What are vitamin supplements, anyway?

They’re synthesised versions of the vitamins found in foods. ‘In general, synthetic vitamins behave in the body in just the same way as the natural form,’ says dietician Dr Carrie Ruxton. You can find vitamin supplements either singly (for example, vitamin D), in a compound (such as an antioxidant combination or vitamin B compound), with other nutrients they complement (such as vitamin C with iron) or in the form of a multivitamin, which provides the full range of vitamins you need. In an ideal world, we’d all get the vitamins we need from our diets, but in reality few of us eat perfectly. And even if you do hit your five-a-day fruit and veg target, there may be times you need a top-up – for example, extra folic acid during pregnancy, or vitamin D during the winter when there may not be enough sunlight for your body to manufacture it. This is where supplements come in.

 Ways to get your vits

Chances are you’ve popped a vitamin pill at some point, but tablets aren’t the only way to take vitamins. These days, there’s a lot of choice when it comes to obtaining your vital vits. And the way you take them may affect absorption, says Tracey Callis, nutritional therapist for the Health Supplements Information Service (HSIS). ‘Liquid vitamins are generally best absorbed as the digestive system doesn’t have to deal with breaking down a coating like the ones found on tablets,’ she says. But not everyone likes the taste of liquid vitamins – or the hassle of having to drop them into a drink to take them. ‘Capsules and tablets both need to be broken down by the digestive system, so aren’t absorbed quite as fast as liquids, although most capsules are coated in a substance the body can break down quickly,’ says Callis. ‘The newer sprays, meanwhile, are a fast, easy way to top up.’ Ultimately, how you take your vitamins boils down to personal taste and whatever you find convenient.

Words: Orouj Tamimi

*For more on taking vitamins and other health and wellbeing content, pick up the latest issue of Healthy at a Holland & Barrett store near you.

ELLA: My son, Jake, had meningitis when he was one. The GP said there was nothing wrong with him, but he deteriorated overnight so I took him to A&E. Six hours later, he was diagnosed with meningitis. What scared me most was that I thought I knew the symptoms and only took him to hospital because he was so dehydrated. That was six months ago, and I still feel like I’m not coping.

SALLY: That must have been a terrible shock. Is he your first child?
E: Yes. He was in hospital for 10 days and then on medicine at home for another 10 days, but the catheter kept coming out which meant they had to keep trying find a new vein, making him scream. It was like
an endurance test. He’s fine now, but I feel like I’m trapped in a worst-case scenario all the time. I’m constantly anxious and find it really hard to switch off. The birth itself was traumatic because I had pre-eclampsia so I was quite ill and had to be hospitalised.

S: So you’ve been in hospital a lot recently?
E: Yes, and now I feel constantly exhausted. My husband and I are often at each other’s throats. If we see the other do something wrong – in fact, it doesn’t even have to be wrong, just slightly different to how we do things usually –  it’s attack, attack, attack. We even talked  about having a break. Sorry, I’m going to cry… I didn’t want to open up to him about how I was feeling because it’s so negative. When our son was in hospital, we dealt with it independently. I even told my husband that if our son died, I wasn’t sure I would be able to live. To be honest, I think that upset him really badly.

S: Yes, that must have been terrible to hear.
E: Now that our son is healthy again, my husband doesn’t worry about him because he believes that worrying destroys you – but I just can’t help it.

S: Have you been to see a GP to explain how you’re feeling?
E: I went a couple of months ago. He suggested antidepressants, but I didn’t think I needed tablets; I needed to talk to somebody. He said I could see a counsellor but I haven’t sorted anything out yet.

S: Ignoring our needs in favour of our children’s  is typical of mothers, but is also usual for somebody who’s been though a traumatic event with their child. We think we’re not the ones who need looking after. I’m not a great advocate of handing out antidepressants like sweets, but what they can do is get us through a really difficult time so we can see things a bit more clearly and calmly. It sounds as though you’re on hyper-alert all the time.
E: I’m always looking too far ahead and thinking, ‘What if?’ It’s as though I’m trying to head off any problems before they happen, which I know is impossible. I feel like I’ve lost all my confidence.

S: Your world has been threatened, so that’s a normal response. It would be unhealthy not to feel anxious, but what seems to have happened is healthy anxiety has become toxic anxiety. Also, immediately after a traumatic event people tend to cluster around, then as time moves on so do they.
E: In the aftermath all my friends helped, but when I opened up to a good friend recently, she basically said my son was fine now – so what was the problem?

