The Lifestyle Approach

22/08/2023

How are you feeling today?

Do you know that your feelings follow your focus. So, what are you focusing on. Seneca, the stoic Roman philosopher once said, ‘a man is as miserable as he thinks he is’. This also works in the positive, so replace negative thoughts with positive ones today.

Here are three questions that can help you focus on positive thoughts.

1. What am I truly grateful for.
Pause for a moment and reflect on the question, then write down three things you are truly grateful for and give thanks. Expressing gratitude has been shown to have positive impact on your physical and mental health.

2. What went well today.
Before you go to sleep tonight, write down three things that went well today. As you do this everyday, you will find your happiness level progressively on the increase

3. What am I looking forward to.
What plans do you have in the near future that makes you excited every time you think about it. When you lack something to get excited about, life becomes dull and you are unlikely to be filled with the joy of living.

Another way to look positively towards the future is to be hopeful. The bible says in Proverbs 23:18 (ESV), ‘Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off’. Anne Frank said, ‘Where there is hope, there is life…’

For more information on positive thoughts, read Philippians 4: 8 from the Holy Bible.

Your best life is in the choices you make. Make the best choice today for health, happiness, and longevity. Keep a gratitude journal and take 10-15 minutes at the end of each day shortly before bedtime to think of and write down what went well that day and give thanks. You may find this helps you sleep better.

22/06/2023

https://ybls2023amazingtreasures.eventbrite.co.uk

All things are ready, see you there!

An exciting virtual educational program that will equip you with the very best information available so you can live well and age well.

13/06/2023

There is still time to register for ‘your best life seminar’ coming up next week Saturday if not already done. This is one seminar you don’t want to miss. See you there.

An exciting virtual educational program that will equip you with the very best information available so you can live well and age well.

31/05/2023

Do you know that having a sense of purpose in life is important for your wellbeing.

According to research, having a strong sense of purpose in life can add extra years to your life.

Research also showed that lack of purpose can lead to a decline in mental health.

A study conducted by Dr Randy Cohen MD, Medical Director of University Medical Practice Associates at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s- Roosevelt Hospital in New York City showed that people with a high sense of purpose are less likely to develop stroke, heart attack and coronary artery disease compared to those with a low sense of purpose.

Another study conducted by neuropsychologist, Dr Patricia Boyle at the Rush Alzheimer’s Centre in Chicago found that having a strong sense of purpose in life reduces your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment.

Do you know your purpose in life and are you in pursuit of it?

I want to challenge you to discover your purpose for living today and pursue it, connect with a bigger vision which can, not only add years to your life but is essential for a happy, focused, meaningful and fulfilling life.

For more information on purpose, check out Rick Warren’s book ‘What on Earth Am I Here For? Purpose Driven Life (The Purpose Driven Life)’

Your best life is in the choices you make, make the right choices today for health, happiness and longevity, discover and pursue your purpose for living.

24/05/2023

Do you know that about 70% of what happens to us health wise is determined by the lifestyle choices we make.

Join us on Saturday, 24th June 2023 for an exciting educational seminar that will equip you with the very best information available on how you can take charge of your life, live healthy, happy, longer and have a fulfilling life.

Register NOW for free if not already done so to secure your spot by clicking on the link below.

Feel free to share the link with your friends and family. See you there.

An exciting virtual educational program that will equip you with the very best information available so you can live well and age well.

13/05/2023

Cancer prevention

Let’s be clear from the outset that we don’t know of any diet or lifestyle that can guarantee us immunity from cancer but research has shown that there are many things we can do everyday that can significantly reduce our risk.

We used to think that cancer was a matter of bad luck and there was nothing we could do to prevent it, but we now know that many cancers are largely preventable.

Do you know that around 40% of cancer cases could be prevented every year in the uk, and better food and lifestyle choices may help reduce our risk of cancer as well as help the survival of those that have already been diagnosed with cancer.

Here are some ways to protect yourself against cancer and reduce your risk (although not limited to these only).

1. Be a healthy weight
2. Be physically active
3. Limit alcohol intake
4. Eat more plant based foods
5. Limit consumption of energy dense foods
6. Avoid processed meats
7. Limit intake of red meat
8. Limit salt intake
9. Quit smoking
10. Avoid environmental pollutants and radiation exposure where possible
11. Sensible sun exposure

It’s never too late or too early to start making healthy choices to reduce your risk of cancer.

