Healthy living – articles and advice
Exercise and physical activity
Articles on diet, fitness, sleep and overall wellbeing, supporting a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise and physical activity
Regular activity boosts energy, mood and overall health. Learn how to fit exercise into your routine and choose activities that suit your lifestyle.
- How to start a new fitness routine this autumn
- Do you really need to walk 10,000 steps a day?
- Can fitness trackers help boost activity levels in adults?
- How to get into CrossFit exercise safely as a beginner
- What are the health benefits of yoga?
- Why sitting ruins our health - and how 22 minutes of exercise could help
- What are the long-term benefits of exercise?
- What are the benefits of Pilates?
- The best resistance band workouts to build muscle
- The best forms of exercise for those who hate the gym
- Is running bad for your knees?
- How to strengthen your core
- How to get into swimming safely for beginners
- How to get back into exercise after having a baby
- How to exercise with a physical disability
- How to deal with a fear of judgement whilst exercising
- How to avoid injury while strength training
- How can you start strength training at home?
- Balancing exercise and your diet
- A guide to essential home gym equipment
- Weekend workouts might be enough for your health
- How to run a 10k with no experience
- 5 ways to get more out of every step you take on the road to better health
- What is somatic exercise? Exploring the mind-body connection
- How to keep kids active over the summer
- What is rucking and is it right for you?
- Is TikTok's 12-3-30 workout any good?
- What is Reformer Pilates and why is it so popular?
- Could cold exposure boost your health and wellbeing?
- Are creatine supplements effective at building muscle?
- COVID-19 coronavirus: how to exercise at home
- Do sports drinks really work to improve performance?
- The health benefits of stretching every day
- How to get over your fear of exercise
- What are the best resistance band exercises for legs?
- How to get over gym anxiety
- What are the benefits of postnatal Pilates?
- How to work out without feeling like you're exercising
- Are dance workouts good for keeping fit?
- Should you exercise if you have a chronic illness?
- How to embrace fitness after 50
- What are the benefits of strength exercises?
- Do 30-day fitness challenges actually work?
- Natural protein verses protein powder: which is better for strength training?
- How to do Pilates at home
- How to build muscle on a vegan diet
- How to become more flexible
- HIIT or weights: which is best for weight loss?
- Should you eat before swimming and what types of food are best?
- Can you do too much exercise?
- How to maintain your fitness New Year's resolutions
- Fun ways to keep fit without even realising it
- How to maintain your running routine in winter
- How to exercise safely in later life
- Tips for restarting your exercise routine after lockdown
- Keeping kids active over Christmas
- Which sports are the worst for your health?
- What does spinning do to your body?
- 6 health benefits of swimming
- Can exercise help with grief?
- Will future towns and cities focus on fitness?
- Video: Hip pain exercises
- Improving mental and physical health through exercise
- Video: Glute strengthening exercises
- 8 high-protein nuts to boost your strength
- How to work out in a heatwave
- Women's health in sport: injuries, menstruation, and motherhood
- Knee health: how to prevent knee injuries
- HIIT for weight loss: how does it compare to traditional cardio?
- What are the benefits of squats?
- Stay fit indoors: simple cold weather workouts
- Why spending time outdoors can improve your health
- The benefits of switching up your exercise
- 7 morning stretches to get you ready for the day
- How to fall in love with exercise
- How to deal with stress through exercise
- Is yoga good for weight loss?
- This is how to make exercise a daily habit
Healthy eating
A balanced diet supports good health. Learn how to choose nutritious foods, understand portion sizes, and make healthy eating a lifelong habit.
- Best before date: how long is food actually good for?
- Is the Okinawa diet a recipe for longevity?
- How much red meat should you eat?
- How to gain weight healthily
- How to make small healthy changes to your diet without dieting
- Simple ways to follow a Mediterranean diet
- Are carbs actually bad for you?
- UK water quality part 1 – is tap water safe?
- UK water quality part 2 – water pollution
- What's the recommended calorie intake for women?
- Why fibre is your friend
- What vitamins do I need?
- What is choline? The nutrient for your memory, muscles and more
- The longevity diet - can it add years to your life?
