Category Archives: Hedonism

They called him The Worm. It may now be over two decades since he last played at the highest level in the NBA but, for many, Dennis Rodman remains the paragon of the selfless power forward, perhaps the best on-ball defender that basketball has ever seen. He was also one of the most visible, interesting, athletes of the late eighties and nineties, a tortured soul who tortured the opposition in the paint, all limbs and persistence.

Purportedly the oldest of a total of 47 children, the Chicago Bulls legend worked hard for his glory, but his temperament could often overshadow his talent. On this day 25 years ago, 17January 1997, the NBA fined Rodman $25,000 and suspended him for 11 games without pay after he kicked cameraman Eugene Amos in the groin during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The force was so hard, Amos lost consciousness and had to be carried out on a stretcher before being treated at a local hospital. Additionally, he agreed to pay Amoans $200,000.

But this was far from the only controversy that Rodman got embroiled in, and here are five of the most contentious moments from The Worms brilliant basketball career.

Rodman and The Referee

An incident that his coach Phil Jackson could only laugh at, Rodman decided that if youre going to go out, you should go out with a bang. Back in March 1996 whilst playing against the New Jersey Nets in East Rutherford, Rodman was ejected from the game. Not taking the penalisation lying down, he headbutted referee Ted Bernhardt.

Realising he should go hard before going home, he stripped off his jersey, launched into a further furious tirade and pushed over some Gatorade bins before escaping down the tunnel. He was fined more than $200,000.

Rodman and Wrestling

The NBA Finals is the desired destiny of any basketball player. Rodman should know, he reached six of them (and lost only once). On the verge of completing a three-peat with the Bulls in 1998 against the Utah Jazz, Rodman was distracted. You see, he had also got himself involved in wrestling.

His first appearance had come on 10 March 1997, when he aligned himself with Hollywood Hulk Hogan, although he tended to keep his activities in the squared circle to the off-season. But when the build-up to the July 1998 Bash at the Beach pay-per-view overlapped with the Bulls trip to the NBA Finals, Rodman missed a Bulls practice to appear for WCW. He flew from Chicago to Detroit to appear live on Nitro at the Palace of Auburn Hills, where he and Hogan attacked Diamond Dallas Page. Thats got to be worth skipping work for, right?

Rodman and Las Vegas

With All-Star forward Scottie Pippen missing the opening few months of the 1997-98 season, Rodman stepped up and became the player the Bulls needed to propel them through the campaign. But he became edgy as soon as Pippen returned from his injury and Jackson agreed to give Rodman 48 hours off. Michael Jordan told the coach he feared the consequences.

Dennis says, Well, I need to go to Vegas, Jordan recalled in The Last Dance, I say Phil, you let this dude go on vacation, were not going to see him. You let him go to Vegas, we're definitely not going to see him.

MJ was proven right.

Rodman was AWOL for over four days, partying with his then-girlfriend, Baywatch actress Carmen Electra, in a Last Days of Rome sex-and-spirits session of hedonism in Las Vegas. Jordan finally took matters into his own hands, arrived at Rodmans hotel, and dragged him out of bed while a naked Electra hid. Rodman and Electra later married, and had sex in the Bulls training facility. Their holy matrimony lasted less than a year.

Rodman and Mark Cuban

After a very, very brief spell on the West Coast with the Los Angeles Lakers, Rodmans final run in the NBA was a month-long stint with the Dallas Mavericks in 2000. New Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was so enthusiastic about being the late bird catching the worm, he let the then 38-year-old stay in his guest house. However, he drew the line at Rodmans shirt request: the number 69.

The beautiful friendship hit a stumbling block, Rodman was released after 12 games and departed by throwing a few insults in Cubans direction, disparaging his hospitality while he was at it. He doesnt need to be hanging around the players like hes a coach or something, fired Rodman. In a nice twist, however, the two later kissed and made up.

Rodman and The Coyote

We are well aware that sports mascots can be extremely annoying. We do, however, draw the line at violence to express your disapproval of the dancing, prancing show ponies. Rodman did not. A favoured move of Rodman (see v Referee above), he once headbutted the San Antonio Spurs mascot, the Coyote, during a preseason game.

I bring excitement to the game, he said in the aftermath, Sometimes I get bored with basketball, like I know some fans do. And so I do things to make it more interesting for me, and for them.

Read more from the original source:

The Tantrums, Fall-Outs And Four-Day Benders That Made Dennis Rodman Box Office - The Sportsman

Photo used for illustrative purposes.

Gulf Today Report

A New Year is upon us, which means it's only a matter of hours until the hedonism surrounding New Year's Eve fades and everyone starts looking for ways to better themselves in 2022.

If you want to give yourself a bit of a health boost in 2022, rather than thinking about which foods you should cut out, the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) suggests looking at which nutrient-rich foods you can add into your diet.

A spokesperson for the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) suggested nutrient-rich foods to eat that will help those feeling vitamin-deprived in the wake of a party-filled festive season.

"We want people to eat a range of fruit and vegetables," the BNF spokesperson told The Independent, "but we have tried to get a balance between suggesting specific foods that are rich in nutrients but are not too expensive or niche".

Salmon

Salmon provides a range of vitamins and minerals, including omega 3s as well as protein, vitamin D, selenium and iodine.

Salmon is rich in omega 3.

The BNF recommends having two portions of fish per week, one of which should be an oily type like salmon. Registered nutritionist Daniel O'Shaughnessy, aka The Naked Nutritionist, advises choosing wild salmon where possible because it is richer in omega 3 content and usually pinker, which means it has more of the antioxidant, astaxanthin, which studies show has been found to improve skin health.

Oats

The BNF says that oats are a brilliant source of fibre, providing a specific type called beta glucan, which can help to lower cholesterol.

Incorporate them into your breakfasts if possible, the organisation suggests, either by making porridge or overnight oats.

Lentils

Plant-based proteins like lentils and beans are a rich source of fibre, says the BNF. They also contain iron and folate, which could help boost energy levels.

Author and nutritionist Jo Travers suggests making dahl with your lentils, when you can add plenty of vegetables for additional nutrients.

If you add tumeric, you can benefit from the anti-inflammatory effect as well while enjoying a slow-release carbohydrate meal.

Nuts

Nuts are often lauded by health professionals thanks to their fibre, protein, unsaturated fat content. The BNF notes that they also provide a range of key nutrients like thiamin and iron, which can help with energy and support your immune system.

Tomatoes are rich in vitamin c.

Go for unsalted varieties and keep portions to a small handful as theyre high in calories, the BNF warns.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are often underrated. But the BNF says they are rich in vitamin C and natural phytochemicals like lycopene, the natural pigment that gives tomatoes their vibrant red hue.

As for how to eat them in an interesting way, try thinking beyond caprese salads and pasta sauces. You can add tomatoes to curries, soups, or vegetable bakes.

Apples

Apples provide soluble fibre as well as polyphenols, which can treat digestion problems and help protect you from cardiovascular disease, notes the BNF.

