Six steps to better health – without spending a fortune
1 LOOK AFTER YOURSELF
THERE is no need to spend money on an expert if you know you have problems with weight, fitness or alcohol. You will not go far wrong if you do at least two and a half hours of fast walking a week and an hour a week of vigorous exercise.
Cut down on snacking and sugary foods and ensure you eat plenty of oily fish plus lots of fruit and vegetables. Keep alcohol down to just half a dozen pints of beer or glasses of wine a week.
The National Health Service offers fitness tips on its Live Well website.
2 THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
YOU do not have to just call your doctor. Your local pharmacy can be a wealth of knowledge and offer practical advice on health concerns. They also sell kits for those who want to know more about their medical condition.
These include blood pressure and cholesterol test kits, each available for £20. Charities such as Blood Pressure UK and Heart UK offer guidance on good health and tips on how to get fit.
3 GET A FREE SCREENING
ANYONE aged between 40 and 74 is eligible for an NHS health check. There are also other free screening programmes. Further details can be found through website gov.uk.
4 VISIT THE DOCTOR
THE average waiting time to see your local GP is just under two weeks. But more than 80 per cent of us find a visit to the doctor is worthwhile and leaves us feeling we have been treated with care and concern.
Take advantage of the service that costs taxpayers £120billion a year.
5 SEEK A PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE DISCOUNT
WHEN considering a health screening, you should ask whether your employer will offer financial help.
6 EAT AN APPLE A DAY
MEDICAL research from Imperial College London confirms that an apple a day helps with good health. But ten portions of fruit and vegetables a day are what we are now told to consume to lower our chances of heart disease by a quarter and of suffering a stroke by a third.
Ignorance is no excuse when it comes to improving your lifestyle. The free NHS resource Change4Life offers practical advice on improving both diet and fitness.