What Experts Think Of The Showering In The Dark Before Bed Trend

Posted on 18/02/2026 by Boris Clair

A new wellness trend has hit social media – and while it’s usually tempting to approach these trends with a healthy dose of skepticism, this one might actually be worth trying.

It’s called ‘dark showering’ and it’s exactly what it sounds like: showering in the dark, not long before you wind down for the night. A cosy nighttime routine that puts you into a restful mindset and could, in theory, help you get a good night’s sleep.

It doesn’t have to be pitch black, and dimming the lights could be enough (or even just leaving your hallway light on and the bathroom door ajar), but it does appear to feel good for some people.

As @Emgilly on TikTok said: “One way I reset my nervous system as a [Stay At Home Mom] is by taking a shower in the dark. Try it, it works.”

Why might showering in the dark work?

First things first, we know that dimming the lights can help us tell our bodies it’s time to sleep.

Writing for The Conversation, Timothy Hearn, a lecturer in Bioinformatics, said: “Bright light in the evening signals to the brain’s internal body clock that it is still daytime. This delays the release of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep and is often described as the body’s ‘darkness signal’.

“In a laboratory study of 116 adults, typical room lighting between dusk and bedtime reduced early night melatonin levels by about 70% compared with very dim light. Exposure to room light before bed also shortened the total duration of melatonin release by about 90 minutes. Participants reported feeling more alert.”

Then there’s the warm water element. Just like parents use bathtime as a sleep cue for their kids, having a warm shower can work in a similar way. But why does it work?

The Sleep Foundation explains: “Body temperature plays an important role in the sleep-wake cycle, and human bodies naturally experience a decrease in core body temperature before nightly sleep.

“Scientists have found that by impacting this natural temperature regulation process, showers and baths can affect sleep.”

It’s been dubbed the “warm bath effect” – and one analysis found taking a shower or bath in water that’s around 40-degrees Celsius can improve sleep quality.

HuffPost UK spoke exclusively to Archie MacDonald, director of Highland Soap Co., who also believes scent plays a “huge role” in how we experience relaxation.

“When you shower in low light, fragrance becomes more noticeable because your senses aren’t competing with visual stimulation,” he said.

“Certain essential oils, like lavender and patchouli, are known to help calm the nervous system and reduce feelings of stress, which is why scent-led rituals can have such a powerful effect on mood and wellbeing.

“A dark shower allows that sensory experience to come to the foreground, turning an everyday routine into something more restorative.”

For the best results, sleep physician Dr David Rosen recommends having a warm shower at least one hour before bed.

Why are dark showers so popular suddenly?

MacDonald suggested the trend is gaining popularity because people are increasingly aware of how overstimulation, screens and busy schedules affect them, and they’re looking for simple ways to unwind that fit into daily life.

“Dark showering doesn’t require extra time or space, but it creates a clear shift from day to night through scent and atmosphere,” he added.

“That focus on small, intentional rituals reflects a wider move towards protecting wellbeing in achievable, sustainable ways.”

It’s got to be worth a try, right?

Best Exercises For Depression Symptoms According To A New Review

Posted on 14/02/2026 by Boris Clair

According to the leading mental health charity Mind, 1 in 5 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England.

Additionally, the overall number of people reporting mental health problems has been rising in recent years. The number of people with common mental health problems went up by 45% between 1993 and 2023/24, in both men and women and suicide risk is at its highest for people in their 50′s.

Now, a new review by psycholologists from James Cook University has revealed that some exercises can be beneficial in tackling common mental health issues and the symptoms that come with them.

Exercises that help with anxiety and depression

Writing for The Conversation, the researchers said: “Exercise is effective at reducing both depression and anxiety. But there is some nuance. We found exercising had a high impact on depression symptoms, and a medium impact on anxiety, compared to staying inactive.

“The benefits were comparable to, and in some cases better than, more widely prescribed mental health treatments, including therapy and antidepressants. Importantly, we discovered who exercise helped most. Two groups showed the most improvement: adults aged 18 to 30 and women who had recently given birth.”

The researchers urge that all forms of exercise reduce symptoms but the most beneficial exercises for both anxiety and depression were aerobic exercises such as running, cycling or swimming.

