A very warm welcome to the first official EHL newsletter! Each month we’ll be bringing you the latest health news, highlighting the issues which are important to your wellbeing and introducing you to the foods and activities which will help you achieve the healthy lifestyle that’s best for you.
Sunny start…
April really is a fantastic time of year – it starts with a day of fun and jokes, not to mention an extra hour of daylight as British summertime begins! Although there will be rain showers, getting outside when the sun does shine will boost your mood and energy as vitamin D (which has been shown to enhance mood) is produced from sunlight on our skin – just 10 minutes of sunlight a day is all you need to provide you with the vitamin D you need. This April make a conscious effort to walk in the rays – use your lunch hour or afternoon break to get outside and catch those 10 minutes of sunlight.
Foods of the month…
Seasonal is best and April brings a whole host of seasonal treat – spinach, strawberries, rosemary, cauliflower, asparagus, watercress, rhubarb and broccoli are all in season during April. Not only does seasonal food taste better, but it can actually be more nutritious. Make a pledge to buy at least one seasonal food a week, and aim to try at least one new fruit or vegetable this month. If you’re feeling more adventurous then why not make April the month to try out one of your local organic box schemes– delivered to your door and full of seasonal produce they’re a great way to try new fruits and vegetables and if you need inspiration, most of them come with a handy recipe guide. Abel and Cole work with over 60 British Farms to provide box schemes up and down the country. Click here to find out if they deliver in your area http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/Home.aspx
Be Bowel Aware…
April sees the start of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) which aims to reduce the stigma and embarrassment surrounding this increasingly common disease. Worryingly, bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK and every year around 35,000 people are diagnosed with the disease and sadly, around 16,000 people per year die from the disease. Risk factors include age (bowel cancer tends to affect people over the age of 60), family history, inactive lifestyles and a low fibre diet. The good news is that you can reduce your risk by being active and eating a low fat high fibre diet. To find out more about how you can take care of your digestive health, read this months feature…Are you Bowel Aware.
Marathon Fever…
April 13th sees the Flora London Marathon hit the streets with entrants hoping to complete the huge 26.2 mile course. Whilst this seems like an impossible feat for many of us, it’s a great way to get inspired to improve on your own fitness– if you fancy getting closer to the action then why not come to London to see the event first hand – each year almost a million people line the streets to watch the runners and the atmosphere is undoubtedly exhilarating. To find out more visit the official London Marathon site (http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/site/) for the spectator guide. If the marathon leaves you feeling motivated then why not take the opportunity to find a 5k race in your area and sign up – you don’t have to have any previous running experience, a simple walk run programme can have you ready to complete a 5k race in just 6 weeks. Race for Life is the UK’s largest women-only fundraising 5k event. Run up and down the country it’s a perfect way to get involved – find your nearest event here (http://www.raceforlife.org/findanevent/)
Are you waist aware?
Recently it was estimated that there are around 750,000 people in the UK who are living with Type 2 Diabetes but don’t know it. Left untreated diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney disease and nerve damage. However, if caught early the risk of serious health complications is greatly reduced. One of the biggest indicators of the risk of Type 2 Diabetes is a large waist measurement and to raise ‘waist awareness’ Diabetes UK have recently launched ‘Measure Up’ – a campaign to encourage men and women alike to get their waist measured – men with a waist measurement over 37 and women with a waist measurement over 31.5 inches are considered ‘at risk’. Anyone who has two or more risk factors (additional risk factors include being aged over 40, or 25 for people of Black and South Asian origin, or having a family history of Type 2 diabetes) are advised to get a free diabetes test. To find out where you can get a free test, visit the pharmacy locator (http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Measure_Up_-_are_you_at_risk_of_diabetes/Pharmacy-locator/) at Diabetes UK. If you do one thing this month, get waist aware!
That’s all for this month, but if there’s a health issue you’d like us to talk about, or something you’d like to see featured, we’d love to hear from you.
Until next month, wishing you a happy and healthy April.
Enjoy Healthy Living
Last Updated: April 14, 2008