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New! Win the ultimate flawless skin kit- Sheer Cover Introductory VIP kit worth £50+

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Sheer Cover are industry leaders in the art of flawless makeup.

Sheer Cover Studio Introductory VIP Kit

The Sheer Cover Studio Introductory VIP Kit is worth over £50 – and we have one to give way in our competition – just answer a simple question in the form at the end of this article.

The kit contains everything you need for a great looking skin, including natural coverage of blemishes with special minerals:

  • Perfect Shade Mineral Foundation in medium
  • Sun-kissed Bronzing Mineral
  • Concealer & Brighten Trio in light/medium
  • Lengthening Mascara and lash extending fibres in black
  • 3 makeup brushes

This kit also contains a guide with exclusive tips and tricks from Hollywood celebrity makeup artist Naomi Priestley – so you can get professional looking make up at home.

 

Sheer Cover Ingredients:

PERFECT SHADE® MINERAL FOUNDATION – Colour medium – 1.5g
All Shades: Boron Nitride, Bisabolol, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Lauroyl Lysine, May Contain (+/-): Mica, Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Zinc Oxide (CI 77947). Warnings: For external use only. When using this product keep out of eyes. Rinse with water to remove. Stop use and ask a doctor if rash or irritation develops and lasts. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed get medical help.

SUN-KISSED BRONZING MINERALS – 2.5g
All Shades: Mica, Magnesium Stearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Dimethicone, Disoprorpyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Nylon-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI77492, CI 77499). Warnings: For external use only. When using this product keep out of eyes. Rinse with water to remove. Stop use and ask a doctor if rash or irritation develops and lasts. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed get medical help

CONCEAL & BRIGHTEN TRIO – Light/Medium
Concealers – 1.5g
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Jojoba Esters, Polyethylene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, May Contain (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

Brightener – 0.5g
Tridecyl Trimellitate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Silica, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba Wax) Cera, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax (Candelilla Cera), Jojoba Esters, Isopropyl Palmitate, Polyethylene, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol. May contain (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Warnings: For external use only. When using this product keep out of eyes. Rinse with water to remove. Stop use and ask a doctor if rash or irritation develops and lasts. Keep out of reach of children. If swallowed get medical help

LENGTHENING MASCARA
Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Paraffin, Ozokerite, Phenyl Trimethicone, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate/HEMA Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Propylene Glycol Stearate, PVP, Stearic Acid, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Glycol Montanate, Triethanolamine, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Silica, Hydrogenated Palm Acid, Stearyl Stearate, Nylon-66, Acrylates/Diethylaminoethyl Methacrylate/Ethylhexyl Acrylate Copolymer, Synthetic Wax, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Tetrasodium Disuccinoyl Cystine, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Black 2 (CI 77266).

LASH EXTENDING FIBERS

Nylon-66, Dimethicone, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, May Contain (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).



Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

New! Shiseido celebrates new anti-ageing serum launch by offering you the chance to win The Perfect Pair worth £125 – now closed!

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For over 140 years Shiseido has been caring for women’s skin; creating premium beauty products developed with the most advanced technology and the best of nature.

BOP SS15_UTM PLUS GRS_RGB WEB_2000PX_300DPI

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate -left – 30ml £60 and the new super serum Bio-Performance Glow Revival Serum – 30ml £65

Find out more: www.shiseido.co.uk

To celebrate the launch of Shiseido’s NEW Bio-Performance Glow Revival Serum, we’re giving you the chance to win The Perfect Pair:

FOR ANTI-AGEING PREVENTION
Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, 30ml
After 20 years of research, Shiseido has created a new world first. Ultimune’s multi-award winning formula works to strengthen, repair and reinforce the skin’s immunity, to resist the impact of future ageing.

FOR THE CORRECTION OF SKIN CONCERNS

NEW Bio-Performance Glow Revival Serum, 30ml
Discover an innovative, powerful new super-serum that treats multiple skin concerns at their source. The NEW Glow Revival Serum directly targets redness, dullness, uneven skin tone and ageing, with 93% of women reporting healthier, more vibrant looking skin. (Tested on 111 women, self evaluation).

Shiseido is available to purchase online and in select department stores: Bentalls, Boots, Fenwick Bond Street, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser and John Lewis. Plus, boots.com, escentual.com, feelunique.com, harrods.com, harveynichols.com, houseoffraser.co.uk, johnlewis.com and lookfantastic.com

www.shiseido.co.uk
facebook.com/shiseidouk
twitter.com/shiseido_uk
pinterest.com/shiseidouk
instagram.com/shiseido_uk

To win your Perfect Pair worth £125, simply answer the question below:

Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

Selfridges spotlights mature creators and artists

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Selfridges’ tradition of beginning the year with unexpected, thought-provoking concepts continues with the launch of Bright Old Things. However, in a twist on its annual Bright Young Things scheme, which usually focuses on the introduction of gifted young new talent, the store is spotlighting a group of exciting mature creators and artists.

Bright Old Things at Selfridges

Mature creators and artists who are currently spotlighted in Selfridges amazing window displays!

With the ages of the participating artists, designers, musicians and entrepreneurs ranging from late-forties to mid-eighties, Selfridges acknowledges that ‘old’ is as subjective as it is irrelevant. Hand-picked talents, some who will be instantly recognisable, and some entirely new names, have been chosen to take part on the basis that they have undergone a ‘retirement renaissance’, a complete career change or an inspiring step into the unknown. The compelling line-up includes an ex-chartered accountant who became an artist in his sixties, an architect-turned-topiarist, and a product designer who has become a YouTube sensation with his vlog ‘Earth News For Space.’

Each participant will be given a dedicated Oxford Street window with which to give the million people who pass by them every week an intimate insight into their creative visions. Special events spotlighting their work will take place throughout the scheme, including a soon-to-be-announced special programme for London Collections: Men, whilst products from selected Bright Old Things will be sold in-store and online.

Linda Hewson, Selfridges Creative Director, comments:
“One of the things we pride ourselves on is telling great stories. How better to start the year than by celebrating fourteen of them? As a centenary-old department store which has been successfully reinventing itself over and over again, it made so much sense for us to shine a light on the wealth of talent and experience harnessed by bright older creatives. These people can definitely teach us all a thing or two about growing old whilst staying young at heart and relevant”.

Offering deeper insight still into the lives and legacies of the Bright Old Things, Selfridges has invited Todd Selby to capture each of these fascinating subjects in their homes and creative spaces.

From retailer-turned-designer Nick Wooster, one of the world’s most photographed men in his fifties, to Molly Parkin – one time Fashion Editor at The Sunday Times and now a talented painter at 82 – by way of Bruno Wizard, 64, “the most famous punk you’ve never heard of”… Bright Old Things is a joyful reminder that it’s never too late to try something new.

Since 2011, Selfridges’ annual Bright Young Things initiative has established itself as an exciting showcase which includes alumni such as fashion talents Simone Rocha and Astrid Andersen, set designers Rhea Thierstein and Anna Lomax, and ‘haute coiffure’ designer Charlie le Mindu.

The Jolie effect continues as tests for breast cancer gene soar

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A new study has confirmed that tests for the cancer gene BRCA  have continued to soar following Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a double mastectomy after a similar test.

BRCA testing rates surged nearly 40% in the week of Angelina Jolie’s announcement that she carried the BRCA 1 gene mutation and had an elective double mastectomy, according to a new AARP Public Policy Institute study released today.

