Features

<p>‘Your vaginal flora composition plays a huge role in vaginal, reproductive and overall health – sadly many women are not aware of these connections’ </p>

let’s unpack that

Forget gut health – it’s time to maintain your vagina’s microbiome

You may have not heard of it yet, but the microbiome has become one of the most talked-about and important subjects in bodily health lately. But experts warn that the answer to maintaining it won’t involve drops or scented vaginal sprays, writes Olivia Petter

<p>‘There isn’t a cure for alcoholism, but there is a solution that offers far more than abstinence’ </p>

let’s unpack that

Britain has an addiction crisis – is 12-step recovery the answer?

<p>Gone, but not forgotten: Can erasing an ex help you move on?</p>

first-person

You can now erase your ex from old photos – here’s why you shouldn’t

<p>‘It’s OK to spend quality time in your gender bubble – the trick is to be totally upfront and honest about why you do it’ </p>

overthinking

There’s a place for single-sex clubs. They just need to be justified

<p>Is Peppa Pig a force for good or a force for evil? </p>

How Peppa Pig became every parent’s worst nightmare

<p>‘I respect how Swift has charted her journey to rising above and calling out all that grin-and-bear-it, good-girl bull’ </p>

I used to be a music contrarian – now I’m an unlikely Taylor Swift fan

<p>Keir Starmer checking out the banana selection in Sainsbury’s</p>

comment

What your supermarket says about your politics

Latest news

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<p>The AvatarMind iPal robot can sing and dance and tell bedtime stories – but it’s a far cry from proper childcare </p>

I’d love a robot nanny for my children – it’s a dream

<p>‘These scenes have disturbed, devastated, and galvanised me’: Michaela Coel in ‘I May Destroy You’ </p>

Rape scenes are vital in pop culture – they just need to be done right

<p>Alexa Chung, Kate Middleton and Sienna Miller have all worn Vampire’s Wife designs </p>

let’s unpack that

Kate Middleton’s favourite fashion brand is closing – but why?

<p>Space age: Ed Dwight became the oldest person to reach the edge of space aged 90 </p>

Dreams don’t die in middle-age – it’s never too late to pursue passion

Food

<p>Cheesy and bacon-filled stuffed potatoes, crispy and delicious from the air fryer</p>

Delicious air fryer stuffed potatoes recipe

<p>Half veggies, a quarter grains and quarter protein is the rule of thumb for gut-loving buddha bowls </p>

The six ingredients you need to eat every day for good gut health

<p>Homemade potato chips cooked to crispy perfection in the air fryer</p>

Homemade air fryer potato chips recipe

<p>Crispy and delicious sweet potato fries made in the air fryer, perfect for a healthy snack</p>

Healthy and crispy air fryer sweet potato fries recipe

Recipes

<p>Crispy roasted potatoes seasoned with rosemary and garlic, fresh out of the air fryer</p>

Easy air fryer roasted potatoes recipe

<p>Golden and crispy French fries made to perfection in the air fryer</p>

Perfectly crispy air fryer French fries recipe

<p>Delicious meals can also be full of easy wins to perfect your plant intake</p>

Three recipes to help you eat 30 plants a week

Explore news for you

Independent TV

Actor Will Mellor discovers ‘kinky’ prop in London hotel room

<p>Chester Zoo has welcomed 11 Humboldt penguins – the most the zoo has seen in more than 10 years (Chester Zoo)</p>

Eleven rare Humboldt penguin chicks welcomed at Chester Zoo

<p>Normal People season two: Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal apologise ‘for leading people on’.</p>

Normal People’s Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal issue fan apology

Jeremy Renner shares moving message to daughter after accident

Design

Time to channel your inner beachcomber with these seaside themed accessories (Perkins & Morley/PA)

10 ways to create a charming coastal scheme

Eat outside in style with these stylish finds (Lights4fun/PA)

10 ways to up your al fresco game

Decluttering tips to soothe your mind and improve the look of your home (Redrow/PA)

How to get organised at home – boosting your health and adding value to your home in the process

Royal Family

<p>Prince Andrew ‘ain’t going anywhere’ in his battle with the King over his royal residence, a source has revealed, as the royal row between the siblings deepens</p>

Andrew ‘ain’t going anywhere’ in battle with King over residence

Royal Family News

Inside the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson’s wedding

<p>APTOPIX Nigeria Invictus Games</p>

Royal Family News

Nigeria’s First Lady slams US celebs after Meghan Markle visit

Women

Instagram fuels self-doubt more than a catwalk ever could

<p>Catcalling is everywhere – but it’s most likely to occur when women go running</p>

For women runners, catcalling is constant – and most men don’t realise

Author Ela Lee: ‘We need to take blackout sex more seriously’

Dating and Relationships

<p>Views around celibacy have completely changed in recent years </p>

Celibacy is revolutionising people’s sex lives

<p>Good sex isn’t just about buying the right vibrator, it’s about connecting with your partner and, more importantly, with yourself</p>

Mind the pleasure gap: Why are women having such a bad time in bed?

<p>The actor found several famous women agreeing with her sentiment </p>

Megan Fox is right: we shouldn’t waste our time on bad dates

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news

In Pictures: Mud glorious mud! Competitors raise charity cash in annual mud race

In Pictures: Mud glorious mud! Competitors raise charity cash in annual mud race

celebrities

Adele praised for shutting down audience member’s anti-Pride comments

viral

Women reveal biggest icks men mistakenly think are appealing

politics

Keir Starmer reportedly offers Diane Abbott seat in Lords he wanted to abolish

viral

The TikTok ‘skin pinch’ test can tell if you’re dehydrated in seconds

viral

The TikTok ‘skin pinch’ test can tell if you’re dehydrated in seconds

politics

Laurence Fox involved in road accident in car 'without a valid MOT'

news

Police officer couple to continue working despite £1 million lottery win