Japan, Mexico and Peru are among the nations included in the updated Foreign Office guidance.
Eight countries added to methanol poisoning warning list
Reply
Scientists discover how a high-fat keto diet could keep your brain young
Protecting your brain’s energy and keeping your mind sharp might start with what’s on your plate. Foods such as fish and seafood, meat, non-starchy vegetables, berries, nuts, seeds, eggs, and even full-fat dairy may play a key role in maintaining cognitive health.
Exploring the Power of the Ketogenic Diet
At the University of Missouri, researchers are exploring how these foods influence brain function. Their work focuses on a high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating plan known as the ketogenic diet. Early results suggest that this approach could not only support long-term brain health but also slow or even prevent cognitive decline, especially among individuals who face a higher genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Inside the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, Ai-Ling Lin, a professor in the School of Medicine, and doctoral student Kira Ivanich are examining how the ketogenic diet may benefit people with the APOE4 gene, which is the strongest known genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
In their recent study using mice, Lin and Ivanich found that females with the APOE4 gene developed healthier gut bacteria and showed higher brain energy levels when following a ketogenic diet compared to those on a high-carbohydrate diet. Males did not show the same improvement, suggesting that gender may influence who benefits most from this dietary approach.
How the Brain Uses Fuel
The key lies in how the brain produces its energy.
“When we eat carbs, our brains convert the glucose into fuel for our brains, but those with the APOE4 gene — particularly females — struggle to convert the glucose into brain energy, and this can lead to cognitive decline down the road,” Ivanich said. “By switching to a keto diet, ketones are produced and used as an alternative fuel source. This may decrease the chance of developing Alzheimer’s by preserving the health of brain cells.”
These findings highlight the potential of “precision nutrition,” an approach that adapts diets and interventions to fit a person’s unique biology.
“Instead of expecting one solution to work for everyone, it might be better to consider a variety of factors, including someone’s genotype, gut microbiome, gender and age,” Lin said. “Since the symptoms of Alzheimer’s — which tend to be irreversible once they start — usually appear after age 65, the time to be thinking about preserving brain health is well before then, so hopefully our research can offer hope to many people through early interventions.”
Advancing Research Through Collaboration
Lin joined Mizzou in part for its collaborative environment and advanced imaging facilities located in the NextGen Precision Health building and at the University of Missouri Research Reactor.
“We can do a lot of things in-house here that at other places we would have to outsource,” Lin said. “This is team science. The impact we make will be much better when we work together than by ourselves.”
With cutting-edge imaging equipment and both research and clinical spaces under the same roof, the NextGen Precision Health building allows Mizzou to move quickly from preclinical models to human trials.
For Ivanich, that real-world impact is personal.
“When my grandmother got Alzheimer’s, that sparked my interest in this topic, so being able to make an impact to help people preserve their brain health is very rewarding,” she said. “With Mizzou being a leading research university and having a tight-knit community feel, I know I’m at the right place.”
“Ketogenic diet modulates gut microbiota-brain metabolite axis in a sex-and genotype-specific manner in APOE4 mice” was published in the Journal of Neurochemistry.
Boris Johnson left Inquiry in a hurry – he’ll be pleased not to come back
School closures seemed the only option but lockdowns probably went “too far” , former PM tells Covid Inquiry.
‘What Is There To Regret?’: Bob Vylan Frontman Reflects On Glastonbury Chant Backlash
The frontman of the punk rap duo Bob Vylan has insisted he stands by the chant he performed at this year’s Glastonbury that landed the group at the centre of backlash.
Over the summer, the band provided Glastonbury with one of the year’s most talked-about sets, where they made headlines after leading the crowd in chants of “free Palestine” and “death to the IDF”, referring to Israel’s army.
Advertisement
At the time, the pair faced condemnation from Glastonbury’s organisers, the BBC – who broadcast the set live on its iPlayer service – and even the prime minister Keir Starmer.
Local police also said shortly afterwards that they were opening a criminal investigation based on both Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s Glastonbury sets, though this has since been confirmed to have been dropped.
During his first in-depth interview since the controversy arose, Bobby Vylan maintained on The Louis Theroux Podcast that he has no regrets about anything that transpired.
Advertisement
“If I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again,” Bobby insisted. “I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays. I’m not regretful of it at all.”
He continued: “The subsequent backlash that I’ve faced – it’s minimal compared to what people in Palestine are going through.