S: That can cause real loneliness because you’re the one who’s still feeling the emotional impact and you need to talk those feelings out. If you don’t, unresolved feelings start coming out in other ways such as insomnia, racing thoughts and terrible fears.
E: That’s exactly right. I get these terrible panicky feelings all the time.

S: If there was an offer of counselling, why haven’t you taken it up?
E: I think it’s because I feel people don’t really understand. It’s actually more upsetting trying to explain to someone how I’m really feeling and have them say I should be fine by now. I suppose when it came to counselling I thought I would just get the same reaction.

S: Absolutely not. Our friends want us to feel better so they say what they think is going to make us feel better but which, essentially, causes us to shut down. But a counsellor will really listen to what you have to say and guide you through the healing process. The way you are feeling is normal, considering what you’ve been through. You are not going mad but you do need help to reduce your anxiety.
E: ‘Normal’. That’s the word everyone uses. It’s all back to normal, so you can just move on. I end up thinking to myself ‘Maybe I’m not normal – I should be feeling better by now’. But the truth is that I’m still not feeling OK.

S: Counselling would also help you to feel less lonely and isolated. We tend to feel lonely when we feel nobody is listening to us. Being heard makes us feel safer.
E: It’s definitely what I’m craving, but as a parent you always worry about your children – so I think, ‘I’m never going to feel safe, I’m always going to feel like this’.

S: It’s completely normal to worry about our children, but the threat and danger of your son’s illness has caused your adrenalin levels to shoot up and they have remained at that very high level.
E: I feel a shadow of the happy-go-lucky woman I used to be. I know people don’t mean to be unkind when they tell me to move on, but when they don’t understand that I also feel I’m mourning a part of friendship that has gone.

S: What would you like your friends to do?
E: Take me out, open a bottle of wine and let me talk and talk and talk – just like we’re doing now – instead of saying ‘Everything’s OK’ and that I should be happy.

S: There’s another knock-on effect, too. When we don’t feel heard, we withdraw. Being on your own, in your head all the time, is a horrible place to be. Talking is an enormously healing process, but only in the right place. Feeling misunderstood and alone is extremely frustrating.
E: Oh, completely. I find myself going to meet certain friends and in my head I’m rehearsing what I want them to say, but when I start talking about it, they cut me off. I feel like swinging a punch and saying, ‘Can you not hear me?’

S: Very often we’re not heard at all. When people say, ‘How are you?’ what they really want to hear is, ‘I’m fine.’
E: I’m fine. That’s what I say all the time.

S: Do you know what fine stands for in ‘therapy speak’? F***ed up. Insecure. Neurotic. Emotional.
E: That’s brilliant. In that case I am completely fine.

S: We all think other people are fine and we’re the ones who aren’t, but as soon as you start really listening, you begin to understand that we’re all fragile and vulnerable. Because we don’t want to be seen that way, we put up barriers to stop people getting in.
E: Yes, I suppose that’s really what I’ve been doing all this time.

S: Do you think it might be a good idea to go back to your GP and tell them that you’re still not feeling great?
E: Yes. When I first went to see my GP, I really thought I was being ridiculous by needing therapy – but now I can see how helpful it could be.

S: So has talking broken that fear?
E: Yes, because I’d made an assumption that nobody gets it, but after just an hour of talking to you, I feel understood – and that’s a huge relief. When you used the word ‘trauma’, I realised that’s how I’ve been feeling and that that’s OK because I have been through quite a lot.

S: Yes, you have and you need to connect back to life.  But, in order to do that, you need to connect to somebody who understands what you’ve been through and who can hear what you’re saying. It would also really help your relationship with your husband.
E: I feel so much better. I’m definitely going to book myself in for some counselling. When are you next free? I’m joking…

*For more features and health and wellbeing news, pick up our latest Jan/Feb issue of Healthy in a Holland&Barrett near you.

Spas… they conjour feelings of resting on a comfortable bed, aches and knots being massaged away to the sound of gentle background music while soothing scents waft pleasantly in the air. While many spa experiences do indeed live up to expectation, some are definitely lacking the spa-ahhh factor. Take the facial I was unable to enjoy due to the therapist’s nicotine-smelling fingers, or the colleague who’d bagged herself a trip to a very exclusive French hydrotherapy spa only to find herself being sprayed with freezing water while half naked by a young boy wielding a jet hose. So to make sure you leave your treatment feeling heavenly instead of harassed, follow our rules.

