7 Things You Need to Know About Your Health

Health trends come and go as we are constantly bombarded by information from new studies about what’s good and what’s bad for our bodies. Sometimes, the facts can contradict each other and be misleading. Here, Health and Fitness Travel, Australia’s experts in tailor-made healthy holidays, compiled a list of 7 simple, useful facts about our health.

1. An apple a day…could help prevent obesity (and more) – Can an apple a day really keep the doctor away? Probably not all the time. But did you know that a substance found in apple peels, called ursolic acid, may be able to reduce the threat of obesity in humans? Ursolic acid has shown to develop brown fat and muscle tissues, both of which are recognised for excellent calorie-burning properties. Not only that, apples can also boost your heart health, keep ageing at bay and help prevent muscle wasting.

2. Moderate drinking can have health benefits – It is argued that the moderate consumption of alcohol can be beneficial in preventing the risk of diseases such as cancer, liver disease and osteoporosis. A sensible amount of alcohol in your system can in fact increase “good” cholesterol and reduce “bad” cholesterol in the blood, improving the blood lipid profile and help lower blood pressure. However, moderation is key!

3. Vitamin D aids in weight loss – Studies have demonstrated that higher levels of Vitamin D aids weight loss and improves the effects of a reduced calorie diet. It has been shown that it can promote the acceleration of fat loss among people who originally have low levels of vitamin D. A lack of vitamin D has also been linked to a number of health problems including heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

4. Smoking increases the risk of osteoporosis – Just another reason to stop and think before lighting up. Among the endless harmful effects of smoking, one of the lesser-known threats is linked to bone deterioration. Various studies highlight the impairment of bones, muscles and joints from smoking – putting smokers at higher risk to osteoporosis.

5. Fruits and veggies can help the body produce its own form of aspirin – A diet abundant in benzoic acid which is a natural substance found in fruits and vegetables helps your body produce a compound called salicylic acid (SA). It was discovered that when given benzoic acid, study participants were able to manufacture their own SA, the component which produces the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties found in aspirin.

6. You snooze, you lose – Hitting the snooze button might give you the extra few minutes, but it actually does more harm than good. Dozing off after you hit snooze tells your brain to begin a new sleep cycle. When you wake up as the alarm goes off the second time, you’re likely to be in a deep early stage of sleep, which results in you feeling worse than you did the first time around. Try adopting a regular sleep schedule and you’ll find yourself not needing an alarm clock to begin with.

7. Deep breathing can improve your mood – Practicing deep breathing will increase your body’s dopamine production, the pleasure-inducing neurochemical in the brain which in turn can boost your mood. Doing yoga asana, Pranayama and meditation are great methods to practice deep breathing and classes can be taken whether at your local studio or on a yoga holiday. The benefits of deep breathing are numerous and varied, from helping you to de-stress to strengthening the immune system and improving posture.

For advice, guidance and booking visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com.au or call 1300 551 353.