Healthy living
There is no secret to living a healthy life, a good diet and exercise is essential. And everyone can make small changes to their lives to stay fit and healthy.
Smoking , drinking alcohol to excess and stress all contribute to make us unhealthy and unfit and can lead to diseases which can kill , such as cancer and heart disease.
Smoking
Giving up smoking can be difficult but the health benefits are enormous.
There are a number of groups which can help you if you want to give up:
- Fag Ends run by the Roy Castle Foundation offers help and support to anyone wanting to give up smoking. You can contact them by phone on 0800 195 2131 or call in at any one of the drop in centres listed on the Roy Castle website.
- The NHS Quit Line is on 0800 169 0 169
- The Giving up smoking website from the NHS gives helpful tips , and advice and information about giving up smoking.
- www.yourfirststop.org offers expert advice, specialist stop smoking support information, details on Nicotine Replacement Therapies, lots of useful tips and an Ask our pharmacist email service, where you can submit your quitting cigarettes questions.
Drinking
Drinking alcohol in moderation has been proven to have some beneficial effects. But drinking too much can lead to ill health and in extreme cases even death.
If you are worried that you are drinking too much or just want to cut back for health reasons visit the Alcohol Concern organizations website How's your Drinking.
We all have some stress at some time in our lives but too much stress is bad for us and can lead to depression and also leaves you vulnerable to other illnesses.
For more advice an information about dealing with stress visit the NHS Direct website which give information about stress and treatment and useful links to other websites which may help.
Eating for health
You don't have to give up the things you enjoy to be healthy. A balanced diet which includes a variety of foods is best. If you eat a variety of foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products.
Also include low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, and pulses. Drink lots of water and go easy on the salt, sugar, alcohol, and saturated fat.
Here are some tips for healthy eating at home, work, and elsewhere to help you get started.
Try some of these ideas:
- Make healthy choices a habit.
- Choose fruit instead of chocolate
- Drink water instead of fizzy drinks
- Cut down on tea and coffee.
- Prepare meals and snacks at home. This is a great way to save money, eat healthy, and spend time with your family.
- Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits per day.
Remember physical activity! Aim for at least 30 minutes (adults) or 60 minutes (children) of moderate-intensity physical activity five or more days of the week. If you are just starting to be physically active, remember that even small increases provide health benefits.
Check with your physician first, and then start with a few minutes of activity a day and gradually increase, working your way up to 30 minutes. If you already get 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a day, you can gain even more health benefits by increasing the amount of time that you are physically active or by taking part in more vigorous-intensity activities.
Liverpool Taste for Health
For more information visit the new Liverpool taste for health website , which supports the Taste for Health Programme . This programme is the food and health action plan for Liverpool.
Useful Links
British Nutrition Foundation
Phone: 020 7404 6504
Website: http://www.nutrition.org.uk
For general information on healthy eating, send an A4 sae.
High Holborn House, 52-54 High Holborn, London WC1 6RQ
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 4850
Textphone: 020 7210 5025
Website: http://www.dh.gov.uk
The Department of Health aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people in England.
Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS
Food and Drink Federation
Phone: 020 7836 2460
Website: http://www.foodfitness.org.uk
Healthy eating and drinking advice for consumers, from the Food and Drink Federation.
6 Catherine Street, London WC2B 5JJ