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Why do I poo in the morning? A gut expert explains

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vincent-ho-141549">Vincent Ho</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p>No, you’re not imagining it. People really are more likely to poo in the morning, shortly after breakfast. Researchers have actually studied this.</p> <p>But why mornings? What if you tend to poo later in the day? And is it worth training yourself to be a morning pooper?</p> <p>To understand what makes us poo when we do, we need to consider a range of factors including our body clock, gut muscles and what we have for breakfast.</p> <p>Here’s what the science says.</p> <h2>So morning poos are real?</h2> <p>In a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1379343/">UK study</a> from the early 1990s, researchers asked nearly 2,000 men and women in Bristol about their bowel habits.</p> <p>The most common time to poo was in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1379343/pdf/gut00573-0122.pdf">early morning</a>. The peak time was 7-8am for men and about an hour later for women. The researchers speculated that the earlier time for men was because they woke up earlier for work.</p> <p>About a decade later, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16200717/">a Chinese study</a> found a similar pattern. Some 77% of the almost 2,500 participants said they did a poo in the morning.</p> <h2>But why the morning?</h2> <p>There are a few reasons. The first involves our <a href="https://theconversation.com/circadian-rhythm-nobel-what-they-discovered-and-why-it-matters-85072">circadian rhythm</a> – our 24-hour internal clock that helps regulate bodily processes, such as digestion.</p> <p>For healthy people, our internal clock means the muscular contractions in our colon follow <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19926812/">a distinct rhythm</a>.</p> <p>There’s minimal activity in the night. The deeper and more restful our sleep, the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4677652">fewer</a> of these muscle contractions we have. It’s one reason why we don’t tend to poo in our sleep.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/597362/original/file-20240530-21-v2gvrq.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/597362/original/file-20240530-21-v2gvrq.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/597362/original/file-20240530-21-v2gvrq.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/597362/original/file-20240530-21-v2gvrq.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/597362/original/file-20240530-21-v2gvrq.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=450&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/597362/original/file-20240530-21-v2gvrq.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=565&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/597362/original/file-20240530-21-v2gvrq.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=565&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/597362/original/file-20240530-21-v2gvrq.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=565&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Diagram of digestive system including colon and rectum" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">Your lower gut is a muscular tube that contracts more strongly at certain times of day.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/illustration-healthcare-medical-education-drawing-chart-1984316789">Vectomart/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure> <p>But there’s increasing activity during the day. Contractions in our colon are most active in the morning after waking up and after any meal.</p> <p>One particular type of colon contraction partly controlled by our internal clock are known as “<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1411356/">mass movements</a>”. These are powerful contractions that push poo down to the rectum to prepare for the poo to be expelled from the body, but don’t always result in a bowel movement. In healthy people, these contractions occur a few times a day. They are more frequent in the morning than in the evening, and after meals.</p> <p>Breakfast is also a trigger for us to poo. When we eat and drink our stomach stretches, which triggers the “<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549888/">gastrocolic reflex</a>”. This reflex stimulates the colon to forcefully contract and can lead you to push existing poo in the colon out of the body. We know the gastrocolic reflex is strongest in the morning. So that explains why breakfast can be such a powerful trigger for a bowel motion.</p> <p>Then there’s our morning coffee. This is a very <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2338272/">powerful stimulant</a> of contractions in the sigmoid colon (the last part of the colon before the rectum) and of the rectum itself. This leads to a bowel motion.</p> <h2>How important are morning poos?</h2> <p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1846921/pdf/brmedj02601-0041.pdf">Large international</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20205503/">surveys</a> show the vast majority of people will poo between three times a day and three times a week.</p> <p>This still leaves a lot of people who don’t have regular bowel habits, are regular but poo at different frequencies, or who don’t always poo in the morning.</p> <p>So if you’re healthy, it’s much more important that your bowel habits are comfortable and regular for you. Bowel motions <em>do not</em> have to occur once a day in the morning.</p> <p>Morning poos are also not a good thing for everyone. <a href="https://gut.bmj.com/content/61/Suppl_2/A318.1">Some people</a> with <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-irritable-bowel-syndrome-and-what-can-i-do-about-it-102579">irritable bowel syndrome</a> feel the urgent need to poo in the morning – often several times after getting up, during and after breakfast. This can be quite distressing. It appears this early-morning rush to poo is due to overstimulation of colon contractions in the morning.</p> <h2>Can you train yourself to be regular?</h2> <p>Yes, for example, to help treat constipation using the gastrocolic reflex. Children and elderly people with constipation can use the toilet immediately after eating breakfast <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549888/">to relieve symptoms</a>. And for adults with constipation, drinking coffee regularly can help stimulate the gut, particularly in the morning.</p> <p>A disturbed circadian rhythm can also lead to irregular bowel motions and people more likely to poo in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7147411/">evenings</a>. So better sleep habits can not only help people get a better night’s sleep, it can help them get into a more regular bowel routine.</p> <p>Regular physical activity and avoiding <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2787735/">sitting down a lot</a> are also important in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16028436/">stimulating bowel movements</a>, particularly in people with constipation.</p> <p>We know <a href="https://theconversation.com/nervous-tummy-why-you-might-get-the-runs-before-a-first-date-106925">stress</a> can contribute to irregular bowel habits. So minimising stress and focusing on relaxation <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5193306/">can help</a> bowel habits become more regular.</p> <p>Fibre from fruits and vegetables also <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/665565/">helps</a> make bowel motions more regular.</p> <p>Finally, ensuring <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-check-what-causes-constipation-114290">adequate hydration</a> helps minimise the chance of developing constipation, and helps make bowel motions more regular.</p> <h2>Monitoring your bowel habits</h2> <p>Most of us consider pooing in the morning to be regular. But there’s a wide variation in normal so don’t be concerned if your poos don’t follow this pattern. It’s more important your poos are comfortable and regular for you.</p> <p>If there’s a major change in the regularity of your bowel habits that’s concerning you, see your GP. The reason might be as simple as a change in diet or starting a new medication.</p> <p>But sometimes this can signify an important change in the health of your gut. So your GP may need to arrange further investigations, which could include blood tests or imaging.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/229624/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vincent-ho-141549">Vincent Ho</a>, Associate Professor and clinical academic gastroenterologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-poo-in-the-morning-a-gut-expert-explains-229624">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Body

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Here’s what would happen to your body if you didn’t have your morning coffee