- What not to say to someone who is vegan
- Ways to improve your relationship with food
- Whole grain heroes: Why eat ancient grains?
- Is salt good or bad for you?
- Healthy packed lunch ideas for school
- How much meat should we be eating?
- How can crash diets affect your metabolic flexibility?
- Does herbal medicine really work?
- Dietitians, nutritionists and nutritional therapists: what is the difference?
- Are fermented foods worth the hype?
- What are the dangers of a detox diet?
- Kimchi and sauerkraut: What are the benefits of eating fermented foods?
- 7 easy and delicious keto breakfast ideas
- Managing health conditions during Ramadan
- Low-fat diet sheet
- 7 light summer salad recipes for hot summer days
- 9 benefits of chia seeds - and when they're not safe
- Do New Year's diets actually work?
- Can psychology diet apps help you eat more mindfully?
- How to have a healthy Christmas party
- How to eat a calcium-rich vegetarian diet
- How you prep your food matters
- How AI can give you ideas for healthy meals
- How to boost your energy levels and feel less tired in winter
- Why is cottage cheese the new diet trend?
- 12 trusted diets for your new year goals
- Is intermittent fasting healthy?
- What is The Fast 800 diet?
- Eat your way to a healthy heart: tasty recipe ideas for every meal
- Our favourite summer recipes
- What is the anti-inflammatory diet?
- 7 vibrant autumn recipes - keep it seasonal
- Health benefits of garlic
- Have a healthy Diwali - food swaps and recipes
- 10 essential nutrients you might be lacking
- Which foods can reduce your stress and anxiety?
- Health-boosting ginger shots: fad or fact?
- How to manage food guilt over Christmas
- What are ultra processed foods and do they cause cancer?
- Healthy Hanukkah food for your weight, heart and diabetes
- The truth about the fat in your diet
- How to set achievable heath goals
- Do 'superfoods' really exist?
- How to comfort eat healthily in winter
- What happens to your body after giving up caffeine?
- What's the difference between vegan and vegetarian diets?
- Thinking about going vegan? Here's how to do it healthily
- Is the food traffic light labelling system useful?
- How to stop binge eating
- Do omega-3 fish oil supplements have a proven health benefit?
- What is the carnivore diet and is it healthy?
- How to live longer: good habits for a healthy life
- Have a happy and healthy Ramadan
- Does your body need vitamin supplements?
- What would your stomach choose at the supermarket?
- What are the benefits of a plant-based diet?
- How to eat more vegetables without trying
- What are the health benefits of a vegan diet?
- How to eat healthily on a tight budget
- How to snack healthily when you are vegan
- How to stay on top of unhealthy habits in lockdown
- 7 cacao benefits: is raw chocolate best?
- Do you need to drink eight glasses of water a day?
- Why do we get sugar withdrawal symptoms?
- Why grow your own food for your health?
- What you need to know about unhealthy foods
- 5 warming soup recipes
- 5 healthy Halloween treats
- How to make healthy roast potatoes
- Patient's Christmas Cook Off
- The health benefits of coffee and tea
- How to have a healthier barbecue
- How to avoid food poisoning this summer
- Do you really need to give up sugar?
- Vitamin D could cut risk of dying from cancer
- Most vitamin supplements aren't beneficial for health, study finds
- What happens to your body when you go vegan?
- Vitamin A-rich foods could protect against skin cancer
- How to eat well when it's hard to shop and cook
- Two soft drinks a day may increase risk of early death
- How to help children develop healthy habits
- How big is a portion?
- How to help your kids eat healthily over Christmas
- How to eat more healthily during the colder months
- How to avoid snacking when you are bored
- How to keep your child eating healthily at secondary school
- What is intuitive eating - and can it improve your relationship with food?
- What's the healthiest high street Christmas sandwich?
- Recipe: Gluten-free hot cross buns
- What is inflammation and which foods reduce it?
- How to make healthy mince pies
- How to make healthy stuffing
- Brain food: what to eat, when to eat, recipes
- 5 easy vegan swaps for Veganuary 2024
- Which foods help to fight infection?
- Healthy pancake recipes for your diet
- What is the Atlantic diet?