This is the first report quantifying an increase in BRCA testing rates among women holding health insurance with a large US  company.

AARP Angelina Jolie photo from Istock _GPhillips_

Prior to Ms. Jolie’s announcement, women with a cancer diagnosis had more BRCA tests than women who did not, the AARP study found. However, during the week of her public announcement, the increase in BRCA testing among women who did not have a cancer diagnosis was nearly twice that of women with a cancer diagnosis. BRCA testing helps identify treatment options for women with the gene mutations before or after they are diagnosed with breast and/or ovarian cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Testing increased by 40%
“Our study showed that the BRCA testing rate increased about 40% and stayed at an elevated level for the rest of the year after Angelina Jolie’s announcement,” said AARP Executive Vice President for Policy Debra Whitman, PhD.

On May 14, 2013, Angelina Jolie announced in The New York Times that she tested positive for the BRCA 1 gene mutation and underwent a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer. Ms. Jolie’s story gained immediate and widespread international media attention.

About 5-10% of breast cancers are thought to be caused by hereditary genetic defects, according to the American Cancer Society. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are the most common cause of hereditary breast cancer. Women with either mutation have a high lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

“By revealing her personal story, Angelina Jolie did an incredible job of raising public awareness about the BRCA gene mutations and the increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer,” added Whitman. “We found that Baby Boomer women ages 50- to 64-years-old had the highest increase in testing rates for the BRCA gene.”

To better understand the so-called “Angelina Jolie effect”, AARP, in collaboration with Optum Labs, compared BRCA testing rates based on claims among commercially-insured women ages 35 and older in the US, before and after Ms. Jolie’s story was publicized in 2013.

Study Highlights

— BRCA testing rates increased nearly 40% per week, from an average of 350
tests per week to an average of 500 tests per week and remained elevated
for the rest of the year.
— Women ages 50-64 had the highest BRCA testing rate increase (44%),
followed by women ages 35-49 (40%).
— BRCA testing rates increased for women among all racial and ethnic
groups: 43% among white women; 43% among Hispanic women; 23% among black
women; and 16% among Asian women.

Final-Jolie-effect-graphic-4-02 Infographic

About the survey

“Star Power: Angelina Jolie’s Personal Story of BRCA1 Mutation on Testing Rates Among Commercially-Insured Women” Methodology

AARP’s Public Policy Institute examined the number and rates of BRCA tests among women covered by a large, national U.S. health insurance carrier before and after Angelina Jolie’s May 2013 announcement (January-December 2013). Using data from the Optum Labs database of retrospective administrative claims data, the report also analyzed the age, race/ethnicity, and cancer diagnosis status of women ages 35 and older who received the tests.

About AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons)
AARP LOGO
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world’s largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

How to keep fit all year round

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Inspired by the fact that most give up on their new year’s resolutions on February, Simply Gym has created a guide to keeping to your health and fitness resolutions all year long, including some motivation tips and monthly goals to aim for.

The infographic gives you a little tip for each month of the year – combine them all to keep up your momentum and celebrate reaching your goals in December!
Resolutions

www.simplygym.co.uk

Insurer scraps upper age limit on single trip policies for Europe

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Over 50s insurance specialist Staysure has announced the removal of its upper age limit restrictions on its European single trip travel insurance policies.

Staysure couple image

Recognising the challenges older travellers face when searching for affordable travel insurance, Staysure will now expand its cover options to include customers aged 85 and over when travelling to Europe, enabling even more holidaymakers to fulfil their travel plans regardless of their age. While an upper age limit will still remain on some long haul destinations, the company has removed the restriction to allow its older customers to continue visiting their most popular holiday destinations, such as Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus.

Staysure Head of Product Alison Longdon said: “We pride ourselves on being able to react to our customers’ needs and go the extra mile in creating products and services that suit their lifestyle. Getting affordable travel insurance in your 80s and 90s can be very difficult and expensive, whether due to age or existing medical conditions, so this change in our service offering for our most popular destinations is yet another step towards making our customers’ travel dreams come true and opening doors that were previously closed to them.”

Staysure CEO Ryan Howsam said: Since the launch of our Sure You Can! campaign, our customers continually tell us of the amazing things they do and what they get up to on their holidays and we’ve genuinely been impressed by the stories they share with us. It just goes to show that our customers really do want to live life to the full and fulfil their travel aspirations and our cover can enable them to achieve it.

SYC still 1

Staysure’s single trip travel insurance is ideal for holidaymakers looking for a great value, straightforward policy to cover one trip. Comprehensive single trip travel insurance includes cover for medical emergency and repatriation, up to £10m; cancellation, curtailment and trip interruption, up to £5,000; baggage loss, up to £2,000; personal liability, up to £2m and legal protection to cover up to £25,000.

More information can be found at Stayure.co.uk. Terms and conditions apply to the age limit for long haul destinations. There is no upper age limit for single trip policies unless you are travelling to the United States of America, Canada, the Islands of the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, Thailand, China or Hong Kong, where you must be 85 or under at the time of purchasing your policy.
Changes will be taking effect from February 2015.

www.staysure.co.uk/travel-insurance/single-trip

Popularity of cosmetic surgery nose dives in UK

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The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) recently revealed that the popularity of cosmetic surgery in the UK took a nose dive in 2014. The reported number of procedures performed during the year was down by 9% from 50,122 in 2013 to 45,406 with the greatest decline in breast implants and nose jobs.

nose

Following the 16.5% rise in the number of procedures in 2013, which BAAPS said was “the most impressive rise in demand since the start of the recession in 2008”, clinical negligence law firm Penningtons Manches believe that one reason for this unexpected reversal of the upward trend could be the intense scrutiny that the industry has been under during the last 12 months and the calls for tighter regulations.

BREAST IMPLANT FIGURES DEFLATED

While breast augmentation remained the most popular procedure in 2014 with 8,619 procedures being performed, this was 23% down on the 2013 figure of 11,135. This could be partly due to the PIP implant scandal which resulted in a large number of women having their implants replaced. The 2013 figures may, therefore, have been artificially inflated.

Nose jobs also fell out of favour with only 3,690 procedures in 2014, down 24% from 2013. Tummy tucks were also down 20% with just 2,713 procedures in 2014. The “tweaked, not tucked” look appears to have become the new aesthetic ideal with an increasing demand for more subtle and understated procedures.

For the second year running, the next most popular procedure for women was blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) with 7,752 procedures, a small 1% droop in the 2013 figures. However, eyelid surgery was the most popular operation for men in 2014 overtaking rhinoplasty (nose job). The number of brow lifts also fell by 7%.

ON THE UP

There was a 1% increase in the number of face and neck lifts to 6,402 while breast reduction surgeries were also up 1% to 5,528. The biggest increase was for body contouring procedures – particularly liposuction – which rose by 7% in 2014 to 4,627. Although the rise was comparatively insignificant compared with the 43% increase in 2013, liposuction continues to be a popular procedure. This is probably because it has a proven track record, can be done as an outpatient procedure, and delivers immediate results.

