A couple of years ago, I convinced myself that I had irritable bowel syndrome. It joined a rather long list of conditions I’ve diagnosed myself with over the years since medical school. Sometimes I’ve been on the money with self-diagnosis; but on occasions, I’ve jumped to conclusions too soon, or misread the situation.
And, as doctors can do with their own health, I got it wrong.
For fear of putting you off your cornflakes, I’ll spare you the finer details. But what I got wrong was rather more interesting than the symptoms themselves. I’d become so convinced of the diagnosis because I was initially unwilling (and perhaps too stubborn) to consider anything else.
How to be more grateful for daily life in five easy steps
The world feels like a difficult place at the moment, and it can feel very hard sometimes to find things to be thankful for; when we are overwhelmed, we have less capacity to notice and reflect on the good things. Yet, ironically, proactively cultivating gratitude is one of the things that can actually help us feel less stressed.
NHS GP dR RADHA
The science
Research has shown that feeling or expressing thanks can actually alter our brain.
- The balance of neurotransmitters change; more serotonin and dopamine (feel good chemicals) are produced.
- This can be long lasting if we make gratitude a regular habit.
- We also get a decrease in our cortisol (stress hormone) levels which helps lower anxiety.
- Being grateful can strengthen the nerve pathways which triggers positive emotion.
How can we build gratitude?
Change your words
Instead of seeing something as a problem, try to see the opportunities within it.
Our brains are very receptive and what we read or write can alter our emotional system.
Express it
This will not only make you feel good, but you will also get a positive response from others.
How can we build gratitude?
Notice more
Throughout your day, try to notice all the things that are going well; has someone opened a door for you, or smiled?
The basics
By being thankful for the small things every day, we are far more likely to be and stay healthy so that we can enjoy them.
What to do
Gratitude can lead to feelings of optimism, lower our blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.
- Write down what potential good aspects there are to the things you don’t feel like doing, or even what could be worse about it.
- Spend a few minutes writing down three things that you are looking forward to that day, or the good things that have happened to you that day.
- Say thank you to yourself for the things you have achieved, or managed to get through and changed that day.
Sales of battery
electric vehicles hit a record high last year.
Starts at £22,995 for the smaller battery
Available with either a 40kWh battery or a larger 52kWh pack, that offers almost 255 miles, the latest, retro-inspired Renault 5 is both a joy to behold and a hoot to drive.
The interior has been lavished with a level of detail that’s typically reserved for more expensive cars.
4 min read
A champion of EV efficiency
It offers a remarkable 491 mile range on a single charge from the 85kWh battery.
It is a technological masterclass inside with the ability to option screens that span the entire width of the dashboard, including an optional display for the front passenger.
Priced from £37,400
2 min read
It’s a lot of money to part with, but this is arguably all the car you will ever need.
The £89,000 Macan is a premium SUV that somehow manages to blend Porsche’s reputation for dynamics and sporty driving with everyday practicality.
The 95kWh batteries can go from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 21 minutes from the fastest public charging outlets.
With the business class-style six seat configuration costing a staggering £76,995, it is by far the most expensive Kia ever made, but it backs up its financial demands with a suite of genuinely useful and impressive onboard technology.
It’s fast, goes a long way between stops and charges relatively quickly but the interior is bland, the onboard technology is infuriating and the experience is devoid of emotion.
All of its gadgetry can’t disguise the fact that performance is weak, even for a typically zippy EV, the ride is fussy at slower speeds and it’s not in the least bit enjoyable to drive on a country road.
- While good value (prices start at £17,935) for the 200-mile max range, there are more interesting options from Hyundai, Citroen and Renault for similar money.
- It attempts to wow with tech, much of which hinders, rather than helps.
- There’s no tangible benefit over mounting your phone to the dash.
- Simply an average driving experience, adequate range and slow charging speeds.
2 min read
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Victorinox paring knife
It’s comfortable to hold, with a point sharp enough for scoring pastry.
ProCook cast iron pan
For unbeatable searing and heat-retention, cast iron is the top choice.
Tesco chopping board
Priced at just £22, I’ve yet to find another board that matches it for sheer value and quality.
