Laurel Ives

My Recent Work

The Telegraph •

Sir Christopher Ball: ‘Avoiding a Victor Meldrew miserable mindset is the key to longer life’

When I meet Sir Christopher Ball at the Smart Ageing Summit in Oxford, he tells me that he has a bold goal. “I’m planning to live to 100 and run a marathon on my 100th birthday. Don’t laugh,” says Sir Christopher, who is currently 89. I do laugh, not because his plan is ridiculous, but because he is one of those people whose enthusiasm for life is immediately infectious. Ball is one of the co-founders of the Oxford Longevity Project, which is behind the annual Smart Ageing Summit. Their stated m...
The Telegraph •

What the new digital test for ADHD means for those desperate for diagnosis

“We’re drowning, we have six times the requests for diagnosis we used to have, so if it’s a 20 per cent improvement at best this would be marginal, not transformational,” says Prof Marios Adamou, a consultant psychiatrist and clinical lead at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust. Prof Adamou explains that the test has been in use for some years already, in his clinic he uses a similar but cheaper test, not to diagnose people as he treats adults, but to assess whether medication is working....
ReSolve GlobalHealth •

New treatments combating bacterial vaginosis stigma

BV is caused by an imbalance of the bacteria in the vagina. Symptoms can include pain, itching, burning, and an unpleasant discharge with a strong fishy odour; and although only about half of women with BV experience these symptoms, there is a significant amount of stigma associated with the condition due to this smell and discharge, and a taboo on talking about it. “Because of the odour, the discharge, and the recurrent nature, it can be stigmatising, especially when it comes to sexual relation...
ReSolve GlobalHealth •

New treatments combating bacterial vaginosis stigma

BV is caused by an imbalance of the bacteria in the vagina. Symptoms can include pain, itching, burning, and an unpleasant discharge with a strong fishy odour; and although only about half of women with BV experience these symptoms, there is a significant amount of stigma associated with the condition due to this smell and discharge, and a taboo on talking about it. “Because of the odour, the discharge, and the recurrent nature, it can be stigmatising, especially when it comes to sexual relation...
The Telegraph •

The best sleeping positions for lower back pain

Lower back pain is ubiquitous, affecting two in three people at some point in their lives and is one of the most common reasons people visit their GP. The causes are complex and varied, but how back pain impacts sleep can be a key factor in managing the condition. “If lower back pain is disturbing people’s sleep and they have to take regular painkillers, and limit what they do, then it can have a very major impact on their quality of life,” says Dr Hanny Anwar, a consultant orthopaedic and spina...
The Telegraph •

18 of the best low-sugar snacks

Most of us don’t get enough vegetables, fruit and fibre and a well-chosen snack can add to that daily quota, as well as giving us an energy boost. Preparation is key, however, as the shops are groaning with highly processed and sugary options that can derail our best intentions. It’s best to choose a snack that has a balanced mix of protein and good fats as it will be more filling. Although added sugar can cause blood sugar spikes and cravings, not all sugar is created equal and sugar from fruit...
The Telegraph •

18 of the best low-sugar snacks

Most of us don’t get enough vegetables, fruit and fibre and a well-chosen snack can add to that daily quota, as well as giving us an energy boost. Preparation is key, however, as the shops are groaning with highly processed and sugary options that can derail our best intentions. It’s best to choose a snack that has a balanced mix of protein and good fats as it will be more filling. Although added sugar can cause blood sugar spikes and cravings, not all sugar is created equal and sugar from fruit...
The Telegraph •

How to break up with a narcissist, by a top divorce lawyer

How to negotiate with a narcissist

First, don’t expect to settle this amicably. When it comes to negotiating with a narcissist over a divorce, it is imperative to understand that the playing field is not level.

You will say something to the effect of, “I only want what’s fair, and I don’t want to fight, I’d like to settle this amicably.” But you will actually mean it. The narcissist will say something like that too and you will believe them. But it will be a lie.

Narcissists fight dirty. If t
The Telegraph •

Cold water therapy: What is it, types and where to start

Whether it’s a refreshing dip in the sea or river, braving an ice bath after a sauna, or turning your shower to cold, the number of cold water enthusiasts has exploded in recent years.

