The Age-Defying Diet

Want to knock off 5lb and 10 years in two weeks? Then follow this eating plan (with recipes) from The Sunday Times that not only your skin, eyes and hair will thank you for, but also your waistline.

... There are many advantages to taking vitamins in food rather than in pill form. When you eat, you do not get isolated nutrients. For instance, a bowl of leafy greens provides an abundance of vitamins B, K and E, as well as fibre and antioxidants. The fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains that provide fibre also deliver vitamins and minerals naturally. Your diet has a direct impact, not only on your overall health and how you feel, but also on how you look.

What to eat

You need to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, and snack only if you need to, but in sensible portions, please. Remember, no cheating — so that’s no booze, no chocs and no straying from the plan. Read more

DNA: Defects You Can Fix with Vitamins and Minerals

Researchers have found that there are many genetic differences that make people's enzymes less efficient than normal, and that simple supplementation with vitamins can often restore some of these deficient enzymes to full working order.

As the cost of sequencing a single human genome drops rapidly, with one company predicting a price of $100 per person in five years, soon the only reason not to look at your "personal genome" will be fear of what bad news lies in your genes.

University of California, Berkeley, scientists, however, have found a welcome reason to delve into your genetic heritage: to find the slight genetic flaws that can be fixed with remedies as simple as vitamin or mineral supplements. Read more