<p><strong>What happens when you skip coffee entirely?</strong></p> <p>Coffee is a morning constant for many, as reliable as the sunrise or the tides. Miss it, and you can feel dazed, confused and even risk a pounding headache. There’s a good reason for that: Caffeine produces some reliable physical changes in your body upon which you can easily become dependent.</p> <p>With that first sip of coffee, caffeine enters your bloodstream and begins making its way to your brain where it blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine, according to the <em>National Academy of Sciences</em>. That, in turn, sets off the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin, causing a stimulant effect. Coffee’s so-called half-life – meaning the amount of time it takes for the amount of caffeine in the body to be reduced by 50 per cent – is about five hours on average. </p> <p>That explains why the average energy drink or coffee buzz lasts about that long. But how quickly caffeine leaves your system depends on a number of things, including age, medical conditions, drug interactions and lifestyle habits (like smoking).</p> <p><strong>A shock to the system</strong></p> <p>So, no surprise, when you’re deprived of your morning coffee, you don’t just suffer due to routine alteration. You suffer chemically, too. As anybody who’s kicked their coffee habit will tell you: The side effects can be pretty noticeable and jarring. Some of the more common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal stem from the inherent perks of those multi cups of Joe.</p> <p>Minus the kickstart to your metabolism, you’ll feel tired, sluggish, foggy-headed, and physically delayed, according to a review of studies published in 2020 in <em>StatPearls</em>. Researchers found that the more caffeine you consume, the more severe the withdrawal; but abstinence from even small amounts – we’re talking one cup of coffee per day – also produced symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. They kick in 12 to 24 hours after your last caffeine fix and may last up to nine days, says Dr Sherry A Ross, women’s health expert, author of <em>She-ology: The She-quel. </em></p> <p>“Caffeine is a stimulating drug that some people can easily become addicted to,” she explains. “Depending on the quantity and type of caffeine you are consuming daily, your body type and frequency of consumption can set you up for a caffeine addiction.”</p> <p><strong>Coffee's not all bad</strong></p> <p>Just because you can develop a dependence on your morning jolt doesn’t mean that cup of java belongs on the do-not-consume list. Just the opposite, in fact. A large review of studies published in 2017 in the journal BMJ found that coffee consumption is not only safe for most people (except pregnant women and women who are at an increased risk of fracture), it also provides a number of health benefits, especially for people with chronic liver disease. </p> <p>The review also showed that participants who consistently drank at least three cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, gallstone disease, cancer (including melanoma, leukaemia and prostate, endometrial, oral, and liver cancer), as well as cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and stroke as compared with coffee abstainers.</p> <p>The trick, of course, is practicing portion control. The researchers found that the health benefits of coffee top out at three to four cups a day (as compared to none). That echoes the larger caffeine recommendation from the US Food and Drug Administration, which suggests no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day; that’s the amount in about four cups of coffee, 10 cans of cola, or two energy drinks.</p> <p>Image credits: Getty Images</p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/heres-what-would-happen-to-your-body-if-you-didnt-have-your-morning-coffee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Food & Wine

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Whoopi weighs in on Rebel Wilson furore

<p dir="ltr">Whoopi Goldberg has come out swinging against the Sydney Morning Herald columnist who was accused of threatening to expose Rebel Wilson’s relationship.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Aussie actress revealed that she is in a relationship with fashion designer Ramona Agruma on Instagram by sharing a smiling selfie.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, behind those wide smiles was something more sinister - a deadline of exposing her relationship before she was even ready. </p> <p dir="ltr">Andrew Hornery, the journalist who penned the piece about Rebel’s relationship, was called out for his “threatening email” which gave the actress a deadline. </p> <p dir="ltr">This has not sat well with many, with the news reaching as far as the US and now renowned Hollywood actress Whoopi Goldberg, has weighed in. </p> <p dir="ltr">“There’s a lot of speculation that (Wilson came out) to get ahead of a tabloid story in the Sydney Morning Herald about her relationship. Now, the man who wrote it even apologised, saying it was ‘never his intention to “out” her’ … Well, you know that’s not true, because if it wasn’t your intention you wouldn’t have done it,” Whoopi said on <em>The View</em> alongside other panelists.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you didn’t want to do it, you shouldn’t have done it – you knew exactly what you were doing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It seems these are the only moves people have to get in front of a story before it’s all over social media or every other media … and there’s got to be a better way to do it."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">CELEBRITIES DISCLOSING NEWS ON THEIR TERMS? After Justin Bieber revealed a mystery illness paralyzing part of his face and Rebel Wilson shared her new romance when a newspaper gave her two days to comment on the relationship before they published it, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheView?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheView</a> co-hosts discuss. <a href="https://t.co/toyAVzCIFp">pic.twitter.com/toyAVzCIFp</a></p> <p>— The View (@TheView) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheView/status/1536402606720950273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Co-host Sara Haines joined in the argument by saying that Andrew Hornery is also a gay man himself expecting to have some “empathy”. </p> <p dir="ltr">"It’s sad that (celebrities) are even in this situation, where they need to release stories they aren’t ready to talk about,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But I think that’s a better way to own the narrative, I wouldn't give a quote or talk to a place that’s forcing me to talk about something I’m not ready to talk about.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Whoopi said that what “people want to know” should be thrown away when it comes to people’s private relationships.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t care what people ‘want to know’, frankly,” she continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I want to keep my privacy, and the fact that people constantly say, ‘oh well, if you don’t tell us, we’re going to tell it however we want to’ – I now say, ‘go ahead!’</p> <p dir="ltr">“They’re not going to stop because you told them the truth, they don’t care. It’s insane.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Hornery came out and apologised for the article which has since been replaced with the apology. </p> <p dir="ltr">He explained how the situation unfolded and didn’t realise how bad it was after news broke about his deadline which was taken as a threat by many.</p> <p dir="ltr">“At 9.27am last Thursday I wrote: ‘Good morning. I am a journalist from The Sydney Morning Herald and I was hoping I could get a comment from Rebel regarding her new relationship,” Hornery said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“While I realise Rebel’s partner has not been mentioned as yet, I have several sources who have confirmed their status and I have enough detail to publish.</p> <p dir="ltr">“However, in the interests of transparency and fairness, before publishing I am reaching out to Rebel to see if she will engage in what I believe is a happy and unexpected news story for her, especially given the recent Pride celebrations.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My deadline is Friday, 1pm Sydney-time. Regards, Andrew Hornery.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CelyiLZLHa2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CelyiLZLHa2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Rebel Wilson (@rebelwilson)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">He said that he received no reply from Rebel which was “entirely her right” and reiterated that his email was not intended as a threat.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My email was never intended to be a threat but to make it clear I was sufficiently confident with my information and to open a conversation,” he continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is not the Herald’s business to ‘out’ people and that is not what we set out to do. But I understand why my email has been seen as a threat. The framing of it was a mistake.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Herald and I will approach things differently from now on to make sure we always take into consideration the extra layer of complexities people face when it comes to their sexuality.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sydney Morning Herald editor Bevan Shields also came in defence of his employee by saying that the same process would have happened had Rebel been with a man. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Our weekly Private Sydney celebrity column last week asked Wilson if she wished to comment about her new partner. We would have asked the same questions had Wilson’s new partner been a man,” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To say that the Herald ‘outed’ Wilson is wrong.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Like other mastheads do every day, we simply asked questions and as standard practice included a deadline for a response.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Shields’ response however was also slammed by fellow panelist Sunny Hostin who said that they “knew it was wrong” after pulling the story down. </p> <p dir="ltr">“When his editor came out and said, ‘no, no, we would have done this with anyone, we would have done this if she was dating a man, there’s nothing wrong with it’ … Then a day later, they pulled the column, so they knew it was wrong,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You have to understand, kids that come out to their families, there’s a lot of suicides that happen, they generally get a 50 per cent negative reaction when they come out. these are stats that you can easily look up. I’m just really surprised that a journalist would do this, it’s horrible.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram/Twitter</em></p>

News

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Your morning cup of coffee could help you live longer

<p>While coffee helps us function, it could also potentially be an elixir to a longer life. Drinking 1.5 to 3.5 cups of coffee per day, even with sugar, could help you live longer.</p> <p>An international team of scientists (and fellow coffee lovers) spent seven years looking at the caffeinated drinking habits of 171,000 participants from the UK, all of whom had no known heart disease or cancer.</p> <p>The authors found that participants who drank any amount of unsweetened coffee were 16% to 21% less likely to die within that seven-year period, compared to those who did not drink coffee. They also found that participants who liked their coffee sweet, drinking it with one teaspoon of sugar, had a 29% to 31% lower chance of passing away.</p> <p>Results were inconclusive for those who drank coffee with artificial sweetener.</p> <p>The researchers caution that for maximum benefits, coffee drinkers should consume no more than 3.5 cups per day, and limit the amount of sugar with each coffee. Based on this data, there is no need for most coffee drinkers to eliminate that cup of joe from their diet, but they should be cautious about ordering calorie-laden frappacinos!</p> <p>The study was published in Annals of Internal Medicine.</p> <p><strong><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-2fa54359-7fff-a1ff-3069-f890b2d456f4">This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/biology/coffee-help-live-longer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by </span>Qamariya Nasrullah.</em></strong></p>

