New research has found that low-protein, high-carb diets may be the key to living longer and protecting against dementia
Researchers found mice who were fed an unrestricted low protein, high carbohydrate diet showed improvements in overall health and brain health, as well as learning and memory.
The study was lead by author Devin Wahl, a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney in Australia.
He said: ‘There are currently no effective pharmaceutical treatments for dementia – we can slow these diseases, but we can’t stop them – so it’s exciting that we are starting to identify diets that are impacting how the brain ages.’
The research, published in the journal Cell Reports, shows for the first time that unrestricted low-protein, high-carb diets have similar protective benefits for the brain as calorie restriction, which is known for its longevity benefits although not sustainable in humans.
Devin said: ‘We have close to 100 years of quality research extolling the benefits of calorie restriction as the most powerful diet to improve brain health and delay the onset of neurodegenerative disease in rodents.
‘However, the majority of people have a hard time restricting calories, especially in Western societies where food is so freely available.
(Picture: Getty)
‘It shows a lot of promise that we have been able to replicate the same kind of gene changes in the part of the brain responsible for memory that we also see when we severely restrict calories.’
Of course, low-protein, high-carb diets aren’t anything new. Senior author Professor David Le Couteur said numerous cultures including the people of Okinawa in Japan and many parts of the Mediterranean have long observed this mix.
David, also of the University of Sydney, said: ‘The traditional diet of Okinawa is around nine per cent protein, which is similar to our study, with sources including lean fish, soy and plants, with very little beef.
‘Interestingly, one of their main sources of carbohydrate is sweet potato.’
(Picture: Getty)
For the current study, researchers fed the mice complex carbohydrates derived from starch, and casein protein which is found in cheese and milk.
To assess the brain benefits of the diet the researchers focused on the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for learning and memory.
David added: ‘The hippocampus is usually the first part of the brain to deteriorate with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
‘However, the low-protein high-carbohydrate diet appeared to promote hippocampus health and biology in the mice, on some measures to an even greater degree than those on the low-calorie diet.’
Learning and memory were assessed via a series of tests, with researchers noting modest improvements in male and female mice at both young and old ages.
This research follows a landmark 2015 study. also from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, that showed low-protein, high-carb diets could be just as effective as low calorie diets in promoting a long life in mice through good heart and digestive health.
The image looks like it’s moving. It’s not. (Picture: Yurii Perepadia/Guten Tag Vector/Shutterstock)
Hold on to your hats, this is about to get a little complicated.
If you’ve been on Twitter or Tumblr recently, you might have seen an optical illusion making the rounds.
But not just any optical illusion – an optical illusion that people say reveals how stressed out you are.
On Tumblr someone wrote a caption they shared alongside the image, stating that it was created by a Japanese neurology professor named Yamamoto Hashima, and that the faster the image appears to move, the more stressed you are.
‘If it’s not moving, or just moving a little, you are healthy and have slept well,’ says the caption.
‘If it’s moving slowly, you are a bit stressed or tired.
‘If it’s moving continuously, you are over-stressed and might have mental problems.’
Naturally, anyone who saw the image moving continuously then had a little panic and shared the image to let everyone know how stressed they are.
But here’s the thing: The optical illusion doesn’t reveal anything about your stress levels at all. It is not the creation of a Japanese neurology professor called Yamamoto Hashima.
In fact, there is no neurology professor named Yamamoto Hashima.
The illusion is actually the work of Yurii Perepadia, a graphic designer and illustrator from Ukraine.
He took to Instagram to explain that the illusion of a ‘white and black stroke on a coloured background’ sets a person’s focus of vision in motion, making the image appear to move. It has nothing to do with your mental state or stress levels.
Yurii told BuzzFeed News that he saw the posts about his work and is asking for them to be taken down so misinformation doesn’t spread any further.
So, to recap: The image you’re looking at isn’t actually moving, but it appears to be moving. The speed at which it appears to move reveals nothing about your mental state.
If you’re worried about your stress levels, it’s probably best to talk to a mental health professional rather than getting a checkup from an miscredited optical illusion on Tumblr.
You can now live with five different species of penguin, as a historic Falkland island is up for sale for the first time in nearly 150 years.
The island is the third largest offshore island in the archipelago.
Named after the small, attractive and multicoloured pebbles that once lined its beaches, Pebble Island is home to 42 breeding bird species, Commerson’s dolphins, sea lions, whales and around 6,000 sheep.
It stretches 10,622 hectares – 19 miles long by four miles wide at its widest – as well as having three peaks and four miles of white sandy beaches.
During the Falklands War, it hosted the first land-based attack in 1982 where the SAS disabled Argentinian aircraft.
Still hosting wreckage from battles, it holds memorials to commemorate losses on both sides, including a Coventry Cross for those who were lost their lives on HMS Coventry, which sunk near to the Island.
The island was originally bought from the government in 1869 by John Markham Dean, and has now been listed by the granddaughter of the last Dean to live on the Falkland Islands Claire Harris.
Claire, 62, from Sussex, said: ‘My family are all passionate about the island but we’ve come to a point where we’re unable to manage it from the UK.
(Picture: Pebble Island/Caters News)
‘Pebble was the first island to send a radio message from the outer islands using a hand turned generator, and it was also the first to introduce wind power to the islands.
