Category Archives: evergreen

5 Steps For More (And Better) Orgasms During Menopause

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We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about the best sex positions for menopausal women.

Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Elisabeth Neumann, a sexologist at Lovehoney, said menopause can “make sex feel unfamiliar and frustrating, especially when things that once worked perfectly well no longer feel as comfortable”.

And that might affect the quantity and quality of your orgasms, too.

Pharmacist and author of Love Your Vulva: Celebrating Women’s Bodies, Laura Dowling, said: “As oestrogen falls, the vulva and vagina can become drier, more sensitive and less elastic, so sex may become uncomfortable or painful. And if sex hurts, you’re hardly going to be thinking, ‘Great, now let’s have an orgasm’.

“Then add poor sleep, hot flushes, stress, body-image changes, medications, relationship pressures and being absolutely exhausted.”

Here, she shared how to up your odds of the big O.

How can I increase my chances of orgasm during menopause?

Neumann said some ways to increase your odds of orgasm during menopause include:

  1. Taking the pressure off yourself,
  2. Giving yourself more time,
  3. Using plenty of lube,
  4. Focusing on clitoral stimulation (“most women need direct clitoral stimulation to orgasm”),
  5. Listening to your body – “If sex is dry or painful, don’t just push through it.”

“One of the reasons I wrote Love Your Vulva is because so many women were never properly taught about their own anatomy,” she added.

“Knowing what feels good and being able to say it out loud is a very good place to start.”

Anything else?

Yes – paradoxically, Neumann said, focusing less on the big finish could sometimes make sex and masturbation more enjoyable.

“Sex does not have to be a race towards an orgasm,” she told us. “It can be about touch, pleasure, intimacy, laughing, feeling close to somebody or simply enjoying what feels good.

“And what you enjoy may change as you get older. That doesn’t mean your sex life is finished. It just means the rulebook might need a rewrite.”

We know, for instance, that hormone changes in menopause might mean some people take longer to “get going” in the bedroom, as their levels of sensitivity change.
And some people find that penetrative sex becomes uncomfortable during the life stage, too.

The author ended, “I’d much rather a woman have sex that feels pleasurable and connected than spend the whole time worrying about whether she is going to finish.

“There is no gold medal for having an orgasm. If it feels good and you enjoyed yourself, that counts.”

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Some Associate Autism With Lower Empathy – But The Opposite May Be True

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To be frank, I was always surprised to read that some people associated autism with a “lack of empathy” or “empathy dysfunction”.

I know autism is a broad spectrum, meaning a “rule” that applies to one person doesn’t necessarily show up in another. But I’d noticed some loved ones with autism seemed to experience more empathy (or at least a more intense empathy) than average, not less.

In 2024, researchers found a high percentage of “hyper-empathy” among autistic people.

Here, we spoke to one of the study’s authors, Dr Stephen Connolly, a Senior Lecturer in Autism from the Sheffield Hallam Institute of Education, about his team’s findings.

What is hyper-empathy?

Hyper-empathy is “an intense emotional response to people, plants, objects, animals, even fictional characters, often to the point of distress. It is intense, all-consuming thoughts and feelings that can make it hard for someone to distinguish their own feelings from another person’s.”

Sometimes, Dr Connolly said, this overwhelming hyper-empathy can be so intense that it can lead to vomiting, nausea, pain, agitation, crying, depression, anxiety, and burnout.

A person with hyper-empathy might even lose money over it. This can happen when “someone wants to pay to try resolve the problem such as taking in an animal from a shelter, paying for someone’s shopping, [or] replacing an item someone has lost or broken”.

And the trait could even cause issues in relationships, as people’s friends and family may wonder why “someone is seen as putting emotional resources into a damaged piece of furniture, an injured bird, or a homeless person but not their partner or friend… Some people can blame the hyper-empathic person for their responses, leading to breakdowns in relationships.”

Dr Connolly added that people with hyper-empathy might avoid situations that elicit this often extremely intense response.

