Neal's Yard Holidays Blog

Detoxing from Alcohol

Dec20

People toastimg with glasses - Detox from Alcohol © MooidArt

Do I need to detox from alcohol?

As I sit here and write this, off the back of three independent Christmas parties in a row, all influenced by alcohol, I wonder how bad this is for my liver, and we haven’t even met the main event yet! I often think back to my youth, when drinking large volumes of drink was “normal”. In those good old days we would quote “the liver regenerates”, which is in part true, but like anything, it can only take so much. So, since Christmas, New Year and anything in the same vicinity generally involves a tipple or two, could January be the booze detox month?

The revised number of units of alcohol is now 14 for both men and women. A unit is 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol, so it varies from drink to drink. Half a pint of beer and a single 25ml shot counts as 1 unit, while a small 125ml glass of standard strength wine and a standard pub shot (35ml) already counts as 1.5 units. Binge drinking, where you consume more than 4 units in one sitting, is bad for your health. You shouldn’t save all your units to consume on one night.

Posted in Healthy Living

Tagged alcohol, detox, diet, health, healthy diet, Healthy living, Lifestyle, wellbeing, Women's wellbeing

Cheap retreats for a happy new 2017

Nov23

The weather outside is frightful – cheap retreats would be delightful… Read more…

Posted in Cheap Retreats

Tagged UK holiday retreats, Weekend Retreats, wellbeing retreat, Yoga Holidays, Yoga Retreats

Have yourself a healthy little Christmas

Nov16

healthy Christmas food plate © Anastasia Panai

Is it possible to have a healthy Christmas?

With the UK ranked as the second highest consumer of calories over Christmas dinner (pipped to the post only by 2 calories by the USA), it’s pretty easy to see why we don’t have healthy Christmas habits. But is there a way to stay on track during the feasting… I mean festive season? Read more…

Posted in Healthy Living

Tagged Christmas, diet, health, Healthy eating, Healthy living, Healthy living tips, wellbeing

Let’s get physical

Oct28

Pysical activity people running © YanLev

We are regularly bombarded with health messages regarding being physically active, and while the magic 10,000 step guideline seems rather basic. Could there be other benefits from the two main type of physical activity groups; aerobic and strength training?

Posted in Healthy Living

Tagged aerobic, dancing, exercise, health, healthy aging, Healthy living, physical activity, resistance exercise, Tai Chi, Women's wellbeing, yoga

November retreats for those who just can’t wait

Oct11

November retreats: palm trees on a beach © Breezy Baldwin

Desperate for a break but can’t hold out for the winter holidays?

You don’t need to. Treat yourself to a last-minute getaway and get some much-needed time off by picking one of our November retreats – from relaxing weekends in the UK, to sunny shores abroad. Read more…

Posted in Where to go on holiday in November

Tagged Ayurveda, Detox Holidays, Pilates Retreats, UK breaks, Weekend Retreats, Yoga Holidays, Yoga Retreats

Iron and the Irony of Popeye

Oct05

Iron is a mineral which is required for the production of haemoglobin in the body, essential for carrying oxygen to the cells in our body. Without adequate levels, you may feel tired, look pale and be irritable. Severe deficiency can lead to iron deficient anaemia, but this can be resolved with a good diet or in extreme cases, iron supplementation.

Posted in wellbeing tips

Tagged diet, dietary iron, Healthy living, nutrition, wellbeing, Women's wellbeing

Intermittent Fasting

Aug30

The popularity of intermittent fasting has grown over the past few years, catapulted into fame by the Horizon program first aired in 2012. The revelation of what we eat, and when we eat it may determine life expectancy. Traditionally, fasting diets have thought to increase life expectancy and reduce age related diseases, but the impact of weight loss has meant these types of diets are becoming more popular. So what are the types of fasting diets? Read more…

Posted in Diet

Tagged diet, Fasting, health, Weight Loss, wellbeing

What is the best source of calcium?

Jul27

What’s required for our body to absorb Calcium? And what’s the link with Vitamin D?

Getting enough calcium in the diet is important for healthy bones and teeth, as well as helping regulate blood pressure, nerve function and muscle contraction. Too little calcium in the diet can lead to osteoporosis in later life, a chronic disease leading to weakening of the bones, resulting in bone fracture. Worldwide it is estimated that 1 in 3 women aged over 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures, while 1 in 5 men will be affected. Read more…

Posted in Healthy Living

Tagged diet, dietary calcium, Healthy living, vitamin d, wellbeing, Women's wellbeing

Vitamin D – In the spotlight

Jun29

Vitamin D. Image: Sunshine over field (c) Pawel Maryanov

New proposed vitamin D requirements were introduced in the UK in 2016. How does this affect you?

Until 2016 there were no UK recommendations for vitamin D as it was assumed individuals will make enough from skin exposure to the sun during summer.
Vitamin D3 in particular is essential for bone health, with low levels linked to osteomalacia, the adult form of rickets where bones become soft and painful. This vitamin has also shown beneficial roles in other health outcomes, including reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and autoimmune diseases. It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults in the UK could be at risk of low vitamin D status.