CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The International Space Station returned to full strength with Saturday’s arrival of four new astronauts to replace colleagues who bailed early because of health concerns.

SpaceX delivered the U.S., French and Russian astronauts a day after launching them from Cape Canaveral.

Last month’s medical evacuation was NASA’s first in 65 years of human spaceflight. One of four astronauts launched by SpaceX last summer suffered what officials described as a serious health issue, prompting their hasty return. That left only three crew members to keep the place running — one American and two Russians — prompting NASA to pause spacewalks and trim research.

Moving in for eight to nine months are NASA’s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev. Meir, a marine biologist, and Fedyaev, a former military pilot, have lived up there before. During her first station visit in 2019, Meir took part in the first all-female spacewalk.

Adenot, a military helicopter pilot, is only the second French woman to fly in space. Hathaway is a captain in the U.S. Navy.

“Bonjour!” Adenot called out once the capsule docked to the space station 277 miles (446 kilometers) up.

A couple of hours later, the hatches swung open and the seven space travelers hugged and exchanged exuberant high-fives. “Let’s get rolling,” Meir said.

NASA has refused to divulge the identity of the astronaut who fell ill in orbit on Jan. 7 or explain what happened, citing medical privacy. The ailing astronaut and three others returned to Earth more than a month sooner than planned. They spent their first night back on Earth at the hospital before returning to Houston.

The space agency said it did not alter its preflight medical checks for their replacements.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

The beloved William Shakespeare film adaptation starring Kate Winslet and Kenneth Branagh has received rave reviews

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Viewers seeking a compelling period drama need look no further, after one adaptation of a William Shakespeare play streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV+ has garnered outstanding praise on IMDb. This follows others enjoying a historical series likened to HBO’s gripping Chernobyl and an “excellent” period drama adaptation, reports the Express.

The film has attracted glowing reviews on IMDb, with one viewer posting a 10/10 critique titled: “The Bard would be proud”. The reviewer continued: “What I really liked about this film is that you don’t have to be a Shakespeare scholar to enjoy it. This is a must see for anyone and everyone. It may be four hours long, but it’s definitely worth it.”

A second viewer wrote in their top-rated review: “This is the only film of “Hamlet” that contains the full four hours of William Shakespeare’s masterpiece and gives a unique feel to the whole story.” Echoing the first review, they concluded: “This is a must see for everyone who enjoy’s good story telling, brilliant acting, and incredible direction. All of these part of William Shakespeares greatest triumph.”

A third viewer praised the production as a “masterpiece” in their 8/10 review and noted: “I’m pleased to tell you that this adaptation is every bit as good as the intense and dramatic play.” Another viewer commented in their 9/10 review that this film was amongst the “best” Shakespeare adaptations that actor and director Kenneth Branagh had created and described it as a “masterpiece”.

They elaborated: “The cast is great too. No weak link in the acting, and everyone holds their own.” The reviewer added in their piece: “The Cinematography shows off the world well and fits most scenes, same with the music [sic].” Branagh’s 1996 adaptation of The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or simply Hamlet, delivered an epic and devastating story to cinema audiences.

The Belfast and Wallander star penned and helmed the film, whilst also portraying the titular character in Hamlet. This interpretation of Hamlet was remarkable for being the first complete film version of William Shakespeare’s tragedy and its lengthy running time clocked in at four hours. Hamlet chronicled the story of the Prince of Denmark following his devastation over his father’s passing, with his uncle Claudius (Derek Jacobi) rapidly wedding his mother Gertrude (Julie Christie) to claim the throne.

Following an apparition of his deceased father, the prince set out to exact retribution for his father’s killing at the hands of his uncle.

Hamlet feigned insanity whilst investigating his father’s death, though this ultimately resulted in further losses, including Ophelia (played by Kate Winslet).

Yet, whilst pretending to lose his mind, it appeared Hamlet genuinely descended into madness as he contemplated existence and mortality.

As with all of Shakespeare’s tragedies, numerous other fatalities occurred in Hamlet as the prince pursued his vengeance. Hamlet boasted a star-studded ensemble, which also included Richard Briers from The Good Life, Nicholas Farrell from The Crown, Michael Maloney of The Trial of Christine Keeler, and Rufus Sewell from ITV’s Victoria.