Cold water therapy is now an essential part of a modern wellness routine, and now the hot summer weather has arrived, fair-weather swimmers are joining the throngs, although as the water temperature needs to be below 15C to reap the benefits of cold water therapy, UK summer sea temperatures of 15-20C don’t exactl
The Telegraph •

The Atlantic diet: Benefits, food list and recipes

The Atlantic diet made headlines around the world when a new study showed that people following the diet lost several inches around their waistline.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Network Open, demonstrated that the group who followed the diet reduced their risk of metabolic syndrome by a third in just six months.

Metabolic syndrome is made up of five key health risks including high blood sugar, high blood pressure and a large waistline. Untreated it can lead to diabetes, heart disea
The Telegraph •

Supplements for hair loss: What are they and do they work?

Losing one’s hair is common, with around six million men and 8.5 million women in the UK currently affected, which is not only psychologically debilitating but can have a major effect on our self-esteem. It’s not surprising then that a huge market in hair loss supplements has sprung up to help remedy the problem.

Supplements can be effective, but the causes of hair loss are complex, and they will only work if a nutritional imbalance is behind our thinning hair.

“There are several causes of hai
The Telegraph •

Supplements for weight loss: What are they and how do they work

Losing weight can be tough. It requires consistently eating healthily and exercising; sometimes it can feel like fighting a losing battle. It’s not surprising then that reaching for the many weight-loss supplements you can buy over the counter can be tempting. Experts caution, however, that supplements are often expensive, unregulated and in most cases won’t make any significant difference to our weight. Scientific research is limited and often paid for by the manufacturers. “Weight loss supplem
The Telegraph •

ADHD and sleep problems: the complete guide

With minds that whir away at night as soon as their heads hit the pillow, people with ADHD often struggle to get to sleep, and when they do their sleep is restless and disturbed.

Clinicians estimate that between 50-75% of people with ADHD will suffer from debilitating sleep disorders.

“Sufferers often call it “perverse sleep” — when they want to be asleep, they are awake; when they want to be awake, they are asleep,” says Dr William Dodson, a US-based psychiatrist and leading specialist in ADH
The Telegraph •

ADHD paralysis: Causes, symptoms and treatment

ADHD paralysis can also be brought on by stressful work environments, with some research showing that working from home can be helpful.

Mental paralysis is when people’s brains become overwhelmed by competing thoughts, emotions or sensory overload, which may make it challenging for them to talk, move, work or communicate what is going on in their minds.

A lengthy to-do list and a lack of motivation may bring on an inability to get going with a particular project or task.

“When something needs

Doing Dry January transformed my life and mental health

When you use our sites and apps, we use cookies to:

Accept all', we and If you click '', we and our partners , including 238 who are part of the IAB Transparency & Consent Framework, will also store and/or access information on a device (in other words, use cookies) and use precise geolocation data and other personal data such as IP address and browsing and search data, for personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, and audience research and services development.

My family lost nearly 10 stone, here's how we did it

When you use our sites and apps, we use cookies to:

Accept all', we and If you click '', we and our partners , including 238 who are part of the IAB Transparency & Consent Framework, will also store and/or access information on a device (in other words, use cookies) and use precise geolocation data and other personal data such as IP address and browsing and search data, for personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, and audience research and services development.
The Telegraph •

The pros and cons of weight-loss drugs

The new generation of weight-loss drugs were initially developed to treat diabetes and work by mimicking a hormone that regulates insulin levels and appetite. When celebrities started shedding pounds with private prescriptions for the diabetes drug Ozempic, the race was on to make them more widely available for weight loss. There are now several different drugs including tirzepatide, Ozempic, Saxenda and Wegovy available, and now a new drug, retatrutide – dubbed the “Godzilla” – which claims to
The Telegraph •

The seven-day Mediterranean diet meal plan for healthy eating

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Mediterranean diet is the world’s healthiest diet. Extensive research backs up the numerous ways in which it is good for our health, and its focus on plants, wholegrains, good fats and lean protein, can be adapted to most national cuisines and native fruits and vegetables. Our delicious seven-day meal plan with recipes by the nutritionist Dr Federica Amati and the award-winning chef Jane Baxter, is packed full of easy to make meals featuring fruits, vegetable
The Telegraph •

Mediterranean diet: Benefits, heart health and weight loss

Healthy, delicious and adaptable, the Mediterranean diet is one of the very few diets that all the experts recommend. This is partly because it’s not actually a diet, but a pattern of eating derived from the traditional foods and lifestyle found in countries such as Italy, Spain and Greece, which border the Mediterranean Sea. It’s been extensively researched, and that research has shown that it confers multiple health benefits, most notably protecting against heart disease. The diet is so import
Load More