1. Do your research
If you’re trying a new spa, make sure it’s recommended. ‘There is no single regulatory body for the spa industry,’ says Lopo Champalimaud, CEO and co-founder of Wahanda, which provides special offers, reviews and listings of spas worldwide. Word of mouth from friends and reviews from sites like www.goodspaguide.co.uk and www.wahanda.co.uk are good ways to find reputable spas and treatments. ‘Some services are governed by regulatory bodies such as BAAPS for cosmetic surgeons (http://www.baaps.org.uk/), BAcC for Acupuncture (http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/) or Register of Exercise Professionals for personal trainers (http://www.exerciseregister.org/),’ he adds.

2. Be prepared
Hygiene is key to avoid the embarrassment factor. ‘Come to a treatment clean and recently showered, i.e. not straight from the gym. This means that any oils and products applied in your treatment can be left on the skin for a longer period of time, to allow maximum absorbency into the skin and therefore provide maximum benefit,’ says Jane Calderwood, spa training manager for Champneys Resorts (www.champneys.com). ‘If you’re having a day of treatments it’s a good idea to book a full body exfoliation as your first treatment. This removes any dead, surface skin cells and prepares your skin for other products that may be applied throughout the day,’ she says. Wolfing down a huge lunch prior to your treatment is not advised. ‘If you are having a body treatment, such as a wrap or massage, it is best to avoid a heavy meal prior to your treatment, as this may make you feel uncomfortable. Remember, you will be lying down for quite a while and the treatment may stimulate your circulation and other body systems,’ she points out. ‘Let the spa know if you have any cuts or illnesses or are pregnant in case this affects the treatment in any way,’ adds Champalimaud.

3. Arrive early
Always get to your appointment with time to spare so you don’t rush in it feeling stressed. ‘We would recommend arriving at least five minutes prior to your treatment,’ says Calderwood. ‘It is likely that your therapist will be seeing another guest after your treatment, so if you arrive late you may lose some of your valuable treatment time.’ ‘There are often medical forms or questionnaires on skin types etc to fill out beforehand, depending on your treatment, plus it gives you the chance to relax and get ready so that you can start on time and enjoy your full appointment,’ advises Champalimaud.

4. Leave valuables at home
A massage won’t be too comfortable when rings, necklaces and bracelets get in the way. ‘You’ll probably have to take all your jewellery off if you’re having any kind of body treatment, or if you’re using the facilities and don’t want to ruin them,’ says Champalimaud. ‘It’s easy to misplace a small piece of jewellery, especially when you are feeling relaxed,’ warns Calderwood. If you are asked to remove jewellery for a treatment, always put it in your shoe or your bag and not on a surface in the treatment room or the pocket of your spa gown, so you forget about it.’ So the best thing is to leave it at home – it’s one less thing to take off once you’re there.

5. Speak up!
There’s nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable during a treatment but your therapist isn’t a mind reader so let her know. ‘If your massage pressure is too firm or not firm enough, if you are too cold or too warm, or you are not happy with the treatment in any way then please tell your therapist,’ says Calderwood. You won’t offend her and your therapist can adjust the treatment so that you get the maximum benefit from it.’

6. Snooze if you want to…
Don’t feel the need to make general chit chat throughout your treatment if you’d rather relax and have some shut eye. ‘Talking during the treatment is all down to personal preference and a good therapist will generally follow your lead, so if you like a bit of banter while you’re having a massage then go for it, and if not, they’ll understand that you just want to relax,’ says Champalimaud. And remember to switch off your mobile – not only will it disrupt your treatment it may affect others’ sessions too.

7. Give feedback
It’s useful to giver your verdict on the treatment – whether good or bad – to ensure any improvements can be made. ‘If you have enjoyed the treatment it is nice to tell your therapist this, so they can feel they have had a positive influence,’ says Calderwood. ‘Equally, if there is something you feel could have been better then we need to know this, so we can constantly improve our service.’  ‘We always want to hear back from customers on Wahanda which is why we have the reviewing platform – it helps other users make the right choice plus lets us know if a company is falling short of any expectations,’ says Champalimaud. And if you’re really satisfied with your treatment you may want to consider a tip. ‘In the UK tipping is not generally expected, but always appreciated,’ he adds.

