Healthy Lifestyle

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE  (general : nutrition : walking : stress)

MORE THAN 70% OF PROPLE IN THE UK DO NOT TAKE ENOUGH EXERCISE TO BENIFIT THEIR HEALTH.IT IS OFTEN HELPFUL TO CONSIDER ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFESTYLE, NOT JUST EXERCISE, AND SO IBC'S SPORTS SERVICES TEAM UP WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS TO HELP YOU ENJOY AN ALL-ROUND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

General Hints
The majority of the population don’t do enough physical activity to benefit their health.Men and women of all ages benefit from a moderate amount of daily physical activity – it doesn't have to be strenuous exercise, 30 minutes of brisk walking 5 times per week is a good example. Start gently and build up your activity levels.
• Take the stairs instead of lifts or walk up escalators
• Park the car a bit further away from your destination and walk the rest of the way
• Manually change channels on the TV instead of using the remote control
• Walk as often as you can, as if you are late for an appointment or aiming to catch a train.
Always check with your doctor if you have a health problem or are worried about increasing your physical activity.

Walks
More than 70% of people in the UK do not take enough exercise to benefit their health. Brisk walking is an ideal way to become more active. It is cheap, fun and an activity most people can do. That’s why Sports Services have teamed up with the Ipswich Primary Care trust to profile a series of walks in the town’s parks including the historic Chantry, Christchurch and Holywells parks. You can view and print off maps of each of the walks and printable directions via this link. 
Stress
Stress is an umbrella term given to the adverse reaction people can have to excessive pressures or demands placed on them. Prolonged exposure to these excessive pressures when they exceed your perceived resources or coping ability can lead to unhealthy physical, emotional, mental and behavioural symptoms.
Stress is becoming the single biggest medical problem for employers in the UK. Although a certain level of stress is inevitable in today's modern world (and is in fact good for you), excessive levels cause problems.
There are lots of stress management techniques, and various websites devoted to these problems (such as www.isma.org.uk).
Physical activity can also be a great way to relieve stress and tension and help you to relax.

Nutrition
What you eat is very important to maintain good health. The right foods keep your heart and circulation healthy and your weight steady.Below are some simple healthy hints:

• Eat 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day – choosing a wide variety of different types especially different colours. They can be fresh, tinned, frozen or dried
• Eat a portion of oily fish twice a week eg salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards – fresh, tinned or frozen
• Base your meals on starchy foods – these include pasta, rice, potatoes, cereals and breads. Choose wholegrain varieties – wholemeal/granary bread, wholewheat pasta, porridge oats. Replace pastries/ cakes with scones and teacakes or fruit breads
• Use oils and spreads that are high in monounsaturated fat - olive oil, rapeseed oil
• Read labels and packaging. Non meat eaters should include seeds, nuts and vegetables in their diet.

For further information, try visiting www.doh.gov.uk/fiveaday - a government website promoting five portions of fruit or veg a day

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Useful Links
For further information try searching the web, you could start with these: www.bhfactive.org - British Heart Foundation national centre
www. bhf.org.uk - British heart foundation - includes young peoples section www.ccpr.org.uk - The Central Council for Physical recreation
www.fitkid.co.uk - network of over 500 clubs teaching health related fitness to children www.hda-online.org.uk - Health development agency - this is more a site for health professionals or very very keen amateurs, gives lots of evidence/research based information
www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk - government site aimed at young people and teachers
 
(please note that these websites are not connected in any way with Ipswich Borough Council, and we cannot guarantee their continued availability or the accuracy of their content)