“For depression, there were greater improvements when people exercised with others and were guided by a professional, such as a group fitness class.”

If exercise isn’t usually your kind of thing, the researchers assure that exercising once or twice a week had a similar effect on depression as exercising more frequently. And there didn’t seem to be a significant difference between exercising vigorously or at a low intensity – all were beneficial.

They add: “For people who are hesitant about medication, or facing long waits for therapy, supervised group exercise may be an effective alternative. It’s evidence-based, and you can start any time.”

You’ve got this.

Help and support:

Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

Too Many Toots? What Excessive Farting Says About Your Health

Posted on 07/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Whether it happens on your postprandial fart walk, right in the middle of yoga class or while you’re sleeping, everyone — even the poshest among us — farts.

According to Dr. Satish Rao, professor of Medicine at Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia, the average person farts seven to 24 times a day.

“It’s a normal physiological phenomenon,” he said, explaining flatulence as the byproduct of fermentation in the colon.

That fermentation creates gas, which is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen and more. One surprisingly smelly fact is that more than 99% of farts are odourless, but a foul smell comes from trace sulphur compounds. Unfortunately, our noses are extremely good at detecting sulphur, even in microscopic amounts.

Once that gas is formed, Rao said there are only two options for it to escape. “Some gas will move from the lining of the colon to the bloodstream, then get exhaled by the breath,” he said. “But the other pathway out is the fart. The gas will find its way out eventually, and if you produce a lot of gas too quickly, it won’t be absorbed, but will automatically push its way out through the anus.”

In general, a few farts a day are nothing to worry about, said Dr. Cait Welsh, postdoctoral researcher from Monash University and the Hudson Institute of Medical Research. “Most of the time, the release of gas is a healthy sign that digestion and gut microbiota are happy and functioning well.”

While you produce gas all day long, you’re more likely to let ’em rip during sleep, when your anal sphincter relaxes and gas escapes more easily.

Which People Are The Gassiest?

It might be hard to think of King Charles or the Pope as real toot machines, but Rao is positive that anyone who eats food, especially carbohydrates, is going to fart at least some time during each day. And some of us are certainly more, um, productive than others, said Dr. Folasade P. May, associate professor of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles.

“People who chew a lot of gum, drink carbonated drinks or eat too quickly may swallow more air, for example, which can cause flatulence,” she said. “Other people have gut bacteria that produce more gas. Diet, how fast you digest, and medications can also change how much gas you make and pass.”

If you’re thinking that President Donald Trump is making you fart more, you might be right. (Fun fact: An old Australian slang word for a fart is a “trump.”) Stress or anxiety, about the current political climate or matters closer to home, can have an impact on how much someone farts, May said.

“Especially in people with irritable bowel syndrome or other functional gut disorders, stress can change how fast we eat and digest, making flatulence seem worse,” May explained.

Stress can increase your flatulence, according to gastro doctors.

Foods That Can Up Your Fart Count

Dr. Ed Giles, a pediatric gastroenterologist and associate professor of pediatrics at Monash University, noted that the most well-known foods to cause gas are the so-called FODMAP foods, an acronym for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols.

The key term for these carbohydrates, Giles said, is “fermentable.” That means the foods have an ability to produce gas. “They feed the bacteria in the gut and the bacteria produce the gas, including methane, which smells,” he said.

May outlined some of the worst FODMAP culprits: beans, lentils, onions, garlic, crucifers like broccoli and cabbage, and some whole grains and fruits. “If you’re lactose intolerant, consuming dairy can also increase gas production,” she said.

When To Be Concerned

Gas is concerning when it’s painful, disruptive or different from your normal pattern. If you’re regularly releasing gas more than 23 or 24 times a day and it’s causing problems, it’s worth investigating. However, some people may experience more flatulence than that and it’s still considered normal; it all depends on your diet and your personal health factors.

“The most important thing is that if excessive flatulence is persistent or accompanied by pain, weight loss, diarrhea or blood in the stool, it’s worth consulting a clinician for evaluation,” May said. “If gas is persistent or accompanied by these other warning signs, a clinician can help sort out causes.”