Therefore, they might not “be willing to enter some environments or be there for people when they are needed.

“There is an immense emotional, cognitive and physical load attached to a hyper-empathic response that can be all-consuming. At best it can halt a person’s day, at worst it can lead to suicidal ideation.”

What link is there between hyper-empathy and autism?

Dr Connolly’s research is not the only study to link autistic people with a greater likelihood of experiencing hyper-empathy.

“Early and growing research is suggesting it can be a fairly common response in autistic people, but understanding it can be difficult,” the lecturer told us.

“One of the challenges is that some people have talked about how they felt empathy so much they had to ‘shut it off,’” meaning that while their baseline levels of empathy might be very high, they could have adapted to hide it.

Meanwhile, many autistic people may have alexithymia, or difficulty naming, identifying, and/or expressing their own feelings.

“There is also a well-researched issue of the double empathy problem, where someone’s empathic response is not validated or accepted as empathy and so goes unacknowledged by those around the person,” Connolly continued.

This can happen when two people have very different experiences of the world.

“All this can lead to the person [being] seen as not having empathy.”

Of course, hyper-empathy is not a universal autistic trait. In his 2024 research, Connolly and his team found a “huge amount of variation in the empathic experiences of participants”; some identified with having lower empathy, while others described very powerful empathetic reactions.

So… why don’t we see autistic people as empathetic?

The expert told us that hyper-empathy is “substantially” underplayed and ignored in discussions about autistic people, partly due to “historic misunderstandings”.

For instance, he said, early autism research from people like Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger suggested that people with autism seemed to have less emotional reactivity in empathetic scenarios.

Experts like Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, a student of Uta Firth who created the first UK clinic for adults seeking a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome in 1999, may have been influenced by their ideas, Connolly claimed.

(Asperger’s is no longer a diagnostic term; it’s now seen as part of the autism spectrum).

Baron-Cohen has since expressed regret over characterising autism using an “extreme male brain” theory, telling The Guardian: “Some of those terms were very easily misunderstood… It can lead to simplistic headlines like ‘autistic people lack empathy’, which is not true”.

However, he said that the underlying science still stands, calling the idea that autistic people lack empathy a “myth”.

Dr Connolly said that later, researchers Dr Luke Beardon and, separately, Dr Damian Milton suggested that major studies might have missed empathy in autistic people because they were only looking for the kind typically expressed by those without autism.

But the problem is that many of the ideas that influenced popular thought about autism were set in the ’80s and ’90s, overtaking newer ideas, he added. They may have even been “central to the development of understanding of autism in the DSM [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the standard diagnostic tool used by mental health experts in the US].”

So, Connolly said, potentially outdated tropes were “reproduced in media (e.g., Rain Man, The Big Bang Theory) and spread the message that autistic people lack empathy. It is even a core element of the diagnostic process still in 2026”.

Therefore, “When [autistic] people express hyper-empathy, it [can] go unacknowledged, and often the impact (burnout, physical, and other costs) will be attributed to something else… people can also be seen as challenging because of their hyper-empathic responses,” he ended.

“We have a significant number of autistic people who society deems to lack empathy but experience intense emotional responses that can lead to psychological, physical, social, and economic impact[s], and this will all go unsupported, or even [be] seen as challenging, or a problem leading to potential long-term impacts.”

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GP Explains The Difference Between Healthy And ‘Pathological’ Ageing

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You might think that some changes, like memory loss, are inevitable as the years roll by. And that can be true – but serious conditions like dementia, though more common among older people, are not an ordinary part of healthy ageing.

In general, Dominic Greenyer, a private GP at The Health Suite, told HuffPost UK: “Ageing naturally brings some change. People may notice a modest reduction in muscle mass, bone density, cardiovascular fitness, hearing, vision or the speed at which they process information.

“However, severe or rapidly progressing decline should not automatically be dismissed as an inevitable part of getting older.”

