Home
Archive for
2016
Nicole Kidman dazzles in a floral full length gown as she celebrates Best Actress win at star-studded WhatsOnStage theatre awards
She's received a range of accolades for her work on the silver screen.
And
Nicole Kidman will have to find room in her trophy closet for another
award as her acting skills were honoured yet again, but this time for
her work in the theatre.
Appearing
at the WhatsOnStage awards in the Prince of Wales Theatre on Sunday,
the Oscar-winner beamed as she scooped Best Actress in a Play for her
role in Photograph 51.
Clearly elated by her
win, the 48-year-old posed for snaps with her award, which she
beat Denise Gough, Lia Williams, Rosalie Craig and Harriet Walter for.

Donning a floor length gown for the evening, the mum-of-four upped the glamour in the evening, dazzling in her two-toned dress.
Featuring
a flattering high neckline, the eye-catching frock featured a pink
chest that was heavily embellished with embroidered poppies and a gem
covered bird

Cleaning out her closet: The Oscar-winner will have to find room in her
trophy closet for another award as her acting skills were honoured yet
again, but this time for her work in the theatre



Hello birdy! Featuring a flattering high neckline, the eye-catching
frock featured a pink chest that was heavily embellished with
embroidered poppies and a gem covered bird


Pretty as a petal: Donning a floor length gown for the evening, the
mum-of-four upped the glamour in the evening, dazzling in her two-toned
dress



First time: Nicole was visibly pleased with her win - her first at the WhatsOnStage theatre awards

Selfie time! The actress was in her typical friendly mood and posed with fans for selfies before the awards
Nipping in
at her tiny waist with an emerald green band that seemed to signify
grass in the wildlife pattern, the taupe coloured skirt fell in soft
pleats to the floor.
Adding
to the glitz of her outfit with a set of sparkling jewels, the
Australian actress donned a glittering stack of silver bracelets on her
slender wrist whilst sporting a myriad of rings on her fingers.

+35
Blonde beauty! She swept her golden
tresses back into a chic chignon bun, leaving two tendrils loose to
expose her heart shaped face, whilst exposing an impressive pair of
dazzling diamond chandelier earrings

Natural beauty! Sporting a neutral
make-up palette, Nicole accentuated her stunning features with a sweep
of rouge across her defined cheekbones and a slick of mascara over her
dazzling blue eyes

WHATSONSTAGE AWARDS 2016 WINNERS
BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY
Benedict Cumberbatch, Hamlet - WINNER
James McAvoy, The Ruling Class
Bradley Cooper, The Elephant Man
Mark Rylance, Farinelli and the King
Alex Hassell, Henry V
BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Nicole Kidman, Photograph 51 - WINNER
Denise Gough, People, Places and Things
Lia Williams, Oresteia
Rosalie Craig, As You Like It
Harriet Walter, Death of a Salesman
BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Killian Donnelly, Kinky Boots - WINNER
Michael Ball, Mack and Mabel
Matt Henry, Kinky Boots
Sam Mackay, In the Heights
Ben Forster, Elf the Musical
BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Imelda Staunton, Gypsy - WINNER
Beverley Knight, Cats
Kimberley Walsh, Elf the Musical
Lily Frazer, In the Heights
Katie Brayben, Beautiful
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Mark Gatiss, Three Days in the Country -WINNER
Ciaran Hinds, Hamlet
Bertie Carvel, Bakkhai
Johnny Flynn, Hangmen
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Hamlet
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Mark Gatiss, Three Days in the Country -WINNER
Sian Brooke, Hamlet
Anastasia Hille, Hamlet
Imogen Doel, The Importance of Being Earnest
Patsy Ferran, As You Like It
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
David Bedella, In The Heights - WINNER
Lucas Rush, American Idiot
Alexis Gerred, American Idiot
Jack Edwards, Mack and Mabel
Peter Davison, Gypsy
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Lara Pulver, Gypsy - WINNER
Jennie Dale, Elf the Musical
Amy Lennox, Kinky Boots
Lauren Samuels, Bend It Like Beckham
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt, In The Heights
BEST NEW PLAY
Photograph 51 - WINNER
Hangmen
Oppenheimer
People, Places and Things
Farinelli and the King
BEST NEW MUSICAL
Kinky Boots - WINNER
Bend It Like Beckham
Elf the Musical
Beautiful
In The Heights
BEST PLAY REVIVAL
Hamlet - WINNER
Importance of Being Earnest
The Ruling Class
Death of a Salesman
Oresteia
BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL
Gypsy - WINNER
Cats
High Society
Mack and Mabel
American Idiot
BEST DIRECTION
Hamlet, Lyndsey Turner
In The Heights, Luke Sheppard
American Idiot, Racky Plews
Kinky Boots, Jerry Mitchell
Gypsy, Jonathan Kent - WINNER
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Kinky Boots, Jerry Mitchell - WINNER
In The Heights, Drew McOnie
High Society, Nathan M Wright
Gypsy, Stephen Mear
American Idiot, Racky Plews
BEST SET DESIGN
Hamlet, Es Devlin - WINNER
American Idiot, Sara Perks
Kinky Boots, David Rockwell
In The Heights, Takis
Gypsy, Anthony Ward
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Hamlet, Jane Cox - WINNER
In The Heights, Howard Hudson
American Idiot, Tim Deiling
Kinky Boots, Kenneth Posner
Gypsy, Mark Henderson
BEST OFF WEST END PRODUCTION
Carrie, Southwark Playhouse - WINNER
Shock Treatment, King's Head Theatre
You Won't Succeed on Broadway If You Don't Have Any Jews, St James's Theatre
Grand Hotel, Southwark Playhouse
Assassins, The Menier Chocolate Factory
BEST REGIONAL PRODUCTION
Mack and Mabel, Chichester Festival Theatre and tour
Mary Poppins, tour - WINNER
Anything Goes, Sheffield Crucible and tour
Hairspray, tour
Henry V, RSC
BEST WEST END SHOW
Les Miserables - WINNER
Wicked
Kinky Boots
Miss Saigon
Matilda
Right Time, If You Want to Break Up?

