It turns out that tiny changes – minutes more exercise, a few grams more veggies – can make a surprisingly large difference to your longevity and heart attack risk.

And Dr Dominic Greenyer, a private GP at The Health Suite, said that those lifestyle changes become medically obvious in time.

“If you followed two twins over time, you would often see clear differences in their skin, body composition, energy levels and overall health depending on how they live,” Dr Greenyer said.

“Ageing is not just about time passing. It’s about how well the body is maintained.”

Here, he shared the five factors he feels make all the difference:

As we age, our muscles begin to wane – a process called sarcopenia. If we do nothing to maintain or build it, some research says we’re expected to lose half our muscle mass by 80.

“One of the biggest predictors of healthy ageing is muscle mass,” Dr Greenyer said.

“Chronic poor sleep can accelerate ageing at a cellular level,” Dr Greenyer said.

“It affects hormones, recovery, inflammation and even visible signs like skin quality.”

Experts think that following a “7-1” sleeping rule (getting at least seven hours of sleep a night, with no more than an hour’s variance between bedtimes and wake-up times) could add years to your life.

In and of itself, inflammation isn’t a problem – it can help our bodies to heal and may be an important part of muscle growth.

But “inflammaging” can occur when inflammation is chronic, and might contribute to conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and frailty.

It “is influenced by diet, stress, alcohol intake and overall lifestyle,” Dr Greenyer said.

Those who eat whole foods, stay active, and manage stress well may have less unwanted inflammation, he added.

This is the ability to respond well to changing metabolic demands. It allows you to switch between burning carbohydrates and fat; a more flexible metabolism is linked to better ageing.

“When this is impaired, people are more prone to energy crashes, fat gain and insulin resistance,” Dr Greenyer said. Exercise, eating well, and avoiding constant snacking may help, he added.

There’s lots of research to support the idea that enjoying ourselves – be it through socialising or even eating some candy – might help us to live longer.

“There is good evidence that polyphenol-rich foods such as dark chocolate can support cardiovascular health when consumed in moderation,” Dr Greenyer added. “Just as important is maintaining strong social connections, which are consistently associated with longer lifespan and better mental wellbeing.”

He ended, “The difference comes from small choices repeated over years – but they should still allow you to enjoy life.”

Nigel Farage has been accused of sounding “conspiracy theory-like” by the BBC’s political editor in a tense exchange.

The Reform UK leader clashed with Chris Mason during his first sit-down interview since winning back his seat in the Clacton by-election last month.

Farage triggered the contest by resigning after a parliamentary standards probe was launched into his failure to declare a £5 million gift he received from a Thailand-based crypto billionaire.

Farage insisted he has not broken any rules, claiming “it was not a political donation” and pointing out that he was not even an MP when he received it in 2024.

Although the Reform boss increased his majority, his main challenger was Count Binface because Labour, the Tories, Lib Dems and Greens all refused to take part.

Now Farage back in the Commons, the parliamentary investigation into the donation has resumed.

If he is found to have broken the rules and is suspended by parliament’s standards committee for more than 10 days, yet another by-election could take place.

When Mason asked what “on earth was the point” of last month’s by-election, Farage insisted the committee – which is made up of Tory, Labour and Lib Dem MPs plus seven members of the public – would not give him a fair hearing.

Asked about the a separate Metropolitan Police investigation into four large donations to Reform UK, Farage insisted “we live in a complainant society”.

He said: “If you complain about me, automatically that triggers an investigation. So we’re under investigation every day for virtually everything we do, because the other political parties are constantly writing to all the authorities.

“There is a whole ecosystem with a century of development around this, and we come along from virtually nowhere and threaten the whole thing.

“So I think what you’re seeing is the establishment, in a very coordinated way, fighting back. But do you know something, it isn’t going to work.”

Mason replied: “Doesn’t that sound a bit conspiracy theory-like? This ‘the whole world’s out to get us’ stuff.”

