Jane Symons

Doctors have discovered a new generation of ‘medicines’ that will prolong life and prevent – or in some cases, reverse – diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke and other killers.

They will also reduce the risk of lifelimiting conditions such as dementia, arthritis, depression and COPD.

There are no nasty side-effects, no major shortages – and they will even be able to help protect against viruses like Covid-19.

It may sound too good to be true, but there really is a proven prescription for a healthier, happier and longer life – and it’s based on six simple ‘lifestyle medicines’.

Dr Shireen Kassam, consultant haematologist at King’s College Hospital in London and an expert in lifestyle medicines, explains: “Around 80% of the illnesses we deal with could be prevented by a lifestyle approach.”

The evidence is so overwhelming that earlier this year the Pharmaceutical Journal – the bible of the medicines industry – backed this approach with a special series on lifestyle medicine.

However, research for Puressentiel, which makes health-enhancing essential oil products, found 70% of consumers had not heard of lifestyle medicines – although two-thirds said they would give them a go.

Dr Rob Lawson, a GP who founded the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine says the benefits will depend on your age, general health and the personal ‘prescription’ you adopt – but gains are guaranteed.

There are six strands to lifestyle medicine – a healthy diet, regular physical activity, getting enough good quality sleep, minimising stress, building strong community ties and supportive relationships, and reducing your exposure to toxins.

“It’s all common sense stuff,” says Dr Kassam. “But we have become so removed from what is healthy, most of our focus is on sick-care, not healthcare.”

So, how can we put this prescription for health and happiness into effect? Dr Lawson says the key is to make sustainable changes and turn them into habits.

“It doesn’t take that much to go from being completely inactive to being a little more active, but in six to eight weeks you will notice real improvements.”

There will be knock-on benefits, too – for instance, getting more exercise will reduce stress, improve sleep and aid weight loss – so the positives soon add up. Here’s how you can start writing your own prescription for health and happiness.

Everyone knows we should eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and one study estimated that it will add a year to your life – yet only 28% of adults are hitting this target.

Make the effort to eat just one more serving a day and go for different colours to ensure a variety of nutrients.

Dr Kassam and Dr Lawson both advise against eating ultra-processed foods. These are manufactured foods with ingredients such as colourings,