Simply Woman & Home

✢ 6 issues a year conveniently home delivered ✢ Pay less than in the shops - only £3.84 an issue!* ✢ Health, wellbeing, beauty, diet and mindfulness tips to help you feel and look your best SUBSCRIBE TODAY womanandhome.com/C74W CALL 0330 333 1113 and

We’ve all felt jittery and on edge at some point in our lives. Noticed these unsettling thoughts becoming more frequent? You’re not alone – 69%* of us are feeling increasingly worried and panicky and, often, we just can’t understand why. ‘Unfortunate

Getting into the swing of having a good night’s sleep might not be the answer to absolutely everything but, according to experts, it comes pretty close. The quality of sleep you get not only affects the amount of energy you have, but it’s now thought

Do you ever get really angry? Incensed, fuming, livid. Only to be overwhelmed with guilt afterwards? This response is all too common in women, largely because we’ve been conditioned to be the fairer, gentler sex. But anger is an energy that deserves

’That’s rigors,’ observed my doctor as I sat, shaking, in her consulting room. Rigors, she explained, is an episode of shivering and feeling cold while your body temperature rises above normal. The fever then makes you overheat and you sweat profusel

Have you ever looked on in awe at friends who are the life and soul of a party, or who thrive in stressful situations? Aside from physical factors, such as tiredness or illness, there’s another reason why some of us feel drained more quickly than oth

Also known as samanism, this involves a practitioner guiding you, often through altered states of consciousness like trance and meditation, to connect with spiritual energies that can help heal you mentally, spiritually and even physically. It’s now

COMPILED BY: BECKY JOINER-O’RIORDAN ■

Medicine is a modern miracle, helping us to fight infections, manage long-term ailments and battle conditions, such as heart disease and cancer. But natural therapies could also play a part in helping to relieve symptoms – as an aid or as a stand-alo

50% of Brits describe themselves as introverts** Recently, I had just come back from doing the weekly shop when my husband asked me what I had planned for dinner. I reminded him I was going out and that, as the cupboards were now full, he could take

…of being kind to yourself and your body. Yes, you may have great intentions right now to lose a few pounds in the new year, but don’t turn resolutions into a stick to beat yourself with. Our diet plan over the page will help you trim if you want to,

Want to lose weight without feeling deprived? It’s perfectly possible to shed surplus pounds without denying yourself carbs. What’s more, you’ll probably find it easier when you don’t face the cravings that often come from cutting out foods you love.

This dish definitely has a bit of a stroganoff feel about it. It’s tasty and good for you too – mushrooms help to regulate the immune system and lower inflammation in the body. Serves 4 • Prep 10 mins • Cook 20 mins ✢ 3tbsp olive oil✢ 2 onions, slice

Think that being on a diet means spending money on expensive, healthy ingredients and premium ready meals? Think again. From minimising food waste and being more organised, to putting an end to costly cravings, now you can stick to your diet and lose

lf you’re looking for a way to get your fix of nutrients in one hit, look no further. With this tasty, nourishing pot packed with vitamins and minerals, you’ll be boosting everything from your heart to your gut health. And the best part? It requires

With our ever-expanding knowledge of how certain food choices can be bad for our health, it’s no wonder that we live in a world where desserts are automatically labelled ‘naughty’. But while many traditional puds are sugar-laden and calorific, nutrit

Cheeses such as ricotta are especially high in vitamin D, as well as calcium and other vitamins and minerals. Serves 2 • Prep 5 mins • Cook 25 mins ✢ 1tbsp olive oil✢ 1 onion, chopped✢ 2 garlic cloves, crushed✢ 150g three-grain risotto (we used Riso

A bowl of sorbet FOR A scoop of ice cream It might have more calories than sorbet, but ice cream is made from milk, which is calcium-rich and essential for maintaining bones and teeth. Sticky toffee pudding FOR Berry crumble Craving comfort food? Mak

We’re all looking for ways to save a little extra cash – and that means those glossy-looking health buys don’t make the cut. But the good news is much of what you need could already be hiding in your kitchen cupboards. And, if it’s not, it isn’t goin

…you love your look. We’re all about embracing this stage of life – but a little beauty know-how can make us feel fresh and fabulous. So what are the hair trends for this year? How can we give skin a youth boost? Is there a secret to having whiter te

If you ask us, there’s nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath. But ensure you make the most of the experience! Pour in your favourite bath oil – you can’t beat REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil, £36, renskincare.com – light your best candles, lo

Princess Diana’s hairdresser Sam McKnight has the ultimate trick for a youthful new look – without it costing a penny or taking much effort. ‘If you’re having a bad hair day, put your hair up,’ he says. ‘Not a standard low ponytail – put it up high.

