Latest news with #Vegan
Tom's Guide
23-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Side sleepers will love Avocado's latest organic mattress — made from luxury wool and alpaca
As an organic mattress fanatic, I'm always excited to see a new model launch. Especially when it's from the star brand of our best organic mattress guide, Avocado. Avocado is known for creating high-quality, luxury mattresses that incorporate natural materials like wool, cotton and latex. It also offers 'specialty' mattresses for specific needs, like the Vegan mattress. Release date: July 2025Sizes: 5 (twin XL to Cal king)Type: Innerspring woolHeight: 11"Feel: MediumPrice: from $1,799 at Avocado This past week, Avocado has dropped two new mattresses and the one that piqued my interest is the Avocado Wool Mattress, a latex-free addition to its 'specialty' range for those sensitive to latex. Avocado states that the whole bed is GOTS-certified organic material, which is unique considering this certification is usually only given to specific materials used within a mattress. It's also a surprise considering it's an innerspring mattress with over 1,500 independently flexing ergonomic coils. While the Avocado Green mattress, which features in this year's best mattresses in a box guide, has a medium-firm feel, this wool mattress is designed for side and combination sleepers with a more plush medium feel, thanks to the layers of wool and alpaca. Avocado scores it as a 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. So, let's take a closer look at what this new latex-free, organic mattress from Avocado has to offer. The Avocado Wool Mattress: from $1,799 at AvocadoAs you'd expect from a luxury organic mattress, the Wool Mattress sits at a high price point. Starting from $1,799, you can expect high-quality, LA craftsmanship from premium materials such as wool, alpaca and cotton. A queen is $2,499 with no current discount available, although we hope to see it included in the regular 10-15% off Avocado mattress sale that we see during major sale events. You'll also get a 25-year warranty, a 1 year sleep trial and free shipping. As you might expect, the Avocado Wool Mattress has a premium price to match its luxury materials. Below are the full prices for each size option: It's important to note, however, that the Avocado Wool Mattress is no more expensive than other top organic mattresses, although it is probably at the higher end of the scale. For example, a queen Naturepedic Concerto mattress is $2,799 at Naturpedic while a queen PlushBeds Botanical Bliss is considerably cheaper at $1,849. So, I'd say the Avocado Wool Mattress sits somewhere in the middle. At this premium price point, we would expect great benefits and Avocado doesn't disappoint in this regard. Every purchase is protected by 25-year warranty, a full year to sleep on and try the mattress and free shipping. This mattress boasts a range of impressive mattress certifications, including GOTS, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, EWG Verified®, MADE SAFE®, GREENGUARD Gold, and Formaldehyde-Free. It's a truly organic mattress that is non-toxic for clean sleep. So what does this mean? You can expect minimal to zero off-gassing, extremely durable materials and a responsibly, sustainably sourced bed. But comfort is important too, and looking at this design, I don't think you'll be disappointed. The mattress incorporates an advanced pressure-point system for ergonomic back support. The two layers of coils are designed to align the spine and keep you well supported no matter your sleeping position, and a layer of microcoils improves the responsiveness of the bed. Aside from this, layers of wool and alpaca should create a plush surface that you can sink into just enough to feel cozy, but remain elevated. And, thanks to this structure and the natural materials, we expect temperature regulation to be excellent. The added airflow between the coil and microcoil layers as well as the moisture wicking wool means you should stay dry and cool night long. I expect this mattress to be best suited to side sleepers. It might be too plush for stomach and back sleepers, although firmness is subjective. As we mentioned, it's handcrafted and needle-tufted by hand, meaning expert attention to detail has been paid. Ultimately, this mattress looks like it could rival even the best luxury mattresses of the year.
