It\'s as easy as A-B-C

health,diets,alternative health,nutrition,wellbeing The A to Z of health: alphabet Staying healthy needn\'t be difficult - in fact, it\'s as easy as saying your ABCs...

A is for vitamin A

health,nutrition,wellbeing A - Z of health: Radiant model Radiant gals don\'t stint on their intake of vitamin A - not only is it essential for healthy bones, skin and good eyesight, but it also boosts your immune system. Stock up on your intake of the recommended daily amount of 800mcg with dark green and yellow vegetables and yellow fruits, as well as liver, dairy products and eggs. Or try taking a supplement instead.

B is for Bach Flower Remedies

health,alternative health,wellbeing A to Z of health: flower remedies: flower Feeling out of sorts? A little emotional nourishment may be the answer. Created to address emotional problems, Bach Flower Remedies uses plant essences sold in the form of tinctures to help you regain your balance. There are 38 of these, each corresponding to a particular mood or life situation; for example, Honeysuckle is good if you\'re living in the past, or Larch works on lack of confidence.

C is for condoms

health,wellbeing,sexual health The A to Z of health: condoms We\'ve all been swept up in passionate moments, but it\'s wise to focus on protection even while things are getting steamy. It\'s not just about preventing unwanted pregnancy, it\'s also about avoiding sexually transmitted infections, the rates of which have soared over the last 20 years. Combining passion with comfort equals a red-hot sex life! 

D is for detox

health,diets,nutrition The A to Z of health: woman detoxing with orange juice If you feel bloated or lethargic, a good detox session will help you shake off sluggishness, boost energy levels and help you lose a little weight, too. A sensible plan encourages you to avoid fatty, salty and sugary foods, eat more organic fruit and vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and fish and cut back on caffeine and alcohol.

E is for ear acupuncture

health,alternative health,wellbeing The A to Z of health: woman on a treatment table Having needles stuck in your ear doesn\'t sound like our cup of tea, but auricular acupuncture cures anything from addiction to joint pain. Kate Moss is said to have used the alternative therapy to get over her cocaine addiction and Roman Abromovich uses it to lose weight. According to the experts there are over 200 hundred acupuncture points on our ears, each linked to a specific part of our body. Each point triggers electrical impulses that travel to the brain and then down to the part of the body being treated.  

 

F is for folic acid

pregnancy,health,nutrition,wellbeing The A to Z of health: pregnant woman Deficiency in folic acid leads to an increased risk of having a baby with neural tube defects such as spina bifida. If you\'re planning to get (or have just discovered you are) pregnant, you should take a daily folic acid supplement containing 400mcg, prescribed by your doctor. You can boost your intake by eating fortified breakfast cereals, wholemeal and wholegrain breads, green leafy vegetables, baked beans and pulses.

G is for glycaemic index

health,diets,healthy eating,wellbeing The A to Z of health: The GI diet - rainbow wholewheat pasta It\'s never out of the pages of health magazines, but what exactly is it? The glycaemic index measures the effect of food on blood sugar levels. Basically, if you eat foods that raise levels slowly, the body finds it easier to burn off fat. The secret is to choose foods with a low GI level - 55 and under - as opposed to foods with a high GI of 70 and above. The best GI foods to go for are potatoes, oat porridge, apples, pasta, dried apricots and basmati rice.

H is for homeopathy

health,alternative health,wellbeing The A to Z of health: Homeopathy If you\'re interested in the holistic side of health, try the popular route of homeopathy. It\'s the treatment of \'like with like\' - a tiny amount of substances that can cause signs of illness in a healthy person are used to treat the same symptoms in a sick person. Studies have shown benefits from homeopathy for asthma, skin disease, colds and flu, high blood pressure, insomnia, irritable bowel and depression.

I is for iron

health,nutrition,wellbeing The A to Z of health: dried apricots for iron

Iron helps in the formation of red blood cells and a deficiency can lead to anaemia. Red meat, fortified cereals, dried apricots and green leafy vegetables are all good sources of iron. The RDA for women is 14.8mcg, but you need more if your periods tend to be heavy, if you\'re a vegetarian or eat little red meat. You may need to take a supplement to boost your intake.