They are best eaten as either a healthy snack, or with porridge for breakfast.

Green vegetables

We've all heard this one before. But leafy green vegetables are one of the healthiest foods around thanks to the multiple vitamins they contain.

Vegetables like spinach, broccoli and cabbage tend to provide vitamins C and A, folate and potassium, notes the BNF, subsequently boosting immunity, energy and skin health.

Broccoli is also one of the most nutritious, says O'Shaughnessy, because it contains DIM (Di-indolyl Methane), which is a powerful aromatase inhibitor. This means it can support hormone balance.

Plain yoghurt

Plain yoghurt might sound uninspiring but its a great base for snacks and desserts when youre trying to avoid sugary foods, says the BNF.

It also provides protein, calcium, riboflavin and iodine, which plays a vital role in thyroid health.

Choosing plain versions also means you avoid any added sugars. For flavour, try adding dried or fresh fruit, or nuts and seeds.

Whole grains

Wholegrain carbohyrates like bread, pasta, bulgar wheat or freekeh are quick and easy to cook and rich in fibre as well as nutrients like niacin and phosphorus, which helps the body repair tissues and cells.

"These foods give us the energy we need to function without spiking blood sugar," says Travers. "Stick to a fist-size portion at a time."

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits are in season at this time of year, meaning they are a sustainable choice as well as a healthy one.

Foods like oranges, lemons and grapefruits are rich in vitamin C, says the BNF, and provided folate, which helps convert carbohydrates into energy and is crucial for women during pregnancy.

You can easily add lemons and limes to your diet by adding them to salad dressings or using them to season other dishes, which the BNF says could help you to cut down on salt.

More here:

10 foods to eat to boost your health in 2022 - Gulf Today

Olly Alexander bounds down the stairs of his flat to greet me with a hug. Its a big flat, stretched over two floors, huge windows overlooking a pretty London park. There are books everywhere, in scattered, haphazard piles; he is just about to start Two Serious Ladies by Jane Bowles, a gift from a friend. Theres a Joni Mitchell songbook propped up on his piano, and there are massive houseplants all over the place. He left his old flat, not too far from here, after several lockdowns, because it didnt have any outdoor space. This one, which has a huge balcony, is rented, so he didnt buy the furniture, but the plants are his. Im a plant gay, he quips, drily.

Alexander has a puppyish energy. He is lively and charming and clearly very sensitive. On his sofa, he curls his legs underneath him, his trademark red hair (he once told Rihanna she inspired it) tucked under a baseball cap on which is printed Business of Pleasure. He is fun and chatty and acutely self-aware: he was in the audience for the Adele ITV live special recently, among an extraordinary buffet of celebrities, and he serves up good gossip about a couple of them, doing a brief, uncanny impression of Mel B. Boy George was sitting near him, which leads us on to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, a reality show that Boy George appears in and that Alexander became obsessed with during lockdown. I wont go on and on about The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, even though I could he says and then he does.

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Fame fascinates Alexander, and it also seems to repel him. Throughout our conversation, he treats it like a puzzle he is trying to solve. Now 31, he has had a fair taste of it, both as a singer and an actor. From the age of 18, he was an actor on the up, appearing in, among other things, Skins, and Peter and Alice in the West End, alongside Dame Judi Dench and Ben Whishaw. When he was 20, he joined the band Years & Years and became a pop star.

Years & Years of which he is now the only member, more on which shortly sell out arena tours, win awards, and have topped the album and singles charts. He has done Celebrity Gogglebox with his mum, Vicki. In 2021, he performed with Elton John at the Brits. The weekend after we meet, he performs his new single live on Strictly Come Dancing.

But at the end of 2019, he returned to acting, playing lead character Ritchie in the phenomenal drama Its a Sin, which came out in early 2021. Ritchie is a young man who moves to London and hits the gay scene just as Aids arrives in the UK. We watch as tragedy after tragedy unfolds over the course of a decade. The show captured joy as well as pain, though, and Alexanders impish spirit fed into Ritchies outlandishness and vulnerability. He has just been nominated for a US Critics Choice TV award for best actor in a limited series, for which he will compete with Paul Bettany and Michael Keaton. It has been quite the acting comeback.

But he hasnt acted since Its a Sin, and now hes here with a third Years & Years album, written during lockdown and recorded solo. He found lockdown hard, he explains, though he is careful to point out that, relatively speaking, he had an easy time of it. But he was living alone; he suddenly stopped working for the first time in years, and felt the weight of what he describes as the world imploding. Normally, he loves his own company. I actually crave alone time. But then having all of it in one go was just it was quite overwhelming, he says.

Alexander has been frank about his mental health in the past. In 2017, he made a moving, raw documentary for BBC Three called Growing Up Gay, in which he talked about mental health in the LGBTQ+ community, and shared his own experiences of being bullied and feeling ashamed of who he is. He talked about bulimia and self-harm, some of which was news to his mother, who heard about it for the first time on camera.

He is something of an open book, I note. I know! Its all out there. I just think, God, theres nothing else I can say. Its a compulsion, I think, more than anything else. Not to pathologise it or anything. Alexander made a decision to be honest about who he was from the very beginning, when people first started to pay attention to Years & Years. If people are going to ask about sexuality or mental health, then what am I going to say? If youre honest, you dont have anything to hide. Everyone deals with it differently, but I thought, OK, Ill try that.

Just before Years & Years released their debut album in 2015, Alexander, then a rarity as an out male pop star clearly singing about men, expressed his sadness that there werent more like him. While there hasnt exactly been an avalanche of male-on-male love songs, Lil Nas X, the singer and rapper who is gay and who gave the devil a lapdance in his video for Montero, has ascended to the pop throne and is now one of the biggest pop stars in the world. Does Alexander think there has been a shift? When Lil Nas X went to No 1, I literally felt like running down the street naked, screaming in celebration, because it was such a huge moment for me, he says. I had begun to think, God, will it ever happen? Will we ever get someone that is this huge crossover star, whos gay? I just think its incredible, what hes done. Im in awe.

After 10 years together, Years & Years have gone from being a three-piece, comprised of Alexander, Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Trkmen, to a solo act. But rather than start releasing music under his own name, Alexander has kept the Years & Years moniker. I just didnt want to let Years & Years go. I put so much into it. It was a tricky decision in some ways, because I think, possibly, it might have been a bit simpler for everyone if I had just been like, Oh, Im a solo artist now. But I just didnt want to.

The official line is that the split was amicable. The new album has been an Olly endeavour and weve decided that Years & Years will continue as an Olly solo project, read a statement put out by the band last March, adding: The three of us are still good friends. Goldsworthy will be playing live with Alexander when the band goes on tour.

But band break-ups are rarely so clean. Bands are like marriages, Alexander says. Any separation is difficult, and I think it went as well as it could, with us. He first joined Years & Years in 2010, and there is a strong sense that he was calling the shots from the beginning. They didnt really have a singer. And I came in, and I was like, No, Im the singer, Ill be writing songs. So you can see, over that trajectory, perhaps this was sort of inevitable.

