Simply Woman & Home

As a nation we’re living longer, with the average life expectancy for women currently 82.9 years. But nobody wants to live to a ripe old age existing on memories and regrets, unable to move or look after themselves any more. The solution? By making l

10 minutes is how long 20% of us spend feeling body-conscious each day.* ‘Don’t let your identity be all about your appearance,’ warns psychologist Georgina Barnett. ‘Life’s about experiences, relationships, a career you love and growing as a person.

SAVE UP TO 42% ✢ Never miss an issue with convenient home delivery ✢ Feel Good You offers women of any shape and any fitness level the inspiration to feel fabulous every day ✢ Packed with tips, expert advice and best buys to help you live a healthier

When you slide between the sheets at night, how do you feel? Cosy, comfy and content in the knowledge that you’ll drift off very soon? If the answer is no, your bed may be partly to blame. According to new research* more than 13% of people find an un

Had I been told a decade ago that I’d be spending my days in a yoga studio, I’d never have believed it. I thought my life was all mapped out. My plan was to keep working as a Home Economics and Textiles teacher until I was 60, then retire. That was u

From a spirited giggle to a deep belly guffaw, there’s nothing quite as infectious as laughter. But as adults, have we lost the ability to let go and laugh? Unlike a baby or toddler who will happily chuckle at their own reflection, we’re often bogged

1 in 4 The amount of women who have considered leaving the workplace because of menopause, according to the 2016 Wellbeing of Women Study. Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the over-50s are one of the fastest-growing dem

The average person moans about being tired three times a day*. Julia Cameron-Wallace from Spatone shares her fatigue-fighting tips. ‘Sitting inside under fluorescent lights is bad for energy levels. Even a little bit of sun will help.’ ‘Choose whole,

Want to give your brain a boost? A recent study* revealed that completing puzzles uses a wide range of cognitive abilities and regularly enjoying a jigsaw could help to maintain these into old age. And the benefits don’t end there, as Sarah Stevens,

LOSE UP TO 5LB IN A MONTH! Cycling between periods of eating and fasting – known as intermittent fasting – might sound tough but, thanks to a new method, it’s easier than ever. In fact, even actor Jennifer Aniston is a fan! This is the 16:8 diet, and

We’re continually being bombarded with research on the health issues surrounding coffee and caffeine, but very rarely is it all one-sided. While scientists from the National Institutes of Health in the US say four to five cups of coffee a day could h

334 CALS PER SERVING Serves: 4 Ready in: 45 mins 2 tbsp low-fat Greek yogurt2 tbsp smoked sweet paprika1 tbsp minced ginger600g chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces40 garlic cloves, peeled2 medium onions, chopped1 ½ tbsp rapeseed oil1 star anis

We all aspire to eat more healthily, but often it takes more than willpower alone to keep our brains from ruling our bellies. Being able to identify and work with your innate attitude to food could help you stop your emotions controlling your stomach

A common cold, or the onset of hay fever, can cause congestion and blocked airways. ‘Dust allergies may also lead to a runny nose due to inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages,’ says nutritionist Rob Hobson. As some over-the-counter remedies

Not sure what’s constantly derailing your diet? Could it be the need for a little something extra on top of your daily meals? The problem is, even if we’re following all the advice to eat more oily fish and pile veg high on our plates, there’s one ar

FGY LIKES! Swanson Full Spectrum Spanish Black Radish 60 Capsules, £8.35, swanson.co.uk Eating the rainbow gives us a number of health-boosting nutrients, and the hearty radish – which grows in pretty shades from white to hot pink – is a great way to

If you love unique fragrances, Layers by Experimental Perfume Club Discovery Set will be right up your street. It includes six mini layerable perfumes split into top, middle and base notes, plus a £25 voucher towards a full-sized bespoke blend. Jo Ma

There are many unpleasant side effects of the menopause, but the fact that it upsets your skin is less well known. Just when you think you’ve got your skincare perfected, sore, flaking skin and long-forgotten acne flare-ups can be a shock. And as the

The hairdressing world loves a rule. It’s spring, so you’ll be lightening up your hair shade, they say. You’ve crossed into midlife territory, so you’ll be getting a bob, they say. Even styling is subject to blanket directives, the most recent must-h

Avoid looking ghostly pale in photographs by steering clear of ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The white pigments are designed to reflect the sun’s harmful UV rays and, unfortunately, reflect a camera flash too. SOPHIE CULLEN, BE