Farage insisted there was a “degree of collusion” between Reform’s opponents, who he claimed have been working to “attack” his party since its success in May’s local elections.

He added: “It’ll keep coming. This won’t stop. Every single thing we do will be questioned in all sorts of ways. This will not stop. They will continually try and do this to us.”

Asked who “they” are, Farage said: “People who, people who hold positions of power, influence, and money don’t want new kids on the block succeeding.

“It’s the whole ecosystem.”

He then suggested he and Donald Trump had “sat and talked” about the people who allegedly work against them, before changing his mind and adding: “I haven’t actually discussed this with him.

“But I can see the similarities because again, he was an outsider, he wasn’t part of the system.”

When Mason put it to Farage that scrutiny was “inevitable” considering he is angling to one day be prime minister, the Reform leader replied: “There’s been a wilful attempt, and it’s gone on now for months, to say that everything to do with Reform, that every individual involved with Reform is somehow a crook.

“That’s been the attempt that’s been made.”

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

Diane Abbott has been dubbed “Putin’s useful idiot” after she downplayed the threat posed to the West by Russia.

The veteran Labour MP said it was “a Nato fiction” being used to justify a boost in defence spending, which she opposes.

Her comments come just a month after it emerged she had previously described the war in Ukraine as “a Nato campaign against Russia”.

Andy Burnham has insisted that the UK will hit Nato’s target of spending 3.5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2035.

In a post on X, Abbott said: “The imminent threat from Russia is a Nato fiction to justify their complete capitulation to Trump’s demands for more military spending. The increase should not go ahead.”

Her comments sparked an angry backlash from politicians and pro-Ukraine campaigners.

A spokesman for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Those views are reprehensible. Ukraine is an innocent party in this. Everyone should be foursquare behind Ukraine and against Russian aggression.”

Posting on X, Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty said Abbott was “playing the role of Putin’s useful idiot”.

“To rail against increased defence spending by claiming the threat Russia pose is ‘a Nato fiction’ shows she is dangerously out of touch,” he said.

“Over four years into the war in Ukraine, and with escalating sub-threshold activity, we are agreed that increasing defence spending is a matter of national security. It beggars belief that a senior Labour politician could be so naïve.”

The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign said: “There are legitimate debates to be had about defence spending.

“Denying the Russian regime is a threat to democracy all over the world is not legitimate, particularly when the speaker describes Russia’s war on Ukraine as ‘the Nato campaign against Russia’.”

Abbott, the longest serving female MP in the Commons, lost the Labour whip last year after she argued in a letter to The Observer in 2023 that Jewish, Irish and Traveller communities experience prejudice rather than racism.

She got the whip back after Burnham replaced Keir Starmer as prime minister in July.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

When you think of Christmas, you probably think of twinkling lights, cosy mugs of hot chocolate by a fire, and a big glass of red wine. I think of sex toys. ’Tis the damn season, eh?

For the last few years, I’ve taken on the wholly selfless, jolly task of opening the best sex toy advent calendars (yup, those exist) and I’m not mad about it.

While beauty advent calendars have truly outgrown themselves over the last few years, I personally can’t think of a better way to sink into cosy season than a big box of adult treats to while away the time.

I mean, you’re going to be spending plenty of time indoors over the next few months, so you might as well make the most of it.

And while Ann Summers can offer you a plethora of seasonal lingerie to keep you feeling festive, my personal favourite of its Christmas offerings is its advent calendars.

This year, the brand has two 12-day (or night) calendars, filled with everything you could possibly ask for to stuff your stocking. Or something like that.

Christmas comes all year round in my household, so I’ve already opened them. Keep reading for my full review of each.

Ann Summers Advent calendars 2026 at a glance:

I’ve been writing and podcasting about sex and relationships for six years now, which means I’ve seen more than my fair share of advent calendars.

