Tag Archives: women

Natwest Everywoman Awards Invites Entries For 2014

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suitUK’s leading programme for female entrepreneurship seeks enterprising stars

 

Female entrepreneurs following in the footsteps of Jo Malone MBE, Hilary Devey CBE, Kelly Hoppen MBE and Cath Kidston MBE are being sought as the 2014 NatWest everywoman Awards open for entry. Britain’s most successful programme supporting female enterprise has attracted thousands of entries and recognised the achievements of dozens of women in its 12 year history. At its annual ceremony stories of extraordinary tenacity and determination are brought to the fore as the cream of the business and political worlds celebrate the achievements of the UK’s leading business owners.

 

There are now almost 1.5 million women self-employed in the UK, which represents an increase of around 300,000 since before the economic downturn*. Whilst on the increase, this figure is still disproportionately low compared with the number of male-owned businesses, and the NatWest everywoman Awards aims to address the imbalance, highlighting the achievements of exceptional women of all ages. By raising awareness and creating role models, the Awards’ purpose is to show others that anything is possible and give them the confidence and courage to follow their business dreams.

 

The NatWest everywoman Awards are free to enter and individuals can be nominated or can enter themselves at www.everywoman.com/ewawards. The core categories are:

Artemis – for a woman running a business who is aged 25 or under.

Demeter – for a woman running a business who is aged between 26 and 35.

Athena – for a woman running a business who is aged between 36 and 49.

Hera – for a woman running a business who is aged 50 or over.

 

Specialist category:

 

Iris – This Award is given to the most inspirational and successful female entrepreneur who runs a business that uses technology in an innovative and disruptive way. Sponsored by IBM.

Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman comments: “With categories according to age we aim to show the development of businesses from the hungry start-ups fuelled by passion and determination through to mature, global organisations that make significant contributions to the economy and employment. We have identified that role models are crucial in their influence of women making decisions about their professional future and these awards are important in highlighting success stories and inspiring future generations of entrepreneurs. The profile attributed by the awards has helped many of our winners and finalists grow their businesses further, and provides valuable networking opportunities.”

Anne McPherson, Managing Director, Enterprise at NatWest says, “We are delighted to support the NatWest everywoman awards for the 12th year in a row. These awards have showcased many excellent role models over the years, and have offered great encouragement to female entrepreneurs at all stages of their business journey. At NatWest, we have seen a tangible increase in the number of women starting up in business, and we continue to be committed to encouraging more women to do so. To this end, we have a network of over 200 externally accredited Women in Business Specialists across the country who share and understand our customers’ ambitions, and provide business advice, networking and mentoring opportunities to help them build successful businesses and fulfil their potential”.

 

Nominations are made online at www.everywoman.com/ewawards until 7 July.

 

The winners will be announced at a ceremony held on 3 December 2014 at The Dorchester Hotel, London and will be attended by hundreds of the UK’s leading businesswomen, politicians, media and VIPS. For further information and for table bookings, please contact everywoman directly on 020 7981 2574.

 

 

Vogue Says Women Are Allowed To Have Breasts This Season

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Women of the world rejoice! Vogue says we are allowed to have breasts! Yes, you got it, breasts are in this season. What we are supposed to do next season is anyones guess but lets not be ungrateful. A man can have a penis all year but breasts are, y’know, inconvenient. Just ask Fashion Designer Marios Schwab who told Tatler “I’m not a big fan of breasts. They’re a challenging constructional point.” Well, Mario, how about not designing for women then, because you know who don’t have breasts? Men.

Catherine Balavage

Vogue says in this article titled Return of The Bosom: “So if boobs are not yet an out-and-out fashion trend, they are becoming a frequent exception to the rule.” Should someone make fashion know that women’s breasts aren’t detachable? Maybe a post-it note or something? This piece clearly shows that Kate Upton is a feminist icon. Yes, you can model and be a female role model. She was deemed “too obvious” for fashion. Now some fashionistas grind their teeth every time she is featured on the cover of Vogue, as she is this month.

Vogue goes on to say: ‘Men love boobs – that’s a well-documented story we needn’t explore here. But for women, as is true for fashion, the relationship is more complicated. In short, breasts are difficult to dress. During couture week, Jourdan Dunn exclaimed on Twitter, “Ahahahahahahha I just got cancelled from Dior because of my boobs!” But, she reasoned, “I’m normally told I’m cancelled because I’m ‘coloured’ so being cancelled because of my boobs is a minor : )”‘

 

Wow. Breasts may be difficult to dress, but only because designers are so bad at accommodating them. I mean, what’s next? Hips, arms, thighs? If you can’t make women’s clothes with breasts in mind, you are clearly an untalented idiot. Something Sarah Millican wrote an amazing essay on after being trolled after the BAFTA awards.

 

In my other life as an actor, my breasts have lead to the most amusing moments in my career. I didn’t develop breasts until I was in my twenties but when they came they didn’t hold back:  my size now is 32DD. Which makes costume designers hate you. When I was a UK size 4/6 (I am now a size 8), wardrobe loved me, but when I developed breasts I would stand in the middle of the room while various costume people asked each other, ‘What are we supposed to do with those?’ The answer was usually gaffa tape them down. I am so thankful I am a strong person and that was done to me rather than someone else. I can look at it with amusement, other, emotionally fragile or vulnerable, women could possibly have developed an eating disorder. I have spent a lot of time being dressed up like a boy for parts. I have no idea why. Just hire a fricking boy if that’s what you want.

 

In fact I am rather sick of fashion expecting women to make their bodies fit the dress, rather than the other way around. Even the thinnest woman has curves, only boys are drawn in a truly straight line. We are not ornaments or hangers. In what other aspect of our lives do we pay money for something that isn’t made to suit us and our lifestyles? Instead we are expected to diet our entire lives just for the joy of wearing clothes designed by people who obviously hate the female form, and don’t even lie about it. Yet, still we punish ourselves.

 

Of course not all designers are like this. Valentino clearly loves women. As does Roberto Cavalli. Dolce & Gabbana say in the same Vogue article: “We always try to create clothes that enhance a woman’s curves. We like to think that a Dolce & Gabbana girl wants to be very feminine, sensual, strong and fierce of her body.” So let’s take a stance in the only way that really gets things done: with our money. Any designer who hates women’s bodies should not have a penny of a women’s money.

Whilst researching this piece I came across this article Hadley Freeman wrote on this subject. Check it out here and this website, a body gallery of how women really look, was interesting too.

 

What do you think?

 

 

Are Poker Players Cool Or Just Nerds? Here’s One That’s Both

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Do you think poker players are cool or nerds? It’s not always easy to tell.

