Table of contents for 04-Jun-2020 in Pick Me Up!

For centuries, people have used scents to fight off all kinds of ailments. Give these everyday items a sniff. 1 APPLES: Sniffing green apples may control blood pressure, lessen migraine pain and help you lose weight. In a study, 3,000 overweight women were asked to smell green apples whenever they were hungry. In six months they lost around 5lb. 2 LEMONS: Several studies show that the smell of lemons reduces stress. Linalool, a key component in lemons, can reduce stress levels to normal. 3 ORANGES: The smell of oranges has a relaxing effect, especially on women. Research conducted by Brazilian scientists found that people who sniffed sweet orange essential oil before a stressful test had lower anxiety levels. 4 CUCUMBERS: Cucumbers may lessen the effects of claustrophobia. When your eyes…

Q I’ve been cancer-free for two years but still live in fear of it coming back. How can I stop my fear taking over? Mike, Brighton A For many people, fear of a recurrence of cancer can be disabling. In our experience at Maggie’s, talking through the facts and understanding your risks are important ways of making sense of some of the extreme thoughts that anxiety can provoke. Talking through those thoughts with a professional can really help to take control again. Also, using techniques to calm your mind and still your body such as relaxation and mindfulness can help you hold on to rational and clear thinking. Depending on the type of cancer diagnosis you had and the further away from your diagnosis you are, the more your risk…

Rushing home from work, I was desperate to see my little sister, Beth, 22. ‘I’ve got you one,’ she said, handing me a pregnancy test as I headed straight for the bathroom. Earlier that day, I called her from work after realising my period was a few days late. I’d also had a weird metal taste in my mouth which my mum, Debbie, 44, said was a sign of pregnancy. ‘I had it when I was pregnant with you,’ she explained. And after waiting for what felt like a lifetime, the test was finally ready. Positive… ‘Oh my God,’ Beth squealed. ‘I better ring Jordan,’ I said, completely shocked. My boyfriend, Jordan, 24, and I had been together for almost two years. Although we hadn’t planned on having a baby…

Q If I should splurge on one product, what do you think it should be? Callie, South London A I think investing in good skin products can make a massive difference. Primer is a must to hold makeup in place and my favourite at the moment is The Veil by Hourglass. It’s expensive, but well worth the price tag. Q What one product could you not live without? Kate, Kent A My must have product would have to be my concealer. I love to cover my under eyes and imperfections. I use 2 concealers – Mac 24 Hour Concealer and Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I love them! Q How do you properly remove false lashes without ripping any real ones out? Holly, Dublin A The removal of false lashes completely depends…

Phil Vickery’s five canned food tips Love Canned Food is an initiative that has been created to celebrate all aspects of canned food and aims to educate people about its benefits as an affordable, nutritious and versatile part of their daily diet. Love Canned Food’s ambassador, celebrity chef Phil Vickery, is helping to inspire the nation to increase their consumption of canned food. Here are five top tips from Phil on making use of canned food, during a period where we all find ourselves with more at our disposal in our kitchen cupboards… 1. Get more for your money by bulking out your dishes with canned food Canned vegetables and pulses are a great way of bulking out family favourites such as pies, lasagne and ragu. Adding in a can…

What a great idea Why can’t I go outside? is a question we’re sure many of you have heard from your kids in the past few weeks. Being under lockdown is certainly a difficult and rather scary concept to explain to kids. Author Emily Merrifield and illustrator Ciara Long have teamed up to create a book to help you. Why Can’t I go Outside? is a story about a little boy at home during the COVID-19 outbreak. He questions why he’s not allowed outside and uses his imagination to come up with some interesting ideas, helping children broach this difficult subject and also helping parents explain it better. The e-book is free to download from the duo’s JustGiving page, and any donations made go to UNICEF and Refuge charity. Visit www.justgiving.com…

Sue Tappenden is a Coach and People Expert who helps her clients improve their relationship with themselves and others. (www.headspaceforchange.com) Struggling to cope Q I lost my grandad last year and my last words to him were in anger. We had a silly fight, but I never imagined I’d never see him again. Now I am wracked with guilt and there’s nothing I can do about it. Elisa, York A When someone close to us dies, it’s one of the most difficult things we ever have to deal with and it can be particularly tough when the relationship had gone wrong at the time of their death. Feeling that you can’t now put things right with your grandad must be so hard. Grieving for someone is a natural process and…

1 There’s no difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest. □ True □ False 2 I’d know if I was having a heart attack. □ True □ False 3 Cold weather can affect heart health. □ True □ False 4 I can’t exercise after having a heart attack. □ True □ False 5 It’s possible to die from a broken heart. □ True □ False 1 FALSE A heart attack happens when there’s a sudden loss of blood flow to the heart. A cardiac arrest happens when the heart stops pumping blood around the body. 2 FALSE Most people associate a heart attack with severe chest pain, but there are lots of symptoms, such as pain that travels down your arms or to your jaw. 3 TRUE Research by the British…

Lying in his tiny hospital bed, our little boy, Reggie, was hooked up to the machines that were keeping him alive. Laying still and silently, he wasn’t interested in listening to me read him another story. Reggie wasn’t quite two yet, but was drained of almost all energy. The only way he’d ever get better was by having a heart transplant. As I sat there watching him, it dawned on me that tragedy had to befall another family in order for our baby to live. It was almost too much to bear and if I could have reached in and given him my heart, I would. But there was nothing I could do. Back in March 2017, me and my husband Chris, 27, were thrilled to find out I was…

