Embrace the change in season

• Get outdoors and embrace the season. There are many benefits for both mental and physical health and with shorter days it is even more important to be outside in nature. Connecting with nature improves mood, helps to manage stress and anxiety and encourages good sleep habits. The body has to work harder in cooler temperatures, helping to increase brown fat, brown fat is metabolically active unlike white fat which stores calories.

• Exposure to sunlight gives a boost of Vitamin D3, especially important for older adults. Sunshine is best but remember that Public Health England recommends the majority of adults should consider taking a daily supplement of Vitamin D during the autumn and winter months.

• Eat seasonal foods, autumn is the season of harvest. Foods that are abundant in autumn are comforting, warming and nourishing. Pumpkins, squashes, apples, pears, figs, blackberries, plums, mushrooms and potatoes. Delicious.