Welcome to our very first blog post on Back to Basics! We are very excited to have this up and running and be able to share all our tips, tricks and knowledge with you. As most of you know, here at New Harmony we are all about living a healthy lifestyle in the most natural way possible, by being kind to ourselves and the earth, and most importantly enjoying ourselves a little too 

We thought we would get back to basics and set out a few pointers on how to live a healthy lifestyle, and what is recommended as best for our bodies.

1. Cook from scratch

Processed foods and ready-made meals are full of hidden salts and sugars. Remember when checking the ingredient list on foods that they are listed in order of amount, so when you buy a Bolognese sauce and see ‘sugar’ listed as the first ingredient, alarm bells should ring! Ready meals are bulked with hidden fats to improve flavour, making them some of the unhealthiest meals you could eat.

2. Eat a balanced diet

When planning your meals, try to include all colours of the rainbow, this ensures that you are getting a good variety of vitamins and minerals in your diet. Fill your plate to at least half vegetables, quarter meat and quarter carbs. Remember carbs are not the enemy, but too much of them will prevent you from slimming down.

3. Kick the sugar habit

This is key to losing weight and the one we all find the hardest. A diet high in sugar increases the risk of obesity, heart disease and even depression. Be aware of hidden sugars in things like cereals and granola bars, opt for a bowl of porridge with seeds and berries for a less sugary diet. We are all human, and we aren’t saying cut out your bar of chocolate completely, but moderation is key – treat yourself on a Friday, not every day!

4. Sleep

The benefits of sleep to the body are often over-looked. Less than 7 hours sleep at night triggers higher levels of cortisol – This leads to weight gain, often around the belly. A simple thing such as turning off the TV 30 minutes before you would normally, and allowing your body and mind to wind down can make a huge difference.

5. Keep active

It is recommended that everyone should take at least 10,000 steps a day. Exercise helps release endorphins throughout the body which elevates mood, reduces food cravings and helps boost a positive body image. Think about investing in a pedometer if you are worried that you don’t reach the recommended 10,000 steps.

6. Drink more water

We have all heard of the basic recommendation of 2.5-3 litres of water a day, and yet a lot of us don’t drink half of that. Invest in a water bottle with an in-built filter, which we sell here in New Harmony, they come in sizes up to 1 litre, aim to drink at least 2 of these a day, its not as easy as it sounds! Water retention often happens when we don’t drink enough water, our body stores what we do take in. The more you drink the less you will retain.

7. Be Kind

We don’t need to explain this one!

Remember these are small changes that you could make in your everyday life which would make a big difference. Don’t put yourself on a “diet”, just make lifestyle changes that you can sustain. We are always here for help and support, any questions, just ask! We are more than willing to help.