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Top 10 budget Blu-ray players

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Only a few years ago, Blu-ray was a costly newfangled luxury, beyond the reach of most wallets. Fast forward to 2012, and the technology has gone mainstream and prices have plummeted.

A must-have if you already own a HD-Ready or Full HD 1080p TV, now even the average entry-level Blu-ray player is a feature-packed wonder, with bargain models boasting everything from USB 2.0 connectivity to 3D playback. Check out our round-up of the best for under £100 and get set to enjoy glorious high definition movies at home - minus the high price tag.

Top 10 budget Blu-ray players:
  1. Panasonic DMP-BD75
  2. LG BD650
  3. LG BD660
  4. Toshiba BDX1250
  5. Toshiba BDX3200
  6. Philips BDP5200/05
  7. Sony BDP-S185
  8. Sony BDP-S480
  9. Pioneer DBP430
  10. Samsung BD-D5100





Top 10 budget Blu-ray playersLaskys

Super-slim and lightweight, this ultra-fast booting player offers beautifully crisp images and excellent motion control. It also rocks DNLA streaming and USB connectivity.

Bag the Panasonic DMP-BD75 today for £79


Top 10 budget Blu-ray playersAmazon

What this basic LG player lacks - WiFi and DNLA support - it more than makes up for with speedy load times, stunning, sharp imagery and outstanding DVD upscaling capabilities.

Get the LG BD650 now for £58.90

Top 10 budget Blu-ray playersJohn Lewis

If you've got a bit more cash to splash, opt for the 3D-Ready version. Compatible with DNLA devices, it boasts 3D playback and DVD upscaling, along with access to LG NetCast internet and Smart TV services.

Snap up the LG BD660 today for £99.95

Top 10 budget Blu-ray playersAmazon

The Toshiba BDX1250 is BD-Live-enabled and supports Dolby True HD for audio that's as clear and detailed as the 1080p imagery it delivers.

Buy the Toshiba BDX1250 now for £59.99

Top 10 budget Blu-ray playersAmazon

Wowing with the same features that make the BDX1250 such a brilliant buy, the Toshiba BDX3200 adds the latest 3D technology for an even more immersive home cinema experience.

Get the Toshiba BDX3200 today for £87.90

Top 10 budget Blu-ray playersAmazon

A high end model at a refreshingly low price, the Philips BDP5200/05 features built-in WiFi and super-fast USB 2.0, along with 3D playback, DNLA support and DivX Plus HD.

Treat yourself to the Philips BDP5200/05 now for £94.99

Top 10 budget Blu-ray playersAmazon

This entry-level player benefits from Sony's superior build quality and award-winning user-friendly interface. Sleek and compact, its stand-out features include Smart TV access and USB playback.

Bag the Sony BDP-S185 today for £72.76

Top 10 budget Blu-ray playersAmazon

The higher end BDP-S480 is a 3D-capable marvel. Highlights include built-in Bravia internet video, Video on Demand and access to millions of music downloads.

Snap up the Sony BDP-S480 now for £99.95


Top 10 budget Blu-ray playersRicher Sounds

If image quality is your number one priority, forgo the feature-packed models and plump for this Pioneer. It supports x.v.Colour and Deep Colour, creating the sort of vivid, vibrant imagery you rarely get from budget players.

Buy the Pioneer DBP430 today for £79.95

Top 10 budget Blu-ray playersAmazon



Samsung's no-frills player is a brilliant basic buy. You'll get exquisite, eye-popping colours and razor-sharp images, along with two USB ports and DNLA support.

Get the Samsung BD-D5100 now for £64

Shop for more Blu-ray players

 


Tech to help you sleep better

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Desperate for a decent night's shut-eye? You're not the only one. A recent poll by YouGov and PomeGreat revealed that more than a third of Brits dread getting out of bed, blaming AM drowsiness on stress and lack of sleep.

Thankfully, there are some super-effective insomnia-busting gadgets out there that can really help. From the Lifemax Dreamate to the Chillow, make the most of your precious slumber time and enjoy perkier mornings with our edit of snooze-inducing gizmos.

