Healthy Start
LET THE SUNSHINE IN
Longer, lighter days don’t just feel good. The sun’s rays have been found to energise T cells, which play a key role in our immunity. And this isn’t down to vitamin D, but a totally separate mechanism, reports German research. Apparently, low levels of blue light, found in sunlight, make T cells move faster, so they can get to infections sooner. So get those blinds open as soon as you wake up and let the light flood in.
HEALTHY BODY INSPIRATION
It seems none of us is safe from body shamers – even top model Bella Hadid became a focus for haters recently. Now a US study shows being on the receiving end of such derision has a serious health impact: increasing risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease (even once BMI and depression is accounted for). Stigmatising people for being overweight makes them less likely to exercise and more likely to overeat to cope. With 63 per cent of women and 77 per cent of men in the UK now officially overweight, it’s important we offer support, not judgment. So hurrah for new Sport England This Girl Can campaign, which shows the beauty of ‘normal’ women exercising (with not an ab in sight), and is now trying to inspire the 50-pluses to move more.