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The UK’s first menopause education programme is in the works. Those behind the National Menopause Education and Support Programme said they hope it will give women reaching menopausal age a better understanding of changes happening in their bodies, as well as peer support from others going through a similar experience. Across a number of weeks, those taking part will be given independent, up-to-date and evidence-based menopause education, including symptoms and treatments, in a course delivered by trained healthcare professionals. Research has shown that women are currently poorly educated about the menopause and often go into it not understanding what to expect Professor Joyce Harper The course, designed by experts at University College London (UCL) and leading women’s health charities, has been inspired by those offered by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) during pregnancy. Work on developing the programme will begin at UCL in September and those behind it hope it is something which companies can offer to employees. Research published earlier this year by Professor Joyce Harper, who is leading the programme, has suggested that of the 829 postmenopausal women questioned, 90% were not taught about the menopause at school and 60% only started looking for information about it when they began to have symptoms. Harper, a professor in the Institute for Women’s Health at UCL, said they want to help women access the information they need “to manage the changes they experience in this part of their life, in the best way possible”. She said: “Research has shown that women are currently poorly educated about the menopause and often go into it not understanding what to expect. “Some menopausal symptoms can cause psychological issues and women may mistake their symptoms for mental health issues or other concerning causes, and this can have a negative effect on their wellbeing.” Harper said they want to “keep the price of the programme low to make it accessible to everyone” and plan to work with firms so they can make it available to employees. The programme is in partnership with the charities Wellbeing of Women and Sophia Forum, and is supported by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and British Menopause Society. We hope this work will empower a generation of women to understand the changes to their bodies during menopause Janet Lindsay Janet Lindsay, chief executive of Wellbeing of Women, said: “Every woman deserves access to high-quality information and menopause support, yet as research from Professor Harper shows, too many women haven’t been given the knowledge they desperately need and deserve. “We hope this work will empower a generation of women to understand the changes to their bodies during menopause and access help to manage their symptoms.” Here are the key things to know about menopause. What is it? According to the NHS, menopause is when a woman’s period stops due to lower hormone levels. This usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can begin earlier in life. Menopause can happen naturally or because of the removal of the uterus or ovaries, chemotherapy, or due to genetics. But sometimes there’s no real explanation. What are the symptoms? Menopause affects women in different ways. You could have some symptoms, none, or experience them months or years before your period actually stops – this is known as perimenopause. According to the NHS, common mental health symptoms include changes to your mood, low self-esteem and brain fog. Physical symptoms could include hot flushes, insomnia, heart palpitations, migraines, muscle and joint pains, weight fluctuation, dry and itchy skin, reduced sex drive, vaginal dryness and pain, and repetitive urinary tract infections (UTIs). Symptoms can last for months or years, and change or develop over time. What can you do about it? The NHS recommends seeing a GP or nurse if you think you have perimenopause or menopause symptoms, or a pharmacist for advice about treatments and things you can do to help. Positive lifestyle changes such as getting plenty of rest, eating a healthy diet and exercising can help with perimenopause and menopause symptoms. The primary medicine treatment is hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can help ease symptoms and is prescribed by a doctor. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How to create the mermaid eyes beauty look that’s trending on TikTok How to force bulbs to flower at Christmas How do you choose the best sports bra for you? Experts explain what to look for

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Emily Blunt has explained why her children don’t really think that it’s “exciting” to have a famous mother. During a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the 40-year-old actor shared her candid thoughts about her life in the spotlight while raising two daughters – Hazel, nine, and Violet, seven – with husband John Krasinski. She noted that, as she has looked back on her career thus far, she doesn’t like to think about her celebrity status. “When I see myself up on a billboard, I have this complete dissociation with it...I’m like, who’s that?” Blunt said. “And I can see my children doing the same.” The Edge of Tomorrow star went on to explain why her daughters aren’t too impressed by their mother’s fame. “They might say, ‘Oh, there’s Mama,’ but it’s not exciting for them,” she said. “What’s exciting for them is when I can pick them up from school and take them swimming.” Blunt proceeded to open up about her family and how spending time with her daughters is a huge priority. She also noted that she tries not to be away from them for too long while working. “Because even though they’re hardy, and they’re used to this strange life, it’s still rough on them when I have to go away,” she continued. The actor then pointed out that there are certain points in her children’s daily routine that she doesn’t want to miss out on. “There are cornerstones of the girls’ day that I don’t want to compromise on – like, will you wake me up, take me to school, pick me up and put me to bed?” she said. “And I just want to be able to say, yes, yes, yes. It’s such an exhale for me to be able to do that.” Over the years, Blunt has shared her children’s thoughts about her career. During an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan in 2021, the Quiet Place star said that while her daughters haven’t been interested in watching her movies in the past, there’s one film she’s done that they really enjoyed: Jungle Cruise. “They are usually disinterested in seeing me on screen, but they’re really into Jungle Cruise,” she said. “They love the jaguar. They love DJ [Dwayne Johnson]. They love the dynamic. They love the whole world.” Meanwhile, John Kraskinski – who’s been married to Blunt since 2010 – has also said that their children ended up loving one of his movies: DC League of Super-Pets. “They were laughing very, very hard,” Krasinski explained during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in July 2022. “I think up until now they didn’t actually believe I was in the business, because they’ve never seen anything I’ve done.” Read More Fans gush over Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s flirty whispers at the SAG Awards: ‘Couple goals’ From their first date to parents of two: A timeline of Emily Blunt and John Krasinski’s relationship John Krasinski reveals he ‘wouldn’t be anywhere’ without wife Emily Blunt Jamie Foxx’s rep addresses conspiracy Covid vaccine left actor ‘paralyzed and blind’ Gamer finds indent in head from prolonged headset use after shaving his hair How to stay safe from wildfire smoke

