Lifestyle

  A cup of coffee could be a better pain-reliever than drugs, say scientists. Caffeine, the active ingredient in coffee, was more effective than painkillers like ibuprofen and even morphine. But it was only effective on pain combined with sleep deprivation. It means patients' suffering could be eased with shots of caffeine. It boosts dopamine, the brain's pleasure-chemical that makes people feel good. In experiments groups of six to 12 lab rodents were kept awake for as long as 12...

TLE readers are in with a chance to win a Bickerton fold up bike worth £1,049.99 to celebrate this year's Spin Cycling Festival taking place at London Olympia this weekend. Folding bikes are all about key areas; ease of fold, weight and stiffness resulting in a solid, comfortable ride. Bickerton have completely redesigned the Argent platform from the ground up and this has resulted in a bike that is at the forefront of folding technology today. With the latest in hinge technology (not available...

UK Parents are losing control as their children flock to social media and immerse themselves in digital, new research has revealed. The survey found children as young as six have social media accounts with the vast majority of parents admitting to having no monitoring software or system on their children’s digital devices, apps and social media networks. Parents across the UK agree tech and social media are taking over their lives and being plugged in constantly is damaging their children as...

If you’re in London over the summer months, there are countless great activities and events to get involved in for both the local Londoner as well as those just passing through, catering to every taste. Sports and racing There are numerous large-scale athletics competitions and races in London during the summer months, but undoubtedly the two most renowned are Wimbledon and Royal Ascot. While Royal Ascot, running from 20th to 24th June, is known as much for its exclusive reputation...

A leading food psychologist has revealed the reasons why you succumb to everyday cravings – and provides crucial tips on how to cheat them. Dr Christy Fergusson, working with Seasonal Berries, delivers the answers to why so many Brits can’t resist foods such as sugar, salt, carbohydrates, cheese and coffee. She claims that by providing the body with quick solutions it IS possible to lower the amount of unhealthy food consumed and stop these cravings in their tracks. Sugar The...

Giving a massage can be as good for you as receiving one - and helps strengthen relationships, say scientists. Rubbing your partner up the right way boosts both their well-being and yours, according to new research. Experts say it's easy to incorporate into lovers' "daily routine." Couples who took part in a three-week course found their physical and emotional health significantly improved after each lesson. Crucially this was equally apparent whether the participant was giving - or receiving - the...

Now no one likes filling out piles of admin, and tax returns are probably the worst of the lot. BUT, it seems that confusing, infuriating flat pack instructions may top even the most taxing of tax forms. A new survey of 2,000 UK homeowners has revealed that 16 per cent find flat pack instructions more difficult to follow than a job application and 13 per cent would rather tackle a tax return than try to fight their way through those...

A police officer has left the force after twelve years on the front line for a better paid job - as a lap dancer. Mum-of-three Hannah Havers, 35, joined the police in 2003 but the long hours and stressful shifts were leaving her exhausted and affecting her marriage. She found she had little time and energy to spend with husband Michael, also a PC, and her children Christian, 11, Harley, four and Madison, two. The pretty Thames Valley PC of...

A 21-year-old man who has the body of a 160 YEAR-OLD is thought to be the world's oldest real life case of ‘Benjamin Button’. Rupesh Kumar, who weighs just 20kg, has aged EIGHT times faster than normal due to Hutchison-Gilford progeria. The condition affects one in eight million people and he is believed to be the oldest survivor after the death of South African Leon Botha at the age of 26. Rupesh, from Hanumanganj in in the north Indian state...