What if HRT isn’t right for me? And is cold-water swimming really the answer to everything? Your menopause questions answered

We asked the experts for advice on how to ease your path through menopause and what alternative treatments work best

‘I was grieving on a very biological level’: how three women got through menopause

Women’s experiences can differ vastly. Some manage their symptoms easily. Others struggle for years. And sometimes menopause can bring benefits they’d never imagined

Being diagnosed with dyslexia has made me happier

Throughout her life, Danyah Miller developed coping mechanisms to help deal with certain challenges. Would she have thrived if she had known about dyslexia, or would a label have limited her?

Read me a story: why reading out loud is a joy for adults as well as kids

Sarah Manavis and her partner have a guilty secret. What they love to do most of all in private is… read out loud to each other. And, as she’s discovered, it has many surprising benefits

Healthy lifestyle may offset genetics by 60% and add five years to life, study says

Genetics alone can mean a 21% greater risk of early death, research finds, but people can improve their chances

‘The trout lasagne is very good!’ How I recreated six classic beef dishes – with oily fish

Replacing red meat with fish could prevent diabetes, reduce our carbon footprint and save lives. So who’s for spaghetti and fishballs?

The truth about protein: how to get enough – at every age

We need protein to build muscle, produce hormones, regulate mood and appetite, and strengthen bones. But how much, and what kind, should you eat every day?

‘Smell is really important for social communication’: how technology is ruining our senses

Scientists say an overreliance on sight and sound is having a detrimental effect on people’s wellbeing and that our devices should deliver a multisensory experience

The vorfreude secret: 30 zero-effort ways to fill your life with joy

How can you change your life for the better today? Learn not just to appreciate happiness – but to anticipate it

The Ritual Effect by Michael Norton review – standing on ceremony

From Rafael Nadal’s ball-bouncing to families’ Christmas traditions, what purpose does ritualistic behaviour serve?