The body and physical health

Self-knowledge and personal growth Relationships, work and leisure Values and ethical living

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Photo of a pregnant woman in a pink vest and white skirt, holding a red bag, walking in an urban area.

Parenting and families

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Moving through the world pregnant, my body became everyone’s

And I knew that, once I became a mother, I would be only more visible, more public, more available for scrutiny

by Katie da Cunha Lewin

Woman seated at a cafeteria table reading a book, with her shoes kicked off.

The body and physical health

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In defence of slouching: the bad science behind good posture

The idea that we should all stand straight is widely accepted. But this modern obsession has dubious origins

by Beth Linker

Coloured microscopic image of pollen grains and plant fibres in close-up, showing vibrant round and elongated structures.

Food and drink

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How to maintain a healthy gut

With a few lifestyle and dietary changes, you can protect your gut microbiome, boost your immunity and improve your mood

by Vincent Ho

A young man with a serious expression wearing a grey hoodie outdoors at dusk, with a blurred landscape and lights in the background.

Depression

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Why Darius is testing mind and body to run 100 miles in the cold

Directed by Amar Chebib

Photo of a woman in a pink top sitting indoors with eyes closed. Sunlight and shadows on the wall, plant on the right.

Death and dying

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It’s not foolish to foster hope in the face of illness and death

As a great loss loomed, I feared straying too far from the hard truth. But I learned to distinguish denial from hope

by Christiana Boules

A painting of a woman in 18th-century attire with a large hairstyle holding a letter, seated with a dark background.

The body and physical health

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Menopause was a French invention at a time of revolution

French doctors of the 1800s had a vested interest in pathologising women’s ageing, as do many commercial entities today

by Alison M Downham Moore

Illustration of a person eating with chopsticks at a table while another person walks away in a softly coloured room.

Eating disorders

guide

How to spot an eating disorder

Worried about someone’s behaviour around food? Eating disorders are serious and secretive: knowing the red flags will help

by Phillip Aouad & Sarah Maguire

Animated scene of a woman comforting a man at a kitchen table, with one hand resting of his back.

Love

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Caregiving is the highest form of love in this powerful family portrait

Directed by William D Caballero

Photo of three people in swimsuits and felt hats sitting in a sauna. The atmosphere is warm and misty.

The body and physical health

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You are your body: here’s how to feel more at home in it

Just because you live in a body, doesn’t mean you feel at one with it. Embodiment psychology can help you reconnect

by Elna Schütz

Photo of a woman jogging along a riverside path in an urban area with tall buildings under a partly cloudy sky.

Goals and motivation

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So-called ‘SMART goals’ are a case of style over substance

From fitness to finance, the SMART goal-setting method is ubiquitous, but often detrimental. There are better approaches

by Christian Swann

Photo of a person’s neck and shoulders illuminated with pink and blue light on a dark blue background.

Mind-body interactions

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How to trust your body

Your heart, lungs, abdomen and gut are trying to tell you something. Learning to tune in can significantly boost your health

by Saga Briggs

Illustration of a young woman with a bob haircut, red skin and two different coloured eyes. She holds her hands up to her cheeks.

Mental health

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Fixating on her body, a woman grapples with strange distortions of the self

Directed by Chenghua Yang