Insomnia makes us feel run down, lethargic, irritable and unfocused as well lower our immunity making us more vulnerable to colds and flu. Having insomnia is frustrating and debilitating for the individual and you may have already tried out several different insomnia tips to no avail. Keep trying, what works for one person may not work for you and vice versa.

Top 10 things to try out if you have insomnia, perhaps one of these methods will work for you?

1. See a doctor
2. Take a relaxing warm bath before bed
3. Get a massage before bed (if you can!)
4. Listen to relaxation music
5. Try out a hypnotherapy session
6. Drink warm milk or a malt drink before bed
7. Drink a herbal tea such as camomile
8. Avoid caffiene, alcohol and tobacco just before bed
9. Avoid naps during the day
10. Don’t sleep in (difficult when you have insomnia but very effective)

Breathing is the most essential part of Yoga exercise. You need to be able to control your regular breathing pattern to help successfully complete a Yoga pose. You should never hold your breath during a pose because that stops the flow of oxygen around the body and results in Lactic acid being produced as a means for your body to acquire oxygen. This acid is toxic to us and Yoga aims to detoxify the body not increase dangerous toxic levels.

You should also ensure that your breathing pattern is never forced or strained. This is a sign that you need to either stop the pose you are in or ease it out a little bit. During Yoga you need to be relaxed and comfortable, if you feel uncomfortable at any time you should come out of the pose immediately.

For Yoga beginners you can expect to be able to hold each pose for approximately 3 breaths but only for most poses. Some poses may be more difficult for you if you are a complete beginner.

We all know that alcohol when you drink too much is bad for you and many of us know that alcohol in moderation can be good for you. Finding the balance between these two can be difficult especially when given conflicting messages about units. Is a glass of wine every day a unit? Well, that depends on the size of the glass.

There are two different things to consider when you consume alcohol. The first is how much liquid there is, and the second is what the percentage alcohol content is. Both the size and strength of your drink has an affect on the unit size.

Here’s how you can calculate the units you drink and avoid stepping over the moderation mark:

Find out the percentage of alcohol in the drink (%ABV)

Find out how much you are drinking in a glass (175ml, 250ml, 1 pint…)

Multiply both of these values together and then divide by 1,000.

For example: 175ml of red wine with an alcohol content of 13%
175ml x 13% = 2275
2275 / 1000 = 2.275 units

The humble apple is not so humble when it comes to health. Drinking a cup of fresh pure apple juice in the morning (make sure it’s fresh and not from concentrate) will give you a large variety of long term health benefits as well as ticking off a box for your five a day.

Apple extract has been recorded as having the second highest level of antioxidants present when compared to other typically consumed fruits. Apples contain a range of Phytochemicals which are well documented as being powerful antioxidants.

In fact apples have been shown to help reduce cholesterol, inhibit the spread of cancer cells, reduce the risk of asthma, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

So be sure you eat your apple a day to keep the doctor away!

Pets have a large range of benefits associated with them. We’re not just talking about being cute, adorable and tons of fun. Pets are great for all sorts of reasons including being a great benefit to your health and well being.

Petting your family friend whether it is a cat or dog can help reduce stress levels and promote a healthy blood flow around your body (for both you and your pet!). Your pet will appreciate regular stroking and petting because it is one of the key signs of affection and can soothe and relax both of you.

Having a dog in particular is good for people who need a bit more energy in their lives. Taking your dog for regular walks in the mornings and evenings will help keep not just your dog healthy and happy but also help you get some walking exercise into your day and enjoy the fresh air outside.

There are many reasons why you should stop eating too many sugar filled candy treats. The top contenders to stop eating sweets are the risk of obesity, tooth decay and diabetes. One of the main problems we face today as a modern family is how we can get our kids to eat more healthily. It’s very distressing to hear tales of parents allowing their kids to become obese at a young age and letting them eat what they want. As parents it’s our role to make sure we look after our kids and keep them healthy and happy whilst in our care and even when they are all grown up themselves.

