LOOKING GOOD

Healthy Heart Tips by Dr Helen Flaherty Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

Eating healthy lunches at home

Many of us are spending more time at home due to COVID-19 and this can mean reaching for the comfort foods when we feel bored, stressed or need cheering up. On busy days, it is easy to pop to the kitchen and grab a quick lunch without thinking too much about whether it is good for you. We have some tips for planning and preparing healthier lunches at home.

Include plenty of fruit and veg

Fruit and vegetables are packed with nutrients and fibre to help keep your heart healthy. Find healthy salad or vegetable soup recipes online or in recipe books to include in your lunch plan. Finish off your lunches with a portion of fruit and a low-calorie yoghurt.

Increase your fibre intake

A diet that is high in fibre can reduce your risk of heart disease. Good sources of fibre include fruit and vegetables, beans and pulses and wholegrain foods. Try to regularly include a portion of wholegrain food in your lunches, such as brown bread, wholemeal pita, wholemeal pasta or brown rice.

Include lean sources of protein in your lunches

Foods that are high in protein can help you to feel full for longer and this can prevent you from snacking on less healthy foods during the day. Lean sources of protein include grilled skinless chicken or turkey, canned tuna, soybeans, tofu and low-fat dairy products.

Plan your lunches in advance

Planning your lunches in advance will allow you to put a little more thought into what you are eating as well as saving you time and money. Try creating a weekly lunch plan before the start of the week and shop for ingredients in advance. Prepare your lunches the night before to save time during busy days or try cooking large quantities of home-made soups and store single portions in the freezer.

You can find more healthy tips, recipes and advice at heartresearch.org.uk.

Mendip Mobility - in Street and Trowbridge

ESTABLISHED in 2007, Mendip Mobility Ltd aim to provide excellent service and quality value for money products to their customer base which now reaches further into Wiltshire.

The two local retail outlets display their extensive range of quality branded rise and recline chairs, adjustable beds, bath lifts, Mobility Scooters, Powerchairs, everyday living aids and mobility products enabling customers to see the equipment first hand and receive professional advice from knowledgeable staff.

Mendip Mobility Ltd are keen to spend time with everyone who comes through their doors. They will discuss your options and needs and provide demonstrations both in store and at home to make sure the products you purchase suit your individual requirements.

Contact their Street store on 01458 448355 or Trowbridge on 01225 764800, please see their advert for the full address and further details.

South Cary House

Situated in the pretty market town of Castle Cary, South Cary House is a Grade II listed Georgian property set in its own beautifully maintained grounds of approximately one acre.

In the comfort and security of South Cary House we provide a relaxed, comfortable and happy environment for our residents. We place a strong emphasis on the preservation of dignity, privacy and respect for each individual's choice of lifestyle.

We are delighted to have been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ for Care by the Care Quality Commission.

South Cary House is within walking distance of the town and there is also a convenient regular bus service to Yeovil and Shepton Mallet. Should you wish to travel further afield trains go to London and Plymouth from Castle Cary railway station. AHM - Live the life you deserve: If you thought bathing safely and stylishly wasn’t possible, think again

Picture the scene, it’s the end of the day. Your body feels tired and your mind is ready for some downtime. You imagine what it would feel like to climb into a warm, soothing bath and let your cares melt away.

Then a niggling doubt takes hold. Last time you had a bath you had to call your partner to help you get out. Maybe it won’t happen this time. So, you run a bath anyway thinking this time you’ll be ok. But can you enjoy your bath with those doubts in your mind? And more importantly, should you?

We know that going from a ‘normal’ bathroom to one with mobility aids feels like a step in a direction you don’t want to go. But it depends how you look at it.

There are far more people aged over 65 in the UK today compared to a generation ago –almost a fifth of the population –and it’s a fact of life that we all need a little extra help as we get older.

This doesn’t mean you’re not relevant. 71% of 55-75 year olds have smartphones now. Retirees are travelling more, using Facebook and a quarter are actively dating. Retirement has become a time to embrace new challenges and fulfil long-awaited experiences. None of that changes just because you have difficulty bathing.

It’s very common for people only to seek help with their bathroom as a result of a fall, accident or near-miss. Should you wait that long, or are there changes you could make now?

Changes to your home don’t need to look unsightly either. Just because you’re adding grab rails or a raised toilet in your bathroom for example, doesn’t mean it will look like a hospital bathroom. You could see it as an opportunity to refresh and update one of the most important rooms of your house.

Updating your bathroom with AHM:

We guide you through the whole process of updating your bathroom, at your pace. If you’re in immediate need of a solution, we do our best to make it happen quickly. If you prefer taking time to think through the options, that’s fine too.

We’re a small, family-run firm with a background in caring and mobility, so we’re flexible and we know what it’s like. We visit customers at home, for free, to get a full understanding of their needs and there’s always a real person at the end of the phone.

‘To be able to speak to the same person when calling the office …