By the time of their second album, Palo Santo, in 2018, Alexanders red hair had arrived. He was starting to become more pop star than indie-pop star, and it became clear that the band had different ideas about what their music would sound like. Early on, we were more or less on the same ship, trying to steer in the same direction, and then just clearly we werent any more. He sighs. It was definitely the best thing for us, to go our separate ways, rather than try to make it work.

Which different directions had you all started to go in? Well, I love pop music. I wanted us to play our song on The X Factor, for instance. Not that that ever happened we didnt get booked. But that was a huge issue within the group, because that felt like it would be too pop, and that being on TV like that was kind of lame. There were the familiar musical differences, too. When you think of a band, you imagine them all together in a house making music and coming up with ideas like that. But that was never how we did it. It was always quite separate, and then you figure out a way where you all feel good about it. After the first album, we never felt good about anything as a band. Thats when it all started, really. He says he was proud of Palo Santo. But it was not loved by everyone in the band, and that was hard for me. The three of them still got on well enough to go on tour and have a good time, he says. And obviously, I dont want to speak for them, because I cant. But it sounds as if the split wasnt a huge surprise. It was coming for a long time.

Around the time that Years & Years were coming apart, he was making Its a Sin in Manchester. It was an experience he loved, but one that was, he says, incredibly intense. For one thing, during a short break in filming, over Christmas 2019, his grandmother Rosemarie died. She had been a singer in her youth: she was a chorus girl who went to New York to perform and had a few leading roles on stage. She was his mothers mother, and they were extremely close. I was with her when she died, and then went back to work, and then came off that, and then the pandemic felt like it happened straight away. I hadnt processed my grans death, really. And then I was thinking, Oh my God, Im trying to make this pop album. Whats the point? What is actually the point? Does anyone need another pop album? Not really. He giggles nervously. I was having all those thoughts.

Then he turned 30, in July 2020, just as the first set of lockdown restrictions began to ease. Maybe it sounds a bit silly, but it really felt like quite an achievement, to be 30. When youre younger, you dont ever imagine youll get to 30. It felt, to him, like the first big age. Once hed passed 25, he started to realise that he liked himself a bit more. I was feeling like, OK, maybe something is working here. I may finally be able to be a bit more at peace with myself and have a more solid foundation. And in terms of feeling like Im too old, I felt too old when I was 27, 28, and coming back with the second Years & Years album. I found the transition from being the young one really hard. I was looking at other pop stars who were in their early 20s, and I was thinking, Oh my God, Im ageing out of this. Like, Im too old! I cant help but laugh; he is still the picture of youth. I know! Its crazy. But thats how it felt. Like, Oh no, Im past it!

That feeling has quietened down. He celebrated his 30th with a trip to the treetop rope-bridge experience Go Ape, of all places (the perfect thing for me: activity, outdoors, slightly scary) and a nice meal, and he is much more comfortable with himself. I feel so much more at peace with myself than I ever did, he nods. Im just holding on to that feeling. Why is that? Time helps, you know. He pauses, then adds, with a cackle, And Ive had a lot of therapy.

Eventually, Alexander decided that even if the world didnt need another pop album, he was going to make one. Night Call sounds as if it burst out of lockdown. There are no slowies, no ballads, only bangers. All I wanted to make was uptempo music you could dance to in a club, he says. Its a tribute to nightlife and freedom, and the sex that can go with it. On one song, he sings about All that muscle, getting me into trouble Another, 20 Minutes, celebrates the joy of a fleeting sexual encounter. A lot of the songs are about sex and hookups because it was something that was absent from my life, he says, laughing. I was trying to manifest some physical contact and thinking about the past few years before lockdown. Its not like I was having tons of sex, but I was having some sex. He found that he was inspired by the different ways in which people express desire, including himself. I thought, I can write songs about this.

He pauses on the edge of saying something, trying to work out whether he should or not, then decides to jump off. But I have to say, um, that Im lucky that I do have someone that I like love, actually a lot. Who loves me back. He claps his hands, joyfully. So thats nice!

Is it a new thing? Its not actually a new thing. Ive known him for six, seven years, I think. Over that time, weve called our relationship different things, if that makes any sense. And now we dont have a name for it. But he really supports me. Over the past year, Ive really leaned on him a lot. Im going to be super private about him, but thats part of my story, so I have to say it. Is he your boyfriend? Im just not Defining it? Im not defining it. To me, or in general? I mean, we talk about this kind of thing a lot, but its like the word is too much, or something, so Im not going to put it out there. So the hookups youre singing about on the album are a past life? No. I mean, I still hope to hook up again, some day, he grins. Were not in that situation. We both start to laugh. Its complicated, isnt it, all that stuff?

Night Call is about dancing and shagging and hedonism. You can practically feel the sticky floor underfoot when you listen to it. What I love so much about dance music and disco is that idea of liberation on the dancefloor. Its communal, you come together and feel free, to the beat, he says. In some ways, I suggest, it feels like a companion piece to Its a Sin. Definitely. It became super-present in my head, he says.

Russell T Davies, who wrote and created Its a Sin, says he only auditioned one actor for the part of Ritchie, and that was Alexander. Davies is about to return to Doctor Who as its showrunner, but before that was announced, Alexander found himself on the front page of the Sun, being announced as the new Doctor. How did that happen? It genuinely was news to me, I promise you, he says. We gossip for a bit, off the record, but he insists he isnt doing it. I definitely am not Doctor Who, and Im not going to be Doctor Who, he says. I fix him with a stare. Promise! Really? Its not happening! I can tell you Im definitely not doing it.

In Its a Sin, Ritchie moves to London from the Isle of Wight to become an actor, and arrives with gusto on the citys gay scene, partying and sleeping his way around town. When Aids begins to tear through his social circle, he is in denial, at one point giving a petulant speech accusing the government of fear-mongering and trying to stop gay men having sex. He values his freedom as a gay man; he votes for Thatcher. He is afraid and he is defiant. He is a complicated character, which makes his story all the more affecting. It feels authentic.

Given that Alexander moved to London (from Gloucestershire) at 18 to become an actor, there are parallels, arent there? For sure. Except hes a fucking Tory, he jokes. Im so angry at Russell! Making me play a Tory on TV. What does he think Davies saw in him? I dont know. But its not often you see a character thats so connected to your life thats gay, that had these big ambitions, that was hiding something from the people around him. I felt all of those things. So I thought, Oh yeah, I could do this. I can get into his head.

He put acting on the back burner for Years & Years, and hadnt acted for six years when Its A Sin came along. He was intimidated. I just thought, What have I got myself in for, thinking I could do this? I was doing well as an actor, but I had never read something like Its a Sin. You could wait your whole career and not get something as good as that, so I was like, I have to do it, and do a good job.