Top sleep tech:
  1. Lifemax Dreamate
  2. Lifemax Snore Stopper
  3. Bionaire Humidifier
  4. Shine Alarm Clock
  5. Philips Wake up Light
  6. DAB Pure Twilight Radio
  7. Sound Asleep Pillow
  8. Medisana Foot Warmer
  9. Silentnight Electric Underblanket
  10. Soothsoft Chillow





Tech to help you sleep betterAmazon


This futuristic-looking wristband uses tension-fighting acupressure to help promote a better night's sleep. Medically approved, it's definitely worth a try, even if some of the results may be a tad psychosomatic.

Buy the Lifemax Dreamate Sleeping Aid today for £55.32

Tech to help you sleep betterAmazon

If snoring is an issue for you or your partner, give this wrist-worn Snore Stopper a go. It works by emitting a gentle pulse when it detects a snore, prompting the wearer to change position. Effective for some, others may find it a little too gentle to have much of an effect.

Get the Lifemax Snore Stopper now for £15.99

Tech to help you sleep betterElectric Shopping

If you've ever passed out near a radiator, you'll know that sleeping in a dry, stuffy room is not conducive to a good night's kip. Breathe better, slumber more soundly, and keep your complexion all nice and dewy by bagging this handy humidifier.

Bag the Bionaire BU1300 Ultrasonic Humidifier today for £33.99

Tech to help you sleep betterRyness

If drifting off is a nightmare for you, the Rise and Shine Alarm Clock is a dream come true. It features a soothing nature sounds function to help you nod off, along with a soft, glowing light to gently rouse you in the morning.

Snap up the Rise and Shine Alarm Clock now for £19.90


Tech to help you sleep betterPhilips

Rising naturally sans annoying alarm blaring is the way forward, so we just had to include the original Wake Up Light. It's pricey compared with the Lifemax model but its super-stylish design and impressive sunrise-simulating 250 lux light intensity give it the edge.

Buy the Philips Wake Up Light today for £100


Tech to help you sleep betterAmazon

Go one better and invest in the Pure Twilight. It rocks atmospheric mood lighting, along with a DAB digital radio to fall asleep or wake up to. And like the Philips Wake Up Light, it also doubles up a swish bedside lamp.

Treat yourself to the DAB Pure Twilight Radio now for £107.54


Tech to help you sleep betterAmazon

If listening to calming music is your sleep aid of choice, opt for this clever pillow. It features an in-built speaker so you can doze off to your favourite chill out music headphone-free.

Snap up the Sound Asleep Pillow today for £15.64

Tech to help you sleep betterAmazon

Chances are you'll have trouble nodding off if your tootsies are cold. Fight frozen feet by getting them all nice and toasty pre-bedtime with this Medisana Foot Warmer.

Get the Medisana Foot Warmer now for £29.99

Tech to help you sleep betterSainsbury's

If you tend to feel chilly after dark, consider bagging an electric blanket. Safe and easy to use, this Silentnight underblanket heats up in just 10 minutes.

Spoil yourself with the Silentnight King Electric Underblanket for £33.94

Tech to help you sleep betterAmazon

Feeling nippy at night can be a problem for many of us but if you're one of those people prone to night sweats or hot flushes, overheating is the issue. Cue the Chillow. It's a patented cooling pad you can pop on your pillow for instant relief.

Buy the Soothsoft Chillow today for £26.99

Shop for more sleep aids

 

Mel B loses 33lb in 20 weeks

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Mel B loses 33lb in 20 weeks Woman's Day


It's been just six months since Mel B gave birth to her daughter Madison, but she's lost so much weight that she has a six-pack and can fit into her 13-year-old daughter's jeans.

In an interview with Australian magazine Woman's Day, Mel reveals that she gained 66lbs when she was pregnant, but has now lost all her baby weight by following the Jenny Craig plan.

She recently moved from LA to Sydney to become a judge on the Dancing With The Stars in Australia - and says that her weight loss means that she's ready to enjoy life down under.

