I love my HokanBowls – Hokan means storage in Japanese and I’ve enthused about these before in Frost Magazine. Although a British company, Hokan Bowls have embraced the Japanese values of Shibui – simple, beautiful, unobtrusive. They’re oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe, so you can prepare a meal in the bowl, cook it, then eat from the same bowl (or the lid, which also doubles up as a small bowl). This is the kind of minimalism I love.
My bowls are Jade Green – just looking at them makes me feel calm and happy. But, great news, there are now two new colours – Baby Blue and Pink. So with nine colours in all to choose from – Lemon Yellow, Sea Green, Cobalt Blue, Pitch Black, Antique White, Blue Reactive, Green Jade and the two new colours – you’ll have no problems finding the perfect colour for your mood, and your kitchen.
RRP £90 for a set of three or individually:
• Small: 400ml, RRP £25
• Medium: 600ml, RRP £30
• Large: 1000ml, RRP £35
Available from hokanbowls.com with free shipping on orders of £90 and over.
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.
We love a good nail and Mylee make it super easy. These are the perfect way to get into the spooky season.
This Halloween slay your spooky season look with Mylee’s limited-edition Gel Nail Wraps – the ultimate shortcut to flawless, head-turning nails in minutes. Available at mylee.co.uk | Price: £13.99
Vegan, cruelty-free, and HEMA-free, these pre-designed wraps offer trend-led nail art and up to 14 days of high-gloss wear – no UV lamp required.
Choose from two bewitching designs:
Patchwork Pumpkin: Bold oranges, bats, and a jack-o-lantern charm.
Black Widow: Moody purples, cobwebs, and a touch of glitter.
Currently in the UK there are around 13 million women who are in the peri or menopausal stages of their life. That’s around a third of the entire UK female population.[1] But, this significant life change, which is the consequence of huge hormonal shifts, often makes itself very known. In fact, there are more than 30 recognised symptoms of menopause and three in four women will experience symptoms.[2]
But, while there are several symptoms such as hot flushes, anxiety, mood swings and sleep disruptions which are commonly known, there are in fact, many other, often debilitating symptoms, which can be caused by menopause.
Women’s health specialist GP Dr Janine David, advisor to Berkeley Health says: “With October marking World Menopause Awareness Month, there’s no time like now to increase awareness around this key life change. Menopause, marked as the time when there have been no periods for 12 consecutive months and no other biological or physiological cause can be identified, tends to occur between the ages of 45 and 55. Perimenopause, the period leading up to menopause, is when you have symptoms of menopause but your periods have not necessarily stopped. Perimenopause can go on for several years, as can the symptoms of perimenopause.”[3]
In other research, more than a third of UK women admitted that menopause affected their work life while 36% said that symptoms impacted their social life. Plus, a high 42% said their menopause symptoms were worse or much worse than they suspected.[4]
Explaining the hormonal shifts during menopause, Dr Gill Jenkins says: “Oestrogen is a hormone which will have been present in a woman’s life for the entirety of her reproductive years, but it starts to decline pretty rapidly during perimenopause, which usually fuels the menopausal symptoms.
But menopause does not have to be a difficult stage of a woman’s life. It’s all about good symptom management and self-awareness to help make it a fulfilling and satisfying time.
Dr Janine David continues: “To empower women and allow them to feel more in control of their health, Berkeley Health – the smart brains behind clinically backed self-care medical device testing solutions – has released a range of at-home tests which offer answers in minutes. This means women can better understand what’s driving their symptoms and discover if they are in fact menopausal. The Berkeley Health tests are all accredited by GenM too which means they are menopause friendly, trusted by retailers and they meet the MTick criteria on the grounds that the products are backed by authorised health claims under the medical device law.”
The Berkeley Health range of self-care tests for women going through the menopause include:
50% of women don’t seek medical advice about their menopausal symptoms
A high 50% of women aged 45 to 65 who have experienced the menopause in the past 10 years, had not consulted a healthcare professional about their menopause symptoms[5].