Some of the conditions a health care professional will want to rule out include celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose or other food intolerances, pancreatic enzyme insufficiency and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other diseases like multiple sclerosis also come with increased flatulence.

You might be asked to keep a food journal and, yes, even count the number of farts you produce each day. Luckily, there are now several apps to help you do this, including Gaslog, FlareCare, Gutly and Vitalis. These apps aren’t medical diagnostic tools, but might help you spot patterns in how your diet and lifestyle contribute to gas symptoms.

And just keep in mind that everyone — every single one of us — has experienced an ill-timed fart, and lived to tell the tale. So unless your gas comes with pain or surprises, you’re probably just doing what everyone else is doing, too.

6 Signs An Oncologist Says Under-50s Should Never Ignore

Posted on 02/02/2026 by Boris Clair

Between the ’90s and late 2010s, early-onset cancer diagnoses – those given to people aged between 25 and 49 – rose by 22%.

About 90% of cancers still affect those over 50. But, Dr Jiri Kubes, radiation oncologist and medical director at the Proton Therapy Centre in Prague, said: “We are seeing far more younger patients than we would have expected a decade ago.

“The issue isn’t just that cancers are appearing earlier – it’s that symptoms are often subtle, and many people don’t think cancer is something that could affect them at this age.”

Here, he shared the signs people under 50 should look out for.

What symptoms should people under 50 check for?

Dr Kubes said “persistent changes are what matter”.

“Ongoing digestive issues, unexplained weight loss, unusual lumps, changes in bowel habits or fatigue that doesn’t improve should never be ignored – even in your 20s or 30s.”

He added that often, persistence can matter more than severity: “If something lasts weeks rather than days, it deserves attention.”

He warned to keep an eye out for:

Persistent changes in bowel habits
Unexplained weight loss
Ongoing fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
Lumps or swelling that doesn’t go away
Frequent headaches or neurological changes
Unusual bleeding or pain that persists.

Dr Kubes added: “Many early cancers are painless. Waiting for pain before acting is one of the biggest mistakes people make.”

Why might some cancers be developing sooner?

We don’t know for sure. But Dr Kubes said modern life has changed “dramatically”.

“Sedentary behaviour, poor sleep, ultra-processed foods, obesity and chronic inflammation are all being studied as possible contributors,” he explained.

But, he added, the point isn’t to create panic. “The goal is awareness, not fear,” he stated.

“When cancers are detected early, treatment is usually simpler, more effective and far less disruptive to quality of life… that’s especially important for younger patients who have decades of life ahead of them.”

What should I do if I think I have one of these symptoms?

Dr Kubes said it’s a good idea to trust your instincts if you feel something is off.

“If something feels wrong and it doesn’t go away, get it checked… being proactive is not overreacting. Early action saves lives.”

After all, he added, early detection is key: “Cancer is no longer just an older person’s disease – but early detection means outcomes have never been better.”

New Twice-Yearly Injections May ‘Help Millions’ With High Blood Pressure

Posted on 30/01/2026 by Boris Clair

As part of a global trial called KARDIA-2, researchers injected people with hard-to-treat high blood pressure with a medication called zilebesiran.

This is designed to be administered every six months.

It was given to 663 people with poorly-managed hypertension (high blood pressure) alongside their existing treatment.

The participants’ hypertension was not well managed with their existing medication.

The results, published in JAMA Network, suggest these injections may have the potential to “help millions with high blood pressure”, Queen Mary University of London, whose researchers led the study, said.

What did the injections do?

In this study, participants were given a dose of zilebesiran alongside their usual treatment.

Zilebesiran stops the production of a protein called angiotensinogen in the liver. Blocking that protein helps blood vessels to relax, thus lowering blood pressure.

The hypertension of the participants in this study was better-managed with the assistance of angiotensinogen injections alongside the “normal” medication, which, for one reason or another, was not working optimally for them.

The drug, which is far longer-lasting than medication which patients may have to take daily, matters because blood pressure is both hard to spot and vital to consistently treat.

It can lead to heart attacks and strokes if left unmanaged. It usually has no symptoms and is “very common,” the NHS said.

