Under the microscope
Cookery author Ella Mills, 25, answers our health quiz
CAN YOU RUN UP THE STAIRS?
RUNNING is my worst nightmare. I did the Royal Parks half marathon last year in London and have never hated something more. I go to two exercise classes a week — spinning and yoga.
GET YOUR FIVE A DAY?
I TRY! It’s hard when you’re busy. I eat vegan mostly, but if a friend makes a chocolate gateau, I’ll have a bite.
EVER DIETED?
I’M ANTI-DIET. I’m 5 ft 8 in and don’t own scales. I go by how my jeans feel.
ANY VICES?
THE sun. I’m like a lizard. For my honeymoon last May, we went to The Maldives [she married Matthew Mills, 32, son of politician Tessa Jowell] and stayed in a hut on the beach.
HEREDITARY AILMENTS?
A HISTORY of heart attacks on my dad’s side but my mum’s family are the healthiest people. My great-grandma, Jaggy, died last year, aged 100.
WORST ILLNESS?
I WAS diagnosed with postural tachycardia syndrome at 19, so my autonomic nervous system didn’t function properly. My heart rate would go from 60 to 180 in a few seconds. I had palpitations, my blood pressure would drop, my digestive system was a mess and I had allergies. I was in hospital for five months in 2011 and in bed for most of the next year. I found a way to manage some symptoms using diet and lifestyle.
POP ANY PILLS?
I WAS on beta-blockers for my heart, and antihistamines to control my allergic reactions. I took antibiotics for two and a half years. Now, I prefer the natural route but if infections [normally bladder] come back I take antibiotics.
ANYTHING REMOVED?
IN MY last year at school I developed a marble-sized lump on my left leg — erythema nodosum, an inflammation of the fat cells under the skin. I had it removed under local anaesthetic.
IS SEX IMPORTANT?
YES. Having a connection with someone and not being on your phone is good.
EVER BEEN DEPRESSED?
YES. At 19 to 21 all my friends were going out, but because of my illness I couldn’t join them, so I felt isolated.
HANGOVER CURE?
IF I FEEL ropey after a drink at the weekend I’ll have a banana, frozen berries, spinach, almond milk, oats and peanut butter smoothie. It helps.
WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT?
GOING out of business. We’re expanding a lot and employ 60 people.
BIGGEST PHOBIA?
HEIGHTS. Recently we were in LA and drove through some mountains. I was panicking we would fall off the cliff.
LIKE TO LIVE FOR EVER?
IF I WERE healthy then maybe, but at 100 years old my great-grandmother was bored out of her mind and so frail. Deliciously ella With Friends is out now (yellow Kite, £25).