Back in the day they most definitely had a reputation for being cool, and this was also part of the essential bluff. Remember the scene in Cool Hand Luke, where the eponymous character keeps repeating “Kick a buck”? Paul Newman was undeniably cool as a cucumber because he simply didn’t care whether he won or lost. But he won anyway, this was after all an American movie where the cool, good-looking guy wins. He would undoubtedly have “got the gal” too, but it was a prison movie.

Since poker has become more popular over the last ten years or so, with the advent of major online tournaments, you can’t help but think that many players are trying a bit too hard to be cool, and failing very badly.

It seems essential to wear any combination of the following at a poker table: a hoodie, sunglasses, a Stetson hat, a baseball cap (preferably styled back to front), a beanie hat, and something a bit wacky to make you stand out from the rest. It’s also essential to try and look mean and cool, carefully weighing the possibilities of everything about the game.
Now some of these players are real, but others are most definitely nerds who are trying way too hard. Many also look distinctly unhealthy and, consequently, wear very baggy tops. It’s almost as if they’ve spent too long sitting in chairs in darkened smoke-filled rooms…

In the coolness stakes though you quickly get to sort the wheat from the chaff if you watch any of these poker tournaments online, but this isn’t always about who wins. You can be a genuine nerd and still be successful. In fact, it probably helps. In real life, the game of poker isn’t always won by the “Cool Hand Luke” character, but by the nerd who calls his bluff on a mathematical formulaic basis and who is blissfully unaware of whether he or she is cool or not.

Some of the best players today seem to combine these two types of personality, and refreshingly there are an increasing number of female players. UK player Sinem Melin (interestingly named ‘Sin’ for short) was recently featured in The Independent having been successful in getting Full Tilt Poker sponsorship.

Melin is certainly no nerd, but nor does she try too hard to be cool either. She reached the final tables of both the UKIPT Brighton Main Event in 2011 and the GUKPT London Main Event last year. She signed on with Full Tilt as an ambassador in the summer of 2013 along with Ben Jenkins, Martins Adeniya and Ireland’s Dermot Blain.

Melin has explained how her down-to-earth personality actually helps her game as it gains the opponents’ trust, which means she can get away with more bluffs. This in itself is sort of cool by not trying to be cool, which is doubly confusing!

 

Spring is in the air with Yull shoes floral collection

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Spring is now finally in the air.. or sort of, if you squint really hard over the London horizon. But if you want to bring the sunshine out even more through sheer willpower and positive actions we recommend investing in a pair of Yull shoes just for the occasion.

 

Emma-Jane Photography Yull5 Emma-Jane Photography Yull4

This years is the launch of the Spring 14 collection from the very talented designs of this company. A personal favourite is the chelsea flower shoes, which is perfect for Spring and to see you into Summer time in the city. These little beauties come in grey, pink and green with a lovely little floral detail on the back. There sis also a new matching handbag… I feel my own purse opening up as we speak…

Emma-Jane Photography Yull3Emma-Jane Photography Yull 1Emma-Jane Photography Yull 2

You can go to www.yull.co.uk to buy some yourself!

Images by Emma-Jane Lewis www.emma-janephoto.co.uk

The Wealthy Women: A Man Is Not a Financial Plan. Mary Waring Interview

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The Wealthy Woman: A Man is Not a Financial Plan: A Woman's Guide to Achieving Financial SecurityWe interviewed The Wealthy Women: A Man Is Not a Financial Plan author Mary Waring. She had some great advice to give and has also written a great book that every women should read. In the meantime, pick up some tips in our interview with her.

 

What made you write the book?

I’ve come across so many very bright women who have an issue with maths and finance. My theory is that the way it is taught in schools is much more suited to a typical male brain rather than a female brain. (I obviously don’t have a typical female brain!)

So many bright women have a mental block about maths and dealing with their finances. I decided therefore I’m would write a very down to earth, no jargon guide to looking after your finances and improving your wealth.

Are women worse than men when it comes to finance?

As above, I think women tend to put it very far down the list of priorities. They look after the house, their partner, the children etc but very far down the list is looking after themselves. In addition only about 10% of advisers are female. The typical adviser is male, middle aged, grey hair, grey suit. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that but many women are looking for someone different and may be struggling to find a female adviser.

Do too many women still rely financially on men?

I think a lot do. The female often looks after the house and the children and all the general housekeeping issues. The male often looks after the finances. In any relationship it’s sensible for one person to look after the finances, and in my experience that is often the male. The woman does not play an active role in the finances and if worst thing happens and they get divorced the female is totally at a loss as to how to look after herself financially. A number of women also assume their husband’s pension will cover both of them in retirement. But this may not be the case.

What are women’s financial strengths and weaknesses?

Strengths- very good at following a set procedure once it’s explained to them. They’re not as competitive as men as a rule so do not need to “beat the market” with their investment return. They’re looking for a steady investment growth. They’re happy to take advice and happy to admit if there’s something they don’t understand.

Weaknesses- lack of confidence regarding finances and tendency to stick their head in the sand rather than deal with it.

What can women do to help themselves financially?

If their partner deals with the finances make sure they sit down on a regular basis and discuss the finances: how much money comes in each month, how much gets spent and what on. Discuss what savings, investments and pensions exist.

If they deal with the finances themselves, then start to look at what they are spending against what income is coming in. They must start to plan for the future and consider what income they will need/want in retirement.

What pitfalls should they look about for?

If something goes wrong (e.g. a large unexpected bill) don’t give up and think the plan isn’t working. Keep at it.

What is the best way to save?

The best way to save is to have a regular amount come out of your account each month by standing order or direct debit. Have that money come out of your account before you start spending. Frequently people wait until the end of the month and decide to save what’s left in their account. But all too often there’s nothing left. If the saving happens before spending it often won’t be noticed that there is less to spend.


Best way to get out of debt?

The best way to get out of debt is to do a strict budget so that you can pay off as much as possible of the debt as quickly as possible. Interest on debt increases at a huge amount so make an effort to get the debt paid down by always paying more than the minimum.

Best way to get wealthy?

The best way to get wealthy is to make that your priority and then each day take some small steps towards achieving that. Too often this looks like too big a challenge but it’s the small steps on a regular basis that can really help your wealth. Choosing to eat out at a much cheaper spot than you would normally use will not make any difference to your wealth if you do it just once. But if you do this on a regular basis so you can save more, then over time it will make a difference.

Top financial tip?

For a period of 3 months keep a very detailed record of what you are spending, including everything that you pay for in cash. Carry a notebook around in your handbag so you can note it down straight away. Look at this in detail and ask yourself “How can I reduce this cost?”. You’d be surprised how much we all overspend without being aware of it. Until you know what you’re spending your money on you are not in a position to do anything about it.

Thank you Mary.

The Wealthy Woman is available from Amazon and is reviewed here.

 

Advice For Female Entrepreneurs By Neeta Patel

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neeta patel entrepreneur We have a great article from Neeta Patel, CEO of New Entrepreneurs Foundation.

