Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2016 i Woman&Home Feel Good You

Hey, it’s summer! Whatever the weather is actually like this year, inside this edition, the sun is shining and we’ve a fabulous collection of feel-good ideas to help you make the most of the season. If you’re going away, don’t miss our holiday health and beauty boosts features. If you’re staying at home, do try our home spa tricks and how to unplug tips that will recharge your batteries. If you want to shift a few pounds, our summer detox plan will help you get there the healthy way… and if you’re looking to boost your body, we’ve inspiring fitness ideas from dance to cycling to fast little moves you can fit in through the day. Hope you really enjoy the mix, do hope to see you for our autumn…

Q WHAT WILL BEAT THE MOZZIES? I battle with my sensitive skin in winter and then, come summer, it becomes a feast for insects! What can I use to stop them biting me? Poor you. I can commiserate, as I’m also a target for biters! The added complication of sensitive skin calls out for something natural. Aromatherapist Stephanie Tourles has this make-it-yourself spritz: MOSQUITO FORMULA NO1 “This can be used by pregnant women, children over three and those with super-sensitive skin,” says Stephanie. ADD 16 drops each of lavender, geranium and eucalyptus radiata essential oils into a clean spritz bottle. POUR IN ½ cup organic base oil, such as grapeseed, jojoba or almond. TO USE Shake well, put a bit on your palms, then massage onto exposed areas. FIND Essential…

We love the uber-hydrating botanical waters served to yoga devotees at the Nectar café at Triyoga in London (triyoga.co.uk). Luckily, Katia Narain Philips, their clever creator, is happy to share her secret. “Adding gentle yet powerful fruits and herbs to purified water can really enhance your system in summer,” says Katia. Try her bespoke blends: SUMMER INFUSION RECIPES Simply pour purified water into a jug, then pack with your chosen fruit and place in the fridge overnight. “The more you add to your jug of water, the more potent it will be,” says Katia. Then drink it through the day. To improve digestion: Add raspberries, fennel leaves, mint sprigs, chopped pineapple and slices of lime. For fat-burning: Use green tea bags, lemon slices, grapefruit segments and fresh mint. To deeply…

There’s no evidence that massaging your scalp will slow hair loss or improve scalp conditions – but it can do wonders for your brain. Your scalp is rich in nerve endings, making it super sensitive to touch. Rubbing your scalp increases blood flow and may release tension. Research has suggested that drinking oolong tea three times a day improves itching and other symptoms of eczema. This is due to polyphenols, micronutrient compounds found in the tea. Relieve tension with DIY acupressure. Find the base of each cheekbone and press lightly for 30 seconds – it’s long been tied to a brightening effect on skin. Need a little calm? Play some music! The body’s internal rhythms entrain to the external rhythms of music, like when you go to the sea and your heart rate slows and starts moving closer to…

FGY TIP VZ Hair and Glamour Magic Instant Bigga Lashes, £15.95, vzhairandglamour.com, instantly plumps lashes by up to 200% by layering up tiny particles that cling to your own hairs, to make them fatter, fuller, longer and sexier. Brush on just like mascara. 1 BIG UP NATURAL LASHES “I almost always curl lashes first,” says leading make-up artist Mary Greenwell: she only ever uses Shu Uemura eyelash curler, £20. “To create voluminous lashes, it’s all about finding the blackest black mascara,” says Bobbi Brown. “I like to layer different formulas – lengthening and volumising – for a false lashes effect.” Try Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara, £23, layered with the No Smudge Mascara, £20, or check out the smudge-proof Burberry Curve Lash Mascara, £24, designed for fuller and more lifted…

Always put this first on your packing list, no matter what time of year or destination. A stick sunscreen cuts back on space, but a cream covers more body per square inch than a spray. We love Clarins Sun Care Oil Spray UVB/UVA 30, £19.50, and the divine Sisley Super Soin Solaire Youth Protector SPF 30 Milky Body Mist, £83. For all-round cover, Shiseido Expert Sun Aging Protection Lotion SPF 30, £32, increases its SPF when your skin gets wet. FGY TIP Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow the ingredients to fully bind to the skin. Reapplication is just as important, so reapply the same amount every two hours or immediately after swimming.…

