Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2024 i Top Sante

Remember the trend for “clean eating” that swept social media a couple of years back? As with all trends, eventually there was a kickback and naysayers started to question what “clean” even meant and said it was labelling foods as “good” and “bad”, which wasn’t helpful. I get that, and the whole term “clean eating” can be problematic. However, it’s still a relevant topic and has reared it’s head again this year, but under the guise of “unprocessing” or “de-junking”. Food companies, supplement companies, nutritionists and authors are pushing the message, quite rightly in my opinion, of reducing or eliminating highly processed foods and ingredients as too much of their consumption can lead to ill effects. Of course you’re not going to die from eating one takeaway pizza, or the…

Growing up, health was about happiness. My family is Cuban and I was born and raised in Miami. I grew up in a house where we danced all the time and for any reason – a birthday, Valentine’s, if the sun was out – we had a party and ate great food cooked by my grandma. Our health stemmed from the joy of life. As I got older, dancing became the forefront of my career and, naturally, that led me to take care of my body. Now I’m dancing for pure enjoyment again. On Strictly Come Dancing, the pressure to deliver a routine and turn a celebrity into a dancer is really high. Now that Aljaž [Janette’s husband Aljaž Škorjanec, also a professional dancer] and I are not competing on…

3 BEAUTY SLEEP BUYS… SBC Skincare Night Rituals Sleep Serum (£9, sbcskincare.co.uk) is a silky face and body serum infused with lavender, vetiver, valerian, magnesium and clary sage to soothe the mind. Ideal for helping to wind down before bed, it melts effortlessly into skin. Elemental Herbology Soothe Bath & Body Oil (£33, elementalherbology.com) is a calming bath and body oil to help you relax thanks to lavender, ylang ylang and rose damask to nourish skin and induce sleep. COSRX Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask (£23, skinsider.co.uk) is powered by rice extract from South Korea, propolis extract, niacinamide and beeswax to help you wake up with beautifully soft skin. This hydrating cream is like a spa facial in a bottle! Keeping your cool Do you get hot in the…

Try Angela’s exercises in five different workout combinations that can be done throughout your day. As with any quick workout, the key is to go from one muscle group to the other. This will minimise risk of poor form and injury and will also help you work your whole body. Angela recommends 40 seconds of exercise followed by 20 seconds rest before moving on to the next exercise… • Workout 1 – Star jumps, mountain climbers, squats, surface press-ups, lunges • Workout 2 – Star jumps, bicycle crunches, kickbacks, surface press-ups, ski squats • Workout 3 – Mountain climbers, superman, squats, shoulder bridge, kickbacks • Workout 4 – Shoulder bridge, surface press-ups, kickbacks, star jumps, lunges • Workout 5 – Lunges, bicycle crunches, star jumps, squats, kickbacks • Total time:…

• Reduce stress and anxiety in minutes each day • Quit comfort eating for good with expert advice • How two women found inner strength and resilience through walking • Mindful beauty to help you relax • Fitness to beat tummy bloating • Recipes for good gut health …Plus lots more! DON’T MISS! The May issue is on sale April 12 CAN’T FIND A COPY? Head to Seymour.co.uk/StoreFinder and select Top Santé Health & Beauty from the drop-down menu, then input your postcode to find your nearest stockist. Or why not subscribe to make sure you never miss an issue? See page 32 for details.…

GOOD EGGS Who says Easter eggs have to be a sugar-fuelled junk-food affair? Instead, indulge yourself with a cacao-rich, nutrient-dense chocolate egg that tastes totally divine. Ombar Coco M’lk Easter Egg (£12.99, ombar.com) is a plant-based treat made using premium unroasted Ecuadorian cacao that’s sustainably sourced and has a luscious smooth texture. Another cracking offering from the same range, the Ombar Oat M’lk Chocolate Easter Egg (£12.99), has 40 per cent less sugar than regular milk chocolate and is made with gluten-free British-grown oats. Both come in fully recyclable and plastic-free packaging. Available from Selfridges, Planet Organic and Amazon. Easter treats sorted! Peak flavour Relish food again with seasonings designed to boost flavours. The Holland & Barrett Life Kitchen range (from £3, hollandandbarrett.com) was developed with Professor Barry Smith from…

‘Sadie Frost’s feature inspired me to keep looking after my mental health’ ‘I’m not usually a fan of interviews with celebrities as I struggle to relate to them – their lives seem so very different to my own. But reading the Sadie Frost feature in the March issue changed all that. What struck a chord with me most was what she said about how good mental health needs to be worked at. As someone who has struggled with their mental health for 30-plus years, I know that to be true. If I lose focus and stop doing the things I need to do to keep my mental health on an even keel, I’m in trouble. It’s not a case of one time and done – good mental health needs to…

