All posts tagged: healthier

This 74p-a-day habit is why Sara Cox’s hair is fuller and healthier than ever at 51

This 74p-a-day habit is why Sara Cox’s hair is fuller and healthier than ever at 51

Published by Daniella Wilson

Broadcasting icon Sara Cox’s fringe has been a signature of her look for decades. In an industry obsessed with reinvention, the 51-year-old has maintained the effortlessly cool hairstyle throughout tenures on radio and TV since the late 90s. It typically takes on a blunt-cut that skims just above the eyebrows, and looks naturally thick. However, Sara has now revealed that caring for her fringe (and the rest of her hair, for that matter) hasn’t always been a smooth ride. AT A GLANCE Sara Cox’s fringe has been a signature of her look for decades in broadcasting The 51-year-old experienced hair loss and dullness in midlife so used Dr.Vegan’s Hair Saviour supplement to help With 14 nutrients, the formula combats hair loss and thinning, while injecting a glow into each individual strands The mum-of-three recently opened up about her tresses “feeling dry and looking a bit dull” in midlife – an annoyance that millions of women can relate to. Our hair often undergoes a significant vibe shift during our 40s and 50s, which is usually down …

Scientists find way to make a healthier and ‘oozier’ version of vegan cheese

Scientists find way to make a healthier and ‘oozier’ version of vegan cheese

Published by Daniella Wilson

Sign up to IndyEat’s free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Scientists have developed a new vegan cheese that promises to be healthier, more environmentally friendly, and even “oozier” than existing alternatives. Traditional vegan cheese substitutes often rely on solid fats such as coconut or palm oil to achieve their desired “sliceable, meltable” texture. However, this typically results in a high saturated fat content. Researchers at Heriot-Watt University (HWU) have now pioneered a method using home-grown vegetable oils, including rapeseed and sunflower, as a sustainable alternative. This innovation aims to create a product that is both healthier for consumers and more sustainable for the planet. Professor Stephen Euston, who is leading the team, said: “I think it’s fair to say that when most people try vegan cheese for the first time, they don’t wax lyrical. “The main reason for that is probably to do with the lack of protein. “Normal cheese is mostly protein, whereas vegan …

5 Ways To Make Walking Even Healthier

5 Ways To Make Walking Even Healthier

Published by Sam Flores

The more I learn about the health benefits of walking, the more I understand why the NHS calls the exercise “overlooked”. Walking as few as 2,337 steps a day can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, while a 1.6km stroll is linked to denser bones. It can help your sleep, joints, and immune system, and may even lower your cravings for sweet foods. Walking for half an hour daily may add 1.4 years to women’s lives, and 2.5 to men’s. But if you want to make a great thing even better for you, it turns out there are some simple changes – like bringing a friend on your walk, or taking a hilly route – that could be worth your while. How can I make my walk healthier? 1) Walk briskly All walking is good for us. But in one study, brisk walking was linked to a 20% reduction in premature death compared to just 4% for slower walkers. The NHS said that we should aim for a 4.8km/hour pace. Speaking to HuffPost …

Is dark chocolate a healthier Easter egg option? Dietitians give their verdict

Is dark chocolate a healthier Easter egg option? Dietitians give their verdict

Published by Daniella Wilson

Sign up to IndyEat’s free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Easter chocolate is all over supermarket shelves. Some people reach straight for milk chocolate eggs while others pause at the darker varieties, assuming they’re healthier. Dark chocolate has gained a reputation as the “better” choice because it usually contains more cocoa and less sugar than milk chocolate. But is dark chocolate actually healthier? Let’s see how the evidence stacks up. How do they compare? All chocolate begins with the cocoa (or cacao) bean. Cocoa beans are the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree, a tropical plant native to Central and South America. Processing the bean gives you cocoa solids (the bitter part) and cocoa butter (the fat part that gives chocolate its smooth texture). Chocolate is made from cocoa solids, cocoa butter and sugar. Milk chocolate also contains milk powder or condensed milk. Dark chocolate typically contains a much higher proportion of cocoa solids, usually …

Is dark chocolate healthier than milk chocolate? Two dietitians weigh in

Is dark chocolate healthier than milk chocolate? Two dietitians weigh in

Published by Daniella Wilson

Sign up to IndyEat’s free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free Easter chocolate is all over supermarket shelves. Some people reach straight for milk chocolate eggs while others pause at the darker varieties, assuming they’re healthier. Dark chocolate has gained a reputation as the “better” choice because it usually contains more cocoa and less sugar than milk chocolate. But is dark chocolate actually healthier? Let’s see how the evidence stacks up. How do they compare? All chocolate begins with the cocoa (or cacao) bean. Cocoa beans are the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree, a tropical plant native to Central and South America. Processing the bean gives you cocoa solids (the bitter part) and cocoa butter (the fat part that gives chocolate its smooth texture). Chocolate is made from cocoa solids, cocoa butter and sugar. Milk chocolate also contains milk powder or condensed milk. Dark chocolate typically contains a much higher proportion of cocoa solids, usually …