Everything is drying up
There was a time when your relationship was fresh and blooming with love and passion, but now your partner doesn’t want to spend time with you and forget about the other soft feelings. You are feeling that you are living with a stranger under one roof.You have left in your social life
If you feel that you have given up everything for this relationship like you stopped talking to your BFFs to spend time with your boyfriend/girlfriend or always given priority to him/her over your near and dear ones and your partner has no value for your sacrifices then it is a right time to part your ways.Constant arguments
Earlier there was teasing, flirting and small fights which you would forget when you say sorry to each other, but if you are fighting regularly even on small topics and you are not at fault most of the times, then it is a time to tell your partner that he/she can do all the fighting alone because you are going away.No future together
If your partner doesn’t seem to be interested in discussing future planning like starting a family or investing in something and you come to know that he/she is making his/her way in another direction then there is no reason of burdening yourself or your partner with a failed relationship.Reduced family attachments
When we love someone, then we love everything related to him/her and partner family is the most crucial aspect of your loved one’s life. So, if you think that he and his family is increasing distances with you or your family or vice versa, then you should know that the bond has very slim chances of mending.No response from your partner
You have tried everything to bring the life back into your relationship, but every time you partner let you down. If you tried to stay away from him/her and still gets no response in return like a request for coming back or any messages and on top of that your partner is actually enjoying his/her life without you then it should be considered as the final nail in the coffin.Cheated by your partner
A break up is much better than living with an unfaithful partner because you will feel the betrayal with every sight of him/her. If you have caught your partner while cheating on you then break with him/her as soon as possible to reduce your agonyWhat Happens When You Stop Brushing Your Hair for a Week?
Imagine a week without brushing your hair.
Many of you will say that it is impossible. Though, brushing is a less
noticeable activity but you can’t imagine going out without it. You
always feel that something is missing in your grooming session if there
is no brushing. An experiment has been performed with six women who have
been told to stop using brush for a week. These women went through
different experience but they came to a conclusion that brushes are not
that much necessary that we think. Read further to know what they have
experienced during the experimental week.
Woman #1 with straight long and thick hair
![]() |
straight long and thick hair |
She claims that she is not a grooming
freak but she likes to brush her hair daily. It was very hard to avoid
the hair brush on the first day of experiment but she did. She has just
applied some morocco oil on her hair and ends to avoid any tangling or
messy hair. She has a bit changed texture on the second day which was
not really straight and not completely wavy. It seemed that she has left
her hair in a ponytail for a long time. On third day she felt that her
hair is tangled and icky. She has started missing her hair brush because
her hair has become oily due to deposition of natural oil on her scalp.
She has made a bun out of her messy and oily hair. She has to keep her
hair into a workday bun because of unbrushed hair in the last days of
experiment. The conclusion of this experiment according to her was that
the absence of brushing has not made a substantial difference.
Woman #2 with short and straight hair
![]() |
short and straight hair |
She was compulsive about using a hair
brush and therefore she was feeling anxious on her first day of
experiment. The forecast of rain and humidity has also added to her
anxiety level but after the experiment she has admitted that this
activity was quite liberating for her because she felt that she can live
without brushing. Brushing her hair was like keeping the things in
order or “perfectly placed” attitude. She has used a mild shampoo and
more conditioner to prevent any tangling. During this week, she has left
her hair damp after the shower (usually she towel dry her hair) and
when they get air dried, she used a blow dryer while combing her hair
gently with her fingers. Although, she has experienced this liberating
feeling but she didn’t like her hair after a week without brushing. So
she decided to stick with her love for brush.
Woman #3 with mid length and wavy hair
![]() |
mid length and wavy hair |
She used to brush her hair before shower
or when she need to pull it back so she has not seen any noticeable
difference in her hair texture. The only negative thing about avoiding
brushing was clogging of shower drain more than usual. She has the same
but bit more wavy hair at the end of week on which she has used some
hairspray to tame it. She has continued not brushing her hair as it
doesn’t make a remarkable difference and she chose to use the brush
before taking shower like before.
Woman #4 with fine, short and wavy hair