There were also some big names that took on minor roles in Hamlet, including the late Robin Williams, Gérard Depardieu, Timothy Spall, Jack Lemmon, Ray Fearon, Brian Blessed, Billy Crystal, Simon Russell Beale, Don Warrington from Death in Paradise, Charlton Heston, Richard Attenborough, John Gielgud, and Judi Dench.

Hamlet went on to garner a host of award nominations, including four Oscars and two BAFTA Film Awards.

Hamlet (1996) is available to watch on Prime Video and Apple TV+ for a fee

Four new astronauts have arrived at the International Space Station to replace their colleagues who pulled out early over health concerns.

SpaceX delivered the US, French and Russian astronauts to the orbital research laboratory 277 miles (446km) up in space, a day after they launched from Cape Canaveral.

The new crew members include NASA‘s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrey Fedyaev.

The last group of astronauts were forced to evacuate after one of them suffered what officials described as a serious health issue.

The withdrawal left only three crew members on board the space station – one American and two Russians – prompting Nasa to pause space walks and reduce research output.

Ms Meir, a marine biologist, and Mr Fedyaev, a former military pilot, have previously lived on the space station.

On her first mission to the station in 2019, Ms Meir took part in the first all-female spacewalk.

Ms Adenot, a military helicopter pilot, is only the second French woman to fly in space.

Mr Hathaway is a captain in the US Navy.

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Moment new astronauts blast off to International Space Station

Video of the crew’s arrival shared by NASA shows the four newcomers floating through the hatch from the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft into the space station.

“Bonjour,” Ms Adenot said.

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The seven space explorers hugged and exchanged exuberant high-fives in the zero-gravity environment before posing for photos.

“Let’s get rolling,” Ms Meir said.

The crew will spend eight to nine months on board the International Space Station.

Last month’s medical evacuation was NASA’s first in 65 years of space exploration.

NASA has declined to divulge the identity of the astronaut who fell ill in orbit on 7 January or provide details of what happened, citing privacy concerns.

The ailing astronaut and three others returned to Earth more than a month sooner than planned.

They spent their first night back in a hospital before returning to Houston.

With the game now available on consoles, a reader gives their verdict on indie hit A Game About Digging A Hole, which does exactly what it says on the tin.

You’re on a sunny, suburban street. A van draws up. An unidentified someone jumps out of the van and nails a notice to a public noticeboard. The van and the unidentified someone drive off. Close in on the noticeboard and the newly attached notice. It’s a brightly coloured advert. The advert reads:

House For Sale. Only 10,000 $. With Gold Treasure In the Garden! Buy Now & Get Rich!

This is how A Game About Digging A Hole begins. Played in first person view, what you see first is the back garden of the house that you’ve bought and a box containing a Super Mega Digger 3000 Ultimate 2.0 Detector Set. This battery powered tool is the primary component of a game that’s played out in two locations. Your back garden and your garage. Unfortunately, you can’t enter the main part of the house that’s now yours, or at least I never managed to.

Go into the garage and you’ll find a workbench and a computer. The computer allows you to sell the ore/items that you obtain and by selling ore you accumulate funds. The workbench is where you spend the funds that you’ve accumulated. The workbench offers upgrades for your shovel, the aforementioned Super Mega Digger 3000.

Upgrades are also available for your inventory, battery and you can buy a jetpack which will become an essential item later on. Charge can be bought for your battery on the workbench screen and you can replenish your personal health there too. Dynamite and lamps are useful extras for when you want to take your digging to new depths.

Exit the garage, stroll into your sunlit back garden and you’ll see an X on the grass. X marks the spot, or so they say. In actuality you can begin your treasure hunt anywhere, so long as it’s on the back lawn.

On the PlayStation 5, digging involves pulling the right trigger of the joypad. Do this and your battery powered shovel takes a single bite out of the ground. While your back lawn steadily gets taken away chunk by chunk, various ores are uncovered. At first, you’ll find stones and coal. When you uncover these items they’re sucked straight into your inventory, which quickly fills up because at the start of the game your inventory is small.

