Dr Michael Mosley lists five favorite changes for a healthier life

Health expert Dr Michael Mosley has listed his five favorite ‘tweaks’ that can boost your health – helping you lose weight, get in shape, feel healthier and possibly live more. The author, TV host and creator of the Fast 800 diet listed his five favorite “tweaks” in the latest series of his podcast.

Each week, Dr Mosley lists one change you can make to improve your life in his BBC Sounds and Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing. The podcast is now being turned into a TV show for the BBC.

Writing in MailOnline, Dr Mosley explained his five favorite simple changes for a healthier and happier life:

Nordic walking

Dr. Mosley wrote, “Nordic walking involves using many more muscle groups than regular walking, so it’s good for you. Finland not only has some of the happiest people in the world, but also some of the healthiest.”

A 2019 study found that a group of over 60s who tried Nordic Walking for three hours a week for six months were significantly stronger and lost 6cm more from their waists than a group who tried the usual walk.

This could be partly because the Finns are the pioneers of Nordic walking. It involves walking using poles to propel you forward and comes with a host of health benefits.

For example, in a 2019 study in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, a group of 60-year-olds were assigned to do three hours a week of either Nordic walking or regular walking. Nordic walking is a full-body exercise that originated in Finland in the 1990s. It involves walking with specially designed poles similar to those used in cross-country skiing. This activity can be performed on various terrains, making it versatile and accessible to people of all fitness levels.

Flaxseed

Dr. Mosley said flaxseed is “a nutritional powerhouse, full of fiber, protein and alpha-linolenic acid.” He said they are good for heart health and lower blood pressure.

Help others

Dr. Mosley says that one study found that people who help others tend to be significantly healthier and happier, “because it gives you a purpose in life, which increases self-esteem. It also helps keep you physically and mentally active while releasing caregiving hormones like oxytocin.

play an instrument

Dr Mosley said: “Piano and percussion players experienced significant improvements in their working memory.”

Read poetry aloud

Dr Mosley said: “Reading poetry automatically slows your breathing and helps relieve stress”

Just One Thing is on Thursdays at 9.45 on BBC Radio 4 or catch it on BBC Sounds.