Your best life is in the choices you make. Make the right choices today for health, happiness, and longevity. Incorporate healthy habits into your lifestyle to reduce your risk of cancer.

You can find some useful resources by visiting the world cancer research fund site @ https://www.wcrf.org/ (https://www.wcrf.org/)

Our vision is to live in a world where no one develops a preventable cancer, we are dedicated to researching cancer prevention and survival

18/04/2023

Sleep for Health

Do you know that sleep is as important for good health as nutrition and physical activity.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, seven to nine hours of sleep is recommended on average for adults aged 26 to 64.

Sleep affects every tissue and system in the body and sleep deprivation puts you at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, memory lapses or loss, depression, impaired immune system, to mention a few and sleeping less than 6-8 hours a night on a consistent basis increases your risk of early death by approximately 12%.

Getting adequate, uninterrupted, and refreshing sleep is essential for survival. Too much or too little sleep can be detrimental to your health.

Sleep disorder like chronic insomnia is known to be associated with memory impairment, mood disturbances, irritability, and physical symptoms including headaches.

Refreshing sleep helps improve your brain performance, mood, and health, it also plays a significant role of waste clearance from the brain which helps maintain brain health.

Below are some healthy lifestyle tips that can help you get a better night’s sleep:

1. Stick to a sleep schedule: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day including on weekends.

2. Nutrition: Avoid large meals and alcohol before bedtime as both can prevent restorative sleep, limit daytime coffee, and avoid after 2pm, eliminate after dinner or bedtime snacks, avoid high sodium foods for dinner, and limit water intake after 6pm to avoid night bathroom trips.

3. Physical activity: Increase early morning and afternoon activities, move for 10 minutes every hour, and avoid exercise close to bedtime.

4. Bedtime routine: Start a bedtime routine about 1 hour prior to bedtime to include active relaxation for example mindfulness-based stress reduction and meditation.

5. If you must take a nap, do so for less than 30 minutes during midday and early afternoon.

6. Environment: Create a good sleeping environment by minimising noise and lights in the bedroom and keep your bedroom temperature around 18- 20 oC

7. Limit screen time: Screen use before bedtime can seriously disrupt sleep, consider turning off all electronic devices 1- 2 hours before bedtime and try reading a book, taking a bath or meditation and prayer.

8. Light: Increase daytime light exposure preferably outside and decrease light exposure about 1 hour before bedtime.

9. If you can’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, get up and do a relaxing activity until you feel sleepy again.

If after trying these tips you still can’t sleep, you may consider seeing your health care professional or sleep specialist.

Your best life is in the choices you make. Make the right health choices today for health, happiness, and longevity. Incorporate the healthy sleep habits into your daily routine today and always.

For more information on sleep, visit the National Sleep Foundation @

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is dedicated to improving public health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy.

29/03/2023

Forgiveness: Your health and wellbeing depends on it.

Dr Dick Tibbits, Chief Operating Officer at Florida Hospital in Tampa, and author of the book ‘Forgive To Live’, did a study at Florida Hospital where he worked with patients diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension or high blood pressure, these patients were taught how to forgive so that they could live a normal life. His ground-breaking research revealed that failure to forgive creates an inner anger which affects our emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing.

Anger is not always expressed as rage but sometimes expressed as hurt, disappointment or betrayal, which can have a detrimental effect on our cardiovascular system in so many ways.

When we are angry, our bodies releases a hormone called cortisol into the bloodstream. Cortisol causes our heart rate to go up, which in turn increases our blood pressure and through a cascade of events can result in stroke, dementia, heart attack and kidney problems to mention a few.

Do you know that your body reacts to your thoughts?

If your mind is constantly rehearsing stories of hurt, pain and disappointment, then your body starts to react as if what you are rehearsing is happening to you every day, and this in the long run becomes dangerous to your health.

The best way to deal with hurt and life disappointments is to practice forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a way of letting go rather than holding on. It is learning to put your past in the past where it belongs, and this has so much health benefits like helping to lower your risk of heart attack, improving your cholesterol levels and sleep, reducing pain, blood pressure and levels of anxiety, depression and stress.

