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Top tips for a healthy life

Discover how small lifestyle changes can make a big difference to your wellbeing
 

How many units of alcohol do you drink a day?

The government advises women to drink no more than 2-3 units* a day (3-4 for men) and to have a couple of alcohol-free days each week. 
 

When did you last visit the dentist?

It’s important to keep teeth and gums healthy to prevent serious complications, so don’t miss your regular dental check-ups – and floss teeth daily. 

 

What's your waist measurement?

Extra weight around your middle – a measurement of more than 80cm (32in) for women and (94cm) 37in for men – is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.  
 

Do you eat oily fish?

Oily fish, such as sardines, pilchards, mackerel or salmon, are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help prevent heart disease, so aim to eat one or two portions every week. If you’re vegetarian, opt for flaxseed oil or walnuts instead.  

 

How many portions of fruit and veg do you eat a day?

Five portions is the daily minimum for good health. Frozen and tinned fruits and vegetables count towards your total (as well as fresh). Try to eat a variety of colours to get a wide range of nutrients.  

 

Do you smoke?

We all know that smoking cigarettes can cause cancer, heart disease and lung diseases. If you’re a smoker, call the NHS Stop Smoking Service on 0800 022 4332 or ask your GP for help with quitting.

   

Do you sunbathe or use sunbeds?

If you’re spending time outside, it’s best to apply a sunscreen of SPF15 or higher and a four-star UVA rating, to help protect against skin cancer – and stay away from sunbeds altogether. For more advice, visit www.cancerresearchuk.org/sunsmart (opens in new window).

 

How much do you exercise?

Taking 30 minutes of moderate exercise, five days a week is all you need to feel great and boost your health. Any activity counts – take the stairs instead of the lift, dance to your favourite tunes or go for a walk in the park. For more ideas, visit www.nhs.uk/change4life.

 

*A pint of typical-strength bitter contains just over 2 units, as does a standard (175ml) glass of 12% ABV wine. For more details, visit www.drinkaware.co.uk (opens in new window)

 
What are your top tips?  

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When going through the menopause I found that foods containing plant oestrogen helped to relieve the unpleasant symptoms, such as alfalfa, bean shoots, parsley, basil, and sage.

Patricia Ormerod, Cheadle added on 11 August 2010 at 4:37pm
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Love the tip about flowers Lynn. Some advice I take is not to save all those wonderful clothes and shoes and accessories just for ‘special occasions’. Every day is special so wear whatever makes you feel good every day. Even going to work, if you put on something you like rather than throwing on any old thing, it really does make you feel good.

Sandra Wardle, Kent added on 12 July 2010 at 3:38pm
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Another tip to soothe sunburn is aloe vera gel, which helps relieve burns in general. I was on holiday in Barbados many years ago and local men were selling fresh aloe vera on the beach that they had collected from cactus. Charging quite a lot actually but it was a necessity at the time as we weren’t used to the strong sun. Only now that it is available in local shops do I know what I was using all those years ago. Very enterprising! And it works instantly too

Michael, Dorset added on 12 July 2010 at 1:37pm
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I got badly sunburnt recently, which made me look (and feel!) a bit daft. I took the advice of a friend and squeezed a few vitamin E capsules over the affected area, which really helped after a while, and apparently helps to repair the skin as well as offering relief. Try it. Or better still, stick some sun cream on first!

Paul Brady, Levenshulme added on 12 July 2010 at 11:16am
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For an instant lift, keep a vase of fresh flowers in a place where you can see them throughout the day - they will give you an instant lift, and anyone who walks into the room too. Works for me anyway!

Lynn, Somerset added on 6 July 2010 at 2:54pm
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