YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    The Slim Down
    • Gone are the days when all you had to do was choose between sunflower or olive oil.  Now it seems you can by the oil from just about every plant, nut or seed out there but should we be adding them to our stir fries or drizzling them over our salads?  Find out with our at a glance guide to 9 of the best.

      Best oils to cook with

      Top rated -  rapeseed oil
      Rapeseed oil contains omegas 3, 6 and 9, essential fatty acids so it's great for heart health, brain health and joint mobility.   It is also a rich, natural source of vitamin E — essential for healthy skin and a strong immune system. High in mono-unsaturated fats and with less than half the cholesterol raising, saturated fats of olive oil it is one of the few natural oils that can be heated to deep-frying temperature without its antioxidants, character, colour and flavour spoiling. In short, one of the best oils there is and what's more — some of the very best rapeseed oils are produced right here in Britain.

      Best all rounder - olive oil

      Read More »from All you need to know about oils
    • Gone are the days when all you needed to decide was whether to have double or single cream on your strawberries.  Now the dairy isle is jam packed with everything from Extra Thick Cream to Fat Free Greek Style Yogurt with numerous alternatives in between. So which is the healthier option and how many calories and fat do they contain?

      Find out with our 'at a glance' guide to the white stuff and fall in love with single cream all over again!

    • Exercise and healthy eating can go a long way towards controlling your waistline but to what extent are you battling against your genes?  Why not take our quiz to find out:

      1.  Were either or both your parents significantly overweight for most of their lives?
      Neither/don't know - 0
      Yes, one parent - 1
      Yes, both parents - 2

      2.  Do you have any brothers or sisters who have been significantly overweight for most of their lives?
      No - 0
      Yes, one - 1
      More than one - 2

      3. When did you first become overweight?
      After 20 - 0
      During my teens - 1
      Before my teens - 2

      4.  How difficult do you find it to lose weight?
      Not difficult at all - 0
      Reasonably difficult - 1
      Very difficult - 2

      5.  Where do you mainly store fat when you put on weight?
      On the stomach - 0
      On the hips and buttocks - 1
      All over - 2

      [See also: Six ways to eat yourself happy]

      6.  Do you have a similar body shape to that of
      Neither of your parents? - 0
      One of your parents? - 1
      Both your parents? - 2

      7.  How similar are you in weight

      Read More »from Battling the bulge? Are your ‘genes’ or your ‘jeans’ to blame?
    • Feeling the burn?  You're not alone.  In fact, over 6 million people in the UK experience heartburn every week but there is plenty you can do to avoid it.  Here's our top ten tips to becoming heart burn free.

      1. Try a probiotic drink.  These help to promote the good bacteria in the gut that keeps or digestives systems functioning as they should.

      2. Improve your posture.  Poor posture can exacerbate symptoms so sit up straight at your desk, walk tall with your shoulders back and abdominals pulled in or join a regular pilates or yoga class.

      3. Eat small but regular meals.  The discomfort of heartburn can make it tempting to skip meals but don't.  Long periods of time without eating can make symptoms worse, particularly if followed by over-sized meals or fatty, sugary snacks.

      4. Watch your waistline.  Carrying too much weight can increase abdominal pressure and make symptoms of heart burn worse.

      5. Reduce the amount of high fat meals and foods you consume.  Keep your intake of creamy

      Read More »from Top ten tips to being heartburn free forever
    • Eat your way to a great beach body with a two week diet rich in super healthy, super simple, great tasting foods ……

      How to follow this diet
      Choose a breakfast, lunch and evening meal from the choices above for the next 14 days. Limit yourself to a maximum of two cups of tea or coffee a day and just two glasses of alcohol a week. Drink a minimum of 4 pints (8 glasses of water) a day
      Two snacks are allowed per day, preferably to be eaten mid morning and mid afternoon consisting of:
      - a piece of fresh fruit
      - a low fat yogurt
      - a handful of nuts and seeds or
      - two wholegrain crackers topped with low fat cottage cheese.

      [Relevant: Become 'weight gain proof' this holiday season]

      Breakfasts
      1. Smoked salmon and two organic, omega 3 enriched scrambled eggs on two slices of wholegrain toast.

      2. Fresh fruit salad topped with a tablespoon of natural yogurt, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, four or five finely chopped walnuts and a drizzle of runny honey.

      3. Oatmeal Porridge made with skimmed

      Read More »from Be beach body ready in just two weeks!

    Pagination

    (92 Stories)