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Are you ready for a happy and healthy new year? Well, here are some of the most interesting tips from the experts on the Daily Mail UK’s website titled “The health experts' guide to a feelgood 2009”.

The GP - Dr Richard Deacon
I always eat bruised apples rather than perfect ones. The tissue in the decomposing peel contains an aspirin-like substance called salicylic acid. This is a natural way of helping to keep the blood healthy.

The scientist - Dr Paul Clayton
I try to get outside for 20 minutes a day whenever the sun is out. Exposure to 20 minutes of sunshine a day is sufficient, in most cases, to generate enough Vitamin D to maintain adequate levels of this vital micronutrient.

The anaesthetist - Dr Keith Myerson
Just before I stop work for lunch I always eat a piece of fruit. As a good source of fibre and carbohydrate the fruit immediately provides me with a release of energy and this takes the edge off my hunger. It means that when I sit down, I won't dive into something unhealthy or overeat because I'm starving.

The radio doctor - Dr Phil Hammond, GP
Taking my two labradors for a walk and generally petting and rolling around with them is a great boost for health. Aside from the obvious benefits of exercise, science can testify that the social interaction between dogs and their owners can lower blood pressure, which has an overall benefit to health.

The public health lecturer - Rosa Benato
I stave off colds and infections by washing my hands as soon as I get home or into work if I have been travelling on public transport. Colds can be acquired by touching, for instance, a door handle that has been touched by someone who has just blown their nose.

The dentist - Dr Henry Clover
Most people know they should brush their teeth for at least two minutes in the morning and at night. But I don't stop at just brushing teeth and gums - I give the back of my tongue a good clean as it harbours lots of smelly bugs which are a major factor in causing bad breath.

The medical director - Dr Ian Campbell
I always eat my evening meal at 8pm. This still gives the body time to digest before going to bed - it takes two hours for food to pass through the stomach. But it is late enough to prevent unnecessary snacking, so can lead to weight loss.

The clinic director - Dr Wendy Denning
I take a hot bath with Epsom salts for 20 minutes, three times a week. The salts contain a high level of magnesium which is excellent for soothing the nervous system, while the high sulphate content helps with general detoxification and supports the work of the liver.

The physiotherapist - Sammy Margo
Before I go on my daily 35-minute walk, I always pull my stomach muscles in all the way - a bit like when you breathe in to squeeze into trousers that are slightly too tight - then release them by about 50 per cent. Then I start my walk. By doing this I am engaging the core muscles, which helps ensure the body is in good alignment and has good stability, which is perfect for posture. It also tones the stomach muscles, helping to keep my stomach flat.

The nutritionist - Samar Tarabay
When eating my five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day I make sure they are different colours so I get a good range of vitamins, minerals and plant chemicals. I try as much as possible to choose between fruits and vegetables from dark colours (such as black and purple to red) as well as orange, yellow and green colours.

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The risk of advanced stage breast cancer for obese women is up to 82 per cent higher than in a normal weight woman, according to a new study.

More than 287,000 women were involved, and the study not only looked at breast cancer rates but also took into account the amount of mammograms the women had.

Previous studies had assumed that increased weight held a higher risk as tumours might have been more difficult to detect on mammograms, however this study took all of those factors into account.

The conclusion was that it was the extra weight that caused the added risk.

“Women who are above their healthy weight have higher levels of circulating estrogens,” said study lead author Dr. Karla Kerlikowske, director of the Women Veterans’ Comprehensive Health Center at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

It is believed the excess estrogen is promoting tumor growth.

The risk of an advanced stage cancer for an obese women was 56 percent to 82 percent higher than for a normal-weight woman, but the good news was even a small amount of weight loss brings those figures down. Women who were classified as overweight only had a 10 to 35 percent increase of breast cancer compared to normal weight women.

There are still many other causes of breast cancer, both known and unknown, however this is one risk factor that can be managed. And as you can see, all of the weight loss counts towards decreasing your risk.

So start taking small steps towards your goal weight, and remember not to be discouraged if it doesn't come off as quickly as you would have hoped. Every little bit counts.