‘It will be a sad day when it is no longer in the family having had connections with the Falklands since 1840.
‘The island is beautiful and a holiday there would suit anyone interested in birds, wildlife, walking, military history or just to enjoy the wide open spaces with no one else in view.
‘We now have two self-catering cottages in the settlement for the more independent traveller.
‘People have been waiting for Pebble Island to come up for sale for many years.
‘It’s really impossible to know how much the Island will sell for as it’s the first time it’s come up for sale in 150 years next year, so we have no idea.
‘We can look at what other islands have sold for recently but it’s a real mixed bunch, so we don’t know.’
While Claire is open to the idea of someone without a connection to the Falkland Islands buying the land, she hopes the traditions will continue to be nurtured.
The land itself is a key tourism hotspot hosting two self-catering lodges and is an Important Bird Area – an internationally recognised site for bird conservation.
As well as penguins, the island is home to 42 breeding bird species including Skuas, Giant Petrels, King Cormorants and more.
She said: ‘Any foreigner to be given a license would have to be into conservation, keen to keep tourism going and farming.
(Picture: Pebble Island/Caters News)
‘A foreign person would have to offer a substantial amount more than a Falkland Islander for us to accept it.
‘In many ways we would love a Falkland Islander to buy, whether that will happen we don’t’ know.
‘It could be someone involved in the sheep business or a farmer, someone who buys the wool or someone who wants to improve tourism or anything really.’
Claire says Pebble Island will be deeply missed by the family.
She said: ‘My dad who is 92 is still as passionate as before but I’ve been running it in more recent years.
‘It will be very sad when it actually happens, I can hardly believe it is going to happen but unfortunately with my age I’m unable to continue doing it.
‘I know I’m not that old I have elderly parents in 80s and 90s, grandchildren and this is the time where no one else can take it on.
Black Friday is coming, and Not on the High Street is just one online retailer which has released some new deals to mark the occasion.
Not on the High Street is known for its unique gifts – and it has pretty much anything and everything you can think of, from chocolate pizzas to jewellery.
They’ve recently launched a range of stuff for bargain prices.
(Picture: YVONNE HENDERSON JEWELLERY)
This includes a number of advent calendars, including personalised calendars which can feature your name, and comes filled with things perfect for the Christmas countdown. The Personalised Reusable Annual Family Advent Calendar is currently selling for £35, which is a massive 50% off.
There are also lots of experiences on offer, including a London Craft Beer Cruise, which entails a cruise along the Thames, for just £75.60 – dropping from £108.
There’s also a Wonder Woman necklace on offer, which is made from sterling silver and features a gold thunderbolt charm. It’s selling for £19 down from £38. Bargain.
Another piece of jewellery is the Zodiac necklace, which is a handmade gold necklace which has two sapphires and is available in all constellations. This is selling for £58.80 down from £84.
(Picture: ROCK ON RUBY)
Of course, there’s lots of Christmas themed things selling on the site as we’re nearing December now – such as a baubles themed Christmas jumper, which is available in red, white or grey and is available for £16 instead of the usual £32.
There’s also a cute pom pom hat coming as part of the sale, and is half price at £19.50.
These deals will be available near the end of the week, so if they’re your kind of thing you should head over to the site ASAP to get your hands on a 50% off deal.
That housemate who never does the dishes and sits playing video games all day (Picture: Getty)
The best flatmates are furry and warm, and all they want is a bit of food, water, and attention.
In return, you get a best friend that’ll sit on your lap and gently purr while you watch Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. Score.
Those of us who do have pets, though, know that it’s not always as easy as deciding whether you can look after or want a cat or dog.
Letting websites often have it written right on the site that they don’t allow pets, which is a pretty big roadblock before you’ve even gone to view.
It turns out, however, it’s not because landlords just hate all animal life, and is a lot more to do with the standard legal documentation in the industry.
Cats Protection have started a campaign called Purrfect Landlords to combat the one-size-fits-all attitude to pets in the home.
It focuses specifically on cats, and offers guidance to tenants and landlords alike on how to adjust the tenancy agreements and rules so cats and humans can live in harmony.
Logically, cat owners (or really anyone that has ever met a domestic cat) know that as long as they’re looked after properly, they rarely cause any property damage.
A good scratchpost and an enclosed litterbox are all it takes to make sure your moggy won’t make a mess of the floor or soft furnishings. As it turns out, landlords know this already.
Erm, Mr. Tickles, your rent is late AGAIN (Picture: Getty)
A spokesperson from Cats Protection told Metro.co.uk: ‘Often, the reason for not allowing cats is simply habit, with a third of landlords who don’t accept cats saying they didn’t proactively choose to ban cats, but instead followed a standard template or advice from a letting agent.
‘It’s understandable that landlords want to protect their investment, and concerns that a cat may cause damage to fixtures and fittings are often given as the reason for not allowing cats. Yet the truth is that cats rarely cause any issues.
‘75% of cat-friendly private landlords report no problems at all from cats in their properties. In the unlikely event that a cat did cause damage, we believe the standard deposit would be more than enough to cover this.’
Plus, having a cat in the home can be hugely beneficial for a renter.
Cats Protection and the Mental Health Foundation held a survey which found ‘87% of people who owned a cat felt it had a positive impact on their wellbeing’ and that ‘among those that that own a cat, 94% report their cat having a positive effect on their life such as making them happy, providing company and affection, or improving mental health.’
