Woman's Weekly Living Series August 2024

What you eat has such an impact on how well you feel, and how fit and healthy you are. In this issue, you’ll find out how food can help strengthen your bones and muscles, protect your joints and even blast your belly fat (p30). You’ll also discover what to eat to help your heart (p6), beat the bloat (p18) or lose up to 7lb in a week while recharging your energy (p10). Then there are our tasty recipes for healthier barbecues (p20), budget meals (p62) and lower-sugar desserts (p52). And turn to p66 for details of TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s new read about getting 30 plants into your week’s diet. Have your healthiest (and tastiest!) summer ever……

Secrets to a longer life Eat well, exercise regularly, don’t smoke and get enough sleep – that’s the health advice for a longer, healthier life. Even if you’re genetically predisposed to a shorter life, you can live around five years longer if you follow these healthy guidelines, according to research involving more than 350,000 Brits by the University of Edinburgh and the Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China. 3 OF THE BEST… SUNSHINE SKIN SAVERS Look after your complexion from within this summer with these clever supplements 1 REGENERATE Altrient Liposomal Vitamin C 1,000mg, £49.96 for 30 sachets, abundanceand health.co.uk Vitamin C supports the production of collagen and elastin, while helping skin retain moisture. 2 PROTECT Together Health Omega 3, £9.90 for 30 capsules, Tesco UK research found that…

Watch less than an hour of TV a day It could prevent one in 10 cases of heart disease, according to a recent study by Cambridge University. It found that people were far less likely to develop the condition than those who spent more time in front of the telly, regardless of their genetic risk. The research supports previous studies that have shown a link between heart disease and sedentary behaviour, but researchers think it’s not just being immobile that raises your risk, but the fact that you’re also likely to eat unhealthy snacks while watching TV. So if your viewing time is on the longer side, try to keep unhealthy snacks to a minimum and move more – for example, during ad breaks. INCLUDE WHOLEGRAINS ‘Wholegrains have been linked…

Whether it’s as herself, Gavin & Stacey’s Pam Shipman or Abigail’s Party’s Beverly Moss, there’s no denying that Alison Steadman is formidable. And, you could say, a force to be reckoned with. At 77 – she turns 78 on 26 August – she has no plans to retire and is the last person you’ll find complaining about the odd niggle of back pain. ‘There’s one thing I can’t bear – people moaning about getting old,’ the star states. ‘Ageing is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience. Going on about what you can’t do any more is boring and self-defeating.’ She adds, ‘Why not focus on what you can do, for God’s sake?’ While Alison knows that things aren’t quite the same as they were when she was in…

Shape up for summer and feel great in the process with this diet, devised by Yuri Elkaim, holistic nutritionist and author of The All-Day Energy Diet (£14.99, Hay House). It contains plenty of alkaline foods, which are easily digestible and nourishing. Try to: ✱ Eat slowly until you’re satisfied, then stop! Never come away from a meal feeling stuffed. ✱ Chew – ideally about 25 times per bite. This helps to break down your food so it’s better digested. ✱ Eat 75% of your food raw to retain nutrients. ✱ Don’t drink while you’re eating – it dilutes stomach acid and interferes with digestion. But drink mineral water and herbal teas when you’re not eating. ✱ Have a morning or afternoon snack. Try to include fruit, vegetables, seeds and grains.…

Summer’s here! But do you have the energy to enjoy it? Brits spend two hours and 56 minutes* a day feeling drained, which is more than 20 hours each week. ‘People going to their GP saying they are “tired all the time” is so common that it even has its own acronym: TATT,’ says Dr Annabel Bentley**. And, with only 8%*** of us waking up feeling refreshed each day, it’s no wonder we’re tired of being tired. Here’s what may be draining your energy – and what to do about it… You’re drinking too late Lighter evenings can make it tempting to indulge in a glass or two of wine in the garden. But, sadly, that al fresco tipple could be stealing your energy. ‘Drinking alcohol close to bedtime may…