How to have a healthy and happy world cup!

As world cup fever sweeps the nation there's clearly a widespread feeling of happiness, excitement and anticipation; the shops are full of England memorabilia, radio stations are pumping out our football anthems and the motorways are a sea of red and white flags. From Wayne's metatarsal to Colleen's new wardrobe, World Cup frenzy has officially taken hold.

Mental health experts across the world agree that the World Cup undoubtedly has a positive impact on your psychological well-being. It offers escapism, it's emotionally uplifting, it helps to create personal and national identities, it boosts self esteem and it improves your relationships at home and in the work place (unless you bunk off to watch the footie down your local and your boss finds out!).Although our mental health may benefit in the short term our bodies may suffer unnecessary abuse as we binge on alcohol and fatty foods and expose ourselves to the stress of adrenalin fuelled matches. Here are some interesting facts and figures...

• In 1998 Edinburgh Royal Infirmary treated 151 World Cup related health problems including an asthma attack induced by Scotland's defeat by Morocco, self induced deafness from shouting at the TV, chest pains, seizures and palpatations.
• Death rates from heart attacks and strokes were significantly higher than normal during the 1996 European Championships.
• There is a higher risk of alcohol poisoning and arrest from drunk and disorderly behaviour during football tournaments.

Will you be binging on beer, burgers, curry and kebabs over the next couple of weeks?

Culturally, alcohol and football go hand in hand but repeatedly binging on your favourite ale or vino puts an enormous strain on your liver and can, in the long term, lead to weight gain and serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. Similarly, grazing on fatty snacks and fast foods stresses your body and restricts the amount of nutrients you are consuming. Ironically, it is these very nutrients that your body needs, not only to keep you in optimum health, but also to process the alcohol.

If you must sink a bucket full of Stella or Pinot Grigio whilst watching the games then please spare a thought for you heart and liver. Below are some tips to help you have a happier and healthier world cup.

• Obvious, I know, but drink less. If you think that's a riddiculous suggestion then try to drink more water and at least that way you'll be less dehydrated.
• Try a milk thistle supplement which, homeopathically, is considered to be a powerful liver protectant. Pop into your local health shop for further advice.
• To avoid the lure of unhealthy nibbles eat something nutritious before you go out. This will help you to absorb the alcohol and boost the nutrients required to detox your body.
• Stock up on healthy snacks. When my website is up and running I will have a dedicated recipe page so watch this space!
• Eat a diet full of fresh fruit, vegetables and wholegrains.
• Do some exercise the following day and sweat that hangover out!

One last thing...be afraid, be very afraid...

McDonald's is launching a world cup burger, which is 40% bigger than a regular Big Mac. Unsurprisingly it amazes me why anyone with half a brain would even step foot under those golden arches without vomiting on the spot from the rank odour seeping from the doors. I am in complete agreement with Gordon Ramsey who has publicly demanded that fast food burgers should carry a health food warning (Go Gordon!). Did you know a Big Mac contains almost 50 different ingredients including additives, preservatives and E-numbers with a whopping 493 calories, 2.5g of salt and 23g of fat! Now add 40% and you get the World Cup death burger! Mmm.....will you be loving it?

Personally I can't wait for Wimbledon and the obligatory strawberry eating (minus the cream of course). Strawberries not only look gorgeous, they're also full of antioxidants, cancer blasting compounds, fibre and trace minerals. Did you know, they were prized by the Romans for their medicinal value and culinary uses? Now they are the most popular berry in the world.

Oh, and one more thing...

My amazing, hotly anticipated website, which is being designed by Bluegrass, is still under construction. In the meantime, if you would like to improve your health and happiness through life coaching or just fancy a chat then please drop me a line at Charlotte_hunter@btinternet.com or call me on 07770 736905

Also, to receive notifications via your inbox of anything new on this blog, pop your email address in the box on the right!

Be healthy & happy,

Charlotte x