The best water flossers, tried and tested for healthier teeth

The best water flossers, tried and tested for healthier teeth

Published by Sam Flores

How many of us can look our dentist in the eye and promise we’ve flossed daily? It’s always the first thing to drop from my morning routine, and the last thing on my mind before bed. Luckily, my tune has changed since testing some of the best water flossers. Also known as oral irrigators, water flossers are completely different from the painful, harsh and environmentally unfriendly ways of traditional flossing tape, and they can get into spaces that a toothbrush might miss. “These devices use a steady high-pressure, or pulsating stream of water to target the areas between the teeth near the gum line,” Dr Khurrum Hussain, a dentist and clinical periodontist at Bupa Dental Care explains. They are more effective than tape for hard-to-reach areas, so they are particularly useful for anyone with braces or dental work like bridges. Meanwhile, using a water flosser to dislodge plaque from the gum line and any food particles can also help to whiten your teeth. The best water flossers: At a glance How to use a water …

Feminist beliefs linked to healthier romantic relationship skills for survivors of childhood trauma

Feminist beliefs linked to healthier romantic relationship skills for survivors of childhood trauma

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study suggests that embracing feminism might help women navigate romantic conflicts, especially for those who experienced emotional neglect in their early years. The research indicates that a strong feminist identity acts as a buffer, allowing women to maintain constructive communication with their partners despite past childhood trauma. These results were recently published in the journal Health Care for Women International. Childhood emotional maltreatment comes in two main forms. Emotional abuse involves active harms, such as name calling, belittling, or expressing verbal hostility. Emotional neglect is characterized by a lack of action, which happens when caregivers are detached, emotionally unavailable, or ignore a child’s basic emotional needs. Both forms of early mistreatment can severely disrupt how a person learns to form bonds with others. Psychology experts often refer to these bond-building habits as attachment styles. When children do not receive consistent emotional support, they often develop insecure attachments. People with insecure attachments frequently struggle to trust others or feel safe in intimate settings. When these individuals grow into adults and enter romantic partnerships, they …

‘All you need is a chair and a view’: could daily ‘dusking’ make us healthier and happier? | Life and style

‘All you need is a chair and a view’: could daily ‘dusking’ make us healthier and happier? | Life and style

Published by Sam Flores

I’m wandering around a walled garden on the edge of the North York Moors at dusk. The darkening sky is faintly illuminated by a sharp sliver of crescent moon and the first stars. Bats are swooping in search of supper, an owl is softly hooting and the dark outline of a ruined castle looms beyond the walls. But what is really striking about the scene is what’s missing: artificial light. There are no solar lamps or electric bulbs; no torches or phone screens. As parts of the garden recede into the gloom, others are thrown into sharp relief: the bare branches of winter trees; a russet-coloured hedge; clumps of snowdrops, glowing bright in the moonlight. I’ve spent the past hour at the UK’s first “dusking” event. About 20 of us gathered in a glasshouse at twilight to watch darkness descend. In the Netherlands, dusking, or schemeren, was once an everyday ritual, with families sitting together to observe the end of the day and the coming of night. The custom had all but died out until …

The seven ‘Ws’ for a healthier life

The seven ‘Ws’ for a healthier life

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore The path to a healthier life may seem daunting and nearly half of Americans who set New Year’s resolutions give up by February, according to a 2025 poll. But UCLA Health nephrologist Dr. Niloofar Nobakht says it could be as easy as committing to seven steps she calls the “The Seven Ws of Wellness.” The Ws offer protection from heart and kidney disease, diabetes and obesity, among other benefits. While nearly all of the Ws are fairly easy to guess – “water intake,” “weight,” and “what to eat,” “wake and sleep hygiene,” “walking” and “working out” – you might not have known that one stands for “waltz.” “I play music, and I’ve noticed that on the days I play the piano or listen to pieces such as a waltz, I function more effectively at work,” said Nobakht. “It is very beneficial …

Houseplant hacks: will my plants be healthier if I use Leca balls instead of soil? | Houseplants

Houseplant hacks: will my plants be healthier if I use Leca balls instead of soil? | Houseplants

Published by Sam Flores

The problemEnter any deep plant nerd space such as the Reddit threads, and you’ll find Leca. Hardcore followers cite positives to growing plants in these clay balls, such as fewer pests and watering mistakes, and faster growth. Switching from soil to semi-hydro is tempting, but does it actually make life easier? The hackLeca stands for lightweight expanded clay aggregate. Unlike soil, it is inert and doesn’t feed the plant. Its job is to hold moisture and air around the roots, while you provide everything else via a diluted fertiliser solution. Water sits at the bottom of the pot, and the clay wicks it upwards, keeping the root zone evenly damp. The methodRinse new Leca thoroughly to remove dust, then soak it before use. I would use it with plants that enjoy consistent moisture, such as pothos, philodendron or peace lilies. Find a tall pot or vase without drainage holes, fill with Leca and top up with water and low-concentration feed. Add your plant with the roots above the waterline, not submerged. Flush through with water …