My nightmare

Readers share their spa horrors…

‘I had a mum-to-be treatment a few years ago when heavily pregnant. When I got there I realised they didn’t have a massage table with a hole in it for the bump. As lying on my back was neither comfortable nor advisable I ended up curled into the foetal position while a girl who was barely 18 years old attempted to massage me and my bump. She was terrified, I was really uncomfortable and felt slightly violated. I spent the whole hour praying for it to end. Afterwards I ran out and was sick!’

‘I went to a spa with a friend and after changing into our gowns we realised everyone around us was stark naked! We felt pressure to remove our robes as people were staring at us. Since then I have checked a spa out more thoroughly before my visit.’

‘My bikini wax hurt so much that I could only bear having one side done. I was lopsided for weeks!’

‘I’d just arrived in Delhi for a business trip and decided to unwind with an Indian head massage at the luxury hotel’s spa. Unfortunately they used coconut oil, which is impossible to wash out and I had a major business dinner that evening. I must have washed my hair at least six times. No difference. There was only one solution – I had to brave it out and adopt a new slicked-back wet look for the dinner.’

‘Once I had a hot seaweed wrap while floating on a heated waterbed. The therapist smothered me in green goo, wrapped me tightly in cling-film and lay me on the airbed before covering me with a heated heavy blanket. The therapist turned out the lights and said she’d be back in 30 minutes. As soon as she left the room I had a total claustrophobic panic attack. I managed to roll myself off the squidgy bed and onto the floor. But I couldn’t free myself from the cling-film. She must have heard the thud as I fell from the bed, as she rushed back into the room to find me thrashing about on the floor. I must have been a sight!’

Seeing red
Anger is an emotion many of us experience at some point in our lives – some on a daily basis. ‘It’s the feeling that is the most volatile and many people find incredibly difficult to control,’ says psychotherapist Mike Fisher, founder of the British Association of Anger Management (BAAM; www.angermanage.co.uk). There are many reasons why we might feel angry, such as the stresses of life. ‘The people we are closest to are the ones that tend to make us the most angry because we know we can get away with it without them rejecting us,’ says Fisher. ‘And if we move into the impersonal, it might be politicians, the economy, road rage, late trains or the weather.’

Body reactions
When something makes us angry our heart will begin to beat faster and we might grit our teeth, clench our fists and perspire. ‘The physical symptoms of anger are triggered in the brain by hormones released from the hypothalamus, which responds to emotions such as pain, pleasure, happiness and sadness,’ says Fisher.

Nature or nurture?
A German study identified that variances in a gene that we all carry called DARPP-32 could affect how angry we feel. The research, published in journal Behavioural Brain Research, revealed those with the TT or TC version of the gene were significantly angrier than those with the CC version. Having at least one T gene raises the levels of the hormone dopamine in the brain – leaving you feeling more edgy and prone to losing your temper.

*For more on ‘What happens when I’m angry’ and other health features, pick up the new issue of Healthy from the 5^th November from your local Holland & Barrett store and selected retailers.

We all feel better when the sun shines, but symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, are much more than just feeling a bit grumpy when the skies turn grey. For some people, the condition is severe and debilitating and interferes with their everyday life – and they come to dread the onset of winter. In the most extreme cases, sufferers can’t get out of bed in the morning and think that life is not worth living.

Many of the symptoms of SAD are similar to clinical depression – including low mood, loss of interest
in day-to-day activities and low sex drive, but the key symptoms that distinguish SAD are sleeping and eating more, with a craving for carbohydrates in particular. Also, crucially, your symptoms start in the autumn months – around the time that the clocks go back at the end of October, persisting over the winter months and lifting in the spring. Other symptoms include waking up in the night or early morning, feeling tense and/or irritable, heavy aching limbs and stomach problems, sweating, cramps and needing to urinate frequently.

Compiled by: Jo Waters

Expert: Deenesh Khoosal, a consultant psychiatrist at Leicester General Hospital and spokesperson for The Royal College of Psychiatrists. He has 25 years experience, both in the NHS and in private practice.

*For more information on SAD and other wellbeing features, check out the new issue of Healthy in H&B stores near you and selected retailers from November 5th.