SMOOTHIE SEASON With its 400W motor, the Morphy Richards Total Control Jug Blender (£54.99, morphyrichards.co.uk) is powerful enough to blend a variety of ingredients, including ice and frozen fruit, making it perfect for slushies and smoothies. Featuring five speed settings and a 1.5-litre glass jug, the easy-to-use device will have you easily whipping up smoothies for the whole family! LUXURIOUS LOUNGING Some days call for simply sitting in bed with a hot drink and a good book – but a comfy headboard is a must. Handmade and upholstered in the UK using responsibly sourced materials, the ByLydia Wave Headboard (from £800, bylydia.co) combines style and comfort, featuring plush cushioning, an elegant scallop design and a beautiful stripe pattern, which is available in a choice of 10 different colourways. Alternatively, you…

I HAVE NEVER KNOWN WHAT IT’S like to feel full and satiated. I am always hungry and can always eat more. I have had a complicated relationship with food and sought comfort in it throughout my life but I have always wondered whether I also might have some sort of hormonal dysregulation that drives me to overeat. My research revealed that as a type 1 diabetic, there are six hormones my body likely doesn’t produce properly; insulin is just one of them. There are two others that control hunger and appetite: amylin inhibits food intake, delays gastric emptying and decreases blood glucose levels; then ghrelin, often called the hunger hormone, sends a signal from your stomach to your brain that it’s time to eat. This was a revelation to me…

Q WHAT ARE ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS? There is no agreed definition of an ultra-processed food. However, they generally have five or more ingredients and can’t be created at home. They include additives and ingredients such as preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, artificial colours and flavours. These foods also have a long shelf life and are manufactured to be convenient, cheap and hyper-palatable, which means they are easy to over-consume. Q WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROCESSED AND ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS? There are several categories of processed foods, which is why it's a little confusing. Minimally processed foods are those that have undergone small changes to their natural state to preserve their shelf life while retaining their nutritional properties. This includes frozen vegetables, tinned pulses in water, parboiled grains, or pasta (made from flour and water).…

1 Viridian Cherry Night (£29.85, viridian-nutrition.com) is a vegan bedtime tonic containing morello cherries, magnesium and glycine. The magnesium contributes to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue while the cherries help with melatonin production. 2 Z Lab ZL1 Night Nutrients (£44, zlabsleep.com) is an all-natural sleep supplement containing marine magnesium, hops, passion flower, chamomile, griffonia seed, lavender and more to provide a potent plant-powered alternative to prescription sleep medication. 3 Together Health Night Time (£13.99, togetherhealth.co.uk) contains magnesium to relax mind and body, 5-HTP to increase production of melatonin to help you drift off, and hops, which act as a natural sedative and lower body temperature. 4 Earth’s Secret Sleep (£35, earthsecret.com) contains an award-winning saffron extract mixed with four other powerful sleep-inducing botanical blends to relax your muscles, quieten…

MADE FOR LIFE Looking for luxurious gym wear that seamlessly blends substance, sustainability and serious style credentials? Look no further than KOMI (from £54, komistudios.com), the modern activewear brand specialising in slow fashion for the active woman. Designed and made in London, every piece – from the asymmetric crop tops and squat-proof leggings to the streamlined all-in-ones – is designed to lift, shape and emphasise your best features while being comfortable and stylish enough to wear all day. Created for those of us who put gym kit at the heart of our wardrobes. GET THE GLOW With factors such as sweat, rising temperatures, dirty equipment and unhygienic gym environments causing potentially harmful effects on skin, Skin Wrkout (from £26.99, skinwrkout.com) has taken the guesswork out of what you should be…

HEART-PUMPING STAR JUMPS We all did them back in school, and guess what? They’re great! Star jumps are the perfect exercise to get your heart racing, while also working your calves, glutes, abs and shoulders. Simply jump your arms and legs in and out as fast as you can, and try to get as wide as you can, too. AB-TONINGMOUNTAIN CLIMBERS These might be tough, but they’re hugely effective. Do them as fast as you can and they will work wonders for your abs, arms and glutes. Start in a press-up position on the floor with your hands shoulder-width apart. The aim is to bring one knee up through the empty space between your elbows, then straighten it out and swap legs without your foot or knee touching the ground.…

BEAUTIFUL SKIN FOR ALL A little tube of magic for blurring out under-eye discoloration or hyperpigmentation patches, BPerfect Cosmetics Full Impact Complete Coverage Concealer (£14.95, bperfectcosmetics.com) has an intense pigment in a matte formula that doesn’t crease. Created with diversity and inclusivity at the forefront, it comes in an impressive 26 different shades to suit all skin types. It’s also infused with niacinamide to smooth and illuminate skin. Brilliant! BEAUTY SLEEP IN A BOTTLE Wake up with skin that looks fresh and hydrated thanks to the latest offering from this British beauty brand that packs in powerful natural ingredients. SOS Night (£17, sosserum.co.uk) contains botanicals, vitamins and minerals to stimulate cellular renewal and moisture retention. Nutrient-rich red algae sea moss plumps and hydrates, while cranberry has a similar, but gentler,…