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘I'm so happy' cry Home Bargains shoppers after finding popular skincare product at a huge 80% off the normal price
BEAUTY LOVERS are going wild after spotting a cult skincare brand being flogged for just a few quid at Home Bargains. TikTok user Dani, from the account Emilia and Dani's Diary, shared her joy after stumbling across a shelf full of viral goodies at a fraction of their original price. 2 The bargain retailer was spotted selling Mallows Beauty products. The TikToker said: 'I've been wanting to try this brand for ages, so I'm so happy I've found it here." Mallows Beauty, the self-love promoting, vegan skincare brand is usually stocked in the likes of Boots, Superdrug and Urban Outfitters. But Dani spotted the pastel-packaged products in Home Bargains for as little as £2.99. Among the steals were Mallows Beauty's Body Butter, priced at £3.99 instead of the recommended retail price (RRP) of £20.95 – that's more than 80 per cent off. Also on the shelf was the Watermelon Body Scrub for £3.99, down from £19.95. She also found the Glow Acid Body Cleanser for £2.99 (RRP £19.95), the Scalp Saviour Scrub for £2.49 (down from £19.95), and the Scalp Serum for just £2.99, which is a serious cut from its usual £14.95 price tag. Another standout was the Foaming Pineapple Enzyme Toner, slashed from £22.50 to just £3.49. Only three of the items are listed on the retailer's website so you'll have to pop into your local store to find the rest. Excited shoppers rushed to the comments to share their joy at the savings, with one saying: 'What a bargain!' Another admitted: 'I bought two of each!' Dollar Tree shopper spots all skincare products that went viral on TikTok – there's even a $46 scrub for just $1.25 Mallows Beauty has become a fan favourite for products like the Unicorn Shave Butter and Pineapple Enzyme Peel Mask. The bargain isn't a one-off either. Home Bargains has been on a roll recently when it comes to slashing prices on big-name beauty products. Just last week, it knocked a luxury shampoo down to £4.99, which is a staggering 86 per cent off its usual £35.50 RRP. The high street giant was revealed to be selling its Glossie millionaire mist for just £3.99 in April. Described as a "great dupe" by customers, the mist was a cheaper version of products going at £25 intended to infuse hair with keratin and give it bounce through healthier strands. Beauty fans were also excited by Home Bargains' discount on luxury hair product Nioxin, that was put on sale for almost 90 per cent less than its usual price. It was also on sale in April for just £2.99, from other retailers selling for £24. The 99p Home Bargains buy celebs love It seems there's a Home Bargains buy that people say works wonders for a cold or a little at-home TLC and it's so popular even celebs are buying it. TOWIE star Bobby Norris is the latest famous face to rave about the 99p product - Nuage's vapour bath salts. "Now when I tell you these sell out quick, this is what we're at," he said in a video on his TikTok page, turning the camera to show that there were only a few left on the shelf. "It's like locusts have been!" He urged people to "run like a thief in the night" to their local Home Bargains, calling the product a "game changer". How to save money at Home Bargains You'll want to first start by looking in the right place in your local Home Bargains store. Tom Church, retail expert from deals website previously told The Sun the best offers are usually by the front door in a bid to lure you in. Next, it's worth keeping an eye out for Mrs Hinch products which are extremely popular and often reduced in price, he said. Shop at the right time too, which according to one current worker is first thing in the morning, when stock is fresh and you're likely to get the best pick of products. How to bag a bargain SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain… Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with. Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks. Sales are when you can pick up a real steal. Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on. Sign up to mailing lists and you'll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use and are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer. Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping. Bargain hunters can also use B&M's scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out. And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you'll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
Eater
25-06-2025
- Business
- Eater
5 Recent Chicago's Restaurant Closures to Know
