• The British economy shrank by 0.3 percent in the last quarter of 2023
• But Chancellor Jeremy Hunt remains optimistic the economy could grow to near US levels

By Harriet Line

Published: 6:41 PM EDT, March 19, 2024 | Updated: 6:57 PM EDT, March 19, 2024

Foreign Minister Winston Peters will arrive in India on March 10 as part of his three-nation tour.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand: Recognizing India’s leading role on the world stage, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Tuesday said his country is committed to building a “broader, deeper, mutually beneficial relationship” with the country.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters will arrive in India on March 10 as part of his three-nation tour. He will visit New Delhi and Ahmedabad. Peters will also emphasize the two countries’ shared interest in helping the development of the Pacific Islands region.

“India is a country with which New Zealand can, must and will do more. New Zealand recognizes the global and regional leadership role that India plays, and we are committed to building a broader, deeper and mutually beneficial relationship,” Peters said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Peters will also visit Singapore and Indonesia to strengthen relations between New Zealand and South and South East Asian countries.

Peters will hold meetings with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Singapore’s Vivian Balakrishnan respectively.

“It will be a privilege to spend even more time with three such experienced and accomplished Foreign Ministers whose views on the issues facing the world and the Indo-Pacific in particular carry significant weight. “If New Zealand wants to maximize our influence and impact in the region, we need to up our game with all three countries India, Indonesia and Singapore,” he said.

Gujarat calls Gujarat “an engine of Indian economic growth” with significant connections to New Zealand’s Indian diaspora. A government press release said Peters will also meet Secretary of State Bhupendrabhai Patel.

“In Delhi, he will highlight the shared interest that New Zealand and India have in helping the development of the Pacific Islands region,” the release said, adding that his visit to India will end on March 13.

(With IANS inputs)

• In Britain alone, 1.9 million people say they are experiencing symptoms of long Covid-19
• Scientists found that people with long Covid-19 had problems with iron levels in the blood

By Xantha Leatham, deputy science editor of The Daily Mail

Published: 09:51 EST, March 4, 2024 | Updated: 12:03 EST, March 4, 2024

FORTNITE has had some excellent collaborations lately and fans are loving the new in-game content.

The Chapter 5 Season 1 crossover event features the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with various Turtle-themed skins.

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You can purchase these from the Item Shop, but there is also a quest and reward track that allows you to get certain items and cosmetics.

Fortnite Festival also did a collaboration with Lady Gaga, adding a number of new songs and outfits to the game.

A reliable Fortnite leaker has revealed the next collaboration that will likely be added in Chapter 5, Season 2.

The next crossover event will reportedly be based on the 2005 animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The Avatar crossover was found thanks to dataminers who revealed that there was code for Avatar-themed items in the game.

Avatar: The Last Airbender was recently made into a live-action TV show by Netflix, but has not been as well received as the original show.

Fans were excited about the new show, and their disappointment only made them more excited to rewatch the original series.

Like the TMNT event, the Avatar collaboration is expected to kick off mid-season with a free and premium rewards track.

It’s also likely that a number of outfits will be made available for purchase via the Item Shop before the event.

The data shows that it will include an Aang skin and a Lego variant, as well as an Appa Glider.

There will be a quest to collect six books in the game, although details on this are still unclear.

Chapter 5 Season 2 starts in just a few weeks, so players are eager to learn more details.

If you want to read more about Fortnite, check out the Lady Gaga x Fortnite Festival collaboration.

Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.

Before I began a career in science some ten years ago, I was a chef on a super yacht and my job was to provide delicious but nutritious food.

These days I am just as passionate about the joy good flavours can bring, but thanks to my job as a scientist and dietitian working at the cutting edge of nutrition research I can combine that with an insight into how what you eat can affect your health.

And one of the areas where diet can have a major effect is on cholesterol.

Look, for example, at research into the Portfolio Diet — based on eating cholesterol-lowering foods, including plenty of fibre and protein from mainly plant sources, including nuts. This can lower cholesterol as much as statins, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2005.

That’s not to say statins aren’t effective in reducing cholesterol levels — they are — but, for some people, the right foods can be too. The problem is that raised cholesterol — like high blood pressure — is a silent killer; typically there aren’t any symptoms until the damage is done.

I was shocked by recent figures from NHS Digital which showed 61 per cent of women and 56 per cent of men have high cholesterol — and without a blood test many will be unaware of the risk it poses.

Levels build more easily over the age of 40 (as your body becomes less efficient at clearing it) but raised cholesterol can be a problem at any age, and the longer it is left unchecked, the more likely it is to cause problems.

