Mulled white wine, micro walks and six more of this week's good news stories
As we draw ever nearer to winter, the need for sunshine in our lives is growing stronger.
Sadly, the weather hasn't been especially inspiring across the UK over the last week. From dreary grey skies to fog-filled mornings and long periods of rain, we've had to look elsewhere to get our positivity fix.
Don't worry, we've got you with our curated list of the most positive and uplifting news stories this week to help you start your weekend with a bit of pep in your step.
🍷 Mulled wine's had an update
A traditional mulled wine is a festive must-have, but this year, new and unusual variations of mulled wine are starting to emerge.
White wine and rosé are typically thought of as summer wines, but as retailers dip their ladles into new territories, Brits might just find themselves pleasantly surprised by the mulled white wine and mulled rosés on offer.
🚶♀️ 'Micro-walks' are a quick fitness trend we can get behind
Researchers have found that ‘micro-walks’ can be beneficial to health and even burn more calories than we might think. A study by researchers at the University of Milan found that breaking up a walk into smaller bursts of 10 to 30 seconds uses more energy than continuously walking the same distance.
They said the study showed the importance of breaking up long periods of sitting with brief strolls, which can “improve health”.
🍔 A McDonald’s fan favourite returns
McDonald’s lovers rejoiced this week as the fast food giant brought the McRib back to menus across the country after nearly a decade of absence.
The pork-based McRib gained cult status amongst fans, but was removed from menus in 2005, much to their chagrin. However, when McDonald’s announced its return, eager eaters flocked to their nearest restaurant chains to grab a bite of their favourite barbecue sauce-smothered burger.
💰 One woman's journey from near-death to millionaire
A 66-year-old woman named Desiree Kent is telling her inspirational life story with the release of her self-published book, And Then.
It details how she was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer, which led to her having to sell her family home to cover health and debt costs. But when she won £1million on the National Lottery, Home vowed she would write a book about her story - and 10 years later, she’s done exactly that.
🩺 Encouraging new cervical cancer treatment regime revealed
Doctors have hailed a new treatment regime for cervical cancer that reduces the risk of dying by 40%.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with around 3,200 new cases and 800 deaths in the UK each year. But scientists said the new treatment regime is the "biggest gain in survival since the adoption of chemoradiation in 1999" and will allow women to "get back to their normal lives relatively quickly".
🛍️ All we want for Christmas is an M&S Christmas pyjama set
M&S has unveiled its matching Christmas pyjama sets, and we're utterly obsessed.
Starting from a very pocket-friendly £8, the retailer's collection includes classic checks and Christmas motifs for men, women, kids and even the family dog. Perfect for getting cosy over the Yuletide season, there's plenty of fabrics on offer, from super soft modal to silky satin.
Read more about health and wellness:
Five vitamin D-rich foods to help keep SAD at bay (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
Mental wellbeing is not just beneficial for you – it can also lead to lower healthcare costs (The Conversation, 5-min read)
Dog groomer turns his poodle into a skeleton for Halloween (SWNS, 2-min read)