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Pyrex jug
It is the perfect vessel for blending smooth sauces, melting butter, or warming stock. It won’t stain like plastic and the red measurements never fade.
Salter scales
“I’ve had my slim little set of Salter Disc Scales for over a decade, and I’m delighted to see they are still made to exactly the same reliable design today.”
Microplane grater
It uses photo-etched stainless steel teeth that stay razor-sharp for a decade, something the lookalike copycats simply can’t match.
Braun hand-held blender
It’s an essential for everything from making velvety soup to getting the lumps out of white sauce.
Bodum cafetiere
As well as delivering great results, cafetieres are easy to clean and there’s no ongoing filter paper costs or pod recycling to deal with.
5 min read
The kitchen gadgets under £25
Oxo peeler
What truly sets it apart is the chunky, rubberised handle that absorbs pressure and stays completely non-slip, even if your hands are wet. It is inexpensive and incredibly durable.
Falcon pie dish
Made by fusing porcelain onto heavy-gauge steel for smooth durability, it is dishwasher, freezer, hob, air-fryer and oven-safe.
The golden rules for a happy, secure relationship
Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Amir Levine, author of bestselling book , explains why we behave the way we do in love.
Golden rules for happy relationships
Start with your own behaviours
The foundation of a secure, connected life is being what I call CARRP: that means being consistent, available, responsive, reliable and predictable. All of these qualities can be enacted in small gestures every day.
Express your needs
People need consistency and connection to feel safe. This is not, ‘You hurt my feelings by never replying to me’, it’s more ‘this is the kind of contact that helps me feel secure’.
Golden rules for happy relationships
The appendix ‘inflammation’ rule
If a relationship repeatedly inflames your nervous system, you need to disengage and deprioritise it.
Lean on community
You don’t need hundreds of friends. You need people and places that regularly remind you that you belong.
Stop blaming childhood
Humans are much more complicated than: ‘this happened to you, therefore you are doomed to be anxious’.
Reach for a
secure script
When something unsettles you in a relationship, your first reaction is not always the most accurate one.
If you’re anxious, your brain may jump very quickly to: ‘this is the beginning of the end’. If you’re avoidant, your brain may say: ‘this person wants too much from me, I need to get away’. So one very practical thing you can always do is pause and ask: ‘What would a secure person do here?’
Loneliness elsewhere
When people talk about loneliness, they often assume it means you don’t have enough people in your life. But you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely if those relationships leave you feeling excluded, ignored or disconnected.
What to do
- Build a community that works for your temperament and gives you regular, reliable moments of connection.
- You can still be kind to people while not treating them as someone who belongs in your inner circle.
- Explain what you need. Sometimes people simply don’t realise how you are experiencing them.
- Check in with people: does this person actually feel that I’m reliable? Do they experience me as predictable? That’s the only way that you can start to become more secure.
Do some foods leave
you feeling hungry rather than satiated? Experts say there are…
Foods that leave you hungrier
A bowl of cereal and glass of orange juice
More refined cereals are digested quickly, and fruit juice, whilst one of your five-a-day, contains less fibre than whole fruit. This might mean you find yourself hungry again within 1-2 hours of eating this breakfast.
Swap the orange juice for a whole orange, the cereal for oats and milk or serve it with Greek yoghurt or a boiled egg. This would increase the fibre and protein content; two nutrients strongly linked with fullness.
Foods that leave you hungrier
These pastries are made primarily from refined flour and butter, and are relatively low in protein and fibre.
Toast and jam
Shop-bought packs can contain a lot of white rice, which is digested quickly, and the protein content is often modest.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Vegetable soup
On its own, it is often very low in protein and calories, so hunger can return quickly.
Unless it’s loaded with veggies, it’s probably pretty low in fibre.
Liquids are generally less filling as they require little chewing which may not trigger satiety signals.
Foods that leave you hungrier
Snack bars
They are ideal for a quick pick-me-up, but if reducing hunger is what you’re after, it’d be better to swap it out.
Low-fat yoghurt
A full-fat plain Greek yoghurt with berries and seeds tends to be much more filling due to the protein, fat and fibre.
