10 ways to improve your health and fitness

Great ideas for staying fit and healthy

(Getty Images/Westend61)

With the warmer weather now with us, it’s the perfect time to re-examine your health and fitness choices. Find all the inspiration you need to find the right products for you.

Soft drinks the natural way

If you’re looking for an alternative soft drink or an accompaniment to spirits, zero-calorie Skinny Tonic is a great choice and contains no sugar. There’s nothing artificial, either – drinks are simply sweetened with an extract from the Stevia rebaudiana plant, a member of the sunflower family.

There are eight flavours to choose from: Indian, Mediterranean, Aromatic, Cucumber, Clear Coffee, British Raspberry, Light Citrus and Ginger Ale. You can buy them when you fancy, or order a delivery subscription on a weekly or monthly basis. Visit skinnytonics.com

Try out CBD

Cannabidiol is legal in the UK, more and more people are beginning to try it, to see if it can to help them to relax and unwind. Provacan works with some of the world's most advanced cannabis research teams and has a range that includes capsules, edibles, vapes, topicals and more – all made from hemp.

Provacan products are easily available for online ordering and shipment to UK and EU addresses. Buy authentic full-spectrum CBD oil UK products from the official Provacan website. Visit provacan.co.uk

Enjoy fresh and healthy burgers

Whether you’re ready to dine out, or sticking to home delivery, try Siirgista Bros’ delicious gourmet burgers – made with fresh ingredients. They're handmade, mixed with phenomenal flavours and perfectly assembled to fulfil your cravings. The company has a great range of burgers and a whole vegan selection available too.

There are six Siirgista Bros’ restaurants in London, and you can also order them on Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats or call and collect.

Get 15% off when you order over the phone and pay upon collection – just show a screenshot of this article on any device. Visit siirgistabros.co.uk

Treat your shoulder and elbow problems

In the wake of this unprecedented pandemic, access to healthcare has been limited. Video consultations, which have allowed many of us to access our doctor for advice and reassurance, are likely to change the future of medicine. Arguably though, there’s still no substitute for a face-to-face consultation.

With the easing of lockdown, consultant orthopaedic surgeon Omar Haddo (above) is now seeing patients and proceeding with various investigations and treatments. If you have any shoulder or elbow problems, please contact Mr Haddo at The Wellington Hospital, St Johns Wood, London, admin@shouldersurgery.london or 020 8004 6656 (shouldersurgery.london).

Look after your gut

Your body’s microbiome is made up of many organisms, including lots of good bacteria. Symprove is a unique food supplement that contains selected bacteria strains that help support your gut microbiome.

An independent clinical trial by University College London (UCL) shows Symprove’s ability to survive the harsh environment of the stomach and the transit to the gut, to be able to multiply and nourish the gut microbiome. Symprove is gluten-free, dairy-free, FODMAP-friendly and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

To find out how to best care for your microbiome, visit symprove.com

Check out the benefits of algae

Sun Chlorella A Powder is 100% pure chlorella, with no binders or additives, and can be easily added to shakes or smoothies or sprinkled on food. It’s created using DYNO®-Mill technology to break down algae’s cell walls without the use of heat or chemicals, which can have a negative impact on quality.

Sun Chlorella A Powder has been designated by Informed Sport, a UK-based testing company, as NSF-certified for sport, highlighting its quality and efficacy. Sun Chlorella A is available in tablet and powder form. Visit sunchlorella.co.uk

A pea-powered alternative to dairy

The new superhero for your morning cuppas, zero-sugar Sproud can be poured over cereal or used as a dairy-free milk alternative. Sproud hails from Sweden and has a similar flavour profile to semi-skimmed milk. Its products are made from yellow peas, one of the more sustainable crops used to make milk substitutes. The ‘milk’ comes in three varieties: Sproud Barista, Sproud Unsweetened and Sproud Chocolate.

Find Sproud in independent retailers, at Waitrose, on Ocado or on Amazon. Visit besproud.com/gb

​Give your skin a treat

Treat your skin with Opatra Pure, a facial-cleansing device equipped with sonic vibrators (above), designed to target impurities, leaving your pores feeling unclogged. This high-tech device gives you an invigorating massage, leaving your skin feeling softer, smoother, firmer and healthier.

Use code HAPPYPURE50 (offer code valid until 21 August 2020) for 50% off your first purchase at opatra.com and follow @opatraskincare on Instagram.

Collagen – pure protein

Comprising 30% of the protein in our bodies, collagen helps make up different body parts, such as tendons, ligaments and muscle. It gives your skin structure and supports bone strength. Edible Health’s 100% natural collagen peptides provide one of the purest sources of protein. From just 77p per day, it’s easy and affordable too: just mix the powder into food or drink.

Go to Edible Health and use discount code ‘MIRACLE’ for 10% off.

Get tested and stay alert

Visit Atruchecks, a British company that’s partnered up with UK-accredited Laboratory Eurofins Scientific, which has 800 laboratories. It’s providing tests at cost-price and has an impressive portfolio of more than 600 blood tests. They have a dedicated blood collection location just off Harley Street, in the heart of London, to support wider testing.