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

‘A huge loss’: readers on how UK leisure centre closures have affected them

From Nottingham to the Isle of Wight, people lament losing sense of community as well as facilities

Don’t forget to floss: the science behind dementia and the four things you should do to prevent it

A picture is emerging of a healthy lifestyle which is key to the condition’s prevention – exercise, being sociable, and looking after your ears

I’ve found my dream job. And it’s all thanks to that nasty fall into the wild garlic

Nothing could be more fulfilling than making the countryside safe for walkers. No one should have to risk their neck on a rickety stile, writes Guardian columnist Adrian Chiles

Exercise could be as beneficial as drugs in treating premature ejaculation, study finds

Running and pelvic floor exercises show promise in studies of the most common sexual dysfunction for men

No pain, plenty of gain: why taking it easy can be the key to getting fitter – and happier

Whether you’re running, working out in the gym or lifting weights, the perfect workout doesn’t have you gasping for breath. Here’s why less can be more

Walking just 11 minutes a day could stop 10% of early deaths, researchers find

Weekly 75 minutes of moderate-intensity activity is half the amount recommended by the NHS

‘Let it all go and be sexy’: the Asian aunties exploring their sensuality through Zumba

In this Melbourne gym, an army of middle-aged women are finding confidence in the chest shimmies and ‘slut drops’ of the high-energy dance regime

Wearable fitness trackers could interfere with cardiac devices, study finds

Bioimpedance sensing technologies as used in smartwatches could affect implanted devices like pacemakers

The truth about caffeine: how coffee really affects our bodies

Every day, around the world, 2bn cups are consumed. But what actually happens after you swallow that first mouthful? Here is everything you need to know

‘You stand like an overcooked prawn!’ Why bad posture is the key to back pain – and 10 ways to improve yours

At work and at home, we spend hour after hour sitting, staring at screens or fiddling with our phones – and our hunched, twisted bodies bear the marks. Let’s get things straight again

Life on the edge: meet the man who walked around the UK

Facing financial ruin, the former paratrooper set out on a six-year, 11,000-mile trek around our entire coastline. It changed his life in more ways than he could possibly imagine. By Ella Braidwood

Have dinner for breakfast: 33 easy, expert fitness tips you will actually stick to

Big lifestyle overhauls are often doomed to fail - especially in the depths of winter. Take advice from those in the know and follow the relaxed route to healthier habits

Desperate to get fit but hate doing it in public? Here are seven ways to beat gymtimidation

All those machines, all the mirrors, all that grunting: gyms can be offputting places if you’re just taking your first steps towards fitness. We have the answers …

The one change that didn’t work: I pounded through exercise classes – until my doctor prescribed rest

I was grief-stricken and exhausted when I began high-intensity interval training. Then came a short, sharp scream in my knees and intense thumping in my chest