Healthy Working Lives
We're all encouraged to pay more attention to our health and wellbeing, and it's important to strike the balance between work and life. By having a healthy working life, you're less likely to take time off for absence, and feel more motivated and energised in your work and home life.
In our recent poll, 33% of you said you'd like information of how to eat more healthily, and 35% wanted tips on becoming more active, so we've pulled some advice together to help you keep those New Year's Resolutions.
Did you know? You can visit your local NHS Healthpoint at Dr Gray's for free healthy living and weight loss advice. They also offer 'weighing sessions' to help motivate and keep you on track.
Healthy Eating
The NHS' Eatwell Guide shows how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet.
Their eight practical tips cover the basics of healthy eating, and can help you make healthier choices.
- Base your meals on starchy carbohydrates
- Eat lots of fruit and veg
- Eat more fish – including a portion of oily fish
- Cut down on saturated fat and sugar
- Eat less salt – no more than 6g a day for adults
- Get active and be a healthy weight
- Don't get thirsty
- Don't skip breakfast
The key to a healthy diet is to eat the right amount of calories for how active you are, so that you balance the energy you consume with the energy you use. It's recommended that men have around 2,500 calories a day (10,500 kilojoules). Women should have around 2,000 calories a day (8,400 kilojoules). Most adults are eating more calories than they need, and should eat fewer calories.
You can check out more healthy eating advice from Food Standards Scotland, British Heart Foundation and Eat Better Feel Better.
Physical Activity
Often referred to as a 'miracle cure', exercise can reduce your risk of major illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer by up to 50% and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%. What's more, it’s free, easy to take, has an immediate effect and, yes, can be FUN.
For most people, the easiest way to get moving is to make activity part of everyday life, like walking or cycling instead of using the car to get around. However, the more you do, the better, and taking part in activities such as sports and exercise will make you even healthier.
From walking to jogging or running, hill-climbing, mountain biking and beyond, Moray is the perfect outdoor playground which you can enjoy and feel the health benefits from.
Search the following sites for new areas to explore:
If you fancy exercising indoors in a supervised environment, why not try: