Feeding children high energy breakfast foods such as porridge at a young age boosts their exams results at school, new research suggests.

By Graeme Paton

Research has already shown that food rich in omega 3 such as fish improves reading, writing and spelling among children Photo: GETTY

Children who followed such a diet before their third birthday had improved scores in reading and problem-solving tests compared to their peers, it was revealed.

In a study that provides some of the strongest links yet between nutrition and academic performance, academics said it also increased the likelihood of remaining in education for longer. It had a particular effect on girls.  Read more... (483 words, 1 image, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

Let porridge, that cheap and cheerful stomach filler, solve all manner of problems.

By Elizabeth Grice

Porridge: the king of superfoods Photo: ANDREW CROWLEY

There is only so much rampant masculinity you can take over breakfast and, for my money, it is reassuringly confined to the man on the packet of Scott’s Porage Oats. The image of that testosterone-packed Scotsman, shot-putting his way through our childhoods and still poised today, muscles rippling, with the breeze up his kilt, lifted the grey Bank Holiday Monday morning, confirming that all is well with the world. Even a recessionary one.  Read more... (676 words, 1 image, estimated 2:42 mins reading time)

The list of similarities between Jolie and Fox (right) begins with their shared love of tattoos. Inscribed on her back, Fox has a quote from Shakespeare’s King Lear play, in an old English style font which reads: “We will all laugh at gilded butterflies.” She also has Marilyn Monroe’s face on her inner forearm.

Jolie also has many tattoos, one between her shoulder blades reads: “Know your rights”, reportedly the title of one of her favourite songs. On her left shoulder blade is a Buddhist Pali incantation written in Khmer script, the language of Cambodia. It is to protect her and her adopted Cambodian son Maddox, from bad luck.  Read more... (559 words, 10 images, estimated 2:14 mins reading time)

Angelina Jolie had better watch out, as the ‘world’s sexiest woman’, Megan Fox, may be just about to steal her Hollywood goddess crown.

By Olivia Bergin

Jolie and Fox on the red carpets at recent premieres. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

With her tousled, raven-coloured hair, come-to-bed eyes and slender, model physique, Megan Fox is every man on the planet’s ideal woman. Or at least that is what the millions of men across the world thought when they recently voted her FHM’s “Sexiest woman in the world 2009″, a title she holds for the second year running.  Read more... (489 words, 1 image, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

Christy Turlington shows supermodels’ staying power as she fronts the new autumn/winter 2009/10 advertising campaign for Yves Saint Laurent.

By Hilary Alexander

Turlington in the autumn/winter 2009/10 campaign for French luxury brand Yves Saint Laurent

Christy Turlington, the yoga-loving mother of two and former catwalk star, has demonstrated the continuing staying power of the former ‘supermodels’ in her newest venture in front of the camera.

Ms Turlington, who turned 40 earlier this year, is the star of the new autumn/winter 09/10 advertising campaign for Yves Saint Laurent, designed by Stefano Pilati.  Read more... (267 words, 1 image, estimated 1:04 mins reading time)

Gym bunnies are waking up to the benefits of kettlebells.

By Jane Alexander

Belly buster: a kettlebell workout

It looks remarkably like a cannonball with a handle and dates back to 18th-century Russia. Meet the kettlebell.

Used consistently over centuries by the Russian military, this unusual object has shrugged off its iron curtain image and reinvented itself as the trendiest new fitness tool.

Kettlebells chime well with the boot camp ethic that has sweated its way through the workout world. Tough, uncompromising and apparently offering miraculous results, it’s no wonder they are flying (well, being lugged) off the shelves.  Read more... (501 words, 1 image, estimated 2:00 mins reading time)