High levels can clog your major arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Excess cholesterol can also contribute to diseases that block smaller blood vessels to the arms and legs, which can lead to leg pain and ulcers. Virtually any artery can be affected and if the cholesterol blocks small vessels supplying the penis, for example, it can even lead to erectile difficulties.

But not all cholesterol is bad. While some comes from what we eat, about 80 per cent is made in the liver, as cholesterol is needed to form cell walls and is a vital component of many important hormones, such as oestrogen and testosterone.

There are two main types of cholesterol: ‘bad’ LDL (low-density lipoprotein) which can lodge in your blood vessel walls, forming fatty deposits which can obstruct blood flow; and ‘good’ HDL (high-density lipoprotein) which carries excess LDL back to the liver where it is recycled or removed in waste.

Ideally you want to keep LDL levels down and your HDL up (although with HDL, the latest thinking is that you can have too much of a good thing and after a certain level the benefits reduce).

It’s a good idea to get your levels checked. Total cholesterol should be below 5mmol/L and LDL below 3mmol/L. If your levels are raised you may be prescribed statins.

Here I guide you through how diet can help lower cholesterol.

Learn to love kimchi…

The health of your gut micro- biome — the community of bacteria, yeast and viruses in your gut — can, among other health benefits, have a significant effect on your cholesterol levels, and the more diverse that community the better. That was the finding of research I co-authored with colleagues at King’s College London, published in Nature Medicine in 2021.

It’s thought that your gut bacteria convert bad cholesterol into coprostanol — a non-absorbable, waxy solid that’s then excreted.

One way you can support your gut bacteria is by eating foods that contain fibre: when they feast on fibre the bacteria produce a by-product, short-chain fatty acids, which help the liver remove LDL from the blood.

The healthier and more diverse your gut microbiome, the better your cholesterol levels should be — so eat more of the fibrous food these microbes love.

The benefits are clear: consuming just 7g more fibre a day is linked to 6 per cent lower risk of heart disease and stroke.

However, on average we eat only 60 per cent of our recommended 30g fibre a day. So aim to have fruit and veg with every meal, snack on nuts and seeds and eat wholegrains daily.

Another way to support your gut bacteria is by eating live fermented foods such as kimchi (made from fermented cabbage with spices) which, as well as being a source of fibre, is itself a source of friendly bacteria.

For one study 100 people ate exactly the same food for a week — but half also had 15g (i.e. a spoonful) of kimchi daily, while the other half had 210g (a small bowl) daily for seven days.

At the end of the week both had significantly lower levels of bad LDL cholesterol. However, the group eating the most kimchi had the biggest reduction, reported the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2013.

…and legumes 

If you want to do just one other thing to improve your health, eat legumes. Chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans and lentils are fantastic in so many ways, including reducing cholesterol.

They are high in soluble fibre which swells in the water in the gut, forming a gel that encases bile acids (which help with the digestion and absorption of fat).

These acids also contain LDL cholesterol, so encasing them also removes them from the body, meaning more LDL is excreted.

Eating 130g of legumes a day — that’s less than half a can — may reduce LDL cholesterol by 5 per cent, according to a review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, published in 2014.

Switch to filter (or instant) coffee 

There has been contradictory research around coffee and cholesterol, but it’s thought it may lower the production of bile acids, reducing how much LDL is excreted from the body.

Coffee beans contain oil-based compounds including cafestol which some evidence has suggested may increase cholesterol.

A number of studies found that 10mg cafestol raises cholesterol (largely LDL) by about 0.13mm/L and a cup of unfiltered coffee has roughly 3-6mg of cafestol. 

So, if you’re a big coffee drinker and worried about cholesterol levels, you might be better switching to filter (filtering catches the cafestol) — or even instant, which contains negligible amounts.

If you’re wedded to your cafetiere, just don’t leave the coffee to brew too long as the longer the water is in touch with the grinds, the more cafestol it contains.

Try plant-based spreads 

Plant sterols and stanols are compounds found in foods such as vegetable oils, veg and nuts that are natural cholesterol busters. 

They have a similar structure to cholesterol and compete with it for absorption at entry points in the gut. 

The more sterols and stanols, the less cholesterol can be absorbed. 

Eating 2g a day can reduce your LDL cholesterol by up to 12 per cent when eaten regularly, according to some studies.

It is, however, quite hard to get the 2g from natural sources (you’d need to eat about five handfuls of walnuts or five heads of broccoli) — but you can get enough in one hit with foods such as yoghurt or butter replacement spreads with added stanols or sterols.

Avoid instant oats and go jumbo 

Oats are well known to help lower cholesterol, but how much they help depends on the type.

