Cooking & Lifestyle Blog

Over the next few weeks, Expert Advice, Made Easy is going to take a look at some common problems with your bike and show you how you can deal with them with easy to follow step-by-step instructions. Remember, the more you look after your bike and perform small maintenance on it (before and after you use it), the better condition it will stay in, the less punctures you will get, and the less you will end up taking it to the bike repair shop. That will save you time and money!

It's that time of year when nervous hands will be opening exam results envelopes, hoping that those extra hours spent playing Grand Theft Auto instead of revising ecosystem nutrient cycles hasn't ruined their chances of getting into Molecular Biology at Cardiff.

Vinegar has been used for all sorts of things for thousands of years, including industrial, medical and domestic uses, some of which are still used today. It is the oldest storable food and because it can be stored for an almost unlimited period, it is the only food without an expiry date. The ancient Babylonians around 5,000 BC were among the first to recognize the versatile nature of vinegar and used it as both a preserver and a condiment. They were also the first to flavour vinegar with herbs and spices and use it in their cooking. I will be looking at some fantastic culinary tricks using vinegar, as well as exploring the best ways to use it around the kitchen and home for cleaning and some ways it can benefit your health. It really is surprising how much you can use vinegar for!

So you've established yourself as a 'runner'. You're healthy and happy with your progress, but what if you want to take things a little further? Let our expert advice made easyhelp outline the ways in which you can develop your running; this be be via your personal health or by entering competitions – the world is your oyster!

As your running improves and you begin to go for longer distances, a few additional gadgets will become increasingly important. Any run longer than an hour or so is going to require hydration. This means water, which in turn means you need a way of carrying a water bottle. This might seem straightforward, but the array of bottles available can be bewildering. Similarly, ways of carrying running gels and bars for half-marathons and marathons are amazingly diverse, and when it comes to backpacksthere is also a multitude of options.

Many new runners are reluctant to head out when the seasons change for the worse, but running on a cold, bright winter’s day has its own charms. Even running in rain and snow can be hugely invigorating and, as long as your clothes are fit for the weather, you will quickly discover the joy of year-round training. Besides being comfortable, winter running gear should serve two purposes: it should keep you at just the right temperature and keep the weather on the outside. 

Consider these helpful pieces of advice from our experts, ensuring your running experience is safe and enjoyable.

Water accounts for about 60 per cent of body weight in adult males and 50–55 per cent in females. Lean muscles and the brain are around 75 per cent water, blood is 81 per cent and even bones are 22 per cent. Water fuels every part of the body and, without sufficient water, things can quickly go wrong.

Running is a great way to stay in shape because it's simple and doesn't require much set up. That said, in intense summer heat it can be hard to find the motivation to go outside when you're worried about burning out and become drenched in sweat. Appropriate clothing for summer running is key to combatting this. With light clothing and accessories to carry water, you will find yourself a lot more comfortable when out in the sun.