Neeta is an experienced executive with over 20 years of strategy and operational leadership
experience in launching new ventures, business turnarounds and change and has a sharp focus on growth and revenues. She has a successful track record of turning ideas and concepts into tangible businesses. Her experience spans financial services, media & publishing, education, arts and the creative industries. She has also led two of her own start-ups.

Prior to joining the New Entrepreneurs Foundation, Neeta worked in Private Equity matching
technology entrepreneurs with investors. Neeta has held senior positions at Thomson Financial (Reuters), Legal & General PLC, Financial Times Group and at the British Council. She is an early internet pioneer having launched the first personal finance web site in Europe for L&G in 1996.

Neeta holds an MA in Chemistry from Oxford University, an MBA (Marketing) from Cass Business School, and a Sloan Fellowship in Strategy and Leadership from London Business School, where she was the winner of the PWC prize in 2009 for a consultancy assignment in China.

Here is her advice:

An entrepreneur needs to have certain key skills and personality traits in order to be successful.I have had many discussions and debates about this, and yet gender has never come up as a particular element. I am reluctant to single out women entrepreneurs in some ways because by doing so, the inference is that they need special help and advice. They don’t. However, there are a number of factors which hold women back when contemplating setting up as an entrepreneur, and I feel its important to encourage them to overcome these and discover how good life as a female entrepreneur can really be. Following a really inspiring female entrepreneur’s event we organised at the New Entrepreneurs Foundation recently, I wanted to share some of the wisdom from leading female entrepreneurs which may help anybody wavering over whether to take the plunge.

Women-led businesses add £70 billion to the UK economy. The latest stats from the Department
of Business, Innovation and skills show that the number of women starting their own business has increased. It still stands at only 19%, but is heading in the right direction. More encouraging is the fact that a quarter of new businesses which are two to three years old have been started by women.

So why do women need extra advice, if they are doing so well anyway? The reason is that not
enough of them are taking the plunge.

Lack of self belief seems to be one of the main reasons. Many women tell me they don’t think they will be taken seriously, that they don’t think they will be viewed as credible when they pitch for investment and that the business world is too tough to make an impact.

Having had years of pitching to some of the scariest venture capitalists around during the early stages of my career, I know what I am talking about when I say that success is nothing to do with gender but with how well you prepare and how well you know your numbers and your business and the market in which it operates.

Remember that women often have far better emotional intelligence than men, and this is very
useful as an entrepreneur in a whole host of ways including negotiating, picking your team and reading people and situations effectively.

Eleanor Mills is Associate Editor of the Sunday Times and one of Britain’s most high profile
commentators. She was fantastically inspiring to potential entrepreneurs at our event recently. She was adamant that women must support each other in business. There is, she says, a specific place in hell for women who don’t.

Geeta Sidhu-Robb, who trained as a lawyer, benefitted from the phenomenally successful Anglo
Scandinavian investments run by her ex-husband in the 90s but when their marriage ended, became penniless. She had three small children to look after on her own, but, armed with those qualities which mark out an entrepreneur she set up a new business called Nosh Detox, which she ran from her kitchen, delivering personalised organic food packages. She is once again very successful and urges other women to become self-sufficient. The only thing that gets in the way of your success is yourself, she maintains.

Adele Barlow, another panellist was so encouraged by the number of young, aspiring female
entrepreneurs who attended the evening that she wrote an excellent blog offering some great tips for wannabe female entrepreneurs, cautioning women to choose their female friends wisely, why you should ignore the nagging from your mother about your love life, and how to choose a good hero, or heroine.

Other advice that was well-received during the event included going for crowd funding rather than traditional methods of fund raising, and exhortations not to be squeamish about being supremely confident when pitching for money. It’s not showing off!

Finally, I would say think really positively about being a female entrepreneur. You have far more flexibility and freedom to run your business and balance your quality of life than you would have in regular employment and if you relish a challenge there are few things more exciting in life than making your own business succeed.

 

The Rise of Female Bloggers

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Frost magazineI am not actually a fan of things that pick out gender, race or class. A person should be solely judged on who they are and what they do, but we don’t live in an ideal world. Then I read Dr Duncan Green’s blog post on why there are so few female bloggers and I thought ‘what the hell is he talking about?’ Personally I have nothing against Dr Green. I am sure he is a lovely person, but, in this point, he is not accurate.

There are a wealth of female bloggers out there, writing about anything and everything you can think of. Personally I started blogging when I was 15. I had a livejournal and I would blog about other women I admired. Sofia Coppola and Angelina Jolie were my main points of conversation. I have a blog in which I cover my acting career, and now I also have a blog called Frost Magazine which I have run for four years. Frost is my baby, It has been more successful than I thought it could ever be and was picked up by Handpicked Future. But one women does not make a revolution. So I have found and interviewed the top female bloggers in Britain today. The criteria was the following: I had to read the blog and enjoy it and so did other people. Simple. I apologise if I left you out, there are thousands of other female bloggers out there and it is not possible to cover everyone. But do get in contact if you have a blog. I hope their blogs and answers inspire many more women to set up blogs and make their voice heard. (in the issue of clarity, I have also answered these questions. My answers are at the bottom).

Name Debbie Djordjevic Blog www.thelife-edit.blogspot.com

How long have you been blogging for?

About a year

Describe your blog

It’s a general lifestyle blog written by a woman in her late forties. We are under-represented in the blogosphere but just because you hit a new marketing demographic doesn’t mean you somehow ‘die’. I am as interested in fashion, beauty, food and popular culture as I was twenty years ago, I just have an older (but not necessarily wiser) take on things. I write for women like me and to show the younger generation that ageing is nothing to be scared of and can actually be enjoyed. I have late teenage daughters who keep me young but I don’t want to be them, we just learn from one another really. I like finding products that I think work and are relevant and I will pass those on. I hope I inform and inspire and also entertain, but I write it for me as an aide memoir as much as anything – I have been known to visit my own blog for a recipe I’ve loved rather than search for it again through my numerous cookbooks.

How did you get started?

Well working at Handpicked Media with so many blogs I felt I needed to really understand a bloggers perspective and the only way to do that was to start one myself.  I am a journalist by trade and this is a very different kettle of fish.

Highest point?

Seeing my traffic grow considerably once I came out of the Google search sandbox and everyone could find me. Having people respond to posts – though I must admit this tends to happen on my Facebook page or on Twitter rather than on my blog.

Lowest Point?

Clearing off all the spam comments which are written to try to fool me – I’ve been around too long to be fooled!

Favourite blog?

Now I am not going to get into trouble with all my brilliant blogger mates out there, but I can tell you the first blog I read was www.lileks.com which is an American journalist’s blog which makes me laugh out loud and gives me insight into American life. I started reading him as far back as 2002 so I have been aware of blogging for a long time. Inspiration? The many, many blogs I come across in my day job. I admire their passion, tenacity and the fact that they have gained audiences by tapping in to what people want to read.

