Dear Rachel,

I'm a university student and I lost 20 pounds from January to April through eating healthily and regular exercise, which I loved. My confidence and mental health, which had been affecting me for a while, were so much better. At the beginning I went to the gym with a friend and we did workouts together, but by the end I was quite happy going by myself and going into the weights section alone. It was such a relief to finally be feeling good and so much more positive about my life.

Then something happened. I started feeling like I could treat myself more. Without noticing, I stopped going to the gym and wasn't making the right food choices. I started to stress-eat around exam time and shut off anything to do with exercise, spending time in the library eating chocolate bars and chips as a comfort blanket. I didn't really notice the weight piling back on. I tend to self-destruct like this when I feel like everything's too much.

It's now a few months later and I'm right back where I started. I feel so frustrated and angry for letting myself do this when I tried so hard. I try to eat healthily but after two days I'm back to binge-eating in the evenings for no reason. I have no motivation to exercise. I feel like I'm at a standstill and don't know how to get started again.

What can I do to improve my situation? I feel stuck in the same cycle that I've always found myself in and find it so hard to stick to a regular routine.

Yo-Yo Dieter

Dear Yo-Yo,

Your frustration is very understandable believe me, I know the feeling and I honestly believe keeping weight off may be harder than losing it in the first place.

For lots of people, you get in a "zone" when you're losing weight. A certain headspace, if you will, where you're focused on your goal. You find out what works for you, and you gradually get there. It feels good.

But then once you're feeling happy with the amount of fat you've lost, you want to move into maintenance and that's often the most difficult bit.

Firstly, it's hard to know how much you can "relax" in order to maintain your current body composition rather than gain weight. Once you move away from your weight loss mindset, it's also all too easy to slip right back into all your old eating habits, which for many of us were what got us feeling like we should slim down in the first place.

So what's the solution?

Firstly, as always, don't beat yourself up.

"While I'm not condoning eating copious quantities of chocolate and not taking part in any physical activity, have you ever thought that this constant berating of yourself is feeding into your behaviour?" sports and eating disorder specialist dietitian Renee McGregor asked.

McGregor told Insider that holding yourself to too high a standard could be setting yourself up to fail.

A post shared by Renee Mcgregor (@r_mcgregor)Sep 7, 2019 at 1:00am PDT

"It's obvious from your message that you have some real beliefs about what makes you happy and a good person. While training and eating right are healthy behaviors, they should also never become obsessive," she said.

"The issue now is that because you've got this belief system that to be healthy you have to go to the gym daily and eat in a certain way, when you don't quite meet this, you feel like you've failed and so you beat yourself up."

And if you don't switch this mindset, you'll never make any sustainable changes.

The key is to try and re-train your brain as much as your body.

McGregor pointed out that taking a black and white approach to "good" and "bad" days is unhelpful.

"What can often happen is that individuals over-restrict on 'good' days," she said. "The body then finds this difficult as it is always trying to achieve energy balance; similarly if you don't provide your body with enough fuel, you will crave more sugar as glucose is the body's preferred currency to provide energy.

"So you set yourself up to fail. You over-restrict, your blood sugars drop, you eat something you deem as 'bad' which then sets up the thinking that you have failed, resulting in you eating to excess, feeding back into the self-sabotage that you are a bad person."

But it's totally possible to move away from this downwards spiral, and that's what will make any changes you implement become part of a new healthy, sustainable lifestyle, meaning any weight lost in the process is more likely to stay off.

A post shared by Rachel Hosie (@rachel_hosie)Apr 22, 2019 at 4:45am PDT

You have to stop thinking about weight loss as something which has an end goal in sight. There's no finish line.

I don't mean for that to sound depressing, or make it seem like you're going to be trying to lose weight for the rest of your life. Instead, you should figure out which healthy habits are enjoyable enough for you to become part of your lifestyle.

This mindset also helped me stop beating myself up if, say, I indulged more than usual on a holiday and put on a few pounds as a result, I feel OK about it because I know in the scheme of my life, it's insignificant. I come back from holiday, and I go back to my normal routine.