![]() |
short and wavy hair |
Since this week was rainy and humid
therefore she has got frizzy and bed head hair which she could not tame
so she has used a wide toothed comb after the shower. She has used curl
enhancing product to give her a tousled appearance rather than an
unkempt one. She felt her hair finer on the last day which badly needs
brushing. According to her, this experiment has made her think that how
much she usually brush her hair and is that the right amount of
brushing.
Woman #5 with natural thick curly hair
natural thick curly hair |
This experiment was not difficult for
her because she used brushing only to detangle her hair or to remove the
hair that’s already shed. She has felt a little flattening on back of
her hair on the third day which was a self conscious moment for her.
This experiment has not altered her hair habits so this was a common
activity to her.
Woman #6 with thin but voluminous hair
![]() |
thin but voluminous hair |
She has fine but voluminous hair and
because of that she was bound to brush her hair twice a day. She also
has a fear of knots so she used to comb her hair with her fingers during
conditioning her hair. She has kept her hair up into a bun to save it
from a windy weather, during sleep and office hours for three days but
after that she felt that her scalp can’t tolerate the weight of her hair
so she let it down while sleeping. She has got a wavy texture on the
last days of the week which has earned her several compliments.
According to her, this experiment has not affected her much in good or
bad way but if she is asked to repeat the experiment she would like to
do it again.
On
the basis of the above explained cases, it can be concluded that your
hair is not dependent on brushing. It can’t affect your hair texture
drastically but it can make you look more groomed and in order.
Restoring Hormonal Balance for Good Health
Hormonal imbalance does more than just make a person moody or
emotional, and this is not exclusive to women in their menopausal years
either. You may not be aware of this, but your hormones may be making
you sick, or to be more precise, the imbalance of your hormones may be causing your health issues.
Believe it or not, when some of your hormones are too high or too low,
these will bring about illnesses that are either merely annoying or
pretty serious.
The balance of your hormones is crucial to your overall wellbeing and
a slight imbalance in any of the five major ones (estrogen,
testosterone, thyroid, cortisol, and progesterone) that your body
depends on can bring about both physical and mental health concerns. For
example, women can experience rather extreme PMS when they have high
estrogen levels. Another possible effect of an estrogen imbalance is
weight gain and difficulty in losing weight.
It is not that difficult for a person to actually find themselves
suffering from hormonal imbalance, particularly in this day and age when
people are too busy to live a healthy and balanced life. Factors like
the high levels of stress people experience every day, a sedentary
lifestyle, and bad habits can also be blamed for this problem. Add to
these poor food choices, and sleeping less due to a hectic schedule, and you have the perfect recipe for hormonal imbalance.
Can Getting Your Hormones Back On Track Help?
Before you even think about trying to get your hormones back in balance, you should first check with your doctor to know which ones need some adjusting. It’s just like trying to find out what ingredients are missing in a recipe – you need to find out what these are before adding them in to balance out what you are cooking. You cannot just indiscriminately add in whatever you think is missing.
Once your doctor tells you what is out of whack in your system, you can then begin the restoration process, and this can involve a few things. Your doctor can recommend specific treatments for you, if they feel that this can help get things back on track better, like hormone replacement therapy. You will also be told how to keep your hormones balanced by way of lifestyle changes.
Some of the things you need to avoid in order to keep yourself hormonal balance and in the pink of health include high alcohol intake, caffeine, lack of sleep, and stress. You also need to choose what you eat since your diet can and will dictate how healthy your body is and will be. You will also need to curtail bad habits like smoking and lazing around. You need to get up and exercise in order to get your body back in balance.
One of the things that may also be giving you problems with imbalanced hormones is the intake of the wrong supplements. You might not be aware of it, but you may actually be causing your own imbalance due to the ingestion of supplements that increase the levels of hormones that are already high enough or on even keel to begin with. Before taking any supplements, it is a good idea to ask your doctor for recommendations.
Taking your doctor’s advice, living a healthy lifestyle, and trying to steer clear of nasty habits will help you remove any of the problems brought about by hormonal imbalance. Avoiding these problems will also help you to avoid the more serious illnesses that come with such imbalances. These include diabetes (due to insulin imbalance), hypothyroidism (due to thyroid hormone reduction), and osteoporosis (prolonged lack of estrogen).

