Rebecca Seal

Functional drinks have become a rapidly expanding global and UK market, promising benefits ranging from energy and focus to hydration, gut health, relaxation and beauty. Nutrition experts say some products can help people replace less healthy soft drinks or alcohol, but many claims rely on small amounts of vitamins rather than meaningful doses of botanical ingredients, probiotics or CBD. Evidence for adaptogens, nootropics and collagen remains limited, while excessive caffeine, sodium, vitamins, sweeteners and CBD may pose risks or interact with medicines. Electrolytes are generally unnecessary for people with a normal diet except during heavy sweating, illness or specific medical conditions, and whole foods remain preferable to fortified drinks. A taste test found major differences in quality: Trip and Fibe were among the more successful products, while several mushroom, collagen, CBD and productivity drinks were criticized for artificial, muddy or unpleasant flavours.

Indoor pollutants and chemicals can accumulate in homes through gas cooking, burning, poorly ventilated cleaning, flame-retardant furniture, vinyl flooring, non-stick cookware, plastics and mould. Experts link exposure to respiratory and cardiovascular disease, developmental effects, cancer, hormone disruption and antimicrobial resistance. Recommended steps include ventilating rooms, reducing burning and spraying, using HEPA filtration and wet cleaning, choosing untreated natural materials, replacing damaged non-stick pans with cast iron or steel, avoiding heating questionable plastics, and controlling damp and mould. UK regulations on flame retardants and PFAS are presented as lagging behind emerging health evidence, although reforms and tighter controls are under consideration.

Seven recipes inspired by countries represented at the 2026 World Cup are presented, including Korean fried chicken, Curaçaoan fish pastries, Haitian griot, Colombian sweetcorn arepas, Egyptian koshari, Japanese yakitori and Spanish tortilla de patatas. The recipes combine practical cooking instructions with background on culinary traditions, migration and cultural identity, offering substantial mains and snacks as alternatives to conventional match-day food.

Madeleine Finlay speaks with health and lifestyle journalist Rebecca Seal about the difficulty of identifying genuine food intolerances and their triggers. They examine how at-home intolerance tests claim to work, question their scientific accuracy and cost-effectiveness, and discuss more reliable ways to investigate possible intolerances. The conversation also highlights the spread of food-intolerance content on social media and the risks of relying on questionable testing.

Many everyday foods contain unexpected ingredients or processing aids, including insect fragments, parasitic worms, mined minerals, wood-pulp derivatives, microbial gums, animal byproducts, petrochemical flavourings, added water, peat, seaweed extracts, heavy metals and cottonseed oil. The article explains that most are legally permitted and generally considered safe at regulated levels, while noting unresolved concerns about emulsifiers, nanoparticles, gut effects, contamination and long-term exposure to combinations of additives. It also emphasizes that labels often obscure how ingredients are produced, and that alternatives such as precision fermentation, waste-derived ingredients and peat-free mushroom substrates may improve sustainability without necessarily changing the final molecules.

At-home food intolerance tests, particularly IgG blood tests and hair-based bioresonance tests, are widely marketed despite lacking reliable scientific support. IgG antibodies normally arise after exposure to foods and do not diagnose intolerance; the author’s own results largely reflected foods recently consumed, while a hair test produced an implausibly long list of supposed sensitivities. Unnecessary elimination diets can cause nutritional deficiencies, disordered eating and, especially in children with eczema, increase the risk of allergic reactions when foods are reintroduced. Clinically supervised IgE testing can help assess suspected allergies but must be interpreted alongside medical history, while lactose intolerance and coeliac disease require specific medical tests. The article argues for stronger regulation of testing companies and practitioners who market unsupported tests to vulnerable consumers.

Sixteen chefs and cooks share the foods, drinks and homemade gifts they bring to Christmas gatherings. Recommendations range from smoked salmon, jamón, cheese, Champagne and sherry to affordable supermarket treats, alongside recipes for spiced nuts, turkey brine, trifle, lentil dip, chocolate salami, tarte tatin and pavlova. The chefs emphasize practical, shareable contributions that complement a host’s meal without overshadowing it, while also preserving family and cultural traditions from Italy, Spain, Cyprus, Malaysia and elsewhere.

Nineteen chefs and food writers share distinctive barbecue contributions, moving beyond burgers and sausages to dishes such as charred hispi cabbage, harissa prawns, bacon-wrapped spring onions, chilli watermelon salad, whole turbot, grilled peas and Sicilian peperonata. Their suggestions also include Korean marinades, homemade dips, smoked salts, non-alcoholic aperitifs and carefully chosen wines and beers, emphasizing flavorful, shareable food and drinks that can be prepared ahead or customized for outdoor gatherings.

The menopause supplement market is worth billions, but most products have little reliable evidence of effectiveness and can be expensive or unsafe. UK regulations restrict companies from claiming that food supplements treat medical conditions, yet unresolved EU botanical health claims, weak enforcement and online marketing allow misleading promises to persist. Experts say multi-ingredient products are particularly difficult to assess, while studies have found adulterated or mislabeled supplements. Evidence is stronger for cognitive behavioural therapy and hypnosis for hot flushes, and women with symptoms may need proper medical assessment rather than unproven “hormone-balancing” products. Supplements can also interact with conditions or medications and have been linked to liver injuries, leaving consumers to bear much of the financial and safety risk.