On sale every Tuesday Also available as a print or digital subscription from www.magazinesdirect.com ■

…you discover what really makes you feel good. Our special report on your fitness options will help point you in the direction of a new hobby for 2024. It may even change your life! Plus we have a brilliant workout plan to strengthen your bones and w

Kale and spinach are excellent sources of bioavailable calcium, as well as being high in magnesium, which is helpful for maintaining bone integrity. ‘They contain vitamin K too, needed for bone metabolism,’ adds nutritional therapist Amy Morris. The

Possibly the hardest part of any exercise routine is building up the courage to give something a go for the first time. Good intentions can easily fall by the wayside when nerves take over, so it’s no wonder more than 20 million people in the UK are

This issue, lovely readers, I want positivity to radiate out of this column and envelop you all. We’ve enjoyed (or endured) the festive period – and now we want to get on with our 2024 to-do lists. Along with ‘book a holiday’ or ‘eat more broccoli’ y

Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian and Margot Robbie swear by it. The Duchess of Sussex says it’s the ‘best thing for your body’ and even Harry Styles has been all over TikTok doing it for his hamstrings. For something that was invented more than 100 y

Nicola Davenport, 57, from Wimbledon, goes cross-country skiing in Norway ‘I’m amazed when people say I’m sporty. That’s not how I see myself. In fact, until I had young children, I didn’t do much sport at all – but I did love to ski. I’d grown up wi

…you regain your midlife confidence. Whether it’s the constant dread of a leaky bladder or the embarrassment of forgetting names, words and places, the menopause and beyond can play havoc with our sense of esteem. In this issue, our health experts br

Urinary incontinence is one of the biggest unspoken health issues of today. Some will leak during exercise, coughing or laughing; others won’t reach the toilet in time; and then there are those frequent, disruptive nightly trips to the loo. It can be

When you get sick, do you race to the chemist? If finances are tight, a few simple swaps could help save those crucial pounds, especially as the cost of cold and flu sachets have increased by 24%* in the last year. Plus, many of our alternatives will

Are you clued up on exactly what goes into your trolley? Food packaging exists to tell us how healthy – or unhealthy – our food is, displaying what’s in it and where it’s from, so we can make better choices about what we’re putting into our bodies. B

Often grab food ‘on the go’? You may be eating too many ultra-processed foods, which can contain a cocktail of colour enhancers, shelf-life boosters, sweeteners and artificial flavourings. And while not all additives are bad for us, the key to health

We’re not looking to shift the blame, but if you’re struggling to lose weight, it might be less about your willpower and food choices and more about the people around you. And there’s sound research to prove it. A study from the University of Surrey

Whether it’s a sore spine or tension in your shoulders, managing back pain can be frustrating at best and debilitating at worst. Relying on popping pills? Not only does this avoid tackling the root cause, but repeated long-term use of painkillers can

Ready for some sobering stats? Lung cancer is the UK’s third most common cancer – around 48,500 people are diagnosed each year* and it causes nearly 35,000 deaths. It’s more common as you get older – nearly half of people diagnosed are 75 or over. An

Forever losing your keys? Do you get embarrassed when you can't remember people’s names? Or maybe you find yourself frantically searching for your glasses, only to realise they’re on your head. Memory lapse is common with age – decline can start from

Around 100 women a day in the UK are admitted to hospital with a heart attack, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Could you spot the signs you’re at risk? From breathlessness to feeling sick, our experts explain the lesser-known symptom

WORTH £10.99* Turn your home into a serene space with this complete guide to decluttering. Make working from home or just being at home fun again and transform your space into a haven of relaxation and calm with clever storage solutions and feature i

…of mindfulness. Whether that means rethinking your career to find a job or volunteer position that really helps others, or finding ways to travel with purpose (and tick off a few bucket-list items on the way), our w&h experts are here to help. Plus

Is it realistic to expect your passion for your first choice of career to last for decades? When your feet begin to get itchy and you start to wonder ‘what else could I do?’ take a moment to remember that age and experience can count for a lot. If yo

Ever find you don’t have the energy for self-care? Things that we’re told will benefit our mind, body and soul – such as yoga, breath work or meditation – generally involve some level of effort to reap the benefits. But when you’re stressed and overw

When you hear the word ‘betrayal’, infidelity within a relationship might be the first thought that comes to mind. Yet disloyalty and broken trust can also be caused by someone equally close to you – a friend. This could be the confusion that might h

This is the time of year when many of us think about our next holiday. And with hopefully more time on our hands as we reach midlife, it might also be possible to head to destinations we’ve always dreamed of. But can we afford it? The good news is, i

This time of year can play havoc with our health. The gloomy weather makes it tempting to cosy up with a good film and carbs, while the winter blues can make us feel low. This can affect the immune system so you feel rundown, lethargic and are more p

Keen to make positive resolutions stick the whole year? ‘You don’t need to be born motivated to follow through with things,’ says psychologist Dr Sean Young, a leading expert in lifestyle change. ‘In fact, there’s no such thing as a motivated persona

Combine two iconic Scandinavian experiences on one memorable break in Finnish Lapland by staying in a stunning hotel made from ice and snow and a cosy glass igloo. Tucked away in the remote landscapes of Finland’s frozen North, the Arctic SnowHotel o

If this is the year when you decide to finally take the plunge and travel solo, then you might be looking for a trip that shapes your schedule and provides pampering in a safe and supportive paradise. At Bliss Sanctuary For Women, you can focus on yo