Body

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8 healthy habits you’re better off doing at night than in the morning

<p><strong>Get clean</strong></p> <p>You might not feel like bathing at night after a long, exhausting day, but it’s best to wash away the dirt of the day before your head hits the pillow. Not only will showering the night before save you time in the morning, but you’ll rinse away any allergens, like pollen and dust, that could be clinging to your hair or skin. You’ll also wake up in the morning already feeling fresh, clean and ready to conquer.</p> <p><strong>Comb it out</strong></p> <p>Press the snooze button guilt-free knowing that you’ll wake up with fewer tangles. Shave minutes off of your morning routine by running a comb through wet hair at night. Instead of waking to a knotted mop, comb through your hair from top to bottom the night before, and consider sleeping in a braid to ward off tangles. The result: less damage, fewer split ends, and time shaved off the morning rush.</p> <p><strong>Stop the stink</strong></p> <p>You’ve likely been swiping, rolling, or spraying on your antiperspirant in the morning hours, but, as it turns out, it’s best to apply the product at night. The added time it stays on your skin allows the active ingredients – usually a combination of an antiperspirant and odour reducer – to get into your sweat ducts. Worried about washing off the white stuff when you’re getting ready in the morning? Don’t be. By then the product will have sunken in, and the ingredients should remain active for 24 hours.</p> <p><strong>Baby your face</strong></p> <p>The same circadian rhythm that controls when we fall asleep and wake up also directs other dynamics in the body – including the behaviour of our skin. Research shows that while during the day our skin is busy regulating body temperature and protecting against assaults like sun damage and oxidation, at night it goes into makeover mode, with cells being renewed and repaired. This is when cells need nutrients the most, and when their anti-ageing benefits have maximum impact, so go ahead and apply a generous layer of essences, serums, lotions, and creams before you hit the sheets.</p> <p><strong>Use a razor</strong></p> <p>If you shave at night, stubbly legs won’t limit your options when you’re picking out your outfit in the morning. No nicks or razor burn from a rushed shave job is always a bonus. Moisturise just after you shave to lock in all-night hydration.</p> <p><strong>Take it off</strong></p> <p>You probably know how important it is to clean off your foundation, bronzer and blush, lest they clog pores and trigger acne. But it’s also a good idea to remove your eye makeup – mascara, liner, and eye shadow – to protect against brittle lashes, lash loss, and potential eye irritation (not to mention a dirty pillowcase).</p> <p><strong>Tie one on</strong></p> <p>Choose a soft hair tie – or better yet recycle a 1990s scrunchie – and sleep in a loose bun or braid. This small nighttime ritual can help prevent hair breakage, as you toss and turn and otherwise tangle your hair while you sleep. It’s also a neat hair styling trick: Braid your hair the night before and wake up to soft, beachy waves.</p> <p><strong>Add humidity</strong></p> <p>Turning on a humidifier will help you breathe easier and potentially reduce your risk of colds and infections, as moist air is good for the natural germ filters in your nose but bad for viruses and bacteria. A humidifier can also keep skin soft and appear less wrinkly (dryness makes lines look more pronounced), and can help prevent dry throats and sinuses, reducing the risk of snoring while encouraging a good night’s sleep.</p> <p><em><span id="docs-internal-guid-f8f25299-7fff-00dd-f0f5-f7967ecb5848">Written by Stephanie Smith. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/8-healthy-habits-youre-better-off-doing-at-night-than-in-the-morning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a></span></em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Body

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‘Vulnerable’ woman murdered on morning walk

<p>A woman has been molested and killed during her regular morning walk in Auckland and New Zealand Police have already arrested one man in the murder investigation.</p> <p>The body of Lena Zhang, also known as Lena Zhang Harrap, was found in an area of bush on Wednesday afternoon in the Auckland suburb of Mt Albert.</p> <p>The 27-year-old, who has Down Syndrome, was reported missing just hours earlier after leaving her home. She left her home around 6.30 am to go for her regular walk to Ōwairaka Domain but never returned.</p> <p><strong>Suspect will appear in court today</strong></p> <p>A 31-year-old man will appear in court today faced with the murder and sexual violation of Lena Zhang.</p> <p>New Zealand Police said they received a significant amount of information from the public following an appeal they made to the public after Zhang’s body was found, to help identify a person of interest they were trying to locate in relation to the murder.</p> <p>Police had uncovered photos of the “person of interest” via CCTV footage. At the time he was wearing a blue jumper and had been captured on CCTV near the area where Lena’s body was found on Wednesday morning.</p> <p>As a result of this appeal and the use of CCTV footage, this man was found in a vehicle in Papatoetoe - around 20km away from Mt Albert - at 1.30 am on Thursday and was arrested.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0c976aa1225549908cd0156d8ee74c41" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844362/lena-person-of-interest-um_blurred.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0c976aa1225549908cd0156d8ee74c41" /></p> <p>Detective Inspector Aaron Pascoe said police hoped news of the arrest would provide some reassurance to the local community.</p> <p>Police were not currently seeking anyone else in relation to the murder, however enquiries continued into the investigation with a fresh appeal for sightings of a car.</p> <p><strong>Zhang’s family and the community are devastated by her death</strong></p> <p>Detective Inspector Aaron Pascoe said Zhang’s family are understandably devastated by her death.</p> <p>“Lena was a young lady, she was small in stature, she was vulnerable,” said Inspector Pascoe.</p> <p>He added she was a “loving and caring person” who was raised to be independent.</p> <p>“Whoever the offender or offenders are, they’ve targeted a vulnerable member of our community which is just appalling,” Pascoe said.</p> <p><strong>StarJam pays tribute to Lena</strong></p> <p>StarJam, an organisation which uses music, dance and performance to connect young people with disabilities, have paid tribute Lena saying she was a "true Jammer".</p> <p>A Facebook post said: “For over 12 years, Lena has been a true Jammer in Auckland Magic Movers and more recently the Central Alumni All Stars; greeting everyone with her infectious smile, genuine heartfelt support and inviting her fellow Jammers up to join her Spot the Talents. Lena, you will always be in our hearts – our thoughts go out to your family and friends.’”</p> <p>Ella Stuart who worked at StarJam said Lena brought a special touch of magic to the stage: "It was such a privilege to know Lena - she was always so enthusiastic with everything she did and her love of dancing was truly wonderful to watch. She put the 'magic' in Magic Movers! She will be so missed and in our hearts and memories always."</p> <p><em>Image: NZ Police</em></p>

Legal

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4 genius morning hacks when you have no time to shower

