
happy Life Secrets...
10 tips for a happier, healthier life
There’s no secret – the simplest things are often the best, says
nutritionist Dr John Briffa, if we want to feel good all year round
1 Eat ‘primally’ Common sense dictates that the
best diet is one based on foods we’ve been eating the longest in terms
of our time on this planet. These are the foods that we’ve evolved to
eat and are best adapted to. Studies show that a ‘primal’ diet made up
of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, as well as meat, fish and eggs,
is best for weight control and improvement in risk markers for
illnesses, such as heart disease and diabetes. This ‘go primal’ food
philosophy will enable you to cut through the marketing hype and dietary
misinformation, and allow you to make healthy food choices quickly and
confidently.
2 Keep hydrated Water makes up two-thirds of the
body and performs a plethora of functions, including acting as a
solvent, carrier of nutrients, temperature regulator and body
detoxifier. Maintaining hydration can have a profound influence on our
vitality and energy levels, including mental alertness. Aim to drink
enough water to keep your urine a pale yellow colour throughout the
course of the day.
3 Eat mindfully In our fast-paced world, there can
be a tendency to eat while distracted and shovel in more food than we
need and, at the same time, miss out on culinary pleasure. Many of us
will benefit from eating mindfully. Some things to think about here are
avoiding eating when distracted, eating more slowly, and taking time to
taste food properly. One particular thing to focus on is chewing your
food thoroughly – not only does this help us savour food, it also
assists the digestive process.
4 Get plenty of sunlight in the summer… Sunlight,
and the vitamin D this can make in the skin, is associated with a wide
spectrum of benefits for the body including a reduced risk of several
forms of cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis, as
well as improved immune function. As a rule of thumb, vitamin D is made
when our shadow is shorter than our body length, ie when the sun is high
in the sky. While burning is to be avoided, get as much sunlight
exposure as possible for optimal health.
5… and in the winter Low levels of sunlight in the
winter can cause our mood to darken. Even when it’s cold outside, it
pays to get some external light exposure in the winter, say during
lunchtime. Another option is to invest in a sunlight-simulating device
and use this daily from October through to March.
6 Get enough sleep Sleep has the ability to optimise
mental and physical energy, and optimal levels of sleep (about eight
hours a night) are linked with reduced risk of chronic disease and
improved longevity. One simple strategy that can help ensure you get
optimal amounts of sleep is to go to bed earlier. Getting into bed by
10pm or 10.30pm is a potentially useful investment in terms of your
short- and long-term health and wellbeing. Shutting down the computer or
turning off the TV early in the evening is often all it takes to create
the time and space for earlier sleep.
7 Walk regularly Aerobic exercise, including
something as uncomplicated and low-impact as walking, is associated with
a variety of benefits for the body and the brain, including a reduced
risk of chronic diseases, anti-anxiety and mood-enhancing effects. Aim
for a total of about 30 minutes of brisk walking every day.
8 Engage in some resistance exercise Resistance
exercise helps to maintain muscle mass and strengthens the body. This
has particular relevance as we age, as it reduces the risk of disability
and falls. Many highly useful exercises can be done at home, such as
press-ups, sit-ups and squats. Invest in a
Dyna-Band or dumbbells to extend your home routine to other exercises, too.
9 Practise random acts of kindness Random acts of
kindness are good for givers and receivers alike. It could be a quick
call or text to someone you care about or have lost touch with, or
showing a fellow motorist some consideration, or giving up your seat on a
train or bus, or buying someone lunch or giving a spontaneous bunch of
flowers.
10 Practise the art of appreciation Modern-day
living tends to be aspirational and we can easily find ourselves chasing
an ever-growing list of goals, many of which can be material. Some of
us could do with spending more time focusing not on what we don’t have,
but on what we do. Our mood can be lifted by giving thanks for anything
from our friends and family to a beautiful landscape or sunset.