It affects about one in three UK adults.

What’s next?

KARDIA-3, a follow-up project, will investigate the effects of zilebesiran on people with high blood pressure and established cardiovascular disease, as well as people at risk of heart conditions.

And a large global outcomes study is set later this year to see how it affects stroke, heart disease, and cardiovascular event risk.

The study’s lead investigator, Dr Manish Saxena, said: “Hypertension is a global health concern as blood pressure control rates remain poor and is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes.

“This study demonstrates the efficacy and safety of zilebesiran when added to commonly used first-line blood pressure-lowering drugs. The novelty of this treatment is its long duration; giving just one injection every six months could help millions of patients to better manage their condition.”

Ask A Pharmacist: Why Does My Cold Keep Coming Back?

Posted on 29/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Cold and flu season is miserable enough without raised norovirus cases and talk of “super flu”.

In fact, I know three people who’ve had colds on and off for the past two months or so – just as it seems to get better, new symptoms start to reappear.

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor, said it’s quite common to see “a combination of genuine influenza, circulating Covid-19 variants, RSV, and other viral illnesses that overlap in symptoms and timing”.

Here, the superintendent pharmacist and director of Pyramid Pharmacy Group, Amir Bhogal, explains why colds can recur and what to do about it.

1) Chronic stress

Stress can wreak havoc on your immune system, the pharmacist said.

“When you’re under sustained pressure, your body produces elevated levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that actively suppresses your immune response. This reduces the production of white blood cells responsible for fighting infections, making them less effective at responding to threats.

“Due to this, you can become more susceptible to catching colds, and your body may struggle to clear infections once they’ve taken hold.”

If possible, try to rest and de-stress if your colds keep coming back.

2) Poor sleep

Sleep is key to recovery, Bhogal added.

“During deep sleep, your body increases production of cytokines, proteins that play a central role in immune function and inflammation control,” he explained.

“When you’re sleep deprived, this process doesn’t happen properly. Instead, your immune response weakens, and your body loses the opportunity to repair itself. In reality, pushing through a cold whilst maintaining your normal schedule can prolong your symptoms and make it harder for your body to recover fully.”

Getting seven to nine hours of sleep is crucial, if you can – try “painkillers, saline rinses, or throat lozenges” if symptoms keep you up at night.

3) Smoking

This not only affects your immune system, the expert said, but also “compromises lung function, making it harder for your body to clear infections”.

Additionally, “smokers typically experience worse symptoms and longer recovery times”.

Immune system recovery happens impressively quickly after quitting smoking, he added.

“When you’re ready to quit, some pharmacies, such as Pyramid Pharmacy Group, offer smoking cessation services which typically include nicotine replacement therapy as well as ongoing support for those who are struggling with withdrawals.”

4) Booze

Alcohol also harms your immune system. “It reduces the activity of key immune cells involved in fighting infections, while also contributing to dehydration and disrupted sleep, both of which are essential for recovery,” Bhogal said.

Even a little drinking can have an outsized impact, he added, so try to rein it in when you’re not feeling the best.

5) Close contact environments

Parents are all too aware how easily diseases spread in close contact environments like schools and nurseries.

This is true, Bhogal said, for places like open-plan offices too.

“If you’re regularly exposed to others who are unwell, you’re at higher risk of catching successive colds, rather than dealing with one persistent infection,” he said.

To avoid this, make sure to practise good hand hygiene, keep your distance from visibly unwell people, and stay home if you’re sick yourself.

6) Underlying health conditions

Sometimes, recurring colds can signal something else is going on with your immune system, said Bhogal.

“Immunocompromised individuals are more susceptible to infections and may take longer to recover. Beyond that, viral infections can also lead to secondary bacterial infections like acute bronchitis or sinus infections, which require different treatment approaches,” he said.

“If your symptoms aren’t improving after two weeks, seeking guidance from a qualified medical professional is sensible. They can rule out complications and identify underlying causes of repeat infection.”

4 Ways To Strengthen Your ‘Psychological Immune System’

Posted on 28/01/2026 by Boris Clair

You probably have some idea about how to help your immune system. Eating well, exercising, and getting enough of certain vitamins can help.

