Dr Libby Weaver, a holistic health expert with a background in biochemistry and author of several wellbeing titles, rates "your mindset" as one of the most important things when it comes to health and happiness. "What we focus on is what we feel," she says.
She says if you choose to be negative and stressed then you will produce stress hormones which affect your mind and body badly. It can drive inflammation, propel your body into a "flight or fight mode" and make it harder to lose weight because your body wants to hold on to fat stores more because it feels "in danger".
Stress can "throw" hormones out too, she says, making it harder for women to conceive.
Then there is fluid retention, headaches and sugar cravings. She suggests choosing good sugars when you crave something sweet, eating treats with ingredients such as nuts, good oils, seeds, honey, maple syrup and spices.
Weaver believes eating nutrient-rich foods like vegetables has a positive effect on mood.
An iron deficiency can also be a big reason for tiredness, so Weaver advises eating meat, vegetables, dates and eggs.
Jason Shon Bennett, author of Eat Less, Live Long, recommends Kiwis avoid alcohol and coffee, eat fresh plant-based foods, move regularly and avoid products that claim to be "fat free" or "low fat" as he likens them to "a chemical s*** storm". He sees "sitting as the new smoking".
The Sovereign survey shows Kiwi men rate themselves as slightly healthier than women and 73 per cent of respondents from Marlborough and the West Coast believe their health is above that of the average Kiwi. In Auckland, 56 per cent of respondents believe their health is better than the average New Zealander, although 61 per cent admitted having broken sleep and only 25 per cent had periodic health checks and other preventive screenings.
Sovereign has launched a campaign, "Life. Take Charge", to improve Kiwis' health. For more info, see sovereign.co.nz/takecharge
Week Ten
Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge training
Your training for the Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is going well; you've added hills and kilometres to your weekly rides, you're eating well, stretching and having plenty of rest days to repair your body. Now it's time to get all the other boxes ticked for the actual event weekend. With cyclists and supporters coming to town, you need to book your accommodation now. Visit greatlaketaupo.com, call the i-site Taupo on 0800 525 3828 or get in touch with the cycle challenge team at emily@cyclechallenge.com to find accommodation. And:
• Book your bike for a service.
• Book yourself in for a check over-a physio can give you a muscle balance assessment.
• Check your kit-make sure your cycling clothes and shoes are okay for the day. Remember to have worn them beforehand.
• If you're a mountain biker you need to be self-sufficient on all the courses. Make sure you've got the right gear.
• Think about how you're going to get to the start and home after the event.
• Enter online at cyclechallenge.com
Lianne Fraser
