Life Style

    What does the size of your arm say about you, other than how much you can bench? Maybe whether you will survive heart disease. A study in the American Journal of Cardiology looked at the upper arms of almost 600 older adults with cardiovascular disease and found a link between their circumferences the distances around them and survival rates. The researchers took measurements of the mid-upper arm and calf circumferences, two numbers which are used to help determine muscle mass, and studied the patients’ muscle function through their gait speed and grip strength. During a period of follow-up averaging about a year and a half, 72 of the adults, who were all at least 65 years old, had died, but those with higher circumferences had better outcomes. Although the raw data sugges...

    While some parents have their baby’s name picked out long before they’ve even thought about joining the parent world, others need some help. If you’re one of those about to welcome a baby into the world in 2017 with no idea what to name your bundle of joy, then perhaps we can help. Baby name site Nameberry has released a list of the most popular names given to tots around the world, and they’re very pretty. Here are the top 10 names for both girls and boys: Friends (NBC) season 10 This name, meaning ‘universal’ has been a popular choice long before it was used on Friends. It’s also the name long chosen by royals and featured in a Jane Austen book. Noah This name, meaning ‘rest, comfort’ is a popular choice for those looking for a historic name. Noah was the name given...

    There are a lot of decisions to be made about weddings. The dress, the theme, the venue, the food, whether or not to invite Uncle Jim who caused an unforgettable scene at the last family get-together when the bar tab ran out. The one thing you probably don’t even think about? Which side of the altar/priest/celebrant you’ll stand at while you say your vows. Typically the groom will always stand on the right, with the bride on their left – and no, it’s not because it’s his or her better side in photos. While it may seem trivial, the reason why this is the standard position dates back to hundreds of years ago - and it's not exactly romantic. According to The Knot, the practice dates back to the times of "marriage by capture", which yes, was as horrible as it sounds. It involv...

    While retirees have enjoyed a comparatively easy ride through the financial turmoil of the last few years, 2017 could be the year all that comes to an end. Pension cuts are coming: what's going to happen and when? In the recent Autumn Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond pledged to keep the 'triple lock' on state pensions for the rest of this parliament, guaranteeing that they will rise each year either with inflation, in line with wage rises, or by 2.5%, whichever is higher. However, he made it very clear that this deal certainly couldn't be guaranteed if the Conservatives won another term in power. And, meanwhile, pensioners are facing more financial pressure than they have done for years. Pensions set to be a quarter of what current pensioners get In a new survey for in...

    Research earlier this year showed that a fifth of parents in the UK regret the name they gave their child. In a Mumsnet online poll with over 1,000 participating parents, results showed that 18 per cent regretted the name, and 25 per cent did so because of its commonality. Yes, the most common names might also be the ones parents are regretting the most... In case you were wondering, the most popular names of 2016 are: Girls: 1. Olivia 2. Amelia 3. Charlotte 4. Ava 5. Isla Boys: 1. Ezra 2. Asher 3. Atticus 4. Declan 5. Oliver Statista created a chart detailing all the reasons of regret, below: The two other popular ones were “it just doesn’t feel right” (21 per cent) and "I was pressured into using it (20 per cent). Other regrettable ones featured were Elsa (which became p...

    It can been very tempting to skip laundry day. And washing your bed linen especially, can be such a chore. Surely missing a the weekly wash isn’t all that bad? Wrong. Dr Lisa Ackerley, Hygiene Doctor and Dettol Expert, told the MailOnline exactly what health consequences can follow if you don’t wash your sheets weekly. Her findings will make your skin crawl. ‘Think of all the things you do in bed,’ said Dr Ackerley. ‘Apart from being the place where we go to sleep, it can double up as the home office, the tea room, the dining table or even your dog or cat’s bed,’ she said. ‘Depending upon what your bed is used for, and also how clean you are when you get in it (and indeed whether you wear nightwear), your bed can get pretty filthy and may actually be causing your body harm...

    A little girl born with feet the size of a fingernail is being hailed as the world's smallest surviving premature baby. Emilia Grabarczyk was only 8.6 inches (22cm) long and weighed 8 ounces (229 grams) when she was born at a hospital in the western German city of Witten nine months ago. Her tiny foot was only 1.2 inches (3cm) long. In comparison, a large banana weighs about 7 ounces while an orange is 6 ounces. Doctors have described her as the "little fighter" and her survival as a "medical sensation" while German media said she was the lightest premature baby ever born in the world. The early birth was followed by a period of uncertainty. Emilia was born so early that it led to subsequent complications. There was an increased risk of hyperactivity and learning difficult...

    In documents published alongside the Autumn Statement, the Treasury said that tax relief on pensions savings is among the “most expensive” tax reliefs, hinting at reforms before the next election. “In 2014 to 2015, this cost was around £48 billion with around two-thirds of the tax relief going to higher and additional rate taxpayers,” the document said. “It is important that resources focus where there is most need.” Tom McPhail, head of retirement policy at Hargreaves Lansdown, told the Financial Times it was a clear hint that the Treasury is “going to take your tax relief away”. However, a Treasury spokesman said: “We completely reject this suggestion – it is not true… The Chancellor did not announce any further changes to pensions tax relief in the Autumn Statement and ...

    Being a single parent can be difficult without adequate support, but for single fathers it can mean a whole different set of challenges. Michael Ray, father of four-year-old Charlie, finds that going out in public with his daughter can be hard when strangers - often women - feel the need to make comments about his parenting. Ray told kidspot: "Women are mostly supportive but some say patronising things. The majority of women I encounter are wonderful and so supportive and complementary but while I’m aware that our family situation is slightly different from the norm it shouldn’t be seen as anything different to a single mum." There are five questions in particular, which Ray often has to deal with: 1. How do you manage? Like every other parent. 2. Are you baby-sitting toda...

    The fact of the matter is battling the bulge takes different strategies and approaches depending on your genetics, your metabolism, your will power, etc. What works for your buddy won’t necessarily be your be-all and end-all solution. To simplify things, we compiled these tips to help rev your metabolism, lose your love handles, and unsheathe your abs. You'll have to do some trial and error to deduce which ones work best for you; hey, losing weight is hard work. But if you put in the work (a.k.a. incorporate a few of these tips each week), you’ll be well on your way to a smaller waistline. Who said your glory days were in the past? 1. Eat more protein. About 25%-30% of the calories in each gram of protein are burned in digestion, compared to only 6%-8% of the calories in c...