ANNIE DEADMAN IS HERE TO HELP YOU, THE EASY WAY!
Need to get out of a bad health rut?
It can often be hard to know what to do first. Let’s look at my friend Jane. She has no serious conditions, but her general physical health is preventing her from living the life she wants and, if left to its own devices, may degenerate into a serious disease. Obviously, none of us know what’s around the corner, but there are basic things we can all do to give ourselves the best possible chance.
If you’re like Jane, I’d suggest starting with gut health and exercise. You probably already suspect that ready meals and your nightly half bottle of Chardonnay are for the chop, so write yourself a five-day food diary for full disclosure.
What someone eats will have a direct impact on their health, particularly with respect to their gut health and blood sugar. The trillions of bacteria which live in our gut (our microbiome) play a vital role in our immune system and overall health. Eating a diverse range of different coloured vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and fruit helps boost the gut microbiome without much effort. The key is that word – diversity.
I’d suggest packing in 30 different foods each week – even 1tsp of cinnamon counts as one. The more choice of foods, the more strains of bacteria are likely to flourish in the gut.
I’d also check Jane’s food diary for how much sugar and processed food she eats. A regular drip-drip effect of high-sugar foods can lead to inflammatory conditions, such as diabetes, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, so cutting down on these will have immediate benefits for the health of her blood, as well as energy levels.
Then there’s exercise. You might be dreading this bit, but all it means is a daily 45-minute dose of walking which tran