“If that can be my contribution and if I can have my Palestinian friends and people that I meet from Palestine, that have had to flee, that have lost members in double digits of their family and they can say, ‘yo, your chant, I love it. Or it gave me a breath of fresh air or whatever’ – and I don’t want to overstate the importance of the chant. That’s not what I’m trying to do – but if I have their support, they’re the people that I’m doing it for. They’re the people that I’m being vocal for.
Advertisement
“[In that case], what is there to regret? Because I’ve upset some right-wing politician, or some right-wing media?”
The vocalist and guitarist went on to say he didn’t anticipate the backlash Bob Vylan’s set would go on to receive, particularly as in the moment, even members of the BBC team said it had gone well.
Advertisement
“It wasn’t like we came off stage, and everybody was [appalled],” he claimed. “It [was] just normal. We [came] off stage, [it was] normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody.
“Even staff at the BBC were like ‘That was fantastic! We loved that!’.”
Bobby also had choice words for Damon Albarn of Blur, who previously called Bob Vylan’s chant “one of the most spectacular misfires I’ve seen in my life”, alleging the frontman was “goose-stepping in tennis gear”.
“There’s no space to be hyperbolic in that. Especially given what we were accused of,” Bobby responded. “Being accused of being anti-Semitic, it was disappointing. Because it lacked self-awareness, I think, his response.
Advertisement
“I just want to say that categorising it as a ‘spectacular misfire’ implies that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out. And as a more senior, experienced, veteran artist – he’s been in this industry for a long time – I think that there were other ways that he could have handled that question being fielded to him.”
He added: “I take great issue with the phrase ‘goose-stepping’ being used because it’s only used around Nazi Germany. That’s it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting.”
Advertisement
Shortly after Glastonbury, the members of Bob Vylan said in a joint statement: “We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.”
“The government doesn’t want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity. To ask why they aren’t doing more to stop the killing. To feed the starving. The more they talk about Bob Vylan, the less they spend answering for their criminal inaction.”
Reaching 100: ‘I never thought I’d make it to this age’
The number of people reaching 100 years old is at an all-time, according to data by the ONS.
Autumn’s Affordable Must-Have Fragrance Is From A Brand You’d Never Expect
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
For many of us, the changing of the seasons each year goes hand in hand with something of a vibe shift. As the temperature gets lower and lower by the day, our desire for cosy comfort gets higher and higher.
Advertisement
Gone are the days of floaty, floral summer dresses and bright, zesty lip colours. They’re replaced by a renewed interest in things like grunge looks and leather jackets, not just to keep us warmer, but to fit the season’s overall mood.
And our appetite for autumn-friendly scents is no different.
If you’re looking to shake up your scent collection for the new season, Dream Glaze is a particularly great pick.
With its notes of caramelised hazelnut, sandalwood, and cocoa fudge, it’s delicious and indulgent, helping you bring cosy and autumnal vibes with you wherever you go.
Advertisement
Think that sounds like the stuff of costly designer, perfume house heaven? Think again, because this scent is part of the uber-versatile and majorly affordable Adidas Vibes fragrance collection.
This two-in-one body hair and body mist is ideal for everything from giving your tresses a scent boost after a good gym sesh to spritzing your clothes before you leave the house.
If you’d rather channel a different vibe to the comforting sweetness of Dream Glaze, there are plenty of other options to choose from, too.
Advertisement
For a relaxing mood boost, try Get Comfy, which has notes of vanilla, peony, and mandarin.
If you want to set yourself up for a great day, spritz on a bit of Happy Feels and enjoy its notes of jasmine tea, grapefruit, and cedarwood oil.
And for an energising hit of mango, sweet lemon and black pepper, spray some Spark Up.
At just £13 each from Boots, why pick just one vibe when there’s a whole spectrum of moods to enjoy?
And Just Like That Boss Michael Patrick King Addresses Critics
The Sex And The City revival was divisive from the get-go, but when its final instalment aired over the summer, even its most loyal viewers were disappointed at the way things played out.
Advertisement
However, speaking to the New York Post, Michael Patrick – who was previously one of the showrunners on Sex And The City – maintained that the franchise has always been a controversial one.
“When we did Sex And The City and the women were 35, there was a lot of criticism about ‘why aren’t these women married?’ and ‘why haven’t these women settled down?’ and ‘how annoying are these women?’,” the Emmy winner said.
These days, he continued, the comments are more along the lines of “why aren’t these women further along?”, “why are they still talking?” and “why do they still exist on camera?”.
Advertisement
via Associated Press
According to Michael Patrick, And Just Like That was “daring” in the way it depicted “very vibrant women at a certain age”, which he said “rubbed society the wrong way”.