Registered nutritionist Lily Soutter agrees that it's important to stop thinking about being on a diet.

"'Dieting' can be a huge driver for binge-eating. In fact, the more restrictive we are with our diet the more likely we are to binge-eat," she explained to Insider.

"Focusing on weight loss can be counterproductive to binge-eating recovery, however, binge-eating recovery can be the best step to achieving a healthy body weight."

A post shared by Lily Soutter BSc (hons) (@lily_soutter_nutrition)Oct 12, 2019 at 1:52am PDT

Don't cut anything out of your diet or tell yourself you can't have it, as that will just make you want it even more. If you love cookie dough ice cream, you're not going to be able to live the rest of your life without it, so allow yourself some and learn that "enough is as good as a feast" (or so my mother always says to me). This essentially means re-training yourself to be satisfied by a normal portion size rather than feeling like you need to consume vast amounts.

"If chocolate is a common binge food, instead of going cold-turkey, enjoy this food daily to reduce its desirability," Soutter recommended.

"But be mindful of portion-size and the environment in which you consume this food, only buy small packs and eat slowly and mindfully, ideally in the company of others.

"Often when we eat mindfully we tend to feel more satisfied with our food which better regulates our hunger and fullness cues."

It's never too late to start again when it comes to working towards a healthier lifestyle, and don't worry about the fact that you lost weight then regained it most of us try various approaches, diets, and ways of exercising before finding what's right for us.

It's not failing. It's how we learn.

But you need to start small.

"In order to change you need to make realistic changes, baby steps that don't feel too difficult," McGregor advised.

"If the gym feels like a big jump at the moment, why don't you start with daily walks; if this feels manageable then sign up to a class, something like yoga which may feel more nurturing than the gym.

"Similarly with eating, don't create any rules about what you should or shouldn't eat. The first aim should be to prevent blood sugar fluctuations to do this try to eat something at 3-4 hour intervals."

Soutter pointed out that eating regularly can help remove the urge to binge-eat, too.

A post shared by Lily Soutter BSc (hons) (@lily_soutter_nutrition)Oct 21, 2019 at 12:35am PDT

McGregor recommends eating satiating snacks like Greek yogurt with fruit, oatcakes with houmous or peanut butter, or an apple with brazil nuts.

"This more gentle approach will help you to create sustainable, balanced behaviours and focuses on having a healthy attitude towards food and exercise," she added.

Soutter agrees that taking on too much too quickly is likely to end in disaster.

"It can be all too easy to be overly restrictive when starting up an exercise and nutrition regime," she says. "However, following a routine which is overly taxing and unrealistic can trigger an 'all or nothing' mentality.

"On the other hand, small incremental and sustainable changes can make a big impact long term."

If you lose some weight and then gain some weight, that's OK. There's no rush. And remember, health really isn't to do with the number on the scale.

If you're making healthy decisions like snacking on an apple rather than a chocolate bar, prioritizing your sleep, and getting more activity into your day, applaud yourself for that. By trying to make positive changes, you're already doing amazing.

Wishing you well,

Rachel

As Insider's Senior Lifestyle Reporter and a self-confessed fitness fanatic, Rachel Hosie is fully immersed in the wellness scene and is here to answer all your burning questions. Whether you're struggling to find the motivation to go for a run, confused about light vs. heavy weights, or don't know whether you should be worried about how much sugar is in a mango, Rachel is here to give you the no-nonsense answers and advice you need, with strictly no fad diets in sight.

Rachel has a wealth of experience covering fitness, nutrition, and wellness, and she has the hottest experts at her fingertips she regularly speaks to some of the world's most knowledgeable and renowned personal trainers, dietitians, and coaches, ensuring she's always up-to-date with the latest science-backed facts you need to know to live your happiest, healthiest life.

Have a question? Ask Rachel at workingitout@insider.com orfill out this anonymous form. All questions will be published anonymously.

