Tabla de contenidos para Issue 13 en Gathered

At first, they seem like something out of a fairytale: charming, confident, and full of compliments. But as time goes on, the mask starts to slip. That same person who once made you feel special leaves you second-guessing yourself and trapped in a cycle of control, confusion and emotional pain. If this sounds familiar, you might be in a relationship with a narcissist. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition marked by an inflated sense of self-importance, a constant need for attention and a lack of empathy. In a romantic relationship, these traits can play out in damaging ways, from emotional manipulation to outright abuse. But narcissism isn't always obvious. It can come disguised as affection, support or even love, until it slowly starts to chip away at…

Food cravings are something we've all dealt with – whether it's the irresistible urge for something salty late at night or the need for a sugar fix in the middle of a stressful afternoon. As someone who's been a personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and health coach for years, I've had thousands of conversations about cravings. I've come to understand that cravings are much more than just a lack of willpower. They're signals – sometimes subtle, sometimes loud – that our bodies and minds are trying to send us. Learning how to listen to them can help us take better care of ourselves, both physically and emotionally. Food cravings are a mix of physiology and psychology. When someone craves salty foods, for example, it could be a sign that their…

Skipping breakfast used to be considered a diet sin, but now missing entire meals could contribute to weight loss. Intermittent fasting is growing in popularity, yet it wasn't always a choice for our ancestors. Our hunter-gatherer predecessors had to hunt and forage for food, leading to long periods when eating wasn't an option. Is this behaviour ingrained in our evolution, and could tapping into it be the key to a healthier lifestyle? So what exactly is intermittent fasting? Fasting has been practised for thousands of years, both out of necessity and for cultural, religious, and health reasons. In simple terms, intermittent fasting is an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and fasting. For example, with the 16/8 method, you eat only between 11am and 7pm and fast…

Ageing is inevitable and while it can't be stopped, we're here to show you how to slow it down. Social media will tell you the answer to anti-ageing lies in expensive serums and invasive treatments, but studies have shown that changing our diets is one of the most effective ways of reversing, delaying, and preventing the ageing process. The food we eat has a huge effect on our overall health, so it's no shock that it also has benefits for our skin. Ensuring your diet is filled with vitamin-rich foods and important nutrients is a wonderful, natural way of helping your skin retain its youthful glow. We asked a selection of expert doctors and dermatologists to reveal the vitamins and minerals that keep us young and healthy. There are six…

With so many decluttering trends around, there is undoubtably going to be one or two that perfectly suit your tidying needs. If you've seen the latest declutter buzzwords and haven't a clue what any mean, read on and be inspired to purge of your home of unwanted possessions. Cobwebbing This trend has been all over social media recently, encouraging anyone dating to clear out emotional baggage and memories from past relationships, so they can welcome in new opportunities, but it can be applied to your home declutter, too. We all hold on to items such as books, photos, souvenirs, even clothing, that has an emotional tie to it, but if the feeling is anything other than joy – perhaps when you see it you feel guilt or regret – it's…

Saggy neck, turkey neck, droopy jowls, the descriptions are endless for the one part of a woman's face that experts say age us the most: the neck. It is one of the areas on the body that first shows age as skin collagen diminishes, meaning our skin is less elastic. That plus spending hours on our mobile phones each day, and you can see why the neck is one of the first places to let us down. ‘Ageing slows down the production of collagen, an essential structural protein that gives skin its foundation, elasticity and firmness,’ says plastic surgeon Dr Paul Banwell (www.paulebanwell. com). ‘Collagen loss with age is a major cause of ageing in the neck, and results in sagging skin and wrinkles. Muscle laxity also happens in that…

Q. More people than ever are suffering from insomnia. Why are we sleeping so badly? A. Insomnia has been around for a very long time but it's particularly a problem at the moment because the world is going so fast. There are so many demands. Q. What happens to our body when we don't get a good night's sleep? Humans are designed to spend roughly a third of their lives sleeping. When we sleep deeply it repairs the body on every level: physically, mentally, emotionally, and I believe spiritually as well. So we wake up in the morning and we feel inspired and passionate and creative, looking forward to the day ahead. When we don't sleep well, we get the opposite of that. I've been working with sleep problems for…

We also assume that everyone else is having more sex, better sex – even more adventurous swingingfrom-the- chandelier style sex, but the reality can be very different! Studies suggest that sexually active adults are having sex around 50 times a year but as we get over the age of 50, this can decline to around 20 times a year. Of course, personal circumstances can dictate the frequency someone is physically able to be sexually active, including whether you have a partner, but it can also be down to libido – your sex drive. Natural interventions Dr Elise Dallas, a women's health GP at The London General Practice share their advice on how to address a low libido. 1. Diet What you put in your body plays a huge role in…