Holding back the years

Try our top time-beating tips

USE IT: Keep your grey matter working well with regular ‘brain training’. Jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, crosswords, word searches and whatever else makes you think will all improve your powers of concentration, your short-term memory and so, your self-confidence and self-esteem. Bio-Strath’s special herbal yeast formula can help, too.

LOSE IT: Weight gain can be a sign of a sluggish digestion and underperforming chemical defence system. Piling on the pounds can add years to your figure and your appearance, so take steps to shift it. Try Pure Plan Weight Control – a health drink containing green coffee extract that’s proven to slow down the absorption of sugars, and their conversion to fat. It also stimulates the burning off of fat reserves, kick-starting the metabolism to help you avoid the dreaded slimmer’s ‘plateau’. Just £24.95 for a 2 week course.

MOVE IT: Being sedentary can put as much strain on your body as smoking 20 cigarettes a day, while taking up exercise is one of the most
effective ways of stubbing out the habit. And far from tiring you out, exercise will give you more energy and enthusiasm for enjoying life to the full – helping you to regain that youthful sparkle.

REDUCE THE BOOZE: The chemical compounds found in grape skin and seeds (called ‘polyphenols’) help protect the long-term wellbeing of your heart by slowing down the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries. But that doesn’t mean all alcohol is good! Do enjoy a glass of wine with your meal, but beware overdoing it. Alcohol is toxic in excess – overindulge and you’ll look like you feel, as well as speeding your way to an early grave.

BOOST THE SNOOZE: Lack of sleep takes its toll on you, your body and all around you if, like most of us, you’re irritable and out-of-sorts as a result. Improve the quality of your sleep by working with your natural cycles – for example, introduce a regular bedtime, and get up at the same time every day, even at weekends. Go to bed in a darkened room after taking a warm bath to help you unwind, and steer clear of coffee, cola and a ‘nightcap’ if your mind is still buzzing when it’s time for some rejuvenating shut-eye.

AND COOL IT! Learn to relax. Try gentle stretching, controlled breathing or yoga exercises when you can feel the tension building, and try to adjust your thinking to see the positive, not negative side of situations that might make you want to strangle someone. Chill out with a glass of Biotta Organic Juice from £2.35 for a 500ml bottle.

All of the products featured in Feel Well, Be Well Extra are available from your local health store, or call 0161 483 1235 for details of your nearest stockist.