Top tips for better health on a budget

With the credit crunch really beginning to bite, who can afford expensive gym memberships and fancy diets. But there are other ways that you can improve your health without breaking the bank. We take a look at a few:

Drink water

The old favourite but many of us still aren’t drinking enough water. The daily recommended amount is 8 glasses a day which will improve your digestive function as well as help with concentration and better skin. Headaches and tiredness can often indicate that you are not drinking enough water and don’t waste your money on bottled, straight from the tap or filtered is fine.

Cinnamon

As an arthritis sufferer myself, this one really interests me. Adding half a teaspoon of cinnamon to your breakfast cereal, or sprinkling it onto your cappuccino instead of chocolate, can relieve the pain of arthritis as well as lowering cholesterol and balancing blood sugar levels . Even if you don’t like the taste of cinnamon, the  smell alone can boost brain function and improve memory.

Don’t forget to floss

As unlikely as it sounds, there is actually a link between gum disease and narrowing of the arteries (which can lead to heart attacks and strokes) so brushing twice a day and using dental floss could actually help you live longer.

Chewing Gum

As long as it’s sugar free then chewing gum can actually be good for your teeth because it cleans the surfaces of your teeth as you chew. It also and stimulates saliva production, which helps to neutralise the acids that attack your teeth.

A nice cup of Tea (Green Tea that is)

Studies have shown that green tea can lower cholesterol and reduce blood pressure. It can also balance blood sugar levels, helping to prevent Type 2 diabetes. And if you are watching your weight, green tea boosts metabolism which will help you burn off more calories.

Soya Milk

The benefits of soya products include lowering cholesterol levels and protecting the heart, and research has revealed that they may even help to prevent cancer.  Soya products could also help you to lose weight, as it contains arginine, which aids the breakdown of fat. Soya contains isoflavones, which are antioxidants thought to protect the walls of arteries.  Start by adding soya milk to your cup of tea and coffee.

Red Hot Chillies

It doesn’t really matter how you eat them, fresh or powdered, chillies are a great source of  vitamin A, which helps to protect the immune system. Their active ingredient – capsaicin – helps to speed up your metabolism and boost your calorie loss. In addition, they can also help to balance blood sugar levels and have blood-thinning properties, which benefits the heart and blood vessels.

The world’s best job goes to a Brit!

Described as “The best job in the World”, a six month position as caretaker of an Australian tropical island with a A$150,000 (£73,500) salary has been awarded to Britain Ben Southall, 34, a charity fundraiser from Petersfield, Hampshire.

Ben beat 34,000 other applicants to land the dream position. His new job requires him to live and report from Hamilton Island, on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef. As well as the salary, the post of caretaker at Hamilton Island comes with a three bedroom beach home, a swimming pool and golf cart.

The job description requires the successful candidate to “to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel, make friends with the locals and generally enjoy the tropical Queensland climate and lifestyle”. As a thoroughly modern caretaker, Mr Southall will also be expected to report back to Tourism Queensland and the world via blogs, a photo diary, video updates and interviews.

The 34,000 applicants were whittled down to 16 finalists who all spent four days on Hamilton Island undergoing a rigorous selection process involving snorkelling, barbecues and time at a spa. The finalists also had to demonstrate their blogging abilities and take swimming lessons.

After being awarded the position Ben commented, “I hope I can fill the boots as much as everybody is expecting. My swimming is hopefully up to standard and I look forward to all the new roles and responsibilities that the task involves.”

The campaign was launched by Tourism Queensland in a bid to boost the areas declining tourism industry.

It’s not my fault I am FAT, it’s my metabolism.

Whale-sized single mother of 3, Leane Salt hit the headlines this week when it was revealed that she feeds her eight month old triplets McDonald’s and Wotsits. The jobless, 29 stone mum said she is “too busy” to give her babies proper cooked food. To busy doing what, Eating?

Leane admits that she feeds the kids burgers and fish & chips, but chews them first (and probably swallows a bit as well) before feeding them to little Deanna, Daisy and Finlee. “I don’t, like, take them to McDonald’s and buy them a McDonald’s. I buy myself a McDonald’s and they,ll probably have, what, a chip or something”, she said. “I feed my babies vegetables every Sunday, and a lot of baby food has fruit in it.” Leane steers away from healthy foods in case it makes her kids anorexic. “I don’t want them to think they have to watch what they eat. I’ll tell them that big is beautiful”. Well not from where I’m standing, love!

Leane lives on £227 a week, and guess where it all comes from, benefits. And the father of the three kids, no where to be seen. Now there’s a surprise!

Cheryl Cole Voted FHM sexiest woman 2009

For us Cheryl admirers it’s never been in doubt but at last the guys at FHM have now made it official and given her the title she deserves, FHM world’s sexiest woman 2009.

The Girls Aloud stunner knocked last year’s winner, actress Megan Fox, into second place and gave the top spot to a Brit for the first time in three years.

Besides her smoking hot looks, what is it about Cheryl that makes her so special? FHM mentions about the beauty “With her flawless skin, high cheekbones, wafer-thin waist, perfect pins and criminally underexposed cleavage, it’s like God himself decided her native Newcastle was looking a bit dowdy, and needed a beacon of angel-like beauty at its centre. Add a dirty laugh and ability to repel Simon Cowell, and it’s no wonder that the 25-year-old has surpassed even the mighty Keeley Hazell as the UK’s sexiest female.”

Last years winner, the seriously gorgeous Megan Fox was pushed down into second place and actress Jessica came in third, followed by Britney Spears (where did she come from?) and our very own Page 3 stunner Keeley.

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