<p> We all have those mornings: the alarm blares, you hit snooze, roll over and fall back asleep ... ten times in a row. If there are zero minutes to jump in the shower before heading out, use these household items strategically to make it look – and smell – like you did.</p> <p><strong>1. Baby wipes </strong></p> <p><strong> </strong>If yesterday’s sweat is still clinging to your skin, whip out the baby wipes stat. Rub down the stinky areas, and then spritz a bit of antibacterial body odour spray on top. If this not-showering thing is a habit for you, consider investing in wipes designed just for this purpose. Look for ones that are super soft, plant-based, biodegradable, compostable and smell amazing. Bad smells, be gone!</p> <p><strong>2. Baby powder </strong></p> <p><strong> </strong>Depending on the thickness and texture of your strands, second-day hair can look either fashionably unkempt or just plain oily. If the latter’s the case, rub a bit of baby powder onto your scalp to soak up the grease. Again, if hectic mornings are business as usual for you, invest in a dry shampoo that will whisk away dirt and oil without leaving a powdery residue. If hair stink is your main complaint, give strands a light spritz with fragrance made for hair.</p> <p><strong>3. Apple cider vinegar </strong></p> <p><strong> </strong>For greasy morning skin, first wash your face with a mild cleanser. After drying, pat on an apple cider vinegar toner (one-part apple cider vinegar two parts water) to purify and refresh. Bonus: ACV’s bacteria-fighting, pH-balancing properties will rid your body of unwanted odour, so feel free to rub it on any lingering smelly spots.</p> <p><strong>4. Witch hazel</strong></p> <p>Another amazing skin tonic? Witch hazel. Pour a small amount on a cotton pad and gently wipe your cheeks, forehead, chin and nose to remove excess oil and sweat. Consider keeping a bottle at your desk at work to maintain an oil-free T-zone all day long.</p> <p><em>Written by Ashley Paige. This article first appeared in </em><a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/culture/no-time-to-shower-then-you-need-these-8-genius-morning-hacks"><em>Reader’s Digest</em>.</a><em> For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRN93V"><em>here’s our best subscription offer.</em></a></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Beauty & Style

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Morning show host mistakenly announces Queen's death

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in element-type-p"> <p>UK TV presenter Alastair Campbell made an accidental slip up on live TV that left fans surprised.</p> <p>Campbell accidentally mentioned that Queen Elizabeth had died during a<span> </span><em>Good Morning Britain</em><span> </span>interview about grief.</p> <p>"We've talked a lot about Prince Philip after the death of the Queen…," Campbell said at the start of the segment before quickly realising what he said.</p> <p>"Can I just say, Susanna, I think I may have accidentally announced the death of the Queen. I meant Prince Philip," he clarified.</p> <p>Campbell is filling in after the abrupt departure of Piers Morgan on the breakfast show.</p> <p>He quickly apologised when the camera came back onto him and his co-host Susanna Reid was reassuring him viewers knew it was a slip up.</p> <p>"People knew exactly what you meant," she said.</p> <p>The slip up quickly made it onto Twitter, where viewers were posting about it.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/GMB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GMB</a> .<a href="https://twitter.com/campbellclaret?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@campbellclaret</a> accidentally announces death of the queen! (He did apologise) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrincePhilip?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrincePhilip</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/queen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#queen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gmb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gmb</a> 😉 Queen calls up GMB to confirm she is still very much alive! 👸 <a href="https://t.co/XXmCbdoHBQ">pic.twitter.com/XXmCbdoHBQ</a></p> — Janet Willicott FRSPH FBII ACIEH MEHBEA MBESA BHRC (@janetwillicott) <a href="https://twitter.com/janetwillicott/status/1392382272427397121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>"According to Alistair Campbell the Queen died," one person tweeted with shocked face emojis.</p> <p>"Did he say Death of the Queen then??" another asked.</p> <p>Campell seems to be taking it in stride, joking that the slip up had gone international with the following tweet.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Oh God. The exhaustion gaffe has gone global. THE QUEEN IS ALIVE!!! <a href="https://t.co/2bgd0ZamXQ">https://t.co/2bgd0ZamXQ</a></p> — ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) <a href="https://twitter.com/campbellclaret/status/1392599941852323842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>"Oh god, the exhaustion gaffe has gone global. THE QUEEN IS ALIVE!!!" he joked.</p> </div> </div> </div>

TV

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7 morning brain exercises to clear your mind

<p><strong>How can I sharpen my brain?</strong></p> <p>It can be mentally exhausting to try and resume your “normal” schedule during coronavirus. You may be working remotely, helping your children adapt to hybrid learning, keeping your family safe from coronavirus, or all of the above. Add trying to practice self-care in this mix of endless responsibilities. All this stress can zap your concentration, make you irritable or depressed, and potentially damage your professional and personal relationships.</p> <p>However, brain exercises, especially before work, can help get you through your day. “Working out areas of the brain before a full day can set us on a path of increased agility and flexibility in our thinking and enable us to communicate more calmly and effectively with our colleagues,” says Dr Jennifer Wolkin, a clinical neuropsychologist. Fold a mix of these brain exercises into your morning routine and you’ll find yourself working smarter and more efficiently from the get-go.</p> <p><strong>Relax with a good read</strong></p> <p><span>In today’s fast-paced day and age, it’s hard to remember to unplug and take time for the simple things that relax and stimulate the mind. Reading is certainly one of those—be it a chapter book, newspaper, or online article. “Some of the best activities to perform are ones that enrich the brain with new information, like reading,” says neurosurgeon Dr Jason Liauw. “Taking in a good book or the morning paper is not only a calming way to start your day, but it also can help you reorient your priorities, taking you momentarily out of the daily grind from yesterday before today’s begins.” Most importantly, reading can also cause a frameshift in your mind, so that when you’re in the middle of your day, you may be able to look at your routine and tasks through a different lens.</span></p> <p><strong>Do exercise</strong></p> <p><span>You probably know how important of a role exercise plays in your health and mood, but there are some additional brain-boosting reasons to sneak in a workout before work. “Exercise actually alters brain chemistry and has even been likened to the effect of taking antidepressants,” says Wolkin. “It signals the release of several key neurotransmitters, many of which play a vital role in keeping our brain sharp as we age.” Exercise also helps pump blood flow and oxygen to the brain, allowing your grey matter to work to its highest capacity, which translates to better and sharper decision making, judgment, and memory.</span></p> <p><strong>Practise meditation</strong></p> <p><span>“Studies have found that the amygdala, known as the brain’s ‘fight or flight’ center and the seat of our fearful and anxious emotions, decreases in brain cell volume after mindfulness practice,” says Wolkin. “The impact mindfulness exerts on our brain is born from routine—a slow, steady and consistent reckoning of our realities, and the ability to take a step back, become more aware, more accepting, less judgemental and less reactive.” Meditators also show a greater ability to recall information faster, leading researchers to believe that the ability to quickly “screen out” mental noise, allows the working memory to search and find information needed more quickly and efficiently, says brain expert Daniel Amen, double-board-certified psychiatrist, physician, and author of </span><em>Time for Bed Sleepyhead</em><span>.</span></p> <p><strong>Play classical music in the background</strong></p> <p><span>The gentle, peaceful sounds of classical music from the likes of Mozart and Beethoven have long been touted as beneficial to the brain and productivity in general. “Listening to classical music while getting dressed in the morning or exercising is a one-two punch of neural circuitry that’s been shown by researchers to significantly improve verbal fluency, cognitive functioning, and overall focus and concentration,” says Dian Griesel, entrepreneur and business and health spokesperson.</span></p> <p><strong>Play a fast logic-based game</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Lifelong learners are definitely onto something, as continued education—not just higher education—promotes brain health and creates new neural connections. “Even just taking a stab at a crossword puzzle or taking online quizzes that challenge your mind, can help build cognitive reserves,” says Wolkin. The best tasks for the brain are not only challenging, but are varied and novel—think Sudoku, or memory-recall games or apps.</p> <p>“It’s important to keep brain-boosting activities constantly changing with increasing complexity as well as cross-training brain activities that use different parts of the brain,” says Dr Kristin M. Mascotti. “Consistency is key, and many of these techniques can be done in just a few minutes every day with different skills tested on different days.”</p> <p><strong>Make a gratitude list</strong></p> <p><span>When you bring your attention to the things in your life for which you’re grateful, your brain actually works better, especially with a gratitude list. “Brain imaging studies show that negative thought patterns change the brain in a negative way, but that conversely, practicing gratitude literally helps you have a brain to be grateful for,” says Dr Amen. Every day, write down five things you’re grateful for—whether that’s your dog, your job, or that the football season has started back up again.</span></p> <p><strong>Get a good night's rest</strong></p> <p><span>It sounds obvious, but between 33-45 per cent of adults report they get insufficient sleep at least one night per month, according to the Sleep Health Foundation. “Sleep is proven in countless studies to help our ability to recall—which directly affects our capability to control both our behaviour and learning,” says Griesel. “Sleep deficits actually result in performance comparable to intoxication.” The best way to prime your body for a great work performance the following day is to stick to a sleep schedule. Make sure that it doesn’t change much on the weekends. Also, remember to practice a relaxing bedtime ritual, like reading a book. Make sure your room is dark and cool at an ideal temperature of around 19 degrees celsius.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Jenn Sinrich</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This article first appeared in </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/7-morning-brain-exercises-to-clear-your-mind" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reader’s Digest</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Find more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA93V" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here’s our best subscription offer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></em></p>

