Follow these steps for a happy and healthy life

Eat less:

Okay so this may be the wrong time of the year to think about this one but give it a go.

Eating five smaller meals a day is better for you than eat three huge ones. There will be less stress on your digestive system especially your liver. Two people eating the same number of calories but the one eating them in smaller meals will lose weight. Blood sugar levels will also remain even and you won't experience the need to collapse after the huge blow out.

Trick your self by serving meals on a smaller plate - your brain just wants a full plate!

Chew, chew and chew; the digestive process start in your mouth and your stomach is amazing but even it will have a problem trying to breakdown solid pieces of food you've wolfed down! - Gandhi said that we should 'chew the liquids we drink and drink the solid foods we eat' Also stop eating when you are full and you can leave things on the plate- yes I know you may have been told that there are hungry children all over the world and they would be grateful for the food you're wasting but go on leave it and deal with the guilt!

Just Say No:

Researchers reckon that stress is the silent killer of modern society but that most of us underestimate the dangers. Prolonged stress stimulates the adrenal glands to produce the stress hormone cortisol which over time damages the brain. Alzheimers has now been directly linked to stress.

Rethinking your lifestyle and commitments can help you to live in awareness - that you are not hurtling from one crisis to another but can stand back and reflect on what is happening in your life and what changes you might need to make. Practice saying no more often and not feel guilty - its human nature that if you are always saying yes others will keep asking you. Assess the commitments you have in your life and see that not everything is your responsibility.

Stretch and challenge your brain:

After the age of 40 the brain needs help in keeping 'supple and healthy' to keep Alzheimers at bay keep the brain active. Every single day play word games, cross words, Soduku and solve puzzles. Learn something new on a regular basis - challenge yourself;

'By the end of this month I want to learn how to juggle/knit/learn off by heart a sonnet by Shakespeare' etc. You don't have to have any reason for it you could just learn something because it is there to be learnt! The possibilities are endless there is so much to learn and enjoy in life. Be curious... ask yourself 'I wonder what it feels like to....' if the thought of doing a particular thing scares you go ahead and challenge yourself anyway.

Sing in the shower:

Practice deep breathing and exercise to help lower stress, raise energy levels and increase fresh oxygen flow. You can increase the capacity and health of your lungs by learn yogic breathing techniques ( see previous blog on 'there is only the breath') and singing. This can be one of your challenges or skills to learn so join a singing group or choir. If you are the shy and retiring type then singing in the shower or joining in with your favourite song on CD is great... just warn the neighbours!

Take care of your Liver:

Your liver is a wonderful helper so take care of it. A healthy liver will be able to produce good cholesterol which is needed for hormone health and cell membrane production. Over indulgence of fatty foods, big meals and alcohol will put the liver under a great deal of stress - although the liver is very kind in that it will keep stretching and stretching in order to deal with the heavy load it will however eventually give up.

In Chinese medicine, they believe that the liver is doing its job between 1am and 3am. If you find yourself awake and disturbed at this time every night you may have a liver issue. As always eat lighter meals in the latter part of the day and amke sure you have eaten the evening meal before 7pm and only a light snack or milky drink after that. Beware of artificial sweeteners, refined flour or sugars and too much alcohol. If you know that you will be indulging over the festive period - who isn't - then taking the supplement milk thistle (from health shops and major chemists) is great for assisting the liver in processing the excesses. Eat beetroots and drink dandelion tea, both are very effective liver cleansers.

Don't smoke:

I'm sure you know all the information but here it comes again just in case you are thinking of some New Years resolutions and needed some more convincing.

Smoking one packet of ciggies a day depletes your body of up to 500mg of vitamin C ( your daily intake is an 100mg a day) Carbon monoxide levels are increased in the body after one cigarette and it will take your circulatory system six hours to start to function normally again.

A 40 year old smokers skin is comparable to a 60 year old non-smoker. If you are finding it hard to give up it's not because you are weak willed, just the addictive nature of smoking has a profound effect on your brain and you can get stuck in the 'craving-compulsion-rebellion-feeling bad- giving up-giving in- cycle' that feels hard to break. Get help to give up such as hypnotherapy which appears to work for many people. Ask friends who have successfully given up and get them to help you.