Top tips for other bloggers?

Keep going and don’t do it for the money. It’s a brilliant way of getting exposure, proving that you have opinions worth sharing, making friends, and gaining experience, just don’t expect to necessarily be able to give up the day job. Some can, but the vast majority should do it for fun and to share a voice.

Do you make a living blogging?

No and I wouldn’t want to. I have spent 20 years making a living from either writing or editing and this is a blessed release. The freedom to blog about a wide range of topics and to give my own opinion is worth more. If I was younger I may think differently and I’m in awe of those who manage to make a living, don’t get me wrong – and lots of them keep their credibility and unique voice while doing so – it’s just not the reason I blog.

What do women add to the blogosphere?

It’s not just women don’t forget, men add a lot too! But women specifically have had decades of being told by the likes of me what to wear, what to buy and how to live. We all need a little assurance that we are making the right choices (we can’t all be trend setters, how appalling would that be) but it is cool to get opinions from women ‘just like me’ rather than the media. I have experienced through the different communities I have been involved with over the years the most incredible and powerful support that women give one another over the internet. Women who may never meet, who come from different backgrounds and experiences are able, via online communities and social media tools to work together, give encouragement, support and encourage and sometimes (though thankfully not too often) support in a very basic way when others are grieving. It is a shame that the publicity that is given online is always to the minority of bullies and ‘trolls’ who enjoy creating miser,y other than the thousands out there who daily give support and encouragement and are never talked about. Women are not stupid, they know what they like and they naturally like to share their experiences with others – the internet has given them a voice which is relevant and often extremely knowledgeable.

Name Carrie Barclay (aka Queenie) Blogs DIGITAL bungalow — www.digitalbungalow.co.uk Kitchen Bitching — www.kitchenbitching.co.uk

How long have you been blogging for? DIGITAL bungalow launched in June 2011 and Kitchen Bitching launched in November 2011.

Describe your blogs

DIGITAL bungalow is a conglomerate of creative minds. Technically a lifestyle blog, Db features everything from art to restaurant reviews; wedding inspiration to fashion photography … and many other subjects in between. We want DIGITAL bungalow to be a source of inspiration so if it inspires you in some way, we’ll feature it! Kitchen Bitching is a cookery site like no other; aimed at enthusiastic amateur cooks with some knowledge but in need of a friendly, helping hand from fellow enthusiasts. All amateur cooks know the pain of a recipe that just won’t do as it’s told. Like a disobedient puppy it sulks, sticks, slides or sinks at that crucial moment just as your mother-in-law is rap-rapping on the door. Kitchen Bitching is here to provide an open forum for amateur cooks to bitch about their culinary woes, rave about their kitchen triumphs and get hints and tips from the very best source – other cooks!

How did you get started?

I write for a living, and my partner is a photographer. DIGITAL bungalow was simply an opportunity to write about anything and everything that inspired myself and my partner. Very quickly we caught the bug and we were, for a time, posting at least once a day. When Kitchen Bitching was born we reduced our posts on Db to allow us to focus on KB, and now DIGITAL bungalow and Kitchen Bitching run harmoniously alongside each other. The idea for Kitchen Bitching came about during a bitching session in our kitchen about a cake recipe that wasn’t playing ball! Within days the site was designed and live, and we haven’t looked back! We appointed an Editor about a month after launch and we’ve now got 12 regular contributors and an ever-growing number of loyal, enthusiastic readers.

Highest point?

The highest point to date has to be when DIGITAL bungalow was incorporated as a Limited Company. What started as a little pastime has now become a bona fide business and we’re thrilled to be in talks with people about running events for bloggers, and I’ve recently been headhunted as a consultant for KAPOW Consulting to help new bloggers and small businesses enter into the blogosphere.

Lowest point?

When we were trying to keep up momentum of posting every single day and I felt that Db was losing its focus it was a difficult time. I all but gave up on the project, until my wonderful partner (in business and in life) sat me down and told me where I was going wrong. In blogging there’s sometimes no one to rein you in or monitor what you’re doing, so it’s fantastic to work alongside someone who you trust to get the best out of you and not let you wander too far off-track.

Favourite blog?

Other than my own (of course!) my absolute favourite blog in the world is A Beautiful Mess (http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/). The design, the subject matter, the photography and the aspirational nature of this blog means I can lose myself for hours in its folds and crevices. Elsie Larson really knows her stuff and her approach is friendly warm and inviting – A Beautiful Mess is a lovely place to spend time.

Inspiration?

Db is inspired by everything we come into contact with that gets us excited! On a personal level as a blogger I do really admire Elsie Larson of A Beautiful Mess and Sian Meades of Domestic Sluttery (for whom I was a columnist until recently); both ladies are such established, professional bloggers flying the flag for female bloggers and businesswomen everywhere. Kitchen Bitching is inspired by every man, woman and child out there who wants to be able to cook up a storm in the kitchen but invariably ends up sitting under a table with a tea towel over their heads having a little weep (or is that just me?!). Again, on a personal level I have to say that Holly Bell (of Great British Bake Off fame) is a truly inspirational woman. We’ve been lucky enough to work with Holly on a number of features on Kitchen Bitching – she’s such a down-to-earth, realistic person and, my word, can she cook!

Top tips for other bloggers.

Be nice! Bloggers have a bit of a reputation in certain industries for having a rather inflated sense of self-importance. The world doesn’t owe you a living, and PRs aren’t there just to give you free stuff. If you got into blogging for the freebies then may I politely suggest you get out now! Blogging is about personal opinion, self-expression and having a creative outlet. Sure, sometimes people will want to offer you nice things, often for free, but remember that these are a privilege, not a right. Find clarity. Your blog is like your baby. You won’t be able to see its sticking-out ears or unfortunately shaped nose. To you your blog is perfect, but make sure you have some people around that you trust to let you know if you’re moving down the wrong path or wandering off on a tangent. A blog is an ever-evolving entity, but if you’re simply revolving with no real purpose then you’ll struggle to engage your audience. Remember the photos! Images are SO important in a blog – we all spend so much of our time on computers for work and pleasure that a break from big chunks of text in the form of clear, well-composed, engaging pictures is a sure-fire way of getting readers coming back for more! Do you make a living blogging? How do you make a living from blogging? DIGITAL bungalow is now a Limited Company so we now do make money from what we do – although not purely from the sites on their own – we make money through using our reputation as bloggers to help new bloggers and small businesses set up social media platforms, through organising events and we also offer sponsorship deals and partnerships to a very select number of companies that we admire and respect.

What do women add to the blogosphere?