Mind

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Revealed: Piers Morgan names the royal who backed him

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in">Controversial former British morning show host Piers Morgan has revealed which royal family member supported him during his most recent attacks against Meghan Markle.<br /><br />Morgan, 55, revealed that Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, sent a text message of support after he was forced to resign from his position as co-host of Good Morning Britain on ITV.</div> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840701/royal-queen-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b1e79997ad69468aa1a0307e7c9a9fe1" /><br /><br />His comments following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's television interview with Oprah Winfrey were what forced him into resigning.</div> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"><br />Morgan wrote in his column for the Mail on Sunday that several royal family members contacted him after he left the show, including the Duchess.</div> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"></div> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in">"Not all Royal duchesses were as thrilled as Meghan 'Pinocchio' Markle to see me leave GMB," he wrote.<br /><br />"People have said how much they miss your morning joy and humour."<br /><br />He said Ferguson texted for him to "Get back out there!"<br /><br />He went on to joke that he and Ferguson could start their own show called “Morgy and Fergie in the Morning”.<br /><br />He repeated the claim on US TV show Extra: "I've had some messages communicated to me on behalf of several members of the royal family.<br /><br />"I'm not going to go into who it was but [it was] gratitude that somebody was standing up."<br /><br />Piers Morgan slammed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey.<br /><br />He targeted their claim that a senior royal had made racist comments about the colour of Archie's skin before his birth.<br /> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNnbzm5h5Eb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNnbzm5h5Eb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Percy von Schwabing (@percyvonschwabing)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <br />Morgan has since demanded the couple name that senior royal.<br /><br />He also said he was doubtful that Meghan was telling the truth when she said employees at The Firm refused to provide her with mental health support when she was pregnant with Archie.<br /><br />Morgan told Fox Nation he wanted to know who the alleged racist royal was.<br /><br />"As a British taxpayer, who helps pay for the royal family, I would like to know, actually, if there is a real racist inside the palace," he said.<br /><br />The controversial critic ended up storming off the set of GMB during a discussion about the Oprah interview.<br /><br />While he quickly resigned from his position on the program, he remains adamant that Harry and Meghan should name the senior royal they have accused of racism.</div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="post-context"></div> <div class="upper-row"></div> </div> </div>

News

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Piers Morgan quits after Oprah rant

<p>British TV presenter Piers Morgan has quickly left his job on the ITV show<span> </span><em>Good Morning Britain</em><span> </span>after an on-air rant about the Meghan and Harry interview with Oprah.</p> <p>“Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave<span> </span><em>Good Morning Britain</em>,” the network said in a curt statement today.</p> <p>“ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.”</p> <p>He received immediate backlash for his claims about Meghan Markle, after saying that he didn't believe her struggle with suicidal thoughts.</p> <p>ITV's chief executive later revealed that she did believe Markle and said that Kevin Lygo, ITV's top programmer for media and entertainment had spoken with Morgan in recent days.</p> <p>She said Mr Lygo was “speaking to him on a regular basis and has done so the last couple of days”, according to<span> </span><em>The Hollywood Reporter</em>.</p> <p>Asked whether Morgan would lose his ITV job over the issue, Ms McCall said: “We are dealing with that as we speak.”</p> <p>She said that “the most important thing with mental health that ITV does and is totally committed to, is that we support, we get people to speak up, we listen, we say everyone has to listen and everyone has to believe because that’s how you get people to speak up. So we are very committed to that.”</p> <p>Morgan stormed off live on air after a co-star condemned his treatment of Meghan and Harry.</p> <p>Alex Beresford accused Morgan of "trashing" Meghan because she "cut him off".</p> <p>Beresford then challenged Morgan's claim about the glowing press coverage of the royal couple until after their wedding.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Piers Morgan just walked off the Good Morning Britain set (!!!) after co-presenter Alex Beresford defended Harry and Meghan and condemned Piers' treatment of them in yesterday's programming <a href="https://t.co/mH75J8ND4O">pic.twitter.com/mH75J8ND4O</a></p> — Chris Rickett (@chrisrickett) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisrickett/status/1369177870191460353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>“I watched the program yesterday and yes they had some great press around the wedding, but what press is going to trash someone’s special day?” Beresford said.</p> <p>“There was bad press around the engagement, before the engagement and everything that has followed since has been incredibly damaging — quite clearly, to Meghan’s mental health and also to Harry — and I hear Piers say that William has gone through the same thing, but do you know what, siblings experience tragedy in their life and one will be absolutely fine and brush it off and the other will not be able to deal with it so strongly.</p> <p>“And that’s clearly what has happened with Harry in this situation. He walked behind his mother’s coffin at a tender, tender age in front of the globe. That is going to shape a young boy for the rest of his life. So I think that we need to all take a step back.”</p> <p>Speaking directly to Morgan, Beresford said he “understands” that Morgan doesn’t like Meghan, telling him “you’ve made it so clear a number of times on this program, a number of times”.</p> <p>“And I understand that you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle, or had one and she cut you off. She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to,” he added.</p> <p>“Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don’t think she has, yet you continue to trash her.”</p> <p>Morgan got up and left his chair, saying he was “done with this” before storming out of the studio. Beresford said that was “pathetic” as Morgan strode out, adding: “Sorry, can’t do this.”</p> <p>“This is absolutely diabolical behaviour, I’m sorry but Piers spouts off on a regular basis and we all have to sit there and listen. 6.30 to 7 yesterday was incredibly hard to watch,” Beresford said.</p>

TV

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"Beacon of hope": Captain Sir Thomas Moore's daughter speaks out

