Fish oil, loaded with Omega-3s, is the healthiest of all dietary fats, and it eases joint pain, boosts heart health, improves mood and even helps prevent wrinkles. Take gel caps if you find the liquid hard to swallow.

Both canned and bottled vegetables are handy kitchen staples. However, they can contain unnecessary salt. A quick rinsing under the kitchen tap will cut the amount of salt by up to 40 per cent, without compromising flavour.

Be aware of how you stand. Unlock knees. Keep toes pointed forward. Stand evenly balanced between ball and heel, with weight towards the outsides of the feet.

Make it a goal to eat three cloves of raw garlic every week. Try putting it in a salad dressing or into a dip for vegetables or pita bread. In the raw, garlic is one of nature’s best health foods and it is astonishingly good for you, more so than when it’s cooked, as heat destroys some of its beneficial properties.

Think of 25 positive words that describe you best: loyal, tolerant, warm, generous, determined. Stick them on your noticeboard or fridge, so you see them often.

Stretching for a minute every hour helps preserve your range of motion. This exercise is great for your lower back.

■ Lie on your back, pull both knees into your chest until you feel a comfortable stretch. Relax back and shoulders. Hold for 15 seconds. Breathe, and make sure not to tense up.

■ For an extra challenge, keep one foot flat on the floor, pull the other knee into your chest and hold for five seconds; switch legs.

The berries and green tea are potent anti-oxidants, yogurt provides bone-strengthening calcium and immune-supporting probiotics, and  lecithin increases acetylcholine levels, helping to protect against memory loss. Blend them together and you get a great smoothie!

In a food processor, combine 1 cup frozen blueberries, a cup chilled green tea, 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt and 1 tablespoon each lecithin and ground almonds. Blend on high speed for 30 seconds.

All you need is just 3 minutes of quiet time to just close your eyes and breathe! Taking time out will help you re-energise and be more focused on your tasks.

Cocoa is a source of anti-oxidants, which have a toning effect, honey has humectant properties (meaning it helps your skin to retain moisture) and yogurt adds lactic acid to dissolve dead cells and refine texture.

■ Combine a cup cocoa powder, two tablespoons honey and four tablespoons natural plain yogurt with the contents of one vitamin B capsule and sufficient rice flour to form a workable texture. Smooth over face and neck, avoiding the eye area and lips. Lie down for five minutes, then rinse off with warm water and pat dry.

Laughter is an instant energise. When you crack up so hard that your abs hurt, you may literally be increasing your health benefits. “Laughing affects us in ways similar to exercise,” say experts. It reduces stress hormones and cholesterol, releases feel-good hormones, and amps up the immune system. You can reap the benefits just by watching 20 minutes of a funny video, research found.