Dr Gill Jenkins adds: “This could indicate that women are unsure about what’s happening in their body or perhaps they’re unsure if help is even available. Although the Berkeley Health tests are not a replacement for medical advice, they can give women information to take to their GP or specialist. It allows them to advocate for their own health, rather than waiting years for symptoms to be recognised, whether they’re cause by menopause or not.”
The Berkeley Health Menopause FSH is the main menopause test offered by Berkeley Health.
Dr Janine David explains: “If you’re beginning to experience symptoms related to menopause such as a lack of menstrual cycles, hot flashes, sleep irregularities and obvious mood changes, this test is a great way to gain an understanding as to whether you’re entering menopause.
“Essentially, this simple urine test helps to identify levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Menopause, which is the consequence of the end of ovary follicle lifecycle, leads to an increase of FSH, with values less than 20 mUl/mL going up to approximately 80 mUl/mL.”[6]
If the Berkeley Health Menopause FSH test indicates an increased FSH level, the onset of menopause is likely to have started.
The lesser-known signs of menopause
The menopause is more than just hot flushes and as a result brings with it so many other, often unknown, symptoms. These include:
A change in the vaginal pH: Vaginal pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline the vaginal environment is. An acidic vaginal pH helps keep harmful bacteria, fungi and infections (such as UTIs or bacterial vaginosis) at bay.
A healthy vagina typically sits within the acidic range of 3.8 to 4.5 but hormonal shifts during menopause can cause this pH to change.
A 2020 study of 173 women found that a vaginal pH greater than 4.5 had an 84.9% sensitivity for diagnosing menopause.[7]
This change in the vaginal pH can lead to problems, for example, an increased risk of infection which can lead to symptoms such as itching, a strong odour and uncomfortable discharge.
Explaining why menopause can lead to change in pH, Dr Gill Jenkins explains: “During the reproductive years, oestrogen supports the vaginal lining and encourages the growth of Lactobacillus bacteria. These bacteria produce lactic acid, which keeps the vaginal environment acidic, between around 3.8 to 4.5. But, during menopause, oestrogen levels drop and vaginal cells can thin. There’s less lactic acid production and the acidity of the vagina can weaken, which can cause the pH to rise, often into the 5.0 to 7.5 range, which is more alkaline.”
Testing the vaginal pH can be an indicator of menopausal status. The Berkeley Health Vaginal PH test can identify any pH change; it’s an easy vaginal swab test which can be done in the privacy of home.
Increased risk of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): UTI symptoms are common for perimenopausal and menopausal women to experience even without having an actual infection.
Explaining why, Dr Gill Jenkins says: “The sharp decline in oestrogen levels during and after menopause can cause thinning and reduced elasticity of the vaginal and urethral tissues. This makes it easier for bacteria to enter and cause infection. However, many UTI symptoms, such as burning, urgency, pain with urination and pelvic discomfort, may not indicate a UTI at all as these symptoms are often due to the decline in oestrogen.”
As well as this, the decline of oestrogen raises vaginal pH and reduces Lactobacillus, which normally protect the urinary tract, so without this, women may experience dryness, irritation, and discomfort without any infection present[8].
A test, such as the Berkeley Health Urinary Tract Infection test helps to identify whether your uncomfortable symptoms are an infection or a sign of menopause.
Dr Gill Jenkins adds: “This at-home test means women can be in the know and on top of their health. No matter what’s causing their symptoms, they are at least armed with knowledge, which they can bring forward to their GP.”
Vitamin D deficiency risk: Vitamin D deficiency becomes more common after menopause as oestrogen, which declines during menopause, normally helps the body metabolise vitamin D.
But a vitamin D deficiency can cause problems, particularly with bones. Research has even confirmed lower vitamin D levels in postmenopausal women and a strong association with reduced bone mineral density[9].
The Berkeley Health Vitamin D test can identify a vitamin D deficiency if present.
Dr Gill Jenkins says: “Low vitamin D increases the risk of osteoporosis, fractures, muscle weakness and low mood, so it’s vital to know if you’re deficient. Some of the symptoms are common for menopausal women anyway, so a test can clarify if there’s a further problem.”
