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IT’S no secret that Princess Diana spent a lot of her time in West Sussex.

But the little-known village of West Itchenor is where Princess Diana spent summer breaks with her family when she was a child.

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Alamy

The seaside village was named one of the poshest in the UK by the Telegraph last year, what with the number of houses selling for over £1million.

And Princess Diana was often photographed on her holidays there in the seventies when she was a child.

The royal loved being out on the water, and West Itchenor is famous for its sailing community.

For those who can’t, or don’t want to sail, there’s a ferry service at West Itchenor that you can catch from the public jetty to the foot of Smugglers Lane in Bosham.

On the ferry, you can also go to Cobnor Point where there are lots of water sports from sailing to paddle-boarding and powerboating.

It’s even a great place to see seals that rest on the sandy banks.

Your best chance of spotting a seal is if you go during the summer and early autumn.

And while the village of West Itchenor is small, it is known for it’s dog-friendly pub, the Ship Inn, which overlooks the ferry terminal and jetty.

The pub’s seafront location means you an expect a great range of seafood caught nearby, with dishes including mussels, scampi and cod.

Otherwise make sure to grab a coffee at The Quarterdeck Cafe, also by the shipyard.

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Chichester Harbour Water Tours

Don’t expect any hotels in the village, but there are a number of B&Bs you can rent instead.

The neighbouring village of Bosham is also worth a visit.

But be warned, if you drive over to Bosham, be careful where you park your car as when the tide comes in.

The water floods the road immediately next to the harbour and can leave cars stranded.

To locals, this is known as the ‘Bosham Carwash’.

The city of Chichester is also a 20-minute drive away from West Itchenor, or can be reached by ferry.

Chichester Harbour is famous for being the home of the common seal that have been known to take a nap on the swimming platforms of moored boats.

Sightseeing around the city will lead you to the Chichester Cathedral, which has the third biggest spire in England.

Here’s an ancient village in the UK that was owned by a king.

And a retro seaside town is even loved by other royals.

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A PETITE student burdened with “the breasts of a 60-year-old” was unable to get a breast reduction on the NHS because her size J boobs weren’t “big enough” and “saggy”.

Yasmine Ben-Omar suffers such agonising back pain she says she’s been forced to fork out £100 a month on massages just to be able to function under the crushing weight of her chest.

Kennedy News and Media

Kennedy News and Media

Kennedy News and Media

Frustrated by her “saggy” boobs and the unwelcome attention she receives from strangers, the 21-year-old lost 4st, going from a size 14 to a slinky size 10.

Despite managing to reduce her bust size from a 34JJ to a 30J, Yasmine was still unhappy so booked a GP appointment to discuss getting a breast reduction on the NHS.

In January, after a four-month waiting list, the 5ft 5in Manchester Metropolitan University student was seen by a consultant at the Northern Manchester General Hospital.

It was there the marketing student claims she was denied the reduction surgery on the NHS because her boobs were not “big enough” and “saggy” – and that she needed a breast lift instead.

Yasmine, cruelly dubbed the “girl with the big boobs” by school bullies, says she’s been left with no choice but to fundraise for the op so she can live a pain-free life.

The student, from Brighton in East Sussex, said: “I started puberty really early on, I started developing breasts at the age of nine in primary school.

“Everyone else was pre-pubescents and I just looked really out of place. Even in primary school people made fun of me because I looked so different.

“I’ve always had droopy boobs and people would point them out and say they were saggy.

“I felt too insecure to join in on PE and was always trying to hide them with my arms so people wouldn’t look.

“They kept growing, at 15 they were around a 34JJ.

“My back pain really started then and as the years went on it just got worse. I would always struggle to find bras that fit in high street shops.

“I remember boys would say a lot of weird things and would describe me as the ‘girl with the big boobs’ and girls would make remarks.

“Last year I decided to go to the NHS about it after I felt like I had tried everything. I just couldn’t cope with the pain anymore.

“I have to get deep tissue massages twice a month just to be able to function as my back hurts so much.

“My GP was supportive and tried to get me to my appointment with the consultant.

“At the consultant appointment, I went into the room and the surgeon took one look at me and said that my boobs weren’t big and they were just saggy.

The surgeon took one look at me and said that my boobs weren’t big and they were just saggy

Yasmine Ben-Omar

“I fit all the requirements but they wouldn’t have any of it. She said I need to go private and get a breast lift as they don’t do this on the NHS.

“A breast lift would make them look less saggy but it wouldn’t help with the heaviness of them or the pain.

“It felt horrible because I was trying to tell her what I was struggling with and they didn’t listen.”