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How to avoid regaining weight and keep the pounds off - INSIDER

Americans are living longer thanks to medical and public health advances and greater access to health care. If youre a 65-year-old man in the U.S., you can expect to live another 20 years. American women can expect to live even longer to age 86.5.

While this is good news for most of us, increased longevity also creates new challenges. After we turn 65, our risk of developing dementia doubles every five years. By age 85, nearly one in three of us will have the disease. The impact on women is even greater.

New Milken Institute research estimates that by 2020, roughly 4.7 million women in the U.S. will have dementia, accounting for nearly two-thirds of everyone living with the disease. Women often experience a double whammy. Not only are they more likely to get the disease, they are also more likely to take on most caregiving responsibilities for spouses, parents, in-laws and friends.

Women caregivers are more likely to be impacted financially as they leave jobs or miss work to care for family members. Our analysis predicts that the economic costs of treatment, care and lost productivity due to women suffering from Alzheimers and dementia will total $2.1 trillion by 2040, representing over 80 percent of the cumulative costs.

Communities of color face an even greater threat. Older African Americans have the highest risk of dementia, followed by American Indians/Alaska Natives and Latinos. This increased risk, coupled with income differences and cultural attitudes toward family caregiving, results in communities of color shouldering more direct care for people living with dementia than white populations.

Ive experienced firsthand the devastating impacts of Alzheimers disease on families. My dad and his three siblings were diagnosed within a 10-year time frame. As in most families, the emotional and economic strains fell primarily on the women.

My Aunt Trudy, a Julliard-trained concert pianist, began showing signs of dementia in her early 70s. She had chosen her career over a family as many women of her generation had to do. Trudy had no kids, husband, or much savings, so my family patched together a mix of paid and volunteer caregivers to provide her meals, rides, and companionship.

After it became too much of a strain on our finances, young families, and work lives, we had to place her in a nursing home paid for by Medicaid a harrowing decision made by countless Americans every day. Aunt Trudy maintained her indomitable spirit until the end. When she could no longer speak, she could still play the piano by heart, to the delight of many who sang tunes beside her.

Unfortunately, 10 years since Aunt Trudy died, Alzheimers is the only disease among the top-10 causes of death in the U.S. with no known cure. Recent Phase III drug trial failures this year represented a setback in research.

But thanks to increased National Institutes of Health funding to study Alzheimers disease, researchers today understand better dementias pathology. Perhaps most hopeful for those of us at high risk for dementia, emerging evidence shows that despite family history and personal genetics, lifestyle changes such as a diet, exercise, and better sleep can improve brain health.

Increased participation by women in clinical trials has helped us understand why more women than men have dementia. Researchers believed dementia is primarily connected to longer life expectancy. But new studies have linked it to biological differences, such as hormonal imbalances, that change brain chemistry.

With no cure in sight, we must double our efforts to reduce the risk and cost of dementia. At the Milken Institute, we work to solve significant global problems. That is why we are making recommendations to improve brain health, reduce gender and racial disparities, and ultimately change the trajectory of this devastating disease.

Most importantly, we must spread awareness of how individuals, communities, and health professionals can improve cognitive function and brain health for all ages. If we can delay the onset of dementia by only five years, we can cut the incidence in half.

With more women working full-time and family size decreasing, we must increase efforts to create a dementia-capable workforce to effectively identify people with dementia, tailor services to meet their needs and those of their caregivers, and ensure those living with dementia get the right care at the right time. The high costs of care for Medicare beneficiaries with dementia are linked to avoidable hospitalizations, poor coordination across care teams, and ineffective care transitions.

We offer many more ideas in the new report, Reducing the Cost and Risk of Dementia: Recommendations to Improve Brain Health and Reduce Disparities. We are in a race against time. We want to ensure that all of us will be singing songs by heart and enjoying our family and friends as we age. To provide a better future for millions of Americans impacted by dementia, we must act now.

Nora Super is senior director of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging. She previously was executive director of the White House Conference on Aging.