When you don't forgive, you are hurting yourself and no one else.

Forgiveness is an essential part of health, healing and wellbeing.

You can complain about what someone did to you or how terrible life is around you or you can forgive and live whether the offender ask for forgiveness or not, the choice is yours.

Your best life is in the choices you make. Make the right health choices today for health, happiness, and longevity. Incorporate forgiveness into your daily routine. Forgive today and live.. https://www.facebook.com/thelifestyleapproach

For more information on forgiveness, check out this book on Amazon ‘Forgive to Live.’

Forgive to Live: How Forgiveness Can Save Your Life, 10th Anniversary Edition

15/03/2023

Today we are looking at emotional and mental wellbeing, and stress in particular.

Do you know that 70% of GP visits are related to stress and lifestyle.

When people are stressed, they are less likely to engage in healthy habits, even though healthy habits can improve health and wellbeing.

When stress becomes chronic, it may lead to suppression of the immune system and long-term organ and tissue damage, thereby undermining our health.

Stress can lead us to make unhealthy choices, for example; eating an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, heavy alcohol use and smoking, which in turn can increases our risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep problems, inflammation, atherosclerosis, decreased immune system function and increased production of cortisol.

Stress relieving strategies can help lower the adverse effects of stress and prevent the return of stress symptoms. Some of these strategies include:

1. Light therapy exposure
2. Deep abdominal breathing
3. Creative art
4. Listening to melodious music
5. Singing
6. Massage
7. Reading books to enhance front brain function
8. Religious and spiritual activities
9. Volunteering for meaningful causes
10. Spending time in nature
11. Physical activities

Your best life is in the choices you make. Make the right health choices today for health, happiness, and longevity. Incorporate the stress busting activities into your routine every day.

TLA is the use of lifestyle practices like healthy eating pattern, regular physical activity, refreshing sleep, stress management, positive social connections and avoiding harmful substances to prevent, treat and in some cases reverse chronic diseases.

01/03/2023

Any amount of physical activity yields health benefits and better than none. No matter how slow you go, it’s still better than everyone on the couch!

There is increasing evidence that unless you are a wheelchair user, sitting down too much can be a risk to your health(NHS- see link below).

Do you know that reducing sitting time from 6 to 3 hours adds up to 2 years life expectancy, and replacing 30 minutes of sitting per day with low intensity physical activity lowers the risk of early death by 17 percent. Also walking breaks of 2 minutes every 20 minutes of sitting improves glucose and insulin levels thereby improving your overall health.

Your best life is in the choices you make. Make the right health choices today for health, happiness and longevity. Sit less and move more as part of your daily routine. TLA@
https://www.facebook.com/thelifestyleapproach

For more information on why we should sit less and move more, visit:

There is increasing evidence that spending too much time sitting is bad for your health.

13/02/2023

According to Prof Steven Blair of the landmark aerobic center longitudinal study, ‘physical inactivity is one of the most important public health problems of the 21st century’.

Physical activity has been shown to have so many health benefits as listed below, but not limited to these.
1. Reduces your risk of developing chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.
2. Improves your energy level.
3. Improves your memory and brain function.
4. Improves your quality of sleep.
5. Improves your mood and reduces your feeling of anxiety and depression.
6. Lowers your blood pressure.
7. Helps with weight loss.
8. Strengthens your bones.

The department of health and social care UK describes inactivity as a ‘silent killer’.

Being physically active helps you live healthier, longer, and better.

Your best life is in the choices you make. Make the right health choices today for health, happiness and longevity. Make physical activity a part of your daily routine. TLA@
https://www.facebook.com/thelifestyleapproach

For more information visit

Find out how regular exercise can help you lose weight, boost your mood and reduce your risk of developing long-term conditions.

05/02/2023

How are you getting on with your lifestyle choices for optimal health in 2023?

Do you know that 70% of what happens to us health-wise are due to lifestyle factors and are preventable.

Eating plant based whole foods have been linked to a healthier and longer lifespan. Your best life is in the choices you make. Make the right health choices today for health, happiness and longevity.