For the last few years, I’ve been reviewing the best ones for my podcast, in my previous role at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and now in my role as shopping writer at HuffPost. Ann Summers is one of the most popular calendars out there.

To make sure I know the full experience of opening a sex toy advent calendar in December (despite opening them as early as July) I open each one in order.

Then comes the serious part (not): considering the worth of the calendar versus the number of products.

If I haven’t used the products in each calendar, I’ll test them out, and I also consider how all of the products can be used together, as well as how versatile and accessible they are for a broad range of couples and singles.

You know how it goes, advent calendars can be a little hit or miss. Either you have the most magical experience opening the beautifully decorated boxes to unearth different treasures every day, or you spend ages fiddling around with a flimsy piece of plastic, only to find a disappointing present inside, which leads you to realise you’ve wasted your money.

If you ask me, sex toys can only be so bad. Last year, I highly rated Ann Summers’ calendars – they offered tons of options for sensation play, for people who weren’t as into intense stimulation, for couples and singles alike.

Immediately, I could tell it had upped the ante with its calendars this year. The boxes not only look more premium, but the toys inside felt it, too.

Of the two Advent calendars, 12 Nights Of Pleasure is undoubtedly the showstopper.

It’s not just a fortnight of pleasure you’ll be in for, though, because this calendar has everything you could ever want to buzz, spank, or massage your way to O town.

Inside the metallic purple, blue, and gold boxes, which feel seriously luxury, there are not only seven bestselling Ann Summers sex toys, but a ton of tools to heighten your pleasure without vibrations.

Think: handcuffs, and a paddle (in case you feel like experimenting with some BDSM), lube, and massage oil.

Beginners to sex toys won’t have to struggle for ideas, because it comes with a set of six ‘exploration’ cards with tips about how to use your toys.

And there’s no shortage of fun to be had: whether you’re playing by yourself or with a partner, the selection spells endless combinations.

The pièce de resistance is Ann Summers’ thrusting rabbit vibrator, which costs £70 alone, and offers blended orgasms that will having you decking the halls with more than boughs of holly.

You’ve also got a bullet and a wand, which both make for excellent solo toys, or a spot of mutual masturbation.

Add those into partnered sex along with one of the two cock rings, and you have a combo you’ll never want to put down.

But, if you’ve had enough of Christmas planning, you can even hand the reins over to your partner with the remote-controlled C-shaped toy, which the cards prompt you to pop in while doing the cooking. We’d recommend steering clear of Christmas day itself, though.

Not to mention that the toys all come in premium materials, including silicone and stainless steel, which is a real step up from the soft jelly plastic toys in its calendars last year.

Ann Summers 12 Nights Of Naughtiness

Santa might not want you to be naughty, but this calendar does. Should you not be willing to splash out £300+ on sex toys, the Nights Of Naughtiness calendar poses a slightly more affordable option.

The box isn’t quite as glam, as it’s filled with plastic, rather than individual boxes, but it’s still exciting to open.

Instead of full-sized toys, you’ll get eight mini toys, some of which can be slotted together to keep the good vibes going.

That mini pink rabbit is adorable and ideal for those who aren’t into too much penetration – but don’t worry, you’ll also get a G-spot vibrator to dive deeper, a silicone rabbit-eared bullet, a regular bullet, and a mini wand.

There are also options for the penis possessors out there, too, including a stretchy silicone cock ring, penis sleeve, and anal beads for backdoor play.

This might shock people, but I actually prefer the fact this calendar comes with silk hand ties rather than handcuffs, because you can use them as either a blindfold or wrist restraints (or ankle – go crazy!).

But it’s not just me whose mind will be whirring after opening this calendar, because like the 12 Nights Of Pleasure calendar, you’ll also get six cards with ideas of how to use each of the toys.

There’s no right or wrong – at least, not until your partner decides there is, and asks to you bend over for your comeuppance with that paddle.