Women add to the blogosphere exactly what men add. The world of blogging is a micro version of the real world. There are wonderful caring people, horrible bullies, friends-in-the-making and people you’d cross over the street to avoid. Women are as much of a necessity in the blogosphere as they are in reality. In order to have a successful, thriving blogging community you need representatives from all walks of life – men, women, children and even the odd pet included.

Name Shimelle Laine Blog pretty paper. true stories. www.shimelle.com 

How long have you been blogging for?

I started blogging informally via livejournal in 2002, and transitioned to a more professional blog in 2006.  That blog soon started to present itself as something that needed more time than I could devote as just a side project, so in 2007 I took a year out from my job (as Head of English in a secondary school) to try the blog business full time, and I’ve yet to go back.

Describe your blog

I write a very niche blog in the crafting world, with a focus on scrapbooking.  My blog itself includes a range of articles to cover new craft products, how-to videos and discussions on the merits of documenting everyday life through photos and writing.  I also offer premium content in the form of online workshops through paid subscription.

How did you get started?

I got into scrapbooking as a hobby while at university, and not long later picked up some freelance work for specialist magazines, which was always just a bit if work now and then, but it grew year on year and gave me the opportunity to lead workshops at weekend retreats for crafty women.  I found that keeping a personal blog, mostly read by close friends, made me want to update my website often but it was such a hassle in the format of a traditional site, so I added a blog format to make it easier to share finished projects, really.  As soon as I added that element, I got requests to teach my workshops in more places than were viable and I felt horrible that I kept having to say I couldn’t make it to every town requested, which made teaching online a logical next step.

Highest point?

Going full time in 2007, then being able to be the household earner from 2010, allowing us take on some seriously big travel then letting my husband work on a project that wouldn’t have a regular income.

Lowest Point?

Although my posts are less about the details of my own life than many female bloggers, it is very personal in that I blog things I have made for myself.  Because of that, it is often hard to separate criticism and I have had a few times when I took something so personally that I felt I couldn’t continue.  I’m thankful I’ve not lost my love of craft along the way, as it is very common for people in creative industries to stop enjoying it when they transition from fun to work.

Favourite blog?

I really don’t have a single favourite, and maybe that is odd.  I love to discover a new blog then read it all up, like when you can’t go to sleep because you’ve just started a really fabulous novel.  But because I like to read that way, I often get a little overkill and I don’t go back for a few weeks.  I like to save up the posts and have a bit more depth to read at once so it feels like an extended conversation with the blogger.  I also find these days I read more via links passed around on social media than just from my personal favourites, and I love how that has introduced me to new content in fields I probably wouldn’t have found on my own.  One day I followed a single link from a friend of a friend and ended up reading case studies in an entirely different field that inspired a pitch that became a big part of the work I do now – and it was all because I read a really rambling blog post by a friend of a friend of a friend.  

Inspiration?

I work with a mix of regular features that repeat on certain days, topics assigned by companies I work with and things that I just get the urge to try or share in some way.  That balance works really well for me – it gives me half routine, half flexibility.  If I rely entirely on being spontaneous, I never get anything done and if I rely entirely on routine, it feels too monotonous to be worthwhile.  I like that I approach things in a slightly different way to a lot of bloggers in my niche.  Many are very much about the visual because it’s craft, but I love the written word.  I love the discussion that comes with a community of readers.  So I am often inspired by how on one hand, this topic is quite literally just glue and pretty paper but on the other, there is quite a lot of philosophical goodness to be found, if one wants to consider it.

Top tips for other bloggers

Let the passion come first and the profit come later.  Whenever I work with or meet groups of beginner bloggers, there are always so many who have decided they know they want to make a living blogging but they don’t know what they want to blog about yet.  That sounds like such a recipe for burn out to me.  If you’re only picking a certain topic to make money, how much can you really say about that topic?  And at this point in the game, there is a blog on every topic out there, and the most profitable topics have a flooded market anyway.  What makes this my perfect job is how I get to think and write and share about something I love doing even when I’m not paid for it, and it’s something I would frankly love to write about even if I was pondering whether to pay for craft supplies or food.  Whatever your passion is, then that is the topic for you.  I think that’s why fashion bloggers have such intriguing blogs: they loved putting together outfits and showing them to the world way before they started blogging about it.  By blogging they just have a new, highly filtered and specific audience.  So my biggest tip is always go into blogging for the passion.  And also: punctuation is your friend.

Do you make a living blogging?

Yes! It’s my full time job and I’m currently the sole earner in our household.

How do you make a living blogging?

Unlike most blogs in my niche, I don’t sell traditional sidebar or banner advertising.  I’m not entirely advert-free in that I do earn from affiliate links when I recommend my favourite products.  My main earning comes from teaching online workshops (with a subscription fee) and I also earn by contributing content to a few related sites (stores and manufacturers of craft products), which I also post on my blog.

What do women add to the blogosphere?

Several years ago a real-life friend who is also a blogger and I discussed how there was a gender divide in the blog world and men’s blogs seemed to be in love with technology and so future-oriented, while women’s blogs were filled with dress making and baking and home decor, like a post-war housewife equipped with the latest gadgets from the Apple store.  There is certainly still a bit of that about but I think there is far better representation now.  There are definitely women writing in technology, in games, in comics, in music criticism.  There are more women writing in those fields than there are men writing in my incredibly female niche.  Much like girlfriends in real life, the female blogging world benefits when women work together and it suffers when we cut each other down.  Both things happen.  But of all the things I’ve come to appreciate in all these years of blogging, there really is an audience that accepts intelligent female voices.  As both a student and a teacher I witnessed years of smart girls being teased, tormented or ignored in that entire ‘clever isn’t cool’ attitude that goes on.  On the internet, clever is ridiculously cool.  The blogs I read time and time again? I don’t care what subject they are on: I can tell from their writing that those are smart girls. Of all the comments I’ve received over the years, those who say they read my blog or take my classes because I make them think… those are my absolute favourite.  If the internet can make it fabulous to be confident in one’s intelligence, it makes me very excited for the next generation of smart girls. Name : Simone Antoniazzi Blog : The Bottom of the Ironing Basket  http://thebottomoftheironingbasket.blogspot.co.uk

How long have you been blogging for?

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Describe your blog :

My blog is a mixture of things that inspire me, lifestyle and style images, my own thoughts on life, travel, style, London and family. It’s a collection of anything & everything that I love and find interesting.

How did you get started?

I was inspired by an American friend who had started her own blog.

Highest point?

Probably right now, my readership is at its highest. Through my blog I have been invited to London Fashion Week, to go to Morocco and I am just starting work with a personal trainer! Discovering ability that I didn’t know I had and finding out more about myself.

Lowest Point?

I’ve don’t have one.

Favourite blog? A Cup of Jo http://joannagoddard.blogspot.co.uk/

Inspiration?