Chicago's restaurant scene is rapidly changing, and the city is used to seeing places come and go. It's a tough real estate market out there, and the rising costs of doing business do not favor restaurant owners. Sometimes the grind gets too much, other times it's time to pull the curtain on a long run. Of course, customers may not always love the food that's being served either. The Shutter, a regular roundup of Chicago's restaurant closures, is your resource to find out what's on its way out. The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to chicago@ . BUCKTOWN— Mable's Table has closed at 1655 W. Cortland Street. In a world where 'neighborhood gem' is cliché, the phrase is actually applicable in this case. The restaurant opened in 2017, filling the big shoes left after the 22-year run of Jane's ended in the same space. Saturday, June 21, was Mable's last day of service. GARFIELD RIDGE— After 26 years, Oak Mill Bakery has closed its South Harlem Avenue location. While the bakery at 5747 S. Harlem is closed, its four suburban locations, including one in Harwood Heights on North Harlem, remain open. JEFFERSON PARK— Gale Street Inn, a neighborhood restaurant that epitomized North Side barbecue thanks to its ribs, is closed. The sudden announcement ended a 62-year run across the street from the CTA's Jefferson Park Blue Line Stop. Gale Street's ownership blamed challenges finding workers, and media reports began shifting blame at Chicago's move to ban the tipped minimum wage, which goes into effect on July 1. But as it's hard to predict the ordinance's impact other than to see how it impacted Washington, D.C. Perhaps Gale Street's closure is a referendum on Chicago's barbecue scene, which is marketably different from six decades ago. Lem's Bar-B-Q just won a James Beard Award. Smoque BBQ is in the headlines over a trademark dispute with Weber Grills. Gale Street was also trapped in the past. Who can forget their '90s spots on sports radio, bragging about never playing hip hop in their dining room? Regardless, Gale Street was a pillar of the Northwest Side community since 1963 and a place for special occasions, including first dates, birthdays, and graduation parties. WEST TOWN— Vegans were dealt a big blow as Liberation Kitchen has closed at 2054 W. Grand Avenue. Operated by Vegan food company Upton's Naturals, Liberation Kitchen has served the public for 12 years with veganized versions of Chicago dogs, doughnuts, and more. Ownership says they'll continue to host vegan farmers markets and want to focus more on Upton's. WICKER PARK— Milk & Honey, once considered an anchor along Division Street, has been closed since May after the city suspended the cafe's business license. New owners have run the cafe at 1920 W. Division Street since 2022, and they've faced some challenges over the years. Management describes the closure as a temporary move, but there haven't been updates in five weeks. See More: Chicago Restaurant Closings Chicago Restaurant News
Scottish Sun
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Costa fan calls for boycott of chain after popular treat is axed from all cafes
The treat has been replaced with a new offering OUT OF STOCK Costa fan calls for boycott of chain after popular treat is axed from all cafes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A COSTA Coffee fan has called for a boycott of the chain after a snack was axed. This comes after others customers were left 'with nothing.' Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Vegan Rocky Road is no longer available at Costa Credit: Costa 4 Costa say: "We regularly update our offerings to bring customers exciting new flavours and experiences" Credit: Getty A Costa customer has called for a boycott of the chain, in response to it axing the Vegan Rocky Road from their menu. The comment came in response to the fury of another fan, who took to Reddit to announce their anger at the item's absence. The user, called Andy, said: "I went to Costa today this morning with friends and I was hoping to use my treat drop of two sweet treats for £4 "My mouth was watering for that delicious, oh so crunchy Vegan Rocky Road... until I rock up and notice there's none in the display. "Not even a sign for it. "The only Vegan cake on display was some kind of cheesecake. But I don't even like cheesecake and even if I did, that was sold out. "I asked the staff member at the counter if it's discontinued and they just shrugged their shoulders and replied with 'I don't know you'll need to contact head office.' "What's going on with the lack of Vegan options lately? "So anyway, not wanting a drink, I just sat around my friends whilst they enjoyed their food (they're not Vegan so didn't have the same issue). "I was just sat there with nothing. Five ways to save money at costa "Can anyone please confirm?" Unfortunately for Andy, and other vegan rocky road lovers, his worst fears were confirmed to be true. Another disappointed vegan fan with the username eowyn1990, replied saying: "The only vegan dessert option now is the cheesecake. "They got rid of all the rest! "I had to go to 5 different Costas to find it available for my birthday freebie." This menu rotation has come as a brutal blow for many vegan fans of the ever-popular vegan rocky road. The anger seemed to reach boiling point as one user, JayCoww, said "Costa should be boycotted." Such is the concern over their fans outrage, a Costa spokesperson has put out an official statement in response to the widespread concern. They said: "Our Caramelised Biscuit Vegan Rocky Road was removed from the menu last winter as part of our seasonal refresh. "At Costa Coffee, we regularly update our offerings to bring customers exciting new flavours and experiences. "While some favourites may come and go, we're committed to providing a wide variety of high-quality, delicious options to suit a range of tastes and dietary needs." One user tried to offer alternative sources of vegan rocky road. Diddleymaz said: "If you like Vegan Rocky Road you can join Slimming World because they're selling boxes of their hifi bars in that variety and they're