There’s been a prolific rise in so-called ‘clean beauty’ products in the past few years. But it’s important to understand what these terms really mean. Just because an ingredient is labelled as ‘natural’, that doesn’t mean it’s completely safe to use

Tucked away in thick socks, winter boots and cosy slippers all winter, it’s no wonder our feet may now feel neglected. But show them some TLC and you can prevent these common conditions, explains consultant podiatrist Emma Supple (supplefeet.com). ‘M

DO THIS WORKOUT EVERY DAY FOR THREE WEEKS, TO REAP THE RESULTS! You might think that the only way to get fit and lose weight is by exercising non-stop. But what if we told you that all it took was 21 minutes a day for 21 days? Appealing? Personal tra

Jo Moseley, 55, from Skipton, tried aquafit to ease an injury and soon began teaching it ‘In December 2017, I had a frozen shoulder that needed strengthening. It wasn’t quite up to swimming so I decided to try an aquafit class taken by my friend Chri

Cycling is a fun way to improve your fitness and an eco way to get from A to B. Sam Jones of Cycling UK shares tips for staying safe on the road. ‘Bikeability is the UK’s official cycle training course and teaches the importance of being seen by othe

The mind and body benefits of yoga are proven and the rise of online classes means you can now downward dog without ever having to set foot in a studio, or even leave your front room. Yoga teacher and YouTuber Helen Faliveno reveals how to get the mo

With an array of health information at our fingertips it can be easy to be lulled into a false sense of security that we know it all when it comes to the symptoms of major health conditions. But research shows that this is far from true. For example,

70% This is the number of people predicted to have hay fever by 2060 in England. Can’t stop sneezing and eyes constantly watering? Around 31% of adults in the UK suffer from hay fever every year. ‘Symptoms are caused by an over-reaction to pollen,’ e

Around 7,300 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK every year. When it comes to cancer, many of us are doing our best to keep on top of the checks and tests we need, whether that’s feeling our breasts for lumps or attending a smear test.

Low motivation and a lack of time are two of the most common reasons why we skip a workout, says research*. Sometimes life takes over and we can’t always make it to the gym. But what if there was another way to get the benefits of exercise – losing w

Antibiotics don’t just kill harmful bacteria, they also kill ‘good’ bacteria that lives in the gut. ‘This leads to a decrease in the diversity of bacteria, which is essential for many elements of our overall health,’ explains Dr Farooq Rahman, consul

With an estimated 50% of women having a urinary tract infection (UTI) during their lifetime,* GP Dr Penny Ward explains why it’s important to always look in the loo. ✢COLOUR CUES Urine colour ✢ ranges from pale yellow to deep amber. You may see other

How often do you catch yourself saying sorry when you’ve done nothing wrong or worrying about what others think? Imagine how much better life would be if you stopped being so hard on yourself. ‘It’s common for women to find themselves repeatedly in t

When traditional medicine can’t help, alternative therapies could offer the solution to a number of common health issues… Perhaps you’ve got a health condition that causes a lot of pain, but you don’t want to keep dosing up on painkillers for the res

Ready to conquer the hold anxiety has over your life? Here’s how… Most people will experiences anxiety at some point in their life. In fact, mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain, affecting around one in seven of

No couple’s sex life stays the same as it was in the early days, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still feel desirable. Want to spice things up again? Learning how to seduce your own husband could be key. ‘Seduction is about more than pumping out Barr

1,000 items of clothing are thrown away every 30 seconds, damaging the planet in the process. Fight back against fashion waste and extend the life of clothes by an extra nine months to reduce carbon, water and waste footprints by around 20-30% each.*

We’re all guilty of letting friendships slide in adulthood, but just half an hour a week of chatting on the phone can enhance these relationships and boost your wellbeing, says Age UK. With recent demographic trends showing that the number of over-50

We understand. You work hard on your fitness all year so the idea of a holiday where your Fitbit doesn’t get much action isn’t up there on your things to do. So, don’t! Recently, fitness and holidays have consciously coupled. Wellness tourism has gro

BEST FOR BREATH-TAKING VIEWS Put on the map (literally) by walker Alfred Wainwright, under whose name 214 peaks are logged, the Lake District is a dramatic and beautiful place. Towering above the lakes are hills and mountains such as Scafell Pike and