For years we’ve been told that to avoid certain illnesses we should be eating five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.

But where did this figure come from, and what exactly does it mean?

Does it include a few olives on top of a takeaway pizza? Or a handful of mushy peas served up with some fish and chips? And what about that tin of pineapple rings in syrup?

Experts now say that five is the minimum we should be consuming. In fact, to really safeguard our health we should be eating nine portions a day. And it’s important that we get the right mix of varieties of fruit and vegetables as each contain a unique set of different vitamins and minerals.

Since its introduction to Europe from China, thousands of people have been using acupuncture to cure a whole range of ills. However, the medical establishment has always argued that it can’t be proven to work.

Anthony Robbins, pioneering life coach and expert in leadership psychology, is an iconic motivational speaker who has been blazing the seminar circuit for over thirty years

Many people think that to live a green life you must live in the country but these days the Good Life is coming to the city, writes Julia Stephenson

And so to Southwark Cathedral with 1000 others, including my pal, eco-coach Donnachadh McCarthy (bravely overcoming his aversion to organised religion, although as I pointed out to him I’m not sure if a disorganised religion would be any better) to listen to the Archbishop of Canterbury discuss Operation Noah, the Church of England’s environmental campaign, writes Julia Stephenson.

I’ve been a practicing Buddhist for 18 years yet I’m always keen to visit a cathedral – as far as I’m concerned you can’t have too many bells, smells, soaring ceilings and heart-thumpingly good hymns.