gorgeous." This comes after Grand Tour fans threatened to boycott Amazon Prime Video over fears of a change to their favourite show's lineup. After departing the BBC and leaving Top Gear behind in 2015, The Clarkson's Farm star teamed up again with his longtime colleagues. Alongside James May and Richard Hammond, he brought the on-screen band back together to make a different motoring show in 2016. The trio went on to front five full series of The Grand Tour, before airing one last special as a grand send off in September 2024. It marked the end of a 22-year-long collaboration between Jeremy, 65, James, 62, and Richard, 55. Now, it's been revealed that the series will continue on Amazon Prime but with new presenters leading the format. Thomas Holland and James Engelsman are a viral duo from the Throttle House car YouTube channel and they will be the new faces of the show. 4 A fan has threatened to boycott Costa over the chain's removal of the vegan rocky road snack Credit: Getty
India Today
19-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
What are the new DNA diets
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated June 16, 2025)In their never-ending quest for healthier foods, along with the holy grail of losing weight, humans in the modern era have taken refuge in dieting trends. Fads like the Mediterranean diet, or the Vegan diet, are everywhere, each involving subtracting or adding a nutrient—no fat, more fat, no sugar, fasting, no carb, more carb, no meat. This approach in recent years has evolved into what is now called 'biohacking'—the mostly DIY practice of using scientific evidence to modify one's lifestyle for better biohacking has taken a far more serious turn from fancy diets, and it emerges from the depths of biological/ medical science. Incredible advancements in genetic diagnostics have opened up a whole new field called nutrigenomics. This discipline focuses on how food interacts with people's genes, how genes affect the body's response to food and thus their health. It also seeks to find new avenues to prevent and treat disease. Nutrigenomics allows for hyperpersonalised biohacking, tailoring nutrition plans based on an individual's genetic profile. A person may thus be advised to avoid dairy because her genes indicate lactose intolerance. Another can be encouraged to eat rice because there is medical proof to show her body uses the cereal better. advertisement The world of nutrigenomics The interplay of genes and health outcomes has been theoretically known for over a decade. According to a 2013 study in the journal, Nature Reviews Genetics, nutrients can modulate gene expression—the process by which instructions encoded within a gene are used to create proteins crucial for cell function—through mechanisms like DNA methylation (where methyl groups, a fundamental building block molecule, is added to the DNA, thus altering gene expression). The study of these mechanisms and changes in gene expression through nutrients and medicines—without alterations to the underlying DNA sequence—is called epigenetics. Changes in gene expression influence how genes are read and used by cells, thus affecting biological processes. These changes not only have a bearing on disease susceptibility but also influence the effectiveness of dietary the past decade, advances in DNA sequencing technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS) and exome sequencing—where protein-coding regions (exons) of a genome is analysed—have improved the accuracy of nutrigenomic testing. These tests assess gene variants that influence the body's response to nutrients, metabolism and susceptibility to diseases. They point out allergies and nutrient deficiencies, and also look at how a body absorbs, metabolises and uses a nutrient. It identifies predispositions to conditions like gluten sensitivity or slower caffeine metabolism, not through allergy markers but through genetic traits. According to market research firm IMARC, the Indian genetic testing market was valued at over $1.8 billion (Rs 15,400 crore) in as Dr Aparna Bhanushali, director, medical genetics, HaystackAnalytics, points out, 'While accuracy at the technical level—meaning the ability to detect genetic variants—is very high, the clinical interpretation of these variants in the context of nutrition is still an emerging area.' The predictive power of nutrigenomic insights can vary depending on the complexity of gene-nutrient interactions and the strength of scientific evidence backing them, she the way the body uses a nutrient through nutrigenomic testing is one part. The other half is using this information for better health. This is done not only by targeted nutrients but also by epigenetic medicine, which targets epigenetic mechanisms to modify gene expression and treat specific diseases. 'Nutrigenomics provides a personalised nutrition model grounded in molecular biology, epigenetics and clinical nutrition,' says Dr Bhanushali. 