ARE YOU WEARING PROTECTION? We’re pretty hot on SPF use these days, but research is building on another outdoor opponent – pollution. City skin gets the toughest time from exhaust fumes but nobody’s immune on al fresco afternoons, and while it’s a long road to reducing pollution, skin protection is more swiftly sorted. Stay safe out there! Steel your skin They sound groovy, but free radicals are unstable airborne molecules that cause skin inflammation and its myriad ageing effects. Antioxidants help your body fight off rogue radicals – another reason to eat berries and kale – or use serums with ascorbic acid AKA vitamin C. Don’t bother with products in jars or clear packaging as light and air destabilise the active bit. SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, £129, or La Roche-Posay Redermic…

Yushoi Snapea rice sticks are 96 cals or less per bag, high in fibre and a source of natural protein. 4 flavours, 55p for 21g, major retailers Heck gluten-free veggie burgers and balls are perfect for a meat-free barbecue. £3 a pack, Waitrose or heckfood.co.uk Aussie Bodies Mini ProteinFX bars are supercharged with protein, low in fat and less than 100 cals. 6 flavours, £1.49 for 30g, boots.com MightyBee Coconut Jerky sounds weird, tastes great! From £1.80 for 30g, mightybee.com and Whole Foods Market Coppa della Maga sugar-free ice cream has launched a vegan Coconut & Strawberry Sorbet. £2.99 for 125ml, coppadellamaga.co.uk Sweetpea Pantry Grainy Brainy Pancake Mix is gluten and sugar free – and delicious! £4.99 for 365g, Ocado and M&S Kellogg’s Ancient Legends granolas, mueslis and cereals are…

Eaten too much ice cream? Don’t feel too bad about it. It takes 3,500 calories to gain a pound of body fat, so one treat won’t cause significant weight gain. Just get back on track tomorrow, introducing more exercise rather than cutting calories. What to eat for healthy hair: salmon for omega-3 fatty acids, spinach and carrots for vitamin A, Brazil nuts for selenium, and oysters and walnuts for zinc. Low-fat dairy products can help maintain scalp health too. A red cabbage has 15 times as much betacarotene – an antioxidant that fights wrinkles and plays a vital role in eye health – as a green cabbage. Eat a few less mouthfuls of pasta and a few more of salad. Easy swaps like that can save 100-200 calories each meal, which adds up over the week, the…

PART ONE THE 18-MINUTE FATBURNING WALK To get results we need to focus on two forms of exercise, the first being aerobic. This involves a specially created walking workout to shift any excess body fat and increase your natural calorie burn, as well as improving your overall fitness and energy levels. By changing the speed and technique of your walk, you are constantly challenging your muscles. The different styles will help to lift, shape and sculpt those key areas while the intervals of faster walking help to burn off excess body fat. ➤ STRIDE 1 This is simply taking a shorter stride but at a good brisk pace. Your muscles have to react quickly to the change in motion and this is great for sculpting the waist muscles and your…

KEEP YOUR WORKOUT SAFE High-impact training achieves fast results in time for our holidays, yet orthopaedic surgeon Gorav Datta (hipandkneeclinics.com) is seeing an increase in hip and knee injuries. Here’s his workout advice: ✢ BARRECORE “Follow the guidance of your instructor implicitly with regards to stretching and warm-ups; this is a key component of any training and particularly barrecorre.” ✢ CROSSFIT “Avoid trying to lift weights in excess of capability; this has a damaging impact on knees and can lead to overuse of the cartilage and damage to kneecaps.” ✢ HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING [HIIT] “Don’t be tempted to extend the duration of a HIIT workout too quickly; the exercise is determined by short, sharp bursts of action, and lengthening the session places overexertion on the heart.” ✢ SOULCYCLE “Ensure…

