Latest news with #2031
Vogue
3 days ago
- Health
- Vogue
Does Mushroom Coffee Have Any Benefits? Experts Weigh In
Mushroom coffee is pretty much everywhere by now—from the beverage aisle of the grocery store to your favorite healthy cafe. Its recent popularity has led to a global market for mushroom coffee that's projected to reach $1.8 billion by 2031. It's safe to say that the mushroom coffee phenomenon is real—but are there any real benefits to actually drinking fungi-infused beverages? Here, experts weigh in on the benefits of mushroom coffee. What is mushroom coffee? Mushroom coffee is made with medicinal mushrooms like lion's mane, reishi, chaga, shiitake, or maitake—all of which have been used for millennia for their various supposed health properties. 'Mushroom coffee is made by combining coffee with dried mushroom powders to offer the ancient benefits of these mushrooms in a convenient format with a flavor that's practically imperceptible—although some describe it as slightly earthy or nutty,' says nutritionist Marta Marcè. 'It promises everything from greater concentration to a strengthened immune system.' The benefits of mushroom coffee Among the benefits attributed to this concoction are better mental and physical performance, a stronger immune system, an improved sense of calm, and a boosted metabolism—depending on the types of mushrooms in the coffee, of course. Sounds great, but there isn't yet a ton of evidence to back up all the claims. 'The idea behind mushroom coffee is simple: to harness the health benefits of medicinal mushrooms in a convenient and (hopefully) tasty coffee drink,' writes Lindsay Warner of Harvard Health. 'There is very little research on medicinal mushrooms involving humans. Therefore, while test tube or animal studies show some compelling health benefits, the same may not apply to people.' Is mushroom coffee worth a try? The big question is whether the active ingredients in the medicinal mushroom powders can be properly absorbed by the body. 'If the powder is simply dried and ground mushroom (not extracted), absorption is very limited,' says Marcè. 'The rigid cell wall of mushrooms—known as the chitin—may hinder the release of the active compounds during digestion and, in that case, the body hardly accesses the attributed immunological or cognitive benefits. Moreover, many brands do not specify whether they have used the fruiting body of the mushroom (the visible part) rich in active principles, or the mycelium (root system), which is usually much less potent,' she says. Another important consideration? 'Most mushroom coffees on the market include between 250 mg and 500 mg of extract per cup, an amount well below the doses used in scientific studies that have observed real benefits,' Marcè points out. Should you drink mushroom coffee? It is undeniable that mushrooms have many proven health benefits. However, both Warner and Marcè point out that there hasn't been any research done on the benefits of mushroom coffee specifically—so, there is no guarantee that the medicinal properties of mushrooms are preserved when processed and mixed with coffee. There just isn't any demonstrable proof of the clear benefits.
Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Hollie Parkes: the Claridge's expert turning eyebrows into art
What's the most valuable player in your make-up bag? For many of us, mascara has always been the one product we feel we can't live without. For others, it's a bit of concealer to hide the eye bags. But increasingly — and slowly over the past decade or so — eyebrows have become a priority. Our mothers plucked their brows, but they didn't style them the way we do now — which is why the appetite for brow products is growing at breakneck speed. The global market for brow gel was worth about $265 million in 2021 and is projected to reach $432 million by 2031. Beauty cognoscenti know that the stealthy way to look as though you are ageing slowly is to address your eyebrows. Much like the hairs on our heads, they thin as we age — often not helped by periods of overplucking. With the correct products and professional attention, some clever browscaping can do as much for your face as a tweakment — only it'll be more subtle. A friend of mine visited a well-known aesthetician for some nip-and-tuck advice a few years ago. She was asked to bring some photos of herself from 15 years before, the idea being that any adjustments should reflect how her face used to look, rather than using, say, Bella Hadid as the reference. • This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue The first thing the doctor told my friend was, 'If only you hadn't touched your brows — that's the most ageing thing that's happened.' We're all cottoning on to this now. In my make-up bag (OK, cabinet) Tom Ford's Brow Sculptor, Westman Atelier's Bonne Brow Defining Pencil and Merit's Volumizing Pomade are always on hand for almost daily use. Walking down any high street in the UK, however, will yield evidence that many have taken the full brow look to the extreme. The puzzling popularity of brows that look like big slugs has understandably made some fearful of handing their brow architecture over to a practitioner. But there's a movement towards subtlety and understatement, particularly at the luxury end. Possibly the most in-demand brow technician now is Hollie Parkes, who recently took up residency at the Claridge's spa in Mayfair, which is becoming a hub for London's finest practitioners, from acupuncture (Ross J Barr) to facials (Hadda). Parkes tends to the brows of CEOs and celebrities with the precision of a physicist, matching the brow to the architecture of a client's face as well as their style, rather than having her own signature look. There's an orderly queue forming for a 90-minute brow-perfecting appointment with Parkes (the £400 price tag notwithstanding). I'm always cautious of letting professionals tinker with my brows, preferring to organise them myself with make-up and gels. I don't know what the brow equivalent of 'scissor happy' is called, but I have experienced it in salons over the years. But then someone I trust, who has immaculate brows, recommended Parkes and I took the leap. I was clear that I did not want to emerge from the appointment looking like a different person and that I am absolutely not a fan of Instagram eyebrows. I'm old-fashioned enough to want brows that look as though they are made out of hair. Natural is one thing, but there are a couple of tiny bald patches and a general creeping scarcity I hoped Parkes could address. • Your 19 biggest beauty problems — solved! Her own brows are perfect: full and natural looking, not aggressively edited. A good sign. Parkes listens to my worries with saint-like patience as she quietly studies the angles of my face. There's a deep cleanse in preparation, and a stress-reducing facial massage stops my mouth as I surrender to her expertise and the most relaxing brow tint, shaping and fine-tune tweezing I have ever had. Who knew a brow appointment could be enjoyable? I relax under a collagen-boosting LED light before the moment of truth when she hands me a mirror and an opportunity to edit her work. I have no notes: a subtly organised, ever so slightly bolder brow with no empty patches. The real test comes later. Who notices I've had my brows done? No one. Who says I'm looking good or youthful or compliments my make-up when I am not wearing any at all? Loads of people. My upgraded brows pass with flying colours.
Reuters
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
FIFA approves 48-team women's World Cup from 2031 edition
May 9 (Reuters) - The women's World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams from the 2031 edition onwards after the FIFA Council approved the proposal at a virtual meeting on Friday, a source familiar with the matter said. The 48-team World Cup will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 - the same as the expanded men's World Cup in 2026 - and extending the tournament by one week.
CNA
09-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
FIFA approves 48-team women's World Cup from 2031 edition
The women's World Cup will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams from the 2031 edition onwards after the FIFA Council approved the proposal at a virtual meeting on Friday, a source familiar with the matter said. The 48-team World Cup will adopt a 12-group format, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104 - the same as the expanded men's World Cup in 2026 - and extending the tournament by one week.