Magazines, other blogs, travel, life in general.

Top tips for other bloggers : Blog about what you really genuinely love and find interesting, that way you will develop a style and your “voice” will really come through. Don’t feel you have to be confined to one topic, I blog about whatever appeals to me and is going on with me right now. Being yourself and honesty is the key to longevity.

Do you make a living blogging?

I earn money from it, not enough to give up the day job yet though!

How do you make a living blogging?

I carry advertising and advertorials on my blog.

What do women add to the blogosphere?

Creativity, style, focus. Also, I’ve never had a negative comment on my blog in 3 years, I think readers and other bloggers are supportive and empathetic.

Name: Camilla Tillson Blog: asensibleheart.blogspot.com

How long have you been blogging for?

For about 2 years now

Describe your blog?

Its definitely fashion based with lashings of baking and d.i.y projects and my own photography.

How did you get started?

I saw a really lovely blog online which inspired me to start my own, its so great because that’s exactly what they are there for!

Highest point?

The first time I was featured on a bloggers social networking site as one of their top fashion blogs, its great when your blog gets noticed! and going to Bristol Fashion week for free with my blog! Its really nice to do something active for your blog and meet other bloggers similar to you.

Lowest Point?

I’m not sure if I have had one yet, my blog is all on my own terms, so if I don’t fancy blogging I wont force it.

Favourite blog?

I have to say one of the first blogs I ever read unabellavitablog.com and ‘a beautiful mess’ everything on there is so inspiring!

Inspiration?

A lot of things, the people around me, the the city I live in and I’m inspired every day by my blog feed!

Top tips for other bloggers?

Your blog is your own space, do you own thing and let it develop in its own time. Don’t ruin the space with ads before you have enough traffic, enjoy it while you can. Its not all about stats and followers, mine started off as a online live journal and if people are interested in reading what I post that’s great!

Do you make a living blogging?

Not currently, I wouldn’t ever say no to sponsored posts if I felt it could benefit my blog and my readers. I know its a touchy subject for people, but why not earn a little off doing something you enjoy, as long as you’re doing it for the right reasons.

How do you make a living blogging?

Id probably say via advertising and sponsored posts, and I guess you can save money

if you’re sent clothes and other bits. I’m not too hot on this topic! What do women add to the blogosphere?

So much! It’s great to see woman who have started their own business via their blog. I also think there are a lot of fashionable bloggers who are also tech whizzes, it really changes your views on the graphic/web design world which many people would be male dominated,  there are so many woman bloggers who post about nail art and HTML codes, for example “Girl Does Geek” (http://girldoesgeek.com) and “Flower Girl Blog”

Name Becca Day-Preston Blog www.bdpworld.blogspot.com BDP World

How long have you been blogging for? Only since October: I’m a baby!

Describe your blog

It’s a place for me to put all my thoughts about makeup and fashion and nails, without boring my friends. I was shaky at first, not discussing ‘important’ stuff, and just putting up pics of my nails, but recently I’ve written about confidence, airbrushing, period shame (that’s a thing, apparently) and abstinence education in the UK, as well as keeping up the nails and lipstick posts.

How did you get started?

With bad quality pictures and a lack of serious know-how…!

Highest point?

Sali Hughes from The Guardian endorsing my angry rant about National No Makeup Day

Lowest Point?

Getting an email from a follower asking why I don’t “just lose a bit of weight” UGH!

Favourite blog? Feministing

Inspiration? Veronica Sawyer

Top tips for other bloggers.

Do what you love! Don’t chase followers or try to score freebies: just have fun with it.

Do you make a living blogging?

No, and I think I never will!

What do women add to the blogosphere?

 That’s actually a really hard question to answer. I feel like there’s a sense of community innate in women’s blogging that isn’t necessarily there with male bloggers. There’s a more inclusive feel, and a drive towards honesty that I find very refreshing. As a feminist, the amount of incredibly erudite and witty women out there, contributing to the bigger picture. I don’t feel like I’m even a part of that yet, but maybe one day…!

Name Emma Iannarilli Blog fashion-mommy.com

How long have you been blogging for?

Since August 2010

Describe your blog

A fashion/shopping/beauty/lifestyle blog from a full time mom

How did you get started?

I was Deputy head at a Primary school when severe post natel depression forced me to quit my job. After six months in counselling I felt better, but was bored just being a wife and mother. I read an article in a magazine about blogging and decided this could give me a creative outlet. Hence Fashion-Mommy was born!

Highest point?

So many. Meeting heroes like Markus Lupfer and Stella McCartney. Being named on of 2012’s hottest blogs by Spreading Jam. Being named as Blogger of the month for Next, blogger of the week for M&Co and publisher of the month for Boden. Being invited to Evans photoshot  for their Autumn/Winter 2011 catalogue – just so many!

Lowest Point?

I tend to blog at night so I get very little sleep. Juggling the blog as a full-time job, with a demanding child not yet in school can be exhausting,

Favourite blog?

Big Fashionista is hilarious, and I love all the Brummie  Bloggers.

Inspiration?

Liberty London Girl, she was the first blogger I really noticed.

Top tips for other bloggers

Work at building  your audience,  use Twitter and facebook to aid this, reply to comments to engage debate and discussion. Be original  – let your personality shine through your work.

Do you make a living blogging?

I’ve just  started too –  it’s take a year and half to get to this point.

How do you make a living blogging?

Adverts, sponsored posts,  text links, skimlinks  and affiliate links – but it’s not a fortune!

What do women add to the blogosphere?

The female perspective on all subjects – we have a voice, it needs to be heard.

Name Anne-Marie – Ree for short Blog  http://www.reallyree.com/ 

How long have you been blogging for?

It will be 2 years in June.

Describe your blog

A personal lifestyle blog about the things I love across fashion and beauty. Face of the day, Outfit of the Day and lots of Product Review fun!

How did you get started?

I started it as a hobby – and wrote a lengthy post about the differences of opinion between men and women on the subject of shoes! Highest point? Working with BaByliss to make How To hair tutorials.

Lowest Point?

There are always low days when it is hard to stay motivated but they never last.

Favourite blog?

I love BritishBeautyBlogger.com to make sure I am up to date with all things beauty, and have a giggle!

Inspiration?

Everything I see and try inspires me. I have started to actually think in blog posts!

Top tips for other bloggers

Stay connected, build your network and always talk to people.

Do you make a living blogging? Yes

How do you make a living blogging?

By working with brands on a project basis.

What do women add to the blogosphere?

I think that women add fun and beauty and glamour to blogging. Blogging should be fun and engaging and there are tonnes of female personalties shining through!

Name: Aisling Blog: fash-ling  http://www.fash-ling.com

How long have you been blogging for?

A year

Describe your blog: It’s mainly my style, what I wear and what influences my fashion choices but I also include some beauty bits

How did you get started?