On an empty stomach, it can actually increase your appetite.
What to eat instead
Instead of thinking about avoiding foods, think about what you can add to them.
- Add beans, lentils or shredded chicken to your vegetable soup and pasta.
- Thicken your smoothies with Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and oats.
- Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with berries and hummus with oat biscuits are better snack options than a pre-made snack bar.
- Have alcohol alongside a balanced meal containing protein and fibre.
How to age well
without pain
Will Harlow, a physiotherapist
for the over-50s and author of Independence for Life, shares
the key signs you’re ageing
badly – and what to do about it.
How to know
Ageing well is maintaining the ability to do what you want you want for as long as you want without needing help. Everyone is talking about longevity but what’s the point in living longer if the last decade is painful and you’re [totally] reliant on people?”
The signs to look out for
- The most obvious early warning sign of bad ageing is pain says Harlow.
- Another is losing confidence in doing daily tasks, which can quickly lead to a lack of independence.
- One call Harlow often receives is people calling after having a fall and struggling to get up.
4 min read
How to age without pain
Not just stopping
When people retire, they often put their feet up and stop. Your body really is use it or lose it.
Throughout our entire lives, Harlow says we need between seven and nine hours of sleep.
Social isolation
The lack of connection can increase the risk of premature death by
as much as 29 per cent.
Strength training
It really is the proxy for
overall independence.
The more muscle mass you have, the less chance of heart disease, diabetes, falls and even anxiety, depression and dementia.
The brain can be linked to muscle mass too, Harlow says. It’s not just about being able to lift things. It gives you more energy, better sleep and you’ll look and feel better.
How to age without pain
Daily habits
Do short bursts of exercise, between 30 and 60 seconds, in otherwise dead time during the day.
Stretch in bed
Take joints through a full range of motion for five minutes to loosen it before getting up.
Don’t crash diet
How to age without pain
Harlow advises 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight to stop muscle loss alongside resistance training.
Don’t wait
Harlow finds that many patients put off making a change to their lifestyle until their lives are consumed by pain.
For most people, it’s about reducing the number of times per week you’re exercising, not reducing intensity.
The three ageing tests to do
- Lie completely flat on the floor and get back up to a standing position using any technique. This should take less than 10 seconds.
See how many times you can sit on the chair and stand back up again in 30 seconds. Men should be aiming for more than 14 times and women 12.
The single-leg stand, which involves standing on one leg and balancing for 10 seconds. Everyone should be able to do that and for those under 65, Harlow asks them to do it with their eyes closed.
Despite the job market hiring fewer entry-level roles, employers are still looking for grads…
But you should be prepared to keep an open mind.
We’ve compiled the sectors hiring graduate roles, what degree is required, and what they pay.
The degrees to choose for a career
Hiring in the UK could
finally be on the up
47%
of employers offered entry-level
positions from July.
That is up nearly 15 per cent from the same period last year.
700,000
But graduate unemployment rose to six per cent in 2025 and 700,000 jobless graduates were claiming benefits.
Finance and insurance
- Around 42 per cent of UK finance and insurance employers say they will be open to graduate roles this summer.
- Business loan company Portman Finance Group has taken on 50 graduates over the past four years.
Portman graduates start on £36,000 for the two-year programme and the education you need to apply is a minimum “ABB” of A-levels, and a 2:1 or above university degree. But not in a specific subject.
Trade and logistics
What makes it particularly rewarding is that there’s always something to learn.
Nearly half (47 per cent) of trade and logistics companies will be giving graduates a go this year.
Salaries start at £30,000 with an uncapped bonus, rising to £50,000 plus a company car as a senior account partner.
Technology and IT
More than half (52 per cent) of UK tech and IT firms are actively looking for graduates.
Successful entry-level candidates can earn a basic salary of up to £35,000, with the opportunity to triple that within their first three years of working.
4 min read
Public sector, health
and social services
46 per cent of public sector, health and social services organisations are also ready to take graduates, according to a survey by Manpower.
- For example, Police Now runs a graduate programme into policing. They recruit graduates from any degree field, as long as they achieve a 2:2 or above. Starting salaries range from £31,164 to £42,210 depending on location and rising each year.
