Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i Top Sante

Are you on track for a healthy 2025? Although the days are still short and it’s cold outside, here at Top Santé HQ we’re looking forward to spring and enjoying the fact we have Valentine’s Day coming up. So whether you’re coupled up or single, it’s a great time to look after your heart and we’re doing just that as we speak to Dr Zoe Williams, who not long ago had her own heart health scare, and who shares her heart health advice (page 54). We also hear from Debbie Dixon, who lost her son to a rare heart condition and now campaigns for all young people to be screened (page 52). Wedding registrar Cynthia Green, seen on reality TV shows such as Married at First Sight, shares her own…

This might sound funny, but I don’t know why I started suffering from anxiety. These days, there’s a label for everything, but back when I was in school, I just knew I felt worried a lot of the time. From a young age, I overthought everything and always felt a bit different, but I don’t think there was a specific reason for it. But as a teenager, I started going to the gym with my mum first thing in the morning so I could get a lift to school instead of taking the train. After going regularly for a few weeks, I started to enjoy it and realised it helped me feel better. That was 20 years ago, and exercise has been a constant in my life ever since. Maintaining…

I’M SO THRILLED TO BE WRITING for Top Santé, the UK’s longest running health magazine! I remember stealing my mother’s copy as a teenager, so you can imagine how surreal and exciting it was to be on the cover last year for the special menopause issue – a double dose of joy as I’m so passionate about speaking about women’s health! Ever since I was little, I’ve loved the feeling you get when you move your body; I suppose I’ve been a lifelong addict to endorphins! Growing up with three brothers, it was either learn to catch and throw a ball or sit on your own – happily, I chose the former. At school I loved playing sport – I am, essentially, a labrador and if you throw a ball…

Take “me-time” to a whole new level by taking a time-out with your favourite magazine. Every issue is packed with the best nutrition, beauty, wellbeing and fitness tips to keep you feeling great all year! PAY JUST £2.50 AN ISSUE* ‘Subscribing to Top Santé is a great way to receive regular reminders to make healthy changes. Every four weeks the magazine will be delivered directly to you, packed with health, fitness, nutrition, skincare, haircare and mental wellbeing advice frome xperts, helping you stay on the path of health and longevity.’ @thehealtheditor REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE: • Enjoy home delivery of each issue • Pay just £15 for your first 6 issues • Never miss an issue • Receive our fantastic newsletter for free EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE TODAY: ORDER ONLINE at…

Psychologies Psychologies’ mission is to provide every woman with inspiration and advice to support her to improve her emotional wellbeing. Women’s Fitness If you want to look and feel amazing but are not sure where to get the information you need to help you get there, Women’s Fitness is the magazine for you. Top Santé Top Santé is the must-have magazine for women of all ages who are looking to maximise their health, beauty and wellbeing. The Great Outdoors Britain’s original outdoor magazine, The Great Outdoors, is packed full of stunning photography, top class writing and brilliant walking and backpacking routes. Platinum Be inspired by women just like you and celebrate your style, beauty and healthwith Platinum magazine. Men’s Fitness Each issue of Men’s Fitness brings you original and in-depth…

Drink for wellbeing Support muscle strength, brain health and bone density with Progevity Promoting Longevity Women 50+ (from £2.85, progevity.co.uk). The tasty apple, mint and elderflower drink contains protein, collagen, creatine, evening primrose and vitamin B6. It was developed by orthopaedic surgeon, Alex Denning, to help you stay physically and mentally sharp. Plus, there’s a version for the man in your life with protein, collagen, creatine, black maca and zinc. DISH IT UP Go straight from oven to table with Mason Cash Reactive Blue Oven Dishes (from £3, masoncash.co.uk). From rectangular roasters for chicken and potatoes to oval pie dishes and ramekins for puddings or dips, the blue stoneware has an attractive handcrafted look that’s fit for serving as well as cooking. Best brew Pep-up the natural way with a…

• Find out how tosleep better than ever with our special sleep-focused edition! • We look at ADHD in midlife and stragegies that can help • Discover female-founded beauty brands you’ll love • Make your home a healthy haven …Plus lots more! DON’T MISS IT! The March issue – on sale Feb 14! 4 WAYS TO GET YOUR COPY OF TOP SANTÉ… 1 Head to frontline-group.co.uk/store-finder and select Top Santé from the drop-down menu. Input your postcode to find your nearest stockist. 2 Ask your local newsagent to reserve you a copy – they’d be happy to do so. 3 Subscribe so you never miss an issue! See pages 44 and 78 for details or visit shop.kelsey.co.uk/TSA. 4 Buy single issues at shop.kelsey.co.uk/TSA – scroll down to “Buy single issue”…