Sometimes, people call non-standard deterioration “pathological ageing”. Here, we asked the GP to explain what the term means, as well as the signs you may be experiencing one or the other.

What is pathological ageing?

It’s not a single formal condition, the doctor said.

Instead, pathological ageing describes “deterioration driven or accelerated by disease, rather than the gradual biological changes we would ordinarily expect as a person grows older… [it may] involve illness or damage that significantly affects a person’s function and independence”.

That might include cardiovascular disease, poorly controlled diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, chronic lung disease, severe frailty or substantial muscle loss.

“One of the dangers of describing every new symptom as ‘just old age’ is that treatable conditions can be missed,” the GP continued.

“Persistent exhaustion, unexplained weight loss, repeated falls, worsening breathlessness, new confusion, significant memory changes or a sudden loss of strength should be properly assessed.”

Older people may be led to believe that “pain, fatigue or loss of mobility is something they simply have to tolerate”; but that’s not always the case.

“The important questions are how quickly the change has happened, whether it is affecting everyday life, and whether an underlying condition may be contributing to it.”

How can I tell pathological ageing from normal ageing?

Dr Greenyer said that healthy ageing doesn’t mean reaching old age without any disease whatsoever. In fact, he considers healthy vs pathological ageing as more of a “spectrum” than separate poles.

“Many people live well with arthritis, high blood pressure or other long-term conditions when these are recognised, treated and properly controlled,” he said.

But a person’s level of functionality matters here.

“Healthy ageing means preserving as much physical capacity, cognitive ability, independence and social engagement as possible. A person may have a diagnosis but still remain active, make their own decisions, maintain relationships and continue doing the things that matter to them,” the GP explained.

“Pathological ageing is more likely to involve decline that is disproportionate, accelerated or driven by disease. It can begin to restrict mobility, memory, resilience and the ability to manage ordinary tasks.”

People can move between pathological and healthy ageing, he added. “Early diagnosis, rehabilitation, better disease control and changes to daily habits can sometimes slow decline and restore a meaningful amount of function.”

Can I decrease my odds of pathological ageing?

Dr Greenyer stressed that lifestyle changes alone can’t guarantee healthy ageing – genes and other factors outside our control can play a part here.

Therefore, he said, “people should never be blamed for illnesses that are not entirely within their control”.

With that said, some habits can make a “significant difference” to how likely we are to age well.

Not smoking “remains one of the most important steps a person can take,” the GP stated, while controlling and monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar can go a long way too.

“Good-quality sleep, meaningful social contact and continuing to challenge the brain are also important,” he said, while depression and hearing loss are often “overlooked” factors that can make ageing well less likely.

Calling regular physical activity “one of the most powerful things we can do.” Dr Grenyer stated that “Aerobic activity supports the heart, lungs and circulation, while strength training helps preserve muscle, bone density, balance and the ability to perform everyday tasks”.

You don’t need to hit the gym every day, either. Brisk walking, cycling, swimming, gardening, carrying shopping and simple resistance exercises can all help, the expert advised, while balance work is great for better ageing (especially among those prone to falls).

Diet is important, as well – “Older adults need sufficient protein to help preserve muscle, alongside vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and sources of healthy fats. People should also pay attention to hydration, as the sensation of thirst can become less reliable with age”.

Lastly, the GP told us that prevention isn’t just about lifestyle choices. Getting vaccines, attending screenings, and seeing your doctor about new concerns matters, too.

“The goal is not to stop ageing, because that is impossible. It is to protect resilience, function and independence for as long as possible, while recognising that it is never too late to make changes that may improve health and quality of life.”

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A Doctor Says ‘Stress Sweat’ Smells Different – Here’s How To Spot It

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Did you know that our eyes make three types of tears – basal tears, which lubricate our peepers, reflex tears, which respond to stressors like onion fumes, and emotional tears?

Well, it turns out our sweat might take different forms depending on whether it comes from stress or a workout.

