Our skeletal (voluntary) muscles move our bodies; internally, ‘smooth’ (involuntary) muscles keep things moving inside our organs. Muscles are designed to contract (shorten) and relax, but sometimes they go into spasm, producing pain and acidic chang

Lay on your front, position your hands either side of your shoulders. Gently push up through your hands, straighten arms and push your chest off the floor. Keep hips, legs and feet on the floor. Hold for five seconds, then relax so that you are lying

Your favourite sundae in cake form, complete with a cherry on top. MAKES 10 ✣ 2 large eggs✣ 2 very ripe bananas✣ 1½tsp vanilla extract✣ 125g (4oz) unsalted butter, softened✣ 65g (2oz) light muscovado sugar✣ 1tsp bicarbonate of soda, mixed with 4tb

Pork and apple is a classic combination, we have mixed the two together and stuffed them into a roasted butternut squash to make this cosy winter dinner. SERVES 2 ✣ Small to medium-sized butternut squash✣ 2tbsp olive oil✣ 400g (14oz) of pork sausa

An outdoor swim might not appeal in winter – but it could help fight Alzheimer’s. Cold-water swimming may help protect the brain from degenerative diseases, such as dementia, according to research by the University of Cambridge. Researchers discovere

A phobia is an irrational fear of something that wouldn’t frighten most people. But even if we know it’s irrational (or if we think it’s justified), it can also feel unbeatable, and affect how we live our lives. One in 10 of us has a phobia at some t

Alteya Organics Jasmine & Ylang-Ylang Lip Balm, £3.60 , lovelula.com Dry lips need an extra layer of protection during cold weather and this nourishing balm soothes even the most chapped pout. Beeswax and sweet almond oil provide a barrier to stop fu

Colour affects your mood, so ditch the dingy blacks and boring browns and draw good vibes towards you with vivid hues. Red is powerful and can make you feel energised. Yellow radiates a sunny, optimistic aura, while orange suggests warmth and fun. To

Currently in development, the non-invasive test analyses molecules in your breath that can show the presence of cancer at very early stages. It’s hoped that it will eventually be introduced to GP surgeries. Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald, who’s leading

Whatever the season, who can resist a coastal walk? Sunshine and sea spray on bare arms in summer. A bracing breeze to re-energise in winter. But whether you finish your stroll with a cooling ice cream or a warming latte, you’ll be working wonders fo

Torquay Harbour and Marina are a joy to stroll around, yacht spotting and people watching, with the Victorian Princess Pier a nostalgic diversion. Walk to the end and look back to shore for views of the marina, palm-lined promenade and cliffs. Crime

Q My scalp is very dry and flaky, and I feel so self-conscious about it. What can I do? A Try a scalp scrub. This helps rid your hair of pesky flakes and clears any blocked pores that may be reducing oil production and making your scalp dry. Massagi

✣ If you’ve got combination or spot-prone skin, it’s tempting to go for heavy-duty cleansers that completely strip away any oil. Yes, it feels satisfying, but on a deeper level your skin will freak out, produce even more sebum to compensate and so th

Tom Fortes Mayer is a Harley Street hypnotherapist ‘I’m passionate about how people change how they’re thinking, feeling and behaving. And that fascination started when I experienced it myself in India 20 years ago. I was leading a hedonistic lifest

Enough sleep – ideally seven to eight hours a night – is essential for physical and mental alertness. TRY THIS: Establish a good bedtime routine. Dr Irshaad Ebrahim, Medical Director of The London Sleep Centre, says ‘Go to bed and get up at roughly

Our strong bones will break if enough force is applied, or if they’re weaker than normal. Their hard exterior and softer middle are covered by a membrane containing blood vessels and nerves – which is why knocks or fractures hurt so much! Bone cells

Fed up with diets that leave you feeling bored and frustrated after only a few days? ‘If a diet saps the joy out of eating, it becomes very hard to sustain,’ says Rob Hobson, registered nutritionist and co-author of Cheats & Eats (£9.99, Healthspan L

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is an essential ingredient for brain cells, the central nervous system, and oxygen-carrying haemoglobin in red blood cells. We get it from our diets and absorb it at the end of the small intestine, helped by intrinsic factor,

Yogurt contains probiotics, which are a type of healthy bacteria that are great for gut health. Making Greek yogurt into tzatziki is a great way to incorporate it into your diet, while avoiding the sugar and sweeteners that are added to most yogurts.

Women are more compassionate We’re generally more concerned about the virtues of fairness, compassion and moral purity than men, according to research by the University of Southern California, which surveyed more than a third of a million people in