‘Healing the gut” is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot. Some people use it to refer to improving gut microbiome health – balancing the microorganisms in the digestive system that, when off kilter, can leave us with digestion and immune problems. Others link it to “leaky gut syndrome”, a condition associated with intestinal … Read more
High cholesterol can cause heart problems and strokes – but levels can creep up without showing any symptoms. This is why, if you’re over 40, you should be getting your cholesterol checked every five years. It’s a simple enough concept, but, like alcohol and other things that could be slowly, invisibly damaging our bodies, cholesterol … Read more
Lie-in or early start? I’m a horrible sleeper – I spend very little time in the bedroom – and I’ll read until the rest of the world wakes up. On an ideal Sunday morning I’d go for a walk with binoculars. I like bird-watching. Favourite bird? The house sparrow. They’re in decline, so they’re more … Read more
In Deptford, south-east London, Holly Loftus hand-crafts between 10 and 15 knives a month. The least expensive of these could be yours for £160, while the dearest might set you back as much as £580. What do you get for your money if you seriously splash out? Loftus, who was born in Ireland and is … Read more
Will Murray isn’t sure about the toad in the hole. In the soft gleam of a prep kitchen, deep below St James’s in London, the chef-patron and co-founder of Fallow frowns at a pan of puffy bronzed batter and extruded sausages. “Do you think we need to do it again?” asks one of his chefs, … Read more
Cake or Death vegan dark chocolate and fondant eggs£20 for 6, cakeordeath.co.ukThat’s very good. It doesn’t taste cheap like some plant-based chocolate. The sweet fondant yolk is balanced by the bitterness of the chocolate.★★★★ The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Lidl deluxe layered … Read more
The Crown, Arford Road, Headley, Bordon GU35 8BT (01428 288090; thecrownarford.com). Small plates from £4.50; large plates £18-£29; desserts £9; and wines from £36 I feel I shouldn’t be writing at all because I am so full and so happy. I have just had the meal of meals – a Sunday lunch of such perfection … Read more
How will the new rules work? At the moment, pensions tend to be outside people’s estates for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes. But last autumn Rachel Reeves announced that money left in a defined contribution (AKA money purchase) pension after your death will be pulled into the IHT net from April 2027. Most workplace pensions and … Read more
A series of photos that circulated around awards season made the internet roundly do its nut. I will describe them, and you will see how our reactions show that earnestness has gone violently out of style. The first picture accompanied a quote from Jeremy Strong responding to his Oscar nomination. He’d put out a long … Read more
Last November, my family brought home a puppy. Frankie was eight weeks old when he came to live with us, and right now, watching him bound around with my seven-year-old son, I don’t want to imagine ever saying goodbye to him. Well, maybe I won’t need to, or rather, I can at least kick that … Read more