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Listening to your favourite music may be one of the keys to a healthy heart. A new study has shown that when people played their happy music, the lining of their blood vessels expanded, hence expanding the blood flow to their heart.

But just as happy music gives you an increased blood flow, stressful music like heavy metal can contract the vessels, putting strain on the cardiovascular system.

Scientists believe it results from the release of endorphins, providing us with not just good feelings, but also a healthier body. And interestingly, the effect was even greater than after laughing and listening to relaxation tapes.

It also doesn’t matter what type of music it is – it just has to make you happy. So pull out your favourite CDs or your IPOD, pump up the volume and get that blood flowing! 

I am a huge fan of Olivia Newton-John. For a woman that has gone through a lot, she remains incredibly positive and continues to campaign for many important causes including her Cancer and Wellness Centre opening in Melbourne.

So when a women like this gives out her tips for living well – I think we should all take notice!

She revealed them to OK! Magazine in the US during an interview. Here is what she had to say:

How did she overcome her difficulties?
“Just believing that I would get through it and knowing that there are no shortcuts. With any challenge or pain or difficulty, the only way through it is to go through it -- go through the fire. And you come out the other end of it. There’s a balance in life. I think life has an equilibrium. It balances out. Hopefully you learn from your experiences and grow. I think I’ve always had a pretty positive attitude that I would get through whatever it is. I live life that way.”

How does she feel about turning 60?
“I feel very blessed that I’m here and I’m healthy. I couldn’t be in a better place in my life.”

Olivia’s skin care regime
She uses her husband’s Amazon Herb product Illuvia on her skin twice a day.

How does she stay in shape?
Olivia works out by using a treadmill, taking walks and playing tennis two to three times a week.

And what does she eat?
“I like grilled food, I tend to like grilled simple foods like salads and vegetables, I eat meat occasionally like chicken and fish. I eat well. I eat fruits and vegetables. I don’t see it as a diet, I see it as a lifestyle for me. I try to eat organically as much as I can.”

Olivia also said she takes a digestive aid called Digestazon, which is also a part of her husband John’s Amazon Herb line.
 

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It’s another day, and yet again, we have another report on how wonderful fruit and vegetables are, and how good they are for your health. But this one had a very interesting point.

The headlines were saying “Fruit and Veg boost the effects of chemo” which I would have already assumed to be true. But when I read the study a bit closer, it pointed out something interesting.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, chemotherapy is usually the first step. The problem is that some people’s tumor cells are resistant to the chemo, which is supposed to kill off the offending cells. This resistance is actually the leading cause of death in all cancer patients.

So in this study, conducted by UC Riverside biochemists, they found that ingesting apigenin – a naturally occurring dietary agent found in vegetables and fruit – it dramatically improves the cancer cells' response to chemotherapy. In other words, it could be saving your life.

Not only that, but the researchers found this substance was also important in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.

"Our study advocates the inclusion of vegetables and fruit in our daily diet to help prevent cancer," said Liu, the research paper's coauthor.

It’s one thing knowing and another thing to implement it. So please, make the effort to keep a fresh supply of fruit and vegetables in your house. With the latest studies showing 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men falling victim to cancer, this is a message you nor your family can afford to ignore.

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The Australian Food and Grocery Council will today announce a new code of conduct regarding their junk food advertising strategies. 

It states that children under the age of 12 can only be targeted when the product is promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle. This code will apply to all forms of media such as television, print and cinema advertising that is aimed at children.

The use of popular characters such as Shrek to promote an unhealthy food will also be banned, as will the technique of enticing children with free toys offers.

We have seen recent healthy messages coming from Coca-Cola as well as Coco Pops, so it will be interesting to see how all of this is interpreted. Obviously what we deem as unhealthy may not be viewed in the same way by the company promoting it.

It will not affect those shows aimed at teenagers or families.

Members of the Food and Grocery Council include Coca-Cola Amatil, Mars, and Cadbury- Schweppes, but it doesn’t extend to fast food companies.