Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 19 i Gathered

Some medical issues, such as chest pains, shortness of breath, and severe allergic reactions, are signs of a medical emergency. However, the body sometimes gives us very subtle clues that it’s in trouble. Everything from handwriting to snoring can be unexpected early warning signs of illness. With most conditions, the earlier you seek medical help, the better the outcome, so we’ve spoken to experts to help you read your body’s distress signals. You're losing weight without trying If you’re noticing that weight is falling off, and you’re not dieting or exercising more, it’s worth checking in with your GP. According to Dr Nikki Kanani MBE, ‘For women, weight loss can sometimes be linked to thyroid conditions, gut health issues like coeliac disease, diabetes, or even cancer. It can be easy…

We all have bad habits, even if we’re not willing to admit them. If you’ve ever beaten yourself up for sleeping in on the weekend, letting your mind wander when you should be working or dropping the occasional swear word, don’t worry. It turns out that these habits, which have long been considered to be bad for you, might benefit your psychological or physical wellbeing. Most bad habits alter our mood and reduce stress (at least in the very short-term) but tend to become less helpful, the more we engage in them, so moderation is key. Whether you feel bad for not showering every day, nibbling on dark chocolate or enjoying gossip with your friends, read on to find out more about how these ‘bad’ habits may improve your health.…

According to experts anything between 40 and 60% of women gain weight during menopause. But why? And what can we do about it? Here experts give their opinions… You're eating too many carbs Dr Jan Toledano at London Hormone Clinic is a menopause expert. She says: ‘It’s not about calories. It’s about carbs. During perimenopause, oestrogen levels fluctuate – and can be very high and very low. When levels are high, the body holds onto fluid and fat. People often notice PMS-like symptoms and cravings. When oestrogen is low, the body’s metabolism stalls. At the same time, there’s zero or low levels of progesterone. This hormone helps metabolise fat stores and is a diuretic so balances any fluid retention – without this balancing effect there is fluid retention, cravings and…

Your tenth cranial nerve, and the longest in your body – the vagus nerve – is the widely underappreciated superhighway for stress response, digestion (as the link in the “gut-brain axis”), heart rate, speech and swallowing functions, and so much more. There’s barely a function in the body that this governor of the parasympathetic nervous system doesn’t have some role in, so why haven’t many of us heard about it? Dr Deborah Lee at Dr Fox Online Pharmacy gives us the lowdown: ‘Most of us are unaware of the vagus nerve, which is one of the most important nerves in the body. It’s one of 12 cranial nerves, which originate in the brain and travel to the face, head and neck, torso and the digestive system. The cranial nerves differ…

We’re often told what foods nutritionists recommend we eat, but what we really want to know is – what would they themselves never allow past their lips in a million years? The responses might surprise you. Here, four nutrition experts share their dietary no-nos. 1. Karen Murray, is a nutritional therapist, dietician and founder behind Grá Nutrition. Originally based in Dublin, Ireland and now in London, Karen has helped many clients through a vast array of symptoms and conditions with the healing power of food. Her top three nasties are as follows: Low-fat or fat-free yogurts Yogurt has so many great health benefits: it’s rich in protein and supports gut health, thanks to its probiotics. However, many flavoured yogurts found in supermarkets, especially those labelled ‘low-fat’ or ‘fat-free’ often compensate…

A dazzling smile is such a tonic, whether you’re the one doing the smiling or witnessing it. With the power to break down barriers, encouraging connection and putting people at ease, our smiles are far more than a response to something funny or delightful. Dr Deborah Lee of Dr Fox Online Pharmacy explains, ‘There’s no doubt about it – your smile is often an unappreciated aspect of your health. Here’s why: Firstly, your smile is one of the best ways of showing human emotion. Babies learn to smile by 6-8 weeks of age which is the very start of their social development. There are also so many important health and well-being parameters linked to smiling, from the release of endorphins including serotonin and dopamine which are feel good hormones and…

The late American anthropologist Dr Helen Fisher, who researched the chemical nature of human love, said that we need to focus on three areas in our romantic relationships: sex, attachment and romance. Psychotherapist, coach, and advice columnist Susie Master son says that, in her experience, if one or both parties feel that something is misaligned in one or a combination of these three areas, it will feel like something is wrong with the relationship. Beyond these three areas, relationship therapists say there are often subtle signs that your relationship is in crisis, from your body language to your curiosity about your partner. The good news is that if you spot these early, you can either work through your issues with your partner or part ways, knowing that the relationship just…

Most of us are feeling the pinch at the moment with energy bills soaring and the cost of living generally increasing across the board. In fact, Molly Dyer, Director of People and Culture at Balance says, ‘over half of the UK feels as though they’re underpaid, so a lot of employees will want to turn to their employers for help.’ Instead, many of us take on side hustles or extra jobs to top up the piggy bank – we may continually have our ear to the ground for a better paid job to apply for – but perhaps there’s a smarter way? Have you ever wondered how you might get a pay rise in your current role? Rob Anderson, founder of Leadership Launchpad and leadership coach to mid-career professionals and…