“When you’re exercising or sitting in a hot environment, your body mainly produces sweat to cool itself down. This comes from eccrine sweat glands, which produce a watery sweat that’s mostly made up of water and salt,” Dr Asiya Maula, a private GP at The Health Suite, told HuffPost UK.

“Stress is different. When you’re anxious, nervous or frightened, your body’s ‘fight or flight’ response kicks in.

“This activates a different type of sweat gland called the apocrine gland, which is found mainly in the armpits and groin.”

How can I tell eccrine vs apocrine sweat apart?

It can be hard to tell them apart, Dr Maula said. But stress, or apocrine, sweat has a different texture: this “contains more proteins and fatty compounds, making it thicker than the sweat produced during exercise”.

Additionally, “stress sweat” might have a more intense odour.

“Stress sweat itself is actually almost odourless when it’s first produced. The stronger smell develops when bacteria naturally living on the skin break down those proteins and fats,” the GP explained.

“That’s why many people notice stress sweat has a much more noticeable odour than the sweat they produce after a run or a gym session”.

Of course, context helps – “If you suddenly notice damp palms before a presentation, sweaty underarms during an important meeting or increased sweating while you’re feeling anxious despite not being physically active, stress is likely to be playing a role.”

But the speed of onset might matter too, Dr Maula said.

“People often describe stress sweat as appearing very suddenly and affecting areas like the palms, soles of the feet and underarms, even when the room isn’t particularly warm.”

What does stress sweat mean?

Well, aside from meaning that you’re – you guessed it – stressed, the doctor said occasional apocrine sweat is nothing to worry about.

But “if you’re finding yourself sweating excessively during everyday situations, or you notice it’s becoming more frequent alongside symptoms such as poor sleep, constant worrying, palpitations or feeling on edge most of the time, it may be a sign that your stress levels are becoming difficult to manage”.

That’s worth speaking to your GP about, she said.

How can I stop stress sweat?

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to stop stress sweat in the moment.

But if you want to try reducing your stress levels overall, Dr Maula said you can try “Regular physical activity, good quality sleep, limiting excessive caffeine, mindfulness techniques and breathing exercises can all help reduce activation of the body’s stress response”.

And, she ended, “For people whose sweating is particularly severe or affecting their quality of life, there are also medical treatments available, so it’s important not to suffer in silence”.

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Scientists Found 4 Signs Of The Ideal Pillow For Your Back, Neck, And Sleep

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Most adult Brits struggle to get a good night’s sleep; as many as 14% of us get by on “dangerously low” levels of shut-eye, regularly catching less than five hours of kip a night.

Meanwhile, about two-thirds of us will experience neck pain at one point or another, while almost 80% of us will get back aches.

Worse, back and neck pain can make your sleep worse, and insomnia may increase your perception of discomfort. Talk about a vicious cycle.

So, it’s a good thing a systematic review of studies has found four pillow qualities that might help with all three.

What should I look for in a pillow?

This research analysed 11 studies, with 309 participants in total. The study authors wanted to evaluate the quality of evidence for the benefits of different pillow materials, heights, shapes, and thermal (heat) properties.

They found “moderate evidence that some of the following pillow parameters could improve sleep quality/spinal alignment, and decrease sleep-related neck pain”.

These include:

  1. Latex material,
  2. A contoured design (a dip in the middle of the pillow with higher sides, especially useful for side sleepers),
  3. A height of 7-11cm for the lower, middle part of the pillow,
  4. A cooling surface.

Latex pillows seemed best at reducing neck pain, while a contoured pillow with a 7-11cm high centre helped to keep sleepers’ spines in alignment.

Meanwhile, cooling pillows have been associated with more deep sleep than their non-cooling counterparts.

The researchers added that people should try to “consider as many of the above-mentioned parameters as possible when choosing a new pillow that fits their individual needs of promoting sleep comfort”.

Which pillows seemed to perform the worst?

Another review of studies found that, generally, feather pillows tend to perform worse than rubber or spring pillows.