J is for jogging

exercise,health,fitness,wellbeing The A to Z of health: woman jogging along beach Going out for a jog after work will boost your heart and lungs, may maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis. If you\'re new to it, it\'s best to build up stamina slowly - warm up properly beforehand and run at a comfortable pace, where you don\'t get too breathless. Build up to 10 minutes for your first few sessions and add a minute at a time every second or third time afterwards. It\'s fun, free and refreshing! So no more excuses - ditch the sofa and get jogging!

K is for vitamin K

health,vitamins,nutrition,wellbeing The A to Z of health: woman eating asparagus, which is full of vitamin K Vitamin K helps your body to make a number of proteins, one of which helps your blood to clot. Sources of K include dark-green leafy vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, spinach and asparagus. It\'s also found in soya oil and margarine. 1mcg for every kg of body weight is considered a safe intake for both men and women.

L is for Lavender

health,relaxation,wellbeing The A to Z of health - relax with lavender

We\'ve all had trouble getting enough shut-eye from time to time. If you find yourself unable to wind down, a little bottle of lavender essential oil could do the trick. It\'s described as relaxant, anti-depressant, detoxifying and restorative. Add a few drops to your bath water, use it in a burner or vaporiser, or mix it with some carrier oil for massage to help you drift off. It\'s also said to be great for soothing tension, relieving stress and lifting depression.

M is for MBT

health,alternative health,wellbeing The A to Z of health: MBT shoes

If you\'ve seen someone walking strangely in oddly shaped trainers with large soles, they were probably MBTs - Masai Barefoot Technology shoes. Admittedly not the hippest looking trainers around but they are loved by celebrities, from A-listers down to Z.

 

The unbalanced soles make you tap into muscles other trainers wouldn\'t reach, up and down the legs, calves, buttocks and thighs - the areas we love to hate! The benefits? Better muscle tone, greater core stability and improved posture.

 

You can get the most out of your MBTs by joining classes run by walking experts Walkactive who hold six-week sessions to help you get fit, active and into shape in time for summer.

N is for nutrition

health,healthy eating,nutrition,wellbeing The A to Z of health: healthy woman With so many conflicting messages around, it\'s hard to know what is and isn\'t good for us when it comes to food. A good start would be to avoid processed foods, eat fresh, organic fruit and vegetables and choose food from all the major groups including carbohydrate, protein and fat.

O is for oral health

health,wellbeing The A to Z of health: mouth A clean mouth helps prevent dental disease. No matter how good the diet and lifestyle, sticky plaque accumulates on everyone\'s teeth, promoting gum disease. Careful brushing of the teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, regular check-ups, tongue-cleaning and dental floss will also help to keep teeth strong and breath fresh. Go to your dentist at least once a year and aim to cut down on sugary snacks and drinks.

P is for pilates

health,wellbeing The A to Z of health: pilates class

Pilates, that core-crunching exercise that\'s renowned for great posture, muscle tone and flexibility, is a must for all bod-conscious guys and gals. The muscle movements may be small and slow but over the weeks, they build up to a more toned, honed you.

 
The latest Pilates class to crop up is TenPilates in West London, where instead of mat work, the classes are on machines (called reformers). Yes, slightly scary looking, but they simply stretch and work limbs through fast paced, dynamic movements. It\'s a tough and demanding class and at times scream-worthy, but just think of that summer body you\'ll have at the end of it.

 
If you haven\'t tried Pilates yet, check out your nearest trainer or class at pilatesfoundation.com.

Q is for quit smoking

health,wellbeing The A to Z of health: Q is for quit smoking - cigarettes It\'s not easy to kick the habit, but it\'s essential. Smoking kills 120,000 people a year, not to mention the other disastrous effects on your health, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Beat the cravings with nicotine patches, and support from your friends. 