- Lifting the lid on yoghurt's hidden health benefits
- Why dessert stomach may actually be real
- Why ultra-processed foods are so addictive - and how to cut down
- The latest superfood - what's the fuss around microgreens?
- Which ultra-processed foods are safe - and which should we avoid?
- Juice: Is juicing fruits and vegetables good for us?
- Ultra-processed foods: Are dairy-free milks like oat or soya good for us?
- Can the MIND diet help keep our brains healthy?
- Are artificial sweeteners really that bad for us?
- Why too much sugar is bad for children
- What are probiotics?
- Coffee and lemon: fact-checking the TikTok trend
- How to make healthier choices without missing out
- 5 quick and healthy meals for students
- Vitamin C: benefits, sources, and deficiency
- A vegan diet improves heart health, according to a study of identical twins
- Why keep a food diary?
- What is the planetary health diet?
- 5 high-protein vegetarian meals to keep your strength up
- Is drinking olive oil good for you?
- 7 easy and delicious noodle recipes for students
- Pescatarian diet: pros, cons, and what you can eat
- Do probiotics promote healthy hair?
- What is the Whole30 diet?
- 9 food swaps for a delicious and healthy Christmas dinner
- 6 deliciously healthy berries and recipes
- How to stop your sugar cravings
- Is turmeric good for you?
- The best way to get rid of a hangover
- Can probiotics treat obesity and diabetes?
- What is the TLC diet and can it improve your heart health?
- Signs you’re not drinking enough water
- How much water should you drink a day?
- The keto diet: is it safe and will it really help you lose weight?
- Feeling hangry? Why we get angry when we are hungry
- How to avoid ultra processed foods when you're vegan
- 8 benefits of matcha tea
- Should you take a vitamin D supplement every day?
Healthy relationships
Good relationships are key to wellbeing. Learn about communication, respect and boundaries, and how to seek support if a relationship becomes unhealthy.
- Have a healthy, happy Father's Day
- Nurturing intimacy: 6 tips for long-term relationships
Parenting
- What parents need to know about school entry health checks
- How to deal with empty nest syndrome at Christmas
- How many children should you have?
- How to talk to your kids about sex, porn and healthy relationships
- Should parents worry about 'dry drowning'?
- When is your child too sick for school?
- Can counselling help you decide when or whether to have children?
- How to get your child the right support at school
Relationships
- What is person-centred counselling?
- Spotting depression in your partner
Sexual relationships
- Is your lifestyle impacting your sex drive?
- How to talk to your partner about a sexual problem
- What to do if you're questioning your sexuality
- How to prevent genital irritation from affecting your sex life
- What you need to know about sexual fantasies
- Telling current and past partners about your STI
- How to talk to your partner about painful sex
- How an affair affects your sexual and mental health
Identity
- Debunking bisexual stereotypes and myths
- Debunking gay men stereotypes and myths
- Debunking lesbian stereotypes and myths
- Debunking transgender stereotypes and myths
- Should you 'come out' to your doctor?
- What harm can conversion therapy cause and why isn't it banned?
- How to support your transgender child
- 1 in 10 people have encountered a near-death experience
- How to bind your chest safely
- LGBTQ+ people share their personal conversion therapy stories
- What does it mean to be intersex?
- LGBTQ+ travel: how to stay safe
Managing harmful habits
Whether it’s smoking, drinking, or gambling, breaking harmful habits is tough. Learn about tools, treatments and support to help you make lasting change.
Addictions
- How to spot the signs of an exercise addiction
- What it's like to be a recovering sex addict
- What to do when you're waiting for drug or alcohol services
- How to spot the signs of gaming addiction in children
- Women in gambling: the hidden addiction
- Should you worry about painkiller addiction?
Sedentary lifestyle
- New campaign helps people with chronic conditions get active
- Workplaces should help staff get fit to reduce sick days
- Getting fit in middle age boosts your chances of a longer life
Recreational drugs
- Where to find support if you have been a victim of drink spiking
- The health problems cannabis could treat in the future
- Why is medical cannabis so hard to access on the NHS?
- Chemical found in cannabis could be more effective than painkillers
- How to tell if a drink has been spiked
- What to do if your teen has a drug problem
Alcohol advice
- How to look after your liver during freshers’ week
- Hard seltzer: how healthy is it?