Can Getting Your Hormones Back On Track Help?
Before you even think about trying to get your hormones back in balance, you should first check with your doctor to know which ones need some adjusting. It’s just like trying to find out what ingredients are missing in a recipe – you need to find out what these are before adding them in to balance out what you are cooking. You cannot just indiscriminately add in whatever you think is missing.
Once your doctor tells you what is out of whack in your system, you can then begin the restoration process, and this can involve a few things. Your doctor can recommend specific treatments for you, if they feel that this can help get things back on track better, like hormone replacement therapy. You will also be told how to keep your hormones balanced by way of lifestyle changes.

Some of the things you need to avoid in order to keep yourself hormonal balance and in the pink of health include high alcohol intake, caffeine, lack of sleep, and stress. You also need to choose what you eat since your diet can and will dictate how healthy your body is and will be. You will also need to curtail bad habits like smoking and lazing around. You need to get up and exercise in order to get your body back in balance.
One of the things that may also be giving you problems with imbalanced hormones is the intake of the wrong supplements. You might not be aware of it, but you may actually be causing your own imbalance due to the ingestion of supplements that increase the levels of hormones that are already high enough or on even keel to begin with. Before taking any supplements, it is a good idea to ask your doctor for recommendations.
Taking your doctor’s advice, living a healthy lifestyle, and trying to steer clear of nasty habits will help you remove any of the problems brought about by hormonal imbalance. Avoiding these problems will also help you to avoid the more serious illnesses that come with such imbalances. These include diabetes (due to insulin imbalance), hypothyroidism (due to thyroid hormone reduction), and osteoporosis (prolonged lack of estrogen).
Kendall Jenner walks the runway for Michael Kors with a serious case of 'bed head' at NYFW

