Daily Archives: November 2, 2011

Drinking cherry juice improves sleep

Drinking cherry juice can help you sleep an extra 25 minutes a night, a new study has found.

Researchers from the School of Life Sciences at Northumbria University have found that Montmorency cherry juice significantly increases the levels of melatonin in the body, the hormone which regulates sleep.

In the study, led by Dr Glyn Howatson, 20 healthy volunteers drank a 30ml serving of either tart cherry juice or a placebo juice twice a day for seven days.

The results show cherry juice can be a natural aid to those who have difficulty sleeping because of insomnia, shift work or jet lag, said study leader Dr Glyn Howatson.

‘Although melatonin is available over the counter in other countries, it is not freely available in the UK. What makes these findings exciting is that the melatonin contained in tart cherry juice is sufficient to elicit a healthy sleep response,’ added co-author Dr Jason Ellis.

‘What’s more, these results provide us with more evidence surrounding the relationship between how we sleep and what we consume.’

Kate Middleton Britain’s best dressed woman…or is she?

 

Who know’s how she’s doing it but Kate Middleton has topped yet another fashion poll with her sensible, sophisticated choice of outfits, that have seen her soar as a style icon this year.

 

Kate Middleton has beaten Alexa Chung and Kate Moss to be crowned Britain’s best-dressed women in a recent Harper’s Bazaar fashion poll.

 

2011 has been a momentous year for Kate, seeing her wed in one of the most eagerly anticpated weddings for some years. She has also come into her own, attending high profile event appearances and her successful tour of North America with new husband William, Duke of Cambridge.

 

Kate has become famous for her simple, elegant style, favouring a well-balanced mix of high end and high street fashion names to make up her often recycled outfits and wardrobe.

 

Though some have criticised the newest addition to the royal family for her safe fashion choices, usually consisting of pencil skirts, wrap around, knee-length dresses, LK Bennett court pumps and clutch bags, it is her attitude to style and fashion that has made her a popular fashion icon with people all over the world.

 

Nearly two billion people tuned in to watch her walk down the aisle in her customed designed Sarah Burton creation and since then, the world has not stopped taking note of the Duchesses next outfit choice, where it’s from or who it’s by.

 

Harper’s Bazaar have said that there ‘wasn’t really any question in out minds here about who was number one’, and said that the ‘Duchess of Cambridge gave us the fashion moment of the year if not the century with that amazing wedding dress’.

 

The popular fashion magazine awarded second place to Florence Welch, followed by Andrea Riseborough and model and 2011 bride Kate Moss. Alexa Chung was placed ninth.

 

Do you agree with HB’s decision or would you have liked to have seen someone else top of the list, if so why?

 

Jen.xox

Straw Dogs Clips

Straw Dogs first hit the big screen back in 1971 starring Dustin Hoffman but this week sees director Rod Lurie release his version.

Yes thirty years after the original James Marsden teams up with Kate Bosworth and Alexander Skarsgård for what promises to be an action packed ride.

David and Amy Sumner (James Marsden and Kate Bosworth), a Hollywood screenwriter and his actress wife, return to her small hometown in the deep South to prepare the family home for sale after her father’s death.

Once there, tensions build in their marriage and old conflicts re-emerge with the locals, including Amy’s ex-boyfriend Charlie (Alexander Skarsgård), leading to a violent confrontation.

Straw Dogs is released 4th November.

The Lorax Trailer

The 3D-CGI feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is an adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope.

The animated adventure follows the journey of a boy as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams.

To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

Danny DeVito will lend his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms will voice the enigmatic Once-ler.

Also bringing their talents to the film are global superstars Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic young boy who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Ashley, the girl of Ted’s dreams.

The Lorax in Cinemas 27th July 2012

Snowtown Images

Snowtown hasn’t even hit cineams screens yet and it seems that everyone is already raving about this movie.

The movie was a hug hit at the London Film Festival last month and it once agin shows ever Australian talent – which is everywhere at the moment.

Sixteen-year-old Jamie longs for an escape from the violence and hopelessness that surrounds him in Adelaide’s disenfranchised northern suburbs, and his salvation arrives in the form of John, a charismatic man who unexpectedly comes to his aid.

As John spends more and more time with Jamie’s family, he moves from the role of Jamie’s protector to that of a mentor, indoctrinating Jamie into his world, a world brimming with bigotry, righteousness and malice.

Like a son mimicking his father, Jamie soon begins to take on some of John’s traits and beliefs as he spends more and more time with him and his select group of friends.

The protection and guidance that John presents to Jamie is initially welcomed however as events occur around him, including the disappearance of several people, Jamie begins to harbour deep suspicions about John and his motivations.

When the truth is finally revealed to Jamie his hopes of happiness are threatened by both his loyalty for, and fear of, his father-figure John Bunting, Australia’s most notorious serial killer.

A nail-biting, highly acclaimed thriller, Snowtown marks the arrival of a major new filmmaking talent.

Snowtown is released 18th November. Take a look at some new image from the movie: