The world’s most expensive burger has been unveiled

Oct 11, 2014

The world’s most expensive burger has been unveiled – and it may make you feel slightly ill.

Forget your double quarter pounder with cheese – the $1,768 “Glamburger” is a monstrous piece of culinary art consisting of a 280 gram meat patty, also containing black truffle brie, lobster, beluga caviar, venison and duck egg.

Oh, and we forgot to mention that there’s an edible gold leaf sitting pretty on top.

If the elaborate range of tastes and flavours doesn’t sit well with your palate, then you might want to look away before we reveal just how calorific this concoction is. The Glamburger packs a mighty punch to the gut, clocking in at 2,618 calories.

Suddenly, we’re not feeling so hungry for lunch.

The Glamburger was created by chef Chris Large in collaboration with Groupon, who wanted to do something extra special to mark the sale of their five-millionth food and drink voucher in Britain.

Large has said that he will give the Glamburger away free to the winner of a special competition that is set to run shortly.

Will you be putting your name into the hat?

Bake Off star shares shocking food revelation

Oct 4, 2014

by Amber Saunders

With a love for cooking, and her own baking book to her name, you may be surprised to hear that food wasn’t always The Great British Bake Off star Ruby Tandoh’s friend.

The 22-year-old, who sailed into the finals of last year’s show, has opened up on her difficult relationship with food, admitting that she once suffered from an eating disorder.

Ruby, who proved extremely popular during her stint on the show, makes the revelation in a new interview with Elle magazine, recalling her obsessive calorie counting and extreme dieting.

“I even went into modelling…to give my illness some justifying purpose. I dashed between castings with masochistic zeal, squeezing myself into sample clothes many sizes too small,” Ruby says.

Tracing the beginning of her problems back to when she started university, Ruby says cooking for others around her was her own special way of dealing with her issues.

Thankfully, Ruby has made it through that testing time of her life, and has gone on to enjoy considerable success since first hitting our screens on Bake Off last year. As well as having her own food column in The Guardian, she also released her own baking book, Crumb, last month.

We did have a soft spot for Ruby. Good on her; we wish her all the best with her career.

New watch can calculate when you will die

Oct 3, 2014

by Amber Saunders

A man has invented a watch that he claims can calculate your life expectancy, and even tell you when you are going to die.

The Tikker, created by Swedish inventor Fredrik Colting, processes your medical and health history to provide you with the exact time of your death.

While it’s unlikely that the Tikker will make for a wonderful birthday gift for family and friends, its creator insists that users should the information to enrich their lives and make the most of the time they have left with their loved ones.

Now for the science behind the watch. To generate their life expectancy, users are asked to fill in the details of both their and their family’s medical history, as well as lifestyle habits including whether they smoke, or drink alcohol.

The Tikker then processes the user’s score, deducting their age, to generate their specific life expectancy span.

While you may have been expecting an exorbitant price tag, the Tikker can be purchased online for a fairly reasonable £49.99.

Losing ability to smell could signal greater risk of death

Uncategorized

Oct 2, 2014

by Amber Saunders

New research has found that losing your ability to smell could signal a greater risk of death.

US scientists made the link after carrying out a study in which they tested 3000 people aged between 57 and 85 with various different scents.

According to the study report, published in health journal PLOS One, 39 percent of those who failed the smell test died five years later.

The research deemed one in ten to have a ‘healthy’ sense of smell, after identifying close to every one of the selected scents, which included rose, peppermint, fish and leather.

The lead author of the report, Dr Jayant Pinto, clarified the findings of the study to Reuters, explaining: “It doesn’t directly cause death, but it’s a harbinger, an early warning that something has gone badly wrong.”

“Compared to a person with a normal sense of smell, a person with an absent sense of smell has three times greater risk of dying within a five-year span," he said.

Dr Jayant also added that he and his team intend to investigate their interesting findings further.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: checking your breasts

Oct 2, 2014

by Amber Saunders

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and so we are going to give you the lowdown on how and when you need to check your breasts.