Once your inventory is full you can keep digging but any ores that you uncover will be destroyed, so it’s best to turn those unearthed items into money so that you can buy upgrades and recharge your shovel battery. Without an upgrade the shovel battery’s charge soon runs out.

Initially this game seems repetitive. Do a bit of digging. Fill up your small inventory with stones, coal, iron, etc. Nip back into the garage. Sell what you’ve extracted from the ground on the computer. Spend your earnings on upgrading your equipment if you’ve earnt enough, then go back outside and carry on digging.

However, the steps that I’ve just described become compulsive, or at least they did for me, due to pressing questions inside my head. How deep can I actually go? How powerful are those $100 sticks of dynamite? Where did the previous owners of this house put that buried treasure?

Your current depth is shown on the left side of the screen. Anticipation serves as a magnet, drawing you downwards. What will you uncover next and how much cash are you going to receive for selling it?

When I earned $100 I bought some dynamite and put it to good use. The ground dropped further. I dug, and I dug, and then I dug some more. I got so involved with digging, with the race to earn money and to reach new depths, that I virtually ignored changes around me. That cheery birdsong had gone, replaced by eerie low notes that unsettled and brought no comfort at all. Before I knew what I’d done I’d placed myself in…darkness.

Turning around I saw only more darkness. I tried looking up. Darkness. Where was that nice blue sky? Who stole away the heavens when I wasn’t looking? Sensible miners stock up on $25 lamps before they get trigger-happy with their battery powered shovels. When you’re disorientated and many metres below the ground a light source can really alleviate attacks of panic and claustrophobia.

I won’t spoil what happens when you keep on digging. I will say that at depth minerals become more precious. Your Super Mega Digger 3000 has extra sensors that appear when you’re close to certain objects of interest. Subterranean structures wait to be discovered, and near the end of the game you realise that you’re not alone in the pit of your own making. A bestial grunt sent a shiver of fear through me. Time to make use of that jetpack and escape back up to the surface.

A Game About Digging a Hole is short and probably doesn’t have much replay value once you’ve learnt its secrets. But for the money, about the same price as a film rental, A Game About Digging A Hole is well worth a few hours of your time. Just remember, however deep you dig your hole, make sure you can get out of it again.

By reader Michael Veal (@msv858)

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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MORE: Why did Sony and Valve fall out of love with making video games? – Reader’s Feature

The Prime Minister insists he will lead Labour into the next election after another turbulent week in office.

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will lead Labour into the next general election but admitted that appointing Lord Peter Mandelson as US ambassador was a “mistake”.

The Prime Minister has endured a turbulent few weeks amid controversy surrounding the appointments of Lord Mandelson and Lord Matthew Doyle despite their association with sex offenders, three departures from Downing Street, and a call from Anas Sarwar to resign.

Speaking to the Sun on Sunday at the Munich Security Conference, Sir Keir came out fighting against suggestions he should resign, and reports of plots within Labour to oust him.

He told the newspaper: “I won the leadership of the Labour Party when people said I wouldn’t. I changed the Labour Party when people said I couldn’t. I won an election when people said we wouldn’t.

“And now I intend to change the country – whatever other people say.” Sir Keir then insisted he would “absolutely” lead the Labour Party into the next election.

Elsewhere in the interview, the Prime Minister was asked if appointing Lord Mandelson as US ambassador was his biggest mistake since he took office. He replied: “I’m not going to list mistakes in rank order. It was a mistake.”

Sir Keir previously said at the conference that he had “ended the week much stronger” than he started it after a period of political turbulence.

Asked in a panel discussion after his speech whether the turmoil left him vulnerable to challenges from Reform UK and the Tories, the Labour leader replied: “No, I reject that. I ended the week much stronger than I started it.

“And that’s a very good place to be, and my party and my government is completely united on the question of Ukraine and defence and security and the need for stronger relations with Europe on defence, on security and on economy as well. And so I think that there is real strength in the position I’ve now set out.”

Attacking Nigel Farage’s “pro-Putin” Reform UK party, Sir Keir suggested it was the only faction in the House of Commons not behind the UK’s support for Ukraine.

He said: “Imagine if they were in government in the United Kingdom. The Coalition of the Willing could not exist without UK participation in it. We would not be seen as a leader on the European or international stage.

