THIS IS WHAT 51 LOOKS LIKE
MELINDA NICCI is chief executive and founder of Baby2Body, a fitness and tech company giving advice through pregnancy and motherhood. She lives in London with her two children.
CLEAN YOUR TEETH WITH STRAWBERRIES
A BIG, confident smile and healthy, white teeth just radiate vitality and youth. At the end of a meal, if I’ve eaten or drunk anything that could stain my teeth — such as red wine or coffee — I make sure to eat a few strawberries and chew slowly for a few minutes, covering my teeth. They contain malic acid, a natural enamel whitener, which can help to remove discolouration.
USE YOUR PHONE FOR SLEEP
SLEEP is the most restorative activity no matter our age. I find it difficult to drift off and while it may sound counterintuitive to use your mobile phone to help you sleep, I swear by the sleep-aid app Pzizz for a good slumber. It uses a soundtrack to play soothing sounds and relaxing rhythms designed to send you straight off.
GET PLANKING
REGULAR exercise is vital to feel healthy and energised, and it doesn’t matter how old we are, we’re no less capable! My quick trick to a toned tummy and firm arms is a daily two-minute plank. Place your forearms shoulder-width apart on the floor and push your body up with your feet. Keep your body straight, hips parallel to the floor, pulling your belly button in and making sure not to arch your back. If I can’t manage the two minutes in one go, I’ll do one minute in the morning and one in the evening.
KEEP HAIR NOURISHED
THERE are many ways we can keep our hair shiny, healthy and youthful, but one of my favourites is to make an allnatural deep conditioning mask. Every couple of weeks, I mix half an avocado with a few dollops of plain yoghurt and coat my hair. To make sure it really soaks in, I cover it with cling film or a shower cap and leave for half an hour before rinsing. It works brilliantly!
EAT THIS FOR VITALITY
THE mineral we often associate with children’s health — and forget is also vital for adults — is calcium. It can help to strengthen bones, give us energy, plump skin, keep wrinkles at bay and thicken hair. My favourite calcium-booster is a home-made smoothie with kale, apple, spinach and avocado — plus a dash of orange juice.