More:
Dementia impacts women more and new approaches are needed | TheHill - The Hill

-We'll continue our interviews with candidates interviewing to be Boise's next mayor. Today, we're talking with the fourth candidate in our series of seven: Cortney Nielsen, who argues that Boiseans have lost interest in their government because they don't feel heard.

- Meridian has officially banned the use of cellphones while driving, but the municipality still allows hands-free devices. The measure will go into effect in January of 2020. Idaho Matters will learn more about what the new ordinance means and how to avoid breaking the law.

- October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. Some people are more susceptible than others. But everyone can take more preventative lifestyle measures to help reduce their chance of getting the terrible disease. We'll look at how diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes affect the chances of a person getting breast cancer.

- Opera Idaho is preforming a mythological piece inGeorge Frederick Handels "Acis & Galatea." It is the first time the arts organization is performing one of Handel's works, and they're bringing in Emmy Award WinnerKarim Sulayman to perform the piece.

Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet@KBSX915using #IdahoMatters

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On The Tuesday, October 29, 2019 Edition Of Idaho Matters - Boise State Public Radio

PITTSBURGH As Cameron Sutton and Steven Nelson started to share a locker room this spring, the veteran cornerback noticed the crystals in the younger defensive backs locker.

I'm very into it, Nelson said. I know exactly what that is. It's spirituality.

The two cornerbacks quickly formed a bond that's continued into the thick of the season. Their conversations cover the types of soaps they use, gum they chew and their decision not to eat red meat or pork.

But the crystals came early on. And as the slightly younger Sutton pulls through a 2019 season with a changed, though increasingly prominent role in the team, he continues to do so with a regular practice of crystal healing.

They all serve their own purpose, you know what I mean, Sutton said. Obviously it's coming from nature's greatest.

Sutton and Nelson, among plenty of others, believe that proximity to certain rocks and minerals can help with ones day-to-day disposition, energy levels and focus, among other attributes, plenty of which are widely open to the individuals interpretation.

And while the size of the the crystals varies greatly, the Steelers defensive back notes that cultures in different parts of the world believe in the ability of different stones to aid people in their daily lives. His girlfriend, Courtney Alexander, told him about the practice years ago. Shes better-read on the subject than Sutton is, he said, and handcrafts bracelets and jewelry with the stones.

Throughout the week of practice leading up to a game, Sutton will pick out a stone for a purpose for each day. And, if at the end of the week, the Steelers are traveling, Sutton will pack four or five, plus a hand-held dream catcher to bring with him.

Certain stones have very specific purposes, whereas others are more open to the needs of whoevers around them.

The approximately 10-inch tall selenite crystal that was in Suttons locker last week, he explained, is an energy stone, bringing positivity and clarity. Though there are different meanings, those are the base readings, he said.

It's really cool obviously to see the benefits that they put out and obviously in return the benefits you reap from that, Sutton said. I think it's something that obviously you don't' force on anybody. People ask about it and then obviously it brings attention and curiosity to some people.

But obviously there's a few people that keep up with those things too.

Nelson is the most direct supporter of the practice, but when the Steelers travel, Sutton does charge the crystals in the light of the hotel room window, moving a table over and placing the rocks there to absorb the light of the sun and the moon.

His weekend roommates dont mind. Sutton shares a room with Artie Burns on the road. Joshua Dobbs roomed with Sutton before he was traded in Week 2, and he had no issue with the practice, either.

If there's no window, Sutton will take the crystals outside. Between uses he and his girlfriend clean and charge them. They charged them all up at the last full moon.

A lot of people don't really, you know, they see crystals, they don't think about it, Nelson said. They just think it's a rock. But it has meaning.

The crystals are part of the same diet, exercise and health product discussions Nelson and Sutton share.

It works for Sutton. He used to buy his stones at Journeys of Life in Shadyside before it shut down. He still looks for shops that sell them whenever he travels with his girlfriend.

On Friday, as the Steelers neared the end of their preparation for their first game since Sutton shined with a clinch interception against the Los Angeles Chargers, he explained the powers of citrine. It provides clarity, love and energy.

They're reasons why it's a regular in Sutton's rotation of rocks.