The response so far has been positive. They say: ‘We visited the National Landlord Investment Show at London’s Olympia on 6 November where we spoke to landlords who already said they’d consider changing their policy as a result of our campaign.’
On too of that, they’ve been winning awards for their work, and are collaborating with the National Landlords Association, who also supported their Guide for Landlords.
The tide does definitely seem to be turning, with many of the new urban rental companies allowing pets.
Just enjoying a spot of Doga (Picture: Fizzy Living)
One such company is Fizzy Living, who manage apartments across London.
They told Metro.co.uk: ‘We’re all about creating a strong sense of community and pets are an integral part of this – we understand their significance in family life.
‘All Fizzy buildings are pet-friendly and have a pet station, pet parties (nicknamed “Yappy Hour”) and all pets receive a welcome hamper when they move in.’
Because of the welcoming attitude, 40% of their tenants are now pet owners, which shows that the demand really is there.
And it’s not just a free-for-all, either. They make sure the pets in their properties are in ideal living conditions:
‘While we welcome most dog breeds, we do limit the number of pets per flat and we do have larger flats with outdoor areas to accommodate larger breeds. At each Fizzy building, we have partnerships with local businesses so our residents can use highly-recommend dog walkers, groomers and vets that are trusted by us and our tenants.’
There are numerous ways to allow pets into a property, and find that it makes inhabitants and landlords happier.
Since those of us in cities are unlikely to go back to ‘generation buy’ any time soon, it makes sense to ensure our rental homes actually feel like homes… And that means letting us experience the joy of pets.
To get involved with the Purrfect Landlords campaign, check out the website, where you can find guidance and cat-friendly properties.
You race to viewings just to discover someone’s put down a deposit five minutes earlier. You see the perfect place online, then it’s revealed that those photos were the result of some clever positioning and actually there’s no living room and the bed is in the kitchen.
If you forget about the need to find somewhere to live that you can actually afford, it’s a barrel of laughs.
Just try to forget that as you behold this wonder: A flat in Beijing with the bathroom in the kitchen.
This is not just any kitchen-based bathroom, however.
This is a bathroom concealed by transparent glass walls.
Yes, pals, it’s a toilet you can gaze upon while cooking up some dinner. Think of the fun your guests will have when you invite them round.
The glorious bit of home design was brought to our attention by Michael Bellart, an editor at Caixin who found the apartment while flat-hunting.
Apartment hunting in Beijing: there is always at least one thing wrong – very, very wrong pic.twitter.com/e006ASlwrg
‘Apartment hunting in Beijing: there is always at least one thing wrong – very, very wrong,’ he wrote.
It’s also worth noting that the windows of the flat don’t appear to have any blinds, so your neighbours can join in on watching you and your friends poo. Michael also confirmed there are no blinds for the bathroom, so you truly are on display.
At least we can take solace in knowing that London isn’t the only sh*tshow of a housing market.
We can also be very grateful for the walls of our bathroom. Thank those walls next time you’re doing anything you’d rather your housemates didn’t see.
Welcome to Mixed Up, a new series looking at the highs, lows and unique experiences of being mixed-race.
Mixed-race is the fastest-growing ethnic group in the UK. It means your parents hail from two (or more) different ethnicities, leaving you somewhere in the middle.
In 2001, when the ‘mixed’ categories were first introduced to the national census, mixed-race people made up 1.3% of the population. Fast-forward 10 years, and that figure almost doubles to 2.3%.
It’s a trajectory that’s unlikely to slow down.
As interracial marriages become more accepted and global travel becomes more accessible, the growth of the mixed-race population is inevitable. We’re taking over. But there’s still so little in the way of conversation about what it means to be mixed.
Alongside the unique pleasures and benefits of being exposed to multiple cultures, being mixed comes with complexities, conflicts and innate contradictions.
For many, it’s about occupying two identities simultaneously, reconciling the differences and trying to carve out a space to exist between the two.
The mainstream understanding of being mixed-race most often refers to people who are white and black Caribbean, or white and black African. But the voices of the mixed-race diaspora extend far beyond this.
Mixed Up is a new series that aims to elevate those voices, look deeper at the nuanced realities of being mixed-race and provide an insight into the inner workings of this rapidly growing ethnic group.
(Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
Jahmal (Jam) Williams-Thomas is a cameraman, journalist and die-hard Mancunian. But his heritage is more complicated than that.
‘To say that I’m of mixed heritage is a bit of an understatement really,’ Jam tells Metro.co.uk.
‘On my maternal side, my grandparents are both Jamaican – straight-forward, right? On my paternal side – bear with me – my grandmother is Irish and my grandfather is a mix of Jamaican and Chinese, although the Chinese is a few generations back, so my granddad was raised in Jamaica and seems to mainly identify with that side.
‘Incidentally, being Chinese and Jamaican isn’t as unusual as you might think.
‘My sister has definitely got more of the Chinese look. She is currently studying in Japan – and she basically looks like a local.
‘My Dad seems to think we’ve got Indian heritage somewhere, but I’m not sure about that. It’s also my mother who is black, it’s a common misconception that in mixed-race relationships it’s generally the father who’s black – so I guess my mix is somewhat unique in that way.’
