Nikki Osman
Verified
Features Director, Women's Health UK
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Articles by Nikki Osman
I discovered ‘healthy hedonism’ at We Out Here – and it changed how I think about wellness
I’m lying on the grass, the melody of the harp suspending me in a state somewhere between savasana and sleep. On the bank below, swimmers wade out into the river in search of respite from the August sun. And somewhere in the distance there’s the sound of drumming, the repetitive beat only committing me deeper to this soporific state.
'I saw the other side of Sicily - and it’s every bit as enchanting as Palermo'
Perhaps it was unimaginative. It had only been nine months since we last set foot on Italian soil. Back in August, the earth was Umbrian - a week exploring the medieval hilltop villages of Assisi and Panacale. And yet, when we found ourselves on a new nine month timeline - one that would put a hard stop on our mini-breaking for the foreseeable - there was only one place we wanted to go. And few places cater to child-free grown ups quite like Sicily. Isn’t everyone going to Sicily right now?
The burnout fix that isn’t therapy – how somatics became the new workplace survival skill
‘I never “burned out”, but every day felt like I was running for my life,’ the 52-year-old CEO of workplace wellbeing consultancy service The Wellbeing Lab reflects. But on the floor of her Melbourne home that morning, she had permission to put her drive down. ‘That phrase was so shocking – and then such a relief. I don’t think I’d ever been anywhere where ambition had no place; where I could just be in my body.
The burnout fix that isn’t therapy – how somatics became the new workplace survival skill
Your ambition has no place here.’ The words landed in Michelle McQuaid’s body with a thud. In a career spanning three decades – during which time she’d worked for Price Waterhouse Coopers in New York, earned an MA at Harvard and founded her own company – her drive had been a constant companion. It had also driven her to her lowest ebb. ‘I never “burned out”, but every day felt like I was running for my life,’ the 52-year-old CEO of workplace wellbeing consultancy service The Wellbeing Lab reflects.
'I stayed at an olive oil hotel. This is why autumn is the perfect time to go'
ESSSSHHHH. I'm sitting at a table in a room that wouldn’t look out of place on an interiors shoot - making noises I wouldn’t normally make in public. Outside, the Umbrian hills roll into Lake Trasimeno, creating the kind of vista that makes you want to pen a poem (or an Instagram caption). But the view can wait. Taking another sip, I let the liquid coat my tongue before bringing my top set of teeth to meet the bottom, opening wide and sucking in air until the liquid hits my tonsils.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch8 Turns Wellness Tracking Into a Precision Health Tool
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch8 Turns Wellness Tracking Into a Precision Health Tool
Of all the wellness tribes, few are more entrenched in their approach – nor more dedicated to their pursuit of it – than the trackers. They're still wiping the sleep from their eyes when they're clocking their hours in REM and they're more likely to know their daily step count than their partner's phone number. But regardless of your personal perspective on the merits of monitoring, the act of optimising your health using data just got a whole lot more interesting.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch8 tracks antioxidant levels, ectopic beats and more - here's what to expect
Of all the wellness tribes, few are more entrenched in their approach – nor more dedicated to their pursuit of it – than the trackers. They're still wiping the sleep from their eyes when they're clocking their hours in REM, they're more likely to know their daily step count than their partner's phone number, and they'll turn down plans using the phrase 'I'm in my luteal phase'.
'Why I quit drinking at 36, the age research says your lifestyle catches up with you'
Spare a thought for the 36-year-olds. Not yet gifted the year of parties that accompany your friends turning 40, still dusting ourselves off after falling from the fertility cliff and officially – according to some definitions, shared with me by my sister – in midlife. So far, so unremarkable. So when the age was splashed across newspapers this week, I was pleased to see it enjoying a moment in the April sun. Only, it wasn’t quite the good-news story I was hoping for.