Over the last few years, Ann Summers has really refined its advent calendars. Last year it went through a bit of an experimental phase with pheromone perfumes in its calendars; needless to say I’m relieved those have been dropped this year.

The overall quality feels much more premium. Ideally, you want sex toys that are made from silicone and stainless steel, as they’re easier to clean and are more durable, so I’m glad Ann Summers has switched its jelly toys out to these materials this year.

Whenever a brand releases multiple advent calendars, there’s always a clear winner in my mind. This year, it’s the 12 Nights Of Pleasure calendar.

It might be more expensive, but it’s totally worth it, as it’s more of a treat to open. Not to mention you’ll get two full-sized toys, and multiple bestsellers (the thrusting rabbit, rechargeable cock ring with rabbit ears, and remote-control love egg are not only fan favourites but some of my personal Ann Summers faves).

If you’re not bothered about having minis instead, though, you might want to save a cool £165 by opting for the 12 Nights Of Naughtiness.

Both are just as suitable for couples and singles. The included cards have a smorgasbord of ideas for how to use sex toys in solo or partnered sex scenarios, which will keep you coming all year round. Now that’s a happy New Year.

My older sister, Maria, has an intellectual disability, though it wasn’t always immediately obvious. When we were kids, she talked to herself long after imaginary play was supposed to end. She got overwhelmed by things that seemed small to everyone else. School was hard for her.

I grew up loving my sister, before I learned that the rest of the world saw her as “different.” When you’re a kid, “different” doesn’t feel like a compliment. All I wanted was to fit in, but it was hard with an older sister who stood out.

And whenever I was invited somewhere, there was usually one condition: “Take your sister.”

As a child, I hated hearing those words. Once, as if middle school wasn’t awkward enough, my parents made me take Maria to the movies when me and my friends were meeting up with some boys. I pulled her aside before we walked in.

“Don’t talk,” I told her. “Just stand over there.”

The memory still stings. But here’s the incredible part: Maria loved me anyway. She was always at my sports games. She proudly took pictures with me before every homecoming dance and prom. Eventually, she stood beside me as my maid of honor on my wedding day. Today, she’s the godmother to my three boys.

She wasn’t just my older sister. She was my biggest fan, long before I learned how to be hers.

Somewhere along the way, my embarrassment turned into fierce protectiveness. It hurt when people called my sister names like “the r-word” or stupid or slow, but at the time, I didn’t know what to do with that hurt. Looking back, I think my heart was beginning to quietly turn that pain into purpose.

I also remember the people who loved Maria exactly as she was. My high school friends didn’t just accept Maria, they included her. At one of our themed parties while my parents were out of town, she was right there dancing on the counter with the rest of us, with a cowboy hat on her head. (She also ratted us out the second my parents walked through the door. So much for keeping that little party “between us.”)

My college friends welcomed Maria whenever she came to visit me at Villanova. One night, her winter coat somehow disappeared from behind the bar where everyone had left them. Unexpected situations are incredibly hard for Maria; she can’t always process it when things don’t go according to plan. Within seconds, she was in a full meltdown.

A few of the football players stayed with her, keeping her safe and gently talking her through it while the rest of us searched for her coat. Eventually, she calmed down. Years earlier, I probably would have been mortified. Instead, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude.

My parents never let Maria’s disability become the reason she couldn’t dream big. When she was 26, she met a charming man who also had special needs at the Publix where she works. They immediately became a pair, participating together in bowling and track and field in Special Olympics. Before long, they began talking about marriage.

My siblings and I couldn’t wrap our heads around it. Maria already struggled with independent living and making everyday decisions. How could she also navigate a marriage, especially to a partner who faced challenges of his own? But my parents were supportive.

At the time, I thought they were absolutely crazy. Now I get it. That marriage didn’t last, but Maria deserved the chance to fall in love, get married, make mistakes, learn lessons and experience life just like the rest of us.