Little Jam with his parents, on holiday in Cyprus (Picture: Jam Williams-Thomas/Metro.co.uk)
Jam thinks being mixed is a gift. Rather than feeling excluded, he finds that his heritage allows him to feel a sense of belonging in multiple environments.
‘One of the best things about being mixed race is the ability to fit in, in at least four countries,’ Jam explains.
‘I know that if I go to Ireland, Jamaica or China then I have some claim to being from there.
‘Another good thing is that you get the best of both worlds when it comes to cuisine. If I’m with one side, I get an Irish fry-up with a cup of Barry’s Tea, if I’m with the other then I get curry goat and rice with a side of KA black grape drink.
‘I’ve never felt any sense of being disconnected with my family at all. I did grow up more around my mother’s side, the Jamaican side, but that was purely a matter of circumstance.
‘Both grandmothers would look after me growing up, and I was extremely close to them both before they passed in recent years. I’m still close to them now, spiritually, and I do talk to them sometimes.
‘And clashing cultures was never an issue for us. In fact, due to my paternal granddad’s Jamaican heritage, I was having rice, peas and chicken regardless of which side of the family I was with!
‘There was never any Chinese twist on the classic Caribbean dish unfortunately.’
Jam’s late Jamaican grandmother (Picture: Jam Williams-Thomas/Metro.co.uk)
Many mixed-race people feel a stronger affiliation to one side of their heritage – often because of how they were brought up. Jam says his relationship with both sides is something that has developed and strengthened over the years.
‘Growing up, I’d say I identified with my Caribbean side more than the other, probably because of the area I grew up in,’ Jam tells us.
‘Moss Side in Manchester has a large Caribbean community and almost all of my friends growing up were from that background, some of whom I’m still close with today. As I got older, I started to look into my Irish side a bit more.
‘I took a trip over to Ireland and actually explored the area my Nana grew up in with her sister and my Uncle Paddy… obviously.
‘Since then, I’ve made several trips to Ireland for both pleasure and work, and feel like I fit in. In 2012 I got a tattoo on my forearm of a shamrock, which was purposely three-leaved as I wanted to make the point that it wasn’t for luck, but rather a homage to my heritage – luckily I did manage to show my Nana before she passed the following year- and she loved it.
‘The bond between myself and that side of the family, both in Ireland and over here in England, has definitely gotten stronger.’
Being mixed means you get to experience two sets of family traditions. Jam says he had something different to look forward to when he visited both of his grandmas.
‘My Irish nana always gave me tea and ham sandwiches, which I always looked forward to, whereas my Jamaican nan would give me rich tea biscuits or hard dough bread with a cup of very sweet tea. Both were equally as nice.
‘Another difference is at family functions – I didn’t really attend many on my Dad’s side growing up, but did attend lots on my mother’s side. One clear difference is that black funerals take a very long time!
‘My Jamaican grandparents’ respective funerals were a good couple of hours long, with lots of keyboard and gospel singers, but my Irish nana’s was no longer than half an hour and a much more sombre affair. This is also due to religious differences rather than just culture, but it does play a part.’
Jam with his parents at his graduation (Picture: Jam Williams-Thomas/Metro.co.uk)
For some people, the concept of being mixed-race is uncomfortable. Some want to ascribe you with a label, black or white – they find it hard to process the idea that we can exist somewhere in between.
Jam wants there to be more understanding about being mixed. He hates it when people wrongly assume he’s one thing or another.
‘I wish people understood that being mixed-race is actually a thing – we’re not black, or white, we are both! Ergo, mixed race.
‘I have found that throughout life, if I was with three of my black friends, we would be referred to as “four black males”, at which point I have to pipe up and say, “actually, I’m mixed-race”, as my pride won’t let it lie.
Jam with his mates from Moss Side (Picture: Jam Williams-Thomas/Metro.co.uk)
‘Equally, mixed-race doesn’t always mean straight Caribbean or African and English – I have friends who are mixed Indian and English and even mixed Taiwanese and English.’
As well as understanding the more nuanced aspects about being mixed-race, Jam also wants people to understand something about his hair.
‘Growing an Afro isn’t as easy as it looks,’ Jam explains, laughing.
‘I have an old pass from when I worked at the BBC – I had an Afro in that picture and people beg for me to get it back. No. It won’t be happening any time soon.’
Mixed Up is a weekly series focused on telling the stories of mixed-race people. Next week we speak to Dawn, who says her Caribbean and South Indian heritage has shaped the person she is today.
There are lots of benefits of moving back in with your parents as an adult.
Cheap or nonexistent rent, for one. Getting to spend some quality time with people you care about. Being free of housemates rehearsing their DJ routine at 2am.
But there are downfalls, too.
New research soon to be published in Society and Mental Health suggests that moving back home can be damaging to young people’s mental health.
MPIDR researcher Jennifer Caputo found that young adults who returned to living with their parents after a period of being independent experienced an increase in symptoms of depression.
Jennifer looked at data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, which tracks a sample of over 20,000 U.S. people from their teens to their thirties.
She noticed that those who had returned to their parents’ home were more likely to have seen a decrease in income or had a breakup, and were also more likely to experience depression.
Young adults who were living independently were less depressed, had a higher income, and were more likely to feel more like adults; meaning they were working or in longterm relationships.
Now, the cause and effect of living at home and being depressed may not be so straightforward.