Getting back to nature at Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape in Bali
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Getting back to nature at Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape in Bali
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Getting back to nature at Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape in Bali
They say you can tell a lot about a person from the items on their Christmas list and topping mine was a pair of Loop earplugs. The cortisol-spiking shriek of a copulating fox has the same effect on my sleep stats as a 6pm Americano and if it were up to me, watching TikToks at full volume on public transport would be on the diagnostic criteria for psychopathy.
The Samsung S25 has landed – and it wants to optimise your health
Jump to: Personal assistant in your pocket Next-level health insights Tailored 'Tips' and motivational metrics Samsung S25 release date What terms are you on with AI? Perhaps you’ve asked Chat GPT to compose an email on a day when your neurons are firing slower than noughties dial-up. Or maybe you’ve asked Claude how much protein there is in a bowl of overnight oats (6g on its own; 30g if you add a scoop of protein powder). However you’re using AI right now, things just got a lot more interesting.
How many of your healthy food staples are actually processed
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The number of people to invite for brunch, according to science
When Sally Rooney published Conversations with friends in 2017, it wasn’t intended as an educational text. Six years and one pandemic later, all signs point to a non-fiction equivalent flying off the shelves. Research into our post-pandemic social skills suggests we’re a little rusty. A Japanese study published in May 2022 found that Covid reduced opportunities for small talk, in a way that impacted our ability to socialise.
Everything you need to know about bloat-beating food plan, the Low FODMAP Diet
Antidepressant prescriptions have doubled in the UK over the decade from 2008-18, according to the latest data. Within this reality is contained another: namely, that the number of people in this country who may attempt to come off the medication at some point has never been higher. Here, WH Senior Editor Roisín Dervish-O'Kane shares her experiences with this under-discussed issue.
What's next for the Women's Health Strategy? We went to Downing Street to find out...
Cast your mind back to last summer. When the unseasonal conditions concerning you were the temperatures causing pavements to melt, rather than freeze, and the source of the lingering croak in your throat wasn’t the office bug doing the rounds, but screaming at the telly as the Lionesses stormed to Euros victory. You’d be forgiven for missing the document that landed on a Government website on the penultimate day of August.
I tried digital hypnotherapy... Could it work for you too? Original
The comforting cadence of my best friend’s cackle bounces around the garden walls and into the valley beyond. I reach for the glass on the table in front of me and take a sip. The rosé is cold, and as it slides down my throat, I feel my shoulders slacken. We’re in the garden of my parent’s house in Wales - a copy-and-paste holiday my friends and I take once a year. But my subconscious spends more time here than annual leave and adulting allow.
I tried digital hypnotherapy. Could it work for you too? Original
The comforting cadence of my best friend’s cackle bounces around the garden walls and into the valley beyond. I reach for the glass on the table in front of me and take a sip. The rosé is cold, and as it slides down my throat, I feel my shoulders slacken. We’re in the garden of my parent’s house in Wales - a copy-and-paste holiday my friends and I take once a year. But my subconscious spends more time here than annual leave and adulting allow.
I trained as a Reiki healer. This is why I rate it
I trained as a Reiki healer. This is why I rate itCavan Images - Getty Images My hands are hovering inches above her abdomen when her body spontaneously spasms. The woman is flat on her back on a massage table and the sunlight streaming through the window casts us in a glow that could almost be described as divine. I’m performing Reiki - a verb that implies a level of expertise I emphatically don’t possess.
I trained as a Reiki healer. This is why I rate it
My hands are hovering inches above her abdomen when her body spontaneously spasms. The woman is flat on her back on a massage table and the sunlight streaming through the window casts us in a glow that could almost be described as divine. I’m performing Reiki - a verb that implies a level of expertise I emphatically don’t possess. My guinea pig is my tutor, Sushma Sagar, whose mid-century furniture-filled flat overlooking London’s Victoria Park doubles as a classroom on this mid-summer Sunday.
This adults-only sustainable retreat is the perfect Autumn mini-break
If there’s one thing more appealing than holing up in your own home right now, it's holing up in one where you’re not paying the heating bill. As excuses for booking a mini-break go, saving on energy is up there with giving the cat some ‘me time’. But throw in the bath you don’t have, the dishwasher you don’t fill and the Deliveroo you don’t order and - in this economy - you’re not far off breaking even.