The reaction made it clear that he pulled it off. The programme won over critics and audiences in the UK and in the US. Unsurprisingly, for a drama about the Aids crisis in Britain, one that so tenderly and furiously memorialised the lives that were lost, it was devastating. Alexander often cried while reading the script and when learning his lines. I know a lot of us on set felt the same. So I suppose it isnt surprising that some people were similarly affected by watching it, or had an intense response. I hadnt realised how much of a shadow it had been for lots of people, and the need they had to cast some light on it and say, I was there, I remember it. He was born in 1990; it wasnt his world. By playing Ritchie, he was just bearing witness to it. But what to do next with that? I dont really know.

Alexander says that at times he found the public reaction to Its a Sin overwhelming. My favourite word, he smiles, a little sadly. I felt like maybe some of what people experienced watching the show, I went through it in my own way, just by learning more about the history, because there were huge gaps in my knowledge of what happened in the UK in the 80s. That was a really deep, profound experience for me, as a human, but also as a gay man. It felt like it contextualised a lot of my experiences growing up.

Even now, Alexander still gets messages from people who have seen Growing Up Gay and identified with the struggles he went through as a young, closeted teenager who was bullied at school. It is a powerful film that distills complicated ideas about shame and internalised homophobia, for example, into a deceptively breezy format. Im glad you say that because obviously these things are so complicated and so different for everyone, he says. Its so weird to be in a position of spokesperson or representative in any way of my community, as a gay man. You bump up against so many issues, like representation politics. But I think if you can give people some of the foundations of an idea or concept or a way to discuss something, even if its just an opening, then people can do the rest themselves. Thats a good thing, I think.

I wonder if the documentary is similar to Its a Sin, in terms of it opening him up to hear about other peoples pain? Mmm, he says. Its hard, sometimes. Im just trying to figure out a way of answering you and not crying myself, right now.

But he starts to cry, anyway. This is what I mean, when its overwhelming, because you see how much people are in pain, he says, his voice wobbling. Its sad to see that. And obviously I am someone that feels that stuff, too. And it just comes out like this. I give him a hug. Sorry, he smiles. It happens a lot. Like, in every interview, to be honest. Its not just me? Dont think youre special!

He composes himself, carries on. You know, I do these quite big, exposing things. Like, even Its a Sin, obviously Im playing a character, but then I have to really step back from it. How does he do that? I think of it happening slightly separately to me. Its all part of something that is connected to me, but its all part of something else as well. And I still cant quite figure that out. But that feels so much larger than me, Olly, and what I can contain in my brain, day to day.

Pop star duties are calling Alexander. He has Years & Years CDs on his kitchen table that he needs to sign, some social media posts to do to promote his latest single. I ask if hell return to acting soon. He hesitates. I think I will, yeah, he says. When its something I want to do. But he doesnt exactly sound desperate to do it. I know! Haha. Im not, really. Its such a bizarre job. And I feel like I left it behind for a reason, to make music and do Years & Years. Its a Sin reminded me of how incredible that circus can be, so it would be fun to do again. But Im just going to wait until its the right thing. Or make my own thing, at some point. What would you make? Like a queer horror thing? I love horror. Something in the vein of Twin Peaks, or Mulholland Drive.

Alexander once said that he had planned out his life until he was 25. Is there a new plan in place now? No plan any more, he says easily, but then he changes his mind. Actually, have you seen Grace and Frankie? Hes talking about the Netflix show starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. I just love their setup. Theyre two women who are best friends living in this gorgeous place by the sea, in their 80s, still having sex, getting stoned and getting up to all sorts of trouble. He grins. My vague plan is to end up with something like that.

Night Call will be released on 21 January.

Continue reading here:

Olly Alexander on hope, hedonism and hook-ups: 'If you're honest, you don't have anything to hide' - The Guardian

When New York-based photographer Tyrell Hampton turned 21, he had already been frequenting the citys nightclubs for some years. Even so, his official coming-of-age was a big deal. It was 2018, and after an elegant dinner at artworld hotspot Lucien (If you go there, youre going there to be seen), Hampton and his friends made their way to Mehanata nightclub.

They told me I couldnt park my party bus outside the club, he says wryly. Not because this was an unreasonable request, obviously but because Alexander Wang had parked his party bus there first. I was on the stripper pole all night. He [Wang] was on the stripper pole all night. Hampton pauses for a moment, grinning over Zoom. Id had so many Sprites.

Hampton has no shortage of anecdotes like this. Though he doesnt drink or smoke, New York nightlife is his ultimate muse: in the club, he can find both anonymity and community; chaos and respite. Now 24, Hampton has carved a practice capturing raw and heady party shots of the stars: Miley Cyrus dragging on a cigarette post-Met Gala, or Hailey Bieber fondling her chest at a Saint Laurent party. But behind the lens, Hampton still sees himself as an excitable child; less a participant than a wide-eyed voyeur, mesmerised by the scenes unfolding around him.

Hamptons first solo exhibition at SN37 Gallery, titled Go Home, is a nod to that teenager inside of him. After migrating from his native Philadelphia aged 18, it was the club wherein Hampton a young, gay Black kid who had never really partied before first found a sense of belonging. Bringing together personal work made between 2016 and the present, Go Home is a nostalgic reliving of Hamptons initiation into New York City life: a melting pot of party-goers in moments of unbridled joy and exuberance, and a world once only available to the photographer via TV shows and movies.

I find solace in a crowded room, Hampton reflects. Im not shy, but I have my shy moments. When I found the club, I felt like I could just be quiet. I didnt really have to talk much or do much. I could just people-watch I could just get lost in everything.

Go Home invites viewers to get lost with him. To curate the show, Hampton scoured through his archive to recreate what it feels like to move through a party: to enter the room and look up to a ceiling full of disco balls, before finding yourself amidst a sea of kissing couples; letting loose on the dance floor, or deep in conversation on a sofa. Far from posed portraits, each shot exudes movement and spontaneity; off the cuff moments that throb with the energy and rowdiness of being out. Every moment you see is a moment that I am obsessed with at a club, Hampton says. These are the moments that I look for.

A majority of the exhibition is in black and white, because Hampton felt these moments should be a part of history. He talks lovingly of the legacy of Studio 54, remembered as the first anything-goes, queer-friendly mainstream nightclub; a wonderland for the gay and straight, rich and poor alike. Hampton deemed Broadways infamous China Chalet where some of Go Homes images are shot as his own generations Studio 54, before it closed down in 2020 due to the pandemic. It really was home for me, he says, recalling the days hed sneak in through the back as an under-ager. I had to go every time there was a party there, otherwise I felt like I was missing out on what New York is supposed to be.

Observing Hamptons images, it is clear there is an inimitable quality about the photographer that makes people feel free. But as for his part in the exchange, he likens it to choreography: manoeuvring through the space, anticipating the movements of those around him, and responding with his own rhythms. Having attended a performing arts high school, Hampton grew up dancing igniting a fascination with motion from an early age and he cites what he learnt as vital to his shooting process: Its like a tango, he describes. Making sure Im not in the way, or hindering anyones moment.

Why is the show called Go Home? When the partys over, and everyones had a bit too much, thats what all these metropolitan kids and creative cliqueswill do. But Hampton will stay right where he is. Because hes already there.