But what about your “psychological immune system”?

The term, which was first coined in the ’90s, suggests our minds could have protective mechanisms, including cognitive “antibodies,” similar to those which protect us from phsyical disease.

Here, we asked Dr William Van Gordon, Associate Professor in Contemplative Psychology at the University of Derby, what the term means, as well as how to strengthen ours.

What is the “psychological immune system”?

“The psychological immune system is a concept developed by psychologists Daniel Gilbert and Timothy Wilson in the late 1990s.

“It describes the brain’s automatic, largely unconscious defences that protect emotional well-being in the face of negative events, much like how the physical immune system fights pathogens,” Dr Van Gordon told us.

Some feel that having a stronger “psychological immune system” can help us to weather negative events, even those you anticipate would be devastating.

“These processes help us to reframe setbacks positively, restore self-worth, diminish the intensity and duration of distress, and recover more quickly than we typically predict,” the professor added.

“We often overestimate how devastated we will feel after failures, rejections, or losses because we underestimate this built-in resilience system.”

How can I boost my “psychological immune system”?

Dr Van Gordon shared “four strategies that can strengthen your psychological immune system and improve emotional recovery and calmness”.

These are:

1) Shift from negative to neutral

“Counter the brain’s natural negativity bias by deliberately moving toward a balanced, neutral perspective rather than trying to force positivity,” the professor said.

Our mind’s negativity bias means we pay more attention to negative thoughts and experiences than we do positive ones, potentially skewing our views.

“Use simple grounding tools such as brief mantras (‘This too shall pass’), short gratitude reflections, recalling times you’ve overcome similar challenges, or slow diaphragmatic breathing to calm the nervous system.”

2) Anchor in the present

“Focus attention on what is controllable right now to interrupt rumination about the past or anxiety about the future,” said the expert.

“Build small daily habits of mindfulness (for example, one to two minutes of breath awareness), protect sleep quality to restore cognitive clarity, and create routines that break negative thought loops and restore motivation, such as morning journaling or quick walks.”

3) Reconnect with meaning and purpose

“When adversity strikes, reframe the situation through your core values or long-term goals; for example, by viewing a difficult experience as an opportunity to grow skills or character,” he continued.

Having a longer-term sense of purpose has been linked to greater longevity, mental health benefits aside.

“Practise self-compassion, seek trusted perspectives from others, or visualise how the challenge fits into a bigger, meaningful picture.”

4) Practise healthy acceptance

“Allow difficult emotions to arise without suppression or denial, especially after significant loss or trauma,” Dr Van Gordon ended.

“Recognise that feelings such as sadness or anger carry important signals; treat yourself kindly during the process and, if distress persists, consider professional support rather than forcing ‘positive thinking’ alone.”

A Simple Change To Your Commute Could Boost Your Brain, Says Dementia Charity

Posted on 26/01/2026 by Boris Clair

According to neurologist Dr Richard Restak’s book How To Prevent Dementia, “Cognitive reserve theory refers to the representation stored within the brain of the knowledge, experience, and life events that accumulate during the course of a person’s lifetime”.

The more “cognitive reserve” we have, he explained, the better we might be protected against conditions like dementia. “A lifetime investment in building up cognitive reserve leads to healthy cognition and thinking later in life,” he wrote.

Dr Restak called reading fiction “perhaps the single most effective” way to build this up.

But Alzheimer’s Research UK, who have launched a Think Brain Health campaign this year, are releasing brain teasers to help us build up our reserves, which they say can be done in quiet moments like during your commut.

After all, research suggests that puzzles like crosswords may help to strengthen our minds as we age, too.

Challenging our brains is good for us – but may be falling out of style

Alzheimer’s UK found that only 30% of UK adults do “brain-teasing” activities like soduko and crosswords, while 32% say they do them less often now than they did a year ago.

And even though 71% of us have free time on public transport, 68% of us use that period to scroll through our phones or watch shows, they wrote.

So, the foundation has created a brain teaser to help people fill gaps like those in their schedule. They began by launching an image which hides 40 train station names, created with artist Chris Bishop.