This adults-only sustainable retreat is the perfect Autumn mini-break
Blyth Rise Stays review: an adult-only retreat Blyth Rise Stays If there’s one thing more appealing than holing up in your own home right now, it's holing up in one where you’re not paying the heating bill. As excuses for booking a mini-break go, saving on energy is up there with giving the cat some ‘me time’. But throw in the bath you don’t have, the dishwasher you don’t fill and the Deliveroo you don’t order and - in this economy - you’re not far off breaking even.
Borscht with paprika sour cream
Granted, on the surface, Borscht doesn’t seem the most likely contender for a date-night menu. After all, spilling something bright red down yourself is highly likely to kill your game. But thanks to its high levels of boron – a mineral thought to be key in the production of human sex hormones – beetroot has been considered something of an aphrodisiac since Roman times.
Raw carrot cake
16 celebs who have spoken candidly about cancer Ariana puts a twist on her signature eyeliner look 23 thigh exercises that will level up your leg day How a 'perfect body' affects Brits' mental health We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. That old wives’ tale about carrots helping you see in the dark? Turns out there’s some truth to it.
Squash and sage risotto
If, like us, you have bad memories of being made to dress like a pumpkin every October (thanks, Mum), try tapping into another autumnal hero and add some in-season butternut squash to your shopping basket instead. Studies have shown that the nutrients in butternut squash contain anti-inflammatory properties, potentially helping to reduce your risk of inflammation-related disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and IBS.
Tofu chilli soup
'I did the plank every day for 2 weeks' 'I tried a splits stretching routine for 3 weeks' A thigh gap isn't 'healthy', here's why 10 face washes that'll soothe your dry skin We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Starting to feel a chill in the air? Ease yourself back into soup and stew season with this warming tofu and chilli bowl.
Fruity amaranth porridge
Slim thick: An expert guide to the body term The curious rise of the platonic life partner This £12.40 Lash and Brow Serum has gone viral Huge significance of Kate Middleton's pearl choker We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Not quite ready to let go of summer yet? We’ve got just the breakfast for that. A great alternative to trusty oats when you feel the need to mix things up, this fruity number puts superstar grain amaranth in the spotlight instead.
Can a bereavement be a bridge? Experts explain estrangement and grief
At first glance, the scene looked like something out of a bygone era. Or at least 2018. Mourners were gathered outside Windsor Castle on Saturday when they were joined by four people who haven’t been seen publicly together since 2020. Dressed in customary Black, the new Prince and Princess of Wales, together with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, looked at floral tributes laid by members of the public for the late Queen before greeting mourners. The walk around only lasted a reported 40 minutes.
A Great Ormond Street psychologist on how to talk to children about the Queen's death Original
Unsettled. Overwhelmed. Discombobulated. If you’ve been surprised by the intensity of your emotions since hearing news of the Queen’s death, you’re in good company. News of the 96-year-old’s death – which has brought to an end the longest reign in British history - has made newsreaders misty-eyed and caused people to flock to her residences in their thousands to pay their respects with flowers or simply to commune in their grief. But we aren’t the only ones feeling uneasy right now.
Garlic chicken with giant couscous
Sure, giant versions of things are fun. But that supersized couscous you see before you? It’s actually an unexpected source of protein, providing just over 3g per serving. Pair it with chicken breast, a protein powerhouse with around 30g per portion, and you’ve got a brilliant macro-meeting dish. Serve it up post-gym sesh to support those muscles and save the leftovers for lunch the next day – you’ll have more than enough as this recipe serves 6.
Coconut bread with Seville orange marmalade and Greek yoghurt
Today's Top Stories We tried the TikTok rose sex toy 16 celebs who have spoken candidly about cancer Can yoga really help with my weight loss goals? 'I did CrossFit for 30 days, here's what happened' Demi Moore, 59, looks stronger than ever in bikini We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. If you’re in the market for a breakfast that tastes like dessert, then this one’s for you.