The data suggests that rather than just the act of being home causing depression, a culmination of factors that lead to returning home might be at play.
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Think about it: You’re more likely to need to move back home if your income has dipped or a relationship has broken down, both of which would have a negative effect on your mental wellbeing.
But even after accounting for these other factors, the research still found that returning to their parents’ home was still a significant predictor of depression.
The decision to move home can then feel like a loss of independence, with the move back into your teenage bedroom bringing out all those old family dynamics. That plus some upsetting life changes creates the perfect breeding ground for mental health issues to grow.
‘Economic and social independence are hallmarks of a successful transition to adulthood, and residential independence is highly valued. Not achieving these goals might create feelings of failure,’ explains Caputo.
‘My findings show that returning to a parental home after a period of independence can be depressing.
‘They suggest that norms about attaining residential independence in young adulthood remain powerful. These findings are consistent with research indicating that disappointments in other areas of young people’s lives can have mental health consequences.’
Interestingly, Jennifer now plans to continue her research by looking into the mental health of parents whose children return home. She says that the boomerang generation could be negatively affecting their parents’ wellbeing, too.
‘These moves also affect parents,’ she explained. ‘It is possible that having an adult child living at home can be disappointing, stressful, and depressing for parents too.’
Dolce & Gabbana is at the centre of some controversy… again.
This time around it’s their new campaign that’s attracting anger.
As promotion for the brand’s show in Shanghai today, 21 November, Dolce & Gabbana launched a social media campaign called #DGTheGreatShow. This involved videos with the tag #DGLovesChina promoted on Weibo and Instagram.
Those videos show an Asian woman struggling to eat Italian food such as pasta, pizza, and cannoli with chopsticks.
(Picture: dolcegabbana/Twitter)
Those videos have been accused of relying on ‘racist stereotypes’, with critics pointing to the appearance of ‘outdated’ cultural symbols such as lanterns, and the ‘stereotypical’ styling of the model.
Jing Daily reports that ‘Boycott Dolce’ has been mentioned on Weibo more than 18,000 times as a result, while on Twitter people are flocking to call the ad campaign ‘racist’.
Diet Prada wrote: ‘In a bid to further appeal to luxury’s covetable Chinese consumers, @dolcegabbana released some hella offensive “instructional” videos on the usage of chopsticks.
‘Pandering at its finest, but taken up a notch by painting their target demographic as a tired and false stereotype of a people lacking refinement/culture to understand how to eat foreign foods and an over-the-top embellishment of cliché ambient music, comical pronunciations of foreign names/words, and Chinese subtitles (English added by us), which begs the question – who is this video actually for?
‘It attempts to target China, but instead mocks them with a parodied vision of what modern China is not…a gag for amusement.’
Then screenshots of even more controversial messages appeared on social media which purported to be sent from Stefano Gabbana, apparently in response to the ‘racism’ accusations.
Dolce & Gabbana announced that their account, as well as Stefano Gabbana’s, had been hacked.
‘Our legal office is urgently investigating,’ wrote the brand on Instagram. ‘We are very sorry for any distress caused by these unauthorized posts, comments and direct messages.
‘We have nothing but respect for China and the people of China.’
The furore appears to have caused damage, with rumours spread that some agencies were pulling their models from the show, while influencers invited to attend announced they would be boycotting the brand.
According to Business of Fashion, guests have been informed that the show will no longer go ahead. While Diet Prada claims this is because the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Shanghai cancelled the show, this has yet to be confirmed.
We’ve reached out to Dolce & Gabbana for comment, but haven’t heard back. We’ll update this article when they release any further statement.
Caption: Why you shouldn’t give honey to babies (Picture: Getty)
Parents are being warned not to give honey to their babies after four children were treated for botulism in Texas.
All four of the babies had been given a pacifier (a dummy) containing honey. These aren’t commonly sold in the U.S. or in the UK, as medical experts have previously warned parents not to give young children honey, but are available in some shops and online.
These pacifiers are sometimes filled with honey, which can then be consumed if the dummies leak, or are dipped in honey to encourage children to suck.
In these four cases, the dummies were bought in Mexico. All four babies had to be hospitalised for life-saving treatment.
That’s sparked a reminder from the FDA to never give children under one year old honey, ever.
But why is honey so dangerous for young children?
What is botulism?
Botulism is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by toxins produced by clostridium botulinum bacteria.
These toxins attack the nervous system and cause paralysis. If botulism is not treated, the paralysis can spread to the muscles that control breathing, which leads to death in around 5% to 10% of cases.
Symptoms include:
Vomiting
Stomach cramps
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Drooping eyelids
Blurred or double vision
Muscle weakness
Difficulty swallowing
Slurred speech
A floppy head, neck, and limbs
In babies, a weak cry
Breathing difficulties
There are three types of botulism: food-borne, wound, and infant.
All botulism requires urgent medical attention and will usually need to be treated with injections of antibodies.
The risks are all down to the bacteria naturally present in honey. Honey can contain spores of a bacterium called clostridium botulinum, which can multiply in a baby’s digestive system and cause botulism – which can be fatal.
The reason it’s dangerous for young babies especially is that adults and children over one year old have microorganisms in their intestine that stop this bacteria from growing. Babies under a year old don’t yet have that protection.