A higher chance of thyroid disorders: Your thyroid is a small, butterfly shaped gland found in the neck. It’s responsible for producing and releasing certain hormones, predominantly T3 and T4, which control how fast or slow your body uses energy.
Dr Janine David says: “This affects your metabolism, weight, mood and even your body temperature. Problems can arise when your thyroid stops working as it should.”
Dr Gill Jenkins adds to this, saying: “TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is made by your brain and it acts pretty much like a thermostat signal. If your thyroid is underactive and isn’t making enough hormones (known as hypothyroidism), your brain sends out more TSH. If your thyroid is overactive and making too much hormone (known as hyperthyroidism), your brain sends out less TSH to slow it down.”
A high TSH level equals hypothyroidism, while a low TSH level equals hyperthyroidism.
Ageing and hormonal shifts, such as those seen in menopause, can increase the risk of thyroid issues, especially hypothyroidism.
So much so, that research has found that thyroid disorders are significantly more coming in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women.[10]
The Berkeley Health Thyroid TSH tests can test for hypothyroidism and give women an indication of whether they may be entering menopause.
Dr Janine David adds: “Many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism can be frustrating and many overlap with symptoms of peri menopause symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, mood changes and irregular periods. Doing the Berkeley Health Thyroid TSH test is a quick and easy way to test your TSH.”
Last word:
Dr Janine David adds: “Menopause brings with it a vast array of symptoms and many are well known. But there are also lesser-known symptoms, which can be confused with menopause or simply be a standalone health problem.
“The Berkeley Health tests can test various elements of health. From measuring FSH, a rise of which can signal the approach of menopause, to screening for health- related health issues that commonly arise at this stage of life, including thyroid problems and vitamin D deficiency, women can feel empowered as they learn about their health.”
Testing allows women to take action early, so their GP can help them with the relevant diet, supplement or lifestyle changes.
Regular readers know I’m a devotee of Tracklements, the Wiltshire-based family company, which creates quality food, using simple, honest ingredients, hand-made in small batches. Their food is amazing, and now they have a collaboration with Yumello, who make sustainable nut butters using all-natural ingredients, including from Targanine, a cooperative in the Atlas Mountains which empowers rural Berber women. Not only is this a collaboration of giants, but they’ve merged Tracklement Chilli Jam with Yumello Smooth Peanut Butter – what chance has my waistline?
I hoped beyond hope that it would taste ‘OK’ but not great, so I’d have some possibility of resisting eating far too much of this amazing-sounding delicacy. Sadly there was little chance of this, because of course it is simply heavenly.
I’m guessing the inspiration was from the peanut butter and jelly snack, loved by American children, but wow have they taken it up a notch?
Tracklement Chilli Jam is delicious on its own, made with Raw Cane Sugar, Red Peppers, Cider Vinegar, Onions, Red Chillies (a full 9%), Lemon Juice, Garlic Purée and Sea Salt. The rather special Yumello Smooth Peanut Butter is made with only hi-oleic peanuts and sea salt – that’s it – no palm oil, no refined sugar, no unnecessary additives. Hi-oleic peanuts are naturally sweeter and have around 30% more monounsaturated (healthy) fats than other peanuts. You can imagine, the combination of the sweetness and chilli-bite of the jam with the smooth nuttiness of the peanut butter just sets your tastebuds into freefall. I am still enjoying the memory of that perfect merger of flavours and textures. Thank you Tracklements and Yumello, you’ve made my life complete.
Just £4.99 for a 215g jar, it’s available from the Tracklement and Yumello websites and also fine food delis and farm shops nationwide. You simply must try it, you owe it to yourself.
By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.
Before we know it, the clocks will turn back, and those long dark evenings will be upon us. This is the perfect time for getting together with friends and sharing food, and Pizza is instantly called to mind. The only thing that spoils this image according to my wife, is the sight of me hacking slices out of what had once been a perfectly round pizza.
The stylish NEW Microplane Professional Pizza Wheel with Dough Docker is designed for performance and versatility, by featuring a large, ultra-sharp, double-bevelled stainless steel blade – perfectly balanced for precision cutting and long-lasting durability.