“We would be seen as a country that people couldn’t do business with. So it’s not universal across our Parliament, but there’s a very strong feeling amongst right-minded politicians that we stick together on Ukraine.”

Anas Sarwar said on Monday that Sir Keir should quit in the wake of the scandal around the appointment of Lord Mandelson as British ambassador to Washington despite his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

But the attempt to oust Sir Keir failed, with members of the Cabinet publicly backing the Prime Minister in the hours after Mr Sarwar’s statement.

Further questions about Sir Keir’s judgment were thrown up later in the week in a row over the appointment of his former spin doctor Lord Doyle to the House of Lords after the aide campaigned for a paedophile councillor.

The departure of the head of the Civil Service Sir Chris Wormald prompted criticism of negative briefings in Government, while senior Labour women suggested the string of scandals had exposed a “boys’ club” within Downing Street.

Sir Chris was the third senior figure to quit the Government in the past week, following Sir Keir’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and communications director Tim Allan.

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In March, Mark Farrow, a computer expert from Scorton, and Stephen White, an administrator from Richmond, will drive 1,318 miles over three days across Europe to deliver the vehicle to Ukraine, where it will be donated for work on the Ukrainian frontlines.

Mark and Steve are joining the Driving Ukraine team for their fourth mission to deliver a vehicle, but they still need help in the way of donations for the mission.

Mark Farrow (right) with Stephen White (left) (Image: MARK FARROW)

So far, people have helped to raise more than £30,000 for the missions that Mark and Stephen have embarked on.

“While the news channels may not talk about Ukraine as much these days, their need for our help is greater than ever,” Mark said.

We haven’t forgotten our Ukrainian friends, and each vehicle we can provide for them saves lives, bringing Ukrainian men and women safely home to their families.

Mark Farrow (centre) with Stephen White (right) (Image: MARK FARROW)

“This will be our fourth trip, and with your help, the fourth evacuation vehicle we take them.

“Thanks to everyone who has donated to us in the past (an incredible almost £30,000 so far!), as we couldn’t do any of this without you, it really is a team effort.

“Having met some of the Ukrainians whose lives have been changed by your and our help, I can say for sure this is the most worthwhile thing I have ever been part of.”

The route that the pair will take (Image: MARK FARROW)

Driving Ukraine vehicles, 4×4 pickup trucks and ambulances, are purchased in the UK and modified by dedicated volunteers, before being placed with essential teams in Ukraine, including: ambulance crews, 4×4 evacuation teams, first-aid responders, international volunteer medics, air defence teams, humanitarian bomb disposal units, and hospitals, among others.

The current fundraiser from the pair aims to collect £7000 worth of donations, with the current total just below £4,000.

If Mark and Stephen get more than £7,000, it will go towards upgrading the vehicle with a Чуйка 3.0 (Chuyka) drone signal detector.

Two of the aid vehicles donated to Ukraine (Image: MARK FARROW)

This is a tool that allows teams on the front line to stay one step ahead of Russian drones.

Mark added: “The urgent need for international support in Ukraine is undeniable, particularly today, even as some sort of peace is discussed.

Mark and Stephen with other aid workers (Image: MARK FARROW)

“The longer this invasion persists, the more challenging it becomes for Ukraine. The war is now in its fourth year.

“The future of Ukraine’s survival hangs in the balance with new international leaders in power.

“The Ukrainians need more vehicles, aid, and international support from volunteers than ever before.

“The toll of this conflict is staggering, with tens of thousands of civilians killed, countless more injured, and hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure damage.

“4,000,000 Ukrainians have lost their homes, 10,000 missiles have been launched at the country, and over 1,000 medical facilities have been destroyed.”

Tom Parker Bowles’ book features more than 100 recipes spanning from Queen Victoria’s reign to King Charles III

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Tom Parker Bowles has revealed a simple recipe that Queen Elizabeth savoured during her Coronation 72 years ago, while also lamenting how it’s been butchered over time. Despite acknowledging the ‘vile’ alterations to the dish over the years, Tom chose to focus on the original version crafted by Constance Spry and Rosemary Hume.

