Friends influence your weight gain more than siblings or partners says a new report from the New England Journal of Medicine. Medical sociologists from Harvard studied a network of more than 12,000 people for 32 years and found that the chances of obesity increased by 57 per cent if they had a friend who also become obese.

Although we often assume our partner’s diet has the biggest effect on our weight, researchers found that the chances of weight gain for people with an overweight husband or wife increased by only 37 per cent.

97 %: That’s how many health giving flavonoids there are in organic tomatoes compared to non-organic. A 10 year study at the University of California, USA, found levels were far higher in pesticide- free tomatoes. Getting plenty of flavonoids is linked to reduced rates of dementia and cancer.

Yogurt nourishes and cleanses skin while pumpkin can help give it a healthy glow. You can use this mask on your face or your body. You’ll need 4 tablespoons of natural live yogurt; 3 tablespoons of runny honey; 3 tablespoons of pumpkin flesh.

To make, blend pumpkin, then drain away any liquid. Put the pumpkin flesh into a bowl with yogurt and honey and mix. Run a warm bath as you massage the mask over your face and body. Soak in the tub for 10 to 20 minutes, letting the mask sink into the skin. Finally, have a shower to wash off the mask.