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>The daughter of Sir Captain Thomas Moore has spoken out about her father and how he was a "beacon of hope" to many.</p> <p>Hannah Ingram-Moore said that it has been "really difficult" since the death of her father, who passed away from COVID-19 on the 2nd of February.</p> <p>"I mean what a journey we've been on and what a beacon of hope and light he has been to the world," she told show hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid. "We miss him terribly but we know his legacy lives on."</p> <p>Sir Thomas shot to worldwide fame after raising more than $42 million for health services and charities in the UK and was even knighted by the Queen for his efforts.</p> <p>Piers spoke about being contacted by Sir Tom on Twitter.</p> <p>"It really touched me as it touched everybody in the country," Morgan continued.</p> <p>"Did you ever imagine Hannah that you'd end up with your dad not just raising nearly £40million for the NHS but also being knighted having a number one pop record, being a GQ cover star, a man of the year, winning a Pride of Britain award... I mean he achieved more in nine months than most people do in their entire lifetime."</p> <p>Hannah described the experience as "almost indescribable".</p> <p>"We were just an ordinary family, just like everybody else. But yes, we sat here thinking what can we do to help fight the pandemic in those very early days, raise a thousand pounds? And that was it, there was nothing more to it."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">‘What a beacon of hope and light he became to the world.’<br /><br />‘We miss him terribly.’<br /><br />Captain Sir Tom Moore’s funeral will be held on Saturday. <br /><br />His daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore speaks to <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@piersmorgan</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/susannareid100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@susannareid100</a> about losing her father. <a href="https://t.co/zWM1zcRxn4">pic.twitter.com/zWM1zcRxn4</a></p> — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GMB/status/1364128077685653506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>She also mentioned that her father left specific instructions for his funeral.</p> <p>"He was very clear he wanted us to eat Victoria sponge cake and sandwiches afterwards," she said, adding that he wants his tombstone to read: "I told you I was old."</p> <p>She laughed when explaining the tombstone.</p> <p>Hannah also asked the British public that even though many will want to pay their respects, they are asking people to stay away due to the coronavirus pandemic.</p> <p><em>Photo credits: Good Morning Britain</em></p> </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

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7 morning brain exercises to clear your mind

<p>It can be mentally exhausting to try and resume your “normal” schedule during coronavirus. You may be working remotely, helping your children adapt to hybrid learning, keeping your family safe from coronavirus, or all of the above. Add trying to practice self-care in this mix of endless responsibilities. All this stress can zap your concentration, make you irritable or depressed, and potentially damage your professional and personal relationships.</p> <p>However, brain exercises, especially before work, can help get you through your day. “Working out areas of the brain before a full day can set us on a path of increased agility and flexibility in our thinking and enable us to communicate more calmly and effectively with our colleagues,” says Dr Jennifer Wolkin, a clinical neuropsychologist. Fold a mix of these brain exercises into your morning routine and you’ll find yourself working smarter and more efficiently from the get-go.</p> <p><strong>Relax with a good read</strong></p> <p>In today’s fast-paced day and age, it’s hard to remember to unplug and take time for the simple things that relax and stimulate the mind. Reading is certainly one of those—be it a chapter book, newspaper, or online article. “Some of the best activities to perform are ones that enrich the brain with new information, like reading,” says neurosurgeon Dr Jason Liauw. “Taking in a good book or the morning paper is not only a calming way to start your day, but it also can help you reorient your priorities, taking you momentarily out of the daily grind from yesterday before today’s begins.” Most importantly, reading can also cause a frameshift in your mind, so that when you’re in the middle of your day, you may be able to look at your routine and tasks through a different lens.</p> <p><strong>Do exercise</strong></p> <p>You probably know how important of a role exercise plays in your health and mood, but there are some additional brain-boosting reasons to sneak in a workout before work. “Exercise actually alters brain chemistry and has even been likened to the effect of taking antidepressants,” says Wolkin. “It signals the release of several key neurotransmitters, many of which play a vital role in keeping our brain sharp as we age.” Exercise also helps pump blood flow and oxygen to the brain, allowing your grey matter to work to its highest capacity, which translates to better and sharper decision making, judgment, and memory.</p> <p><strong>Practise meditation</strong></p> <p>“Studies have found that the amygdala, known as the brain’s ‘fight or flight’ centre and the seat of our fearful and anxious emotions, decreases in brain cell volume after mindfulness practice,” says Wolkin. “The impact mindfulness exerts on our brain is born from routine—a slow, steady and consistent reckoning of our realities, and the ability to take a step back, become more aware, more accepting, less judgemental and less reactive.” Meditators also show a greater ability to recall information faster, leading researchers to believe that the ability to quickly “screen out” mental noise, allows the working memory to search and find information needed more quickly and efficiently, says brain expert Daniel Amen, double-board-certified psychiatrist, physician, and author of Time for Bed Sleepyhead.</p> <p><strong>Play classical music in the background</strong></p> <p>The gentle, peaceful sounds of classical music from the likes of Mozart and Beethoven have long been touted as beneficial to the brain and productivity in general. “Listening to classical music while getting dressed in the morning or exercising is a one-two punch of neural circuitry that’s been shown by researchers to significantly improve verbal fluency, cognitive functioning, and overall focus and concentration,” says Dian Griesel, entrepreneur and business and health spokesperson.</p> <p><strong>Play a fast logic-based game</strong></p> <p>Lifelong learners are definitely onto something, as continued education—not just higher education—promotes brain health and creates new neural connections. “Even just taking a stab at a crossword puzzle or taking online quizzes that challenge your mind, can help build cognitive reserves,” says Wolkin. The best tasks for the brain are not only challenging, but are varied and novel—think Sudoku, or memory-recall games or apps.</p> <p>“It’s important to keep brain-boosting activities constantly changing with increasing complexity as well as cross-training brain activities that use different parts of the brain,” says Dr Kristin M. Mascotti. “Consistency is key, and many of these techniques can be done in just a few minutes every day with different skills tested on different days.”</p> <p><strong>Make a gratitude list</strong></p> <p>When you bring your attention to the things in your life for which you’re grateful, your brain actually works better, especially with a gratitude list. “Brain imaging studies show that negative thought patterns change the brain in a negative way, but that conversely, practicing gratitude literally helps you have a brain to be grateful for,” says Dr Amen. Every day, write down five things you’re grateful for—whether that’s your dog, your job, or that the football season has started back up again.</p> <p><strong>Get a good night’s rest</strong></p> <p>It sounds obvious, but between 33-45 per cent of adults report they get insufficient sleep at least one night per month, according to the Sleep Health Foundation. “Sleep is proven in countless studies to help our ability to recall—which directly affects our capability to control both our behaviour and learning,” says Griesel. “Sleep deficits actually result in performance comparable to intoxication.” The best way to prime your body for a great work performance the following day is to stick to a sleep schedule. Make sure that it doesn’t change much on the weekends. Also, remember to practice a relaxing bedtime ritual, like reading a book. Make sure your room is dark and cool at an ideal temperature of around 19 degrees celsius.</p> <p><em>Written by Jenn Sinrich. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/7-morning-brain-exercises-to-clear-your-mind">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.co.nz/subscribe">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</em></p>

Mind

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Super-busted: Son of legendary Superman actor caught on TV with no pants

