - but not quite nailing it. Here’s where we’re at, what we’re getting right, and the common mistakes still tripping us up. Doctor's appointments: unfinished business We talk a better game these days about health. Men’s mental wellbeing is discussed openly, testosterone and heart checks crop up in pub chats. But when it comes to the dull, administrative business of booking a GP appointment, men are still miles behind. According to the April 2025 ONS Health Insight Survey, just 33.5% of men will have contacted their GP in the past month, compared to 45.8% of women. The gap extends elsewhere: men are less likely to be registered with a dentist, less likely to pick up prescriptions, and less likely to attend hospital outpatient appointments. “Men are more likely to delay help-seeking until symptoms interfere with daily function,” says Paul Galdas, professor of men’s health at the University of York. By then, what started as something minor can be something major. Why the reluctance? It’s part of the male culture still. An NHS survey found nearly half of men felt pressure to “tough it out,” while a third worried about appearing weak. “Society associates masculinity with traits like self-reliance, independence and not showing vulnerability,” explains Prof Brendan Gough, social psychologist at Leeds Beckett University. The fix: It doesn’t have to be dramatic. Book appointments in advance. Use …

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I’m a health editor about to turn 50. Here’s what I wish I could tell my younger self
type: item
date: 2025-09-18T15:10:04.000Z
creator: Rosalind Ryan
subject: Wellbeing
description: Whether it’s attitude, knowledge or both, much of what shapes us in midlife would have been invaluable in our twenties too. Our writer shares her advice – and that of other experts – around everything we wish we’d known when younger
encoded: There’s something about celebrating a big birthday that makes you look back and take stock of your life. My 50th is on the horizon and it’s made me realise how much I’ve learned along the way – and how much easier life in my twenties would have been if I’d known then what I know now. Some of these are external, like buying a property when you could still get a 100% mortgage. But some are internal, such as knowing your worth or when to say no. So here’s all the advice I wish I’d had in my twenties. From beauty tips to setting boundaries, I hope there’s something here that you find helpful, whether you’re 25 or still feel like you are. Food should be fun, not functional I turned 20 in the mid 90s, slap bang in the era of skinny chic and the Atkins diet. Food wasn’t something to savour, it was just a collection of nutrients: carbs – bad; fat – worse; vitamins – what? I thought I was fat (sidenote: you are never as fat as you think you are) and would often skip meals. Jenny Tschiesche, nutritionist and cookbook author, says she felt the same pressure in her twenties. “I wish I hadn’t focussed so much on my weight – I equated being slim with being healthy,” she says. “But health isn’t about the number on the scale. It’s about strength and energy, and supporting your body for the decades ahead.” Luckily, Jamie Oliver came along in 1997. He made cooking cool but also made us understand that food was a pleasure to enjoy. Today, I love the fact that so many young men and women love to cook, and are far more knowledgeable about what they put into their bodies. But there’s still a risk we can see food as fuel, not fun. Jenny says: “You should be eating in a way that supports strong bones, a healthy metabolism and steady energy, so prioritising whole, nutrient-dense foods like colourful vegetables and lean proteins. But don’t lose sight of the bigger picture – eating is about nourishing your body and enjoying life, not checking off a tick list.” In other words, eat the damn bur…

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