She said: "To be honest, I'm not sure I can compete with the hot Bondi Beach babes yet, but I'm fit and healthy and ready to dive into the Aussie lifestyle."

The Daily Mail reports that Mel now weighs 132lb (9st 4lb) and feels as good as she did in her Spice Girls days.

Mel told Woman's Day: "The six-pack is back! I'm the same girl from 15 years ago... losing weight has made me the best mum possible. My energy's up!"

She also explained that she gave her jeans to her daughter when she was pregnant - but she's now claiming them back.

She said: "Well, the jeans were mine in the first place. She stole them off me when I was pregnant, but now I fit back into them. So I'm taking them back, one by one."

Do you share clothes with your mum or your daughter? Let us know below...

Click on the image below to see which other celebs have lost their baby weight...



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Sniff rosemary for a brain boost

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Sniff rosemary for a brain boostGetty

The herb rosemary can help with a lot more than just giving your chicken some flavour.

Scientists at the University of Northumbria studied the herb to see how the ingredient affects our brains, reports the Daily Mail.

Tests showed that cognitive performance improved when eucalyptol (also known as 1,8-cineole), a compound found in the herb's oil, got absorbed through the nose and into the bloodstream, according to the research, which is published in the Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology Journal.

According to Dr. Mark Moss, while rosemary aroma has previously been thought to boost brain power:


"What excited us was the demonstration that performance was linked to plasma levels of 1,8-cineole following exposure.


"This compound is present in rosemary but has not previously been demonstrated to be absorbed into blood plasma in humans. It is our view that the aroma therefore acts like a therapeutic drug, rather than any effects being a result of the more sensory properties of the aroma."

Moss and his team of researchers are now investigating the benefits of common plants including peppermint and lavender, and will continue to study rosemary to determine whether 1,8-cineole will have a similar effect when ingested orally.


Will you start using more rosemary in your cooking? Leave a comment and let us know.

And don't miss our gallery of memory-boosting foods.

 

Anti-smoking campaigns turned smokers into 'lepers'

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Anti-smoking campaigns turned smokers into 'lepers'PA

When you see someone lighting up a cigarette, what do you think about them? Disgusting, smelly and unhealthy habit - or disgusting person?

According to Department of Health inequality adviser Professor Hilary Graham, from York University, if you look down on smokers, you're not alone.

Professor Graham has published a study through Cambridge University Press which claims that anti-smoking campaigns and laws have turned smokers into a vilified underclass, reports the Daily Mail.

Graham's study found that health campaigns and government anti-smoking policies have played a role in signalling "the social unacceptability of smoking, and by extension, of smokers."

"Non-smokers describe smoking as a disgusting habit and smokers as outcasts and lepers marked by smell and appearance."

Graham's report also concluded that ostracising smokers was linked to discrimination against those with lower incomes, who were more likely to be smokers.

Professor Graham compared present-day smokers to "migrant and indigenous groups" in past centuries, who were vilified and seen to threaten the normal way of life.

"The history of public health is scarred by policies which, pursued in the name of health protection and promotion, have served to intensify public vilification and state-sanctioned discrimination against already disadvantaged groups.

"Across the 19th and 20th centuries, poorer communities, including migrant and indigenous groups, were cast as the contaminating other whose habitual behaviours were seen to threaten ways of life that were in contrast presented as normal and desirable."

While Graham supports the success of anti-smoking policies that have seen more and more Britons stubbing out, her report urges for anti-smoking campaigns to be redrawn so they can be beneficial to the poor rather than stigmatising them.

Do you look down on smokers? Leave a comment and let us know.

And don't miss our gallery of celebs who won't stub out.



 

Astronauts crave horseradish and tabasco sauce

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Astronauts crave horseradish and tabasco sauceGetty Images for Tabasco

There are lots of perks of going into space - cool job, seeing other planets, international respect and hero worship - but unfortunately, enjoying food isn't one of them.

Bland, freeze-dried foods just don't cut it for astronauts' taste buds - due to the lack of gravity, astronauts feel like they're congested and as a result have weaker senses of smell and taste. So they crave hot and spicy foods like tabasco sauce and horseradish, reports ABC News.