According to the NHS, the availability for breast reduction surgery on the NHS varies depending on the eligibility criteria decided by the local integrated care board (ICB) and some don’t offer this service at all.

Patients might be considered for a breast reduction on the NHS if having larger breasts caused backache, shoulder pain, skin irritation, psychological distress and the inability to exercise.

Pain is not Yasmine’s only struggle…

As well as dealing with constant pain, Yasmine says she struggles to shop on the high street for clothes that fit and on the rare occasion she can work out, has to wear two sports bras.

After enduring cruel comments at school, Yasmine says she’s now regularly objectified by blokes due to her larger bust and has been ridiculed online and at the gym by the opposite sex.

She also says dating is tricky as she’s never sure whether a man is attracted to her as a person or her chest.

Yasmine said: “Exercising is really hard because I can’t do any high intensity stuff. I also can’t find gym clothes that fit me right.

“I have had creepy experiences at the gym of men coming up to me and saying weird things.

“It’s made me feel really horrible. Even from primary school I would get creepy comments, even as a little kid.

I have insecurities about my boobs…I’m 21 but have the breasts of someone who is 60

Yasmine Ben-Omar

“I’ve always been made to feel ashamed with my body that something is wrong with me.

“I always felt so odd about myself and out of place and uncomfortable, it’s not a nice feeling.

“I’ve had a lot of online creeps as well. People have taken photos I’ve posted of myself online in forums and discussed my breasts.

“It makes me not want to post online and not want to be seen and just cover them up.

“When someone talks to me [I think] ‘are they just talking to me because they have a weird fetish for my breasts?’ It makes me question whether they like me for me or not.

“It puts me off dating. I have insecurities about my boobs too, I’m 21 but have the breasts of someone who is 60.”

If I don’t get the surgery I will probably end up with crippling back problems in the future, which will cost the NHS more to fix

Yasmine Ben-Omar

Since her consultation, the marketing student says she has since submitted an appeal against her refused NHS reduction surgery and is now fundraising to undergo a private breast reduction.

Yasmine said: “A breast lift would just make my boobs look nicer without a bra but this won’t help me with my issues.

“In the UK it would cost me £10,000, which is just unrealistic for me.

“It would mean so much for me to get this surgery as it’s all I’ve ever wanted since I can remember.

“All I want is to feel normal and not be in pain 24/7 and not to feel harassed or uncomfortable around men.

“If I don’t get the surgery I will probably end up with crippling back problems in the future, which will cost the NHS more to fix.”

Kennedy News and Media

Kennedy News and Media

Kennedy News and Media

A spokesperson for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said: “Ms Ben-Omar has contacted MFT Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALs) team and PALS will be in contact with Ms Ben-Omar to discuss next steps.”

A spokesperson for NHS Greater Manchester said: “NHS funding for breast reduction surgery is determined on a case-by-case basis, based on clinical need. When making these decisions, there are clinical assessments by consultants and specialists who determine the most appropriate course of treatment by assessing it against an eligibility criteria set out by our commissioning policy.

“We understand the challenges and distress that can arise from concerns about breast size and the potential impact it can have on both physical and emotional wellbeing. If Yasmine feels her condition has not been properly assessed or is not happy with the advice she has received, we would encourage her to follow the appeals process.

“We are aware that waiting times for consultations and treatments can be a challenge, and we continue to work towards reducing these waiting periods to ensure patients receive timely care.”

To donate to Yasmine’s GoFundMe, click here.

I love coffee (okay, I don't just love it; I can't function without it), and I equally love sweets. So, since that fateful day 20 years ago when I had my first cup of coffee (alas, I needed a boost before taking my SATs), I've been addicted to coffee creamer. From simple French vanilla to fun seasonal flavors like peppermint mocha and the White Lotus-themed Thai iced coffee flavor currently in my fridge, I can't get enough. As a health editor, I know it's not good for me, but I've long considered it my one allowable vice. But have I been downplaying this? Is coffee creamer really bad for you? To find out, I spoke to several doctors—and they all said the same thing.

RELATED: Doctor Says to "Avoid These Energy Drinks Like the Plague."

When it comes to unhealthy fats and sugar, coffee creamer might not be that bad.

Many doctors were concerned with coffee creamers' high trans fat content due to hydrogenated oils. However, due to current dietary guidelines, most food manufacturers have stopped using hydrogenated oils.

The Coffee-Mate creamer I have in my fridge has 0 grams of trans fats, and it's made with high-oleic vegetable oil, a trans-fat-free oil that some studies say is, in fact, a healthier alternative to traditional vegetable and soybean oils.