I stood beside her as her maid of honour. In my speech, I joked that she had never taught me the typical older sister things — like advice on fashion, putting on makeup or how to French kiss. Instead, she taught me the things that mattered far more. Patience. Kindness. Empathy.

Years later, I moved back to my hometown of Vero Beach, and Maria and I started hanging out regularly again. This time, it wasn’t because my parents made me.

By then, the gym had become my happy place, so I started dragging Maria with me. I still laugh thinking about a spin class we took where everyone was grinding through a steep hill while Maria, not understanding that she was supposed to turn up the resistance, pedalled like she was racing the Tour de France downhill.

The class wasn’t designed to provide the individual instruction and encouragement she needed to connect with the workout or feel motivated by it. The class simply moved at everyone else’s pace, not hers.

Then an idea hit me. What if I stopped trying to fit Maria into a class that wasn’t built for her … and created one that was?

So I asked a local gym if I could use the space on Sundays, when they were closed. Three athletes showed up to that first class. Of course, one of them was Maria.

Volunteers provided individualised coaching and modifications as they each worked through squats, presses and other functional fitness movements at their own pace. Instead of following along in the background, they were engaged and challenged.

That became the beginning of what is now Sunday Strong, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing physical activity for adults with intellectual disabilities. We pair with fitness facilities to offer weekly group exercise classes in a welcoming environment, at no cost to the community.

Maria has worked at Publix for over 25 years, so she knows and talks to just about everybody in town. Years ago, someone asked how I was feeling because Maria told them while bagging their groceries that I’d been drinking too much and throwing up. I was pregnant. Thanks, Maria.

But now she has become my unofficial marketing director. If she meets someone with a disability, she tells them, “You have to come to our exercise class!”

Once, in an airport, one of my kids pointed to a man using a wheelchair and asked about it. I explained that his legs don’t work the same way ours do and that the wheelchair helps him get around. The man thanked me. He told me so many parents panic when their kids ask questions. They rush them away or tell them not to stare.

“Kids are curious,” he said. “Just explain it.”

Inclusion starts with understanding.

Sunday Strong hasn’t just changed the lives of our athletes and their families. It’s changed the people who donate space at their fitness facilities, the coaches and instructors who donate their time and all our volunteers. People who have never spent time with someone with an intellectual disability before now leave our classes saying the same thing: “I got way more out of this than I gave.”

It’s changed my life most of all. The girl that once asked her sister to stand quietly at the movie theatre so no one would know they were together now finds purpose in providing a place in our community where people with intellectual disabilities can feel they belong.

I spent years wishing my sister wasn’t “different.” Now I can’t imagine my life without everything her differences have given me.

Laura Radocaj is the founder of Sunday Strong and the author of “We Move Together,” a children’s book that helps kids understand differences while celebrating kindness, inclusion and the idea that everyone belongs. A public relations professional for more than 20 years and a lifelong fitness enthusiast, Laura is also a happy wife, mom of four and a dog mom to an adorable pup.

Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.

We’ve endured blistering heat this summer, which has made it pretty much impossible to do anything other than walk to the end of your road.

My gym has been impossibly busy, thanks to the fact it has both an air con and a pool. It’s no wonder that, as temperatures climb, people are flocking towards anywhere that’s cold.

It’s even seeped into our travel habits: instead of travel to another scorching hot country (that’s probably not dissimilar in clime to the UK, let’s be real) people are increasingly going on ‘coolcations’ to places where they won’t have to plan what they do around the heat.

As winter approaches, research by SportsCover Direct shows that searches for ‘coolcations’ have risen a whopping 74% year-on-year, with 65% of holidayers saying they’d rather avoid travelling during the hottest time of year. Fair.

If you’ve given in to the allure of bathing in a natural bath while surrounded by ice caps, or can think of no better excuse to get off your phone than to be surrounded by the great outdoors, you’ll want to make sure you’ve packed the right thing.