Working out why you feel anxious can be tough. If you suffer from a fear of crowded spaces, you’ll know why you feel panicky on a packed tube, but if your fears come from a psychological cause they can be harder to spot. ‘You may not even be sure what you’re afraid of, so it’s not easy to identify your trigger,’ explains Ann McCracken, chair of the International Stress Management Association (www.isma.org.uk). The longer anxiety plays a role in your life, the harder it can be to shake off your negative thought patterns. For some people, anxiety could even be comforting. Dr Lucy Atcheson says, ‘The thought of change can be unsettling, so you need to work out whether you don’t really want to be free of your fear.’

We now live life at a much faster pace, but we’re also more available than ever before. Neil Shah, founder of the Stress Management Society (www.stress.org.uk), explains, ‘We find it very difficult to switch off these days. Mobile phones are more powerful than our desktop computers. Because the means and methods of communication are increasing, that time to switch off and do nothing has gone.’
How does it affect you? ‘If you never switch off, your body and brain never get that vital rest and recovery time. If you keep pushing yourself harder, you will collapse,’ says Shah.

Words: Rosalind Ryan

*For more information on anxiety and other health features pick up the new issue of Healthy from the 5^th November from your local Holland and Barrett store and selected retailers.

Cherie says: ‘I suffer from a slight recurring problem with my lower back. It’s a niggle that if I don’t listen to and take care of can become really quite painful. It gets worse if I try to lift heavy things.  As a result, I now take Regenovex daily capsules (www.regenovex.co.uk) as they contain a natural marine Bionovex oil and Hyaluronic Acid to help my joint health. I also undertake stretches every morning to stop my back stiffening up. In addition when I am watching the television, I sit on the floor and do some yoga stretches. If my back ever becomes painful, then I will sleep with a Regenovex patch over the trouble spot. This makes a huge difference as by the morning any pain has usually disappeared. So all in all, don’t take your joints for granted, look after them. I think it’s really important to remember your joints are worth looking after on a daily basis and deserve all the protection you can give them.

What do you eat for breakfast?
‘I’m not a breakfast person, but I know how important that first meal of the day is, so I put a mixture of fruit, yoghurt, nuts and oats into my blender and make a wholesome smoothie. I don’t have a big appetite in the morning so this works really well for me.’

Do you have a mid-morning snack?
‘I try not to snack but I do love brunch. Sometimes, as a treat, I’ll have eggs Benedict or a BLT on brown bread.’

What is your typical lunch?
‘Normally I’ll eat some form of salad with flaky cold salmon or cold chicken. I like to make a nice big salad with avocado, tomatoes, spring onion, lettuce and mixed sprouts.’

Do you snack in the afternoon?
‘I try not to, but, if I do, I’ll have carrots and celery dipped into taramasalata or houmous. If I’m really naughty, I might have a doughnut, but then I find I have to have a nap as the carbohydrates send me to sleep. I’ll also admit that I love chocolate. Now and again, I’ll have some good-quality chocolate if I need to satisfy a craving.’

Describe your typical dinner
‘I’ll have some soup and maybe some roast chicken or fish with a portion of vegetables. I sometimes cook myself an omelette. Every once in a while, I’ll have some pasta with salad on the side, and I have the occasional good-quality steak. For a real treat, I’ll have Chinese food from a local restaurant, with Peking duck and dumplings. I don’t like to eat too late and always eat dinner before 8pm. For dessert, I’ll normally have a yoghurt and sometimes a little chocolate mousse, or chopped fruit with crème fraîche and honey.’

Do you eat anything after dinner at all?
‘No, I try not to. If I find myself hungry at midnight, I’ll have a bowl of cereal. Before bed I have chamomile tea with honey to help me sleep.’

What do you drink during the day?
‘Tea! I come from a family that loves tea. I try to drink lots of water, but find it a bit dull so I’ll add some elderflower cordial to make it more enticing. I try to drink one glass of orange juice a day so I get my vitamin C. I also sometimes drink soya milk instead of dairy in my tea. Soya milk with ice is amazing. I do sometimes drink coffee in the morning. If there’s any left in the cafetiere, I like to add honey and ice and drink it later on.’