Grilled mackerel, beetroot, and apple slaw wrap
Omega-3? Check. Fruits and veggies? Check. Packed full of antioxidants? Check again. A perfect summer lunch, this tasty wrap is low in calories, full of heart-helping fatty acids from the mackerel, and the beets are loaded with micronutrients and minerals. Think of it as a real wrap star.
Beetroot and almond dip
With al-fresco lunches in full swing, we’re looking for ways to mix up those picky bits, starting with our dips. Chock full of nitrates that dilate blood vessels to help bring down blood pressure, beets are heart-helping heroes. Pair them with almonds which are rich in antioxidants that fight off cell damage and ageing, and you’ve got yourself a snack that’s as healthy as it is delicious. Chips ‘n’ dip just got a glow up.
You can now get Botox at John Lewis as they announce partnership with The Cavendish Clinic
If you needed further proof that the injectables conversation has migrated from water cooler to brunch-fodder in recent years, hear this: you can now get your forehead frozen while you buy your bed linen. This week, John Lewis announced a partnership with The Cavendish Clinic - a leading medical aesthetics company - which will make Botox, along with a range of other injectables and skincare treatments - available in stores across the UK.
Could yoghurt be the key to treating anxiety?
Neuroscience is beginning to hone in on the power of psychobiotics over the mind-gut connection. But is the key to combating mental illness already in your fridge? In the dark depths of my underwear drawer, behind the date-night bra and the grippy socks, sits a pack of pills. Popping one with my coffee is as much a part of my morning routine as the double-snooze and the Radio 4 Today programme – it is muscle memory.
Are You Getting Enough Awe-gasms?
Put yourself in front of something truly awesome and you’ll feel the mind-body benefits, says the science Some facial expressions are best left in your childhood. Squeezing your eyes shut while twirling your index finger inside your left nostril; sticking out your bottom lip in the direction of the parent who just reprimanded you for 'showing off'. But recent research suggests there’s one expression that is worth resurrecting.
Can Acting Like An Extrovert Make You Happier?
Extroverts are more contented than their introverted peers. Can you co-opt their habits without compromising your identity? Lilly RoadstonesGetty Images The slam of a door that signals the arrival of solitude is so delicious, it deserves a Danish word. I was on mute long before there was a button for the privilege and I feel the same way about digitally-arranged ‘meets up’ as I feel about tuna mayonnaise (queasy). I’m telling you this by way of telling you that I’m introvert.
The 'Good Enough' Mindset: How One Writer Broke Up With Perfectionism
By the time you read this, there will be upwards of nine versions of this piece on my laptop. Tracked changes would reveal the addition then subtraction of countless commas and clauses that neither improved nor detracted from the quality of the version you’re reading now. And, were it not for the concept of ‘deadlines’, I’d have been tinkering with it until mid-March. Until it’s…right. Of course, what I really mean but don't want to say is that I want it to be perfect.
Selling Sunset Star, Maya Vander, Shares the Tragic News That She Has Suffered a Stillbirth
Photo credit: Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman - Getty Images *Content warning: baby loss* On Friday 10 December, heartbreakingly, Selling Sunset star Maya Vander shared that she has suffered a stillbirth. Posting to her Instagram page, the reality star wrote: 'Yesterday was the hardest day of my life. I had a stillbirth at 38 weeks. I always heard of it but never imagined I’ll be part of the statistics. Instead of delivering a baby, I get to go home with a memory box… I do not wish this on anyone.
Fermented Foods: Worth The Hype?
Got a question for the Women's Health Collective? Send us a DM @womenshealthcollectiveuk and we'll call on our experts. We're getting your questions answered. Carly from Amersham asks: 'Fermented foods: worth the hype?' Expert: Laura Tilt, registered dietitian and health writer You’d be forgiven for thinking fermented foods are new. Kombucha, kefir and kimchi are seen as heath food stables in the wellness world. But fermentation has deep roots.