“I know, I know it really wouldn’t be a royal cookbook without this so-called regal ‘classic’,” he wrote in his 2024 book, Cooking & The Crown. “…Now the original version, as below, is perfectly civilised, but as the years went on, all manner of base and vile things were done to this perfectly innocent recipe, adding almonds and sultanas, lashings of turmeric and God knows what else, until it became a banana-hued, sickly-sweet aberration, the abject filling for a thousand sorry service station fillings.”

The dish in focus is Poulet Reine Elizabeth, or as we know it, Coronation Chicken sandwiches. While Spry and Hume are credited with its creation, the exact source of their inspiration remains a mystery.

Back in 1935, George V was served Jubilee Chicken, a concoction of mayonnaise, chicken, and curry powder. This has led some to speculate that it might have influenced the creation of Coronation Chicken, although concrete evidence is scant.

Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation took place at Westminster Abbey in 1953, just a year shy of rationing’s end after 14 years of post-war austerity. Chicken wasn’t exactly an everyday staple back then, which made the Coronation dish quite the indulgence.

For anyone fancying a taste of Royal history, Tom’s book lays out the uncomplicated recipe. Whilst boiling and shredding chicken is standard fare, nailing the sauce might take a bit more finesse.

You may be surprised to learn that the original filling contains more than just chicken, mayonnaise, and curry powder. It also includes tomato paste and red wine, amongst other components.

Bay leaves, lemon juice, and the usual salt and pepper seasoning are added for additional flavour before the mixture is served on brown bread. Tom explained the crusts must be cut off to enjoy sandwiches the Royal way.

“Remove the crusts and cut each sandwich into three fat fingers,” he added, according to a previous OK! article. Tom’s book Cooking & The Crown provides a more detailed step-by-step recipe and ingredient guide to creating the Coronation classic.

Beyond Poulet Reine Elizabeth, it features more than 100 recipes spanning from Queen Victoria’s reign to King Charles III. Whilst many of these seem rather lavish, including ‘Pommes Elizabeth’ and ‘Pudding au Pain et aux Cerises’, there are numerous simpler recipes to attempt at home.

More information can be found here.

The penultimate episode of the Game of Thrones spin-off series is coming to HBO and Sky Atlantic very soon – here’s the lowdown

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is nearly reaching its conclusion now, with only two episodes remaining in the six-part series. This week signals the penultimate episode of the popular HBO programme, which is set prior to Game of Thrones, and is broadcasting on Sky Atlantic in the UK, and is titled In the Name of the Mother. Here’s everything you need to know about when the upcoming instalment of the Game of Thrones spin-off series will be released following a recent scheduling adjustment, reports the Mirror.

When is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5 coming out?

In the UK, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode five will be released on Monday, February 16 on Sky Atlantic and streaming platform NOW at 3am GMT. The episode will then be repeated on Sky Atlantic at 9pm for those who didn’t stay up to catch the instalment during the simulcast.

The episode marks a return to the standard time slot after the fourth instalment was moved earlier to prevent clashing with the Super Bowl, which aired last week. Meanwhile, in the USA, episode five will be screened on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, February 15 from 10pm Eastern Standard Time. Consequently, the programme will be simulcast on both sides of the Atlantic simultaneously and means British fans won’t be missing out.

What will happen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 5?

HBO released a brief preview earlier this week from the forthcoming episode, along with a summary of the instalment, which read: “Before Ser Duncan the Tall can learn the fate of his future, he must relive his past.” The teaser then revealed flashbacks to Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall’s (played by Peter Claffey) childhood and his friendship with a young girl, long before he harboured dreams of becoming a noble knight of the realm.

The young Dunk is portrayed as a frightened boy and his friend urges him not to lose his nerve in following the path that lies ahead for them. The trailer then jumps to Dunk in the present day as he prepares to fight in the Trial by seven and prove his honour against Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett).

A speaker declares shortly before the trial: “May the Seven bear witness to our solemn and bloody offering. May they reveal the guilty in their falseness and find the truth. May the Warrior grant victory to the innocent.” Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel), who has joined Dunk’s side, tells the knight and the others: “Be vigilant and don’t die.”

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However, it’s all too much for Dunk, who gags and vomits in fear of the brutal fight that’s about to unfold.