TOP 10 PROCEDURES IN 2014

  • Breast augmentation – down 23% to 8,619
  • Eyelid surgery – down 1% to 7,752
  • Face and neck lifts – up 1% to 6,402
  • Breast reduction – up 1% to 5,528
  • Liposuction – up 7% to 4,627
  • Nose jobs – down 24% to 3,690
  • Fat transfer operations – down 4% to 3,155
  • Tummy tucks – down 20% to 2,713
  • Brow lifts – down 7% to 1,978
  • Ear corrections – down 20% to 942

GLOBAL TRENDS

It is anticipated that more than 25 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed worldwide in 2014. In 2013, the United States topped the international chart with almost four million people going under the knife or needle, followed by Brazil with more than two million procedures. The country trends are expected to remain similar this year but countries like South Korea and Dubai should move up the ranks. At the end of last year, the Dubai Health Authority set a target to attract 500,000 medical tourists a year by 2020.

The United States is still the most popular country for body contouring procedures and Italy continues to be the main location for anti-ageing cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections and injectable fillers. The most common cosmetic surgeries done in Brazil are breast implants and liposuction while Taiwan is the country where cosmetic surgery is mainly done on the face.

Countries offering the cheapest price for procedures in 2014 included Thailand and the Dominican Republic – but even these cannot match India which offered the lowest price due to the country’s cheap economy.

THE EXPERT VIEW

Looking at the 2014 UK figures overall, the number of female cosmetic surgery patients decreased by 9% and the males by 15% despite the boom over the past decade in male surgery. While 2014 saw a reduction in the popularity of cosmetic surgery in the UK, the global numbers of cosmetic surgeries are expected to continue their upward trajectory. This begs the question – are more Britons going abroad for treatment?

Experts attribute the new trends in the UK to an increasingly educated public who have a greater awareness of the associated risks and dangers and realise that surgery is rarely a quick fix. Whatever the reason, the age of the ‘less-is-more’ look appears to have arrived and the Penningtons Manches team welcomes the new trends which suggest that people are adopting a more cautious, sensible and rational approach to cosmetic surgery.

UK luxury store Selfridges helps fund new Alzheimer’s research initiative

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Selfridges Bags Set

Three leading research funders from the UK and North America have joined forces to launch a new global initiative called MEND or, MEchanisms of cellular death in NeuroDegeneration, with a fund of $1.25m USD (£820,000/$1.56CDN) for targeted research into brain diseases that cause dementia, such as Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s Research UK, the Alzheimer’s Association based in the US and the Weston Brain Institute in Canada, whose participation in MEND is funded by Selfridges, announce the collaboration in response to the G7 health leaders’ commitment to collectively and significantly increase funding for dementia research, as announced at their December 2013 summit. G7 health leaders are meeting in Bethesda, Maryland (US), this week to review progress on their goal to identify a cure or disease-modifying treatment by 2025.

Today, 44 million people are living with dementia worldwide, and that number is set to almost double by 2030 and more than triple by 2050, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International: World Alzheimer Report 2014.

MEND demonstrates significant leadership and commitment from non-profit funders in advancing dementia research. Its funding will focus on pioneering new projects to understand the causes of brain cell death, a key goal for research into neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. These diseases cause a range of debilitating symptoms, including memory loss, difficulty with language, visual hallucinations or problems with movement, but they all share the same hallmark – the death of brain cells, including neurons and glia. In recent years there has been significant progress in scientists’ understanding of these diseases, but these advances have also highlighted key areas where there are still gaps in knowledge. The mechanisms underlying brain cell death are yet to be fully understood, and the significance and commonality of this hallmark across multiple brain diseases is a key reason for the MEND initiative. Finding answers to this important question could provide vital new clues to help fight these diseases.

“Dementia is a global problem and its solutions will require global collaboration. As charities dedicated to improving people’s lives we have an important role to play in this challenge, and Alzheimer’s Research UK is delighted to be joining forces with other leading organisations from across the world in this united effort. We now understand more than ever about the diseases that cause dementia, but there are still key questions to be answered to help us learn how to fight them. This challenge will help us gain crucial insight to help drive forward efforts to find much-needed new treatments,” said Dr Eric Karran, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity.

“We are encouraged by the potential of this unified effort to guide the development of treatments across several neurodegenerative diseases,” said Maria Carrillo, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer for the Alzheimer’s Association, the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s disease research. “This work will not only accelerate and improve our chances of finding ways to preserve brain health throughout aging, but will contribute toward achieving the goal of effectively treating Alzheimer’s by 2025, as set out by the U.S. National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s disease.”

“The Weston Brain Institute was established to be a catalyst in a transformational new chapter in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. The global epidemic of dementia underscores the importance of activating international collaborations like MEND, a program aimed at funding a critical knowledge gap,” said W. Galen Weston, Chairman and President of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, which launched the Weston Brain Institute. “The Institute is pleased to work with its MEND partners, including Selfridges, to accelerate high priority research with the potential to lead to treatments for multiple brain diseases of aging.”

Selfridges’ funds will be managed and allocated by the Weston Brain Institute.

MEND is open to applications from scientists around the globe, and researchers will be encouraged to collaborate on projects, sharing knowledge and resources in order to speed up progress. It’s hoped the scheme will also help answer fundamental questions about the similarities and differences between different diseases, such as whether the underlying mechanisms that cause cell death differ from one disease to another, and why each disease affects different types.

One in five new retirees will have debts taking nearly a decade to pay off

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Almost one in five (19 per cent) of those planning to retire this year will do so with debts outstanding, averaging £21,800, according to new research from Prudential.

The insurer’s ‘Class of’ research into the future plans, finances and aspirations of those planning to retire in the next 12 months is now in its eighth year. This year’s results show that the ‘Class of 2015’ are more likely to retire in debt than those who gave up work last year – (17 per cent of those retiring in 2014 said they would have debts outstanding when they retired, compared with 19 per cent this year).

Prudential’s research has tracked retiree debt since 2011 and shows that despite some small fluctuations, the proportion of those retiring with debts outstanding has remained consistently around the one in five mark. There is a noticeable trend though that retirees’ average amount of debt has reduced over the years.

Those retiring with debts in 2015 say they will owe on average £16,400 less than those who retired in 2012 – representing an encouraging 43 per cent drop in the last three years (see table below).

The average ‘Class of 2015’ retiree with debts says that it will be just over three years before they are paid off – this also compares favourably with last year’s retirees who said it would take them four years. Meanwhile, almost one in 10 (nine per cent) of this year’s retirees with debts expect to take nine or more years to clear their debts, and a further five per cent believe they will never pay them off.

More than two in five (43 per cent) of this year’s retirees with debts have an outstanding mortgage – another figure that has remained stubbornly high since its peak at 52 per cent in 2011. Over a half (55 per cent) will have credit card debts.

On average, a female retiree with debts will owe £24,900 this year – up considerably since last year when the average owed was £20,700. Men retiring this year with debts will owe an average of £19,700, down significantly from last year’s £28,400.

The proportion of women expecting to be in debt when they retire is unchanged at 16 per cent, while the proportion of men who expect to have debts is slightly higher at 21 per cent compared with 19 per cent last year.

While the ‘Class of 2015’ have the highest expected annual retirement income for six years at £17,000 a year, debts remain a major drain on their finances. On average, debt repayments are currently costing them more than £200 a month, rising to over £500 a month for one in seven (14 per cent).

Stan Russell, a retirement expert at Prudential, said: “Our new research shows a welcome downward trend in the average amount of debt for people retiring this year. However, it is a concern that the proportion of people reaching the retirement milestone still owing money is refusing to fall.