R is for Reiki

health,alternative health,reiki,wellbeing The A to Z of health: Woman getting a massage

If you want to promote physical and emotional harmony, where better to look to than the East for inspiration? Reiki is a form of spiritual healing that has its origins in Tibetan Buddhism, and is used to unblock stagnant \'chi\' energy and help a range of conditions including stress, low energy levels, tiredness and insomnia.

S is for sleep

health,wellbeing The A to Z of health: sleeping woman

Getting enough sleep is crucial to good health. Without it we experience chronic tiredness, which affects all parts of our daily lives. Reasons why we have trouble getting our eight hours includes stress, too much alcohol or eating late, but there are ways you can get your full quota every night. Try a winding-down ritual, including a bath and pre-bed milky drink. Plus, they don\'t call it ‘beauty sleep\' for a reason; getting enough sleep is crucial to healthy skin and bright eyes. Not only that, there\'s a whole host of beauty goodies out there to work overnight - so get snoozing!

T is for travel health

travel,health,wellbeing The A to Z of health: Travel health: woman on the beach Travelling abroad can be everything from broadening to relaxing, but if health hazards strike, your dream holiday can turn into a real nightmare. Whether you need to protect against DVT, staying safe in the sun, or packing the right holiday medicines, it\'s important to ensure that you\'re fully protected health-wise when you\'re away!

U is for urine health

health,wellbeing,sexual health The A to Z of health: Urine health - woman on toilet Whether you suspect you\'re pregnant, diabetic or have picked up cystitis, a urine test is a crucial process in determining any health abnormalities. The test is used to discover diseases that may show up with rogue bodies in your urine. For example, blood in the urine may indicate urinary disorders; the presence of protein may often be a sign of kidney disease and sugar may be a sign of diabetes.

V is for varicose veins

health,body,wellbeing The A to Z of health: Varicose veins - woman\'s legs Varicose veins are caused when the vein\'s one-way valves malfunction so that blood flows back down the vein, leading to swelling, twisting and distortion. Signs of varicose veins include heaviness and tiredness after standing and snake-like blue veins on the back of the calf or the inside of the leg. Although irritating, varicose veins are not a disease in themselves. If you\'re worried, consult your GP to discuss whether treatment is necessary.  

W is for water

health,wellbeing The A to Z of health: Water - woman drinking water

X is for X-ray

health,body,wellbeing The A to Z of health: X-ray X-rays are extremely informative in showing up broken bones or abnormalities within the organs. Special X-ray techniques are also used to pinpoint other problems with the body\'s soft tissues. CT scanning is a further development of the use of X-rays, which involves using a sophisticated scanner connected to a computer to construct a series of pictures that look at the body in cross-section.

Y is for yoga

health,relaxation,wellbeing The A to Z of health: Yoga - woman doing yoga Achieving harmonious health is all about balancing mind and body - and yoga is a popular way of attaining balance through correct breathing, physical exercises and meditation. The postures adopted in yoga help increase suppleness and strength, while the philosophy behind it is to alleviate stress, and counter negative emotions. Find out more about how to achieve relaxation through yoga

Z is for zinc

health,nutrition,wellbeing The A to Z of health: Zinc - woman eating cake This wonder-mineral aids tissue repair and wound healing and is necessary for healthy immune and reproductive systems, liver function and sense of smell and taste. Signs of zinc deficiency include loss of sense of smell and taste, skin problems (such as acne and eczema), wounds that won\'t heal and frequent colds and flu. Make sure you\'re getting your RDA of 15mcg a day with plenty of seafood, nuts and seeds, wholegrain cereals, pulses and green vegetables.

Be happy, healthy, sexy!

health,fitness,wellbeing Top 10 wellbeing treats: woman having a massage treatment

Be pampered with 10 of the best wellbeing treats, get fit easily with our 20 random acts of fitness and spring clean your sex life with our 101 sex tips. Plus, get more health tips with our sister magazines netdoctor.co.uk and Zest.