I read a lot of the international blogs for years and when a friend started hers I was introduced to the UK blogging scene

Highest point?

Pretty much any time someone new decides to follow me!

Lowest Point? Well trying to deal with HTML, I am useless and I find it so frustrating!

Favourite blog? Frassy

Inspiration? The catwalks, magazines, girls on the street and other blogs of course! Top tips for other bloggers: Just keep doing what you love, that’s all that matters

Do you make a living blogging? No, I do occasionally get sent items or invited to events which is truly an honour

How do you make a living blogging? n/a

What do women add to the blogosphere? I think each person, whether female or male adds a unique aspect to the blogosphere. The great thing about the online world is you can get such varied opinions, in anything you choose to find! Everyone has something to bring to the table and blogs allow for you to add your own personal touch.

Name – Lenka Silhanova Blog – Acting Abroad –  http://lenkasilhanova.blogspot.com

How long have you been blogging for?

Over a year.

Describe your blog

I’m sharing my experience of becoming an actress abroad, sharing tips and creating a community of people with the same goal. I think it’s important for us actors to stick together and help each other out, as I’ve learned a lot myself by reading other people’s blogs. This is a way for me to give back as well as to meet like-minded people and keep myself motivated and goal-oriented.

How did you get started?

I’ve been playing with the idea of starting a public blog for quite a while, since I’ve been keeping a private journal for several years, yet I was intimidated by the whole concept of opening my life and career out there in the world. The first few months were the worst as I was still figuring the whole blogging thing out and writing in English, my second language, wasn’t easy too. But I love the language so much it pushes me to constantly work on improving it. I found that I’ve learned so much by just by sitting down and writing, but also by reading A LOT of blogs, websites (that are edited) and of course books. After few months I’ve really gotten into blogging and I find it now, after a year of blogging, very fulfilling. I also find it to be a great marketing tool, till I’m ready to have my own website, this is a way to showcast my work both as an actor and blogger. Last but not least reason to blog is that it’s a form of storytelling, which is what I’ve chosen to dedicate my life to and this is a way of having it in my life without other people’s permission. It’s taking a part of my career I have the control of in my own hands and being proactive.

Favourite blog?

That’s a tough question, there are so many great blogs I don’t even know where to start. I love the Actors Voice by Bonnie Gillespie, this blog has taught me everything I needed to know about the show business. The Acting Blog by Mark Westbrook is a great no-BS blog on acting. I also love blogs like The Green Room blog, Backstage Unscripted, The Actors Enterprise, all written by actors for actors. A Younger Theatre is a great platform led by young people passionate about theatre, I learned a lot about UK’s theatre scene through this website and its blogs and I’m lucky enough to write for them too – my blog is called International View. Or actor blogs like Stars In The Eyes, The Great Acting Blog or B.A.B.E. to name just a few, are a great source of inspiration and advice too.

Inspiration?

Actors who get things done, who take their careers into their hands and always work on mastering their craft no matter the level their are on.

Top tips for other bloggers

I’d say just start blogging and learn as you go. Read a lot of blogs to learn about formatting and SEO. Choose the design for your blog so it resembles your personality and the theme of your blog, as well as is pleasant for people’s eyes and looks professional. Aim to improve, don’t settle for what you are doing now thinking it’s good enough. Always appreciate your readers and take the time to create relationships with them. You do it for them, after all, so be there for them. Find a targeted audience for your blog and write about what you know, don’t try to just come up with something, write what you care about and are passionate about with the targeted audience in mind. Put yourself in their skin and ask yourself if what you are writing is going to give them something.

Do you make a living blogging?

Not yet, but would love to as it would allow me to write more. Currently I’m looking into opportunities to do so.

What do women add to the blogosphere?

I think we are great in creating communities and friendships that perhaps begin online, but are taken on and maintained on personal level later on too.

Name Catherine Balavage Blog Frost Magazine

How long have you been blogging for?

Four years with Frost. Longer overall.

Describe your blog

Frost is a thinker’s lifestyle magazine, a magazine for smart people who love fun. I also have an acting blog.

How did you get started?

My love of reading lead to a love of writing

Highest point?

Frost launch party, being picked up by Handpicked Media, covering everything from London Fashion Week to the Raindance Film Festival. Interviewing Zac Goldsmith and Alain De Botton.

Lowest Point?

The hosting company suspending my account because we were getting too much traffic. I had to move the site from one server to another. I had no idea what I was doing. Also: someone hacked the site and I lost some content.

Favourite blog?

All of the above! And Hintmag and Feministing.

Inspiration?

Every writer who ever inspired me to write my own stuff. My parents who told me I could do anything I wanted.

Top tips for other bloggers

Do it because you love writing and have something to say. Don’t do it just because you could pick up lots of free stuff. Also, listen to your instincts.

Do you make a living blogging? No

How do you make a living blogging? Affiliates, advertising, not sure yet. I’m not there.

What do women add to the blogosphere? A balance.

The Five Key Supplements Every Woman Needs This Season

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The Capsule Collection: The five key supplements everyone woman needs this season.

We enlist the help of Nutritionist Cassandra Barns from www.nutricentre.com to give us the latest on what’s hot in health.

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Blue shirt, maxi dress, oversized floppy hat; our classic spring/summer wardrobe never lets us down. But what about our skin, hair, nails and waistlines? What supplement staples do we need to have in our kitchen cabinets this summer? Cassandra has developed the ultimate S/S Capsule Collection to keep us looking and feeling great….

Nowadays there are hundreds of different types of supplements available in health food stores and online, and the choice can be very bewildering. Although some may be designed for specific purposes or health goals, there are a few key supplements that most people could benefit from and that can be helpful to have at home.

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1. The Omega-3

EPA and DHA are two omega-3 fatty acids with specific health benefits that are also great for glossy hair, strong nails and supple skin. In foods, they are found mainly in oily fish and fish livers, with small amounts of DHA found in seaweeds such as nori. However the typical western diet often contains too much omega 6 in relation to omega 3, and we need a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 for optimal health.

Omega 3 fats can also help burn body fat. How? Omega 3 helps your body respond better to a hormone called Leptin. Leptin tells your brain to suppress your appetite as well as increases your metabolism. Leptin also causes your body to burn fat for energy, however if your body isn’t responding to Leptin correctly then the reverse happens, you’ll be hungrier and you’ll store more fat.

Find standard fish oil supplements too fishy? Check out the new VeryWise range of 6 fruit based Omega 3 shots providing a nutritious and tasty alternative. As well as the general fish oil supplement OmegaWise, there are 5 targeted oils JointWise, CardioWise, MetaboWise, EnergyWise and BrainWise, each of which contains added fruit sterols, vitamins and minerals relevant to that particular health goal.