For many, retirement is a time in life when it is necessary to re-assess household budgets, and any debts outstanding will inevitably make this job more difficult. A consultation with a financial adviser or retirement specialist can help people to get their finances ready for life after work.

“Debt does not have to be a major issue in retirement though, as long as people have a realistic repayment plan in place. Citizens Advice Bureaux can provide free help on managing and paying off debt, and the Pensions Advisory Service can help with retirement income planning and related issues.”

Regional breakdown

regional debts

Retiring in debt
In response to the following question:
“Approximately how much personal debt do you think you will have at the point you retire?”

debts

 

Fluoride in tea is not a health risk

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Current tea consumption is unlikely to provide fluoride intakes that exceed safe limits for adults and children according to a new study just presented to the Nutrition Society by Dr Carrie Ruxton, independent public health nutritionist.

img140

Commenting on the research study, author and member of the Tea Advisory Panel (TAP), Dr Carrie Ruxton notes: “Current tea intakes do not provide enough fluoride to meet the Recommended Daily Amount (RDA) for this mineral, and the potential dental health benefits of fluoride cannot be accessed unless tea consumption increases to 3-4 servings/day from the current intake of 1-2 servings a day.

“This latest study helps to put the record straight in the context of a 2013 study that measured the fluoride content of 38 tea bags and concluded that economy versions of tea represented a risk to dental and skeletal health. These conclusions were somewhat surprising given that official bodies view fluoride as a means to deliver dental health benefits when recommended amounts are consumed. Public Health England (PHE), for example, is clear about the benefits of water fluoridation and recommends that the practice is extended.”

Dr Tim Bond from TAP adds: “The 2013 study was also flawed in several respects. Firstly, tea was brewed for 2 minutes – longer than the typical brewing time of 30-40 seconds. Secondly, 2g of dry tea was added to 100ml of water making the infusion more concentrated that a typical tea bag in a cup or mug. Thirdly, the study compared the fluoride intake with the US Dietary Reference Intake rather than the EU Safe Upper Level.

“This latest study replicated the situation of a typical cup or mug of tea in that a single tea bag was added to 240ml of boiling water and brewed for 40 seconds. Tea bags from 49 retail brands were analysed.

“Average fluoride content of black blended tea in this study was 4.91mg/litre and similar to the findings of the 2013 study. However, according to the 2014 NDNS figures, average tea consumption in the UK is 395ml daily and intakes at the safe upper level of intake are 1155ml daily. Fluoride intakes from tea (which is estimated to provide 70% of the UK’s fluoride intake) will likely be lower than the safe upper level of 7mg daily (5mg in children) even among those people with intakes of tea at the higher end of the population. Moreover, this latest study shows that current average intakes of tea do not provide the RDA for fluoride suggesting that tea intake should increase to access the benefits of fluoride for dental health.”

About the Tea Advisory Panel
The Tea Advisory Panel: The Tea Advisory Panel is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from the UK Tea Council, the trade association for the tea industry. The Panel has been created to provide media with impartial information regarding the health benefits of tea. Panel members include nutritionists; dieticians and doctors

Night Train to Lisbon – starring Jeremy Irons – win a DVD

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Night Train to Lisbon
Night Train to Lisbon is an emotionally charged story about a man’s quest for self discovery in the dying days of the Portuguese dictatorship. Featuring an all-star cast including Academy Award® winner, Jeremy Irons, this spellbinding drama will be available to own on DVD from 19th January 2015. To celebrate, we have three DVDs to give away!

When a beautiful Portuguese woman is saved from ending her life, Latin Professor Raimund Gregorius (Jeremy Irons) discovers a mesmerising book in the pocket of her abandoned coat. Recognising the opportunity to leave his dull life behind, Gregorius embarks on a soul-searching adventure to find the mysterious woman. The film is based on the novel by best-selling author Pascal Mercier.

Set against a backdrop of an oppressive fascist dictatorship, Gregorius pieces together an incredible story of revolution, loyalty, betrayal, love and jealousy. In a liberating journey of self-discovery, he learns how life can change in an instant.
To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the question below. Good luck!


NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON will be available on DVD on 19 JANUARY 2015.

Are you fit for work?

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It seems that quite apart from the benefits to you personally that healthy living can bring it now seems Britain’s bosses are being urged to take particular interest in the health of their workers.

Britain's Healthiest Company

The move is not a push to reduce accidents in the workplace but stark figures that show that a healthy workforce is a profitable one for their bosses.

Health insurer Vitality Health and consultancy firm Mercer this week launched Britain’s Healthiest Company 2015. The aim is to find and celebrate the country’s most outstanding organisations demonstrating best practice and innovative approaches to looking after the health and wellbeing of their staff.

It is the largest national study in the UK, with the aim of providing employers with insights into the wellbeing of their workers and to celebrate those companies supporting health in the workplace. Companies with at least 50 employees have been invited sign up to participate in the survey which will comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of workplace wellness programmes and the health of the workforce.

The study analyses lifestyle, behavioural and clinical risk factors including weight, diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol intake, stress, cholesterol and blood glucose levels, blood pressure as well as how often people attend health screenings to monitor and understand their health.

Neville Koopowitz, chief executive of VitalityHealth, said: “The pervasive effect our lifestyles have not only on our own health, but that of the economy as well, is startling. When we calculated the Vitality Age of the respondents to the 2014 survey, it was almost four years older than the real age. Our workforce is, in effect, four years older than it should be. This has a dramatic impact on productivity.

“As this is the third time we have conducted the survey the results will be particularly interesting as it will start to show us a direction of travel for employee health.”

Britain’s Healthiest Company 2014 surveyed over 25,000 employees from 82 companies across a diverse range of industries and employer sizes. The research, which was undertaken by the University of Cambridge and RAND Europe, revealed that sick leave and presenteeism (working while unwell) costs companies, on average, 7.7% of their yearly wage bill. This translated into an estimated total cost of lost productivity to the UK economy of over £58 billion per year.

The insurer said the report last year provided a stark warning of a dormant health time bomb, with nearly two thirds (62%) of employees having at least two bad

lifestyle choices that put them at serious risk of future ill health. The findings highlighted the strong link between these lifestyle risk factors, employees’ health and their performance at work, looking at areas such as: absenteeism, productivity, engagement, and presenteeism. It found that employers are typically left to pick up the bill as unhealthy staff take more time off sick and under-perform at work.

The question remains as to what action employers would look to or could take if they found their workforce was below par health wise. It will in the future pay to be healthy and you can expect corporate gym memberships to rise when the results of this year’s research are published.

Women juggle work & life balance better with age

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British women are struggling to bring balance to their lives, with only one in four (27%) saying they successfully juggle the demands of work, family and a social life. But over-40s are the most likely to get it right, with almost one in three saying (31%) saying they strike the right balance and more than half (57%) say they sometimes get it right.

Four out of five (84%) women say there are times when they are trying to keep too many balls in the air and a similar number (81%) fear their frenetic lifestyles could lead to health problems in the future.

Hormonal balance

This worrying picture of women’s health and emotional wellbeing has emerged in polls conducted for Kira, one of the nation’s most trusted names in women’s health and herbal supplements.

The One Poll surveys of 1,000 women — half aged between 20 and 40 and half aged 40 to 60 — found that older women are the best when it comes to resisting the pressure to be perfect, with two out of five (41%) saying it was never an issue, compared to less than a third (29%) of 20 to 40-year-olds

Older women are also less likely to look enviously at their friends’ lives, with almost two out of five (38%) saying this was never an issue, compared to less than a quarter (23%) of the 20 to 40-year-olds.