Go Home runs at New Yorks SN37 Gallery until January 30

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Photos that capture the glamour and hedonism of New York nightlife - Dazed

Religious View: Noel Reese

My wife and celebrated our wedding anniversary on New Years Eve in Tiburon.

I saved for a year to take a couple of days off and booked a room at a hotel that looked across the bay at San Francisco so we could watch the fireworks and have a real celebration.

I didnt know when I booked it that the fireworks would be canceled, apparently due to Covid.

We enjoyed great food, a deluxe room and loved looking at the real estate ads in the windows of the local Realtors. We saw some nice-looking places in the $20 million range.

As we sat by the fire pit on the roof deck, we met a lovely couple who were there on a scouting trip to see about moving there. They were moving from Marthas Vineyard and were not remotely troubled by the prices.

When they found out I was a pastor, I thought they would excuse themselves, but no, they had a couple of hours of questions.

Seeing the frustration of futility in our society has left many people searching for answers that hedonism and the endless quest for unanswered self-gratification cannot provide.

I am so thankful all the answers to all the problems all people face can be found between the pages of our Bibles, and if we are willing to listen, we can receive hope.

For myself, I am thankful I found Jesus, who rescued me from that life of hedonism and the futile, frantic search for happiness. He brought joy, peace and love.

I fly to Orange County on Friday to perform a wedding for a couple of friends and then fly back Saturday to deliver the Sunday sermon for our little church.

Then I have to prepare for a memorial service at our church for a close relative.

As I think about all this, I think there is hope, new life, joy, but there is also death. No one likes to talk about it, but everyone dies.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27: Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment.

No one ever asks, What happens after you die? and yet we all die and if we believe Gods instruction book, shouldnt we at least prepare?

Our new friends were checking out what kind of schools there were in the million-dollar home neighborhoods, but what if?

The following verse in Hebrews states: Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Confess your sins to him, ask his forgiveness, accept that he sent his son to pay for your sins, and get your ticket for the kingdom of heaven.

Theres no A/C in hell, and if your friends are there, its not going to be enjoyable. Its going to be hell!

Jesus loves you. Accept his love today.

The Rev. Noel Reese is the pastor at Calvary Chapel Rio Vista. He can be reached at http://www.calvarychapelriovista.com.

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Religious View: It's a new year; find a new you in the Bible - Fairfield Daily Republic

The party had to end sometime. Now that the holidays are behind us, we must reconcile all the eating, buying, hedonism and general gluttony. After the crest comes the crash. Which is why in January, the diets, the budgets, the self-improvement resolutions, and the once-and-for-all promises to get organized debut. And we pledge yet again to get a grip and get it together.

Fortunately, professional help is available. Lord knows, and I'll speak for myself here, I got myself into my mess, so I sure as heck can't be trusted to get myself out of it. Like good diet counselors, financial planners and fitness trainers, professional organizers are filling their appointment books as people call in saying, "This is the year ..."

"People call when they get overwhelmed," said Amy Tokos, a certified professional organizer based in Omaha, Neb., and president of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals.

"They're overwhelmed by their stuff, or by other people's stuff their parents' stuff, their kids' stuff. They struggle going through this themselves because it requires making a lot of decisions. Most people always have something they would rather do, so they put it off.

"Some are trapped by perceptions of how everything should be (thank you social media)," said Tokos, who joined the profession in 2008. An engineer by training, Tokos specialized in finding ways to streamline processes in manufacturing plants. After she had four kids, she applied those skills to her own home, then did the same for friends and family. "Just a few moves can eliminate friction points and result in a lot less frustration."

Most of the people she helps have tried on their own to fix the problem, but their solutions haven't worked, she said.

When certified professional organizer Danielle Tanner Liu, of West Linn, Ore., got into the field in 2004, she soon realized that the work "involved much more than making drawers and cabinets look nice," she said.

For those who want to make 2022 the year they get their house together, here are six fundamentals Tokos and Liu recommend for starters:

Identify your trouble spots. "Nine times out of 10, when people have an area that isn't working, they are asking it to do too much," Liu said. Commonly overused spaces include the hall closet, the pantry and the laundry room. They become catchalls because they don't have a defined purpose. This is how the extra toilet paper winds up in the guest room closet. "Before you put anything in a room, ask does this item support this room's purpose?" If not, put it somewhere else.

Acknowledge that space is your boundary. Your space is finite; your stuff is not. While you cannot change how much space you have (short of moving, or heaven forbid, getting a storage unit), you can alter how much stuff you have. Cut back, and live within your means.

Question your values. Be honest. Would you rather have an orderly room that functions and cupboards with breathing room, or lots of stuff? "At some point, you have to ask, do I want to live with books piled everywhere, or fewer books and nice-looking bookcases?" Liu said. "Some people will choose the stuff over the function. And that's fine, so long as they consciously make the choice about what they value."

Categorize by like items. When tackling a messy room, start by making piles by category: memorabilia, office supplies, clothes. "The act of sorting and seeing what you have is instantly satisfying," Liu said. You can now visualize what you have, what you have too much of, what belongs in a different room and how much space you have to fit what does belong.

Don't binge on bins. "Every January, we see stores selling bins, bins and more bins, to help customers get organized, but bins alone do not solve the problem," Liu said. While they are great for storing holiday decor in the attic or off-season clothes in the basement, they themselves don't impose order.

Be realistic. Don't let social media set your expectations, Tokos said. You might see a picture of a beautiful pantry on Instagram, but photos on social media are often staged. "You don't see the newspapers or homework lying around." Set your own goals. Aim for function, then make it pretty.

Join me next week to learn when and how to work with a professional organizer, and hear from someone who did.

Marni Jameson is the author of six home and lifestyle books, including "What to Do With Everything You Own to Leave the Legacy You Want."

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Use the new year to work with the space you have - Arkansas Online

On Jan.8, film-loving pop star The Weeknd released a new album called Dawn FM. The cover features him drastically transformed by prosthetics and makeup into an elderly man at the end of his life. Dawn FM moves away from some of the heavy hedonism of the stars previous work and leans into 80s inspired cinematic pop. The album has gotten widespread acclaim, with Kate Solomon at i saying it has that perfect marriage of music, narrative and emotion and Will Dukes at Rolling Stone calling it a refreshingly light and accessible listen.

Of course, a cinematic album needed a cinematic star to take the reins when it came to the narration, so Abel Tesfaye chose fellow Canadian Jim Carrey to narrate the project. The iconic star used his unique vocal tone to guide the listener through the purgatorial tracks, taking the role of the soothing host of the fictional Dawn FM radio show that the album is structured around.

There was a time in the 90s/early 2000s where you couldnt go to the cinema without seeing Jim Carrey in one film or another, whether it was Dumb and Dumber or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. In recent years Carreys appearances have been much rarer, with his biggest recent film being his appearance in Sonic The Hedgehog (2020). Given how we get to see him less now, it was great to hear the comedy veterans dulcet tones on this album.