'For example, variations (also known as polymorphisms) in the FTO gene (a fat mass and obesity-associated gene) are associated with increased obesity risk, while variants in the MTHFR (Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase) gene can impair folate (a nutrient in Vitamin B complex essential to the body) metabolism, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and neural tube defects.'advertisementAccording to market research firm Grand View Research, the Indian epigenetics market generated a revenue of $479.8 million (Rs 4,150 crore) in 2023. Health tech startup Vieroots, which raised $136,000 (Rs 1.16 crore) in funding this year and is valued at Rs 106 crore, says it provides an EPLIMO (epigenetic lifestyle modification) programme based on a geno-metabolic assessment. EPLIMO can detect multiple genetic variants causing over 250 diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, depression etc. years or decades before they set in, enabling users to change their lifestyles. 'Over 10,000 people have tried EPLIMO. We have seen amazing improvements in their health markers after three months, when we do a blood work. This proves that biohacking is measurable,' says Sajeev Nair, founder and chairman, Vieroots. Nair follows a 'Sajeev diet' plan. 'Once I started following this hyperpersonalised diet plan, I started seeing great results including a stable gut, higher energy levels, proper digestion and better cognitive functions,' says of nutritionAccording to experts, relying on the right facts while eating what works for the body is where the future of nutrition lies. 'I see precision nutrition as a step forward,' says Dr Suparna Mukherjee, chief nutritionist at Narayana Health City in Bengaluru. 'We look into an individual's anthropometry (measurement of the physical properties of a body), biochemical markers, clinical symptoms, dietary habits and their genetic reports. We also consider their activity levels and calorie expenditure, which helps us personalise a food plan,' says Dr Mukherjee. It's all about why certain foods work better for individuals based on their unique genetic and lifestyle profiles, she right diagnostic tools can uncover details that make a difference. When 38-year-old Rohit, a fitness enthusiast, went for a genomic health assessment at Haystack Analytics in Bengaluru, he wasn't expecting to uncover anything major. The results changed his approach to health. The test flagged a heightened genetic risk for Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition that affects the weight loss programmes have become accessible too. When Sahil Malhotra, 41, a software engineer from Bengaluru, wanted to lose 10 kg, he opted for a personalised diet programme by a city clinic which, after procuring his genetic profile through MapMyGenome, was able to tell him why—despite trying multiple diet plans—he was unable to shed weight. 'They found out that I could not digest protein too well, which is why high-protein diets failed as they left less calories for daily requirements, making me constantly hungry,' he says. The results made sense, as his family was originally vegetarian. While more people are discovering nutrigenomics, most are adherents still of exotic biohacks like mushroom coffee and red light therapy for their nutrition needs. 'Eating certain mushrooms, for instance, can have positive health benefits,' says Dr Siddhant Bhargava, nutritionist, CEO and co-founder, InnerGize, a Delhi-based firm that makes mental health wearables. 'Other biohacks include overloading on caffeine, or foods that improve the body's NAD (a kind of dinucleotide) levels. Nootropics (drugs like creatine and caffeine) can improve cardiac as well as brain performance.' A report by Custom Market Insights, a market research firm, notes that India's health tech market—a fair share of which includes biohacking tools like wearables (such as fitness tracking bands and head-mounted displays) and brain games—is projected to touch $78.4 billion (Rs 6.7 lakh crore) by the results have not always been salutary, as Rohini Bedi, 22, a marketing intern in Mumbai, discovered. On an AI-endorsed diet that involved eating in only two hours a day and weekly ice bath plunges to 'naturally detox the body', Rohini ended up malnourished within a month and had to undergo clinical treatment to recover. 'Individual nutrition needs and health status should take precedence over what is trending on internet search results,' says Bharathi Kumar, dietitian, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru. Experts are also beginning to express doubts about the efficacy of biohacks. 'Currently, biohacks range from theories to some proven research,' says Dr Bhargava. Word of cautionWhile there's no denying the power of nutrigenomics, experts advise caution. 'Biohacking diets, when done right, are incredibly empowering,' says nutritionist Khushboo Jain Tibrewala. 'They shift control from healthcare providers to the individual, the one actually living in the body.' But she also feels that nutrigenomic biohacking, no matter how personalised, can sometimes create blind spots. This is where things like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) come in handy. In this instance, they help people understand how their blood sugar responds to different foods. Some epigenetic drugs, on the other hand, while targeting specific diseases, can affect multiple genes, leading to undesirable side-effects on other organ and epigenetic drugs are evolving sciences, and experts like Tibrewala say that, ultimately, it is one's own state of health that should be the guide even while on a hyperpersonalised diet directed by genetic mapping. Till the time when our genes give up more of their secrets, the best data continues to be how you are feeling to India Today Magazine