Firstly, it’s important to check your breasts regularly – as in every time you shower.

About once a month you should do a thorough check of your breasts.

Changes to look out for when checking your breasts include:

A lump or thickening in the breast or under the armpit
Pain in one of the breasts or armpit
Puckering or dimpling of the breast skin
Pulling in of the nipple
Reddness of the breast skin
Nipple rash
Discharge or bleeding from the nipple
Changes in the shape or size of the breasts or nipple
A change in the position of the nipple

Cancer.ie notes that 9 out of 10 breast lumps are harmless but if anything is bothering you about your breasts please visit a GP so they can put your mind and ease and do any further investigating that may need to be done.

Checking regularly for changes in your breasts can catch anything that may be worrying early and is therefore really important in the fight against breast cancer – which is one we all want to win.

4 simple ways to improve your posture

Sep 26, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Not only can good posture keep your spine, hips and other joints in good condition, it can also make you appear taller and in better shape – and who doesn’t want that?!

Here are some super simple ways you can perfect your posture:

1. Ensure your ears are in line with your shoulders
By checking up on this a couple of time throughout the day you can make sure your posture is on your mind and keep those shoulders straight.

2. Don’t cross your legs
You’re doing it right now aren’t you? Don’t lie… By uncrossing your legs you ensure your back is straight and you’re not leaning to one side.

3. Pilates
Regular Pilates can really work wonders for your posture. By discovering your core you’ll soon find yourself feeling and looking taller. You don’t have to fork out money for classes either, just purchase a mat and use great YouTube channels like Blogilates to get you started.

4. Step away from the desk
Nobody wants to be the girl who does desk exercises – we get it. So why not try this: go out to the hall or even to the bathroom and just drop your head to your feet as low as you can go and slowly come back up giving your back a good long stretch as you do. You’ll be amazed how good you after and no one has to see you!

5 alternatives to cow’s milk you can add to your diet

Sep 25, 2014

by Amber Saunders

There are many reasons people are looking for alternatives to cow's milk on the market right now.

Whatever your reason to cut back on dairy – here are some alternatives you can try out!

Most of these milk alternatives will be widely available in supermarkets in Ireland now but if not then your local health food store is a safe bet!

Many milk alternatives can have sugar added so always try to find ‘unsweetened’ varieties to protect your teeth!

1. Almond milk
Almond milk is always a safe bet as it has a really lovely nutty flavour that is great in coffee, porridge, cereal etc. It’s not as rich as regular milk but you’ll soon crave the great aroma is adds to your food!

2. Coconut milk
No, not the canned variety. This coconut milk is more watery and perfect for your dairy-free baking and dessert making! It also tasted great in coffee in you like a coconutty-flavour.

3. Rice milk
Rice milk is said to be the least fattening of milks so if weight loss is what you are after then this is for you! Rice milk is also the best hypo-allergic of milks and has a lovely sweet flavour you’ll enjoy in your coffee or breakfast.

4. Soy milk
Soy milk can be the best of the alternatives to use in savoury dishes as it has a very undistinguishable flavour unlike almond or coconut especially.

5. Hemp milk
Hemp milk is made from the seeds of the hemp plant and has a nutty flavour and is also a little sweet and is high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Can’t sleep? Here are some tips that might help

Sep 24, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Is there anything more frustrating than lying in bed for hours and hours waiting for sleep to come…and it just doesn't?

By the time you realise you’re tired, it’s almost time to get up and the stress of that means you will be up all night.

Here are some tips that might help you when you find you just can’t drop off.

We’ll have you in the land of nod in no time!

Exercise early
Studies show that it is best to work out at least three hours before you hit the leaba as it gives your body sufficient time settle down.

Keep it light
Gulping down a huge meal and a pint of coke isn’t going to help – at all. Keep those nighttime snacks light and limit any drinks to caffeine free to ensure you get a good night’s sleep.