Dawn FM is available wherever music is streamed/sold and you can next see Jim Carrey in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on April.1 2022.

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'Batman Forever' star features heavily on The Weeknd's new album - We Got This Covered

I experience frequent, urgent cravings for very specific things and act on them immediately. As soon as I open my eyes I often know exactly what I want: to wear a particular little outfit, buy a sandwich of a certain heft and filling from this shop in this postcode, eat it (for instance) on a bench under a tree. Its a shame that the place in me capable of conjuring these whims also regularly churns out other, much more boring urges, and occasionally dangerous ones too. My brain is a constant game of Hungry Hungry Hippos, my dopamine receptors snapping noisily at an alarming rate, urging me to do things that actually bring me very little pleasure at all. Why do I want things that dont make me feel good? Im at the mercy of my lizard brain and the mechanisms of society designed to exploit it.

The concept of the three-tiered brain a primitive reptilian brain nestled like a living fossil in the clay of our most recently evolved, superior brains, was proposed in the 1960s by the neuroscientist Paul MacLean. Its scientific credulity holds about as much significance to me as that of the astrology app that sends me notifications each morning it just provides a structure for me to think about my habits and how to change them. In short, the reptilian brain is the most primitive part of the brain. I visualise it quite literally as the lizard-like baby from Eraserhead, mewling and requiring constant attention from the other parts of the brain, the parts that have evolved over 10m years to quieten its cries.

The less regulated this part of the brain is, the more regrettable the desires. We are generally more capable of regulating these desires as we grow out of childhood, although for some people myself included it is harder than others. Desires can run away with themselves, and become all-consuming, without us really noticing. The caterpillar that simply wants a lovely apple on Monday is the same caterpillar that wants two pears on Tuesday, three plums on Wednesday, four strawberries on Thursday, five oranges on Friday and then, inevitably, a piece of chocolate cake, ice-cream, a pickle, Swiss cheese, salami, a lollipop, cherry pie, a sausage, a cupcake and a slice of watermelon on Saturday.

Giving in to our reptilian desires has been encouraged, rebranded as a sort of self-care both by a society that wants us to consume and those of us who enjoy consuming with impunity. But often we are simply experiencing anxiety dressed up as hedonism. If you have experience of any kind of addiction, this is obvious. Saying yes to every desire that occurs to us seems quirky and fun if it involves dyeing your hair orange and eating too many Haribo, but a little less so if instead what youre doing is climbing into a strangers car to buy cocaine. The truth is though, cravings and their related behaviours dont have to involve life-destroying habits to rob us of joy. I may no longer lose days of my life to bingeing booze and drugs, but the same lack of impulse control insidiously robs me of my time. I, like the majority of people, pick up my phone over and over again and open apps that Ive just closed, scrolling and refreshing without agency. How did my phone even get into my hand? I watch reality TV instead of the films that Ive been meaning to watch for years because my lizard brain tells me that it will feel good: instead what it often feels like is closer to nothing. It urges me to do things that require little energy and, in return, provide little in the way of reward.

Dopamine controls our desire for things, but it isnt cognitive. It isnt that it doesnt know whats good for us it doesnt even know what we actually enjoy. To submit to these desires and consider that submission as an act of self-care is extremely misguided. Our lizard brain doesnt know what we like doing, and it doesnt care. It has very little purpose and succeeds, ultimately, only to make a noise annoying enough to distract us from what we originally set out to do.

So how can I want what actually brings me joy? How can I quiet the Eraserhead baby which nobody is convinced is actually a baby at all but instead simply various unhappinesses, swaddled and reach for the things that provide lasting joy and satisfaction? If only I knew. We are taught to want, but not too much. We are rewarded for consuming, but judged for taking more than our fair share. It is a strange thing to navigate a world that encourages and shames us for the same behaviours, and difficult not to assign moral value to our urges to categorise each desire as either good or bad. Instead I focus on remembering times when I have felt calm and fulfilled not the sweet little drip, drip, drip of dopamine throughout the day but the deep, quiet satisfaction at the end of a difficult task, or a long journey with something beautiful at the end of it. Of course, its not about one or the other. Thankfully for me. I will try to live life mindfully, to create long-term goals, etc but ultimately I will always serve my lizard-brain king.

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Why cant we stop scrolling or eating Haribo? Blame the lizard brain - The Guardian

A new year is upon us, which means it's only a matter of hours until the hedonism surrounding New Year's Eve fades and everyone starts looking for ways to better themselves in 2022.

Come January, it no longer feels acceptable to eat five mince pies in an afternoon, or spend hours devouring leftover turkey sandwiches and washing them down with port.

But before you start signing up to restrictive dieting plans or militant exercise regimes, consider simpler adjustments that won't feel quite so gruelling and could even be more rewarding.

If you want to give yourself a bit of a health boost in 2022, rather than thinking about which foods you should cut out, the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) suggests looking at which nutrient-rich foods you can add into your diet.

Who would have guessed one of the most romantic scenes in cinema would involve two dogs eating scraps in an alleyway? And, yet, the iconic spaghetti kiss from Disneys 1955 animated film has been oft imitated but never surpassed, as the two pups indulge in an Italian delicacy, all soundtracked to Sonny Burke and Peggy Lees Bella Notte. And, as Tramp proves, theres no greater act of chivalry than offering your date the last meatball

Moviestore/Rex

Gabriel Axels Oscar-winning 1987 Danish film is a visual treat for any self-confessed gourmand. The story sees two pious Protestant sisters offer refuge to a French woman fleeing the political tumult in Paris after the collapse of the Second Empire in 1871. They agree to hire her as a housekeeper, discovering later that shes the former chef of one of Pariss best restaurants. When she wins the lottery, she uses the funds to whip a meal to remember for her kindly hosts.

All the very best chefs know that a dash of pure imagination is key to creating a true culinary wonder. Its a lesson well-taught in Steven Spielbergs 1991 classic, Hook, as a grown-up Peter Pan (Robin Williams) looks on in disbelief as the Lost Boys tuck into what appears to be nothing at all. Its only when he truly believes that he can see the brightly colour feast laid out before him. And what childish feast would be complete without an old fashioned food fight?

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Sure, the 1961 films title may be a little misleading. Its protagonist, Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn), in reality only has breakfast outside of Tiffanys, popping out of a cab in the early morning light to peer into the jewelry shop window, all while enjoying a pastry and some coffee in a paper. The moment has still remained the peak of glamour, decades later, so who cares if its all a little white lie?

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Its a classic scene that proves to be surprisingly instructional. Francis Ford Coppolas 1972 film has a full-blown recipe tucked within its elegant drama, as Vito Corleones close associate, Peter Clemenza (Richard Castellano), offers his version of the perfect pasta sauce. As he explains: You start out with a little bit of oil. Then you fry some garlic. Then you throw in some tomatoes, tomato paste, you fry it; you make sure it doesn't stick. You get it to a boil; you shove in all your sausage and your meatballs. And a little bit of wine, and a little bit of sugarthat's my trick."

