14 DAY TRIAL // Whether we believe advertisers or our grandmothers, we’re all prone to do one thing or another in an attempt to lead a healthier life, have a more toned body and keep old age at bay for as long as possible. Some of these “tricks” do hold water, but there are also those that are nothing but myth. Sleeping until late on weekends falls in the latter category for instance, experts say for the Daily Mail.
The Mail’s Matthew Barbour consulted with several specialists in order to learn of a few simple changes we can make to our current lifestyle and which can, in turn, translate into a definite improvement in the long run, whether it’s in the health, beauty or fitness department. As noted above, sleeping in late on weekends is something we should avoid to the best of our ability as it disrupts our sleep pattern and can give way to migraines.
One thing we should do, though, is to try and stand on one leg when brushing our teeth to strengthen the core muscles. “Stand on one leg when you’re brushing your teeth to work the deep core muscles in your abdomen which protect your back. Far too many people never work these deep muscles, and this is the perfect opportunity to give them a short but effective workout by creating a degree of instability – it’s like sitting on an exercise ball at your desk. Try brushing with one hand and standing on the opposite leg for one minute, then reverse – the more variation you put in, the better the results,” Tim Hutchful, chiropractic and ergonomic consultant in Leicester, tells the Mail.
Another tip is to stay hydrated – but not to fall prey to advertisers who tell us only bottled water can do the trick. We can get the required amount of liquid in countless ways, while also watching our figure, staying healthy and, last but not least, being environmentally friendly. “Despite what the bottled water companies tell us, that can be almost any fluid: soup, tea, coffee, even beer – literally anything except spirits, which will leave you peeing out more fluid than you’ve taken in. And you’ll also be taking in around 400ml of fluid by getting your five-a-day fruit and vegetables, which are about 95 per cent water. Even bread is about a third water, and any protein or fats you take in are metabolized into carbon dioxide and water,” Catherine Collins, chief dietitian at St George’s Hospital in London, says.
Wearing low heels all the time, as opposed to just high heels or just flats, is yet another tip we should bear in mind when it comes to improving the quality of our life. This will help us correct our posture and work the leg muscles, experts say. Speaking of working the muscles, we should also try to do some exercises in ad breaks – and the best way to do that is by purchasing an exercise ball and keeping it close when we’re watching TV. For more on these tips – and much more – please refer here.