"Freeze-dried shrimp are inherently like cardboard," astronaut John Grunsfeld told ABC News. "However, the secret lies in the sauce - it is the horseradish.

"One of the things that happens in space is that there is a fluid shift. You get a lot of extra pressure, and it fills your sinuses, and the horseradish is a miracle worker for cleaning that out."

Fellow astronaut Mark Polansky asked to have the shrimp for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday on a two-week flight in 2006.

NASA invited US celebrity chefs like Rachael Ray and Emeril Lagasse to create some variation in basic space food. Ray came up with spicy Thai chicken and vegetable curry while Lagasse opted for green beans in hot sauce.

Tart lemonade is another popular request since sweeter drinks seem too sweet in weightlessness.

On longer flights (over six months), astronauts' food consumption does pose an issue because they tend not to have enough of it.

"Astronauts on long missions generally don't eat enough," Jean Hunter, a Cornell University engineer told ABC News. "That's good for a diet on Earth, but bad in space, because all the problems of microgravity, like bone and muscle loss, are exacerbated if you don't get enough calories."

Do you like spicy, tangy foods? Leave a comment and let us know.

And don't miss our gallery on mood-boosting foods.


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Sexy celebrities over 70

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Sexy celebrities over 70Getty Images

Hollywood may be a young woman's playground, but celebrities who have stood the test of time are still having their moments in the spotlight, looking fit and fabulous well into their eighth decades.

Raquel Welch - aged 71 - stepped out on the red carpet last week looking every bit the sex symbol she's always been. To see some of our other favourite sexy celebrities over 70 who have defied the powers of ageing, click through the gallery below.

 

One-third of Brits would give up sex for their smartphones

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One-third of Brits would give up sex for their smartphonesPA

Sure, smartphones can organise your life, keep you entertained, even get you into shape. But is your smartphone more important than your sex life?

According to Vodaphone chief executive Vittorio Colao, who was speaking to the Mobile World Congress in Spain, Vodaphone research found that: "33% of people would rather give up sex than their smartphone," reports the Evening Standard.

According to the Sun, sex isn't the only thing Brits are willing to give up for their favourite gadget. 70 percent of people said they would give up alcohol for a week, 63 percent would ditch chocolate and one-third admitted they'd rather spend the week celibate.

Don't they know all that tapping and swiping can be dangerous?

Would you give up anything for your smartphone? Let us know below.

And for those of you still interested in sex, check out our seduction tips guide.



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Could sleeping pills lead to an early death?

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Could sleeping pills lead to an early death?Getty

Next time you're tossing and turning, unable to sleep, think twice about popping a pill.

New research from scientists at the Scripps Clinic, led by Dr. Daniel Kripke and published in the British Medical Journal Open, has found that taking sleeping pills twice a month can make you up to four times more likely to die prematurely, reports the Telegraph.

As a result, researchers are recommending alternative therapeutic treatments instead.

The study looked at 10,500 people who were on a variety of sleeping pills like tamazepam, zolpidem and diazepam and compared those taking sleeping tablets with others who had similar lifestyle and health factors, but were not on the pills. Researchers found that those taking higher doses of the drugs were also one-third more likely to develop cancer.

Scientists discovered that those taking higher does of tamezepam were six times more likely to die in the next two-and-a-half years, while patients frequently taking zolpidem were 5.7 times as likely to succumb to premature death.

Sleeping pills are also thought to increase depression risk.

"The meagre benefits of hypnotics [sleeping pills], as critically reviewed by groups without financial interest, would not justify substantial risks," Dr. Kripke wrote.

"A consensus is developing that cognitive-behavioural therapy of chronic insomnia may be more successful than hypnotics."

Nina Barnett, spokesperson on older persons medicines for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. told the paper: "This is an important study and although it is unlikely to radically change prescribing in the immediate term, it should raise awareness and remind both patients and prescribers to the potential risks of sedative use for insomnia.

"The association between mortality and sedation is not new and this research tells us is that people who took these medicines were more likely to die than people who didn't take them. However it does not mean that the deaths were caused by the medicine.