And a separate 2011 paper also suggested “feather pillow users provided consistently low reports of pillow comfort and sleep quality”.

But your sleeping position matters here.

For instance, those who sleep on their side might have to put their neck at an uncomfortable angle if they’re using a softer pillow, while front or back sleepers could push their head further out of alignment if using a very stiff one.

That’s why, researchers note, it’s important to factor in your individual comfort level.

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We Should All Be Taking ‘Poop Walks’ – Especially As We Age

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Here’s a fact that never fails to make me feel more connected to my fellow man: at any given time, about one in seven UK adults is struggling with constipation.

It’s believed to affect twice as many women as men (ladies have a longer colon and more variable hormones), and tends to get worse and is more likely to be chronic as we age.

Experts think that change might be partly down to factors like decreased mobility, drinking less water, slower gut transit time, weaker muscles, certain medications, and a higher likelihood of medical conditions that make getting backed up more probable.

Regardless of its cause, though, there’s lots of research to suggest a relatively simple solution: maybe we should all be trying a poop walk.

Er… what?

We’ve written before about “fart walks,” which involve going for a short stroll after a meal. These have been linked to better blood sugar management and even a lower cancer risk.

And research has shown that walking gets our bowels moving a minute or so after we start, helping to relieve constipation, too.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Julie Thompson, an Information Manager at digestive system charity Guts UK, said: “One of the roles of the large bowel is to absorb water from the gut contents, so the longer poo stays in the large bowel, the drier it becomes.

“Walking stimulates bowel movements because it increases intestinal motility (increases gut muscle contractions) in people with constipation, decreasing the time it takes for the gut contents to move through.”

She added, “Walking regularly can also improve the variety of the gut microbes, compared with those who are less active, which produces health-related benefits for the large bowel and for wider health.”

How can I take a poop walk?

Thompson told us that it can be hard to work out exactly how far or long we should walk to, er, unclog the pipes.

“Research studies use a wide variety of activity in their publications, so it is difficult to be precise about the combined recommendations, plus there is likely to be some individual variation,” she said.

Still, a little may go a long way. A 2025 paper, which included 21 healthy adults, saw great results after a 20-minute treadmill walk, noting that bowel activity increased pretty much as soon as participants got moving.

And other research from this year, which focused on older adults with Parkinson’s disease, found that increasing participants’ steps by 3,000 daily from their usual baseline “significantly improved constipation” after three months.

Thompson told us that you don’t need to be constipated to take advantage of a poop walk – “the best option is to follow the NHS general guidance on activity, which recommends adults should try to be active every day and aim to do at least 150 minutes of physical activity over a week, through a variety of activities including walking.

“If someone is able to walk, but is not active, it is best to increase the distance gradually,” she added.

Even if you’re not constipated, walking can keep you regular

The NHS says on its site that “A daily walk or run can help you poo more regularly”.

Professor Yohei Otaka, author of a study that found a 20-minute walk improved healthy adults’ gut motility, said, “Walking can serve as an effective, immediate tool for stimulating bowel function.

“The findings also point to potential underlying mechanisms, such as changes in autonomic nervous system activity or reflexes triggered by the body’s natural oscillations during movement.”

Aside from its bowel-based benefits, a stroll can “improve cardiovascular health by strengthening the heart, thereby helping circulation, lower[ing] blood pressure, [and] helping in the prevention of heart disease and stroke,” Matthew Nolan, a chief instructor at Barry’s in New York City, previously told HuffPost.

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Psychologist Shares The ‘Biggest Misconception’ About Lonely People

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You might have heard of the “loneliness epidemic”, which the World Health Organisation has dubbed a “global public health concern”.

Over nine million people in the UK say they feel lonely all or most of the time, the Red Cross reports.

But stigma around loneliness, and in turn lonely people, remains.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, psychologist and CEO of Male Allies UK, Lee Chambers, said: “Loneliness isn’t always understood well. People tend to fall into lazy stereotypes based on what we expect a lonely person to be”.