Can we treat guests without blowing our budget?
According to Waitrose, a dinner party revival is underway led by younger people trying to reduce the cost of getting together.
Always have bread
People will feast on the
ELLA RISBRIDGER, AUTHOR OF THE KITCHEN BOOK – GOOD FOOD FOR EVERY DAY
bread, and then need less fish/steak/expensive whatever. All small plates restaurants know this: this is why the first thing on the menu is always artisan bread and butter.
Use vegetables as centrepieces
Add pantry items
Graham’s recipes include a braised cabbage with a preserved lemon sauce, a roast cauliflower with saffron, and harrisa roast carrots with mango labneh.
How to host on a budget
Improve the everyday
Guests will always appreciate a stellar interpretation of the ordinary. Think lasagna or curry.
Cooking dinner for your guests is spoiling them – you’re being generous with your time, your effort, and your home. So don’t feel the need to go overboard elsewhere.
Ask for help
Ask friends to bring a contribution, be it a nibble or a pudding.
Big platter energy
[Presentation] can be the key to elevating something . Spaghetti and tomato sauce suddenly looks like a feast when tumbled on a lovely big plate, dressed with olive oil and parmesan and placed in the middle of the table.
Food writer and editor Eleanor Steafel
How to host on a budget
Taco party
Have one expensive filling, like shredded chicken, and two cheaper options, like refried beans, says Ella Risbridger.
Shop-bought ice cream is so easily zhuzhed up with the help of handy toppings, says Eleanor Steafel.
I dutifully went for a second opinion – and a series of tests revealed nothing at all sinister. Nor was it irritable bowel syndrome, better known as IBS, in the end. The difficulty is that there’s no single diagnostic test that can confirm IBS. Instead, doctors make a diagnosis based on patients exhibiting the characteristic symptoms, whilst other tests are used to rule out other potential conditions.
But what struck me was how readily I had convinced myself of the diagnosis, whilst overlooking other plausible possibilities. Therein lies the problem with IBS – it can frequently be mistaken for other conditions and these, in turn, can also be mistaken for IBS. Some of these alternatives are relatively harmless, whilst others are considerably more serious.
To understand this nuance, it’s perhaps best to understand what IBS is. And, just as importantly, what it isn’t.
IBS doesn’t look the same in everyone
IBS is a chronic condition – by nature, symptoms will persist or recur over time. Typically, symptoms come and go, with variable amounts of time between flare-ups.
Its main defining feature is abdominal pain or discomfort – taking into account that patients can experience or describe symptoms in many different ways. Some patients will also notice that the pain is relieved by opening their bowels, but it can also be associated with changes in either the frequency or consistency of the stool. There is a whole spectrum of different stool consistencies in IBS – some people tend more towards diarrhoea, for others constipation dominates. And some people can fluctuate between the two.
Other gut symptoms can point towards IBS – many patients experience an urgent need to rush to the toilet, and have to strain when they get there. They may also notice a lingering sensation of not having emptied their bowels properly, and may notice excess mucus in the toilet pan, or bloating. Sometimes, symptoms are also made worse by eating and may cause nausea or indigestion.
What’s particularly frustrating is that we don’t fully understand what causes IBS. Several suggestions have been proposed, including changes in the way the gut moves and processes food, a heightened sensitivity of the nerves which govern the bowel, and alterations in the bacterial composition – the gut microbiome. Since the condition is associated with stress, it’s very likely that some sort of disconnect between gut and brain is occurring.
It’s not just about the gut
The most prominent symptoms of IBS naturally involve the gut. But IBS patients can also notice a surprising range of other symptoms elsewhere, coming from other organs that might seem totally unrelated.
One example is from the bladder. There is considerable overlap between IBS and functional bladder disorders – whose underlying causes are also poorly understood. Patients may find themselves needing to pass urine more frequently, both during the day and at night, or experience sudden urgency in needing to get to the toilet and only producing small volumes or again feeling that they’re only partially emptying the bladder. Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis can occur, too – and some women may even notice pain during sex.