"Patients should not stop taking any prescribed medicines straight away. If you are concerned about your medicines discuss this with your pharmacist or Doctor about other ways of getting help with sleep problems so you don't have to use medicines."

Professor of clinical psychopharmacology at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, Malcolm Lader, also warned of the dangers of stopping medication abruptly, explaining that patients could suffer epileptic fits and withdrawal symptoms. He also said that patients should not panic as a result of these findings.


What are your tips for a good night of sleep? Leave a comment and let us know.
Don't miss our tricks on how to sleep better.


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Liverpool ladies think they're most natural-looking in UK

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Liverpool ladies think they're most natural-looking in UK GF/bauergriffinonline.com

When it comes to putting the slap on, the ladies of Liverpool seem to rival those of Essex for loving their lashings of fake tan and elaborate eye makeup.

But a recent survey by Superdrug of almost 2,000 women has found that Liverpudlian ladies believe they're the most natural-looking in the UK.

The survey found that ladies in Liverpool leave home without their slap on 17 times a month, with 55 per cent saying they're happy to face the world without their makeup, reports the Daily Mail.

We're going to have to assume the stars of Desperate Scousewives weren't questioned.

In fact, 95% of Liverpudlian women prefer to look as natural as possible, with the average girl wearing a full face of makeup just a few days a week. The ladies of Liverpool are so confident with their low-key appearance that they'll even leave the house with rollers in their hair.

"We sell more false lashes than anywhere else in the country and this survey backs up these sales figures showing that Liverpool women are confident enough to step out without a scrap of make-up in the day, then transform themselves at night into a real glamour puss," says Superdrug beauty director, Sara Wolverson.

"This is a positive message for all women out there, the secret of looking beautiful all the time is having that inner confidence, and let's face facts, a really good moisturiser."

According to the survey, Norwich, Portsmouth, Cambridge and Edinburgh rounded out the top five places where women felt most confident stepping out au natural.

The survey also found that women look to natural-looking celebrities like the Duchess of Cambridge, Holly Willoughby, Emma Watston, Kate Winslet and Keira Knightley for beauty inspiration.

Will you leave the house without a stitch of makeup? Leave a comment and let us know.

And don't miss our gallery of celebs without their slap on.

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Toxic hip replacements could affect 50,000 people

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Toxic hip replacements could affect 50,000 peoplePA


The Government has issued new advice which recommends that people who have undergone large head metal-on-metal hip replacements should have annual check-ups to safeguard their health.

The BBC reports that all-metal hips have a high failure rate and rubbing between the ball and up an cause metal to break off.

According to The Independent , the cobalt-chrome alloy used to make the hip implants can be toxic and can cause local reactions that destroy muscle and bone and can cause severe pain and long-term disability. The metal particles can also enter the bloodstream, spreading to the lymph nodes, spleen, liver and kidneys, before being excreted in the urine. There is also concern that they could damage chromosomes, leading to genetic changes which could increase the risk of cancer.

A joint investigation between BBC news night and the British Medical Journal reports that problems with these hips have been known for a long time, but no action has been taken to prevent their use.

The Independent reports that a leading manufacturer of the implants has known about potential dangers to patients since 2005, and health regulators and the Department of Health have been aware since 2006.

Now orthopaedic surgeons have been told to contact affected patients, so that they can be tested to find out if they are at risk.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on Tuesday that around 49,000 UK patients with large-head hip implants, out of 65,000 with all-metal hips, were at risk.

The regulator said that they should have blood tests to check for metal ions, and MRI scans if they have raised metal levels or show any symptoms.

Dr Susanne Ludgate, Clinical Director of the MHRA, said in a statement: "Clinical evidence shows that patients have a small risk of suffering complications from having metal-on-metal hip implants...

"As a precautionary measure, we have today issued updated patient management and monitoring advice to surgeons and doctors that they should annually monitor patients for the lifetime of their metal-on-metal total hip replacements that are sized 36 millimetres or more because this particular type of hip replacement has a small risk of causing complications in patients.