It's kind of just what you want out of those stones, what those stones define in how you're feeling, he said. And like I said that's something else that's manifested and you can bring that out and carry with you.

Sutton, like a lot of the youngest Steelers, still lives on South Side just a few minutes away from the team's headquarters. He and his girlfriend have talked about moving North or into some suburb of Pittsburgh, but he's in Year 3 of a four-year rookie contract, carving out a role playing a specific slot corner position all but exclusively on passing downs.

There's little point in moving out and buying up.

Still, Sutton feels a benefit from stones. That sensation isn't isolated to those he carries with them as he's feeling whatever lift he's getting on a given day. But he knows, he said, and that's enough.

It could be lucky socks. It could be 'Hey I wear these lucky socks, manifest a good game, manifest, making plays, manifest, you know, certain things that guys have that they can carry with them, Sutton said. It's not really a pinpoint thing.

Its something that they use. It keeps you motivated.

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Steelers CB Cameron Sutton powers on (in part) aided by his crystal collection with support of Steven Nelson, - PennLive

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An alleged Lucchese soldier planned to escape federal jail with the help of some unusual tools: Kool-Aid, dental floss and a high-fiber diet, according to the New York Times.

Christopher Londonio, 45, of the Bronx, started plotting his escape while awaiting trial in a 2013 murder case, according to the published report.

Londonio was planning on using dental floss to cut through the glass of his cell, which his mother smuggled into Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, and a diamond-tipped hacksaw blade to remove the steel guarding in front of the window that he was able to get through a sympathetic priest, according to the Times.

But in order to be able to fit through the home-made hole, Londonio figured he needed to lose weight -- hence a diet high in fiber and an exercise-regiment of plenty of sit ups, the Times wrote.

The thoroughly-planned escaped was detailed in an FBI report first obtained by Jerry Capeci of Gang Land News, the Times wrote.

Read more from the original source:
Report: Alleged Mafia soldier planned to escape jail with the help of floss, a priest and a fiber diet - SILive.com

A lot of us are guilty of reaching for pasta or binging on bread.

But science is showing two-thirds of Australian adults are overweight or obese - and carbohydrates are often the culprit.

Watch the full story above.

After revolutionising our diets with his best-selling cookbooks, CSIRO scientist Professor Grant Brinkworth is here to give us a health overhaul.

More on 7NEWS.com.au

"The evidence is there now," Brinkworth said.

"At the CSIRO, we're all about delivering evidence-based programs," Brinkworth said.

"And the evidence shows that dietary plans that are lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein and healthy fats is not only an effective weight loss strategy, but much better for improving your blood glucose and heart health, and also reducing the amount of diabetes medication that you require."

"A lot of people really want to follow this sort of plan, but they're time-poor," Brinkworth said.

"So what we've done is create 100 new delicious recipes that are focusing on quick and easy options - so recipes that can be cooked and prepared in less than 30 minutes.

"There's also recipes that include less than 10 ingredients, so you can throw them together and make them really quickly."

"We know from evidence that all fats aren't equal," Brinkworth said.

"While some saturated fats still cause an increased risk of heart disease, it's actually the healthy fats - the mono and polyunsaturated fats like olive oil, avocado and oily fish - that can actually help to reduce your risk of heart disease."

"Our recommendation is still to exercise for about 30 minutes a day," Brinkworth said.

"But what we've shown with our research is increasing the amount of resistance exercise is a really effective approach to do with the CSIRO low-carb diet to improve your health."

Find out more about the CSIRO Low-Carb Diet: Quick and Easy recipe book here.

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CSIRO reveals why a low-carb diet and resistance exercises are the key to good health - 7NEWS

About one in eight U.S. women (approximately 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, according to BreastCancer.org. Even though it is common, there are steps women can take to help lower their risk of developing breast cancer.

This content is sponsored byMedStar Washington Hospital Center.

About one in eight U.S. women (approximately 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, according to BreastCancer.org. Even though it is common, there are steps women can take to help lower their risk of developing breast cancer.