In fact, I saw no trans fat in any of the other coffee creamer brands I looked at, including International Delight, 365 by Whole Foods, Starbucks, and Dunkin'.

These other brands did contain palm oil or milk and cream, which means they contain between 0.5 and 1 gram of saturated fat per one-tablespoon serving.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), "Saturated fats can cause problems with your cholesterol levels, which can increase your risk of heart disease."

However, the AHA recommends consuming no more than 13 grams of saturated fat per day. So, even if you use two tablespoons of coffee creamer, is it so bad? To put it in perspective, two tablespoons of half-and-half has 2 grams of saturated fat.

But coffee creamer contains significant added sugars.

At first, I looked at my coffee creamer and thought, "Five grams of sugar, not bad!"

However, the thing about those 5 grams of sugar per serving is that they're added sugars, meaning they are not naturally occurring and were added during processing.

Hussain Ahmad, MD, an experienced hospital doctor and consultant practitioner in the U.K., notes that added sugars "contribute to weight gain, make your body less responsive to insulin, and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes."

"It's suggested to consume no more than 25 grams of added sugar per day, and just one tablespoon of creamer may provide 5 grams of added sugar," contextualizes dietitian Kelly Jones RD, LDN, founder of Kelly Jones Performance Nutrition. "If using two servings or more per cup, that could mean reaching 40-50 percent of daily added sugar just in your coffee."

RELATED: 8 "Healthy" Foods That Are Actually Ultra-Processed, Dietitians Share.

Coffee creamers are also highly processed.

Perhaps my biggest takeaway from conducting this research is that most coffee creamers are highly processed, which Michael Chichak, MD, medical director at MEDvidi, says can "pose dire consequences on health when ingested on a regular basis."

Catherine Gervacio, RND, registered nutritionist-dietitian and a certified exercise nutrition coach working with WOWMD, points out that "artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives" can lead to inflammation and disrupt your gut health.

Ultra-processed foods have also been linked to colon cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and other serious health problems.

"To be specific on this, ingredients like mono- and diglycerides or sodium caseinate are highly processed," Gervacio notes of coffee creamers.

Yup, my Coffee-Mate creamer contains mono- and diglycerides, common emulsifiers. International Delight creamer does, too, along with sodium caseinate, another emulsifier and thickening agent.

Earlier this month, I reported on a new website called TrueFood.tech that was created by researchers at Mass General Brigham to publicize "the degree of processing of food items." It catalogs more than 50,000 common grocery items and ranks them based on how processed they are.

I went on the website and toggled to the coffee-related section.

Whole Foods 365 Hazelnut Coffee Creamer is one of the worst offenders, with a processing score of 85. International Delight Fruity Pebbles Coffee Creamer scored an 88.

RELATED: Doctors Say the Disinfecting Wipes You're Using Have "Significant" Health Risks.

Doctors recommend these healthier coffee creamers.

Califia Farms

Overall, doctors recommend avoiding most traditional coffee creamers and instead suggest unsweetened plant-based options made from almond, soy, or oat milk.

"Opting for a coffee creamer that has less sugar and saturated fat can benefit your blood sugar first thing in the morning, giving you more stable energy throughout the day, in addition to supporting your overall metabolic health," states Kaytee Hadley, RDN, functional medicine dietitian and founder of Holistic Health and Wellness.

Hadley works as a nutrition partner with Califia Farms and recommends the brand's Almondmilk Creamers: "They are USDA Certified Organic, have only 3 grams of sugar per serving and no saturated fat, dairy, gums, oils or artificial flavors making them a gut-friendly and metabolically healthy option." Jones, who is unaffiliated with the brand, says this is her favorite option, too.

"Malk creamer also offers a lower sugar option with just 2 grams of sugar per tablespoon, and Four Sigmatic creamer provides a low sugar option that includes L-theanine, which may help improve focus," Jones adds.

If you're looking for something creamy to add to your coffee, Gervacio and Ahmad both recommend a bit of natural coconut milk. "Make it flavorful by adding vanilla extract, cinnamon, or unsweetened cocoa powder," Gervacio suggests.

"Whole milk and half and half in moderation can also do wonders as [they] provide natural fats devoid of overly processed ingredients," adds Chichak. "For those who take their coffee sweeter, a sprinkle of natural sweeteners such as honey or pure maple syrup serves as the optimal alternative."

So, will I be ditching my coffee creamer? Most likely, yes. That's not to say I'll never have it, but to avoid all the processed ingredients, I'll probably stick with regular milk.

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