“Research suggests that there are steps we can all take to protect our brain health and build our cognitive reserve, making our brains more resilient no matter what age we start,” Dr Jacqui Hanley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said.

“If someone with a high cognitive reserve develops dementia, studies have found that they typically experience Alzheimer’s symptoms around five years later than those who don’t regularly challenge their brains.

“It’s never too early to make positive lifestyle changes, and this brain-teasing puzzle is a great way to introduce brain challenges into your daily routine”.

How many train station names can you find in this image?

For their first brain teaser, Alzheimer’s Research UK shared an image created with artist Chris Bishop and released with support from Great Western Railway.

It contains 40 hidden train station names in the UK. And if, like me, you find the image truly challenging, Alzheimer’s UK said, “This puzzle has been designed to help you challenge your brain, so don’t worry if you didn’t find them all”.

After all, Dan Panes, Head of External Communications at Great Western Railway, said, “This puzzle had some of our colleagues scratching their heads!”

The Ripeness Level Of Your Avocado Actually Matters For Your Health – Here’s How

Posted on 25/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Most people judge an avocado’s readiness by one simple test: a gentle squeeze. Too firm, and it stays on the counter. Too soft, and it risks going straight into the bin. (Yes, we agree, the window between those two states often feels comically short. But that’s fodder for another story).

Beyond texture and taste, though, the ripeness of an avocado actually shapes how your body digests it, absorbs its nutrients, and even responds metabolically after you eat it.

In fact, as avocados ripen, their internal chemistry changes. Fats become more accessible, carbohydrates shift form, and antioxidant levels rise and fall. According to doctors and nutrition experts, these changes can influence digestion, blood sugar response and nutrient absorption.

That’s all to say that an avocado’s health benefits aren’t fixed but actually evolve as the fruit matures – just as is the case with bananas.

Why avocado ripeness matters

When an avocado ripens, “there is a shift in the nutritional structure and absorption,” said Dr. Parth Bhavsar, a board-certified family medicine physician who specialises in nutrition.

Specifically, as time goes by, enzymes break down cell walls, which makes fats easier for the body to absorb. This also affects carotenoids like lutein and beta-carotene, whose bioavailability improves in a fat-rich environment.

Dr. Cintara Bradley, a resident physician at Sonoran University of Health Sciences Medical Center who specialises in nutrition, lifestyle management and digestive health, noted that ripening significantly changes lipid content, carbohydrate composition, amino acid availability and phenolic compounds.

While avocados remain nutrient-dense throughout their life cycle, the ratios of fats, fibre and antioxidants shift quickly as they approach and move past peak ripeness.

Unripe avocados

Unripe avocados are firm and difficult to eat for a reason. When an avocado hasn’t ripened yet, your body has a harder time breaking it down. At this stage, much of the starch hasn’t converted into more usable forms, the fats aren’t as easy to absorb, and the fibre is tougher.

Bhavsar explained that unripe avocados contain resistant starch and “less accessible lipids,” meaning your body can’t easily access all of the calories and nutrients during digestion. In practical terms, you’re getting less nutritional payoff from each bite.

There may be a small metabolic benefit, though. “Resistant starch resists the metabolic process and the post-prandial increase of blood sugar concentration,” Bhavsar said. Put simply: Unripe avocados digest more slowly and may help prevent blood sugar spikes after eating. He added that this process can support insulin sensitivity and gut bacteria balance.

Dr. Patrick Ryan, a primary care and sports medicine physician in San Diego and the founder of telehealth platform HemyRX, similarly noted that unripe avocados may help with glycemic control because glucose is absorbed more slowly.

Still, most experts say this stage isn’t ideal for everyday eating. Bhavsar pointed out that slow digestion and gastrointestinal discomfort can make unripe avocados unpleasant or hard on the stomach. And according to Bradley, unripe avocados don’t offer meaningful advantages over ripe ones, especially since avocados already have a low glycemic load, regardless of ripeness.

Barely ripe avocados

As avocados begin to soften, they also become easier for your body to handle. The tough starches start breaking down and the healthy fats inside the fruit become easier to absorb.