<p>Will Reeve suffered intense embarrassment after being caught on Good Morning America without pants on live TV.</p> <p>Reeve is an American correspondent for the morning show and son of the late <em>Superman</em><span> </span>star. He presented in a white button-up shirt and blazer. However, it wasn’t until he lifted his leg that he revealed he wasn’t wearing any pants.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I have ARRIVED*<br /><br />*in the most hilariously mortifying way possible <a href="https://t.co/2NQ85QEJVr">https://t.co/2NQ85QEJVr</a></p> — Will Reeve (@ReeveWill) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReeveWill/status/1255141549450473473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>However, Reeve took it all in good fun and posted a statement on Twitter.</p> <p>“Trying to be efficient, I got ready for a post-GMA workout a little too soon this morning,” he explained.</p> <p>“The camera angle, along with friends, family and several hundred strangers on social media made me rethink my morning routine,” he added.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">When WFH goes wrong (or, your self-framed live shot goes too wide).<br />Hope everyone got a much needed laugh 😂 <a href="https://t.co/GbyLBhL7Be">pic.twitter.com/GbyLBhL7Be</a></p> — Will Reeve (@ReeveWill) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReeveWill/status/1255167525677142017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>He has since done a story on Zoom etiquette and explained the perils from working from home in another segment.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Putting a button on this story. <a href="https://t.co/x6G9KVCs9j">https://t.co/x6G9KVCs9j</a></p> — Will Reeve (@ReeveWill) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReeveWill/status/1255517179585363968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>"I'm just here in my home, setup for another day of work like millions of Americans who are on video calls all the time now," Reeve said. </p> <p>"And a headline reminder for anyone who's using Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, anything with a camera: Make sure you frame your shot."</p> <p>He added: "On a personal note, I just want to say I try to take life seriously but not myself. So I've had a good laugh at this, but I don't want anyone to think that I don't respect and love my job. I've had a lot of fun and I know everyone else has, too. And I'm a lousy camera operator."</p>

TV

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Morning show hosts forced to awkwardly explain why they’re not social distancing

<p>Social distancing measures in the UK amid the coronavirus pandemic has become a new normal for people.</p> <p>However, viewers of<span> </span>The Morning<span> </span>show have forced the programme’s hosts to explain why they are not sitting six feet apart.</p> <p>In a clip posted to their Twitter page, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford explained why fans should not be worried about their close proximity to each other.</p> <p>“For anyone who's worried,<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/EamonnHolmes" target="_blank"> @EamonnHolmes</a> and<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/RuthieeL" target="_blank"> @RuthieeL</a> are actually married in real life, so it's safe for them to sit close to each other in the studio,” the show wrote in the caption.</p> <p>“If you're maybe new to watching This Morning because you're on lockdown...we are allowed to sit this close to each other because we're married, we live in the same house,” Ruth said. </p> <p>However, some fans did not approve of the reasons given by the show’s host, with one person writing: “They should be setting example saying 2 meters apart not everyone know this very shameful this needs to change asap.”</p> <p>Others believed it was still important for Ruth and Eamonn to follow the social distancing guidelines, however some questioned how people could not know the hosts were married.</p> <p>Eamonn spoke on the show after their twitter clip made waves online, saying: “With regard to social distancing, don't bother phoning in and saying 'why are these two together' because we are together all day in the house, we live together.</p> <p>“And in case a lot of you don't know this, we actually do live together.”</p> <p>Ruth added in: “Some people think it's a fake marriage darling, it's a TV marriage.”</p> <p>Eamonn and Ruth both regularly present the morning TV show side by side, have been married for ten years and share an 18-year-old son together. </p>

Relationships

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“I screwed up”: Morning show host hit with backlash after mocking Prince George for taking ballet

<p>After mocking Prince George’s school curriculum,<span> </span><em>Good Morning America<span> </span></em>anchor Lara Spencer has issued an apology after nationwide backlash ensued.</p> <p>During a segment on the show, it was revealed that the eldest son of Prince William takes ballet classes, with his dad mentioning that “Prince George absolutely loves ballet.”</p> <p>To which Spencer responded: “I have news for you Prince William, we’ll see how long that lasts.”</p> <p>But the quip didn’t go down well, as shortly after she was forced to apologise for the incident on her Instagram due to significant criticism: “My sincere apologies for an insensitive comment I made in pop news yesterday. From ballet to anything one wants to explore in life, I say GO FOR IT. I fully believe we should all be free to pursue our passions. Go climb your mountain – and love every minute of it.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gzsy_D7-L/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gzsy_D7-L/" target="_blank">My sincere apologies for an insensitive comment I made in pop news yesterday. From ballet to anything one wants to explore in life, I say GO FOR IT. I fully believe we should all be free to pursue our passions. Go climb your mountain-and love every minute of it.</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/lara.spencer/" target="_blank"> Lara Spencer</a> (@lara.spencer) on Aug 23, 2019 at 9:07am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>She also made a statement on air Monday morning: “I screwed up. I did,” she said. “It was stupid, and I am deeply sorry. I’ve spoken with several members of the dance community over the past few days.</p> <p>“For me the lesson is that words hurt, and it was not my intention, but it was insensitive and I thank you all for giving me the opportunity to apologise personally to you and for you guys coming in here to talk to me and to educate me, again, I’m really sorry.”</p> <p>Her response came shortly after members of the dance community rallied around the young prince and other male dancers with the hashtag #boysdancetoo.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gjmZTBCxW/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1gjmZTBCxW/" target="_blank">DEAR @lara.spencer of GOOD MORNING AMERICA. I have a message for you. Wake up. It’s 2019. Get with the program. Please share and repost this so a boy who needs to see this feels supported if he dances or wants to! #boysdancetoo #ballet #goodmorningamerica #traviswall #laraspencer #bully</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/traviswall/" target="_blank"> Travis Wall</a> (@traviswall) on Aug 23, 2019 at 6:49am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1hWQ-lhxCU/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1hWQ-lhxCU/" target="_blank">Ballet promotes strength; it cultivates discipline and focus. Ballet provides us with a sense of community, an outlet for creativity, and an avenue for understanding others. Ballet creates a space and a world in which reductive gender stereotypes don’t belong. Ballet is as much masculine as it is feminine, and we’re tremendously proud of and inspired by all our male dancers. #boysdancetoo • Pictured are many of the men in our Company and NB2 currently rehearsing for our season opener Romeo and Juliet!</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/nashvilleballet/" target="_blank"> Nashville Ballet</a> (@nashvilleballet) on Aug 23, 2019 at 2:09pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>There were over 1000 people who took part, as they aimed to raise awareness about the profession.</p>

Body

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The mind-boggling way the Queen gets dressed in the morning

<p>It turns out the Queen has a perfectly curated system to choose what outfit she wears each day. </p> <p>Paul Burrell, a former butler at the palace, has revealed the monarch has custom-made ensembles made for her by looking at “sketches” of clothing and accessories. </p> <p>“The Queen has to have her outfits brought down to her, all her clothes are kept on the top floor,” Burrell told Yahoo Style UK’s video series, <a rel="noopener" href="https://uk.style.yahoo.com/tagged/royal-box/" target="_blank"><em>The Royal Box.</em></a></p> <p>“Her dresser will bring down two outfits in the morning, which are sketched with pieces of material clipped to them so that the Queen can remember whether it’s silk or cotton or wool,” he revealed.</p> <p>“The one the Queen picks is the one which is brought downstairs from up above, so she doesn’t actually see her wardrobe with clothes in it.”</p> <p>Burrell was able to see Her Majesty in action when he was her footman (personal assistant) before he became Princess Diana’s butler. </p> <p>The Queen has a style widely loved by royal fans – not just for its elegance and sophistication but for it’s bold colours, matching hats and gorgeous jewellery.</p> <p> The 93-year-old has never been afraid of a good outfit "repeat" either and is known to re-wear custom-made outfits by her dressmaker Angela Kelly or royal couturier Stewart Parvin. </p> <p>“The Queen’s clothes are a constant source of comment in the media and she will wear a favourite outfit for years,” according to the 2011 book <em>Not in Front of the Corgis.</em></p> <p>“When she finally tires of it, she will hand it to one of her dressers, who can either wear it or sell it.”</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see some of Queen Elizabeth’s best and most colourful outfits.</p>