Most of us take our feet for granted. That is, until something goes wrong. Problems with feet affect more than eight out of ten women at midlife – not that surprising when you consider that by the time we’re 50 they would have carried us, on average, an incredible 75,000 miles. “Women are more prone to foot problems than men,” says consultant orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon, Nick Savva. Decades of wearing stilettos, toe-pinching pointy shoes and ligament-straining sandals take their toll, causing lumps, bumps, aches and pains. Add on the fact that both men and women are more active at 40-plus, and any extra weight from menopausal pounds, and you have the perfect recipe for foot trouble. OUR EXPERTS NICK SAVVA Consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon at Dorset County…

OUR EXPERTS DR NOOR ALMAANI, consultant dermatologist at King Edward VII NHS Hospital in Windsor and The Private Clinic in Harley Street, London DR JOANNA GACH, a consultant dermatologist at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and BMI Meriden Hospital in Coventry NINA GOAD, spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists DR SEAN LANIGAN, medical director of Sk:n Clinics The idea that something as innocuous as a mole might be a dangerous cancer is terrifying but is it really practical to see a GP every time you are worried? The answer is yes say the experts, but first the good news. By the time we turn 40 most of us will have around 35-40 moles, lumps and bumps on our bodies. And while they’re more common in midlife, according…

OK, it sounds a bit serious – and indeed it is, but SDM is all about what to tell your GP, so you can reach a decision on any treatment together. Before they write a prescription, make sure you: List any other medicines and pills you are taking or have taken, even normal things like paracetamol, vitamins and supplememts. Write them down before your appointment or take the packaging with you. Give details of your symptoms, including when they started and what makes them better or worse. Say if you have any allergies or intolerances – eg lactose intolerance. Say whether you’d prefer the medicine in liquid or tablet form if there’s a choice. Ask if you’re unsure about how to use your medicine – asthma inhalers can be tricky.…

✢ “We are chronically over-scheduled, always striving to cram too many things into too little time,” says Carl Honoré. “Slowing down means taking a less-is-more approach.” So how do we cut loose? Here are his tips: ➤ Aim to “pinpoint the things that are really important to you, giving them your full time and attention and letting everything else go.” ➤ Build in “buffer times, open moments between activities so that you notice individual pleasures, not simply rushing from one thing to the next.” The result? It’s like a brilliant personal declutter. Start clearing space in your diary for experiences rather things that seem like must-dos but aren’t! Go to carlhonore.com for more slow down inspiration. SCHEDULE IN HAPPINESS List the things that make you most happy. (Travel/live music/great food/learning…

Happiness comes from unexpected places. The worst thing that has ever happened to you can, with time, be the best. Likewise, your happiest moments can lead to your unhappiest. In truth, we’re very bad at knowing what will make us happy. We think “I’ll be happy when...” or “I can’t be truly happy while…” We’re usually wrong on all counts.…

FLORAL FOCUS Treat your iPad to a new case for summer. Ted Baker Ireanne Hanging Gardens iPad Mini case, £49.95, proporta.co.uk ADD A DASH A handmade silk scarf to add a splash of colour to a white shirt. Tropical silk scarf, £55, celticandco.com BRIGHT AND FRESH Pack some stylish accessories in your suitcase. Orla Kiely Sunset Floral cosmetics and wash bags, from £20 each, johnlewis.com PUCKER UP The latest lip colours this season – go for the glow! RMK Irresistible Glow Lips in 8, 7 and 9, £21 each, selfridges.com PASTEL POWER Get fingers and toes holiday ready. Nails Inc Pro in Westminster Place and Soho Lane, both £12.98, sallyexpress.com SAY IT WITH FLOWERS Treat a loved one to beautifully scented blooms. Margaret Merril Rose Garden bouquet, from £80, realflowers.co.uk…

Never has our life been so ruled by numbers, but while your multitude of pins, passwords and personal contacts are important, the really vital stats are those that tell the story of your health. From the level of your blood sugar to your waist circumference and much more, these critical figures all dictate how you feel and function – and give warning when your health may be at risk. The good news is that if the figures don’t add up, small and achievable lifestyle tweaks, such as a change in diet, exercise, drinking and smoking habits, can have a big impact on your health numbers and risk of disease. 31.5 inches (80cm) or less is the ideal waist measurement. Higher than this shows a raised risk of Type 2 diabetes…