Joe’s Exotic Condoms, £9.99, Firebox.com The perfect latex for your wild and untamed beast. A gift for a Tiger King lover! Verdict: BONKERS! Cue isolation baby boom! Tacosaurus Rex, £25, RedCandy.co.uk We’ve got to taco ‘bout how roarsome this is! A novelty taco holder perfect for sharing snacks. Verdict: GENIUS! Upgrade your Mexican! Perky Pelican Sponge Holder, £13, RedCandy.co.uk This little guy is there to lend a helping beak, as a nifty place to pop your sponge or dry your cloth. Verdict: GENIUS! Make washing up fun!…

Get the kids cooking up a storm in the kitchen with these awesome cookbooks. Perfect for your little chefs! Kid Chef Junior Bakes: My First Kids Baking Cookbook by Charity Mathews £ 10.71, Amazon Teaching kids baking skills can be so exciting, and this book hits the sweet spot between recipes that are fun and easy and food that’s colourful and tasty. With pictures for every recipe, step-by-step instructions, and large text that’s easy to read, the kids will be baking in no time. The book also includes the basics of oven safety and how to measure ingredients. Whether they’re learning how to make Dirt Cups with Candy Worms, Strawberry Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes, or Razzle-Dazzle Raspberry-Cream Cheese Muffins, the kids will be baking up a storm! Fantastic Eats! & how to cook…

INSTANT appointment With Andrew Anderson, head of cancer charity Maggie’s Edinburgh Centre. What are my chances? Q My mum and nan both had breast cancer, does this mean I might get it too? Sandra, Cornwall A In your situation, it depends what age your mum and your nan were when they were diagnosed and whether it was your maternal grandmother or not. Even though you have family members who have been diagnosed it doesn’t mean that you have a genetic risk. It’s appropriate to ask your GP or to ask your mum’s oncologist, surgeon or breast care nurse to see whether you should be referred for genetic screening. How can I help? Q How can I support a loved one through cancer treatment? Jane, Liverpool A Most people going through…

Snack happy If working from home and the stress of the current situation is leading you to snack more, you’re not the only one. Opting for healthier snacks can control your energy and blood sugar levels which in turn can prevent you from constantly grazing throughout the day. Knowing where to turn for a healthy snack can be challenging, which is why Nutritionist and Linwoods Health Foods ambassador, Jenna Hope, has set out some simple guidelines to help you. EAT A PROTEIN RICH BREAKFAST Eating a breakfast rich in protein can help to set you up for the day, stabilise your blood sugar levels and keep you fuller for longer. Opt for eggs or Greek yoghurt with berries and cinnamon, topped with Linwoods Shelled Hemp or Milled Flaxseed with Bio-Cultures…

Wild Animal Babies, Sky Nature This wonderful series follows biologist Patrick Aryee and an adorable cast of baby animal characters as they face their ultimate test: their first days, weeks and months on planet earth. From the outback of Australia to the Costa Rican coast, we watch as our tiny heroes overcome each new challenge. As the youngsters learn the life skills they need to survive, we witness the extraordinary devotion of animal parents and the sacrifices they make to protect the next generation. Britain’s Best Parent, Channel 4 Anita Rani hosts this series that explores a plethora of parenting styles and tries to answer one of life’s most hotly-debated questions: is there a right way to raise children? Twelve sets of parents, who are all convinced that they’ve mastered…

Summertime makeup Stila Beauty Boss Lip Gloss Extensions, £14, Stila.co.uk From shimmering nudes to pops of sheer pink, these new shades are bound to be your next summer staple. Next-generation light-refracting, iridescent pearls create intense shine, pure colour and amplified dimension. With soothing aloe and other lip-loving botanicals, these glosses create a plush gel base, so your lips stay comfortable and soft. Lacura Too Legit Mascara, £5.99, Aldi A returning sell-out favourite, this mascara has a specially designed brush to allow reach, for even the shortest of lashes. With a black long-wearing formula, this affordable mascara provides longer looking lashes with just one coat. With 100% of users seeing long-wearing results and 88% seeing visible root-to-tip curl, lift and separation, this mascara really is ‘legit’! GOSH EYEdentity Eyeshadow Palette, £10.99,…

In need of a little pampering? Beauty experts at www.theeverygirl.com share seven easy ways to create a spa-like experience at home. Load up on hot towels Giving yourself a facial? Rather than running back and forth to the sink to wash your face between steps, load up on soft cotton towels. Soak them in hot water, then wring them out until they’re slightly damp. Use these to wipe off any product, just like the professionals do. Try adding essential oil to the water. As you apply the towel to your face, you’ll breathe these in for a relaxing touch. Engage your senses Part of why going to a spa feels so special is because all five senses are engaged. When setting up a treatment at home, remember to do the…

28 May – 3 June www.theastrologyroom.com ARIES 21 March–20 April You have some building up to do, of all that has been broken down these last few weeks. What’s occurred will see you changing your circumstances, because from here on in, you change your attitude. News from far away gives you reason to look forward not back. Commitments you keep in work put a feather in your cap. One you needed! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You are spending far too much time worrying about other people’s lives, instead of concentrating on your own. Big mistake. You need to put yourself first. The truth is, sometimes you’re never too old or too good to lose. The lessons that come with it can help you find the peace…