​Just like a car needs fuel to make it run, your body needs the right kind of nutritional fuel. The key to healthy eating is balance, variety and moderation. The right balance of foods will make sure that your body gets most of what it needs in terms of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fibre to stay healthy

You are what you eat
The closer a food is to its natural state the better it is for you. Unprocessed foods provide original nutrients that prevent deficiencies and keep your body in peak condition.

Did you know that healthy eating:

• Lowers the risk of disease
• Increases productivity and energy levels
• Improves moods, memory, learning and concentration
• Improves immunity, growth and repair and so makes you stronger

What are healthy foods?

• Vegetables including root vegetables and green leafy vegetables
• Fruits
• Meat, fish and eggs
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Foods in their natural state ie raw and fresh
• Lightly cooked food ie steaming vegetables and slow oven roasting meats

Reinvigorate your diet

Top Tips for Improving your diet

• Changing your eating habits should be a gradual process. Don’t try and make drastic changes overnight. Set small, realistic goals to be achieved weekly or monthly.
• Start by adding good things to your diet before removing bad things. Once you’re used to eating and enjoying the good new additions in your diet, you’ll be better placed to start the process of removing the bad things.
• When you’re ready to start removing bad things from your diet, do it one food (or drink) item at a time, and slowly get into the habit of not eating those things.
• Eat regular meals – skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating.
• Many of us skip breakfast and replace it with some sort of chemical stimulant like caffeine, nicotine or chewing gum. If you can’t stomach the thought of breakfast try and at least have something light and nutritious like a piece of fruit.
• Grocery Shopping – plan your menu in advance to avoid unnecessary shopping trips. Make a list and stick to it. Don’t go shopping when you are hungry. Buy lots of fresh produce - lean meats and fish, if you are unable to buy fresh fruit and vegetables choose frozen over canned as they retain more of their nutrients.
• Snack swaps – cut down or swap unhealthy snacks for fresh fruit and berries which should help to curb your craving for sweets. Swap your TV snacks for crisp raw vegetables or nuts.

​Modern Life is anything but Simple. We are in an age of expansion not seen before and doesn’t look like slowing anytime soon. We juggle multiple roles, chase our never ending to do lists and many of us are entrapped in the web of technology as it advances and expands and intrudes into every corner of our existence, where not even the bedroom or the bathroom provide solace, anxious we’ll miss the latest blog or txt or ‘like’. The expectation we place on ourselves and those imposed upon us have never been greater – and the very things that may serve to help us maintain balance including solitude, down time, ordinary pleasures, connecting with nature and true connection (no device) time with family and friends are fast becoming redundant in our over stimulated, distraction laden daily lives. 

Did you know that around 60% of our body weight is made up of water? It is an essential element that your body can’t produce. You can survive for weeks without food, but only a couple of days without water, unlike camels, we aren’t lucky enough (depending on how your look at it) to be able to store water in humps. 

​Water is responsible for the transport of nutrients, oxygen and waste products, as well as regulating your body temperature, so getting enough fluid each day is important for good HEALTH.

How much water should you drink?

If you guessed the answer was 2 litres, you are not far off, but this may not be right for everyone.

The ideal amount is actually ½ your body weight in ounces of water per day

Weight =7 stone (98lbs) you should drink 49 oz of water (1.4 litres)

Weight = 10 stone (140lbs) you should drink 70 oz of water (1.9litres)

Weight = 13 stone (182lbs) you should drink 91 oz of water (2.7litres)

And if you are very active, sick or taking medication this may need to be increased to 2/3 or ¾ of your body weight.

The biggest mistake that people usually make is to wait until they are thirsty before they take on fluids. During the Summer we spend hours out in the sun, at the beach or playing sports which makes us sweat out even more water , so it’s vital that we nourish the body with water.

Tricks for staying well hydrated

• Make water your drink of choice
• To add some flavour and variety add fresh fruit and let it sit for a minimum of 30 mins
• Drink a glass of water after waking up, with meals and when taking a break during the day
• Drink water at room temperature so your body doesn’t have to expend energy stabilizing it to your body’s temperature
• Steer clear of caffeine based drinks, try herbal teas as an alternative
• Avoid drinks with artificial sweeteners, these include most fizzy drinks, sports/energy drinks , frappes/mochas etc. Artificial sweeteners have been linked to a variety of neurological side effects as well as associated with weight gain!

Obviously water is the best source of hydration, but there are lots of foods you can eat to keep you hydrated during the Summer. Cucumbers are made up mostly of water and they also contain a lot of nutrients and are great for putting the potassium back into your body. Munch on water-based snacks such as watermelon, pineapple, berries and green salads as they contain many hydrating elements as well as additional nutrients.

Stay Healthy with Water!

Restful sleep is one of the pillars of health and getting a good night’s sleep should be at the top of your to-do list. Everyone knows there’s nothing like a good night’s sleep for feeling refreshed and alert in the morning. Sleep is important to maintaining your health; without it you become more susceptible to health problems. Failure to obtain quality sleep may lead to poor alertness, lack of attention, reduced concentration, decreased work and academic productivity, and even car accidents.