We’re not joking – it’s been proved that laughter reduces stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease. It also triggers the release of endorphins, which promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain. It also improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Did you know? People of African Caribbean descent are at particularly high risk of having a stroke. You can help to reduce this risk by cutting down on your salt intake, which will help to lower your blood pressure. You should limit your salt intake to 6g per day. Targets for children are much lower, e.g. children aged four to six should only eat up to 3g of salt per day. Try to use the following flavourings as healthier alternatives to seasoning your food...
• Herbs and spices, pepper, chillies
• Ginger, cinammon, lemon juice, vinegar
• Annatto seeds are used to flavour soups, stews, and fish dishes
• Curry powder made from a variety of freshly home ground spices
• Pimento, also known as allspice, is used in pickles, marinades, soups, and stews and is an important ingredient in jerking.
• Marinate meat and chicken in a mixture of scallions, garlic, thyme, onion, and lemon juice to add flavour without having to use salt.

6 Steps to walking yourself fit
If you hate the gym, running hurts your knees and you don’t like getting wet, now’s the time to get walking. A 60kg person walking at 3mph burns about 99 calories per half hour. Brisk walking at 4mph burns about 150 calories in the same time.  If you want to walk effectively here are some guidelines…
1 A 90 degree bend in your arm makes your arms a shorter pendulum, so they can swing faster as your step speeds up.
2 Quicker, smaller steps will cover more ground than long strides, which tire your muscles. Resist the temptation to lengthen your stride to go faster.
3 Strike the floor with the heel of your shoe, roll onto the ball of your foot and aim to push off with your toes.
4 Keep your head up. Avoid bending over to look down on the ground; stay tall, checking for obstacles that are in your path.
5 Control your breathing, take full breaths and exhale completely.
6 When walking uphill, take smaller strides, leaning into the hill. If the hill is really steep, traverse (zig-zag) up it to make it easier on your legs.