You can see that many of these symptoms are similar to the typical bowel symptoms: pain, frequency, urgency. It implies that both bowel and bladder are overactive or irritable – and since both share similar complex nerve pathways, it makes sense.
Put together, these findings could easily be mistaken for something like a urinary tract infection, another very common diagnosis. I’ve seen patients who were treated with recurrent courses of antibiotics for suspected infections that subsequently turned out to be unnecessary. This is why checking a urine sample and sending it to the lab for analysis is important to tell between the two diagnoses – and guide the correct treatment.
And urinary symptoms aren’t the only associated cluster. Co-existent changes in mood and cognition are also common – including depression, anxiety and brain fog. Sleep can suffer too; and persistent tiredness and lack of energy can add additional burden. Patients can also experience backache, muscle aches and joint pain, sometimes affect multiple regions of the body.
It’s not that all these wider symptoms are caused by an irritable gut per se, rather they are recognised common associations, which may share related mechanisms. Noticing them can help paint a clearer diagnostic picture.
IBS can mimic other conditions – and other conditions can mimic IBS
IBS really knows how to play the imitation game. We’ve seen how its associated symptoms can be mistaken for a UTI, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Abdominal or pelvic pains can overlap with gynaecological conditions like endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease, which is often caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Thyroid gland disorders can also produce a variety of the same symptoms too, including changes in bowel habit.
Inflammatory bowel disease typically causes changes in bowel habit, with diarrhoea and abdominal pain – as can coeliac disease, lactose intolerance, and pancreatic disorders. Colorectal cancer can also alter bowel habits over time.
But the imitation game works both ways – and any of these conditions could also be mistakenly labelled as IBS.
So, how do we tell? There are some red flags to watch out for.
Rectal bleeding should never be attributed to IBS, nor should unexplained weight loss or persistent change in someone’s usual bowel habits. Such findings should definitely prompt a visit to your GP, and not assume it’s due to IBS.
Another useful port of call for investigating these symptoms is a series of blood tests: checking for anaemia, iron deficiency or markers of inflammation, alongside testing for thyroid or coeliac disease. Doctors may also check a urine or stool sample, or send swabs to exclude an STI. Further down the line, investigation with a camera endoscopy might be required in some patients to examine the gut in more detail.
Age is another important consideration. Whilst IBS is common and can technically appear at any age, the likelihood of more serious conditions, including bowel cancer, increases with age. This makes new or persistent changes particularly important to investigate in later life. In women, ovarian cancer can also produce some of the same symptoms as IBS – bloating, abdominal discomfort, changes in bowels and urination – and is again associated with increased age (especially after 50), and a positive family history. Get checked out with a doctor if this is the case.
It’s not all about fibre
IBS has somehow developed a strong association with fibre intake: that patients with it aren’t eating enough fibre, or eating the wrong kinds. Whilst soluble fibre foodstuffs (such as oats) are likely to benefit those in whom constipation is the more prominent symptom, fibre can often exacerbate IBS symptoms, like bloating and wind. It’s often better to limit amounts in your diet (as well as certain foods like wholemeal products, cereals and grains which contain insoluble fibre), aiming to strike the right balance.
Building a steady routine can often help. It’s a good rule of thumb to keep to regular mealtimes, giving yourself enough time to chew, digest and ruminate rather than rushing, and avoid skipping meals. Keeping a diary can also help identify foods which exacerbate symptoms.
General lifestyle measures also make a difference. Staying hydrated, keeping active and stress-busting methods like meditation or yoga could also help reduce gut irritability.
For some patients, additional treatment is required to reduce the severity of symptoms. Medications can be used to treat gut spasms, relieve constipation or diarrhoea, and address co-existent problems like depression – which can also sometimes improve the gut symptoms too.
The biggest lesson that comes from examining IBS is that it’s far from straightforward. A condition of great variability, great mimicry, and many unknowns – that can easily lead us astray. That’s why we shouldn’t be making any assumptions with it, even if you’ve been diagnosed with IBS before. Sometimes we can offer reassurance; sometimes further investigation can uncover something quite different.
After all – as I discovered myself – being convinced you have IBS doesn’t necessarily mean that you do.