Most baby foods that contain honey will be safe because they’ve been heated to a high enough temperature to kill off any bacteria spores, but parents are warned against cooking with honey, topping food with honey, or dipping dummies in honey for babies.
So, a reminder to all: Don’t give honey to babies. Don’t buy dummies filled with honey. Don’t bake a honey cake and feed it to your youngest kiddo.
What’s a tasty treat for us could be lethal for babies.
One of the hardest things to deal with every Christmas is the realisation that Greggs Festive Bakes are limited edition.
Every time we bite into that crumbly, buttery pastry, we can hear the clock ticking.
We only get a few weeks to enjoy the cranberry-drenched meaty delights before they disappear for another year, breaking all of our hearts in the process.
But it doesn’t have to be his way. This endless cycle of fleeting joy and barren months of pining. Not anymore.
Iceland is now selling a double pack of the festive favourites – so you can stock up your freezer and enjoy all year-round.
(Picture: Iceland)
Imagine how empowering it would feel to bite into a piping hot Festive Bake in mid-July.
You won’t be defined by seasonal constraints. You are the master of your own festive period.
The Iceland versions look to be as close to the original bakes as possible – stuffed with chicken, bacon, sage and onion stuffing in a creamy sage and cranberry sauce.
All you have to do is pop one straight in the oven from the freezer, and you’ll have that fresh bakery experience in no time.
Months of crumb-coated deliciousness will be yours.
Greggs hasn’t missed the hype around their iconic Christmas product. They know hard-core fans will do anything to get their hands on a Festive Bake.
To celebrate the launch of this year’s Festive Bake season, the nationwide chain gave out 500 free bakes to lucky customers who managed to get there first.
But these frozen options might put an end to the manic scramble. Enjoy a hot Festive Bake at any time of the day, at any point in the year – all thanks to the magic of the freezer.
Black Friday is just two days away but if you are looking for a deal on a Dyson, the offers have already started.
The home technology company who make vacuum cleaners, fans and now hair products, has reduced the prices on some of their products and have promised to match any deals from other retailers.
You can pick up the Dyson V8 Total Clean vacuum for £348, the Dyson Light Ball Animal vacuum for £199 or a Dyson Hot+Cool Jet Focus fan heater.
The Supersonic hairdryer is now £299.99 but so far there’s no sign of a deal on their new product the AirWrap.
The Supersonic hairdryer (Picture: Dyson)
However, the company promises to check and match prices with other retailers of their products daily so keep an eye out.
They are also offering to refund the difference if you find the same product advertised at a lower price by Argos, Currys of John Lewis.
From 16 November if the price of a product you purchase from Dyson.co.uk drops in price before 28 November, they’ll refund the difference back to you.
Nicola Salmon is a fertility coach who wants to spread the word that #FatFertilityMatters (Picture: Nicola Salmon)
‘Fat women get little or no support from most healthcare practitioners,’ Nicola Salmon tells Metro.co.uk. ‘The majority of support they do get is with the goal of weight loss.
‘For women who have likely yo-yo dieted their whole lives, this is extremely detrimental to their mental health.’
Nicola is a fertility coach, which means she works one-on-one with women in person or online to offer them support in reaching their health and fertility goals.
She provides support with the emotional side of having a child, as well as acupuncture and ‘natural medicine’.
Nicola is also the creator of #FatFertilityMatters, a movement that’s encouraging us to consider the unique challenges women above a size 16 face when they try to get pregnant.
‘So many fat women I’ve worked with believed that there weren’t able or worthy to get pregnant until they lost a substantial amount of weight and the evidence does not support that,’ says Nicola.
(Picture: Nicola Salmon)
‘Fat women need to be supported not only in their physical health, but in their confidence in their body and allowing themselves to even believe that a healthy pregnancy is a possibility for them.’
That all plays a role in the idea of ‘thinking fertile’ – the idea that you need to be in the right state of mind for your body to allow you to conceive a child.
Experts agree that stress can cause your fertility to take a hit, so it makes sense to focus on the emotional and mental side of having a child, not just the physical bits.
For plus-size women, the focus can be too heavily weighted on the physical side of things, with doctors fretting about patients’ weight and what they’re eating.
Nicola hopes that #FatFertilityMatters will provide some balance and thus reduce the stress of having doctors regularly bringing up your weight.
She helps women hoping to get pregnant to ‘make peace with food’, manage their stress levels, and learn to love themselves, believing that these are all crucial steps in improving fertility.
‘There are so many other factors at play, but there is no causal relationship between fat and fertility issues,’ says Nicola. ‘The fact that the majority of fertility clinics use BMI to deny fertility treatment to women is inhumane.
Can you be denied IVF on the NHS if you are overweight?
It’s complicated.
While NICE doesn’t have any official restrictions on IVF dependent on BMI, the final decision about who can have NHS-funded IVF is down to the area’s individual NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). These can have stricter criteria.
This means that while NICE recommends that a woman should ‘ideally’ have a BMI between 19 and 30 before IVF, clinics can use their own judgement to decide whether or not a woman is a suitable weight.
‘The same goes for so many fat-related pregnancy issues such as gestational diabetes.
‘My own birthing experiences taught me that there are so many outdated policies in place stopping fat women getting the births that they want.
‘The inequality around the care that fat women get makes me so mad. It’s not ok for your size to determine your chances of having a family.
