Mainly for men

Nearly two out of three men are overweight, and six out of 10 men are unfit, according to Britain's Health Education Authority. Apparently many men find it difficult to care enough about themselves to take steps to stay healthy, frequently putting off visits to a doctor, for example, because they feel they cannot afford to be ill due to work pressures, family commitments or money worries.

If you feel the man in your life could do with some straightforward information about healthier living, the Authority's new leaflet Healthy Living for Men could be just the thing to set him on the road to better things; it gives realistic advice about subjects such as heart health, diet, exercise, stress, drinking, stopping smoking and avoiding men's cancers.

Meanwhile, there is good news for older men - doctors from London's Royal Free School of Medicine say that even sedentary men in late middle age who take up regular, moderate exercise still halve their risk of dying in their sixties. The researchers came to the conclusion after a series of surveys conducted over the past 20 years.

Grab a grapefruit

Help yourself to lower blood cholesterol by eating plenty a grapefruit. Researchers at the University of Florida found that eating grapefruit regularly may even dissolve or reverse plaque already clogging your arteries.

Eating just half a grapefruit a day will give you more than half of the adult daily requirement for vitamin C. Pink or red grapefruit are slightly higher in vitamin C than the yellow varieties. But don't believe the old wives' tale that grapefruit will make you slim because it 'burns' fat. Grapefruit are low in fat and calories, but no food has the ability to burn fat.

On your feet

Too hot yet to get out there in fresh air, but you can walk yourself to fitness, and you can combine fitness-walking with an affective anti-stress programme. Walking is relaxing and invigorating which already helps you combat stress. Combine this with meditation, time-management and a diet overhaul and you are on to a great life-long habit.

One of the latest 'walking to fitness' books is Les Snowdon's The Rhythm for Life (Mainstream Publishing), Which features a stress-release programme designed to help you manage stress and take control of your life; tone, stretch and relax to re-energise your body; organise your time better; and maintain a stress-free lifestyle.

Meanwhile, these simple footcare tips should keep you on your toes:

* Wash feet daily in warm soapy water and dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes.

* Remove hard skin regularly with a pumice stone and then moisturise with a rich cream.

* Trim toenails regularly, using toenail clippers straight across the nails. Don't cut them too short or too far down at the corners as this can lead to ingrowing toenails.

* Boost circulation by keeping feet warm and exercising them. Try stretching, wiggling and spreading your toes wide apart.

* Go barefoot whenever possible - it allows feet to breathe and lets them recover from the confinement of tights and shoes.

* Seek prompt attention for problem feet - a regular visit to a chiropodist or podiatrist can do wonders for your feet and pay dividents in the long run.

Focal points

Most of us tend to take good eyesight for granted and leave it at that, but having an eye test at least once a year could save your sight. A good test not only checks your vision, it can spot eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts before you notice any symptoms. It can also pick up signs of abnormalities or injuries to the eyes, high blood pressure and even diabetes.

Woman

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Concerned about a midriff bulge?

Avoid crash diets at all costs if you are concerned about abdominal fat! Recent British research indicates a link between yo-yo dieting - repeated bouts of losing, then regaining weight - and abdominal fat.

Such weight swings may slow metabolism or encourage people to go off a diet and binge on fats. One study showed that participants who repeatedly lost and regained substantial amounts of weight showed a clear preference for fatty foods. Another survey showed that women with a history of dieting ate more fatty snacks than those with no dieting history.

Tummy fat is among the easiest to lose, say the experts. The main thing is to reduce fat in your diet, after which it is easier to burn more calories than you take in. Even a little exercise - just half an hour a day of jogging, brisk walking, running, cycling or swimming - will give good results.

Just strengthening your stomach muscles won't help, for a paunch is caused by too much fat, not weak stomach muscles. Exercising a muscle has no direct impact on the fat around it.