Here, he shared what we get wrong about lonely people:

There’s no one “type” of person that becomes lonely

“The biggest misconception when it comes to loneliness is that it happens to a certain type of person,” Chambers told us.

“Loneliness doesn’t have a type, and it can affect anyone. You can feel lonely even when you are surrounded by people.”

Sometimes, he added, life transitions like divorce, parenthood, retirement, or changing jobs can bring it about. It can reach all demographics and personality types.

“Like with many associated challenges, men are less likely to speak about it or seek help and support. And research shows that both younger and older adults report the highest levels of loneliness, but there are differences in why they feel it,” Chambers explained.

“The societal expectation that personality traits dictate loneliness are a distraction, it’s about meaningful connection, not whether your extroverted or introverted. And we need to be mindful of those care for others and those who lead, as they are often seen as the supporter rather than needing support.”

Additionally, he continued, loneliness is not always the same as being alone.

“The quality of your relationships matter a lot more than the quantity, and in the modern world we live in, social contact is becoming less, spaces to build relationship depth are more scarce and many people are searching for meaningful connection and somewhere to belong.

“Loneliness is much more to do with peoples life circumstances and the social structures around them, and much less to do with individual personalities.”

What can we do to tackle loneliness?

Chambers said that he thinks tackling the issue will prove “tough”, adding that he thinks we need more physical spaces to connect in person.

This, he thinks, may make our interactions with one another feel less transactional.

The psychologist, who runs a gender bias consultancy, added: “82% of the boys we surveyed said there were not enough spaces for them to play and connect in. We need these spaces in communities and in workplaces, and space at work to build deeper relationships…

“Normalising conversations around the topic also makes it easier for people to share what they are feeling. Something I’m passionate about is small moments of connection, rather than just waiting for big occasions, and moving from [focusing on the] number of friends to meaningful friendships.

“And finally, a powerful antidote to loneliness is belonging, and we can all be a part of inviting people in, and creating spaces where people feel welcome.”

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The Knee Pain A Surgeon Says Over-40s Should Never Ignore

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Knee pain affects about a fifth of over-16s, and is more common the older we get.

Per the NHS, it can be caused by everything from strains and twists during exercise to conditions like osteoarthritis (knee osteoarthritis seems to be the most common form of the disease).

According to Dr Syed Nadeem Abbas, a surgeon and regenerative medicine expert from the Knee Pain Clinic, “most knee pain [among over-40s] comes down to wear and tear, and that’s still the most likely explanation.”

However, he says one type of knee pain should always be investigated.

Speak to your doctor about night knee pain

“What tends to get missed is pain that doesn’t follow the usual rules, pain that’s worse at rest than at activity, or wakes someone up at night rather than settling,” the expert said.

“That’s the pattern I’d always want checked properly rather than put down to getting older, because catching anything unusual early makes a real difference to the outcome.”

Knee pain caused by osteoarthritis or overuse tends to ease off at rest, he added.

But issues that get worse at night might very rarely be caused by a bone tumour, he added – indeed the NHS said a possible symptom of bone cancer is if “pain or tenderness in a bone, particularly if it’s worse at night”.

Chondrosarcoma, the most common type of primary bone cancer, is known to affect adults over 40, the surgeon added.

Of course, these symptoms aren’t limited to your knee: common sites include the pelvis (hip), rib cage, arms, shoulder blades, and other parts of your leg.

Why else might I have knee pain at night?

It’s important to remember that primary bone cancer is very uncommon – about 550 people in the UK face it yearly.

Other conditions which can cause nighttime knee pain include:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis,
  • Gout,
  • Tendonitis,
  • Prepatellar bursitis,
  • Osgood-Schlatter disease,
  • Injury, per The Cleveland Clinic.

Dr Abbas added that even vitamin D deficiency might cause unexpected knee pain.

But as orthopaedic surgeon Dr Kim Stearns also told the clinic, “People with healthy knees usually don’t get pain at night. There’s typically a reason, and it can be caused by several conditions.”