There are certain lifestyle modifications that can help reduce womens risk for getting breast cancer, said Dr. Ami Chitalia, a medical oncologist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. The lifestyle changes include eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a normal weight all of which have been linked to breast cancer risk, she said.

A healthy diet is one that includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Still, allfoods are OK in moderation, Dr. Chitalia said.

So far, there is no clear link between breast cancer and red meat intake or sugar intake, she said.

When it comes to exercising to help reduce the risk of breast cancer, Dr. Chitalia recommends at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise four or five times a week.

Limiting tobacco and alcohol consumption can also be a good choice when it comes to reducing the risk of breast cancer, Dr. Chitalia said. A study has shown an increased risk of breast cancer with smoking, but in premenopausal women only; however, other studies have shown this may not be true. Still, Dr. Chitalia says tobacco use is linked to other cancers and can complicate healing after a breast surgery.

Heavier consumption of alcohol, considered to be four or more drinks per week for women, has been associated with some breast cancers as well, Dr. Chitalia said.

In addition to lifestyle modifications, its also important for women to perform breast self exams and schedule routine mammograms.

Screening mammograms will not reduce a womans risk of developing a breast cancer, but it may help find a cancer at an earlier stage where treatment may be easier to go through and there is a better chance of curing the cancer.

Dr. Chitalia recommends that women perform breast self-exams on a monthly basis, ideally when their breasts are less tender and there are fewer changes to them like during a menstrual cycle.

Women who have a family history of breast cancer or a genetic mutation that may predispose them to breast cancer may want to do more to make sure breast cancer is not in their future. Women with a family history of breast cancer should talk to their physician about when to start screenings because they may be recommended at an earlier age than most women.

Women who carry a genetic mutation for an increased risk of breast cancer should work with their physician to determine the best screening and monitoring strategy for them. Also, they should get information about risk reduction surgeries.

There have been numerous patient success stories that Dr. Chitalias practice has been a part of, she said. Often women visit their primary care doctor or Ob/Gyn if they find a lump in the shower or during a breast self-exam. The doctor usually recommends the women get a diagnostic mammogram, an ultrasound, instead of a screening mammogram to expedite the process. And from there, the women are referred to Dr. Chitalias practice.

MedStar Washington Hospital Center can help reduce a patients risk of breast cancer with innovative technology and expert staff, Dr. Chitalia said.

We offer state-of-the-art equipment and imaging techniques including MRI guided biopsies, which are sometimes needed and are only offered at select imaging centers. In addition, we offer comprehensive care so that in case something is found, such as a breast cancer, we have a large multidisciplinary team including nurse navigators, radiologists, surgeons, radiation doctors and medical oncologists who focus on breast cancer such as myself, she said.

We also have dedicated breast radiologists who have expertise in reading breast imaging such as mammograms and ultrasounds. Above all, our nurses, technicians and staff are kind and caring and aim to make a patients experience as smooth and comfortable as possible.

Read more and listen to a podcast with Dr. Chitalia here.

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How women can reduce their risk of getting breast cancer - WTOP

High blood pressure happens when the first of blood pushing against a persons artery walls is consistently too high. Over time, the force and friction of high blood pressure damages the delicate tissues inside the arteries. This can lead to deadly cardiovascular complications. Fortunately, making simple dietary tweaks can lower a persons reading, including eating a certain superfood.

Flax seed has long been a staple in European and Asian cuisines. According to a Canadian study published in the journal Hypertension, people who added 30 grams of ground flax seed to their diet every day for six months saw their systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) drop an average 15 mm Hg and their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) an average eight mm Hg.

By comparison, people taking a placebo supplement had slightly increased systolic blood pressure while diastolic pressure remained steady.

A drop in systolic blood pressure is significant.

As Blood Pressure UK noted, systolic blood pressure - the highest blood pressure when the heart is squeezing and pushing the blood round the body - provides the best indicator of a persons risk of having a stroke or a heart attack.

The study researchers said the level of blood pressure decrease from adding flax seed could result in 50 percent less strokes and 30 percent less heart attacks.