They are also less likely to fall prey to pressure from social media with only one in 13 (8%) saying online activity made them feel they were being short-changed by life, compared to almost one in five (18%) of the younger women.

Body confidence as we age
Body confidence also grows with age, with seven out of ten (69%) of the older women saying they had no interest in cosmetic surgery or procedures, compared to six out of ten (59%) of the younger group. The 20 to 40 group was twice as likely to want a boob job or new nose, 18% compared to 8% and 10% versus 5%.

However, anxiety about the future was a factor across the board, with almost nine out of ten (89%) women in both age groups saying they worried about what lay ahead. Money and debt was a cause for concern for one in three (32%) and two out of five (45%) admitted they were struggling financially.

Dr Catherine Hood, a women’s health specialist and an advisor to Kira notes: “It’s reassuring that experience brings a little more stability and contentment, but these surveys show women are balancing different demands throughout their lives.

She adds: “The demands of our bodies change too, which is why bone health becomes much more of an issue as we age. Top up vitamins can be helpful during periods of stress or when busy lifestyles makes it difficult to exercise and eat healthily.

“But I would advise any woman over 40 to take special care to protect their bone health with a high calcium supplement such as Kira Body Balance.”

How to find balance, bone health and avoid hormonal blips
Kira Hormonal Balance is a one-a-day food supplement which is great for women on the go as it does what it says on the pack, and helps keep your hormones in balance.

It contains a combination of essential B vitamins, which are important for hormonal metabolism and balance. Vitamins B2, B6, B12, vitamin C and folic acid also help reduce tiredness and fatigue, while vitamins B1, B6, B12, folic acid and pantothenic acid may help to maintain normal mental performance and normal psychological function.

Fish oils help brain health in old age

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Equazen eye q mind 50+Certain nutrients and ‘omega’ n-3 (omega) long chain fatty acids found in fish oils may offer a benefit to cognitive function in older age, according to a review by Dr Carrie Ruxton, independent public health nutritionist on behalf of Equazen, the brains behind Equazen eye q mind 50+.

Commenting on the research, Dr Ruxton notes: “My review shows that nutrition has an important preventive part to play in cognitive decline among older people. In particular long chain n-3 fatty acids, certain antioxidants, B vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins contribute to preserving brain function in this growing population group.

“Given that the brain is rich in lipids, it is not surprising that long chain n-3 PUFAs such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) found in fish oils, might have an impact on cognitive retention. Studies have variously shown that fish oils lead to better performance in working and verbal memory indicating the potential to delay the onset of cognitive decline and that supplementation with DHA could improve learning and memory function.

“Turning to B vitamins, my review shows some inconsistencies in the scientific data although a large trial in 266 older people aged 70 years or over with mild cognitive impairment found that a supplement containing 800 μg folic acid, 500 μg vitamin B12 and 20 mg vitamin B6 over two years appeared to slow cognitive and clinical decline, especially those with elevated homocysteine levels (a type of amino acid that may be harmful at high levels).

“With regards to zinc, a trial in 387 healthy adults aged 55 to 87 years receiving either 15 or 30 mg per day zinc, for up to six months showed some improvements in spatial working memory after three months.

“Fat-soluble vitamins D, E and K could also have a role in preventing cognitive decline. Epidemiological studies have shown links between higher levels of these vitamins and reduced cognitive impairment. A placebo-controlled clinical trial involving vitamin E and a drug used to manage Alzheimer’s disease found that the group taking vitamin E experienced slower functional decline and needed less caregiver time compared with the placebo group.

“The latest findings from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey reveal poor dietary habits among our elderly population with only 41% meeting the 5-a-day recommendation for fruit and vegetables and mean oily fish consumption, at 90g weekly, falling below the government’s recommended intake of 140g weekly.

“Given these poor dietary intakes, the increasing incidence of compromised cognitive function in older people as well as the importance of long chain n-3 PUFAs, certain antioxidants and B vitamins in cognitive health in this population group, a supplement, such as Equazen eye q mind 50+, containing these key ingredients would be a good start to help maintain cognitive function in older age”.

Family GP, Dr Paul Stillman notes further Equazen eye q mind 50+ is a formulation specifically researched and developed for adults that includes a combination of the highest quality nutrient blends of Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids, B vitamins, zinc and magnesium. The Equazen eye q mind 50+ also includes a blend of B vitamins, zinc and magnesium. It also provides nutrients to support normal cognitive function and normal functioning of the nervous system while zinc within the supplement contributes to maintain normal cognitive function. Magnesium and vitamin B6 within the Equazen eye q mind 50+ also help contribute to normal functioning of the nervous system too. As a result, Equazen eye q mind 50+ provides a good insurance policy for those of us ageing and helps bridge some of the nutrient gaps that many of us are missing within our daily diets. Equazen eye q mind 50+ is also great news for those people who find it hard to eat oily fish because of the bones or chew and digest nutrient rich foods.
-ends-

£70 of Leighton Denny beauty products to be won – comp now closed!

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Leighton Denny MBE is a leading expert and an internationally recognised figure in the beauty world with a multi-award winning range of nail and tanning products. With a vast amount of significant achievements, he also possesses a star-studded client list that includes Kate Moss, Penelope Cruz and Adele.

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Leighton Denny’s autobiography – £10

 

Leighton began his journey as a forklift truck driver in Bradford, but quickly progressed to becoming one of the UK’s leading nail and beauty experts. Whilst he was building his empire of over 1000 appointed salons worldwide, Leighton won over 60 industry awards.

He produced his own lines of nail and beauty treatments, which quickly became cult favourites amongst beauty professionals and customers alike. In April 2012, Denny introduced Lip Dual to his ever expanding beauty portfolio. This 2-in-1 colour system offers full lip colour with built-in ultra-conditioning moisturisers for colour intensity that lasts for hours.

Read more about himand his unique products at www.leightondenny.com.

 We have three of his signature products for you to win – worth around £70 and also a copy of his book – How I Nailed It! – which tells his inspirational story.  All you have to do is answer a simple question at the end of this article.
About the prizes
FACE Hydrating Facial Self Tanning Cream With YOUTH GLOW TECHNOLOGY® – costs £35 for 50ml – colour medium.

Your skin will be immediately sun-kissed thanks to the in-built caramel hue, whilst 100% naturally derived and EcoCert tanning ingredients adjust to your natural skin tones for a healthy looking tan that will develop fully in just 4 hours.

Sun Believable

Sun Believable in colour medium – £35

REPLENISH your skin with Jojoba Oil that provides a non-tacky, non-oily and non-greasy softening effect to the skin.RESTORE your youthful glow with Hyaluronic Acid utilised as a filler agent to help improve the apperance of wrinkles and aides in increasing hydration.

REVIVE the appearance of tired-looking skin thanks to the moisturising properties of the Virgin Plum Oil and the anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing effects of Organic Black Seed Oil.