"This updates previous advice that patients with this type of hip replacement need only be monitored for a minimum of five years after their operation."

Carl Heneghan, Director of the Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine in Oxford, told the BBC that the main problem is that artificial hips, breast implants and other devices which are implanted into the body don't have to face the same rigorous tests as new drugs.

They do not have to pass any clinical trills and only have to obtain a CR manufacturing mark from a notified body that assesses medical devices for use in Europe.

Dr Fiona Godlee, editor in chief of the British Medical Journal, told The Independent: "Hip replacements are one of the great successes of modern medicine. But a combination of inadequate regulation and untrammelled commercialism has caused actual and potential harm for large numbers of patients."

Have you or a member of your family had hip replacement surgery? Let us know below...

Click on the image below to find out about some common allergy triggers...



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Tips for cutting back on sugar

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Tips for cutting back on sugarGetty

The scariest 'S' word these days has five letters: S-U-G-A-R. We know it's bad for our waistlines, can make us moody and some experts have warned it's as dangerous as cigarettes or alcohol.

Check out some of our tips for cutting back on sugar, which comes disguised in myriad forms in our daily diets. Your teeth - among other body parts - will thank you.

 

Death rate from breast cancer drops 10 per cent in five years

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Death rate from breast cancer drops 10 per cent in five yearsGetty


New figures show that the number of British women dying from breast cancer has dropped by more than 10 per cent in the last five years.

The Telegraph reports that this represents a dramatic improvement on the situation a decade ago, when the British death rate was the highest out of six major European countries: the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland.

Italian and Swiss researchers who looked at World Health Organisation (WHO) data found that the breast cancer death rate in Britain was 18.39 per 100,000 women in 2007, but was predicted to fall by 13 per cent to 15.95 per 100,000 in 2012. In the whole of Europe, the drop is expected to be 9 per cent.

Researchers believe that better treatment, rather than screening, that has made the difference, after finding that the death rate had dropped faster in the under 50s, who are not invited for routine mammograms.

Although British women now have a better chance of beating the disease, the UK still lags behind the European average, which is predicted to be 14.85 per 100,000 in 2012.

A Department of Health spokesperson told The Telegraph: "This study reflects advancements in cancer services, but our survival rates still lag behind comparable countries.

"That's why we are investing more than £750 million to make sure people are diagnosed with cancer earlier and have better access to the latest treatment.

"Through our investment and modernisation of the NHS, our aim is to save 5,000 more lives every year by 2015 - closing the gap in cancer survival between us and the best-performing countries in the world."

Have you been affected by breast cancer? Let us know below...

Click on the image below to find out how to reduce your risk of breast cancer...



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Older mothers have caused a baby boom

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Older mothers have caused a baby boomPA


The numbers of women getting pregnant in England and Wales in a single year has reached record levels, thanks to the rising numbers of older mums.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that a record-breaking 909,245 women because pregnant in 2010, which is rise of 1.4 per cent on the 896,466 pregnancies in the previous year.

In total, 723,165 babies were born in England and Wales in 2010, with the average age for new mothers now almost 30.

Experts believe that the increased rate of pregnancy can be largely explained by fast-rising pregnancy rates among women in their 30s and 40s.

The Daily Mail reports that the latest figures show that women in their forties were getting pregnant at double the rate of two decades ago, rising by 5.2 per cent in a single year.

In addition, the rise for those aged 34 to 39 was 4.5 per cent and 4.9 per cent for those aged 30 to 34.

The recession could also be factor, as the ONS report suggest that the 2008-2009 recession may also be a factor, as women with less work may have more time for family.

The report says: "Family may also be valued more highly during tough economic times and, as parents could be out of work, they may have more time to spend on child rearing."

The report also showed that conception rates for women in their twenties haven't changed, while teenage pregnancy rates have fallen by four per cent.

Why do you think the pregnancy rate is rising? Let us know below...

Click on the image below to find out if you're ready for a baby...



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World's oldest sheep dies at 25 after falling off a cliff

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World's oldest sheep dies at 25 after falling off a cliffPA


A sheep, which is thought to have been the oldest in the world, has died just before her 26th birthday after falling over a 150ft cliff.