1 SCULPTED BY AIMEE CREAM LUXE BLUSH (£17, SCULPTEDBYAIMEE.CO.UK). A fresh, floral-pink cream blush smoothed over the apples of your cheeks and blended towards your cheekbones will create definition and rejuvenate your complexion. For pale to medium skin tones, try the shade Pink Supreme. For darker skin tones, try Plum Pink. 2 OPI NAIL LACQUER NEWORLEANS COLLECTION SHE’S A BAD MUFFULETTA! (£14.90, OPI.COM). Red nails are classic and glamorous. Choosing the correct tone can also make your hands look more youthful. Go for a bright, almost neon red, such as this one as it’s super flattering and looks great on long or short nails. 3 CHARLOTTE TILBURY K.I.S.S.I.N.G RED CARPET PINK (£27, CHARLOTTETILBURY.COM). Pink lipstick always looks fresh and flattering. This new sumptuous pink has a wonderfully moisturising feel with…

FIND THE GOOD STUFF Chocolate has a bad rap for being an unhealthy food responsible for weight gain, when actually, it has some great health benefits, providing you’re having the right kind. There are big differences between nutritional values of the various types. Different chocolate brands use different beans, which give chocolate bars their distinct flavour – it can take time to get used to the darker versions. AIM HIGH Dark chocolate has less sugar and a higher content of cacao solids than milk chocolate. Keep an eye on the label and look for a cocoa content of 80 per cent or higher. Dark chocolate contains a compound called anandamide, which acts on receptors in your brain to improve mood. Dark chocolate with some low-sugar, fibre-rich fruit such as raspberries…

BREAST CANCER BREAKTHROUGH Until now, hormonal treatment of breast cancer has been geared towards blocking oestrogen, often with unpleasant side effects. Now a global study involving researchers at The University of Adelaide found there may be another, less toxic, way to tackle the most common form of breast cancer. It was found that a drug called enobosarm stimulates an androgen receptor, making it effective against oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, which makes up 80 per cent of all breast cancer cases. The drug was tested on 136 post-menopausal women with advanced or metastatic ER+, HER2-negative breast cancer. It showed significant anti-tumour activity and was well-tolerated, without adversely affecting quality of life. This discovery is the first advancement in hormonal treatment of ER+ breast cancer in decades and offers promising new treatment…

SUSTAINABLE SPRITZING Formulated with upcycled grapefruit water and antibacterial lemongrass oil, the new UpCircle Home Mist (£19.99, upcirclebeauty.com) offers aromatherapy benefits to enhance focus and promote overall wellbeing, while also contributing to a cleaner and healthier indoor space. Plus, the invigorating citrusy scent is sure to give your mood and energy levels a boost. SKIN-FRIENDLY DIFFUSERS Containing naturally anti-inflammatory and skin-friendly ingredients, the Okiki Skincare Nana Efua Neneh Diffuser (£27, okikiskincare.co.uk) offers a luxurious pampering treat for both the skin and the senses. Sit back, relax and soak up the rich notes of chocolate, mandarin, bergamot, amber and jasmine, which are diffused via intricately shaped flower reed sticks. CANDLES IN BLOOM Little Village Candles Bluebell (£24, littlevillagecandles.com) pairs the sweet scent of in-bloom bluebell with hyacinth, lavender, rose, jasmine and…

1 LOOK IN YOUR CUPBOARDS Take a good look at what you eat and what is in your kitchen cupboards so you can see what your intake of UPFs is to begin with. From here you can start to plan your strategy. 2 HAVE BACK UPS Determine your weakest point during the day when you would often rely on a UPF to get you through. This could be your work lunch, when you feed the kids, or when you come in from work and can’t face cooking. I would try to work on this part of the day first. 3 MAKE HOMEMADE VERSIONS Look at some of the UPF meals you have on a regular basis and think about making your own homemade versions. Start with a couple of recipes…

ORDER TODAY! MARCH 2024 COVER STORY Sadie Frost INSIDE Get more energy and glowing skin, plus easy strength moves to tone FEBRUARY 2024 COVER STORY Caprice Bourret INSIDE Find your happy weight, boost your immunity, and support your heart JANUARY 2024 COVER STORY Davinia Taylor INSIDE Easy ways to lose weight, how to quit alcohol, and simple self-care tips CHRISTMAS 2023 COVER STORY Melinda Messenger INSIDE Nutrition tips and wellbeing advice for a calm, restful Christmas DECEMBER 2023 COVER STORY Melanie Brown INSIDE Packed with immunity-boosting tips to keep you well this winter NOVEMBER 2023 COVER STORY Julia Bradbury INSIDE Expert advice for navigating all that menopause throws at you OCTOBER 2023 COVER STORY Jess Ennis-Hill INSIDE Health and exercise tips to boost your brain health SEPTEMBER 2023 COVER STORY…

IF YOU’VE READ THE feature on page 50, you’ll know that my husband and I don’t sleep together most nights. If we do, it’s Friday and/or Saturday, when he doesn’t need to be up early for work. But it wasn’t always this way. When we met, we did what most new couples do: sleep together (and by that I mean in both senses of the phrase!) every night we could, with me staying over at his place. When I moved in after a few months, we still slept in the same bed each night although it was somewhat stressful at times, due to his anxieties around not getting enough rest and then worrying about feeling too tired for work the next day. When he announces he needs to sleep, he…