Christine Webber, Eastern Daily Press Journalist Profile

Articles

Christine Webber: Being creative helps you stay young

5 days ago | edp24.co.uk | Christine Webber

How to stay young at heart - get creative! (Image: Pixabay) How creative are you feeling? Maybe you’re the sort of person who has plenty of skill in that direction and enjoys making clothes, or cakes, or doing woodwork, or writing poetry, or painting, or drawing. On the other hand, perhaps you have neglected this side of your personality because of looking after grandchildren, or travelling, or dealing with ill health, or simply because of growing older.
We all need to count our blessings... especially us baby boomers

1 week ago | edp24.co.uk | Christine Webber

One of the numbers that cropped up regularly on shows like Family Favourites was "Count Your Blessings". Such songs seem pretty cheesy now, I know, but the sentiments they expressed were important and remain relevant today. I was thinking about "counting your blessings" some ten days ago when I gave a talk on positive ageing at the historic Church of St Peter in Haveringland to a wonderful group of people.
Opinion: We should all pay more attention to our gut health as we age

2 weeks ago | edp24.co.uk | Christine Webber

I’ve come to believe this is yet another stage in the ageing process, and yet, it’s rarely mentioned to us by doctors – or in magazine or newspaper articles – at least not as often as all the stuff about classic ageing illnesses such as stroke, heart disease, dementia and type 2 diabetes. But these difficulties, which include acid reflux, indigestion, less predictable bowel habits and sudden intolerances of foods we have happily eaten and enjoyed for years, are definitely a thing.
9 positions to make female orgasm easier during sex

3 weeks ago | womenshealth.com.au | Christine Webber

When it comes to partnered sex, reaching orgasm can be, well, hard. That’s especially true if you’re a woman: a new study, published in Sexual Medicine by Oxford University Press in 2024, found women’s rate of orgasm during sex ranged from 46% to 58%. Men’s rate of orgasm was up to 30% higher, ranging from 70% to 85%.
Opinion: Having a good circle of friends can keep us healthy and happy

3 weeks ago | edp24.co.uk | Christine Webber

Paul Barnes (Image: Bill Smith) In 2009, I read a report from the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Their headline was: "Loneliness is as bad for us as smoking." It also said that people who live quite isolated lives generally have poorer health – as well as exercise less and comfort-eat more – than those with a lively circle of family and friends. This was big news back then.
Christine Webber: How to tell if you're drinking too much

1 month ago | edp24.co.uk | Christine Webber

Christine Webber's column on how we should approach alcohol (Image: Newsquest) As a health journalist, I’m on the receiving end of newsletters from research bodies and support organisations representing every type of malady you can think of. Interestingly, in the past few months, I’ve had an unusually large number of notifications about the impact of alcohol on our bodies and minds.
Opinion: Humans are better than any other species at walking

1 month ago | edp24.co.uk | Christine Webber

Why walking is the best exercise for body and mind (Image: Pixabay) From time to time in this column, I write about something I’m reading which is making a big impact on me. The last time, I think, was when I mentioned Dr Peter Attia’s Outlive, which is the best book on positive ageing I’ve ever read. My latest find is a slim paperback called In Praise of Walking by neuroscientist Shane O’Mara, who is professor of experimental brain research at Trinity College, Dublin.
The importance of older people finding purpose in life

1 month ago | edp24.co.uk | Christine Webber

The importance of having a sense of purpose in later life (Image: Pixabay) About 30 years ago, my late father used to come and stay with me from time to time and I realise, with the benefit of hindsight, that I didn’t pay enough attention to how he was feeling. I often think about those days now that I’m around the age he was then.
The benefits of a holiday can last for 43 days, research finds

1 month ago | edp24.co.uk | Christine Webber

Why holidays are more important than we realise as we get older (Image: Pixabay) The recent spell of gorgeous weather has been marvellous, hasn’t it? Sunshine makes everything jollier. It also tends to focus our minds on the possibility of taking some sort of trip. So, I was interested last week to read a report on the British Psychological Society website which looked at an analysis of 32 different studies on the benefits of holidays.
Opinion: A speed awareness course changed this 76-year-old driver's life

2 months ago | edp24.co.uk | Christine Webber

I went to a speed awareness course and it changed my driving forever (Image: Denise Bradley) Some weeks ago, I drove to Ipswich feeling irritated with myself. For the first time in 56 years of driving I’d been caught doing 35 mph in a 30 mph zone and as a consequence I was en route to a speed awareness course. I had no one to blame but myself as I got distracted on the day and forget the speed limit. Now I had to do my penance for that, and I was worried what it might entail.