‘I wanted to play a part in breaking down the barriers that fat women face when they want to start their families and access healthcare in general.
‘Too many times I have been dismissed from the doctors, told to lose weight and made to feel like crap for completely unrelated issues.’
Nicola’s own experience spurred her on to get people talking about having a baby when you’re fat.
She was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome when she was 16, and was told she would never be able to have children.
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
She struggled with her weight throughout her life, going up and down in size, but when she started trying to have a child she was the heaviest she’d been.
‘It was easy for us to conceive both our boys,’ says Nicola. ‘How could it be so easy for us when it looked like it would be impossible? If weight was such a factor how did I get so lucky?
‘Accepting my fat body over the past year has allowed me to be brave enough to stand up for other fat women out there and demand that we get equal support in our fertility journeys.’
What does support look like in a world where fat fertility matters?
It’s pretty simple: No medical discrimination based on weight, more kindness, and less judgement.
‘We need to be kinder,’ Nicola tells us. ‘To stop judging fat women and assuming anything about their health, lifestyle or fertility based on their size.
‘We also need to be kinder to ourselves so that we can let go of the idea that we all need to spend all our energy trying to fit this perfect body ideal that society has placed on us.
‘It’s ok to get pregnant when you’re fat. Fat does not mean you are any less deserving of having a family.’
What the NHS says about BMI and fertility:
The NHS states that ‘being overweight increases the risk of complications for pregnant women and their babies’. These complications include miscarriage (the NHS points to the overall risk of miscarriage under 12 weeks being 10%, while for women whose BMI is above 30, it’s 25%), gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia, blood clots, the baby becoming ‘stuck’ during labour, and post-partum haemorrhage.
The NHS also states that reaching a ‘healthy weight’ will increase your chances of conceiving naturally.
Being underweight can cause issues with fertility by stopping the ovulation cycle entirely.
The recommendation is that anyone trying to conceive should fit into the ‘healthy weight’ category, meaning a BMI between 19 and 25.
Fertility Month
This story is part of Fertility Month, a month-long series covering all aspects of fertility.
For the next four weeks, we will be speaking to people at all stages of the fertility journey as well as doctors, lawyers and fertility experts who can shed light on the most important issues.
Morrisons are absolutely pulling it out the bag this Black Friday, with their Black FiveDays discounts starting early this week.
One of the things we always need to stock up on at this time of year is alcohol, so it’s worth taking advantage of lower prices.
From huge bottles of Prosseco and gin to boozy advent calendars, Morrisons will be the place to go.
Here’s what you can get your hands on:
Hendricks Gin 1.75l – £60
I Heart Wines four bottle case – £16
Prosecco advent calendar – £39
Gin advent calendar – £54
Jura 70cl with gift box – £18
Beer advent calendar – £30
Prosecco Magnum 1.5l – £10
Disaronno 1.5l – £30
Less than £40 for this bubbly calendar (Picture: Morrisons)
If you’re after something a bit more practical, there’s 480 Yorkshire Tea bags for £5, a 5 litre bottle of Comfort fabric softener for £5, or 84 Fairy dishwasher tablets for £8.
The Black Friday fenzy has begun and it looks set to be one of the longest-running yet.
The annual festival of consumerism falls this year on Friday 23 November (as ever, on the first Friday after Thanksgiving).
Our favourite online retailers and beauty brands from Cult Beauty to Charlotte Tilbury, are offering up deals and discounts codes that would make any beauty lover swoon.
And we’ve saved you time searching for the perfect deal and put a comprehensive list together of ALL offers available today, so you can keep one step ahead and nab that eyeshadow palette and skincare set you’ve been lusting after.
Tip: Bookmark this page to stay up-to-date with the latest offers.
• 30% off the ghd original styler, RRP £109, Black Friday price £76.30
• 30% off the ghd Final Fix hairspray, RRP £3.95, Black Friday price £76.30
• 20% off the ghd curve range, RRP £120, Black Friday price £96
• 15% off ghd gold styler, RRP £139, Black Friday price £118.16
• 19th – 22nd November – 20% off on orders over £25.
• 23rd – 25th November – 25% off on orders over £25.
• Only on the 26th November – 25% off on orders over £25 and 30% over £40.
• 19th to 26th November – NUXE mug available as a GWP on orders over £30.
If you’ve ever looked at the back of one of your beauty products you’ll see that there’s a lot of information.
Ingredients, directions, warnings, trademarks, company information – all in barely-readable fine print.
Right at the bottom you might notice that there’s a cryptic little set of symbols. A tiny bunny, interlocking arrows, a mysterious flame. But there’s never an explanation of what these symbols represent.
Disappointingly, they’re not clues in some worldwide beauty conspiracy that you can piece together and decipher. Actually, the symbols convey some pretty useful information about your product and its packaging.
So it’s worth knowing what they mean.
The flame
(Picture: Metro.co.uk)
It’s a rather ominous symbol to see on your product – but all it means is that whatever is inside your packaging is flammable.
So you really need to keep it away from naked flames. No more candle-lit beauty sessions for you.
The PAO
(Picture: Metro.co.uk)
This is the one that looks like a little jar opening. This one’s really important, it tells you how long you should keep using your product after it’s been opened.
If there’s a ‘6M’ on the jar, for example, that means you can keep using your product for six months after it’s been opened.