When it comes to making a wise investment in a splurge-y foundation, there’s one specific variable that will impact how the formula looks, feels, and stays on your skin: how much you apply. On TikTok, the “how much foundation is too much foundation” discourse has been a wild ride. According to some, like beauty content creator Meredith Duxbury, the limit does not exist, which plays into the viral trend of “layering” (read: globbing and dripping) foundation on the skin.

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From mermaid nails to chrome powder, there’s a different Instagram-worthy manicure to try every week. But constant filing, polishing, and rough removal methods can make nails weak, bumpy and brittle, with dry cuticles that catch on your clothes. Your manicurist might advise giving your nails a break once in a while, but there’s only so much that “letting them breathe” will actually achieve.

To beat summer heat, wine lovers often turn to vinho verde, a light, refreshing wine from northern Portugal that has enjoyed a boomlet the past few years. One sign of its popularity – several local wineries are producing their own “verde-style” wines with the hallmarks of sharp acidity and slight carbonation. But what exactly is this “green wine”? Here are five things to know about this popular summer sip. 1. The name There’s no agreed on explanation for the name, which apparently evolved around the 17th century when the wines were first exported to Britain. It could be a reference to the “green” underripe flavours of tart apples and lime blossom in the very fresh, raw wine. It could also refer to the lush green landscape of the Minho region in northwestern Portugal, where the Atlantic Ocean’s maritime influence produces a climate and terroir starkly different from the parched Mediterranean lands in the Algarve to the south. The Portuguese pronunciation is VEEN-yo VER-da, with the last syllable all but swallowed. If, like most people, you pronounce it VEE-no VERD-ee, the Portuguese winemakers will not complain. They will smile politely, pocket your cash and be happy you are enjoying their wine. Green wine comes in white, pink and red (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Very little red is produced. Both the whites and rosés are notable for tart acidity (those green flavours) and a slight spritz of carbonation, which combine to make them refreshing, especially in hot weather. They are intended to be enjoyed, not aged. In fact, many are not even vintage-dated because they’re not expected to last long enough for the year to be relevant. So drink up! 2. The region and the grapes Vinho verde is Portugal’s largest demarcated wine region, or appellation (though the administrative region is called Minho). There are nine subzones which generally do not appear on wine labels but may become increasingly important as winemakers explore different expressions of vinho verde. The main grapes are alvarinho (familiar to us as albariño) and loureiro, a crisp white often compared to riesling. There are several other varieties that are even harder to pronounce and noteworthy only if you are keeping track of varieties you’ve tasted. Alvarinho dominates the blends in the north (where the Minho borders Spain’s Rias Baixas region), and loureiro is more prominent further south. 3. That spritz Vinho verde has been exported at least since the 17th century. Back in the day, the wine’s signature spritz resulted from a little bit of sugar remaining as the wines were rushed into bottle before fermentation had finished. Today, the bubbles are added artificially by carbonation before bottling. The level of carbonation is up to the producer – some vinho verde can be quite fizzy, while others gently tickle the palate. 4. You can use it in cocktails Vinho verde’s fizz and still relatively low price make it an ideal foil for your summer mixology efforts. An ice cube, slice of lime and a splash of gin make a nice spritzer. It can also be a great base for sangria. 5. New styles are evolving While we think of vinho verde as a simple, enjoyable starter wine for a summer repast, some winemakers are producing more serious versions. These are usually made from a single variety (such as alvarinho or loureiro) and labelled with the vintage. Some producers are bottling single-vineyard wines to highlight a site’s granite or schist soils. “The wines are changing and moving forward with an international, incredibly bright and pure style,” says Eugénio Jardim, the brand ambassador for Wines of Portugal. He cited Anselmo Mendes and Quinta da Soalheiro as pioneers of this new style. “This is a region in flux, with the quality of wines soaring in recent years,” Jardim tells me. “This is not a one-note region.” © The Washington Post Read More Sierra Nevada lakes change more in past 100 years than three millennia How the climate crisis played a role in fueling Hurricane Ida Against the odds: The fight to save sea turtles in Ras Baridi The Norwegian sparkling wine aged at the bottom of the sea The curious history of sauvignon blanc – and what to drink if you hate it The Independent Wine Club best cases 2023: Wine from small growers