Oats contain a form of soluble fibre called beta glucan which forms a gel in the gut that helps reduce the absorption of cholesterol. 

However highly ground oats (e.g. instant oats) will provide less beta glucan than the groats (oats with the kernel intact), jumbo or large (or steel cut) oats. 

Usually the longer they take to cook, the better they are for you.

Eating 3g of beta glucan a day reduces LDL cholesterol levels by about 7 per cent. An average 40g bowl of standard porridge oats contains around 2g. 

You can increase your intake by adding barley to stews, for instance, or using it in place of rice, snacking on oatcakes, or eating rye bread.

Cut back on butter 

In general, eating too much saturated fat blocks the work of receptors in the liver that attract LDL cholesterol in the blood and break it down.

However, not all saturated fat is equal. Some dairy, such as butter and cream, raise LDL more than cheese or other fermented dairy, such as yoghurt and kefir.

One theory with cheese is that even though it has similar amounts of fat to butter its molecular structure means the fat binds to the calcium in it, making it harder for enzymes to break it down, so less saturated fat enters the bloodstream.

Like kefir and yoghurt it is also thought to feed ‘good’ gut bacteria, resulting in higher HDL. A study of 47 people who swapped butter for olive oil in cooking found their LDL dropped on average by 6 per cent, reported the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2015.

Make it a green cuppa 

Drinking green tea regularly can ‘significantly’ lower LDL levels, concluded a review of 31 trials in the Nutrition Journal in 2020. 

It said high levels of catechins — a type of antioxidant — in green tea encourage the body to excrete LDL and limit the formation of fatty plaques in the blood vessels.

On average you need to drink two cups a day to benefit.

Go nuts for almonds 

Regularly eating tree nuts such as walnuts, Brazil nuts or cashews cuts LDL cholesterol by between 3 and 19 per cent, reported the journal Nutrition Review in 2011. Evidence suggests you need to eat one to two handfuls a day to benefit. One study found eating about two handfuls a day of almonds cut cholesterol by 9 per cent.

Nuts are a good source of healthy fats which can raise HDL. They’re also a useful source of fibre and contain vitamin E, helping neutralise some of the harmful effects of LDL. I keep a jar by the kettle to snack on while making tea.

n Dr Emily Leeming is a dietitian and microbiome scientist at King’s College London. Her book, Genius Gut: How to Eat for Your Second Brain will be available from July.

High cholesterol increases the risk of heart attack, especially in winter. Here are some ways to control it and lower LDL levels at home:

High cholesterol is a risky business in healthcare, and that is common knowledge. Cholesterol is essential as when LDL levels being high, it makes one more susceptible to health risks like heart attack, obesity, high blood pressure etc. During winters, reduced activities contribute to bad cholesterol. Just for the inexperienced: what is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy buildup of plaque in the arteries. It hinders blood flow, which affects the optimal functioning of the cardiovascular system, and also increases pressure on blood vessels. If left untreated, this can be a domino effect of several health problems. In addition, there are two types of cholesterol values: Good cholesterol And Bad cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the “bad,” unhealthy type of cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can build up in your arteries and form fatty, waxy deposits called plaques. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good,” healthy kind of cholesterol. It transports excess cholesterol from your blood vessels to your liver, where it is removed from your body.

Ayurveda is one of the oldest medical practices in existence. It is a varied combination of diet and detox remedies that help improve health naturally. So here is how you can lower bad cholesterol levels the Ayurvedic way.

HIGH CHOLESTEROL: 5 AYURVEDIC WAYS TO LOWER LDL

1. Triphala: It is an Ayurvedic formulation of malaki, haritaki and vibhitaki. It is known for serving health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants that help relieve oxidative stress and lower cholesterol levels.
2. Cloves of garlic: Adding one or two cloves of garlic to the daily diet can help control cholesterol levels. It contains compounds such as allicin that can help control bad cholesterol levels.
3. Stay active: Choosing brisk walking, jogging, cycling or another form of exercise is important for keeping your cholesterol levels in check. Incorporating 15-20 minutes of exercise instead can help increase good cholesterol.
4. Healthy Diet: Diet is the most important aspect in every aspect. Adding more fiber, protein, lean protein, whole grains and plenty of vegetables is also a good way to lower high cholesterol, according to Ayurveda.
5. Stress management: Prolonged stress leads to an increase in cortisol levels, which further influences the increase in LDL levels in the body. Therefore, managing stress is crucial to keeping the heart healthy.