The preview concludes with a striking shot from inside the knight’s helmet as he takes on Aerion and his allies, promising an impressive fight sequence.

Many rushed to the comments section on YouTube beneath the trailer to share their thoughts on the preview as one person posted: “Egg (the little squire) is the most fascinating actor I have seen in years.

“when he is on screen you cant take your eyes off him. plus he and Dunk have a legit chemistry! He will be a huge star! ! ! [sic].”

A second individual posted: “Anyone else thinking that Angry Dunc is gonna be a beast on the battlefield?”

Another person remarked: “Dunk is essentially a chosen one. Imagine several dragons dreaming of you and you’re just a tall peasant who was lucky enough to be chosen as a squire for an old hedge knight. It helps that dude is a good, loyal person. God knows Targaryens need them.”

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs on HBO and HBO Max on Sundays in the USA and on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Mondays in the UK

Cholesterol has long been seen as a key culprit in cardiovascular disease. While it’s true that cholesterol does play a role, not all cholesterol is bad for us.

There are two main types of cholesterol.

The first type is low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol. This is often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol because it causes fat to collect in the arteries as plaques. This makes it harder for blood to pump throughout the body, leading to greater risk of a heart attack or stroke.

The second type is high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — often referred to as “good” cholesterol.

HDL cholesterol has two key roles in the body. It removes excess bad cholesterol from the tissues and arteries and returns it to the liver so it can be removed from the body. HDL cholesterol also protects the artery walls so there’s less risk of a blockage forming.

Boosting HDL

The ratio of LDL to HDL in a person’s body is related to their cardiovascular disease risk. If you have a higher ratio of HDL to LDL, your cardiovascular disease risk will be lower. But if you have a lower ratio of HDL to LDL, you’ll have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Fortunately, it’s possible to shift this ratio and increase HDL cholesterol levels. This can be achieved by exercising, quitting smoking and managing your weight, for example.

Certain foods can also improve HDL ratios.

The main way that diet helps boost HDL ratios is by reducing inflammation. Inflammation is a key problem in cardiovascular disease.

Inflammation makes it possible for blood platelets to stick together in our arteries at a much higher rate. This makes it difficult for the HDL cholesterol to do its job, which increases risk of blood clots forming and raises likelihood of heart disease.

By eating anti-inflammatory foods, it makes it easier for HDL cholesterol to do its job of sweeping away excess LDL cholesterol. Here are four examples you can include in your diet:

1. Fruits and vegetables

Research shows that people who have diets high in fruits and vegetables have higher HDL cholesterol levels and a better total cholesterol ratio. They also have lower blood pressure and healthier blood sugar levels, all of which can be supportive to heart health.

Fruits and vegetables exert their positive effects by trapping free radicals.

Free radicals are highly reactive, unstable molecules that can cause damage to cells and trigger inflammation in the body. By preventing inflammation, this makes it possible for HDL cholesterol to continue doing its job of removing bad cholesterol and protecting the arteries.

2. Oily fish and olive oil

Oily fish (such as salmon, sardines and tuna) and olive oil are rich in a type of fat called “polar lipids”.

These lipids are able to reach the bloodstream more quickly compared to other types of fat, allowing them to reduce inflammation and prevent the aggregation of platelets more effectively.

Cell and animal studies have shown that a diet rich in the polar lipids from oily fish is effective in preventing blood clots from forming. This effect can help cholesterol ratios stay balanced, meaning cardiovascular disease risk is lower.

3. Fermented dairy

Fermented dairy products, such as yoghurt, kefir and cheese, can all have a positive effect on HDL levels.

During fermentation, the lipids are broken down into smaller compounds that have a greater anti-inflammatory effect than milk. They can also be metabolised faster by the body.

Fermented dairy products are also rich in polar lipids, which means that they can considerably reduce cardiovascular risk.

Research found that for every 20g of fermented dairy products people consumed each day, there was a modest reduction in cardiovascular disease risk.

4. Red wine

Finally, red wine is completely misunderstood. According to the latest research, moderate consumption of red wine (the equivalent of one to two small glasses per day) is linked with better HDL ratios.