FGY TIP The best therapy for joint aches? It has to be acupuncture. Hands-on but not hand heavy, it’s said to work by boosting the body’s endorphins and breaking the pain cycle. Find a therapist at acupuncture.org.uk 1 LOSE IT… and take the weight off those knees Before you even think about what pill to pop, it’s an idea to lose a few pounds. Research shows that every kilo of extra body weight you carry adds 4 kilos of pressure on knees. Try a low-carb Paleo diet – the plan drops grains, dairy and refined sugar, focusing instead on colourful veg, dark berries, lean proteins, nuts and good fats to ease those joints. Check out The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson (Vermilion) – a whopping Paleo bestseller. And the new…

Beat pool damage Chlorine can dry out hair by stripping natural oils while the copper in water can leave coloured hair with a green tinge. “Apply an intense treatment so that when you’re in the pool it creates a barrier against chlorine and helps to minimise frizz,” says celeb hairdresser Jamie Stevens. Fave for the job is TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Deep Treatment Masque, £5.50. Then spritz in a conditioner after a dip, such as Lee Stafford Breaking Hair Leave In Treatment, £7.99 at Boots, with UV filters for colour protection. Copper deposits in water accelerate damage; Pantene Expert Strengthening Primer, £14.99, with peptie Pal-KT and antioxidants, blocks this damage from the start. STYLE IT “Soft waves are an easy look and best achieved when hair is wet,” says hair expert…

Q WHAT WILL BOOST MY HAIR? I’m only 34 but my hair is getting really brittle and dry looking; is there anything I can do to prevent it? I’m a big fan of supplements for both hair and nails, such as biotin and silica (try Life-Flo Biotin Drops, £15.50 for 60ml, and Silica Complete, £11.95 for 60 tablets, both at victoriahealth.com), or the marine-based Viviscal Women’s Max Strength Supplements, £51.99 for 60, with vitamin B3 and iron. Do try a regular stimulating scalp massage, such as the glorious rosemary, lemon and sage oil Phyto Huile D’Ales Intense Hydrating Oil Treatment, £14.50 for five ampoules. Apply to the ends and work through to your roots, then wrap up in a warm towel for 15 minutes or more. Rinse, then shampoo. Alternatively,…

Potatoes can help de-puff your eyes because they’re astringent, which means they help decrease water retention – plus they also contain the enzyme catalase, which helps lighten dark under-eye circles. Cut two slices from a washed, peeled spud and place on each eye for 10 minutes. For a natural sun-kissed look, use a light bronzer all over the face, then a darker one on the forehead, nose and chin. A pinky-gold is best for fair skin, golden bronze for medium and golden red for dark complexions. If your eyeliner crumbles while putting it on, leave it in the freezer for 15 minutes before applying. It should glide along seamlessly. Dry, flaky, chapped lips are the worst canvas for lipstick. To exfoliate, use a special scrub or apply lip balm to…

Full-fat gourmet cheeses, red wine, chocolate and coffee to control weight sounds too good to be true. But, according to recent research, these are just some of the foods and drinks that help us stay healthy by fostering the health of the trillions of microbes that live in your gut and are known as your microbiota. “Your gut is literally teeming with microbes – which are crucial to health and wellbeing,” says Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College, London, whose work and book* have been responsible for headlines about the power of gut microbiota that affect many aspects of our health, from weight to how well you fend off infections. Professor Spector has spent a lifetime studying twins to tease out the contribution of genes and environment…

How it works Order your plan – Jane Plan will create a diet just for you, online or over the phone. Your diet delivered – choose when you want your complete diet box delivered to your home. Receive dedicated phone or online support while you lose weight. Your diet plan includes: All your perfectly proportioned meals. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack each day. Your personalised menu. Your own free step-by-step guide. Your food diary. Access to support. w & h DEALS Sign up to Jane Plan and save £25 off your first month. Prices start at £174 a month. Visit janeplan.com and enter code FGY25 (not to be used in conjunction with any other voucher codes). “Clients sign up for a minimum of one month of meals and snacks…

