HEALTH NOTE

tions about it just popping to Tesco. People don’t have a barrier, they will just ask you. So yeah, you’ve got to have a balance.”

Right now, that means “trying to spend as much time as I can with my family. I’m not the type of person who likes to go out a lot. I like to stay indoors and go on dog walks and stuff; I’m a very normal girl!”

Fitness is a daily must (“That for me is the most important thing for staying healthy and grounded”) and, despite making the most of being a homebody, she’s happy to be back in the studio with a new album in the works.

Whatever happens, she’s holding dear the cherished life lessons passed on from her mum. “One thing I’m really learning now is just to appreciate who I am as a young black woman in the industry.

“Mum would always say to me, ‘Just remember, stay strong within this industry, always be yourself, never allow negativity to get in the way, and live and breathe what you love to do’,” Alexandra says. “And having manners and respect. I live by that, day in, day out.” ■ Alexandra Burke is ambassador for Boots UK and The Hygiene Bank partnership. See boots-uk.com and thehygienebank.com.

Mushrooms may help mental health

Eating mushrooms helps reduce the risk of depression and other mental health issues, a study has found.

The fungi contain an antioxidant that helps protect against cell and tissue damage in the body.

The research by Penn State University analysed the diets of 24,000 adults in America, and found those who ate mushrooms regularly were less likely to suffer from mental health issues such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

It’s thought that this is due to the presence of an amino acid that the body cannot manufacture.