Echoing these findings, a large review looking at data from 11 studies found that taking flax seeds daily for more than three months lowered blood pressure by two mmHg.

While that may seem insignificant, evidence shows that a two mmHg reduction in blood pressure can lower the risk of dying from stroke by 10 percent and from heart disease by seven percent.

The health benefits of eating flax seeds may be due to the fact that it is a rich source of fibre.

As the NHS points out, eating a low-fat diet that includes lots of fibre, such as wholegrain rice, bread and pasta, and plenty of fruit and vegetables helps lower blood pressure.

Aim to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, advised the health body.

In addition to upping fibre, fruit and vegetable intake, cutting down on the amount of salt one consumes also helps to keep blood pressure in check.

The NHS recommends people aim to eat less than six grams (0.2oz) of salt a day, which is about a teaspoonful.

Exercise also plays an integral role in blood pressure control. As Harvard Health explained: A stronger heart can pump more blood with less effort. If your heart can work less to pump, the force on your arteries decreases, lowering your blood pressure.

According to the health site, regular exercise can lower a persons systolic blood pressure by an average of four to nine millimetres of mercury (mm Hg).

That's as good as some blood pressure medications, it added.

According to the NHS, adults should do at least 150 minutes (two hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week.

Find out the best drinks to lower blood pressure.

Read more:
High blood pressure: Sprinkle this on your meals to lower your reading - Express

In our partnership with Dove, IMAGE is on a mission to change how women view beauty. Scars, stretch marks, lumps, bumps, curves and lines are all what make a body beautiful something that we want to see reflected everywhere, not just on the pages of our magazine and website. This month, IMAGE's own staffers are reflecting on their relationships with their bodies, and how they have come to view them as the beautiful things they are.

Edaein O' Connell is IMAGE.ie's Staff Writerand she has struggled with her appearance since she was a teenager. After focusing on her weight for so long, she decided she needed to make a change. It began to affect her life, but she was not going to let it.

I remember the exact moment I realised I had put on weight.

I was 13, a first-yearstudent in secondary school and completely naive to body image and all of the hangups it can bring. At a family party, a photo was taken on a disposable camera, the results of which I didn't see for weeks. When I did, I didn't even recognise myself. I had to ask my mom is this really what I looked like. She tried to dampen my concerns by calling me perfect and reassuring me it was only baby fat which would disappear as I blossomed.

That picture became the catalyst for a decade of self-loathing. It was the falling piece which started a domino effect of body issues, hang-ups and imaginary wobbly bits.

It was obvious from the offset that I was bigger than my friends. At discos, they would wear shorts and tank tops, while I hid my body under layers and coverups. Gaining attention from the opposite sex is quite important when you are a young teen, but I wasn't even gaining an inch. My friends, however, were dazzling.

Teenage years are winding roads of trials and tribulations. Mine was full of diets, exercise plans, binge eating and overarching guilt. I am one of the lucky ones. In the sense that my eating habits those periods of binging followed by rigorous exercising never turned into something more serious. They were periods which I regretted and once they hit, I knew all too well they had to stop.

Normal teenage rights of passage like summers spent at the beach never transpired for me because I wouldn't allow them to. The thoughts of bikinis sent me spiralling, and hell would have to freeze over before I would let any gaze sweep my bare legs. I hid and I hid from life. It wasn't until I was much older that I realised how much time I had wasted fixated on something so unimportant.

After one particularly intense spell of dieting, the issues I had with myself began to seep into everyday life and affect my relationships. Jealousy is a cruel disease, and as my self-worth dropped, the emotion of envy became almost overpowering. I hit rock bottom and told myself this was it. Life is for living and I refused to allow my emotional turmoil to affect my journey. The damage I was causing to my own life was too much.

I had to learn to love myself.

When I look back now, I feel nothing but sadness. I feel for this girl, who thought of herself as nothing and placed so much weight and importance on the image she saw before her. There were so many wasted days and opportunities many of which were steered by my inability to accept myself.