It goes without saying, but what you shove in your suitcase undoubtedly needs to be different from what you wear on the beach.

While you might have conquered the shorts and vest look for hiking in hot weather, you’ll need to prepare more for hiking or cycling in the winter, explains Natalie Wolfenden, author and hiking enthusiast at GO Outdoors.

“A change in weather shouldn’t signal an end to your outdoor plans,” she says. “Some of the most enjoyable days in the hills can come when conditions are cooler, and the trails are quieter.

“The key is being properly prepared, with the right clothing, equipment and a clear understanding of how conditions can change throughout the day.”

To save you time, we’ve asked Wolfenden to round up her ultimate packing guide for a coolcation.

Keep reading for our recommendations.

I love brushing my teeth. There, I said it. Thus, my toothbrush is probably the most important part of my day.

It wasn’t until I switched to the SURI Pro, though, that I realised I’d been using an amateur electric toothbrush for far too long.

While I was a big fan of the brand’s award-winning brush (read my full review here) there’s one thing that kept niggling at me: it costs £105. That’s a lot for a toothbrush.

I would argue that, yes, it’s totally worth it – you can choose from a range of colours and a UV-cleaning travel case that also charges it, plus the charge lasts for over a month – not everyone is at home with splashing out that much on something so banal and quotidien as a tool for keeping your gnashers clean.

That’s probably why nearly half of the UK population still uses a manual toothbrush. That, or they prefer manual.

If, like me, you’ve been sucked in by SURI’s applaudable sustainability efforts (it uses plant-based heads and an aluminium body that can both be recycled) and pastel marketing, good news: you can finally get your hands on one of its brushes for less.

We’re not talking about a sale – although the brand does excellent Amazon discounts around Prime day and Black Friday, so look out for those – but a whole new brush, designed for people who are entering the electric toothbrush realm for the first time.

SURI has now launched the Core 1.0, which will set you back £40 less than the Pro.

Having loved the Pro so much, I was keen to see how they compared. Immediately, the Core 1.0 feels pretty much the same as the Pro.

It’s the same shape, but the main visual difference is that the brush heads are white, rather than the same colour as the body.

There are also fewer colours to choose from – four, instead of six. Like I said, the Core is designed to be an entry-level toothbrush, so that’s reflected in slightly less power: 28,000 sonic vibrations per minute instead of 30,000, and a battery life that lasts up to a month, rather than over a month.

It also doesn’t come with a UV cleaning storage charging case, which definitely comes in handy when travelling with the Pro, and it’s not compatible with it if you already happen to have one.

Instead, SURI has included a cap to keep your bristles clean if you chuck it in your bag, so naturally it’s slightly less heavy, making it kind of more ideal to travel with than the original.

Apart from that, it has basically the same functions as the Pro: a haptic pressure sensor that means it adjusts the intensity to your brushing, wireless USB-C charging, and a long-lasting battery life.

To me, the 2,000 fewer sonic vibrations per minute are barely noticeable, and the brush has essentially the same mouthfeel as the Pro.

Most importantly (for me) it still comes with all the extras, too, including a wireless stand and an adhesive mirror mount, so it won’t take up space in your bathroom.

If you send the heads back to SURI, they’ll recycle them for you. You can even sign up for a new head subscription, so you get them every six months without having to think about it.

Personally, that’s huge for me, because I can never remember to change my brush head without being prompted by a concerned onlooker (usually my mother when I go to stay with her) that my bristles are looking a little worse for wear.

Considering the brush is £40 cheaper, it’s not lost much of its functionality, and I’d happily spend that on a brush from a company that champions sustainability, and also looks nice in your bathroom.

Whether you’re only just entering the electric toothbrush market, or looking for a prettier alternative to some of the clunkier models out ther, the Core is a great electric toothbrush to go with.

Thinking ahead to Christmas, it would also make a great present for any teens or health-conscious family members.