Star letter ‘I’m cutting back on sugar’ ‘I was most grateful for your article Reasons To Reduce Sugar [Dec issue]. I have two friends with type 2 diabetes, so am always mindful that I should not consume too much sugar – especially if it has no nutritional benefits. Why? Because it can lead to health problems including high blood sugar, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, dental issues, increased triglycerides, obesity and, last but not least, type 2 diabetes. I noted your list of low-sugar swaps. I actually discussed your article with my doctor this week as I suffer from very dry eyes – currently I am seeing a specialist about this. I do consume a lot of sugary foods but I am very active so don’t put on weight, but consuming…

SOOTHING AROMAS Add the Vocá Diffuser Elixir (£45, voca.london) to a diffuser before bed to restore your body’s natural rhythms, soothe your overstimulated nervous system and create a calming bedtime ritual. Vegan-friendly, sustainably sourced and 100 per cent natural, the soothing elixir is available in three signature scents and is housed in fully recyclable packaging. Don’t have a diffuser? Enjoy the aromatherapy benefits with the matching Pillow Spray (£36). Sweet dreams Hypoallergenic and temperature regulating, Woolroom Bedding (from £12.99, thewoolroom.com) is proven to boost your chances of a good night’s sleep. It’s handcrafted using natural, sustainable and 100 per cent traceable wool, plus organic cotton. The range includes machine-washable pillows, breathable mattress toppers, cosy duvets and expertly-woven bed linen. Breathe easy Capable of removing up to 20 litres of moisture…

Q I'm really struggling with brain fog – I can't think straight most of the time and my work is suffering. How can I feel better? A Brain fog during peri-menopause is a common and frustrating symptom. It can be made up of forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, confusion and mental fuzziness. Oestrogen and progesterone influence neurotransmitters in the brain involved in memory and cognitive function. As hormone levels fluctuate, your brain can experience blips in information processing, triggering brain fog. Sleep disturbance due to night sweats, increased anxiety and depression, and stress, also contribute to mental fatigue. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can alleviate brain fog by stabilising hormone levels. If you're already on HRT, discuss dosage adjustments with your doctor. Have a consistent sleep schedule, avoid caffeine late in the day…

WITH LOVED-UP COUPLES everywhere on social media, in films and adverts, you’d be forgiven for thinking everybody’s at it all the time! Of course, it’s not true. Your libido ebbs and flows due to stress, hormonal changes, ageing and a whole range of lifestyle factors. A survey by ethical vitamin company Viridian Nutrition found that libido levels are negatively affected by high stress and lack of sleep, with one third flagging these as passion killers. Haywire hormones are also a significant issue for libido, with 48 per cent of women in the survey saying hormonal shifts impacted their sex drive. ‘Low libido matters, with more than a third of women in our survey reporting that having no libido impacted their mood, while 40 per cent claimed it made them feel…

YREFORMER PILATES has boomed in popularity in recent years. The workout uses a reformer bed with adjustable resistance to support and intensify Pilates exercises. While the Pilates reformer machine may seem like the holy grail of Pilates equipment, the essence of each exercise lies in the principles and movements themselves. By modifying exercises and swapping a machine for gliding discs and resistance bands, you can benefit from some of the most effective dynamic reformer Pilates moves on your mat – and for a fraction of the cost. Get ready to enjoy the benefits of reformer Pilates from the comfort of your own home. 1. FEET IN STRAPS Benefits: This move improves core strength and mobility, specifically through stretching the hamstrings. Reps: 8 Sets: 2 1. Lie on your back with…

1 ICONIC LONDON GET CHEEKY PALETTE (£29, ICONICLONDON.COM). Warm your complexion by adding an illuminating bronzer to the high points of your face and décolleté, then apply a pink or golden-based coral blush to the apples of your cheeks. It’s the quickest way to a complexion pick-me-up without taking a holiday. 2 PIXI FLAWLESS BEAUTY PRIMER (£24, PIXIBEAUTY.COM). An illuminating and hydrating primer as a base is the quick route to a revived complexion. Apply it five minutes after your moisturiser and sunscreen to help your foundation cover flawlessly and prevent make-up from drying out during the day. 3 HILDUN BEAUTY SILK TO SET LONGWEAR LIP PENCIL (£17, HILDUNBEAUTY.CO.UK). A lip liner works wonders for adding natural-looking volume to your lips. It can correct any asymmetry and keeps your lipstick…