Diet or Exercise: Which Is Better For Weight Loss?
Photo credit: DjordjeDjurdjevic - Getty Images Got a question for the Women's Health Collective? Send us a DM @womenshealthcollectiveuk and we'll call on our experts. We're getting your questions answered.
What’s More Effective For Weight Loss: Diet or Exercise?
DjordjeDjurdjevicGetty Images Got a question for the Women's Health Collective? Send us a DM @womenshealthcollectiveuk and we'll call on our experts. We're getting your questions answered. Amy from Woking asks: 'What’s more effective for weight loss: diet or exercise?' Expert: Kathryn Stewart, sports dietitian We know that you know that the key to healthy, sustainable weight loss lies in both the foods you choose to fuel your body with and the movement that makes up your workout week.
The Science Behind CBD Skincare Original
Got a question for the Women's Health Collective? Send us a DM @womenshealthcollectiveuk and we'll call on our experts. We're getting your questions answered. India from Chiswick asks: ‘Does CBD skincare really work?’ Expert: Shabir Daya, resident pharmacist at Victoria Heath Cannabidiol – the compound found in the hemp plant – has emerged from a haze of confusion surrounding its psychoactive impact (note: it doesn’t have one) to become one of the prolific ingredients in beauty.
4 Signs Your Redness Is Actually Rosacea
Got a question for the Women's Health Collective? Send us a DM @womenshealthcollectiveuk and we'll call on our experts. We're getting your questions answered. Nathalie from Cumbria asks: 'How Do I Know If I Have Rosacea?' Expert: Dr Johanna Ward, founder of skincare brand ZENii This is such a common question for the simple reason that it can be difficult to differentiate rosacea - a common skin condition affecting around one in 20 people in the UK - from normal redness or flushing.
Do I Need to Take a Calcium Supp During Veganuary?
Got a question for the Women's Health Collective? Send us a DM @womenshealthcollectiveuk and we'll call on our experts. We're getting your questions answered. Talia from Stockport asks: 'Do I need to take a calcium supp during Veganuary?' Expert: Sam Gould, registered dietitian and founder of samgouldrd.com Firstly, full marks for being calcium-conscious. Now, let’s start at the beginning: what is calcium, and why do you need it?
Is It Safe To Exercise With A Cold?
Got a question for the Women's Health Collective? Send us a DM @womenshealthcollectiveuk and we'll call on our experts. We're getting your questions answered. Sajal from Wimbledon asks: 'Is it safe to exercise with a cold?' Expert: William Alexander, exercise scientist and physiologist There are certain cold-based behaviours that are well and truly behind us. Coughing on a train, for example. Or sneezing in a communal kitchen. But there are others that aren’t.
Will A Crash Diet Wreck My Metabolism?
Martin BarraudGetty Images Got a question for the Women's Health Collective? Send us a DM @womenshealthcollectiveuk and we'll call on our experts. We're getting your questions answered.
What Do You Need To Know Before Signing Up To A Marathon?
Got a question for the Women's Health Collective? Send us a DM @womenshealthcollectiveuk and we'll call on our experts. We're getting your questions answered. Ginny from Camden asks: ‘I want to run a marathon: what do I need to know?’ The Expert: Rebecca Gentry, Peloton Tread instructor. For starters, well done for setting yourself this challenge. Approached with the right mindset, running a marathon can be an incredibly rewarding fitness feat.
Should We All Be Eating Seasonally?
Got a question for the Women's Health Collective? Send us a DM @womenshealthcollectiveuk and we'll call on our experts. We're getting your questions answered. Jessamy from Worthing asks: ‘I keep reading about seasonal eating. Is this something I should be doing?’ Expert: Laura Tilt, registered dietitian and founder of tiltnutrition.co.uk Seasonal eating: it’s on the lips of foodies everywhere, as well as every farm shop chalkboard. But are there any health benefits?
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