QUICK TIPS FPR CHOLESTEROL CONTROL:

• Ayurveda is one of the oldest methods in medicine, but research continues into its safety.
• These methods may differ per agency. It is important to know what suits your own body.
• It is always necessary to have your cholesterol levels checked as there are no visible symptoms per se.
• Consult a doctor before following any diet.

Scientists have found that doing simple yoga exercises for just three minutes every hour can reduce the risk of diabetes by up to a quarter.

And it gets even better: for some exercises you don't even have to get up.

Researchers from Glasgow Caledonian University asked 15 young adults to sit at a desk for eight hours and either remain still or do 180 seconds of yoga or tai chi every hour.

Tai chi had no significant effect. But those who did yoga poses such as downward dog, cobra, warrior and mountain lowered their blood sugar levels by about 10 percent.

Let's not forget the wider benefits of yoga: it strengthens and lengthens muscles (making you tighter and toned), and increases endurance, balance and flexibility, which is great if you want to boost your sex life, physically robust want to stay in middle age and surpass or advance your mental health.

The study's findings come as no surprise to leading yoga instructor Marianne O'Neill, who teaches at AMP at the Corinthia hotel, which is frequented by celebrities including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Daniel Craig and Jennifer Lawrence.

'Yoga has so many benefits – not just for diabetes, but also for anxiety, stress and weight. And that doesn't have to take long,” she says.

Set a timer on your phone and complete as many sun salutations as you can in three minutes. Or perform a spinal twist, holding for a minute and a half on each side.

Or you can do a cobra first and then a downward dog, each for a minute and a half. Repeat your micro session of yoga al deskko eight times a day, just three minutes per hour, and reap all the benefits without missing a single work deadline…

Seated stretching

Beginners can sit on a chair. You can also sit cross-legged on the floor and breathe slowly through your nose. Hold your breath for four counts, then relax and exhale slowly, lowering your shoulders. Repeat three times.

Inhale as you raise your arms above your head, then interlock your fingers and push your palms upward. Lengthen your torso, contract your core and hold. As you exhale, lean to the left, push with your palms, straighten your arms and lengthen along the right side of the body. Then raise your arms above your head and lean to the right, extending along your left side.

Spinal twist

Sit cross-legged on the floor – or, if this causes discomfort, sit on a chair with your knees together and feet flat on the floor. Open your arms wide and twist from the base of your spine, placing your left hand on your right knee and your right hand behind you, with your fingertips touching the floor or chair seat.

Breathe slowly and deeply. Sit up straight and roll your right shoulder back. Repeat on your other side. Each twist helps with digestion because it gets your system moving. It's also great for hip flexibility and stretches the chest, shoulders and back.

Sphinx pose or cobra

The cobra pose—you lie flat on your stomach, your arms at your sides, and you rise from the waist like a snake—strengthens the abs, core and spine, and even the glutes when you engage them. Some people say this stretch also compresses their lower back.

I recommend a variation for beginners: the sphinx pose. Place your elbows on the floor, in line with your chest, with your forearms flat in front of you. Keep looking at the mat and stay low. Raise your upper body to a comfortable place, push your chest forward and keep your shoulders back. Hold this position for 30 seconds.

Downward dog

Start on all fours, hands on the mat shoulder-width apart. Lift your knees off the mat and keeping your hands flat, lift your hips and press your heels into the floor until you form a triangle shape. Straightening your legs can hurt, so bend your knees if necessary.

Push away from your hands so that you straighten your arms and keep your butt high in the air. Hold for a few moments. This releases the tension and gets the blood pumping faster.

Warrior II

Stand up straight, feet hip-width apart. Step your right foot back and rotate it outward 90 degrees, bending your left knee – in line with your left ankle. Extend your arms horizontally on either side of you – left arm in line with your left leg, right arm over right leg. Turn your head so that your gaze is aligned with your left fingertips. Keep your spine vertical. A wonderful stretch for balance, flexibility and endurance.

Sun salutation

Sitting for long hours contributes to the risk of diabetes. This movement helps control blood sugar levels.

Start in mountain pose with arms at your sides and palms facing up. Inhale, extend your arms above your head, straighten and extend them.

Exhale and slowly bend forward from your hips, pulling your core in until your fingers touch the floor. Bend your knees if that's easier. Inhale, flattening your spine until your torso is horizontal – a 'half lift'.

Exhaling, place your hands on the floor and step back into a plank. Lower your knees-chest-chin to the floor. Breathe into the cobra. Exhale into downward dog. Inhale, step or jump forward – lift halfway. Exhale, bend forward. Inhale, roll up and reach your arms above your head. Exhale, return to the mountain.

• espalifeatcorinthia.com/gym/