As Bhavsar put it, “resistant starch is gradually turning into non-resistant fats, while your levels of soluble fibres are increasing.” This means your body can access more nutrients without losing the fibre that helps you feel full.

Ryan explained that barely ripe avocados are easier to digest than unripe ones, while still slowing how quickly sugar enters the bloodstream. They also contain less fat than fully ripe avocados, which can be helpful for people who want the benefits of avocado without feeling weighed down.

Bhavsar added that avocados that gently yield when pressed can help control appetite and keep blood sugar steady. Because they are digested more slowly, they help prevent blood sugar spikes while still allowing your body to absorb key nutrients.

Fully ripe avocados

Fully ripe avocados give your body the most nutrients it can actually use in the easiest way for your body to absorb them, Bhavsar said.

According to Ryan, ripe avocados also help your body take in antioxidants and fat-soluble vitamins, which support heart health, balance hormones and reduce inflammation.

Bradley pointed out that antioxidants, especially phenolic compounds, are highest when the avocado is perfectly ripe, before enzymes start breaking them down. Other vitamins and minerals, like potassium, magnesium and folate, stay steady, while fats become fully available.

Because the fat is fully accessible, calories are higher at this stage. Ryan noted this matters for people who are watching calories and Bhavsar said portion size is key (though even fully ripe avocados are still healthier than refined carbs), but one thing is clear: Avocados that are fully ripe are at their peak in terms of flavour and variety of nutrients offered.

Overripe avocados

Once an avocado passes peak ripeness, oxidation begins to affect its nutritional quality. Bhavsar explained that while fats, fibres and minerals remain, antioxidant properties decline. “Browning signals an indicator that polyphenols, with potential health benefits, are being broken down and will instead ferment,” he said.

Bradley noted that oxidised fats contribute to bitterness while antioxidant levels diminish dramatically. However, if an avocado has only minor browning and no mould or odour, it can still be safely used in smoothies or baking.

So, is there an ideal ripeness?

The answer depends on your goals. Bhavsar suggested that “lightly to gently ripe” avocados optimise fat assimilation and satiety, while barely ripe may be preferable for gastrointestinal regulation.

Ryan agreed that ripe avocados work best for most people, but noted that blood sugar control or calorie awareness may influence preference.

Bradley, on the other hand, said that peak ripeness offers the best balance of nutrient density, bioavailability and enjoyment.

In short, it’s clearly not just about flavour: the ripeness of an avocado actually changes how (and what!) your body digests and absorbs.

Sickness And Diarrhoea Bug Cases Spike 60% In Two Weeks

Posted on 22/01/2026 by Boris Clair

Norovirus cases have surged by a staggering 60% in the past fortnight, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned.

The virus is a nasty one, causing sudden symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as a high temperature, headache, stomach pain or other aches and pains.

Amy Douglas, lead epidemiologist at UKHSA, said the virus is continuing to rise, particularly among people aged 65 and over.

“This increase is in line with what we expected following Christmas, and we are now seeing hospital outbreaks begin to climb as well,” she said.

While this is grim news indeed, there is a small glimmer of hope as flu, Covid-19 and RSV levels continue to fall.

How to prevent norovirus

To try and steer clear of the vomiting bug, UKHSA is urging people to wash hangs regularly with warm soapy water. It also cautioned that alcohol hand gels don’t kill norovirus.

If someone in your household catches it, the NHS advises washing clothes and bedding that has poo or vomit on it on a 60°C wash, separately from other laundry.

Clean toilet seats, flush handles, taps and bathroom door handles regularly. The UKHSA suggests using bleach-based products to clean surfaces, where possible.

Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing, serving or eating food. It’s best to avoid eating food prepared by someone who’s had the winter vomiting bug.

Can you go to work or school with norovirus?

No, is the short answer.

UKHSA’s Amy Douglas said: “If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, don’t return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others in that time either.

“If you are unwell, avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to prevent passing on the infection to those most vulnerable.”

Norovirus usually passes in two to three days. It’s best to stay hydrated as much as possible to avoid dehydration and get plenty of rest. If you’re in discomfort, paracetamol might also help.