Beauty & Style

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The morning habits to help start your day off right

<p><span>Starting your day off right is more important than you think.</span></p> <p><span>Many of us might not be a morning person – however, it is still crucial to wake up on the right side of the bed, as it affects you for the rest of the day.</span></p> <p><span>A <a href="https://hbr.org/2016/07/how-your-morning-mood-affects-your-whole-workday">study</a> has found that people who started the day feeling happy and calm “usually stayed that way throughout the day”, while people who began the day in a bad mood would not “really climb out of it, and felt even worse by the end of the day”.</span></p> <p><strong><span>So how can you get into a positive morning mood?</span></strong></p> <p><span>There are some practical ideas. Stretching your body after waking up can help improve circulation and ease tight muscles to reduce stress. </span></p> <p><span>What about after you step out of the house? One of the study’s co-authors, Nancy Rothbard recommended creating “intentional transition” when you are heading from one place to another. This may include taking a different route to the one you are used to, making a coffee stop, listening to “inspiring” music or just taking a deep breath before walking in to prepare yourself. </span></p> <p><span><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/mind/easy-tricks-to-improve-a-bad-mood/">Other studies</a> have also shown that simple activities like going on a short walk in the park or chatting with a loved one could help boost positive emotions.</span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RUhv-X5UszY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><span>Watching people laugh also works. A <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/reddit-contagious-laughter-best-website-to-start-day-happy-2019-3">2017 study</a> found that “contagious social laughter” helps release endorphins, which promotes positive feelings and social bonding as well as reduces stress and perception of pain.</span></p> <p><span>What’s your favourite way to start the day? Let us know in the comments below.</span></p>

Mind

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12 ways to brighten your morning

<p>Here are ways to make sure you wake up on the right side of the bed and ease into your day with a positive, calm attitude.<br /><br />Remember: Stress and anxiety wreak havoc on your immunity. Enter your day happy and relaxed, and you greatly increase your chances of a healthy, productive day.</p> <div class="view view-article-slider view-id-article_slider view-display-id-article_slider_block view-dom-id-711d7061b965954d4d5f6cec9d4b9966"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>1. Go to sleep with your blinds or curtains open</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>That way, the natural light of the rising sun will send a signal to your brain to slow its production of melatonin and bump up its production of adrenaline, a signal that it’s time to wake up.</p> <p>When the alarm goes off, you’ll already be half awake.</p> <p>Even better: Go to bed early enough so that waking up when the sun shines through your window still gives you the recommended seven hours of shut-eye.</p> <p>If you maintain this routine, it’s likely that you can start relying on your biological clock rather than an alarm clock. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>2. Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>This way, you don’t have to jump out of bed and rush through your morning.</p> <p>You can begin your morning by lying in bed, slowly waking up. Stretching. Listening to the news headlines. Mentally clicking off what you’re going to wear, what you’re going to do, what you’re going to have for breakfast.</p> <p>It’s just as important to prepare yourself mentally as physically for your day.</p> <p>These few minutes in bed, before anyone else is up, are all yours.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>3. Stretch every extremity for 15 seconds</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Try this even before you open your eyes.</p> <p>Lift your arm and begin by stretching each finger, then your hand, then your wrist, then your arm.</p> <p>Then move on to the other arm.</p> <p>Then your toes, feet, ankles, and legs. Finally, end with a neck and back stretch that propels you out of the bed.</p> <p>You’ve just limbered up your muscles and joints and enhanced the flow of blood through your body, providing an extra shot of oxygen to all your tissues.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>4. Stick a chair in the shower and sit</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Use one of those plastic chairs you can buy at any hardware store.</p> <p>Let it warm up under the spray for a minute, then sit in it and let the spray beat on your back.</p> <p>It’s simultaneously relaxing and energising, like getting a water massage.</p> <p>After a couple of minutes, you can swing the chair out of the way and commence with washing.<span> </span>If you have time, you could give yourself an invigorating facial massage.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>5. Read a motivational quote every morning</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>This can provide a frame for the day, a sort of self-talk that keeps you motivated in the right direction as opposed to the negative thinking of the morning news.</p> <p>Another option: Use a motivational mantra that provides a meditation-like burst, or read or recite a poem that helps you focus.<a rel="noopener" href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if---" target="_blank" title="" data-original-title=""></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>6. Take a vitamin</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Keep a multi-vitamin out on  he kitchen counter by the coffeepot so you remember to take one every morning.</p> <p>More than 20 years of research led to a major recommendation in one of the country’s premier medical journals suggesting that every American take a multivitamin as part of a healthy lifestyle.<span> </span>You could also whip up a vitamin-packed strawberry and yogurt smoothie.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>7. Eschew any decisions</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>For truly relaxing mornings, reduce the number of choices and decisions you make to zero.</p> <p>Go about this two ways: First, make your morning decisions the night before: what clothes to wear,<span> </span>what breakfast to eat, what route to take to work, and so on.</p> <p>Second, routinize as much of your morning as possible.</p> <p>Really, there’s no need to vary your breakfast, timetable, or bathroom ritual from one morning to the next.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>8. Cuddle with your grandkids</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Few things are more stressful in the morning than waking up an overtired fifth grader or a snoring high schooler. Yet this is one of the few times you can catch your child still vulnerable.</p> <p>Sit on their bed and gently smooth their hair as you softly waken them. Or, if you’re dealing with a very young child, lie beside him and gently hug him awake.</p> <p>Such a moment will send a quiet surge of joy through your entire day and will become all too rare in all too short a time.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>9. Spend 5 to 10 minutes listening to music</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Or sitting on the deck or porch just thinking.<span> </span>Some people mediate for a short while in the morning.</p> <p>This allows the creative thinking that takes place during the night to gel and form into a plan of action, grounding you for the day.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>10. Wake to the smell of coffee</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>Really great coffee. Buy the best coffee you can afford<span> </span>- fresh beans are preferred - and put twice the amount you’ve been using into your coffee maker, the one you bought specifically because it has an alarm that can be set to start brewing times.</p> <p>The strong scent of strong coffee will pull you out of bed like a fishhook in the back of your pajamas.</p> <p>Plus, if you’re going the caffeine route, morning is the best time for it.</p> <p>Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that acts in many ways like other stimulant drugs such as increasing your muscular activity.</p> <p>Even better: A study of 18 men found that caffeine improved clear-headedness, happiness, and calmness, as well as their ability to perform on attention tests and to process information and solve problems.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>11. Brush your tongue for one minute</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>There’s no better way to rid yourself of morning breath and begin your day minty fresh and clean.</p> <p>After all, more than 300 types of bacteria take up residence in your mouth every night.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-slides"> <div class="field-content"> <div class="field-collection-view clearfix view-mode-full field-collection-view-final"> <div class="entity entity-field-collection-item field-collection-item-field-slides clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-title field-type-text field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><strong>12. Use real sugar in your coffee, or drink an orange juice</strong></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-name-field-slide-content field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"> <p>When researchers at the University of Virginia tested the memories of healthy 60- to 80-year-olds, they found those who had a small amount of sugar in the morning (the experimenters compared sweetened to unsweetened lemonade) even before breakfast had better memory recall that day on into the following day.</p> <p>We’re talking small amounts, however, about a teaspoon or less;<span> </span>so put down that doughnut.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p><em>This article first appeared in </em><span><em><a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/conditions/mental-health/12-ways-brighten-your-morning">Reader’s Digest</a></em></span><em>. 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