The Daily Mail reports that Twiggy the blackface ewe was found dead on rocks on Garry Beach on Lewis in the Western Isles on Friday.

She was named after the 60s model Twiggy because she was so thin.

Twiggy was older than two of crofter John Maciver's grown-up children and, at 25, and survived far beyond the average life expectancy of 12 years.

Mr Maciver told the Daily Mail that he believes she enjoyed a such a long life because she still had most of her teeth, allowing her to graze easily, and said that she had an "independent spirit".

He said: "She passed away and I wouldn't say peacefully. I found her at the bottom of a rock. It must have been quite a blow, sadly."

He added: "It's a sad end. She was never a big sheep but she produced her last lambs three years ago and even then they were twins!

"She did produce a lot of lambs over the year. I tried to sell her twice - but she was refused by the auctioneer because she was so scrawny and on another occasion she jumped out of the trailer taking her to market.

"I will miss her - I kept her in the end for sentimental reasons. She still had a good set of teeth. If she had not gone over the cliff I'm sure she would have gone on and on. There were a few good years left in her yet."

Have you had a family pet that has lived to a grand old age? Let us know below...

Click on the image below to find out what happens when people get their dead pets freeze dried...



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British girl is the first teenager to be 'cured' of diabetes

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British girl is the first teenager to be 'cured' of diabetesCorbis


A British girl has become the first teenager to be fitted with the EndoBarrier implant which could effectively 'cure' her diabetes.

The Sun reports that 17 year-old Victoria Parr from Lymington, Hants was fitted with the device at Southampton General Hospital.

The EndoBarrier is a thin plastic sleeve which lines the first 60cm of the small intestine, causing food to be absorbed further down in the intestine.

The body reacts to food in a different way when the first part of the small intestine is blocked and this reduces blood sugar levels and helps to aid weight loss. It can stay in place for up to a year.

It takes less than an hour to fit and is inserted through the mouth and into the small intestine, via the stomach. It is then fixed in place with a sprung metal anchor to stop if from slipping out.

Adults who were fitted with the device last year lost around 20 per cent of their bodyweight - an average of three-and-a-half stone. In trials, a considerable percentage of diabetics were able to come off their diabetes medication after being fitted with the device.

Dr Nikki Davis, who led the medical team, said that the device could "dramatically improve the treatment of severe type 2 diabetes and obesity in young people."

Victoria said: "It provides hope suffered can reduce medication and take back control of their body."

Are you diabetic? Let us know below...

Click on the image below to find out how to cut back on sugar...



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Stress-fighting workouts

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Stress-fighting workoutsGetty

High levels of stress can affect every aspect of your life, from your mood to your blood pressure. Since we can't always (or seemingly ever) escape to that five-star spa on the other side of the world for some much-needed rest and relaxation, we need to find a better stress-fighting alternative: Exercise.

While some people just want to feel zen, others need a workout where they can punch away that extra anxiety and aggression. Click through our gallery below for some of the best stress-fighting workouts to try.

 

Would you rather have big boobs or brains?

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Would you rather have big boobs or brains?PA

You would think the answer to the question of whether women prefer to be busty or smart is a no-brainer, right? Even the perkiest of busoms starts to sag after a while...

But a new survey of over 1,000 women from website MyVoucherCodes.co.uk found that one-third of respondents between the ages of 18 to 25 would swap their intelligence levels for bigger breasts, while almost half said they would rather have a larger bust than a higher IQ, reports the Daily Mail.

A quarter of the women surveyed said they would feel "happier" with bigger breasts, while close to 60 per cent of women felt a voluptuous busom would make them more attractive to men. Only 43 per cent felt that men would be more interested in them if they were brainier.

The survey also found that 40 per cent of respondents would rather be slim than smart, with many women equating thinness with having more confidence. Around 40 per cent said they would ditch their IQ levels for the chance of being their dream size.


"Celebrity culture is much more accessible than it ever was before. We are bombarded with images of beautiful women with enhanced features such as full lips and large chests," psychologist Mamta Saha told the Mail.