But how do you get your kid to stop eating sweets? First remove the temptations in the home. Buy healthy food stuffs only, fresh fruit is always a good thing to have plenty of around the home. If your child asks for a snack they can eat an apple or other such healthier alternative. If they don’t want the apple, they aren’t really hungry so don’t give in to them. It can be hard, but stick with it and stand your ground. As soon as the kid knows they can make you give in they will continue to do it.

Second, get the support of family and other people who look after them. make sure that whent hey go to Nanna’s house they can have the occasional treat but they don’t get loaded with crisps and pop. Your family will understand and respect your wishes if you talk to them about it.

Make sure you child has a pre-packed lunch without school pocket money for Tuc shop and lunch time snacks and candy machines. Give them lots of healthy treats to eat in their lunch box so they have more than enough healthy food to keep them going.

Folic acid is very important to protecting your baby’s health during and even prior to pregnancy. If you are trying to conceive for a baby you should ensure you have a healthy dose of folic acid in your diet. Folic acid is so important for your little one’s health you could be putting your baby’s life at risk without it. The problem is, folic acid is not one of the main “buzz words” when it comes to health. Everyone shouts about vitamins, cod liver oil and garlic but many mothers to be become pregnant unaware of the importance of Folic Acid for their baby.

You can take a daily supplement whilst pregnant to fill in this gap of folic acid in our diet and also try to buy more bananas which are rich in Folic Acid, especially if trying to conceive.

If you are diabetic it can be troublesome finding recipes that cater to your needs. Try out this fun and colorful Avocado, Tomato and Pepper salad which is sure to brighten up your table without you worrying about the sugar levels.

All you need for this great salad is:

1. 2 Avocados (remove the stone, peel, and cut into small cubes)
2. 1 red onion (Chopped)
3. 1 Pepper (Your choice of color, yellow is the sweetest and green is more bitter)
4. 1 Large ripe red tomato (chopped of course)
5. A small bundle of fresh chopped coriander
6. 1/2 Lime juice (fresh, avoid the bottles of the stuff)
7. Salt and Black Pepper according to taste.

Then it’s simple, just mix them up in a bowl and Bingo!

Get a great kick start to the day and also take care of one of your portions of fruit and veg at the same time. There’s no better way to start the day than with a blend of pure fresh fruit to get you revitalized and provide a large portion of those essential vitamins we need every day.

All you need for a fantastic fruit smoothie:

1. 140g fresh strawberries
2. 60g frozen blueberries
3. 2 whole bananas (peeled, top and tailed and cut into medium chunks)
4. 110ml fresh orange juice (not from concentrate, get the good stuff!)
5. 370g low fat plain yoghurt

That’s all you need to make the perfect smoothie. Now just put it all in a blender and hit Go! Make sure you pulse the blender a bit to get everything blended nicely until smooth.

This is a great way to start the day off in the morning, especially if you aren’t big on breakfast you can easily fit this healthy morning drink into your routine.

You may find it difficult to get enough exercise into your working week to keep you fit healthy and trim. This is especially true if you work in an office environment. Working in an office typically produces tummy and bum fat because you work with your brain and not with your body. For people who have long commuting times it can be especially hard to go the gym after work as well and that’s if you feel up to it after a grueling day at the office.

There are ways you can lose weight at the office without doing star jumps at your computer and receiving funny looks from colleagues.

1. If your work is close enough, try to walk to work or cycle to work instead of catching the bus or train or driving in. You’ll not only lose weight and stay healthy but you’ll also be helping the environment too.
2. If your work has a lift installed then don’t take the easy way out and use the lift to go to the first or even second floor. Take the stairs instead and tone up your legs and bum by doing so.
3. Don’t eat your lunch at your desk. Take a refreshing break outside and walk to the nearest park or suitable seating area. You’ll get exercise from the walk over there and feel more refreshed and ready for the afternoon ahead.

Newer Posts »