We are all guilty of using that prehistoric night cream we find at the back of the cabinet – but taking note of this little symbol might make you think twice.
The refer to insert
(Picture: Metro.co.uk)
This aptly-named symbol is a pretty clear. The little hand pointing to a booklet means you should read the leaflet that comes with your product for more information about the ingredients or instructions.
The leaping bunny
(Picture: Metro.co.uk)
This adorable little guy has an important message. He’s here to tell you that no new animal tests have been used in the development of your product. Which is definitely good news.
You want to see this symbol on all your products.
The E mark
(Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The E is a legal requirement that companies have to display the net contents of a cosmetic product on the packaging, in grams or millilitres. So it helps you know exactly how much you’re getting for your money.
The mobius loop
(Picture: Metro.co.uk)
It sounds like something from a sci-fi movie – ‘hold tight guys, the ship’s about to enter the mobius loop!’ – but it isn’t that exciting.
Basically, seeing this symbol means that the product’s packaging can be recycled, but not necessarily that it has been made from recycled materials itself.
The green dot
(Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Rarely green, the deceptively named green dot means the company is a member of a recycling and recovery scheme which deals with packaging waste.
What it doesn’t mean is that you can definitely recycle the packaging – people often get confused about that.
Argos love a Black Friday deal (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Hundreds of retailers will be offering Black Friday deals this week, but one of the most reliable amongst them is Argos.
The catalogue-based store is an absolute goldmine for offers on the big day and in the days leading up to it, delivering huge savings on branded products.
But unlike most Black Friday deals, you don’t need to wait until the big day to enjoy discounts. Nope, Lovehoney is doing their sale for 11 days, from last Friday 16 November to Tuesday 27 November.
A Lovehoney spokesperson said: ‘Black Friday and Cyber Monday are among the busiest days of the year at Lovehoney, which is why we are offering the very best prices to our loyal customers.
‘We know not everyone wants to shop on those two days so we have a range of fantastic bargains running over 11 days and starting on Friday.
‘They are all available while stocks last, so if it is worth visiting the site as soon as you can to pick up your favourite toy at a great price.’
Other discounts will pop up across the 11 days, so you don’t need to bother with setting an alarm on Black Friday to get your fix of cheap sex toys. Just remember that the sale is running until Tuesday 27 November – that’s your deadline.
If you’re into fitness then you’ll have a natural advantage – you’ll be able to sprint to the front of the queue, deadlift six flat screen TVs and leapfrog the screaming children.
But, let’s be honest – Black Friday doesn’t work like that any more.
The best workout you’re likely to get is gently flexing your thumb as you scroll various websites.
So fitness-fans, you might not get a Black Friday workout, but there are loads of amazing deals to get your blood pumping.
Here are the best active options to snap up before they disappear.
Classes
Get a sweat on over the festive period with cheap bundles at your favourite classes. Spinning or yoga can be really pricey, so these savings can go a long way.
Luxurious London fitness studio, Another Space, are offering 25% off their packages for Black Friday and Cyber Monday – this includes spinning, yoga and HIIT classes.
A 12 Pack Pass was £160, but is now £120. A 9 Pack Pass was £135, and is now £101.25. And the 6 Pack Pass was £150 and is now £112.50.
One of London’s most accessible dance studios is offering a great Black Friday deal if you like your fitness set to music. All you have to do is use the codes, valid from Friday 23 November until Sunday 25 November, to claim your discount.
Using the code ‘AYBFAM’ gives you 20% off MaxBEAT, WeekendBEAT, WeekdayBEAT for the first the months.
The code ‘AYBBF’ gives you 30% off all singles and packages.
Clothes
Get your fill of fitness apparel this Black Friday with these tempting deals. Wear them in the gym, or just for lounging – what matters is you’ll definitely look like you might go to the gym.
After some super-cool kicks for winter? The Nike Air Max Axis could be perfect. The Max Air unit on the sole gives them an extra bounce and provide great cushioning for running.
They were £85, but you can get them for £60 in the Black Friday sale.
If swimming is your thing, then Deakin and Blue is the place to try this weekend. They are offering 25% off all their swimwear for Black Friday. The Signature Swimsuit in Coral is a best seller – and now you can get it for £75, instead of £105.
If you live in sports bras and leggings, you should check out these Black Friday bundles from Bellum Active.
Bag yourself the Turquoise Diamond Luxe Capri Tights and Bra set for just £65 – down from £115. Or the Grey Diamond Hooded Jacket, perfect for outdoor running, is now £65, down from £120.
From sports bras to pants, it’s vital to wear the right underwear when you’re exercising – because no one wants chafing down there.
Runderwear are offering a great deal on their pants, g-strings and bras – there’s 25% off the entire collection, using the code ‘CHAFEFREE25-BF’
Products
Any fitness fan will know that it’s tough to get fit without gadgets and accessories.
Whether it’s something strapped to your wrist, or something you use to transform your home into a state-of-the-art gym, these handy products are really helpful – and they’re going cheap.
This nifty little device will allow you to turn your living room into a spinning studio. Attach the Zwift Smart Trainer to your bike and you’ll be able to link to a virtual reality where you can ride with other cyclists – all without going anywhere.
The innovative device can be bought from £879.99 – down fro £1,199 – a saving of 26%.
