The body and physical health

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

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A portrait of a woman with powdered hair wearing a silk dress, lace collar, black choker, and a pink ribbon, seated against a dark background.

idea

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

Three people wearing bathing suits and felt hats sit on a wooden bench in a sauna. The sauna is filled with steam, making the ambience hazy. The woman on the left is holding a bundle of twigs, likely for traditional sauna rituals. The mood appears relaxed and warm within the wooden interior.

The body and physical health

idea

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

Abstract illustration of two people; one is sitting and eating with chopsticks, the other is walking away, in a room with soft pastel walls.

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

film

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

Directed by William D Caballero

A woman jogging along a paved riverside path with modern buildings and a cloudy sky in the background. She is wearing a grey hoodie, black leggings, and trainers while listening to music on earphones.

Goals and motivation

idea

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

A child is offering a plate of homemade cookies

The body and physical health

idea

What I wish more people knew about deadly allergic reactions

Living with a deadly food allergy, I’ve discovered staying safe involves navigating other people’s doubts and expectations

by Hannah Waldfogel

A close-up photo of a person’s neck and upper chest, illuminated by blue and pink lighting, against a dark background.

Mind-body interactions

guide

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

film

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

Directed by Chenghua Yang

A close up of a vibrant yellow-gold tulip flower

History of ideas

idea

I smell, therefore I am. On the philosophy of the olfactory

To truly grip us, philosophy must engage with the practical and animalistic. It’s time to stop turning its nose up at smell

by Simon Hajdini

Person with closed eyes holding a twig with small red flowers near their nose, appearing to smell it. They wear a ring and have a light purple eyeshadow.

Communication and language

idea

What is the secret to an evocative smell description?

Many languages have very few odour-related words, so conveying what a scent is like requires knowing your audience

by Giulia Martina

Close-up of spaghetti with pesto, sprinkled Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and spinach leaves.

Food and drink

guide

How to go vegetarian or vegan

Quitting animal foods needn’t be a hardship. Relish your new diet and make it stick with this nutritionist’s approach

by Reed Mangels

Brightly coloured, psychedelic illustration of a boy in a field holding a prosthetic arm with a blue sky in the background.

Altered states

film

A boy’s universe becomes strange and wondrous in this enchanting short

Directed by Gabriel Gabriel Garble