Put it away
We know you peek at that phone before lights out – don’t lie! Well, here is a very good reason not to, especially if you have trouble sleeping anyway: the light coming from our phone/iPad/laptop screens stimulated daytime hormones, meaning your body winds itself back up.

Get sexy
Yes, you read that right – another amazing reason to get busy in the bedroom! As we all know, men love to drop off having sex – but the same goes for women too! So, if you have trouble sleeping, you know what to do…

Imagination
Use your imagination to help you drop off. Try to visualise yourself having the best sleep of your life and you may soon find yourself dropping off.

5 spices that can improve your health

Sep 23, 2014

by Amber Saunders

1. Turmeric
Turmeric has amazing anti-inflammatory properties and a cup of turmeric tea is sure to shift any cold or lurking flu you might have.

2. Ginger
Ginger has the ability to ease nausea and is also a potent anti-inflammatory. Add it to your smoothies or stir fries for a health kick.

3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon can be great for those trying to cut down on sugar as it helps to lower blood sugar, helping you crave it less.

4. Cayenne
Not only doesn't cayenne add a great kick to your dishes, it aso regulates blood sugar and increases circulation.

5. Cumin
Adding cumin to curries and salad dressings will not only add a great flavour to your dishes but it is also a powerful antioxidant.

5 great fitness Instagram accounts to follow

Sep 21, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Looking for some fitness and health inspiration on Instagram?

Then look no further – we've checked out five great fitness Instagram accounts you need to follow, like now.

Have a peek and be ready for that motivation we all need sometimes!

1. Blogilates
Blogilates is the genius of Cassey Ho, possibly the world's cutest woman. Not only is her YouTube channel essential for those of us who can't afford a weekly Pilates class, her Instagram feed is brimming with healthy food ideas, fitness style and the most epic YOLO meals ever!

2. The Peanut Butter Girl
The Peanut Butter Girl is Tiffany Brien, a fitness and health fanatic from Belfast. Her Instagram feed is filled with amazing healthy snack and meal ideas as well as some serious style. Tiffany has even found a way to make Bounty bars healthy – what more could we ask for?!

3. Tone It Up
Tone It Up's Instagram page doesn't have over 300,000 followers for nothing! If you're looking for motivation, fitness ideas and healthy eating – this is the Instagram account you need in your feed.

4. Deliciously Ella
Not a fitness Instagram per se – but they do say abs are made in the kitchen! This Instagram feed is full of colourful, tasty and super healthy meal ideas. Did we mention how pretty it is?!

5. Clean and Lean
Clean and Lean is the brainchild of Bodyism's James Duignan, personal trainer to stars such as Rosie Huntington-Whitely, Elle McPherson and, er, Hugh Grant! The Clean and Lean Instagram is perfect for that inspirational pick-me-up you need to get your butt moving as well as lots of great food ideas and beautiful pictures – which is what Instagram is all about after all!

Frightening news as Joan Rivers is rushed to hospital

Aug 28, 2014

by Amber Saunders

There is frightening news emerging that Joan Rivers is currently undergoing serious surgery after a routine medical procedure went awry.

The comedian was undergoing surgery in Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC when complications occurred.

Joan reportedly stopped breathing and is currently undergoing medical care.

Details are still emerging but we will keep you updated as things develop.

We wish her all the best for a full recovery.

Update – 6.30pm: Joan is now reportedly in a stable condition. Get well soon Joan!

Heartbreaking video on why the Ice Bucket Challenges DO matter

Aug 21, 2014

by Amber Saunders

For the past two weeks or so, many videos of celebrities and people around the world dumping buckets of iced water over their heads have been all over the place.

The words ALS may not have meant much to many of us before, but now we know exactly what Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is, and that’s why those videos are so important.

This video will show you the importance of movements like this one, and open our eyes to things that touch people’s lives that we may not see everyday.

Well done, Anthony, your video truly touched our hearts.