Models are known for taking risks at New York Fashion Week.
And Kendall Jenner proved she is one of the most daring catwalk stars on Wednesday as she took to the runway for Michael Kors without any make-up.
The 20-year-old's face was scraped clean as she sported messy 'bed head' hair for the highly anticipated fashion show.
Scroll down for video
Want to be happy? Chuck out every single possession you don't love.
Want to be happy? Chuck out every single possession you don't love. JAN MOIR did and now she has just two dinner plates left
- Jan Moir's house was stuffed with collectibles and assorted clutter
- After a flood ruined her bed linen, she realised life was easier without it
- She chucked everything that wasn't vital to her new, streamlined existence
- Marie Kondo has become famous for inventing this tidying method
- My name is Jan Moir and I am a junkaholic. Until all too recently, my home was stuffed with collectibles and assorted clutter.A French egg-holder with hen-shaped handles. Embossed stationery boxes with silk tassels. A sweet collection of silver ice buckets. Dozens of blankets, cupboards crammed with towels, enough bed linen to run a small hotel.If the entire cast of Les Miserables had moved in overnight, I could have accommodated them all, sheets-wise - and given them each a boiled egg in an amusing ceramic egg cup for breakfast.I was in the grip of what I now see was an addiction, a very modern affliction. I wasn't exactly a hoarder but equally, I never let anything go. I used to think it was right and proper to keep every book I ever read, including the mangiest paperback from three decades ago.My thinking was, why have one pen in a jar on your desk when you could have a dozen, including that novelty one with the Donald Duck head and three from hotel chains? And I'm not throwing out that red glitter glue pen, it will come in handy next Christmas.Ditto the three pairs of secateurs, even though I no longer had a garden. Likewise the never-worn clothes and the sad, unloved handbags that sulked in a corner of my wardrobe like leather orphans. There are only two of us but my house was full of stuff, stuff, stuff like that, silting up at the seams, ready to withstand the siege that never came, a landfill of life that grew every year.
Then I saw the light. Or rather, I had the light thrust upon me. My circumstances over the past six years have been a continual boomerang of moving into one home while the other was refurbished, moving back, moving out again, moving somewhere else.And each time we moved, the cupboard spaces seemed to get smaller and the surroundings less hospitable to the cavalcade of - let's be honest - junk I was carting around. It became a pain. I began to ask myself, do I really need all this rubbish? For what good purpose?The turning point came when we had a flood in a storage cupboard which ruined all my lovely bed linen, collected over many years. I spent a long time secretly mourning my Italian 500-threaders, but it changed everything.
Realisation dawned that not only could I survive without my beloved velvet counterpane and four sets of bobble-trimmed pillowcases, but life was actually much easier without them.Less choice but more space. Cry freedom from quilts! And from the wreckage of those sodden sheets, I emerged a new woman; a born-again minimalist.Once you decide to reduce everything cluttering up in your life, there is no shortage of people out there to help you.A woman called Marie Kondo has become famous for inventing the Kon-Mari method of tidying. In her bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art Of Decluttering And Organising, she argues that unless you truly, deeply, madly love an item, it has no place in your home. Let's hope she makes an exception for husbands.Marie also shows her readers how to fold jumpers into neat, woolly packages and advises them to avoid buying fancy storage solutions such as hampers and hat boxes because they only encourage hoarding.Flamboyant interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen preaches the same mantra. He never designs bathrooms with lots of shelves and cupboards because 'they'll only get filled up with bottles of gunk'.Meanwhile, self-help guru Gretchen Rubin's book The Happiness Project has sold millions of copies. She believes that happiness begins with a tidy wardrobe and a calm home.To this end she subdivides clutter into categories such as crutch clutter (things you wear but know you shouldn't, like horrible but comfy leggings), buyer's remorse clutter (hanging on to expensive bad purchases because you can't admit you made a mistake), aspirational clutter (high heels you can't walk in, a tapestry you never finished), freebie clutter (hideous family gifts) and nostalgic clutter (souvenirs from an earlier life). It has one thing in common - it all has to go.Each of these good thoughts made perfect sense to me. Especially the buyer's remorse.The most expensive thing in my wardrobe was a beautiful pink jacket purchased in a moment of madness in New York and never worn. It made me look like a peeled armadillo - but I couldn't admit the mistake, so I kept it for years. Once I had packed it off to Dress For Success (a charity which helps to empower women by supplying them with professional attire), I was on my way.
As the months marched on, I learnt to live without. Clothes were brutally culled into a capsule wardrobe; boring but brilliant in the morning rush.Boxes of books were taken to charity shops - although I can never part with my copy of The Great Gatsby, so don't ask.In the kitchen, I chucked or donated everything that wasn't vital to my new, streamlined existence. The pasta-maker, the Jamie Oliver flavour-shaker, the unnecessary fruit-slicers, the surfeit of cutlery, crockery and pans.Now we could never have anyone round for dinner because we only have enough basics for the two of us. But why not? We always went out instead of entertaining at home, anyway.Look around at my shelves and surfaces and you will find not one ornament, knick-knack or keepsake in my entire home. What is all that stuff anyway? It's only showing off. Photographs and treasured mementoes are packed away in a box, desks clear of clutter to promote clear thoughts.Visitors think we have just moved in or are in the process of moving out, but that is the way we have come to like it. I love that transient feeling that living without brings; the belief that this place is not the end or the final destination, that you are not tied by 1,000 invisible threads to 1,000 curated objects that you've convinced yourself you love.Instead, at any given moment I could simply pack a (small) suitcase and walk out of the door without regret.Recently, the fashion and homewares designer Orla Kiely declared that British people hoard pointless clutter and have 'too much stuff'. It's a bit rich coming from someone with a homewares line featuring more This country is a rubbish tip of useless gadgets and curios impulse-bought and crammed into cupboards or dubiously displayed on mantelpieces than 50 products, including a flower-print garden bin, but she's right.This country is a rubbish tip of useless gadgets and curios impulse-bought and crammed into cupboards or dubiously displayed on mantelpieces. The same objects move, like a shifting sand dune of tat, from home clear-out to car boot sale to market stall to auction house to antique shop to jumble sale to charity shop, then back under the sink again.Kiely confessed that her products will ultimately contribute to this surfeit of bric-a-brac, but she is unrepentant.'I am adding to it,' she admitted. 'But I hope people who buy my stuff will keep it for ever.'Yet, just as one man's objet trouvé is another man's ashtray, one woman's prized leaf-print Kiely napkin is another's despised duster. And still the mountain of jumble gets bigger and bigger.Programmes such as BBC2's Antiques Road Trip really don't help because they glorify junk. It is a format which finds antiques experts - sometimes celebrities - competing against each other to buy stuff nobody wants, which is then sold at auction and bought by people with nothing better to do.In one recent show, the team gaily bought a brass trumpet, a sandalwood lizard, a pair of brass dogs and a Murano glass bowl big enough to bathe a baby.With the best will in the world, none of these things would pass the William Morris test: 'Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.' Yet in the space of one short television show they were purchased, sold and purchased again; more jumble to tumble onto the national pile.Please don't think I'm being a terrible snob about this. People love different things, even ugly things, for all sorts of complicated reasons - for all sorts of lovely reasons. And there is nothing wrong with that.It's just that so much antiquing and acquiring and shopping and displaying and cupboard-filling is just a waste of time, a reassurance of your own existence that you can, believe me, live without.Once upon a time I, too, believed that surrounding myself with a comfort blanket of things, that suffocating under stuff, was the outward expression of happy consumerism, the only way to live.Now I live without clutter, I realise I am so much happier without it all, and that's the way forward.You still don't agree? Come over to my place and we can have some tea and a chat about it. You'll have to bring your own cup.
High-sugar diet is as 'damaging to your brain as extreme stress or ABUSE'

