Stepping into a cold plunge pool may sound like the last thing you want to do, especially when your body is already complaining about getting older, but science suggests that a few chilly minutes could deliver some surprisingly warm rewards.

This week I'm taking a short break from my usual women's health topics to share my experience of two new treatments now available at the recently opened Infinity Wellness Centre: theCryotherapy Chamber and the Halocab.

I was reading an article last week about injuries in runners and how even minor injuries can often lead to people giving up running. As running seems to be one of the most popular and low maintenance forms of exercise throughout the world, I thought an article would be worth writing.

Most of us think of exercise as something that keeps our waistlines in check and helps us justify an extra biscuit with tea. Scientists are discovering it may do something even more impressive. Researchers at Australia’s Edith Cowan University found that a single session of either resistance training or high intensity interval training can trigger the release of proteins called myokines, which appear to have anti-cancer properties.

Fibre has become the nutritional star of 2026, although it still suffers from the image problem of being associated with bran and earnest breakfasts. In reality, your digestive system is rather fond of the stuff. According to government recommendations, you should be aiming for 30 grams a day, yet Dr Emily Leeming, scientist, dietitian and researcher at King’s College London, says the average Brit consumes only about 16 grams. Around 96 per cent of adults fall short of the target. 

Protein has become the Beyoncé of the nutrition world. It is everywhere, it gets all the attention, and somehow it has convinced everyone it can do no wrong. Supermarket shelves are packed with high protein breads, yoghurts, cereals, crisps, cakes and even beer. The Times UK reports that the sports nutrition market has grown to an estimated £1.1 billion. 

If you imagined osteoporosis as something that simply arrives one day like an unwelcome house guest, think again. The condition affects around 3.5 million people in the UK and causes approximately one fracture every minute, according to the Royal Osteoporosis Society. Journalist Anna Maxted discovered she had osteoporosis in her mid-fifties despite eating well and exercising regularly.

Today Dr Virdi answers questions on peri-menopause. Don’t forget to send in your questions for the next edition. All personal details remain confidential. We will only publish your question.

Question:

“How do I know if I’m in perimenopause? Is it normal for my periods to become irregular, heavier, or closer together? How long does perimenopause usually last?”

I know we covered this last year, but this late spring seems to have affected hayfever sufferers really badly and all of a sudden, so just a recap.

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is a common allergic condition caused when the immune system overreacts to airborne allergens such as pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds. 

If you still think strength training is only for gym fanatics who enjoy lifting heavy objects for fun, it may be time for a rethink. Research from Harvard University, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, followed more than 147,000 adults over 30 years and found that just 90 to 120 minutes of strength training a week was linked to a 13 per cent lower risk of premature death, a 19 per cent lower risk of death from heart disease and a 27 per cent lower risk of death from neurological conditions.

If you have spent hours waiting for motivation to arrive like a glamorous celebrity running fashionably late, neuroscience has some slightly rude news for you. Researchers increasingly believe that motivation is not what gets you moving in the first place. In many cases, movement itself creates motivation.

Your grey hair may be doing a little more than making you search for the good lighting. New research suggests that when hair pigment stem cells are exposed to DNA damaging stress such as UV radiation, they may shut themselves down through cellular senescence, which stops them from dividing and leaves hair grey. That sounds less like a malfunction and more like your body quietly deciding that a silver streak is a fair price for keeping trouble at bay.

You do not need to overhaul your whole life or start eating like a particularly earnest rabbit to support healthier ageing. Research suggests that foods rich in polyphenols, including olive oil, coffee, berries and cocoa, may help protect the body’s cells and slow some of the biological changes linked with ageing.

Your body is quietly brilliant at repairing itself, but it turns out stress can seriously slow the process down. Scientists have found that chronic stress raises levels of cortisol, a hormone that can interfere with inflammation control and tissue repair.

That is where intimacy enters the conversation wearing a lab coat and a smug expression.

This week I am looking at a subject that might seem unrelated to overall health, and that is oral health or the health of our mouths, gums and teeth.

Oral health plays a significant role in overall health because the mouth serves as a gateway to the rest of the body. Poor oral hygiene can lead to gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, which is caused by bacterial infection and inflammation of the gums. 

You probably never expected your doctor to recommend sitting in a wooden room wearing a towel and quietly sweating beside strangers, yet science is edging surprisingly close to exactly that. 

Your gut is doing far more work than you probably realise. It helps manage digestion, supports immunity, influences mood and even plays a role in skin health. Scientists now know that the gut microbiome, which is the trillions of bacteria living in your digestive system, thrives when you feed it the right foods. 

Today Dr Virdi answers questions on the cardiovascular side of peri- menopause and menopause. Send in your questions for the next edition. All personal details remain confidential. We will only publish your question.

If you have been cancelling plans in favour of sitting at home scrolling your phone while claiming you are “recharging”, science has some mildly judgemental news for you. Researchers from University of Oxford found that men who regularly spend time with close friends enjoy better mental and physical health.

If dates have only ever appeared in your life inside a forgotten holiday gift box, it may be time to give them another chance. These naturally sweet fruits are packed with nutrients that support everything from heart health to digestion and energy levels.