It’s undeniable that exercise is essential in boosting both physical and mental health. Still, despite the growing number of people taking up various kinds of fitness, surprisingly few have considered the importance of stretching, instead thinking of it as something done only by soccer players or athletes warming up.

Eating what we think of as weeds isn’t something that comes naturally to most of us. Yet just as we increasingly reap the goodness to be had from green smoothies and other dishes rich in leafy vegetables, so too are there health benefits to be gained from the humble dandelion.

There’s one simple rule to weight loss: eat fewer calories than you expend. One pound of fat is equal to about 3,500 calories, and to shed one pound of fat in a week you need to eat about 500 fewer calories every day. But more often than not we can’t be bothered to count our calorie intake, let alone try to recall what we eat each day.

Despite being an athlete who sweats it out nearly every day, you still find yoga difficult to perform. If you’re an avid exerciser, you’ll most likely have tight and firm muscles, which is all fine. However, your muscular body is an obstacle in yoga, since it is less flexible and can give you a hard time balancing on some poses.

You’ve been hitting the gym five times a week, and it’s starting to become a habit. You’ve brought some friends to join in, and you’ve had a great time during those workout sessions. But despite all the hard work, you’re still not seeing results from all the hours you’ve been putting in.

It’s a fact of life. As your 30s dissolve into 40s and then evaporate into 50s, your body doesn’t function like it did when you were twenty. That’s why as a mature adult it’s important to place a higher emphasis on health and exercise so that your body stays in good condition.

As an avid outdoor exerciser you waited patiently for summer to arrive, thinking about all the fun activities you could enjoy doing if only the weather was nice. Now summer comes knocking at your door, you put on your best workout gear and step outside, only to feel the intense heat and humidity hit your body hard.

It sounds unlikely - a recommendation on a health and fitness blog to drink more wine. But there’s truth in it, at least in part. Most of us have heard various wives’ tales about the health benefits of red wine, but we tend to pay them little attention.

When you unroll your yoga mat and lunge into warrior pose, do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions? As your yoga practice develops from an exciting new venture and becomes a weekly routine, it’s not surprising that it can start to feel a bit stale after a while.

For many people, glute and thigh fat can seem impossible to shake. Women especially have a tendency to gain weight in these areas and have trouble getting rid of it once it takes hold. But believe it or not, the first step in shedding pounds here does not start with exercise or diet.