I went through diet after diet. I forced myself to complete food plans and torturous exercise regimes but I was never happy.

True happiness came from accepting who I was. This wasn't a false sense of approval. This was me looking in the mirror and saying "I like you. Wobbly bits and all". It didn't just happen overnight. Being my own friend and supporter took a long time and it is something I struggle with every day. Even now when a negative thought rears its ugly head, I have to stop myself. I stop and think of the parts of me I like and even love. The facets I am not too keen on are not there to hurt me but to make me stronger.

I now eat for fuel and exercise for headspace. The most freeing part of this is that it is on my own terms. I don't do it for anyone else but myself.

True beauty, the type that blinds, is embracing who you are. The dimples, the folds and the crooked smile are all a part of the puzzle which makes you. It might take a while to put the pieces together, but someday, they will intertwine. And you won't recognise the girl you left behind.

So the next time you feel down or blue, look in the mirror and tell yourself 'you are beautiful' and 'you are worth it'. Because you are. In my times of trouble, I wish I had done this more. I wasted so much time looking back at a girl who never smiled.

But I won't waste time anymore. This time the girl who looks back at me smiles back.

And she has never looked better.

As leading advocates for real beauty with a rich history diversifying the images of women portrayed in commercial media, Doves latest campaign is an empowering call to shatter unrealistic beauty standards. IMAGE recruited a group of women from different walks of life as part of Dove's project#ShowUswhich is doing the important work of filling the gaps between how beauty has been depicted for generations. With the goal of true inclusivity in mind, we can finally begin to expand societys definition of beauty.

Read more:During her recovery from an eating disorder, Vicky hired a personal trainer to rebuild

Read more:I was 11 when I got my first bald patch

Read more:My C-section scar is my badge of honour" IMAGE staffers explain why their bodies are beautiful

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Happiness is looking in the mirror & saying: 'I like you. Wobbly bits and all' - image.ie

High blood pressure is often branded the silent killer. This is because symptoms rarely reveal themselves until it is serious. If left untreated, the condition can lead to deadly complications such as heart disease. Fortunately, certain dietary decisions have been shown to lower a persons blood pressure reading.

One study found that adding whey protein to drinks significantly lowers blood pressure, reducing the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Research led by nutritional biochemist Susan Fluegel and published in International Dairy Journal found that daily doses of commonly available whey brought a more than six-point reduction in the average blood pressure of men and women with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

While the study was confined to 71 student subjects between the ages of 18 and 26, older people with blood pressure issues would likely get similar results, said Fluegel.

Whey protein is the protein contained in whey, the watery portion of milk that separates from the curds when making cheese. It is commonly consumed by athletes to boost their performance and increase their strength.

According to Terry Shultz, co-author and an emeritus professor in the former Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, the findings have practical implications for personal health as well as the dairy industry.

Bolstering the findings, a study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, suggested partly replacing refined carbohydrates with foods or drinks high in soy or milk protein may help prevent and treat high blood pressure.

Study participants who took a milk protein supplement had a 2.3 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) lower systolic blood pressure, compared to when they took a refined carbohydrate supplement.

Participants who took a soy protein supplement had a 2.0 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure when compared to the refined carbohydrate supplement.

Systolic blood pressure is the highest pressure when a persons heart beats and pushes the blood round their body, explained Blood Pressure UK. It is a strong indicator of a persons risk of having a stroke or a heart attack.

Key dietary tips

Reducing salt intake and eating plenty of fruit and vegetables offers a robust defence against high blood pressure.

According to the NHS, eating a low-fat diet that includes lots of fibre, such as wholegrain rice, bread and pasta, and plenty of fruit and vegetables helps to lower blood pressure.

Aim to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, noted the health site.

It is also important to keep active, as the NHS explained: Being active and taking regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition.

Regular exercise can also help people lose weight, which plays a key role in blood pressure control, notes the health site.

It added: Adults should do at least 150 minutes (two hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking, every week.

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High blood pressure: Add this supplement to drinks to lower your reading - Express