Its ergonomic weight and shape naturally guide your hand forward (even mine), creating a smooth, intuitive slicing motion. The generous blade diameter glides effortlessly through more than just pizza – it’s equally adept at slicing tortillas, flatbreads, quesadillas, brownies, quiche, and even crafting delicate pastry lattices for pies. Use the dough docker to prick pastry for quiche and flans. The ergonomic, non-slip, soft-touch handle – which can be used equally well with either hand – includes a smart finger guard between the handle and blade for safety and comfort when directing the wheel.
The pizza wheel is finely balanced with a pleasing weight, fellow keen cooks will know what I mean, and in my case the utensil that I reach for first. The blade’s long-lasting sharpness effortlessly and precisely cuts through even molten mozzarella and other toppings such as salami, Parma ham, pepperoni and mushrooms, without ripping or tearing, for the perfect slice, every time.
This would make the perfect Christmas or birthday gift for the chef in your life but as we enter the perfect season for sharing Pizza, why wait?
Microplane Professional Pizza Wheel with dough docker RRP £29.95 from Selfridges
With the arrival of Autumn comes cooler temperatures, darker evenings, and my wife starts looking at the central heating, but there is another seasonal thing to look forward to, and that is the programme of the London Philharmonic Orchestra that takes place at the Festival Hall in London.
Clearly, I was not alone in thinking like this, as the hall was almost filled to capacity, and there was a palpable sense of anticipation, as the lights were dimmed and the conductor, Edward Gardner took to the stage.
The first piece, called ‘Ringed by a Flat Horizon’, a complex piece written in 1980, was composed by the Festival Hall’s Composer in residence, Sir George Benjamin, and was inspired by lines taken from T S Eliot’s epic poem, the Waste Land. The fifth and final section, ‘What the Thunder Said’. I have to confess that it was not to my taste, I found it a little jarring, but what do I know? I am an old fuddy duddy, and musical history is littered with critics eating their words a few years later.
The highlight of the evening had to be Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, and we were treated to the playing of acclaimed pianist, Yefim Bronfman, and what a treat it was. From the opening notes it was clear that we were in good hands, and the London Philharmonic were on top form.
The piano grabbed our attention and didn’t let go, we were in the presence of a master, the music both joyous and divine. The Adagio was simply glorious, calming and swept the audience away.
I wondered if the LPO had missed us as much as we missed them?
As if the Emperor Concerto wasn’t enough and following unceasing applause the audience were given an encore, where Bronfman gave us a virtuosa solo performance that held us entranced. The audience responded with applause that threatened never to end. What an evening, and we still had the second half to come. Truly LPO you are spoiling us.
After the interval we resumed our seats happily sated from what we had heard, and we settled down to listen to Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 5 in E Minor, Op 64.
Four movements, each thrilling, this was a piece that I was not familiar with, although there is something about Tchaikovsky that is unmistakeable from the ballets that have used his music.
In the first movement, sombre gravitas at the outset becoming more joyful, with building urgency, then lulled, then building again to a crescendo, the massed strings magnificent under Gardner’s taut conducting. The second movement, brooding and haunting pierced by the woodwind held us spellbound in our seats with its melancholy and tenderness, then building and building until the music filled the auditorium. Surely this was what the Festival Hall was built for? The third, movement felt like the music of the ballroom, tripping, as the piercing notes of the violins and the rich deep sounds of the viola combined in haunting melody.
The final movement provided a magnificent finish that was met by the audience, cheering, clapping and stamping their feet. What an evening it had been.
If you are looking for a gift for the music lover in your life, I can recommend an evening at the Royal Festival Hall.
Nature’s Path, the organic cereal brand is here to help you have a healthy and tasty breakfast for all the family. Anything that makes the morning routine easier is a win in my opinion.
Nature’s Path cereals are made with healthy grains, nuts, seeds and fruit – with no artificial additives. Each box is created with care for both people and the planet, with sustainability at the heart of everything the brand does. From recyclable packaging and Fairtrade partnerships to reducing food waste and donating to community causes, Nature’s Path is committed to making breakfast better in every way and for everyone.
Here are our favourites.
