‘I was sick with pain – but doctors thought I was a hypochondriac’: the spreading agony of kidney stones

Up to one in 10 of us will get kidney stones, according to the NHS. Even teenagers are at risk from what was long seen as an older man’s affliction. Why – and what can we do to prevent them?

Should I worry about skipping breakfast?

Some claim it is the most important meal of the day, while others believe fasting has its benefits. What does the science say?

Awaken your senses! How to bring your body back to life

Do you feel disconnected from the world? I did, too – then I discovered some easy, practical ways to enhance my sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch

The best way to improve your relationship? Bond over your bad behaviour

Yes, you could go for a run together, but it will only bring out self-righteousness and impatience. Loafing and comfort eating will unite you in imperfect harmony, writes Zoe Williams

Eat fibre first – and ditch the juice: five quick and easy tips for a much healthier meal

Scientist and author Tim Spector shows how to make small but important changes to improve the way you eat – while still enjoying your food

Should I worry about how much sugar I consume?

Sugary foods are easier to access than ever and designed to keep us coming back for more. Are they actually addictive – and should we quit them?

Is ice-cream good for you? Scientists divided on claims about health benefits

Suggestions in the US that the dessert can have health benefits have been greeted by a ripple of scepticism from British experts

Chew slowly, keep moving and eat 30 plants a week: 12 rules for gut health

What to eat, when, how to do it properly – and what to avoid. Experts lay out the food habits that will make a real difference to your health

What are the real signs of a healthy gut? A user’s guide

It’s a huge organ that gives us the energy to live, grow and repair. But how does it work – and how do you keep it healthy? Our science editor unravels its astonishing job

Weight Watchers wins when our diets fail – it won’t change society’s broken thinking around food

The diet industry benefits if you become a customer for life: its profits soar with our failures, says psychotherapist, psychoanalyst and social critic Susie Orbach