Rex Features

Although the 1971 musical is, as a whole, a sugary delight, its hardest to resist the temptation of Willy Wonkas Fizzy Lifting Drinks, a soda described as so bubbly that it lifts anyone who drinks it right off the ground. Its no wonder that it was the one stop on the tour that ended up tempting the pure-hearted Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum) and his grandfather (Jack Albertson). Now, the real question is: does it come in different flavours?

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For anyone who considers pizza to be the true love of their life, Ryan Murphys 2010 romcom is a perfect cinematic match. Its hard not to relate to the moment Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) bites into a piece of authentic Italian pizza, during the Naples stop on her global adventure of self-discovery, and declares: Im in love. Im in a relationship with my pizza.

Rex Features

Although we might not fully be convinced that the grey stuff is delicious, the dinner and show approach to Lumiere (Jerry Orbach)s hospitality is something we could certainly get used to. In Disneys 1991 animation, Belle (Paige O'Hara) is presented with a whole cavalcade of sumptuous dishes: including beef ragout, cheese souffle, pie and pudding "en flambe". And theres a sage piece of advice to go with it all, too: If you're stressed, it's fine dining we suggest! Indeed.

Disney

While theres been a growing fad of ambitious, unusually themed cakes you need only look at the success of the TLC reality series Cake Boss there are few cinematic cakes that quite stick in the memory like Jackson (Dylan McDermott)s armadillo-shaped groom cake from 1989 comedy-drama Steel Magnolias, a spin on the tradition from the American South of having another cake separate to the main wedding cake. And did we mention that its red velvet on the inside?

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When it came to director Sofia Coppola conjuring the ultimate image of decadence for her 2006 biopic on the French queen, there was no more perfect treat than Ladures famous macarons. Delicate and pastel-toned, the meringue-based confection has long been the speciality of the French bakery, first established in 1862. A new flavour was even created in honour of the film, with the Marie Antoinette offering a combination of rose and anise flavours.

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Food is often regarded as one of the best ways to understand a culture, and The Hundred-Foot Journey is wonderful for showing the efforts the talented, self-taught novice Hassan (Manish Dayal) goes to in order to comprehend that. During a picnic he reveals he has mastered the five mother sauces of French cuisine, and the delicate tasting process that follows demonstrates just how important food is to France.

In prison, dinner was always a big thing. So much so that the Wise Guys ate better than most people on the outside. Beyond the Sea plays in the background as the gangsters prepare their meal: Garlic sliced so thin with a razor blade that it would liquefy in the pan with just a little oil, meatballs in a tomato sauce thats a little too oniony, steak cooked medium rare, iced lobsters, prosciutto, salami, cheese, red wine and good Scotch. Maybe crime does pay after all.

There are few pleasures in life more fulfilling than that of cooking for others. In Chocolat based on the book by Joanne Harris a slow-motion scene where dinner party guests tuck into the feast created by expert chocolatier Vianne Rocher (Juliette Binoche) is full of warmth and laughter.

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In a world where people seem more than happy to fork out 15 for some mushy avocado on toast, $5 for a milkshake doesnt seem too unreasonable. Vincent Vega (John Travolta) takes his boss wife Mia (Uma Thurman) out to Jack Rabbit Slims for a burger, where she decides she wants the $5 dollar shake. You dont put bourbon in it or nothing? a bewildered Vincent asks the waiter. When it arrives, Mia takes a long sip: Yummy. I gotta know what a $5 shake tastes like, Vincent says. He takes a sip. Then another. Goddamn, thats a pretty f***ing good milkshake.

Miramax/YouTube

Nora Ephrons feature film based on the intertwining stories of chef Julia Child and Julie Powell, the blogger who rose to fame after documenting her pledge to cook all 524 recipes in Childs cookbook, is all about the joy one can find in food. It is some of the earlier scenes that capture this best, like when Julia (Meryl Streep) and her husband Paul (Stanley Tucci) arrive in Paris and stop at a French restaurant, where Julia is served a sizzling platter of sole. It looked so mouth-watering in the final edit that Ephron wanted to call up Martin Scorcese and say, youve never shot a fish like that before.

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Fearsome critic Anton Ego takes a bite of ratatouille and is transported back to his childhood, where it was a favourite comfort food, in the best scene from Pixars wonderful animated film. The detail is superb, from the process of Remy the rat preparing the dish to the moment Egos pen falls to the ground as he remembers the power of a favourite meal in evoking memories we thought were lost.

YouTube screengrab / Jeugos para ninos / Disney Pixar

I dont want this, I want large bread but I can rise above it, Im a professional. The miniature bread catastrophe is a beautiful parody on every self-absorbed rock star to have kicked off over something as ludicrous as the food theyre served backstage. Guitarist Nigel Tufnell sits next to a tray of sandwiches looking baffled as his manager walks over. "Look," he says, picking up a sandwich. "This, this miniature bread. It's like... I've been working with this now for about half an hour. I can't figure it out. Let's say I want a bite, right, you've got this..." "Why do you keep folding it?" Ian asks. Nigel looks down at the broken bits of bread, then tries again: "This. I don't want this." He throws the sandwich to the ground, disgusted. "I want large bread!"

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After all the trauma she has been through at the hands of her abusive husband and a racist ex-employer Minny (Octavia Spencer) arrives at her employer Celia Foote to find a beautiful dinner cooked for her as a thank you for everything she has done for Celia and her husband. You see the care that has gone into it as Celia lays everything out on the table, from a mile high meringue to the fried chicken Minny taught her how to make. That table of food gave Minny the strength she needed, the narration explains. She took her babies out from under Leroy and never went back.

AP Photo/Disney DreamWorks II, Dale Robinette

Robert Dupea (Jack Nicholson) just wants some toast to go with his omelette, but the waitress is stubbornly sticking to the diners no substitutions rule. Ill make it as easy for you as I can, goes the famous order. Id like an omelette, plain, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast. No mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce and hold the chicken.

Columbia Pictures

It was a scene that helped propel a revolution in American dining. Il Timpano, a dish inspired by the notoriously tricky-to-make Italian meal, is the star of a moment in Big Night where chef brothers Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Secondo (Stanley Tucci) prepares it as the centrepiece for a feast attended by their rival, Pascal. Goddamit, I should kill you, he screams, throwing his fork down after tasting Il Timpano. This is so f***ing good, I should kill you.

A spokesperson for the BNF suggested 10 foods to eat that will help those feeling vitamin-deprived in the wake of a party-filled festive season.

"We want people to eat a range of fruit and vegetables," the BNF spokesperson told The Independent, "but we have tried to get a balance between suggesting specific foods that are rich in nutrients but are not too expensive or niche".

Put down the kombucha, here's the 10 foods you should be eating in 2022.

Salmon

(Getty Images/iStockphoto

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Salmon provides a range of vitamins and minerals, including omega 3s as well as protein, vitamin D, selenium and iodine.

The BNF recommends having two portions of fish per week, one of which should be an oily type like salmon. Registered nutritionist Daniel O'Shaughnessy, aka The Naked Nutritionist, advises choosing wild salmon where possible because it is richer in omega 3 content and usually pinker, which means it has more of the antioxidant, astaxanthin, which studies show has been found to improve skin health.

Oats

(Getty Images

(Getty Images)

The BNF says that oats are a brilliant source of fibre, providing a specific type called beta glucan, which can help to lower cholesterol.

Incorporate them into your breakfasts if possible, the organisation suggests, either by making porridge or overnight oats.

Lentils

(Getty Images

(Getty Images)

Plant-based protein's like lentils and beans are a rich source of fibre, says the BNF. They also contain iron and folate, which could help boost energy levels.

Author and nutritionist Jo Travers suggests making dahl with your lentils, when you can add plenty of vegetables for additional nutrients.

If you add tumeric, you can benefit from the anti-inflammatory effect as well while enjoying a slow-release carbohydrate meal.

Nuts

(Getty Images/iStockphoto

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Nuts are often lauded by health professionals thanks to their fibre, protein, unsaturated fat content. The BNF notes that they also provide a range of key nutrients like thiamin and iron, which can help with energy and support your immune system.

Go for unsalted varieties and keep portions to a small handful as theyre high in calories, the BNF warns.

O'Shaughnessy suggests opting for walnuts (rich in omega 3) and brazil nuts, which is one of the richest forms of the antioxidant, selenium. "This is also an important nutrient for thyroid health," he adds, "so if you suffer from an under-active thyroid then make sure you are eating at least two brazils nuts per day."

Tomatoes

(Getty Images

(Getty Images)

Tomatoes are often underrated. But the BNF says they are rich in vitamin C and natural phytochemicals like lycopene, the natural pigment that gives tomatoes their vibrant red hue.

As for how to eat them in an interesting way, try thinking beyond caprese salads and pasta sauces. You can add tomatoes to curries, soups, or vegetable bakes.

Apples

(Getty Images

(Getty Images)

Apples provide soluble fibre as well as polyphenols, which can treat digestion problems and help protect you from cardiovascular disease, notes the BNF.

They are best eaten as either a healthy snack, or with porridge for breakfast.

Green vegetables

(Getty Images/iStockphoto

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

We've all heard this one before. But leafy green vegetables are one of the healthiest foods around thanks to the multiple vitamins they contain.

Vegetables like spinach, broccoli and cabbage tend to provide vitamins C and A, folate and potassium, notes the BNF, subsequently boosting immunity, energy and skin health.

Broccoli is also one of the most nutritious, says O'Shaughnessy, because it contains DIM (Di-indolyl Methane), which is a powerful aromatase inhibitor. This means it can support hormone balance.

Plain yoghurt

(Getty Images/iStockphoto

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Plain yoghurt might sound uninspiring but its a great base for snacks and desserts when youre trying to avoid sugary foods, says the BNF.

It also provides protein, calcium, riboflavin and iodine, which plays a vital role in thyroid health.

Choosing plain versions also means you avoid any added sugars. For flavour, try adding dried or fresh fruit, or nuts and seeds.

Whole grains

(Getty Images/iStockphoto

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Wholegrain carbohyrates like bread, pasta, bulgar wheat or freekeh are quick and easy to cook and rich in fibre as well as nutrients like niacin and phosphorus, which helps the body repair tissues and cells.

"These foods give us the energy we need to function without spiking blood sugar," says Travers. "Stick to a fist-size portion at a time."

Citrus fruits

(Getty Images/iStockphoto

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Citrus fruits are in season at this time of year, meaning they are a sustainable choice as well as a healthy one.

Foods like oranges, lemons and grapefruits are rich in vitamin C, says the BNF, and provided folate, which helps convert carbohydrates into energy and is crucial for women during pregnancy.

You can easily add lemons and limes to your diet by adding them to salad dressings or using them to season other dishes, which the BNF says could help you to cut down on salt.

[This article was originally published in 2019]

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10 foods to eat to boost your health in 2022, from apples to salmon - The Independent

In my humble opinion, the Mardis Gras king cake is by far the coolest holiday dessert. Its got a little bit of everything: a fun design, bold colors, a rich history (more on that later).

Made with yeasty cinnamon flavored doughand heaps of symbolismthis regal pastry-cake hybrid is usually oval shaped to resemble a crown, along with tri-colored icing in gold, purple, and green to represent power, justice, and faith.

And lets not forget the piece de resistance: that miniature plastic baby, destined to be found by one lucky individual. Lucky in the sense that finding it means they now have the honor of providing the cake for next year.

However, there wasnt always a baby hiding in the dough. Like most traditions, this one has evolved and adapted over time. And of course, it began with pagans.

During this winter solstice celebration, Saturnthe Roman god of agriculturewould be honored by using the gains of the seasons harvest to make ceremonial cakes. And instead of a miniature baby, one singular fava bean would be placed inside. And whosoever should find the bean would be named king of the day.

Which is a bit odd, considering in ancient tradition they were regarded as omens of death. But other sources note that favas were considered magic and even used for voting. Certainly makes that infamous Hannibal line take on a whole new context

In Roman Catholic tradition, The Epiphany denotes the day when the three kings first saw the baby Jesus. The Kings Cake came to represent this day, even taking on the name of Epiphany Cake.

So it stands to reason that if this sweet treat became associated with the celebration of baby Jesus, then of course the plastic baby was originally intended for such representation, right?

Wrong.

By then, the king cake had already been a prominent Mardi Gras item.

Owner of one of the 20th centurys most famous bakeries, Donald Entringer of McKenzies was approached by a salesman carrying a surplus of tiny porcelain dolls from France, according to food expert Poppy Tooker in an interview with NPR.

"He had a big overrun on them, and so he said to Entringer, 'How about using these in a king cake, Tooker told NPR.

Though a simple case of supply-and-demand isnt terribly exciting, the way this simple concept has advanced to become the dishs golden standard is pretty remarkable.

Plus, the fact that this Louisiana tradition is steeped in history of bawdy hedonism and sacred spiritualism, all with a healthy dose of capitalizing on the comboI mean if thats not New Orleans in a nutshell, I dont know what is.

Pecans, jeweled rings, gold coins, and small charms have also been used. Some bakeries have even made their own customized trinkets. Others have started avoiding placing them inside altogether, attempting to thwart potential lawsuits. Baking with plastic is a tad more frowned upon these days.

Theres the French galette des rois, which is less colorful but oh-so-flaky, topped with a golden paper crown.

Also theres Spanish rosca de reyes, flavored with lots of orange and topped with dried fruit.

Theres even a Greek version, vasilopita, thats very similar to coffee cake. Not that you couldnt have any of these cakes for breakfast, but theres an excuse baked right into this one.

No matter what style you try, or whether or not you find that plastic baby, the Kings cakealong with its festive history and captivating loreare definitely worth celebrating.

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You know, they didn't always put a plastic baby in a king cake. Here's why they did. - Upworthy