5 a Day

You really are what you eat.  You can make small changes to your lifestyle that will make you feel so much better!  Our top 5 tips for a healthier diet:

1. Drink water!  Yes, you've heard it all before, but it really does make a difference.  Try to drink at least 2 litres per day and you will see your skin improve, you will feel less hungry, more energised and it helps to improve our mood!  Also great for kidney health and aiding digestion.
2. Eat your 5 a day!  Fruit and veg are a great source of natural vitamins and minerals and also of dietary fibre.  They are low in fat, sugar, salt and calories and you can eat more to feel fuller.  They can help to lower blood pressure, prevent many health conditions such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease and are good for digestion and eye health.  At least 1/3rd of your daily intake of food should be from this group and if you are not a big fan, try smoothies or milkshakes with blitzed fruit, or disguising veggies in stews, soups and sauces.
3. Eat less sugar, salt and saturated fat - try to make healthier choices if you can.  Sugar is linked with obesity and of course is not bad for your teeth, salt can raise your blood pressure and increases risks of heart disease and stroke and saturated fat increases the amount of cholesterol in the blood which also increases the risk of heart disease.
4. Eat 3 meals a day - and don't skip breakfast!  A healthy breakfast will fire up your metabolism and give you the best possible start to the day; you have more chance of losing weight (not gaining it) if you do.  Try not to eat too late in the day and avoid high calorie meals just before bedtime.
5. Balance & Variation - eating a balanced diet means including foods in the 5 major food groups; Protein, Dairy, Fruit & Veg, Starchy Carbs and Good Fats to ensure you get what your body needs every day.  And try to vary your diet; try new things and give your body a variety of choice - and make home made meals where you can, avoiding highly processed foods that are often loaded with salt, sugar and bad fats.