According to the latest research, “experts” say that women need to be complimented five times a day.

Nine out of ten women say they love to be complimented. However, according to the research, carried out by Loire Valley White Wines, only 16 percent thought they received their five a day.

Worse, two-thirds thought they were being complimented less than they were five years ago, and believed gentle flattery was becoming a lost art.

Clearly feminism has a lot to answer for, because men now believe a compliment will cause offence. On the other side of the fence, most women are highly likely to suspect the motives of anyone offering an admiring comment.

Relationship expert Christine Webber says, “In my experience, women do care a great deal about what people think about them. A compliment massively boosts self-esteem. And while it may seem frivolous, it is in fact a vital ingredient for well-being.”

She adds that many men are terrified of an innocent remark being wrongly interpreted. “I think political correctness and fear of saying the wrong thing is the main cause of men failing to compliment women who are not their partners.”

Miss Webber should be complimented on the accuracy of her observations.

It’s a depressing fact of life that varicose veins are rarely absent from the legs of fifty-something women.

The conventional surgical treatment is even more worrying, requiring an incision into the groin, plus multiple incisions in the legs.

Now a new laser procedure means only a tiny nick in the leg is needed. EndoVenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) is carried out under local anaesthetic and takes only two hours in hospital.

A nurse who underwent the treatment, writes : “First, they measured me for the stocking they were going to put on my leg afterwards, which would minimise any bruising.

“Once in theater, another ultrasound scan was done of my leg to find the best place to enter the vein. [The surgeon] marked the point with a surgical marker pen and I was given a local anaesthetic, so I couldn’t feel anything. Then I was placed on my side. [He] made a small incision, level with my knee, and threaded a guide wire and then the laser through my vein.

“I couldn’t see what was happening as I had drapes over me. I was given a pair of goggles to protect my eyes from the laser, then the lights were switched off and the laser switched on. The procedure took just a few minutes. Then, when the vein was sealed, [the surgeon] switched the laser off. Lastly, he removed the wire containing the laser and put a sticky skin fastener over the incision.

“I then got off the operating table and walked to the recovery bay. I’d arrived at 12.30pm and was ready to leave two hours later. Initially, my leg was numb, but feeling in it returned after an hour or so.”

This procedure will make a huge difference to many women.

A leading U.S. dermatologist claims that by ditching sugar from your diet, you can look ten years younger in ten days.

And it isn’t just by losing weight but because : “In a nutshell, sugar hastens the degradation of elastin and collagen, both key skin proteins. In other words, it actively ages you,” he says.

In his new book, 10 Minutes/Ten Years: Your Definitive Guide to a Better and Youthful Appearance, Dr Fredric Brandt says he saw a remarkable change in his own skin when he dropped sugar from his diet. He lost 20lb in weight, but also saw a new glow, radiance and elasticity in his face. Within a year, his body had changed as well.

“I’m really lean and have the body of a teenager, although I’m in my 40s. … Believe me, it’s cheaper than a facelift.”

He continues, “The sugar triggers a process in the body called glycation. This is where the sugar molecules bind to your protein fibres — those wonderfully springy and resilient collagen and elastin fibres — which are the building blocks of skin.”

But it gets worse. Just by overheating starchy foods or grilling them, the sugar content mutates producing Advanced Glycation End products, AGEs, which do immense harm to the skin.

A word to the wise.

In today’s youth culture, how many 80-year olds would be voted as their country’s greatest living person? Not many, I suspect.

Not so in the UK, however. The British public has selected the Queen as “the Greatest Living Briton 2007″. The ITV show was broadcast live and viewers asked to vote for their choice. The awards ceremony was to celebrate British achievement.

The Queen finished top of a list of other famous — but perhaps less worthy — Britons, including Paul McCartney, Julie Andrews, Margaret Thatcher and pop singer Robbie Williams.

Elizabeth II wasn’t present to receive her accolade. Her son Prince Edward paid tribute via a video transmission.

Coincidentally, Helen Mirren, 50-ish, who claimed an Oscar earlier this year for her portrayal of the Queen in the film of the same name, took the top prize for The Greatest Briton in Film.

A clean sweep for the Monarch who has been on the Throne for 55 years. And a very good result for 50-something women too.