- How does alcohol affect your sex life?
- Should you take regular breaks from drinking alcohol throughout the year?
- Drinking in the sun: a dangerous cocktail
- Can mindful drinking improve your mental health?
- What are the risks of alcohol as you get older?
- What are the dangers of drinking in hot weather?
- What are the benefits of giving up alcohol?
- How to drink safely over Christmas and New Year
- Does alcohol cause cancer?
- How to drink sensibly over the festive season
- Is there a rise in alcohol deaths during COVID-19 pandemic?
- Is going sober becoming a trend?
- The warning signs of a drinking problem
- What not to say to someone who doesn't drink alcohol
- One in five hospital patients have a problem with alcohol
- How to control your drinking at a work Christmas party
- 5 best Dry January apps for 2024
- Ketone drinks: a buzzy and safe alcohol-alternative?
- How does alcohol affect your body temperature?
- How to drink less over Christmas and the New Year
- Why does drinking alcohol affect your sleep?
- How to create healthy drinking habits that last beyond Dry January
Smoking
- Does vaping age or damage your skin?
- Are e-cigarettes a safe way to quit smoking?
- The best ways to quit smoking for good
- Safer than cigarettes? The rise of vaping in schools
- E-cigarettes could be prescribed on the NHS in world first
- How to resist the toughest cigarette cravings
- What to do if you relapse after quitting smoking
- Smoking effects on skin: from ageing to illness
- How to quit smoking during pregnancy
- How to stop smoking
- Fagerström test
- Half of smokers would quit if they were paid to do so
- Smoking could lead to sight loss, warn optometrists
- How quitting smoking affects your mental health
- Should you take Champix to help you stop smoking?
- The truth about vaping
- How to quit smoking without gaining weight
- What does smoking do to your heart?
- Does smoking affect your sex life?
- Will making e-cigarettes available on prescription encourage teenagers to smoke?
Mental wellbeing
Mental health matters just as much as physical health. Learn strategies to manage stress, improve resilience and take care of your emotional wellbeing.
- What is 'good mental health'?
- How to be happy: 12 everyday tips
- Why new year's resolutions fail - and what you can do about it
- National Houseplant Week: Health benefits of biophilia and plants
- Is the term 'wellness' problematic?
- Why we should be making mental health New Year resolutions
- Can hair transplants improve mental health?
- 5 ways to look after your mental health this Christmas
- How to look after your mental health at university
- How to improve your self-esteem and be kinder to yourself
- Is crying good for you?
- Is Christmas music good or bad for your mental health?
- How to stop ‘mum guilt’ from impacting your mental health
- Can football tackle mental health stigma?
- The impact of boredom on our health
- Is brain rot real - here's what brain health experts say
- What to do if you're struggling with your mental health at Christmas
- What are the mental health benefits of making your bed in the morning?
- New Year, New Me: Why reinventing yourself in 2025 might be bad for your mental health
- Is the vagus nerve the key to our mental health?
- Breaking the stigma of mental health
- Why a Christmas movie can make us feel good
- Young people who seek mental health support forced to cope on their own
- Movember spotlight: black men's mental health
- How to talk to people about your mental health
- Is ASMR the secret to sensory bliss?
- Body positivity: 7 daily habits for self-love and acceptance at any age
- How peer support can help boost your mental health
- The mental health impact of skin conditions
- What you need to know about parenting with a mental health issue
- What is the difference between mental health and mental illness?
- What mental health support is available to veterans?
- Does the moon really affect us?
Relaxation and sleep
Rest and relaxation restore body and mind. Discover how to improve your sleep routine and build relaxing habits to support better overall health.
- Trouble sleeping? The culprit may be something you ate
- Can hypnotherapy help insomnia?
- Is insomnia affecting your job?
- How to stop snoring wrecking your sleep and your relationship
- How long should a power nap be?
- Good sleep matters: it isn't just about clocking hours
- How to fall asleep fast: 5 simple methods for speedy sleep
- Can you really die from lack of sleep?
- What to do when your child can't sleep
- Insomnia linked to increased risk of heart disease and stroke
- Grounding mats: can they boost your wellbeing?