Sign up to a challenge Whether it is undertaking the NHS Couch to 5K plan or signing up to a marathon, having a goal can give shape and structure to an exercise routine. Whatever your motivation and fitness level, there are numerous events (many of them free) that you can [...]

Have a filling breakfast Nutritionist Kerry Torrens advocates a filling and sugar-stabilising breakfast, such as porridge, if you are heading out in the evening. Starting the day with a generous breakfast can help control your appetite later in the day. She recommends adding a dollop of probiotic yoghurt to help [...]

Eight years on, veganism still has me scratching my head. My commitment hasn’t wavered, but the questions surrounding what is and isn’t vegan continue to plague me on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis. While many assume veganism is strictly about refusing to use animal products, for most vegans it is also about [...]

We were shocked by the revelation that over 117,000 people under 18 were given “off label” melatonin prescriptions in 2017-18 (Fears over rise in use of melatonin to aid sleep, 3 November). Surprisingly, sales of melatonin are not regulated and it is widely available as an over-the-counter medication and from [...]

Ten years ago, I typed the phrase “slow reading” into a web search engine. I found reports about dyslexia and eye disorders. In these cases, slow reading is understandably a problem and interventions can be helpful. Often, though, slowness in the pace of reading and thinking is desirable. Try the same web search [...]

Pick a sport, any sport – and practise What exactly do you want to improve your reflexes for? If it’s for a specific sport, you’re off to a good start. Perhaps you want to be the star goalie at your Thursday afternoon five-a-side, or maybe you have taken up boxing and would prefer not to get hit in the face. The [...]

Re the “arbitrary figure” of 10,000 steps (G2, 3 September), the number has significance in Japanese culture – 10,000 in Japanese is ichiman, a unit in Japanese mathematics. The standard large currency note is 10,000 yen, the number of years wished at someone’s birthday is 10,000 – and when, more than 50 [...]

In recent years, coaches and celebrities have bought into the trend of” hungry ” gym activities-skipping Breakfast when hitting the treadmill before work, especially when the main purpose of exercise [...]

Walking just isn’t enough, according to a new review of evidence from public health England, which shows a serious gap between the exercises people need and what they actually [...]

Walk quickly for 10 minutes, three times a day Weight-bearing exercise (walking, running) helps to keep bones strong. Ideally, you need a mix of “feet on the ground” activity and muscle resistance such as weights, press-ups and swimming. No one knows precisely how much exercise is needed; the NHS says adults aged [...]