When it comes to dieting, some techniques work better for some than for others. For many, dieting can be extremely hard work and take a long time to see any positive effects. Over the years people have tried a number of different ways in which they can lose weight. Some diets do seem to be effective but they can leave people feeling deprived and even depressed.

The beauty of acupuncture for dieting is that it helps you get rid of any bad associations you may of made about food and feelings. For example, if you find that you always eat more when you are feeling sad then this can cause you to very quickly put on weight which then may make you feel even more upset and in turn eat more. Getting rid of the emotional stress or upset will also help you to build a healthier relationship with food. Sometimes dieting works best when you can start to feel better about yourself and have some confidence first. This is what will see you through the tough times when you are feeling like giving up.

Other forms of alternative therapy such as counselling, hypnosis and reflexology also seem to show some positive outcomes for assisting with dieting.  

With the UK progressing in to its second month on lockdown many of us are worrying about if we are doing enough to try and stay fit and healthy. This is important not only for when lock down is lifted but also to give our bodies the best chance of fighting the infection if we do catch it. 

There are a number of ways in which we can stay healthy and one is to continue with exercise. We are now allowed to exercise more than once a day outside of our home but even if you are shielding or isolating you can still take part in exercise in your home. If you struggle to get motivated there are some great online fitness or yoga videos for all ages and abilities that you can watch and join in with.

When it comes to diet, this is also important. Although it may be tempting to reach for the quick unhealthy options at the moment, it is important to ensure that you are maintaining a good balanced diet. Simply adding more veg or salad to your plate and cutting down on processed foods will quickly give your diet a boost and ensure you are getting more of the good foods you need.

So many people are trying all different sorts of diets from fasting, to no carbs to skinny jabs (injections). Some diets may produce results but can actually be damaging to your health.

GI dieting has been around for quite some time now and was first used for people with diabetes. The idea of the GI diet is to switch some high GI foods for low ones allowing you to eat less but still feel full.

The key to look term weight lose is slow and steady. If you lose too much weight too quickly you may find that you put it back on quickly, especially if you go back to how you were eating before. With the GI diet, the idea is it is a change of lifestyle, not just a short term fix. Although it may take a little longer to see results, you should find that the changes are more permanent.

Not only can low GI foods help you lose weight but you may find that they improve your mental heath and also give you more energy.

Ways to easily encompass low GI foods in your diet could include swapping white pasta for  wholewheat pasta.

Water is vital for us humans for survival. But not only is it essential to survive it is actually very good for us and can fix a number of health issues.  Water is found in many foods as well as drinks so you may be taking in more than you realise but are you having enough water? Research shows that although most of us know we should be drinking about eight pints of water a day, not many of us have anywhere near this amount. 8 pints may sound a lot but when you add up all the cups of tea and squash we drink, it may be that you are having more than you think.

To get the most out of water you should drink it on its own as caffeine and sugars that are often in other things that are added to water, can have a negative effect. Water can hydrate you making you have more energy and also helps your skin. The skin contains a lot of water and acts as a barrier to prevent excess water loss. If you drink too much water the kidneys will filter it out, so it is always better to be overhydrated than under.

If you find that you are suffering from a lot of headaches, then it may be that by upping your water intake, you can elevate most if not all of them.

Sleep is an important part of our daily lives yet many of us skimp on sleep and get nowhere near the 8 hours of recommended sleep per night. Lack of sleep or disruptive sleep can cause a number of issues with you heath such as headaches, depression, fertility issues and concentration issues.

Research over many years has shown that diet is closely linked to sleep and that the foods we eat can have a big impact on how much quality sleep we get.

Caffeine is known to keep you awake so many people avoid caffeine during the few hours before they intend on going to bed.  Food can have an influence on how well you sleep at night, so pay attention to your diet and how you’re eating to improve your sleep quality.

Making sure you get the right amount of diary, meats, carbs and veg/fruit in to your diet each day will help you achieve a good quality sleep pattern. Sleep is also about routine. You should try and go to bed and get up at the same time every day so your body knows what to expect.

Making sure your room is quiet and dark will also help you sleep better. If you struggle to sleep you are better to get back up for a bit and then try again when you are feeling tired.

If you are creating a buffet for a number of guests then you will need to find out if there is anyone with any food allergies.  More and more people seem to be suffering with food allergies these days and therefore it is vital that you cater for these people.