Wine reduces inflammation when consumed in small quantities because it contains polar lipids. However, if wine intake is high, the negative, pro-inflammatory effect of alcohol outstrips the positive effect of the lipids.

This is why it’s important only to drink small amounts and in moderation – otherwise, alcohol can have many negative effects on the body. Indeed, the World Health Organization has said there is no safe level of alcohol consumption as the negatives, such as increased cancer risk even from light drinking, outweigh any positives.

Non-alcoholic wines also contain polar lipids. Research suggests that polar lipid extracts from non-alcoholic beverages have comparable benefits on preventing the formation of blood clots as their alcoholic counterparts.

Inflammation is a key factor in heart disease. By eating foods that reduce inflammation in the body, it’s possible to look after your heart health and lower cardiovascular disease by improving the ratio of HDL to LDL in the body.

Aunt Bessie’s came in second place

A budget supermarket’s own-brand frozen Yorkshire puddings have been crowned the nation’s finest, beating the longstanding favourite Aunt Bessie’s. Yorkshire puddings are an essential component of any proper roast dinner, though making them from scratch can be messy and laborious.

As a result, countless households nationwide opt for frozen Yorkshire puddings, with Aunt Bessie’s traditionally being a go-to choice. However, a rigorous taste test conducted by Which?, the UK’s leading consumer champion, saw a supermarket’s own-brand snatch the crown.

The comprehensive trial involved 74 participants, who were blind-tasting and scoring seven premium supermarket own-brand Yorkshire puddings from the freezer aisle alongside Aunt Bessie’s offerings.

While Aunt Bessie’s impressed the panel, they fell short of claiming the number one position, with the victor proving both more affordable and more delicious.

Bear in mind that Yorkshire pudding dimensions vary, so it’s worth checking before purchasing. Most are medium-sized, weighing around 48g each, though Aunt Bessie’s are slightly larger at 55g, while Tesco’s are smaller at 33g.

Aldi Specially Selected Large Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings triumphed with an impressive score of 73%. At £1.99 for 288g, they were also joint-cheapest, securing a Great Value badge from Which?.

Roughly two-thirds of testers praised the Yorkshire puddings for their crispy exterior and airy centres, while remaining soft with the perfect level of moisture. Just shy of three-quarters of participants deemed the golden colour absolutely spot-on. These own-brand Yorkshire puddings earned the prestigious Best Buy status from Which?.

Aunt Bessie’s Spectacular Yorkshire Puddings secured second spot, retailing at £2 for 220g and achieving a score of 72%.

These family favourites proved popular with taste testers, with two-thirds praising both their visual appeal and satisfying crunch. Testers also commended their fluffy interior and noted they had just the right amount of moisture.

What sets Aunt Bessie’s apart from other Yorkshire puddings is their inclusion of herbs and spices, featuring rosemary, cumin, sage and horseradish. While this enhances the taste, a third of testers felt the flavouring was somewhat overpowering.

Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire puddings are stocked at various supermarkets and stand out as one of the few vegetarian-friendly options, as they’re made without beef dripping.

Tesco Finest 6 Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings shared second place alongside Aunt Bessie’s, also notching up 72%. Testers were impressed by the texture, with over half expressing satisfaction with the taste. The consistency received approval from most testers, though 41% found it excessively soft.

Despite their runner-up position, they proved to be the smallest and priciest puddings in the trial.

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Yorkshire Puddings claimed third place with a score of 71%. At £2.60 for 252g, they offer better value than Tesco but cost more than both Aunt Bessie’s and Aldi.

Two-thirds of testers approved of the puddings’ golden colour, with even more praising their crispy exterior.

Half the testers were pleased with the flavour, though the majority felt they lacked firmness.

How did other supermarket Yorkshire puddings stack up?

• Waitrose No. 1 6 Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings – 69% £3 for 252g (£1.19 per 100g)
• Iceland Luxury 4 Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings – 68% £2 for 192g (£1.04 per 100g)
• Lidl Deluxe Beef Dripping Yorkshire Puddings – 67% £1.99 for 288g (69p per 100g)
• Morrisons The Best 6 Yorkshire Puddings with Beef Dripping – 65% £1.99 for 240g (83p per 100g)