"It's easy to look at these women and make the connection between the way they look and success - but this can turn into an unhealthy fixation."

Kat Banyard, from women's group UK Feminista, concurred that: "Women face now unprecedented pressures to focus on their body."

"Industries that focus on the way women look are flourishing - and that means that from a very early age, women are taught that the way they look matters more than what they do.

Before we all rush out in pursuit of bustier figures, it's wise to remember the words of U.S. TV judge, Judge Judy, who famously said: "Beauty fades, dumb is forever."

Would you swap a higher IQ for a bigger cup size? Let us know below.

And don't miss our gallery of most popular plastic surgery procedures.


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Travel brochure encouraging women to lie about marital status sparks controversy

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Travel brochure encouraging women to lie about marital status sparks controversyCorbis

A travel guide issued by the Canadian government offering tips on foreign travel has sparked controversy after encouraging unmarried women to wear "fake" wedding rings and carry photos of "imaginary" spouses - all in the name of travel safety.

The guide, called Her Own Way: A Woman's Safe-Travel Guide, was published by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and has been derided for being "deceitful, paternalistic and preachy," reports Open File Toronto.

The guide advises single women to wear: "... a (fake) wedding ring. Also carry a photo of your husband (or an imaginary one), which you can show to persistent suitors. Being seen as married will lower your profile and stave off uninvited advances."

According to Mount Royal University associate professor of philosphy, Sinc McRae, helpful advice or not, the wording is negative.

"It's preachy," he told Open File. "For me, the line is informing people rather than directing and commanding people. It's disrespectful of the people reading it." He also sees the message as misleading, and suggests that this lie will lead to others.

"It's not just one lie. It builds and it's going to have to have a pack of lies behind it."

Terri Mayo, of the Wandering Women Travel Club in Calgary, doesn't find the government recommendation offensive, but she too feels the wording should be changed to sound less didactic.

Mayo told Open File she knows many women who travel with fake rings: "Lots of flight attendants wear fake wedding rings on planes so that they won't be hassled by men," she said. "They feel more comfortable that way."

According to Jean-Bruno Villeneuve, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada: "The advice in this guide, On Her Way, was written by a team of women and men, and is based on extensive consultations with dozens of experienced women travelers (sic)."

He said the strategy "was recommended by many of the women we consulted as a reliable way to deflect unwanted attention."

Do you think the brochure's advice is helpful or disrespectful? Leave a comment and let us know.

And don't miss our gallery on pretty jewellery finds for under £20.


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Stroke victims four times more likely to die than heart attack sufferers

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Stroke victims four times more likely to die than heart attack sufferersPA

The NHS has released patient emergency figures that show stroke victims admitted to hospital for an emergency are four times more likely to die than patients admitted after a heart attack, reports the Telegraph.

The data showed that heart attack survival rates have almost doubled in the past 10 years, while stroke survival rates have only fallen from one in four to one in five between 2000-01 and 2009-10.

Patients admitted to NHS emergency services suffering from stroke have the highest death rates, followed by hip fractures and heart attacks, according to the NHS data. Patients suffering from stroke are also three times more likely to die within 30 days of being admitted into hospital than patients with a hip fracture, according to the statistics.

In the UK, stroke has the third highest death rate after heart disease and cancer, but there has been a four per cent drop in stroke-related hospital admissions since 2000-01.

Emergency heart attack admissions are also down by over a quarter, thanks to better lifestyle choices and treatments, with figures dropping from 42,400 to 30,600.

Health Minister Simon Burns said: "These improvements reflect the dedication of NHS staff working to improve services and support their patients. Treatment for heart attack, stroke and falls and fractures are improving all the time, but we know further progress can still be made.

"Patients should be getting the right care first time and that is why we are developing strategies to tackle cardiovascular disease and strokes."

Researchers recently found that eating oranges and grapefruit can help reduce the risk of stroke.

Have you seen an improvement in NHS emergency services? Leave a comment and let us know.

And don't miss our gallery of mood-boosting foods.





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