You’d think summer would be the time you can relax about dieting, wouldn’t you? Super-healthy salads, long, cool drinks and guilt-free puddings. Well, sorry, but think again – summer foods can be just as calorific, fat- and sugar-laden as stodgy winter favourites. But don’t worry, as long as you know what to steer clear of, you can keep on the right side of the scales and still enjoy the very best al fresco dining. SALAD DRESSINGS Swamping veggies in oil and mayo ruins what could be a really filling and delicious bowl of goodness. Now everyone loves a tasty dressing and you don’t have to go without – just adapt it to keep the fat down. Any dressing you make with mayonnaise is easy to trim: just use fat-free natural…

I worked in the city for 20 years and had been a regular at the gym, trying every single class. But nothing changed by body shape like dance fitness. It isn’t like exercising – you’re enjoying yourself and when you do that you try harder. At the end of a long day, it’s nice to have that emotional release and gyms don’t give you that. Dancing is such a lovely way to exercise – it’s the way forward. It doesn’t matter if you’re getting it right or getting it wrong, you just style it out and it’s not important. When I started doing Zumba, I simply couldn’t get my head round some of the South American moves; they actually move differently to us. It’s just not in my hips, so…

It’s the one yoga pose most of us can manage. It really helps to wake up mind and body, and helps to prevent tension building in the shoulders and back, which can often be a problem when working at a desk. 1 Stand with your feet hipdistance apart, with your arms at your sides. Spread your toes and make sure your balance is evenly distributed between both feet. 2 Keeping your back straight, hinge forward at the waist, planting your palms flat on the floor, your fingers pointing forward and spread apart. Bend your knees if it makes it feel more comfortable. 3 Step each foot back, keeping your hands beneath your shoulders, palms flat on the floor. Now lift your hips toward the ceiling until your body makes an…

Q IS IT TRUE THAT JUST DOING SIT-UPS CAN ACTUALLY BROADEN YOUR WAIST? I’ve been practising them religiously, but I’ve noticed my trousers feeling tighter! Yes, the basic sit-up can be guilty of causing our waistline to broaden, and the reason for this is that by just doing sit-ups you miss out on engaging the oblique muscles – these are the ones that help to create curves and give you a smaller waistline. So many traditional abdominal exercises just focus on working the top abdominal muscle, known as the rectus abdominis, yet the abdominals consist of more than this and it is important to always engage all three of your ab muscles, which are the rectus abdominis, the obliques and the transverse abdominis. So when you are doing an ab…

If you’re over 55 (45 for men), talk to your GP before you start exercising. It’s also a good idea to get a doctor’s OK if you have a health problem or take regular meds. To avoid injuries and burnout, start working out slowly: three days a week for 10-15 minutes. Your core is a system of muscles that wraps around your entire torso, stabilising your body. Firm these muscles before every exercise to keep your back healthy, steady your balance and maintain a rigid body position. Exercise sometimes sets off headaches… but it isn’t necessarily the physical activity, it’s often other factors, like not having enough water or not eating before. It’s easy to get hurt if your exercise form or technique is wrong. If your gym has trainers or fitness staff, they may be able to…

I am delighted that woman&home has become a media partner for Alzheimer’s Society, the leading dementia support and research charity, which works to support people to live well with dementia today and fund research to find a cure for tomorrow. Dementia is the biggest challenge facing our health and care system, and most of us fear that we, or our loved ones, may be affected. Dementia – and the effects, not just for those who receive a diagnosis but also for their families, friends and employers – is a relatively hidden issue. At least 1.5 million people are either caring for someone with dementia or affected by the condition in the UK and by 2020, there will not be a single family in the UK that is not affected. Over…

STAY SAFE FROM BITES A major series of mosquito outbreaks is predicted this summer, according to top bite protection expert Howard Carter, with many more people than normal likely to be bitten. “The excessive floodwater rainfall, along with the mild winter, has set up ideal conditions for mosquito outbreaks in the UK right through summer,” he explains. Howard’s advice: C – Cover up arms and legs with suitable clothing. L – Light-coloured clothing is strongly advisable. O – Odours, bodily or otherwise, like perfumes and scented soaps, shower gels and other washing products are strong attractants. So don’t use them! A – Apply an effective insect repellent with a high percentage of DEET or a PMD highconcentrated mosquito repellent*. K – Keep away from stagnant water, if you can. *As…

