Australia is blessed with fabulous climates and fertile soil. We are so lucky to have access to local fruit and veg helping to keep food tasting as it should.
It’s surprising therefore, to know that most Australians eat only about half of the recommended quantity of fruit.
For an average adult, 2 serves of fruit and 5 serves of vegetables are recommended on a daily basis.
Not only are fruit and veg packed with vitamins and minerals essential to good health, but they contain fibre which is thought to reduce the risk of some cancers, such as colorectal cancer.
So next time you’re out shopping be sure to pop some colourful fruit and veg in your basket.
Sometimes we get carried away with the hustle and bustle of life and make little time to reflect and think about our day. Whilst smashing goals is great, it’s also really important to look after your mindset.
So, will you spare 5 minutes of your time to take a breather?
Over 1 million Australians suffer from Osteoporosis, a condition where bones become brittle and weak and are more likely to fracture. This can be prevented by exercise and ensuring a good intake of calcium and vitamin D.
Exercising regularly can help achieve greater peak bone mass than those who don’t. For most people, bone mass peaks in the third decade of life, after that time we can begin to loose bone.
The best exercises to help gain bone mass are weight bearing and resistance exercises. These include walking, jogging, climbing stairs, dancing and lifting weights. It is recommended to aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise at least 3 times a week.
So if you imagine your bones as a bank, the more regular exercise you put in the less risk of osteoporosis you’ll have in the future.
Heart disease is a major cause of health problems and death in Australia. The good news is, it’s often preventable. Here are my top tips to keep your heart ticking along nice and strong:
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Reduce consumption of foods that are high in saturated fats such as butter
- Exercise regularly after checking with your health provider. This could be a simple stroll on the beach or a brisk walk
- Stop smoking
- Cut down on alcohol
- Keep stress levels to a low and do activities that make you feel happy
- See you doctor regularly for a heart health check up.
If you are concerned about your heart or would like a check up, pop by and see me in clinic.
Each day 50 Australians needlessly die of smoking related diseases.
This World No Tobacco Day, I’m asking you to consider your smoking habits because once you quit, the risk of smoking related diseases reduces in all age groups.
Quitting before the age of 30 reduces your risk of lung cancer by 90% compared to someone who continues to smoke throughout their life.
After 15 years of not smoking, your stroke risk has reduced to close to that of a person who has never smoked and within 2-5 years of quitting, your risk of getting a heart attack and stroke also drops significantly.
Help is available from your local GP, your pharmacist and the Quitline.
Don’t be part of the statistic, make a change today. 🚭