He added that “people, especially women who were in that wheelhouse, were really moved and felt very seen” by the reboot.
Advertisement
“When you’re pushing an edge [or] when you’re trying to do something that really isn’t on TV, there’s always going to be pushback,” he insisted. “But the creative work stands for itself.”
After the finale aired in August, Michael Patrick defended the decision to have the last ever outing for the Sex And The City gang include graphic scenes of an overflowing toilet.
Advertisement
“Whenever anyone in this universe, Sex And The City or And Just Like That, stands on a soapbox to make a speech, the soapbox breaks. We cannot take ourselves too seriously,” he said.
“For the gorgeousness of Carrie’s pink, sparkly top and tulle skirt – that’s the high – the low is a toilet filled up with shit. Because guess what? Being single, there’s a lot of shit, and relationships are a lot of shit,” Michael Patrick added.
“It’s the comedy, with the drama, with the romance, with the fairytale. I guess it’s a response to the fairytale.”
Advertisement
Sarah Jessica Parker – the show’s lead, as well as an executive producer – also defended the finale after it was slammed by both critics and viewers.
Children paid ‘huge price’ in Covid pandemic, Johnson tells inquiry
The former PM says lockdown rules “probably did go too far” and says children could have been exempted.
‘Delighted’ woman played clarinet in brain surgery
Denise Bacon says she is experiencing improvements in her ability to walk.
This simple neck measurement might reveal hidden heart risks
For decades, doctors have depended on indicators such as body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio to gauge a person’s risk for chronic disease. But researchers are now turning their attention to a different, often-overlooked measurement: neck circumference.
While a thick neck may suggest physical power, like that of athletes in contact sports, research indicates it could also be a marker of hidden health risks.
Why Neck Size Matters
BMI calculates body fat by comparing weight to height, but it doesn’t always paint an accurate picture. A muscular athlete may register a high BMI without carrying excess fat. This is where measuring neck size can offer additional clues about what’s happening inside the body.
Studies have found that individuals with larger necks relative to their body size are more likely to develop serious health issues. The reason lies in fat distribution — particularly in the upper body.
Fat stored around the upper torso releases fatty acids into the bloodstream, which can interfere with how the body regulates cholesterol, blood sugar, and heart rhythm. In effect, neck circumference acts as a visible indicator of visceral fat, the harmful kind that accumulates around internal organs.
The Link to Heart Disease and Other Conditions
Evidence connecting neck size to health outcomes is compelling. People with thicker necks show higher rates of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure.
Atrial fibrillation is of particular concern because it causes irregular heartbeats and erratic blood flow, raising the risk of blood clots and stroke. Over time, this irregular rhythm can strain the heart and lead to failure.
Neck circumference is also tied to coronary heart disease, where narrowed arteries reduce the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
More Than Just Heart Health
The risks don’t stop at cardiovascular problems. Larger neck size is associated with a greater likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, both of which can lead to long-term complications such as nerve damage, vision loss, and limb amputation.
Sleep disorders are another major concern. A thicker neck is a known risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This not only leads to severe daytime fatigue but also places additional stress on the heart and blood vessels. People with sleep apnea are also more prone to accidents caused by exhaustion.
When Neck Size Becomes a Warning
So, how big is too big? Research suggests that men with a neck circumference of 17 inches (43 cm) or more, and women with 14 inches (35.5 cm) or more, face elevated health risks.
Perhaps most surprising, these dangers are not limited to people who are overweight. Even individuals with a normal BMI may be at risk if their neck measurements exceed these thresholds. For every additional centimeter beyond that range, the likelihood of hospitalization and early death increases.
Taking Action
If your neck measurement falls above these levels, there’s no reason for alarm, but it’s worth noting. Neck size represents only one piece of your overall health profile, yet it can reveal important information that other metrics might overlook.
The positive news is that neck circumference can change with lifestyle improvements. Regular cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and sufficient sleep all contribute to better metabolic health. Eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and pulses supports weight management and reduces unhealthy fat storage.
How to Measure Your Neck
Checking your neck size is simple. Use a flexible tape measure and wrap it around the narrowest part of your neck, keeping the tape snug but not tight. The process takes only a few seconds.
A Simple Measurement With Big Meaning
This quick check can highlight potential risks that traditional metrics might miss. While neck circumference shouldn’t replace established health assessments, it provides a valuable, easy-to-use tool for understanding cardiovascular and metabolic health.
In our search for better ways to predict and prevent disease, it turns out some of the most revealing clues are right in front of us. Your neck may be quietly reflecting more about your health than you think — and it’s worth paying attention.