Trouble swallowing pills? Hold water in your mouth before inserting the tab or capsule – it helps to flush it down. And ask your pharmacist if the medicine is available in liquid form. Never crush tabs without checking; they may be slow release. Painful twinges halfway between periods may be you feeling ovulation, as the egg release with fluid and blood may irritate the lining of the abdomen. This is called “mittelschmerz” – German for “middle pain”. While complete colour blindness is very rare, colour vision deficiency affects 1 in 200 women in the UK but one in 12 men. Tinted glasses may help. Although having a bowel movement once a day is common, it’s fine to go a few days without. Constipation is when you go less often, pass less, or strain more than normal. Seek…

Q CAN I GET MY HUSBAND BACK? After 18 years of what I thought was a happy marriage, my husband has suddenly left me to live with his (divorced) sixth-form sweetheart. We have two children. I’m devastated and want a reconciliation. Is there any way that I can make this happen? Do you really want him back or are you feeling overwhelmed by the shock and fear of being alone? I know it’s a tough question, but to make it work you need to know the following: 1) That he wants to come back; 2) That the marriage can be repaired; 3) That you can forgive him. These are very big “ifs” and I suggest you seek professional help (see relate.org.uk – a charity that provides relationship support). Your husband…

Do you find it difficult to say no? Practise saying the word aloud when you’re on your own. When the next opportunity calls to avoid doing something you really don’t want to do or have no time to do, the answer “No” will trip off your tongue far more easily. A cluttered desk mentally exhausts you by restricting your ability to focus and limits your brain’s ability to process information, according to a Princeton University study. At the end of each day, make sure your space is tidy. You can choose to be miserable and wallow in self-pity or you can motivate yourself so that you can reach your goals. It’s always your choice. Research has proved that those who take the time to speak slowly and clearly feel more selfconfidence and appear more self-confident to others.…

FGY The Ritual of Karma range by Rituals Cosmetics combines white lotus and bergamot for a special summer feeling. Shower gel, oil, body cream, scrub, bed & body mist, scented candle and fragrance sticks. From £8.50, rituals.com HOW’S MUM AND DAD? It’s natural to worry about elderly parents, but it’s also often difficult to discuss any concerns. 3rings, who’ve devised a smart plug that can send a message from your loved one’s home to your phone to reassure you they’re fine, has produced a guide, Are My Parents Okay: A Guide to Navigating the Parent Role Reversal. It covers topics including when it’s time to start offering more support, clues that they may need extra help, creating a safe home and how to broach concerns. See 3rings.co.uk for more about…

TAKE THE PLUNGE ➤ In water, your body weight is reduced by around 80 per cent, which means highimpact activities such as running, skipping and jumping become less wearing on joints. But this doesn’t mean an easier workout – the natural resistance of liquid actually means the effort needed to move is greater. As well as the obvious benefits, such as an increase in muscle tone and weight loss, there are internal health-related pros too. “Delayed onset muscle soreness is less of an issue following a water workout,” says fitness expert Laurel Alper (laurelalper.co.uk). “The muscles will produce less lactic acid due to your lower body temperature, and the motion created as you move through the water will gently massage your limbs, improving lymphatic drainage and blood circulation.” But, as…

Turmeric has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal herb to protect the body from inflammatory health issues and disease. Unique pigments known as curcuminoids work within the body as antioxidants and strong anti-inflammatories by enhancing circulation, protecting the brain, rejuvenating the liver and targeting pain. Turmeric is advised for improving blood health: cleaning it for healthy skin, moving it for better circulation and nourishing it for good health. MEDICINAL BENEFITS NATURAL PAINKILLER Turmeric is a superb anti-inflammatory for abdominal and chest pain, frozen shoulder and period pain as well as swollen, painful joint conditions. DIGESTION For all intestinal infections, turmeric helps to reduce pathogenic bacteria in the gut. It has been proven to have an affinity for the large intestine and shown to play a preventative role…

