insideKENT Magazine Issue 31 - October 2014 | Page 81

Employ a new healthy attitude and preserve your health in the coming months by simply taking
note of this handy autumn health check.

E is for Exercise
A huge part of maintaining your health throughout
the seasonal year is to partake in a form of daily
exercise. This autumn, avoid heavy, intense
workouts and instead commit yourself to a routine
of moderate, gentle training such as yoga, brisk
walking or cycling. Rotation of the joints is
imperative at a time when your body movement
may be less frequent. It can even be as simple
as heading outdoors for a morning stroll, an act
that will clear your mind and give you the perfect
excuse to admire the rich autumnal scenery.
However, remember to invest in some reflective
wear once the darker mornings set in.
As the weather turns, the colder spell may also
leave you susceptible to sickness and infection;
therefore, remaining active plays a vital part in
preserving a healthy body. Moderate exercise
will effectively boost your immune system via the
production of neutrophils, a common white blood
cell that is essential in fighting disease. The
multiplications of these cells ensure an increase
in natural defence, actively protecting the body
against viral and bacterial infections.
Exercise really is a simple solution, and one that
continues to prove invaluable in terms of health
and happiness. With this in mind, focus on
implementing a degree of fitness into your daily
routine, and more importantly, start to see it as
a positive lifestyle choice rather than a chore.

A Good Night’s Sleep
Getting a decent night’s sleep is vital if you're
looking to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.
Your body needs well-earned restorative rest in
order to keep the heart healthy, reduce stress
and prepare you both mentally and physically for
the next day.

For many of us, daylight saving time affects our
sleeping patterns and is often one of the major
causes of sleep deprivation. Failure to adjust
sleeping patterns with the turn of the seasons
can often result in headaches and drowsiness,
as your body clock struggles to cope with the
change. It is imperative that your body adapts to
the time difference, so as the days become
shorter, why not try going to bed an hour earlier
and rising an hour earlier? What's more, make
use of the extra time you have in the morning,
whether it's taking a brisk walk or enjoying a cup
of tea in peace. Not only will getting up slightly
earlier eliminate the 'rush' that so often comes
with leaving the house in the morning, but it also
enables valuable 'me' time and sets you up for
the day ahead.

Food for Thought
Just as the temperature changes with the
seasons, so does taste. Diet plays a huge part
in ensuring your body is plugged with the nutrition
required to uphold a healthy body. Although you
may not fancy that cold salad, comforting, stodgy
food will grant you no favours – especially if it's
your sole intake. Whilst warm, homely meals can
be full of nutrients, balance this with a variety of
light meals and fresh fruit and vegetables to
maintain your energy and avoid that lethargic
feeling. Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids;
not only will this detoxify the body, it will also
work to rejuvenate the skin. Feelings of withdrawal
and tiredness are all an indication that you are
run down, and the common sign that your
immune system needs support from a
healthy diet.
With an abundance of healthy (and local) produce
harvested at this time of year, there is no excuse
for missing vital nutrients from your diet. As well
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