Your weight can make a significant difference to your risk of heart disease. Being overweight not only puts you more at risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type-2 diabetes but also puts extra strain on your joints. It is important to be aware of your waist size. Risk of heart disease is increased with waist size greater than 37 inches for men and 32 inches for women. For a healthy balance on your diet, try not to skip breakfast and have regular meals during the day, keeping an eye on your portion size. If you are trying to loose weight, following a ‘Low G.I.’ diet, can help you to achieve your goal by helping you to feel fuller for longer and reduce cravings between meals. The Glycaemic Index (G.I.) of carbohydrate food indicates its effect on blood sugar levels in our body. Foods with a high G.I. make blood sugar levels rise quickly soon after they are eaten. Whereas foods with lower G.I. release sugars more slowly, causing gradual rises in blood sugar and therefore are also suitable for diabetic patients. Low G.I. have many benefits such as reducing your risk of heart disease and improving cholesterol levels. They also can boost energy levels, generally contain more fibre and can help to prevent low mood. Low G.I. foods - brown bread, porridge, pasta, sweet potato, apples, bananas, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, peas, low-fat yogurt, lentils, baked beans. High G.I. foods- chips, white bread, bagels, bagettes, white rice, cornflakes, crisps, concentrated fruit juice, processed ready meals. If you eat high G.I. foods, try to combine these with low G.I. foods on a regular basis to create a better balance in your diet. A slow, gradual weight loss of 1-2 lbs a week is a safe and realistic way to keep weight off for good. Regular exercise will burn unwanted calories and put a spring in your step! Losing weight takes willpower but even a small weight loss can make you feel so much better and be a big benefit to your health! If you need health advice, ask your pharmacist! Paula Morgan, Orchard Pharmacy, 23 Mandeville St., Portadown Tel 02838 332 824 www.orchardpharmacy.co.uk