VeryWise’s new range of Omega 3 oils start from £5.95, available at www.verywisenutrition.co.uk

Other health benefits include:

• Brain health, memory, learning and concentration.

• Eye health. DHA is also concentrated in the retina of the eye and has an essential role in its function.
• Heart health. Fish oils are well-known for their heart health benefits, and numerous studies back this up.

• Pregnancy and the developing child. Because of its role in brain health and development, DHA accumulates in the brain of the foetus in the later stages of pregnancy, and in the new-born baby. Studies link levels of DHA in the mother during pregnancy – and the use of DHA supplements – to benefits for the brain and nervous system in the child after birth11.

• Controlling inflammation and pain. EPA and DHA are thought to have several anti-inflammatory actions, including working against a specific omega-6 fatty acid (arachidonic acid) that can encourage inflammation.

Vegetarian or vegan, or just prefer to avoid fish and fish oils? There is now an excellent Omega 3 supplement derived from marine algae, Vegamega-3, £14.95 from www.nutricentre.com This is the first supplement on the UK market to provide decent amounts of both DHA and EPA from a non-fish source: two capsules contain 310mg and 155mg respectively, an amount comparable to that in many standard fish oil supplements.

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2. The Multivitamin and Mineral supplement

A multivitamin supplement is an obvious first choice. This is principally because these products contain multiple nutrients, which can help to fill in the gaps in our diet and may benefit our health in many ways. A high proportion of the UK population is falling short of the government’s RDA of vitamins & minerals. And remember that the RDA levels are just minimum requirements, not optimal amounts. So it’s worth taking a good quality multivitamin to fill those gaps and act as a good ‘insurance policy’.

Want more energy for that Rave workout? A multivitamin can be a good choice for anyone to support energy levels and the immune system, areas where most of us need help from time to time. For normal energy production, we need to take in sufficient levels of several B vitamins, vitamin C, and the minerals iron, iodine, magnesium, calcium, copper and manganese. And for the immune system, we need to get enough of vitamins A, C and D, B6, B12 and folic acid, as well as copper, zinc, iron and selenium.

For a comprehensive, high-strength multivitamin and mineral supplement for adults, try Nature’s Plus ‘Source of Life Gold Gummies’. This food based supplement also contains plentiful antioxidants, as well as enzymes, amino acids and whole food extracts, and is a particularly popular choice for energy support. Source of Life GoldGummies available from all good health stores like Holland & Barrett

3. Co Enzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 or Co Q10 is your anti-ageing secret weapon, both inside and out. The antioxidants within Co Q10 can withstand and help reverse skin damage, preserving the collagen and elastin within your skin cells to make you appear younger. Co Q10 is a vitamin-like substance, present in every cell in our body, which is vital for energy production.But although the body makes its own Co Q10, levels have been found to decrease from the age of 20 onwards!

More and more products on the market, particularly skin-care creams, are adding Co Q10 as an ingredient because of these properties. Co Qu10 also supports brain health and helps protect against age-related memory decline as well as quenching free radicals that damage cells and age the skin; a very powerful antioxidant, decreasing the ageing process in our cells, arteries, hearts, gums and brains.

Quest Vitamin’s Ubiquinol Qu10 contains 100mg of CoenzymeQ10 in an innovative new formulation to guarantee efficacy. £18.55 for a month supply from all good health stores and www.questexcellence.com

4. The Probiotic

Probiotics are supplements of ‘friendly bacteria’ such as lactobacillus acidophilus that aim to support the populations of healthy microorganisms in our digestive tract. Probiotics are best known for encouraging good digestion, keeping you regular and helping with problems such as bloating.

Prone to summer sniffles and hayfever? You could benefit from upping your friendly bacteria. One of the most important roles of the good bacteria is its involvement with our immune system. It is thought that as much as 70 to 80% of the body’s immune cells are found in the walls of the digestive tract, and the trillions of bacteria in our gut come into very close contact with these immune cells. They are also thought be necessary for reducing or controlling the response where there is no real threat, as occurs with allergies and autoimmune conditions (where the immune system over-reacts to the wrong things).

Other – perhaps surprising – areas of our health that may benefit from probiotic support include:

• Joint health – through their link to the immune system, the good bacteria may help prevent the autoimmune reactions that can inflame our joints, as well as generally controlling inflammation in the body.
• Oral health – by helping to control the populations of ‘bad’ bacteria that can cause dental caries (tooth decay).
• Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is filtered out of the blood by the liver and enters the digestive tract in the bile. Although some of the cholesterol is reabsorbed, some of it is excreted, and it is thought that the healthy gut bacteria have a role in ensuring this happens. A successful clinical trial has been carried out using the probiotic strain lactobacillus plantarumfor helping to lower cholesterol.

• Low mood and anxiety. Many nerve cells (neurons) line the walls of the digestive tract; so many in fact that the gut is sometimes referred to as our ‘second brain’.These nerve cells are directly linked to the brain itself via a nerve called the vagus nerve. This strong connection means how we feel can directly affect our digestion, but the reverse may also be true – the state of our gut could affect how we feel. Clinical trials have found that probiotics may be supportive for low mood, anxietyand ‘psychological distress.

For good quality probiotic supplements, try the new ‘ProVen probiotics’ range. All ProVen supplements are made with the ‘Lab4’ probiotic strains (of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) that have been extensively tested in UK studies. The range includes different probiotic supplements for adults, children, babies and toddlers, for women during pregnancy, a specific product for travelling abroad (to protect against bacteria and the unbalancing effects of unfamiliar foods), and even versions that combine these probiotics with multivitamins.

Try ProVen’s new Adult Probiotic Plus Total Immune & Energy Support, £8.95 from www.provenprobiotics.co.uk

5. Magnesium

Mineral Magnesium is one of the nutrients whose intake commonly falls low in the UK population, with 40% of females and 36% of males getting less than the EAR (Estimated Average Requirement).

Magnesium has many roles in the body – in fact, it is known to be necessary for over 300 enzyme reactions, including those that generate energy from the food that we eat, and those that produce DNA and RNA for normal cell growth and reproduction. It is also necessary for allowing our muscles to relax, as it blocks the flow of calcium into the muscle cells (a process that causes muscle to contract). About half the magnesium in our body is stored in our bones, and it plays a role in bone strength. It may also play a role in blood sugar regulation.21 Magnesium is also necessary for normal function of the nervous system, and normal psychological function. Because of all these different roles, deficiency in magnesium has been linked to many symptoms and conditions. These include cramping or twitching of the muscles, fatigue, insomnia, lack of appetite, confusion and poor memory.Low levels of magnesium are also associated with conditions such as high blood pressure, osteoporosis and diabetes, migraines, PMS and even depression.

Try Quest’s Synergistic Magnesium, £4.99 from www.questexcellence.com with vitamin B6, which enhances the absorption of the magnesium.