10 Mindful Ways To Approach Health And Well-Being

From cortisol-free fitness to stress-busting diets and calm skin, Fiona Embleton reveals ten mindful ways to approach health and well-being

- Fiona Embleton

1 CONTROL YOUR CORTISOL

Think a HIIT class after a difficult day at work will sweat away the stress? Actually, training too hard can produce more cortisol, the stress hormone that can sabotage your health and weight-loss goals. ‘The body doesn’t know the difference between running for cardio and running away from danger, so it instantly goes into fight or flight mode,’ says Nathalie Schyllert, CEO of Bodyism, a London-based fitness club that adapts its sessions to members’ stress levels. ‘Too much cortisol can disrupt your metabolism. It inhibits the production of insulin, which would normally remove excess blood sugar and prevent it being stored as fat around your belly.’ Enter alternative options: low-intensity exercises like yoga or Pilates. ‘We also advise taking our Pure Serenity Shake [£50 for 240g/3o servings, Net-A-Porter] because it contains chamomile and magnesium, to improve your sleep quality, which is proven to help lower cortisol levels.’

2 HEAD FOR A CALMER COMPLEXION