Speak to your GP if you have concerns.

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Researchers Are ‘Excited’ About A Gel That May Regrow Tooth Enamel

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Gross as it sounds, some research suggests that toothpaste made from keratin-rich sources like hair might be even better than fluoride at slowing enamel erosion.

That’s important because once you lose enough enamel – the hard outer layer of your teeth – you can’t get it back. This is why dentists use crowns and fillings to treat decayed teeth.

But a gel might change that.

Researchers have created a “bioinspired material” that seems to repair and, to some extent, regrow enamel.

The study authors hope it can “provide a one-pot solution for the regeneration of dental enamel independently of the level of tooth erosion”.

How does it work?

The fluoride-free gel mimics the proteins our bodies naturally use to grow teeth as infants.

When it’s first applied – a bit like specialised fluoride treatments are used now – it fills in existing gaps and cracks in the surface of the tooth.

It also acts as a kind of scaffold that attracts the calcium and phosphate ions from our saliva, which in turn build a protective layer.

They also encourage the existing enamel to get stronger through a process called epitaxial mineralisation.

That means the stronger outer part becomes strongly bonded to the tooth underneath, and makes what original enamel is left tougher.

Even better: after rigorous testing, the protection created by the gel was able to stand up to chewing, brushing, and acidic foods, like enamel.

Researchers are excited by its potential

The study’s lead author, Dr Abshar Hasan, said: “Dental enamel has a unique structure, which gives enamel its remarkable properties that protect our teeth throughout life against physical, chemical, and thermal insults.

“When our material is applied to demineralised or eroded enamel, or exposed dentine, the material promotes the growth of crystals in an integrated and organised manner, recovering the architecture of our natural healthy enamel.”

And study lead Professor Alvaro Mata added: “We are very excited because the technology has been designed with the clinician and patient in mind. It is safe, can be easily and rapidly applied, and it is scalable.

“Also, the technology is versatile, which opens the opportunity to be translated into multiple types of products to help patients of all ages suffering from a variety of dental problems associated with loss of enamel and exposed dentine.”

The scientists hope to get the product on the shelves soon via Mintech-Bio.

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A Common Tea Could Make Your Workouts More Effective

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We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how good green tea can be for our brain and how its powerful antioxidants could even help to lower dementia risk.

As it turns out, it could prove an excellent way to boost your performance at the gym, as well as aiding in your recovery.

Research suggests that either the drink itself, or a green tea extract, could improve everything from your antioxidant balance during exercise to how well your muscles hold up afterwards.

How can green tea help my workouts?

1) Green tea extract could help your muscles to recover

A 2018 paper found that green tea extract could help to “reduce the marker of muscle damage after exercise”, though it didn’t make participants’ muscles less sore after a gruelling workout.

This “suggests the green tea extract supplementation has positive effects on muscle recovery after strenuous exercise”.

2) Green tea might diminish oxidative stress

Meanwhile, 2021 research suggested that the antioxidants present in green tea (the kind you drink, not a supplement or extract) could help to diminish “oxidative stress” on our bodies while we’re pushing ourselves in the gym.

Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals, which can harm cells, and antioxidants, which neutralise them. This imbalance can sometimes lead to cell damage and can happen during excessive or very heavy exercise.

This research found that “the consumption of green tea during and following exercise can lower oxidative stress,” though the authors added more research is needed. A separate study noted that most people will need to consume green tea regularly for at least a week to see “significant differences” here.

3) Green tea extract could help you last longer during exercise – and may help you burn more fat while doing so

Lastly, green tea extract might help you to burn more fat and push yourself further during workouts, too.

At least, that’s according to a 2025 paper, which focused on the effects of ginger and green tea extracts on active men in different temperatures.

Only green tea extract seemed to consistently improve their cycling endurance and energy efficiency while working out – meaning it relied more on the burning of fat than carbohydrates to power the men’s workouts.

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