FGY TIP TOO HOT TO SLEEP? Hot weather can be a nuisance when it comes to bedtime. Cool a pillowcase in the fridge beforehand; pop in some cotton socks too; cooling your feet lowers the overall temperature of your body. PREVENT TECH NECK “Tech neck” is on the rise, and it is only going to get worse as we spend up to four hours a day looking down at our smartphones and tablets. Physiotherapists are warning that if you look down by 30 degrees the pressure on your neck increases by four times, putting an unnecessary load of up to 50lb onto your neck, which can cause head pain, neck pain, arm pain and numbness. “Our normal standing position is facing forward; when you drop your chin down to check…

We are delighted to team up with this brilliant online sportswear shop to bring FGY readers an exclusive discount ZAAZEE is a British women’s sportswear brand that launched in 2014. The capsule collection features stretchy award-winning capris, leggings, popular running vests and fitness tops, as well as raved-about sports bras and other accessories. The range is all made with quality, technical fabrics. ZAAZEE is designed and made by women and the range is fully breathable – it feels great on the skin and comes in a variety of vibrant feminine colours. The fabrics (many of which are sustainable) have been specifically chosen for their high quality and comfort. ZAAZEE is manufactured by experts in a small sportswear factory in Portugal with more than 20 years’ experience. Made slowly (it is…

A well-designed, highly focused detox is the best way to clean up your health act, improve your looks and brighten your mind. It frees you up to take a much-needed break from the internal and external stresses and toxins you’re exposed to every day of your life. Some, like pollution and the frantic pace of life, you can’t really avoid. But others – coffee, sugar, salt, chemicals, food additives, alcohol and smoking – are much easier to get rid of. To feel really good, all the organs that move toxins out of the body must be clear and working at their peak. If they’re not and the toxins recirculate, you start to feel lethargic and unfocused. Do any of these symptoms seem familiar to you? • Frequent headaches and sluggishness…

Q WILL I GET DIABETES? My doctor has told me I am struggling to lose weight because I’m insulin resistant. Does this mean I’m going to get diabetes and just keep getting heavier? Being insulin resistant means your blood sugar levels run higher than they should and if you leave the condition unchecked, you will increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. It also means you’re much more prone to gain weight around your middle. It’s not all doom and gloom – you need to see this as a warning sign. If you can lose just 10% of your body weight, you can improve your insulin sensitivity and reduce your risk of diabetes. The more you lose, the less insulin resistant you will be. It’s vital that you lose…

As well as heart health benefits, numerous studies have concluded that the more tomatoes we eat, the lower our risk of getting certain cancers, especially lung, stomach and prostate. A substance called lycopene, which is responsible for the fruit’s red colour, is thought to be the reason for this cancer-protective effect. Tomatoes are also an excellent source of vitamin C, biotin, molybdenum and vitamin K. They are also a very good source of copper, potassium, manganese, dietary fibre, vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin B6, folate, niacin, vitamin E and phosphorus. Wow! If you have a glut (or if your neighbour has), don’t just chop them for salads – think salsas, pasta sauces, soups, risottos, dips and more. Find a host of recipes at womanandhome.com FGY TIP Our…

HAVE YOU MIS-SELF-DIAGNOSED? Mary Roe, a food intolerance specialist, explains why many that have self-diagnosed gluten intolerances aren’t helping themselves. “Coeliac disease is a serious auto-immune disease, and sufferers must follow their doctor’s advice and avoid gluten in wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats. However, when I test people to see which foods they react to, 99% who suspect wheat/gluten are actually intolerant of something else in bread, or a filling of a sandwich, or something eaten with pasta.” Here are some of the foods that people are actually reacting to: Yeast – it’s in nearly all bread. 38% of the adults whom I test have a positive reaction. Cheese – eaten by many with pasta and on pizza. 39% have a positive reaction. Cow’s milk products – when used…

To create a slim waistline is not about doing situps – it’s more about adding some twists and turns to your ab exercises. This will engage the muscles that are responsible for drawing in your waistline to create those summer-friendly curves and help you fit perfectly in your swimsuit and summer dresses. Try these three moves from our expert Lucy Wyndham-Read to help give you those curves. FGY TIP Tone your tummy with some high intensity training, which can be as simple as 20 seconds of star jumps then 10 seconds marching on the spot, repeated eight times. Do this six times a week and you will quickly notice a difference in your waist. 1 REACH FOR THE SKY Lying on your back with both legs fully extended up, lift…

