How To Boost Your Immune System Over Winter

We are officially coming into the winter months now and a step closer to Christmas! However this also means the dreaded flu season is upon us. With sickness bugs beginning to spread like wildfire it is important to keep your immune system in tip top shape in order to minimize risk of catching the flu!

Not sure where to start? No need to panic as we have great tips and tricks available in our new Healthy For Life Guide "Boosting Immunity" including what foods to to eat, vitamins to be aware of and a guide to your fitness over winter too.

We also have a very comforting and hearty soup recipe for Thai Chicken & Sweet Potato, full of nutritional value and a perfect boost for your immune system!

Health Inspiration & Recipes For Autumn

The leafs are changing colour, the nights are getting darker and Halloween is fast approaching, the Autumn season is finally here!

As the days get colder it can be hard to find motivation to stay fit and healthy, to keep morale high we have a list of some easy to follow health tips for the season and some cooking inspiration with a warm and comforting Indian butternut squash curry recipe, enjoy!

Sensible Shopping

Living away from home for the first time means it can be difficult to know how to budget your food shop properly. All of us not just students have been victims of wasting food that is out of date or buying too much for the week and throwing away food (essentially meaning we are throwing away money!)

This week we will be focusing on sensible shopping and easy tips and tricks you can follow to spend less whether it be your daily, weekly or monthly food shop.

Freshers Guide To Cooking: Thrifty 30 Minute Meals

We want to wish all of our new Freshers a very warm welcome and to also welcome back returning students for the new academic year!

Being a new student means learning to cook for yourself can be tricky, especially if you are on a budget. It often feels easier to pick up a takeaway or a ready meal as opposed to making a home cooked meal. However over time this can have a negative effect on your body, mental health and can even effect how you study.

If you have already picked up our new 2016 Student Survival Guides you will have seen our Thrifty 30 Minute Meals, showing you it is possible to eat well without spending hours in the kitchen and on a budget. Below are a selection of the recipes from our guides you can try at home! Show us your take on these meals and send us your pictures on our social media!

Being Salt Savvy & Knowing The Facta

It's August meaning a new Healthy For Life topic! This month we are focusing on how to be salt savvy! With students preparing to come back to Uni or for new Freshers it is important to keep up a healthy diet outside of home. Living independently from our parents means we don't always think about the nutrition in our food, convenience and price usually come first. No need to worry because we are here to help! Read below to find out the key facts about the salt in your food.

Salt is an important part of our diet, however too much can have a negative effect on our health. Salt does not just come from the amount we sprinkle on our food, it's everywhere! It's important to be aware of foods high in salt and looking at the nutritional information on food packaging so you know how much you are consuming each day.

We look forward to seeing all of you again in September and remember to stay salt savvy!

Diabetes Awareness: Types, Symptoms, Treatment & Risks

This month our Healthy For Life focus is on Diabetes, knowing what types of Diabetes there are, how to spot common symptoms, the risks and treatment available. There are many misconceptions and false information circulating online regarding Diabetes so it can be confusing to know exactly what it is.

No need to be confused any longer however as we give you the facts down below! To enlarge any of the image simply double click them.

Many people are unaware the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, they are in fact very different. With Type 1 the body cannot produce any insulin, with Type 2 the most common form of Diabetes develops when the body isn't producing enough insulin or the insulin ins't working properly. Continue reading below for more information and treatments for both types.

Both types of Diabetes will have similar symptoms to look out for however with Type 1 these can develop very rapidly over a few weeks and are very noticeable to spot. With Type 2 these symptoms will develop more slowly over a period of months or even years. Continue reading below to find out more about what Diabetes is and the diagnosis process.

Unfortunately for Type 1 Diabetes there is no method of prevention however for Type 2 there are ways in which you can help lessen the risk of developing Diabetes through diet and exercise. Below we have some useful tips on prevention and key risk factors to avoid.

We hope you found this informative and will help you look out for the key warning signs should you be worried. We are sure you are all enjoying your summer break, remember to keep active and eat well!

How Your Diet Can Affect Your Exam Stress

Our diet can have a huge impact on our brain, from our mood to our concentration levels what you eat really can affect your exam stress!.

When we are in high pressure situations it can be very tempting to pick up the most convenient snacks possible to give us quick energy or to comfort eat to deal with the stress but did you know how these bad habits actually affect you?

Letting your energy levels slump and only eating when your really hungry will have a worse affect than grazing. When studying you are best having healthy and light snacks throughout the day to keep your energy levels stable.

Fruit & vegetables contain vital nutrients and chemicals that can foster the production of Dopamine, this plays a key role in motivation and engagement. Fruit & vegetables can also improve memory, moods and minimize body inflammation!

Take caffeine in moderation, over consumption of tea, coffee or sugary drinks can cause dehydration and an irritable mood making it harder to focus on studying.
As we said before memory boosting nutrients can be found in vitamin A, E & C such as eggs,carrots, broccoli, fish, nuts and green leafy vegetables.

Lecithin is a component of all cell membranes and can help calm nerves! Good sources of this can be found in egg yolks, soybeans, cauliflower and beans.