High-sugar diet is as 'damaging to your brain as extreme stress or ABUSE'
There has been a seismic shift in the dietary landscape in recent years.
Where once fat was the much maligned enemy, now scientists are turning their attention to sugar.
It is now widely accepted that more must be done to encourage people to reduce their sugar intake.
So much so that dietary guidelines in the UK and US have been altered to reflect the changing scientific evidence.
The
World Health Organization recommends no more than 10 per cent of a
person's daily energy should come from added sugars, or those found
naturally in juices and honey.
That equates to around 50g or 12 teaspoons a day.
While
the links between a high-sugar diet and obesity are well documented, in
light of the mounting evidence, experts are turning their attention to
the other ways sugar can affect the body.
In
a recent study, a team at the University of New South Wales in
Australia, found sugar is as damaging to the brain as extreme stress or
abuse.
Here research associate, Jayanthi Maniam and profressor of pharmacology, Margaret Morris discuss their findings.
We all know that cola and lemonade aren’t great for our waistline or our dental health.
But our new study has shed light on just how much damage sugary drinks can also do to our brain.
The
changes we observed to the region of the brain that controls emotional
behaviour and cognitive function were more extensive than those caused
by extreme early life stress.
It
is known that adverse experiences early in life, such as extreme stress
or abuse, increase the risk of poor mental health and psychiatric
disorders later in life.
The number
of traumatic events - accidents; witnessing an injury; bereavement;
natural disasters; physical, sexual and emotional abuse; domestic
violence and being a victim of crime - a child is exposed to is
associated with elevated concentrations of the major stress hormone,
cortisol.
There
is also evidence that childhood maltreatment is associated with reduced
brain volume and that these changes may be linked to anxiety.
Looking
at rats, we examined whether the impact of early life stress on the
brain was exacerbated by drinking high volumes of sugary drinks after
weaning.
As females are more likely to experience adverse life events, we studied female Sprague-Dawley rats.
To
model early life trauma or abuse, after rats were born half of the
litters were exposed to limited nesting material from days two to nine
after birth.
They then returned to normal bedding until they were weaned.
The limited nesting alters maternal behaviour and increases anxiety in the offspring later in life.
At
weaning, half the rats were given unlimited to access to low-fat chow
and water to drink, while their sisters were given chow, water and a 25
per cent sugar solution that they could choose to drink.
Animals exposed to early life stress were smaller at weaning, but this difference disappeared over time.
Rats consuming sugar in both groups (control and stress) ate more calories over the experiment.
As
we know that early life stress can impact mental health and function,
we examined a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is
important for both memory and stress.
Four
groups of rats were studied – control (no stress), control rats
drinking sugar, rats exposed to stress, and rats exposed to stress who
drank sugar.
We
found that chronic consumption of sugar in rats who were not stressed
produced similar changes in the hippocampus as seen in the rats who were
stressed but not drinking sugar.
Early
life stress exposure or sugar drinking led to lower expression of the
receptor that binds the major stress hormone cortisol, which may affect
the ability to recover from exposure to a stressful situation.
Another gene that is important for the growth of nerves, Neurod1, was also reduced by both sugar and stress.
Other
genes important for the growth of nerves were investigated, and just
drinking sugar from a young age was sufficient to reduce them.
The
rats were exposed to high sugar intakes during development, and the
impact of the sugar is worrying as it may affect brain development,
although further work is required to test this.
In
this study, combining sugar intake and early life stress did not
produce further changes in the hippocampus, but whether this remains the
case over time is unclear.

The changes
in the brain induced by sugar are of great concern given the high
consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, with particularly high
consumption in children aged nine to 16 years.
If
similar processes are at play in humans to what was found in our rat
study, reducing the consumption of sugar across the community is
important.
The
fact that drinking sugar or exposure to early life stress reduced the
expression of genes critical for brain development and growth is of
great concern.
While
it is impossible to perform such studies in humans, the brain circuits
controlling stress responses and feeding are conserved across species.
People
who were exposed to early life trauma have changes in the structure of
their hippocampus. In humans, those consuming the most 'western' diet
had smaller hippocampal volumes, in line with data from animal models.
Taken
together, these findings suggest future work should consider possible
long-term effects of high sugar intake, particularly early in life, on
the brain and behaviour.
New Video Naogopa: Mirror Ft. Baraka Da Prince
Watch New VIDEO from Mirror ft Baraka da Prince...'NAOGOPA'
See full coverage of the Grammy Awards 2016 news and red carpet pictures
t's the biggest night of the year for musicians, so guests at the 58th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Monday pulled out all the stops when it came to their outfits.