Lip Dual – A revolutionary new two in one lip colour – costs £17.50 – colour Ravishing Red
Lip duo

Leighton Denny Lip Dual in Ravishing Red – £17.50

 
The 2-in-1 lip colour system, features an extreme-wear lip stain and ultra-conditioning lipstick which combined, deliver unbeatable colour-staying power which will not feather or fade and requires no touch-ups. Lips will feel kissably soft and colour perfect.
Kiss Goodbye to Lack-Lustre Lip Colour With Lip Dual.
Lip Stain – the unique non-drying formula provides a veil of colour to your lips, the magnetic-like Stain creates an extremely fine layer of colour that stays in place until it’s removed.  Special polymers fix the Stain to the lips, to leave a weightless and long-lasting colour.
Lipstick – the rich and creamy Lipstick provides a luxurious colour to your lips. Rich in anti-oxidants and ceramide-like ingredients the lips are protected against dehydration keeping them soft & supple.
A blend of special waxes prevent the colour from melting & bleeding.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover (a vibrant pink) – a limited edition varnish to raise awareness of breast cancer – usually costs £11
Lady Chatterley's Lover Limited Edition

Lady Chatterley’s Lover – a ravishing pink – £11

OUR WINNER IS Mrs Joy Kehoe, from Pontypool, Gwent.


Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream – win a 50ml eau de parfum worth £52 in our competition – now closed!

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This is the newest perfume from the absolutely adorable Marc Jacobs Daisy range. Daisy Dream is a light and airy perfume which would be a perfect present for someone whose tastes in perfume you are not sure about – that’s because there is nothing not to like about this floral and fruity scent.

It has heart notes – jasmine, lychee, blue wisteria; top notes – blackberry, grapefruit and pear; base notes – white woods, musks coconut water and of course its very very feminine.
Daisy Dream

Of course its in one of those wonderful iconic bottles covered in white and gold daisies. We would all love a dress to match – and maybe some nice daisy pumps too!!

You can win one of these lovely perfumes. Just answer the simple question below. Goodluck!

And if you can’t wait its on a sale at a bargain price here Fragrancedirect

OUR WINNER IS Mrs Ann Whittle, Newport, Isle of Wight.


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Brain’s desire for ‘instant gratification’ can wreck future finances

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Most of us prefer to the thrill of buying now rather than saving and safeguarding our financial future, according to new research from the Skipton Building Society.

But it may not be all our fault as our brains are not programmed to behave in our own best interests when it comes to money.

Retirement DNA21 (2)

Leading neuroscientist Dr Jack Lewis explains the need for us to retrain our brains

 

As part of a campaign to get under the skin of the nation’s retirees, it’s been revealed this week, by Skipton Building Society, that our brains could have a lot to answer for, when it comes to the nation’s lack of preparedness for retirement.

• Over 50% feel unprepared for retirement 10-15 years out

• 30% have no idea how much is in their pension pot

• Physiological testing illustrates people confused about their futures

• Desire for immediate gratification creates barrier to financial planning

• Our brains need to be retrained to create stronger financial futures

As part of their DNA of Retirement research undertaken earlier this month, (which is believed to be a first for UK financial services) physiological responses were explored to provide a 360 degree insight into hopes and fears surrounding retirement and financial planning for our futures.*

It was revealed that over 50% were feeling unprepared for retirement at 10 to 15 years out, with 30% having no idea how much money is in their pension pot. Worryingly, nearly a quarter of people revealed they don’t have a retirement plan. Overall, anxiety was evident as nearly two thirds of retirees lacked the confidence that they are financially prepared for their retirement.

In follow up, Skipton, the UK’s fourth largest building society, has been working with leading neuroscience consultant and published author of best selling book‘Sort your Brain Out’, Dr Jack Lewis. Together, they can now reveal further insights from the analysis of the research data, which shows that our neurological programming could be a huge stumbling block in our pension planning.

Dr Jack said: “Our brains are not designed to ensure we are financially prepared for the future. In today’s fast paced world our brain is still tuned into instincts honed several millennia ago which encourage us to seek immediate gratification. If I offered a room of people £100 cash today, or £150 cash in a month, the majority would take the “safe” instant £100. This is because our brains are biased in favour of any decisions that give us a quick return. Of course, if we allow every financial decision we make to fall into the ‘live for the moment’ trap – then clearly the nation’s financial preparedness for retirement will be in a dire state.”

This is accentuated even further if we are not clear what our futures look like and confusion around our vision was also a key finding of the DNA of Retirement research. Most people, when questioned, described clear and inspired plans, covering aspirations from wing walking to starting new businesses. However, 64% of people’s physiological responses contradicted their stated desires. For example, what they said they wanted and what their subconscious revealed they wanted were different things.

Other findings of the research were that a significant proportion of the respondents were very aspirational about their futures, and the aspirations they had for retirement were quite elaborate. However, it didn’t appear that these dreams were matched by financial preparedness, thus illustrating a HUGE risk in terms of financial stability of our futures.

Dr Jack added: “The brain is a complex organ. We can shape it and mould it according to any behaviour that we regularly, intensively and consistently perform. However one critical step that is often overlooked is the need to consciously steer ourselves towards behaviours that yield the best return in the long run. As a general rule we tend not to care much for the best interests of our future selves. It is important to spend time vividly imagining the big picture to focus our mind on long term goals. If we never take the time to think about what kind of lifestyle we want to be living in retirement, then we simply have nothing to set our sights on. Asking people to financially plan for something that their brain is not emotionally engaged by is a big ask when we have so many immediate financial concerns. We can re-wire our brains by adopting new habits but to do this we first need to subtly alter our behaviours, beliefs, and motivations according to the best interests of our future selves.”

As part of their commitment to supporting people in and approaching retirement Skipton has launched a free Retirement Review** service in all branches nationwide, where people can call in and have a chat with a financial advisor to help them start to picture what kind of retirement they want, to then help them plan for it. They are also developing a persona app to help people visualise their future based on their own personal Retirement DNA, which will be rolled out in branch in the coming months.

David Cutter Group Chief Executive of Skipton Building Society, said: “Our research has revealed some worrying trends – we cannot have a country bursting with aspiration whose hopes will then be struck down by apathy or aversion to financial planning.

“As a mutual, we were established 161 years ago to help tackle the prevalent social issue of the time – helping ordinary people to build their own homes. Through our new retirement service, we’re bringing this ethos bang up to date by tackling THE financial issue of today.”

Skipton, the UK’s fourth largest building society, is keen to gain a true understanding of people’s retirement wishes, in order to be able to help them realise their goals, in line with its new Retirement Service.Skipton is currently offering a free will for anyone who has a free Retirement Review in any of its branches.

We continue to lose when it comes to men versus food

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chicken
As we run up to Christmas comes news from across the Irish Sea which goes to reinforce what I think many of us already know.

This is not a time for stereotypical jokes about the Irish but a very comprehensive and serious report of men’s health from the Irish public health body safefood.
The body undertook research on men’s attitude to food and concluded that, in Ireland at least, that attitude puts us men at a serious disadvantage our female counterparts.

Given Christmas Day it is estimated that the average British adult will put away over 6,000 calories it makes interest reading for all.

The report highlights that men are generally less engaged with food both in terms of food hygiene and healthy eating. It also finds men have less healthy diets, eat more fat and salt, less fruit and vegetables, and tend to see food as fuel.

Men also show greater preference for larger portions of food, are less likely to be aware of healthy eating guidelines and are less likely to regard healthy eating as an important factor influencing their long-term health. And although more men than women are overweight or obese in Ireland, they are less likely to attempt to lose weight or to monitor their diet. At present, 70% of Irish men are overweight or obese, compared with 50% of women.

Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director, Human Health and Nutrition, safefood said “Despite increases in life expectancy in both genders over the past number of decades, men are at higher risk from major chronic diseases such as heart disease and many cancers, mainly due to modifiable behavioural factors such as poor diet, high consumption of alcohol and smoking. Our food environment and societal attitudes around masculinity play a role in influencing men’s food behaviour.

When it comes to food skills such as planning, purchasing, shopping, cooking and cleaning, women are more likely to be skilled in this area and still do most of this work. While there is an abundance of data on men and women’s food intake and dietary patterns, few studies have exclusively examined men’s attitudes and behaviours in relation to food and health. This report identifies how men view themselves and their relationship with food and is of importance for men’s health given their levels of overweight and obesity.”

While the report does not look at the issue of exercise, the benefits of any exercise regime are far more apparent if they go hand in hand with a healthy diet.

The report also found that men are far more likely to be the occasional cook leaving it to a special occasion rather than a daily trip to the kitchen to rustle up a meal.

It seems it is all down to the “hunter gatherer” instinct in the male and that deep down we see the cooking of what we gather best left to the female. Obviously with most females tasked with the weekly shopping the hunting and gathering role is also becoming ever more redundant.

In the UK interestingly the most high profile chefs and television cooks remain male and while it may well attract men into a career in food and cookery it does not look likely have them glued to the food and drink channel.

Indeed the most popular food show amongst men in recent years has been “Man v Food” where host Adam Richman travelled across America to sample some iconic regional dishes and in each episode ended by taking on some daunting food challenges, such as attacking a 13-pound pizza in Atlanta, tucking into the Sasquatch Burger in Memphis, and the aptly named Atomic Hot Wings platter in Pittsburgh.

The issue is it seems is that until more men understand that while food is fuel we need to increase the quality not quantity of the fuel we consume then our health will continue to suffer.

Competition closed: DSquared2 She Wood eau de parfum spray worth £56 to be won in our competition

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DSquared2 She Wood Eau De Parfum is inspired by the strongest, most beautiful and basic of nature’s elements. She Wood is deep, sensual and contemporary.

It has top notes of lemon, jasmine petals, neroli bigarade radiate from first scent. While heart notes of violet blossom and leaves, heliotrope, musk which makes for alluring intriging scent. Base notes of cedar wood, vetiver and amber finish the scent.

DSquared She Wood

This sensual and sophisticated perfume comes in a spray applicator. If you would like the chance to win this prize answer the simple question below. But if you can’t wait to try it buy it here House of Fraser


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The Face of Love – a must-see film with one of the last appearances of Robin Williams

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Nikki, played by Annette Bening, is a widow who falls in love with a man who is a double of her late husband.

Adjusting to life on her own after her husband (Ed Harris) drowns on a romantic holiday in Mexico she spots a dopleganger in the guise of an arts teacher at her favourite museum.
Bening11
The film examines her own mixed emotions, those of a close friend and neighbour played by Robin Williams and the complete outrage of her daughter when she discovers the relationship.

The film is screening exclusively at Vue Cinemas from December 12 and available on Blue-ray, DVD from February 2.

Great performances by all and well worth seeing. And there is a tear-jerking surprise ending!

Win the new women’s fragrance from Calvin Klein – Reveal eau de parfum worth £52

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This new opulent fragrance from Calvin Klein evokes feelings of a hazy sunset. It is called Reveal and is described as a sensual oriental fragrance that replicates the scent of sun-kissed skin and the warmth of cashmere as the cool evenings draw in.

The fragrance opens with salt accords and pink pepper that draws you into the powdery heart of iris and aubergris. Reveal then finishes with sandalwood, cashmere and vetiver that makes this new scent instantly recognisable.Calvin Klein Reveal

All you have to do is answer a simple question below. And if you can’t wait buy it here at Fragrancedirect


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Win John Varvatos signature eau de toilette for men – 75ml worth £46 – now closed!

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John Varvatos is an American contemporary menswear designer who learned his skills at Ralph Lauren.

He has a range of fragrances for the modern man. His signature fragrance is called simply John Varvatos.

John-Varvatos-for-Men_EdT-700x700

It’s a masculine woody oriental for the discerning modern man, John Varvatos – the fragrance is an instant classic. Bringing together elements that are both familiar and unique, the scent is intense yet inviting, sophisticated yet relaxed – it is the embodiment of sensuality.

We have one of these fragrances for you to win. All you have to do is answer a simple question below. But if you can’t wait then you can buy it here allbeauty.com

WINNER
This competition was won by Mr C Paterson, from Twickenham, West London.


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Former EastEnders star Charlie Brooks gets fit to tread the boards

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Best known as Eastenders troublemaker Janine Butcher, bringing drama to Albert Square with a
medley of cocaine addition, murder and prostitution, Charlie Brooks is now taking her talent on
tour, playing Sandra in the iconic play, Beautiful Thing.

Charlie Brooks Image 2

The ‘Walford witch’ has finally left the East End, and now you’ll be seeing Charlie Brooks in a wholly
different incarnation.

The actress has appeared in episodes of The Bill, Jonathan’s Creek and, of course, Eastenders, but
come spring, she’ll be taking on the theatre, appearing in Beautiful Thing.

The play follows two young men, Jaimie and Ste, and their blossoming romance in an inner city
housing estate. Together the two boys find comedy, warmth and the music of Mama Cass through
their loud-mouthed next door neighbor Leah. Brooks plays Sandra, Jamie’s mum and the local
barmaid.

“What doesn’t attract me to the play?” Brooks grins. “I was obsessed with the film when I was a kid, I
watched it like 100 times, I was one of the cult followers really. I remember seeing Surrane (Jones) in
the play last year and going ‘ooh, I want to do that, put me in it! Lo and behold, a year or two later
here I am, so it’s like a dream come true.”

It’s hard for bubbly Brooks to pinpoint exactly why the iconic play resonates with her – “Just the
content of the story,” she starts. “I went to theatre school where I had lots of gay friends – I had a
boyfriend that was gay!” she laughs.

“So it’s always been important, the performances in the film were just amazing and it’s a great character for me, so it’s a rally big draw all round really.”

And Beautiful Thing still endures to this day, despite being over 20 years old. “There are still,
especially in the regional areas where we are touring, people going through this very same issue and
people still terrified of coming out, they don’t know how to do it and they are scared of talking about
it. I think that it’s a timeless play, it’s brilliant, it’s funny, it’s sad, and I think that it speaks to a lot of
people still.”

We suggest that the role of strong young mum Sandra seems a happy fit for Brooks; “Are you saying
I’m a feisty single mum?!” the actress laughs. “What I’m hoping to do is to bring a great deal of
warmth to it, know what I mean? She’s feisty, she’s loud, she’s not afraid to speak her mind, she’s had
a hard life and fought to be where she is, fought to bring up that little boy, so the relationship that
they have is one that’s very special in the end.” Adding that, “I’ve got some of the best lines – I just
can’t wait to say them.”

Charlie Brooks (2011)-2

Calling this, “completely different” from the television work for which she is best known, however,
Brooks is feeling the nerves. “With learning lines in Eastenders, they go in very quickly, it’s in and out
because it’s so quick and so fast paced. I haven’t done a great deal of theatre so this is all quite new,
so I’m shi**ing it to be honest! I just hope I’m ok. But it’s so exciting.”

