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You don’t need an expensive gym membership or a weekend at a flashy spa to get your body in tip top shape! We’ve come up with nine surprising (and also cheap) healthy habits that will get you feeling and looking fab in no time…  1: Sex Sex is not only fun, but it’s a great form of exercise with many extra benefits. Research has shown that when you have sex oxytocin and serotonin are released. Oxytocin is a hormone induces sleep and feelings of generosity towards your partner and feelings of calmness. Serotonin, on the other hand is a brain chemical that lifts your mood – it’s your body’s natural anti depressant. Regular sex also boosts your immune system and increases your life span.
2: Doing puzzles  Research has shown that keeping your brain active keeps your brain healthy and helps prevents degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Keep your brain fit by doing cross words, puzzles, and learning new things.
3: Relax Take time out from your busy schedules to take time out to relax. Do whatever you need to unwind, read a trashy magazine, take a walk, watch a funny movie, listen to some music, anything. Relaxation helps reduce stress, which is good for your mental health and heart. 4: Making friends  Friends are great. They’re not just there to entertain you. They’re there when you need them, when you’re having a bad day and you need a hug and a chat. They’re also there when you need a bit of advice on any problems that you have big or small and they are there when you need a bit of encouragement when you want to step up and reach your goals. Friends are also there for when you need a bit of support to help you through a difficult situation. So make friends and keep in touch with the ones you already have because having friends are good for you.
 5: SunlightIt has been drummed into us since we were tiny tots to avoid the sun like it is the plague. Ah, but is the sun really that bad? New Zealand has a pretty high rate of melanoma from over exposure to the sun. However the sun’s rays aren’t all that bad. The body uses sunlight to stimulate the production of vitamin D (also found in dairy products), which is essential for healthy bones and for making blood clotting proteins. In saying this, it doesn’t mean you should spend hours in the blazing sun, just 20 minutes outside in the early morning each day should be enough to make enough Vitamin D. 
6: Eating carbs These aren't as bad as you think - they won't make you fat. Carbohydrates are actually essential for good health. They should make up 50-65% of your energy intake. The body extracts glucose (a type of sugar) from the carbohydrates that you eat and uses the glucose as energy to fuel many of your bodily processes. Carbs are found mainly in fruit, vegetables, bread, cereals, whole grains, rice, and pasta, many of these carb rich foods are also good sources of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and iron.
7: Eating fat You may think I'm crazy, but trust me some fat is actually good for you - we need fat to cushion of vital organs, for pregnancy, and to make certain hormones. Most of the fat in your diet should be from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. Poly- and monounsaturated fat are found in foods such as avocado, olives, fish, shellfish, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils.
 8: StretchingWhen people work out, many people miss out this important step. Stretching helps you cool down and prevents injury and it increases flexibility.
9: Napping Naps aren’t just for lazy people. Studies have shown that you go into a deep sleep after within 30 minutes of sleeping, and that after having a 30 minute snooze, you will feel refreshed and less stressed.
Krystle Chester
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