FOR STEELY THIGHS… TRY CYCLING ➤ Why? Cycling works every muscle below the belt, but the thighs do the lion’s share of the work. ➤ Tips Short, frequent rides will get you accustomed to being back in the saddle. Set the gears so you can turn the pedals fairly quickly without too much resistance to avoid stressing the knees. ➤ Body bonus Cycling might be low impact, but it burns 500 calories an hour at a moderate 12-14mph pace. ➤ Watch out for Traffic. Wear a helmet and high-visibility clothing. ➤ Get started If you’re rusty, start on traffic-free trails. Many councils offer free cycling proficiency classes for adults. See bikeability.org.uk ➤ Also consider Trail running, hiking. FOR A FIRMER BOTTOM… TRY TENNIS ➤ Why? The lunging, reaching and sprinting…

Travel kit checklist sunscreen after-sun lotion insect repellent antihistamines anti-diarrhoea pills rehydration sachets first aid kit, including antiseptic Travelling abroad is exciting, but with so much planning to do beforehand, the basics of health and safety are often the last thing on your mind. Us Brits go on more than 60 million trips abroad each year and most of us have a safe trip, but accidents and illness do happen! GET INSURED Whether you’re off on a six-month trek to the Himalayas or a family holiday in Spain, it’s vital to have the right insurance. Make sure your policy covers your destination and the duration of your stay, as well as any specific activities you might do. For example, don’t assume your policy will cover adventure activities. When travelling in…

Q IS THIS THRUSH? I keep getting genital itching and discharge, which I’m sure is due to thrush. Why is this? I only use unperfumed shower gel and never douche my genital area. First, you need to be sure that it is thrush, rather than another infection, so see your GP or practice nurse for a diagnostic swab. They may also want to do a blood sugar check, as recurrent thrush can be caused by diabetes. It can also be due to reinfection from your partner, so ask him to have a check too. Another cause can be a relapse of the original infection, which never fully cleared. This can often be helped with a course of antifungal treatment, either vaginal pessaries or oral capsules, prescribed by your GP. Q…

Whether you’re going on a glamorous continental holiday or just taking a day out closer to home, rediscover the joy of sending a handwritten postcard this summer. And it isn’t just the recipient who’ll be delighted… Studies have revealed an association between writing by hand and brain development and cognition, increasing neural activity more than typing can. Just as learning by handwriting notes is more effective for students, the moments you commit to paper for others are more likely to stay stored in your own memory as well, allowing you both to reflect back and appreciate them again in the future. Postcards only offer so many square inches, forcing the sender to truly think about the message they want to share and how they want to phrase it. Unlike with…

We ask the experts about the scenarios that are best for getting intimate with your partner – and they’re moments that might just surprise you… 1 When your alarm goes off Before reaching for your first coffee of the day, get busy between the sheets. “Men’s testosterone levels are higher in the morning so your partner is more likely to be sexually aroused,” says Relate counsellor and sex therapist Peter Saddington (relate.org.uk). Your energy levels are also likely to be at their peak first thing, while the stresses of the day have yet to begin. “Without the stressors of our daily lives invading, morning sex can really keep you feeling emotionally engaged with your partner,” says psychotherapist Abigail Eaton-Masters (abigaileatonmasters.com). 2 Before a work presentation Keep nerves at bay by…

MY MAKE-UP… When I was growing up, no one ever talked about skin cancer and I’d put cooking oil all over my skin and lie in the sun for hours. It was only when I got to 40 that the damage started to show. I’ve since had a lot of IPL treatment to get rid of it and now I make sure all my make-up has an SPF. I use Chanel Vitalumière foundation, which gives me great coverage and a nice glow, and I love creating big eyes with my bareMinerals mascara. MY BEAUTY REGIME… I like trying new products. At the moment, I’m using the Olay Regenerist range – a cleanser, toner and cream – and it’s definitely making a difference to my skin. It’s so important as you…