The three types of hay fever in Britain – and how to manage the one you’ve got

“We recommend starting reasonably early – as soon as the pollen count starts to creep up, take antihistamines,” says Morris. “If that’s not controlling things, migrate onto the nasal spray and eye drops.” GPs can also prescribe steroid treatments when these options don’t work. People who are still debilitated by their hay fever symptoms after … Read more

How to identify ultra-processed foods – and the surprising ones hiding in your cupboard

It’s probably the most straightforward test of all: check the ingredients list and if it contains at least one item you don’t recognise as something found in standard kitchens, it’s more than likely UPF.   These unrecognisable substances often appear at the beginning or the middle of the ingredients list. “If it looks like you couldn’t … Read more

How to tell if you’re hooked on junk food

A collection of the world’s most renowned experts in ultra-processed foods will convene in London for the International Food Addiction Consensus Conference next month. The gathering ultimately aims to get addiction to highly processed junk foods officially recognised as a condition by both the World Health Organisation and leading psychiatry institutions. “We’re getting together to … Read more

How to decorate with florals in a non-frumpy way

Do: make old look new. Don’t: go too trad  A new collaboration between fabric house Sanderson and the fashion designer and illustrator Giles Deacon has ushered in a collection that evokes a certain feeling of grandeur and nostalgia, but is intended to be used in any style of home, whatever its size. Existing designs from … Read more

we millennials have never learnt how to keep house

A couple of weeks ago, visiting my mother’s house, I picked up a book on the kitchen table – Clean and Green by former Great British Bake Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle. It was a revelation. You can make laundry detergent from conkers, says Birtwhistle. You can whiten yellowing pillow covers with citric acid and table … Read more

Why you can’t sleep – and how to fix it

You’re not still suffering from bad sleep are you? Insomnia is so 2023. In 2024, there’s an app for that. Or an orthopaedic mattress. Or a light-therapy lamp…  “The sleep economy has increased dramatically in recent years,” says Dr Guy Meadows, founder and clinical director of Sleep School, an organisation that supports people struggling with … Read more

How to Spend Three Days in Sicily

The cultural tapestry of Sicily is a rich and varied one. Invasions by the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks, Romans, Moors, Normans, Spanish, and Italians left their mark, particularly in the island’s architecture and culinary traditions. The island is best explored through those understated haunts where locals convene, centuries-old buildings that lie well off the tourist track, … Read more