How are you doing with those pesky new year resolutions? Are you keeping them up, have they completely fallen by the wayside or are they now teetering on the brink? Here are a few easy tips to help you keep them on track.
For health: Reduce your sugar intake. Going low or no-sugar not only preserves your teeth and reduces the risks associated with Type II diabetes but it benefits your skin, too. A high-sugar diet causes glycation, a stiffening of the collagen fibres that leads to lines, wrinkles and poor skin texture.
For weight control: Eat chillies. Their capsaicin content has been linked to more efficient calorie-burning and fat reduction, and studies in Japan and Canada found that fat-burning increased ‘significantly’ after a meal containing chillies. Not a fan of spicy food? Try Chilliburner tablets, £29.99 instead.
For fitness: Walk more, especially if you usually hate exercise. It can help with everything from heart health, stress control and better sleep to muscle tone, weight loss, high cholesterol and even your mood. Aim to walk at least 20 minutes every day – that’s equivalent to about one mile – and the outdoor activity will benefit your vitamin D levels, too. Best time to do it? Whenever you feel the urge to snack, because exercise helps you to resist the munchies.
For teeth: Protect them with tea – yes, seriously! A recent study found that four cups of tea per day supplies all the fluoride you need for good dental health. Tea also contains special compounds called flavonoids which kill the bacteria that cause bad breath. Just drink it without sugar.
For hydration: Drink plenty of water. Besides being good for your skin and general health (with benefits to digestion, concentration, bowel and kidney function, even muscle energy), that H2O will help quell hunger pangs and your weightloss efforts. Around 20% of your fluid intake comes from food, so the NHS recommends six to eight glasses per day. For flavour, try adding fresh mint, cucumber slices and lemon or lime twists, but avoid anything sweet.
For motivation: Make yourself more body-conscious – in a positive, constructive way – using all-over skincare. A simple top-to-toe application of body scrub will help. You can mix 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil with either a handful of sugar (which is a great way to use up any excess) or seasalt, which is a little coarser. Alternatively try Anatomicals The Buff Stuff Citrus Body Scrub. £4, which smooths and polishes your skin with ground walnut shell instead.
For mood: Use inspirational aromatherapy products to remain positive, calm or focussed whenever you start to flag. Favourites include Neom Happiness Candle, £30 with neroli, lemon and grass notes to uplift drooping spirits; Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Mind Bath & Shower Oil, £45 with chamomile, petitgrain frankincense and rosemary to calm a racing or worried mind; or Boots Botanics 100% Pure Essential Rosemary Oil, £5.99, to re-energise a sluggish mind and refresh your concentration.
Finally, did you complete Dry January, or did you succeed in another health-and-beauty-oriented resolution such as quitting smoking, taking up a new sport or simply treating yourself to more me-time? Let us know how well you did.
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