 The Food Doctor says: ‘Cherie’s breakfast is first-rate, and making a smoothie out of basic ingredients is a clever way to eat for people who don’t feel like it in the mornings. All the food groups are represented and, as long as the yoghurt is plain and not sugared, then this should keep anyone going for a few hours. One tip – use walnuts in favour of other nuts as they contain anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats, which may help ease Cherie’s back pain.
I appreciate she prefers not to snack, but eating small amounts on a regular basis is preferable for consistent energy. I recommend that she eats something small mid-morning – an apple and a few Brazil nuts for example – which combine protein and fibre for an energy kick without caffeine.
Lunch is another first-rate choice. Cherie’s salad is a rich source of antioxidants, fibre, essential fats and protein. The only thing that’s missing is a little complex carbohydrate, and so having a couple of oat cakes with lunch, or mixing in a heaped tablespoon of cooked quinoa or couscous, would add some more slow-burn food, which should lead to longer-lasting energy. Houmous with vegetables is an ideal afternoon snack and I would urge her to eat this rather than a doughnut, which is fried refined flour and sugar.
Eating dinner early in the evening is a good move as eating later can interrupt sleep patterns for some. It’s interesting Cherie uses carbohydrates, such as cereal, to promote sleep. This suggests a degree of insulin-resistance as they create more glucose than protein foods, leading to an excess resulting in fatigue. I normally recommend carbohydrates in the day and not the evening, so perhaps having a small amount as suggested, but not in the evening, is more sensible. As for drinks, tea has around a third less caffeine than coffee, so drinking it all day suggests Cherie is having more caffeine than she might think. In excess, caffeine can lead to more fatigue than energy; perhaps she could switch to green tea instead. It has all the benefits of tea, but with less caffeine.’

As the nights draw in and the weather gets cooler it can be tempting to pack away your walking boots and prepare to spend your evenings indoors. However, by doing so, you could be missing out on some great walking conditions, amazing sights and health benefits. In fact, autumn is one of the best seasons to do some serious walking.

Colder weather is excellent for walking

Traditionally, autumn makes for chillier weather, however there’s nothing better than wrapping up warm and getting outside. Cooler temperatures mean that you can tackle more challenging walks before it gets even colder. In autumn and winter, the health benefits of walking are even more important. Keeping up your exercise regime during autumn  can help keep those winter sniffles at bay. For more inspiring walks www.hi-tec.com/uk/inspiring-walks

Get your feet prepped this winter by going to www.hi-tec.com/uk/.

Researchers at Madrid University found a grape extract made up of skin and seeds that is rich in fibre and antioxidants. In studies, volunteers given the extract over 16 weeks found it helped reduce blood pressure by up to five per cent and cholesterol – particularly LDL, the type known as ‘bad’ cholesterol‚ which can lead to heart problems in later life – by up to 14 per cent. So sipping a glass of delicious wine could actually help you live longer.

To find out more about the close link between wine and medicine, why not attend the ‘Medicine Bottle’ wine tasting event at the AWC Wine Academy in central London on the evening of 19 October. To purchase a ticket (priced at £95), simply email deborah@antique-wine.com.

*For more food, news and health features, pick up the latest issue of Healthy at your local Holland & Barrett store.

YES

Some years before David Cameron became Prime Minister, he declared: ‘It’s time we admitted that there’s more to life than money, and it’s time we focused not just on GDP [Gross Domestic Product], but on GWB – general wellbeing.’ Next year we’ll see results, as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish the first official measure of the nation’s wellbeing. Given that our collective happiness seems to be on the slide, action is long overdue; UK research suggests that despite improvements in material wealth, we’re unhappier now than when life, theoretically, was tougher. And our politicians aren’t alone in being concerned – earlier this year Action For Happiness (www.actionforhappiness.org), the first membership organisation dedicated to spreading bonhomie, was launched. ‘Positive emotions help us function better, make us more productive, creative and resilient, so we should be doing all we can to encourage them,’ says happiness coach Thea Jolly (www.fireworkscoaching.co.uk).

NO

Can spreadsheet analysis ever truly reflect the intricacies of our mood? Different things make different people happy – your idea of blissful contentment could be walking barefoot on sand, or conversely, bungee-jumping. ‘Our outlook is also partly genetically determined,’ says Jolly. ‘Some people are born with an innate talent for living. Others naturally have a low set-point on the happiness scale; their “elated” state, might be “moderately OK” for someone with a higher scale. And add into the mix that we all rollercoaster emotionally over the course of our lives.’ In short, wellbeing is personal and ever-changing.

Words: Antonia Kanczula

*For more on this debate, see the September/October issue of Healthy magazine, on sale 24th September – 4^th November in Holland & Barrett stores and selected newsagents nationwide. Don’t forget to vote in our online poll here.