Nice & Nobbly Granola
The latest addition to the line-up, these golden-baked clusters, seeds and fruits are perfectly paired with fresh berries and creamy yoghurt. Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Maple Sunrise
Made with corn, quinoa, amaranth and flaxseeds, lightly toasted and drizzled with caramelly sweet maple syrup, Maple Sunrise is high in fibre with no artificial additives – making for a perfectly crunchy breakfast bowl! Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Mesa Sunrise
Mesa Sunrise is a delicate blend of corn, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth and flaxseed, brought together and lightly toasted to create crisp, wholegrain flakes packed with feel-good flavour. Rich in omega 3, it is crisp and satisfying! Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Millet Rice
A combination of whole millet with oat bran, oat flour, and brown rice flour, Millet Rice is baked into perfectly crunchy flakes. This is a nuttily wholesome cereal that’ll show you just how good organic food can be. Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Choco Chimps
Featuring a delightful mascot, this nutritious and chocolatey cereal is formed from crunchy wholegrain corn balls, coated in flavourful Fairtrade cocoa. Part of the ‘Envirokidz’ duo, Nature’s Path donates a percentage of Choco Chimps sales to animal conservation efforts and global educational programmes – so far raising more than £3.7million! . Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Gorilla Munch
Gorilla Munch joins Choco Chimps to make up the ‘Envirokidz’ duo. This crunchy, wholegrain, corn puff cereal is moreish and nutrient-packed, with sales contributing to supporting gorillas and other vulnerable species. Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Let’s look at the kindle edition: The Carlswick Affair S L Beaumont – it is the first of the Carlswick Mysteries – a series full of intrigue, secrets and suspense – of lost masterpieces and buried truths: when Stephanie Cooper investigates the mysterious circumstances surrounding her great aunt’s death, she discovers a painting thought stolen by the Nazis and destroyed during WWII, hanging in the home of the intriguing James Knox, guitarist with indie band, The Fury.
As Stephanie delves deeper into this mystery she begins to uncover the secrets and deceptions of a previous generation. Gossip in Carlswick village about a tragic wartime romance is mingled with whispers of clandestine visitors, art smuggling and perhaps, collaboration with the Nazis. But as she closes in on the truth of what happened all those years earlier, Stephanie realises that someone does not want her to discover the truth about her family’s past and that someone may kill to stop her.
Past Rites by Claire Stibbe Volume 3 Kindle Edition (The Detective Temeke Crime Series) is another whopper.
Lies can bury the past. But some secrets refuse to stay dead. Four years after the suicide (or was it?) of Alice Delgado, daughter of one of Albuquerque’s top racing drivers, her younger sister Lily vanishes. When two of Lily’s classmates are found dead, our super dooper Detectives David Temeke and Malin Santiago are pulled into a chilling case that leads them to an elite boarding school on the banks of the Rio Grande
There, behind a façade of privilege and silence, they uncover whispers of occult rituals and a mysterious ancient book – clues that ignite a disturbing chain of events and unravel long-buried truths. As tensions mount within the department and the body count rises, Temeke and Santiago must race to stop a killer before another young life is lost. Another page turner.
The Vatican Secret: A totally gripping and explosive action thriller (A Marco Venetti Thriller) by Peter Hogenkamp Kindle Edition.There is a nuclear weapon in the hands of the Vatican City’s deadliest enemy. And time is running out to stop the attack …
Marco Venetti, the only man the Pope trusts, is on the hunt for a traitor. He is willing to do anything to protect the church, and the man at its heart. Even if it means getting blood on his hands … But when Marco finds him, the traitor reveals terrifying new information: the name of a Russian mafioso with a grudge against the Vatican and possession of a nuclear bomb. If Marco doesn’t work with him, the consequences will be deadly.
To prevent it, Marco must enter a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that will take him across the continent on land and by sea. With time running out, he will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. Because the secrets inside the Vatican may be the deadliest threat of all. And only Marco can restore honour to the church, by any means necessary… And yes, another page turner. We’re being spoiled.
Available here: @ £0.99 for a limited time – go for it. Well, at these limited time prices buy them all.
