Under the microscope
Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 35, answers our health quiz
GET YOUR FIVE-A-DAY?
YES. I enjoy food and cooking, but I try to maintain a healthy balance. I love fish with salads and grilled veg or potatoes. I’m a big believer in breakfast and I’m a creature of habit — one slice of toast with Marmite, one with peanut butter, and I have lots of tea during the day.
HOW FIT ARE YOU?
ON A scale of one to ten, around a seven. My gigs are pretty physical, so they’re a good workout. Plus, I have three boys — Sonny, ten, Kitt, six, and Ray, two, who keep me active. While I try to go to the gym three times a week, I don’t enjoy it.
POP ANY PILLS?
NO. If I’m not getting enough from my diet, it’s my diet that needs changing rather than taking a pill. But if I feel my immunity is flagging, I’ll take some vitamin C.
ANY FAMILY AILMENTS?
MY LOVELY maternal grandmother died from breast cancer when I was 11; I still miss her. Because she got it post menopause I’ve been told that from a genetic angle, my risk is no higher than the next person.
COPE WELL WITH PAIN?
I’D LIKE to think I would, but it’s hard to judge. Even though I’ve had three children, I’ve never experienced labour as they were born by C-section, with Sonny and Kitt being born prematurely at 31 and 32 weeks respectively. I found that quite hard to accept because labour is such an important rite of passage at the end of your pregnancy.
WORST ILLNESS?
WITH my first two children I had pre-eclampsia, which can lead to dangerously high blood pressure. I was assigned bed rest but, within a week, I had to be rushed to hospital for an emergency C-section. When I had Ray, it was such a relief to have a healthy, full-term baby.
FAVOURITE FAMILY REMEDY?
COMFORT food such as ice cream, on the sofa with a duvet pulled up, cold flannel on the forehead and Calpol.
ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES?
I HAVE tried acupuncture, though not for any specific ailment. I wasn’t bowled over by it.
HANGOVER CURE?
I USUALLY pretend I don’t have one, as I’m a bit embarrassed! Stodgy food, like a bacon sandwich, goes down a treat.
ARE YOU A GOOD SLEEPER?
I’M LUCKY I can get by on little sleep — six hours normally, but in an ideal world, I’d get more.
ANY PHOBIAS?
I’M SQUEAMISH about door hinges because when I was younger I saw a little girl get two fingers crushed. I get very anxious if my kids’ hands are too near them.
LIKE TO LIVE FOR EVER?
KITT says he’d like to be a superhero who can make everyone live for ever. But I point out that it’s important to pass the baton to newer generations and let them live their lives.
SOPHIE is the face of Wrigley’s Chew O’Clock Challenge campaign to encourage families to chew sugar-free gum at 4pm every day for two weeks, to keep teeth healthy.