It may be that you have some people that are gluten free in which case sandwiches made gluten free bread will be needed.

Not only may you have people with food allergies but also people that are vegetarian or Vegan.  You will need to think carefully about all the food that you are preparing and ensure that you label any food that is suitable for vegetarians, vegans and people who have an intolerance to gluten.

You may struggle to get some gluten-free or vegan food from you usual supermarket, although most of them do now have a section for this. Supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s often have a wide selection of gluten free food.

Try to make some foods that are suitable for all such as vegan salads and dips. If you are in doubt contact the manufacturer to find out if the food is vegan / gluten free before serving it to your guests.  

Gluten is a word we are hearing a lot about of late. Gluten is a mixture of two proteins present in cereal grains, especially wheat, which is responsible for the elastic texture of dough. A lot of people are said to have a gluten intolerance which can be seen through a number of different symptoms. Some people say that after eating gluten they become very bloated and experience stomach pains. They may also experience headaches, depression and exhaustion which have all been linked to gluten intolerance.

Luckily it is fairly easy to find out if you are gluten intolerant by having a simple blood test. You may be able to get this done at your doctors or you can pay to have it done privately. There are many online companies that offer gluten testing for as little as £30.

There are a number of foods on the market that are gluten-free, so adapting your diet is quite easy although these products do often cost a little more. Many restaurants and even takeaways are also now offering gluten-free menus to cater for people with this condition, so you no longer have to always cook at home.

If you suspect you may have a gluten intolerance, then you could try cutting gluten out of your diet for a month or so and see if you feel any improvements. You may not be intolerant to it, but sometimes it can still make you feel lethargic or affect your stomach so cutting it out, may not be a bad thing regardless.

People who want to lose weight will often be trying to find new ways that will aid them in the weight loss program. Historically people who want to lose weight were told that by eating a healthy breakfast, they should lose weight quicker than those who skip breakfast altogether. The idea behind this is that having breakfast gives your metabolism a kick start and means that you will burn calories quicker throughout the day.
New research that has just been released is now questioning this theory and may change the way people diet in the future. The research showed that there was no significant change in metabolism rates with those that eat breakfast compared to those who don’t. It also showed that on average, someone that eats breakfast will consume on average more than 200 additional calories per day as having breakfast doesn’t seem to alter the amount of food a person eats during the rest of the day.
This research has only been conducted on a small sample of people and larger, more complex trials are needed to really see if this statement is true. If it is we may need to rethink how and when we eat our meals to help aid weight loss.

Many people chose to be a vegetarian for a number of reasons. It may be because they think that it is cruel to kill and eat animals for our consumption, it may be because they feel that there are not enough animals on the planet to sustain the rate we are slaughtering them or that they simply do not like the taste or the thought of eating meat. When taking the decision to become a vegetarian, it is important that you consider how you are going to remain healthy and what foods you can eat to replace the benefits of eating meat. By eating a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, soy products, and whole grains, vegetarians can get adequate nutrients from non–meat sources. Vegans or vegetarians need to ensure that they are getting enough protein (which is often found in meats), iron and calcium. Nuts are a great source of protein and can be included in everyday meals or as a snack to ensure you are getting the right amount from each food group. Investing in a vegetarian cookery book or looking online will allow you to find some great tasty recipes that are meat free.

There has long been a debate on whether diet and low sugar food and drinks are more beneficial to your health than the full-fat version. Many diet or low sugar products are made sweet by adding artificial sweeteners, and new research has shown that this may have side effects which can be quite bad.

Six artificial sweeteners – aspartame, sucralose, saccharine, neotame, advantame, and acesulfame potassium-k have been linked to being toxic to gut bacteria, something that we all need to maintain a healthy digestive system.

Unfortunately, the advice is ever changing and its not only diet food and drinks that contain these sweeteners.  Many health experts say that it is safe to drink and eat a range of foods but everything in moderation. If you drink a lot of diet coke for example, then rather switching to drinking the equivalent in full-fat coke, cut down the amount of it you drink altogether.

Diets have always been a hot topic and if you do your research you will find a lot of conflicting advice out there. Fruit and vegetables are an important part of any diet and you need to try and eat at least 5 portions a day. Try to eat as little processed foods as possible and keep an eye on how much sugar and salt is added to your foods.