All
eyes were on best friends Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez as arrived at
the star-studded event together, both sporting show-stopping outfits.
The
pop stars showcased their toned stomachs for the occasion, with Taylor
sporting a red bandeau top with a hot pink skirt, which was slit open to
reveal her matching underwear. 

The
26-year-old, who revealed that her outfit was by Atelier Versace, was
also showing off a new shorter hairdo, complete with blunt fringe. Meanwhile
Selena went for a more glitzy look in a blue Calvin Klein gown that was
covered in sequins, and featured daring cut-outs on the side, while
also allowing her to flash plenty of cleavage thanks to a low-cut
neckline.Selena,
whose hair was styled in soft curls, picked nude lipstick and dramatic
smoky eye make-up, while Taylor kept her eye make-up toned down but wore
her signature red lipstick.







As they were
getting ready, the pals had been celebrating Taylor’s Best Music Video
win for Bad Blood – which Selena appeared in.
Taylor,
who was up for seven gongs in total, took home the coveted Album Of The
Year award for 1989, and also won Best Pop Vocal Album for the record.
Perhaps
the most memorable look of the evening was Lady Gaga's. The 29-year-old
was performing a tribute to David Bowie during the ceremony, and also
paid homage to the late singer with her outfit.













Her musician
boyfriend, who has seven nominations and performed Can't Feel My Face
and In The Night during the evening, kept it classic in a black suit and
shirt with no tie.
The
Weeknd took home two gongs: Best R&B Performance for Earned It from
Fifty Shades Of Grey, and Best Urban Contemporary Album for Beauty
Behind The Madness.
John
Legend - there to take part in a star-studded tribute to Lionel Richie -
and wife Chrissy Teigen made for another cute couple on the red carpet,
as the singer lovingly rubbed his model wife's baby bump while they
posed for pictures.
Chrissy
showcased her pregnant figure for the event in an elegant white Yousef
Al-Jasmi gown, which featured a delicate cape. She carried a matching
box clutch and swept her caramel tresses into a ponytail.

+93

+93





Meanwhile
Adele made a triumphant comeback and revealed her slender figure in a
long-sleeved black Givenchy gown which was adorned with sequins, as she
prepared to take the stage during the ceremony.
The
27-year-old managed to deliver a spectacular rendition of All I Ask,
but unfortunately the performance was marred by technical glitches which
affected the sound.
While
the Hello hit-maker was all about the elegance on the red carpet,
several of the guests in attendance picked revealing outfits.
Ciara,
who was joined by boyfriend Russell Wilson, risked a wardrobe
malfunction in a black and white Alexandre Vauthier frock that was cut
to the hip on one side, and she appeared to be going without underwear.








Demi Lovato
picked a plunging skirt suit style Norisol Ferrari ensemble which she
teamed with lots of silver jewellery, and changed into a white blazer
and black trousers before delivering a show-stopping performance of
Lionel Richie's Hello.
Meanwhile
Anna Kendrick sported a black mesh Emanuel Ungaro gown and Alessandra
Ambrosio ditched her Victoria's Secret Angel wings for a raunchy cutaway
Versace dress.
Presenter
Kaley Cuoco stood out in a plunging beaded white Naeem Khan jumpsuit
with a cut-out section on the stomach that displayed her toned abs.
And
Ariana Grande, who was also presenting, unleashed her sexy side in a
skintight scarlet red Romona Keveza gown, complete with corseted top and
full train.
British
beauties Ellie Goulding and Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine
both picked powder pink gowns, with Ellie choosing a Stella McCartney
frock that looked simple from the front but boasted silver fringing on
the back, and Florence in a Gucci gown adorned with glittering stars and
moons.

![]() |
Scarlet woman: Ariana Grande showed her sexy side in a skintight red Romona Keveza gown, complete with corseted top |



Justin
Bieber won his first ever Grammy during the evening, in the form of Best
Dance Recording for his smash hit song Where Are Ü Now with Skrillex
and Diplo. He also performed the song along with an acoustic version of
Love Yourself.The
21-year-old brought his adorable six-year-old brother Jaxon as his plus
one for the evening, and the siblings sweetly posed together in their
tuxedos. Carrie Underwood was one of the first guests to arrive, and she made sure her look was one to remember.















