Did you know that the 7th April (Thursday) is World Health Day? This annual day, held globally, is aimed to raise awareness of global health issues and to celebrate the work of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that was founded on April 7th 1948.

You may think that many of the world health issues don’t affect us here in Britain, where we have access to excellent healthcare, good food and as much clean water as we could need. And many of the issues highlighted by the WHO, such as insect borne diseases and the eradication of polio, indeed don’t affect us here, but this year’s theme is one that may be close to many of our hearts.

The theme for World Health Day 2016 is Beat Diabetes. The WHO estimates that globally, around 350 million people have diabetes, and that it’s directly responsible for 1.5 million deaths a year. And here in Britain, one in 16 of us are living with diabetes – that’s around 4 million people.

Many of us are already aware of the usual steps we can take to reduce the risk of getting diabetes – keeping a healthy weight, regular exercise etc. But the work of World Health Day is also to focus on general health and well-being across the world, so with that in mind, here are our top health tips that are easy to take on board – and they are for both mind and body!

• Eat well – it’s an obvious one, but it’s perhaps the most important. Our bodies need good nutrition to function properly and eating a variety of freshly prepared food is one of the easiest ways of getting the vits we need! That’s not to say you need to start a starvation diet or never have another treat again – treats are important too, but they should be just that – occasional treats, rather then the norm.
• Balance – some days you can thrive on a bowl of salad and an hour at the gym, other days you sit at home all day in your pjs and eat your own body weight in chocolate. It’s all normal, and all about finding the balance and what works for your body and mind. No-one likes a diet bore!
• Don’t skip breakfast – another obvious one perhaps, but another really important point. Having a good breakfast helps to give your body the energy and nutrients it needs to get through the day, and kick starts your metabolism. If you’re not keen on breakfast then why not try making a fruit smoothie that you can take on the go with you? A good smoothie tastes just like a delicious milkshake, and it’s packed with vits too!
• Move your body – it doesn’t have to be hours at the gym or tortuous classes, but getting exercise is vital for mental and physical health. Heading out for a walk, dancing like a loon with the kids when their favourite song comes on, a leisurely swim or a family bike ride all count as exercise. And exercising outdoors has been proven to boost your mood, motivation and well-being. Yes please!
• Hang out with your buddies – spending time with good friends not only makes us smile but helps us to relax and lowers stress levels. Small amounts of stress are inevitable in daily life, and are indeed good for the body and mind. It’s large amounts of continuous stress that wreak havoc with our brains and internal organs, so if having a glass of wine (or 3) with friends at the weekend helps you de-stress then go for it!
• Make me time – this is crucial in today’s busy world, and something that many of us forget. But it’s important to allow time for rest and relaxation and simply being.
• Drink more water – one of the easiest ways to give yourself more energy and boost your health! Guzzle the H20 and you’ll soon feel revived from within. Water makes up a third of our bodies, so it’s important to keep it fresh and topped up.
• Get plenty of sleep – this one isn’t always possible but wherever you can make sure you get plenty of good quality sleep. Different people can survive on different levels of sleep so find your balance and stick to it where you can. Sleep is essential for your body and brain to repair itself.

Image by Jean Scheijen on freeimages.com