Rebecca Seal describes years of cyclical rage, anxiety, insomnia, exhaustion and other symptoms before being diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The condition affects an estimated 5–8% of menstruating people and can seriously impair relationships, employment, parenting and mental health, yet diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms are mistaken for depression or anxiety, hormonal tests cannot confirm PMDD, and many GPs receive little training. Experts attribute the problem to gaps between general practice, gynaecology and psychiatry, as well as the broader underfunding and under-research of women’s health. Recommended approaches include symptom tracking, hormonal treatments, intermittent antidepressants, cognitive behavioural therapy and lifestyle changes, but treatment is highly individualised and often involves trial and error. For Seal, receiving a diagnosis has provided an explanation and reduced self-blame, even though she remains undecided about medication.

The Weekend podcast features Marina Hyde satirising claims about Prince Harry, Bernie Sanders discussing the consequences of a potential Donald Trump victory and ways to oppose it, and an examination of mushroom-based and other brain-boosting coffees to assess whether their purported benefits are substantive or merely marketing hype.

Adaptogenic and functional coffees containing mushrooms, roots, herbs or other ingredients are becoming increasingly popular, but clinical evidence for many claimed benefits remains limited. Pharmacognosy expert Michael Heinrich warns that products may contain inadequate doses, interact with medicines or be contaminated, while adaptogens generally act slowly rather than providing an immediate caffeine-like effect. A week-long trial produced no noticeable benefits, and the drinks were much more expensive than ordinary coffee. The article also reviews caffeine-free alternatives and flavored coffees, finding that several have challenging tastes and concluding that conventional flat whites remain preferable.

Science writer Gary Taubes argues in Rethinking Diabetes that low-carbohydrate diets have been underused and that insulin- and drug-heavy treatment may contribute to long-term complications, particularly by allowing unrestricted carbohydrate consumption. Diabetes researchers and clinicians dispute that very-low-carbohydrate diets are superior to more moderate approaches, noting that Mediterranean-style diets can be easier to sustain and that low-carb diets are already among the available options for some people with type 2 diabetes. Evidence remains limited for type 1 diabetes, while adherence, cost, social pressures and potential eating-disorder risks make a universal keto recommendation inappropriate. The article concludes that individualized treatment is needed and that nutrition science still contains significant uncertainty.

Healthy selfishness means prioritising personal needs, setting boundaries and practising self-care without disregarding others. Research cited in the piece links this approach to greater wellbeing, life satisfaction, adaptability and lower risk of depression, while chronic self-denial can lead to resentment, burnout and strained relationships. Experts advise practising the word “no,” examining the family roles and social expectations that make boundary-setting difficult, and applying these principles to former partners, children’s schools, workplace responsibilities, sex and friendships. The broader pressures on parents—especially women—also point to the need for better working conditions, shorter hours and subsidised childcare rather than renewed expectations that women leave the workforce.

Solitude is presented as a restorative and pleasurable form of time alone rather than a synonym for loneliness. Drawing on personal experiences of solo travel and dining, research by Rebecca Ratner and data from the Office for National Statistics, the piece argues that people often underestimate how much they will enjoy doing pleasurable activities alone. Solitude can also support creativity, self-reliance and flow, making occasional walks, cultural outings or meals alone valuable counterweights to work and caring responsibilities.

Household experts and cleaning creators share practical, low-cost ways to care for plants, customise curtains, make multipurpose cleaners, simplify laundry, repel insects, remove stains, clean screens and microwaves, neutralise odours, use vinegar safely, and rescue burnt pans. The advice emphasizes readily available materials such as lemons, bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, washing soda and coffee grounds, while noting precautions for delicate surfaces and the limits of some methods.

Virginia Sole-Smith argues that anti-fat bias, weight stigma and childhood dieting may harm children more than body size itself. Drawing on research and clinical evidence, she contends that weight teasing and restrictive diets are associated with weight gain and eating disorders, while BMI is an imprecise measure that overlooks factors such as genetics, poverty, food insecurity, discrimination and metabolic health. The feature supports her call for parents to stop restricting food, trust children’s hunger and fullness cues, and teach that bodies of all sizes are worthy. It also argues that policymakers should address structural inequality and regulate the food industry rather than relying primarily on anti-obesity campaigns.

Rebecca Seal explores the breakfast habits of seven famous historical figures—Marilyn Monroe, Samuel Pepys, Maya Angelou, Queen Victoria, Winston Churchill, Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali—and adapts each dish into a modern recipe. The breakfasts range from eggs warmed in milk and lavish cakes to cornbread, mutton chops, poached eggs, an indulgent bacon-and-peanut-butter sandwich, and steak-and-egg hash. Historical sources and food scholarship are used to challenge myths, particularly the claim that Queen Victoria ate only one boiled egg each morning.

Allergies are becoming more prevalent worldwide, with rising rates of food allergy, asthma and respiratory allergies, although the scale is difficult to measure because diagnosis and reporting remain inconsistent. Medical anthropologist Theresa MacPhail argues that the trend has multiple interacting causes, including urbanization, indoor living, pollution, climate change, altered microbiomes, antibiotics and reduced exposure to outdoor environments, rather than one identifiable trigger. The article also highlights widespread confusion between allergy, intolerance and sensitivity, inadequate access to allergists—particularly in the UK—and the financial incentives surrounding lifelong drug treatments. Better allergy education, specialist care and research into immune-system mechanisms are needed as allergy rates and their effects on quality of life continue to grow.

Ultra-processed foods make up roughly half of the average British adult’s diet and an even larger share of children’s diets, but blaming individuals for consuming them ignores the conditions shaping those choices. Food companies use sophisticated marketing, while long working hours, low pay, poverty, insecurity and poor access to fresh food make cooking difficult. The article argues that weight-focused policies and drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic address the wrong problem by individualizing responsibility, and that reform should instead target the commercial and social structures producing an unhealthy food environment.