The
32-year-old oozed sex appeal in an old Hollywood inspired strapless
black Nicolas Jebran gown, which featured a racy slit up one side,
exposing her long legs.
Carrie
also sported black pumps and a statement diamond and ruby necklace,
polishing off her look with nude lips and smoky eyes.
The
former American Idol contestant was nominated for Best Country Solo
Performance for Little Toy Guns, but lost out to Chris Stapleton and his
hit Traveller.
![]() |
All hail the queen: Beyonce didn't walk the red carpet, but posed backstage before presenting Record Of The Year |
![]() |
Out of this world: Florence + The Machine's Florence Welch showed off her quirky style in a pink Gucci gown with glittering star and moon motifs |
![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Out of this world: Florence + The Machine's Florence Welch showed off
her quirky style in a pink Gucci gown with glittering star and moon
motifs![]() ![]() ![]()
While most
of the female guests wore glamorous gowns, Zendaya Coleman mixed things
up as she went for an androgynous look, sporting a black DSquared2 suit
and showing off a mullet.
Amber
Heard, who was there to support husband Johnny Depp for his first TV
performance with band The Hollywood Vampires, which Alice Cooper and Joe
Perry are also a part of.
The actress skipped the red carpet but was spotted hanging out backstage with Selena Gomez.
![]()
Celebs
were toasting another year in music at the Staples Center as they were
honoured by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
The
evening will be hosted by LL Cool J, who has won two Grammys in the
past. This marks the rapper's fifth consecutive year as emcee of music's
biggest night.
The
Bigger And Deffer hitmaker has hosted 10 Grammy related shows, tributes
and specials over the years, making him a favorite of the National
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
![]()
![]()
Longtime loves: Mark Ronson (L) and Nick Lachey were joined by their respective wives Joséphine de La Baume and Vanessa Lachey
Going
into the evening, Kendrick Lamar led the pack with 11 nominations. The
Overly Dedicated hit-maker was nominated for the staggering number of
awards in nine different categories.
Kendrick
was up for the coveted Album of the Year for To Pimp A Butterfly, Best
Rap Album for the same record and Song of the Year with Alright.
Meanwhile both Taylor Swift and The Weeknd tied for second with seven nominations apiece.
![]()
Taylor,
who has a nomination in the coveted Album of The Year category as well
as Best Pop Vocal Album for 1989, performed during the live broadcast.
The
beauty opened the show with Out Of The Woods. She last performed at the
awards show in 2014 - singing her hit, All Too Well, from her Red
album.
While
Taylor lost out on Song Of The Year to Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud,
she couldn't have looked more proud of her pal for winning his first
ever Grammy. Ed also won Best Pop Solo Performance for the song.
![]()
![]() ![]()
A
shocked Meghan Trainor broke down in tears as she was named Best New
Artist, and her father Gary was shown crying in the audience as she
thanked her parents for their support.
The
evening also had a somber moment as the life of the late David Bowie
was celebrated with a special tribute performance by Lady Gaga. The
performance had been touted by organizers as an 'experiential tribute' to the late British singer.
The Recording Academy said Gaga would perform three or four
of Bowie's songs in a 'multisensory testament' to Bowie's
creativity as a musician whose work constantly evolved over five
decades.
![]()
+93
+93
![]()
Bowie's unexpected death at age 69 in January after a secret
cancer diagnosis shocked fans around the world and came just two
days after the release of a critically-acclaimed new album Blackstar.
Gaga, a six-time Grammy winner, is also known for
reinventing herself many times since she rose to fame in 2008.
She had already been booked to perform at the Grammy Awards.
'But when David passed - almost in a single moment - we knew
we had to change direction,' Grammy ceremony executive producer
Ken Ehrlich said in a statement.
![]() ![]()
![]()
How can she even sit down in that?: Joy Villa picked a very raunchy - and uncomfortable-looking - creation
'We immediately spoke and agreed that she (Lady Gaga) should
be the one to honor David. She's perfect for it,' Ehrlich added.
Music producer Nile Rodgers, who worked on Bowie's 1983
album Let's Dance, was the musical director for the
tribute.
The
life of B.B. King was also honoured at the Grammys on Monday night. A
tributary performance by a diverse trio paid homage to the late king of
the blues.
Gary
Clark Jr, a rocker with roots in blues guitar, took part in the
performance as he was joined by two figures from country music - Chris
Stapleton, a rising star who is nominated for Album of the Year, and
Bonnie Raitt.
![]()
![]()
+93
Cute in a LBD: Singing legend Lee Ann Womack, 49, showed off her toned legs in a black dress that had swirls and sheer panels
King,
the son of Mississippi sharecroppers who popularized the blues through
years of nearly daily concerts and an invariably cordial demeanor, died
in May at age 89.
King
died on May 14 last year at his home in Las Vegas. He was buried two
weeks later at the museum in Indianola, the hometown where he continued
to play annual concerts until a year before his death.
During
the broadcast Travis Barker joined Pitbull and Robin Thicke for a
performance together while Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry from
the Hollywood Vampires took the stage as well.
![]()
VIDEOS ARE HERE>>>>
The calm before the storm: Press gathered at the Staples Center, waiting for the throngs of celebrities to arrive
|
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)