Bake Off’s Kim-Joy discusses experiencing severe social anxiety as a child

Great British Bake Off finalist Kim-Joy Hewlett was undoubtedly one of the highlights of this year’s series, delighting viewers with her creative designs and cheerful demeanour. Having got almost 50,000 followers on Twitter and more than 90,000 on Instagram, the baker is now using her large online platform to open up about a topic with which she has personal experience: mental health issues. As a child, Kim-Joy experienced what she describes as severe social anxiety, refusing to speak to people outside of her home for fear of being rejected by them.

Michelle Keegan appeals to women to have smear tests following her own: 'It is so important and so easy'

Michelle Keegan has spoken about her experience of having a smear test, assuring women that they shouldn’t fear having the cervical cancer screening done. Many young women avoid having cervical examinations due to body insecurities, according to recent research conducted by the charity Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. With approximately 3,200 new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in the UK every year, raising awareness about the importance and ease of having a smear test is essential.

Mum sparks a debate online about whether parents should be giving their children Christmas Eve Boxes

“Since when did Christmas Eve boxes become a thing?”

Cheryl tells mummy shamers to 'shut the f*** up'

Cheryl has slammed “mummy shamers,” telling them to “shut the f*** up” after admitting to sharing a bed with her one-year-old son. The former Girls Aloud singer, 35, welcomed Bear with ex-boyfriend Liam Payne last March, and shunned the spotlight in favour of spending time with her first-born. Best thing in the world,” she told Sunday Times Style.

Four home remedies that can soothe a winter sore throat

No, the most irritating symptom of all is a painful sore throat that makes it difficult to swallow, eat or drift off to sleep. Waking up with a prickly throat can be an indicator that a cold virus has penetrated the immune system. The reason you begin to feel like you’ve eaten an extra-hot portion of Vindaloo is because viruses cause inflammation in the body, particularly in the tonsils or lining of the throat.

'Inspiring' Michelle Keegan praised for vlogging smear test on Instagram: 'Stop making excuses and go!'

Michelle Keegan has been praised for vlogging her smear test in a bid to encourage young women to undergo the procedure. Keegan, 31, said she has been putting it off “for quite a long time,” using the excuse of being “too busy”. Keegan said she knows it can be “daunting” and “bloody embarrassing” but reassured fans that it was pain free and over in a matter of minutes.

Kate Upton has welcomed an adorable baby girl

How WWI played a key role shaping plastic surgery and modern anaesthesia

In response, during the four years of the war, military surgeons developed new techniques on the battlefield and in supporting hospitals, which, in the war’s final two years, resulted in more survivors of injuries that would have proved mortal in the first two. On the western front, 1.6 million British soldiers were successfully treated and returned to the trenches. Historically, this was an area where very little had been attempted, and survivors with major facial injuries were left with major deformities that made it difficult to see, breathe easily, or eat and drink.

Experts give their top tips for running during winter, from wearing the right clothes to regulating your breathing

Warming up before exercise is always important, but even more so when your muscles are at risk of becoming especially tight in low temperatures. Furthermore, you may need to invest in reflective clothing if running during the early or late hours so that drivers on the road are aware of your whereabouts. The Independent spoke to several experts for their top tips on running during winter.

The average child has 1,300 photos of them online by the time they're 13

Experts want parents to be more aware of their children's digital footprint.

Mumsnet user called into daughter's school by 'lunch box police' over a mini chocolate bar

"Seems like a gigantic waste of everyone's time."

Not getting enough sleep? Drinking more water could help you

Many people don’t get enough sleep, with a recent study claiming that the average Briton gets just six hours of shut-eye a night. Reasons for sleepless nights vary and are often linked to underlying psychological issues, but a new study claims that it could be down to simply not having drunk enough water the day before. According to research carried out by academics at Penn State University, Pennsylvania, people who slept for six hours a night had significantly more concentrated urine and were more dehydrated compared to those who regularly slept eight hours a night, which is the recommended amount.

Drinking coffee could reduce risk of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, scientists claim

Regularly drinking coffee could decrease your risk of developing Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease later on in life, a study has claimed. While many people rely on their morning cup of Joe for a much-needed boost of energy, the research conducted by scientists at the Krembil Brain Institute in Canada highlights the beneficial impact that coffee consumption can also have on one’s overall health. The researchers used light roasted, dark roasted and decaffeinated dark roasted coffee to carry out their investigation.

This £1500 'Intelligent Cot' with in-built iPad has divided parents

“The most worrying aspect here are lazy parents who are likely to leave a tablet on all night."

Chrissy Teigen shuts down troll who questioned whether she was still breastfeeding

“John never breastfed Miles!”

Six ways social media negatively affects your mental health

The rise of social media has meant that we as a global population are more connected than we have ever been in the history of time. While social media platforms can have their benefits, using them too frequently can make you feel increasingly unhappy and isolated in the long run. The constant barrage of perfectly filtered photos that appear on Instagram are bound to knock many people’s self-esteem, while obsessively checking your Twitter feed just before bed could be contributing towards poor quality of sleep.

Meghan Markle won't be able to celebrate this pregnancy milestone

She's likely to follow tradition like her sister-in-law Kate.

Anti-vaccination advert banned, after warning parents vaccines "can kill"

The post was found to breach rules regarding harm and offence and misleading advertising.

Kim Kardashian accused of ‘favouritism’ after she casts vote in the name of Saint…and forgets about her other children

Kim Kardashian has been blasted on social media by fans accusing her of “favouritism” towards her son Saint. The reality star posted a black and white picture of the two-year-old, hailing him the reason she decided to vote in the US midterm elections.

Mother shares photo of son with measles to convince parents to vaccinate their children

A mother is urging other parents to have their children vaccinated after her own eight-month-old son was diagnosed with measles. Kiora Pen shared the plea on Facebook alongside a photo of her rash-covered son Marshall, who was diagnosed with the infectious viral disease on Monday. “Public Health England have called me this morning to confirm, after analysing his swab, Marshall is suffering with measles,” Pen wrote.

Seasonal affective disorder: What is it and how can you treat it?

Cue seasonal affective disorder (SAD): a type of depression that typically arises as we head into frostier climes. Sometimes known as “winter depression”, SAD can be debilitating, leaving sufferers with a number of psychological symptoms, including irritability and a persistent low mood, as its acronym would suggest. SAD is a form of depression that people experience during a particular time of year, usually winter, though some sufferers may experience it in the summer months.

Grief-stricken mum's warning after 17-month-old daughter died napping in car seat

'We lost a daughter needlessly. No family deserves this.'

Children's sleep hardly affected by screen use, study finds

Other factors are more to blame.

Is it OK to leave your newborn baby to shower?

Mumsnet users are divided.

Woman’s candid post on the heartbreaking struggle to conceive goes viral

"Everyone talks about the positive results, but we rarely hear about the struggles of the negatives"