YOU’LL HAVE noticed a heart theme running through this issue – unless of course you’re flipping through from back to front, which to front, is what I usually do with magazines, so won’t yet have read the earlier earlier features! But with the British Heart Foundation declaring February as as “Heart Month”, and taking into consideration the the aforementioned features, it’s got me thinking about my own ticker – and yes, I do have one, husband, if you’re reading this (he calls me the Tinman from the Wizard of Oz – nice!). And I know I have one as these days it seems seems to go a bit awry. Gone are the days I would go from after-school dance rehearsals to a ballet class, or two dance classes on a…

Take heart Just four minutes of daily vigorous physical activity halves the risk of heart attack for middle-aged women, say University of Sydney scientists. ‘It’s as simple as a few minutes of activities such as stair climbing, carrying shopping, uphill walking, playing tag with a child or pet, or power walking,’ said lead author, Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis. The study followed 22,368 people aged 40-79 who reported they did not engage in regular exercise. Women who averaged 3.4 minutes of vigorous activity daily were 51 per cent less likely to have a heart attack and 67 per cent less likely to develop heart failure. Shopping bags at the ready! RESILIENCE RECOVERED Some people bounce back from trauma, while others get stuck in depressive loops that sap joy. A new study found…

WORTH £36 The Pixi Overnight Retinol Oil is a game-changer for nighttime skincare, combining the power of retinol with nourishing plant based oils to visibly rejuvenate and treat skin while you sleep. Paired with the iconic GlowTonic, infused with aloe, ginseng and 5% glycolic acid, it gently exfoliates and improves the texture of the skin. Together, they deliver smoother, brighter, and revitalised skin, making them a must-have for your beauty arsenal. Perfect for all skin types, this dynamic pair helps you wake up to your best skin yet. pixibeauty.com ‘Subscribing to Top Santé is a great way to receive regular reminders to make healthy changes. Every four weeks the magazine will be delivered directly to you, packed with health, fitness, nutrition, skincare, haircare and mental wellbeing advice from experts, helping…

I CAN VIVIDLY REMEMBER THE DAY Aaron died. Everything seemed normal. He had been out the night before with his sister Hollie, now 32, and their friends, and was just up in his bedroom. But when I sent my husband Gary upstairs to tell Aaron his dinner was ready, I heard Gary scream. I rushed upstairs to find him doing CPR on Aaron. Paramedics arrived, but it was too late. A coroner later explained that Aaron, a keen footballer and gym-goer, had an undetected genetic heart defect called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) that can cause cardiac arrest if undetected and untreated. Since that tragic day, I have devoted all my time and energy to raising money for Cardiac Risk in The Young (CRY) which runs a UK-wide screening programme…

COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION JANUARY 2025 COVER STORY Lorraine Kelly INSIDE Thrive in 2025 with expert health, fitness, food and beauty advice CHRISTMAS 2024 COVER STORY Lisa Faulkner INSIDE Have a healthy, happy Christmas with recipes, wellness and beauty tips DECEMBER 2024 COVER STORY Anthea Turner INSIDE Immune-boosting advice, plus how to get stronger and quit sugar NOVEMBER 2024 COVER STORY Cherry Healey INSIDE Midlife health hacks, high-protein recipes and 5 steps to declutter OCTOBER 2024 COVER STORY Tessa Sanderson CBE INSIDE The Olympian on inspiring women, plus a brain health special SEPTEMBER 2024 COVER STORY Dianne Buswell INSIDE Feel great forever with our gut health special, plus healthy recipes AUGUST 2024 COVER STORY Kelly Holmes INSIDE Tips for mental wellness, moves to tone up, and brain-boosting foods JULY 2024 COVER STORY Jenni…

FRENCH ONION GNOCCHI This is the kind of comforting meal that warms you from the inside out. SERVES 4 ■ 250g chestnut mushrooms, sliced■ 500g onions, thinly sliced■ 1 vegetable stock cube■ 1 tbsp miso, optional■ 1 tbsp Worcester sauce■ 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, or wine vinegar■ 6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped■ 4 tbsp butter■ ½ tsp dried thyme or dried rosemary■ 150ml dry white wine or chicken or vegetable stock■ 500g potato gnocchi■ 100g Gruyère cheese, or any melty cheese■ 50g panko breadcrumbs■ 50g Parmesan, grated, or veggie Parmesan■ Olive oil■ Salt 1 In a dry pan over a medium heat, cook the mushrooms with a pinch of salt for about 10 mins. The water in the mushrooms will evaporate first, and once they’re dry and start sticking…