It’s nerve-wracking, but it’s a positive step forward for the actress and mum of one. “I am busy, but
it’s great because I feel like I am achieving what I set out to when I left Eastenders, so I feel really,
really lucky,” she says.

Charlie Brooks Image
The 18 week tour will also take her away from her daughter, Kiki, and it wasn’t an easy decision to
come to. “I love being at home, I love it. My daughter is 10 now which is such an important time and
I’ve never been away or gone away with work, so when this came up I had a lengthy conversation
with my immediate family members and decided that it was now my turn to be able to go off and
spend time away. We have a few days off in-between theatre moves so I’ll be able to get back and
she’ll also come down and see me, so we’re going to make it work. But I am a bit nervous about it.
She is very adaptable and my mum is there and her dad is there so I have a brilliant support system,
we have a close knit family.”

And even when the tour comes to a close, the stage will be calling once again. “I’m starting another
play called Contact at the Park theatre in Finsbury. It’s a new play about swinging! It’s a bit raunchy,
which I’m a bit nervous about but it’s exciting!”

Charlie Brooks will star as ‘Sandra’ in Beautiful Thing, touring the UK from 23 March 2015. www.beautthing.com

Body issues and the gym – the endless dilemma

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Veronese_Venus_and_Adonis
Now I count myself amongst the lucky ones. Being a journalist has always opened me up to a more than average amount of invitations to lunch, dinner and the pub.

So when after hitting mid-40 the inevitable injury curtailed my footballing days and meant that my running was having to be shelved and I could not get away with “burning off” the excess.

Those of you who have read my posts for the past year will know it ended up in a dangerously high blood pressure level and a warning that I had to shed a fair few stones or face the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke.

A spot in the jungle for three weeks on beans and rice via I’m a Celebrity Get Me out of Here was not really on the agenda so it was a more traditional route of a personal trainer a gym and a modified eating regime – NOT a diet.

Just over a year on and three and half stone lighter I am just about feeling comfortable looking at myself in the mirror. Without a doubt I am now slimmer and trimmer then I have been in almost two decades and the results have spurred me on to keep up the good work.

But this week I was speaking to a personal trainer down at the gym who had approached the reception as I arrived and said to the staff behind the counter “I have a very nervous new client coming in so could you make sure you are really engaging!”

I had to ask what the problem was and the PT said that the female in question was 23-years-old very overweight and as such was extremely nervous of going down the gym as she felt people would stare.

Now I only have to cast my mind back a year when I entered the gym wearing a baggy shirt and expansive shorts thinking exactly the same thing. There I was sweating profusely on a treadmill at a pace I would now view as walking while all around me were these gym goers who look more Venus and Adonis rather than my Billy Bunter.

Now while I do not feel I will ever join the Adonis cadre I feel a lot more comfortable in the gym both on the treadmill and in the weight room.

There are a number of male members of the gym who are larger then I was when I started and some are a lot older but do I look and stare?
No, I like so many of those who go to the gym can understand the journey they are on, the desire to not just lose the weight but also extend longevity, and actually have a huge respect for their decision to do something to change their futures.

Indeed at the age of nearly 50 I have decided I am now ready to join the gym’s boxing club and approached the trainer to ask if it was for experienced pugilists only.

“No we have every level” he said. “We have guys who have been coming for years and they tend to go out of their way to help the beginners and are keen to pair up to offer advice.”

Those, who after the excesses of Christmas, feel they want to get into shape but fear a visit to the gym should think again. So many of us on the bike or treadmill next to you have been on the same road and once heading down it are not keen to return to our starting point. But we certainly remember where it was.

Chef Angela Hartnett reveals the secret of a successful Xmas dinner

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Angela Hartnett

Angela Hartnett – one of the UK’s best-loved chefs

Having begun her career as the protégée of the famously fiery Gordon Ramsay, chef Angela Hartnett has gone onto make a name for herself as one of Britain’s best-loved chefs.

Her trademark style is simple but sophisticated Italian cuisine, a love of which was instilled in her by her Italian grandmother and mother.

The 46-year-old is now Chef Patron and owner of the Michelin-starred Murano in Mayfair; has launched Café Murano in St James; the Merchants Tavern in Shoreditch and revamped the restaurant in the Limewood Hotel, Hampshire, as Hartnett Holder & Co. In 2007 she was awarded an MBE for Services to the Hospitality Industry.

Angela says: “I come from a family that always liked food and food was always part of our lives

“We always ate together as a family and cooked together so it was something I grew up with from both sides – my mum and my dad’s. I was taught to cook by my grandmother and my mother. You were expected to help out in the kitchen and learn what to do.”

Harnett’s Italian heritage has obviously had an influence on her cooking style. “That’s what I grew up learning

“It makes sense that you stick to the things you know best, hence why I do more Italian food than anything else. I cook the type of food that I was brought up on and I know well.”
Simplicity yet sophistication is key to Hartnett’s culinary style, with a big focus on seasonal ingredients.

“You work with what’s in season because that makes sense,” she says. “You’re not suddenly going to put asparagus on in the middle of December. If it’s not in season it will taste rubbish.”

Hartnett isn’t keen on the phrase ‘signature dish’ – “it sounds like you only cook one thing, when really these things evolve” – but she agrees that “great pastas and risottos” are very much the style of her restaurants.

“That’s what we cook in the restaurants – good, simple, tasty food,” she says. “It’s not about making it too complicated.”
As Gordon Ramsey’s former protégée, one might expect that Hartnett had a rough time whilst learning her trade, but she is keen to dispel the image of the hot-headed chef from the TV shows.

“He was great. He was an absolutely top bloke,” she says. “If I hadn’t worked with Gordon I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now, without a doubt. He taught me about running a kitchen and the importance of consistency. I worked with him for 17 years and you don’t work with someone that long if they are intimidating. You work with someone because you enjoy working with them and because they’re a good person.”

Hartnett will be appearing at the Padstow Christmas Festival this December where she will be holding cookery demonstrations with Luke Holder, the head chef at Hartnett Holder & Co, and Neil Borthwick, head chef of the Merchants Tavern, who also happens to be Hartnett’s partner.

When asked for advice on the best way to prepare Christmas dinner, she says that preparation is key. “Be organised and don’t leave everything to the last minute.

Get your potatoes done earlier, get your veg cooked off, that sort of thing. Keep it simple. Everyone goes overboard at Christmas and tries to do so many accompaniments. I know it is Christmas and a time of celebration but you don’t have to go nuts and suddenly do five types of stuffing and three types of potatoes. Do little and do it well as opposed to doing lots and doing it badly.”

So does she do the majority of the cooking at Christmas time? Or does this busy chef get the chance to put her feet up?
“No I tend to end up doing it,” she says, “as it always seems to be at my house or one of the restaurants, but I have people helping me. Last year we had lots of friends over so the day before we did all the prep together and then on the day you just stick it in the oven and carve it.”

Having appeared on shows such as Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Criminals, are we likely to see Hartnett moving into a TV career like her former boss?

“I prefer my work in the kitchen,” she admits. “The TV work is good but at the
end of the day what makes your business is your restaurant, so you need to ensure that that’s running smoothly. I like doing the odd bit of TV work but I don’t want to do it permanently or do loads of it. I’m quite happy just flitting in and out.”

The Padstow Christmas Festival takes place between 4-7 December.