The wellness WOFs you should book in this New Year

In the interest of remaining healthy and getting the most mileage out of your body, dedicate some time to renew your wellness warrant of fitness and get back on track. You might just pull yourself out of a rut you didn’t even know you were in!

Book a blood test

Feeling tired? Achy joints? Flat mood? Can’t shake a cold? Most of the time it’s nothing to worry about but occasionally symptoms like these could signal an underlying cause like hormone imbalance or a vitamin deficiency. If you shun the sun or follow a strict diet, it’s especially important to keep an eye on any symptoms as this could be your body communicating a deficiency in a particular nutrient like vitamin D.  We also recommend taking (or re-taking) our questionnaire at the beginning of a new year – it’s a great time to reassess how you’re feeling and address any concerns.

Body bootcamp

There’s no better time than the new year to get your A into G and get moving. Why? Because the deals are out in full force (hello no joining fee!). Whether you’re carrying unwanted Christmas kilos or just want to change-up your regular exercise regime now is the time to shop around for the perfect gym, personal trainer or group fitness programme to suit your needs.

MoleMap

It goes without saying that getting a MoleMap done regularly is one of the most important checks you should be getting. Each day, seven New Zealanders are diagnosed with melanoma. Regardless of your risk level, there’s still a risk. Book in a MoleMap Skin Check or a Full Body MoleMap every year to pick up any skin cancers early. If you’ve never had one done before, you don’t need a referral to make a booking. A melanographer will do a check from head to toe before imaging any moles of concern for expert dermatologist diagnosis. Plus, they’ll provide you with plenty of useful advice on skin cancer prevention. Otherwise, you can get your GP to do a skin check once-yearly and monitor your skin for any changes every few months.

While there’s an abundance of reasons to love living in New Zealand, it does increase our risk of getting skin cancer. Make sure you include an SPF into your daily skincare regime and minimise prolonged exposure where possible.

Clean up

When was the last time you cleaned, truly cleaned, your bathroom cabinet? We’re talking about pulling each and every product and tool out for thorough cleaning and inspection, including the drawers, shelves, containers and makeup bags they’re in and on. Now, we’re sure you give your products a once-over every now and then but it’s not enough – trust us you’d be pretty alarmed to see the germs lurking in and around your go-to products. It sounds arduous, but believe us, it’s oh-so satisfying once you cross the finish line. In addition to cleaning up, be sure to look out for the PAO (Period After Opening) symbol, which looks like a small open cream jar with a number and an M in it (i.e. 24M). This indicates the number of months a product is designed to be kept after opening. Be harsh (hoarders we’re looking at you!) and cull anything that’s been in there past the PAO. Wipe down hair styling tools (straighteners tend to get a build-up of product along the edges), clean your brushes and combs out and consider replacing flannels and body sponges.

Reverse those skin sins

Drinking, eating, late nights, prolonged sun exposure make for a not so ideal skin-harming cocktail.  But there’s no point beating yourself up about it – after all you had fun and deserved it – instead, look to how you can minimise the damage. Often we treat our skin from the outside only with topical treatments, neglecting that everything showing externally is a reflection of the inside. It’s important to take an inside out approach to your skin health. In addition to antioxidant rich skincare, below are our recommendations for enhancing your complexion post-summer.

• Vitamin C: No it’s not just for boosting immunity - taking vitamin C orally can help to heal damage skin, reduce redness and the appearance of wrinkles, as well as repair dry skin. Did you also know that vitamin C can also enhance the effectiveness of sunscreens applied to your skin? According to a 2013 study, sunscreens block only 55 percent of the free radicals produced by UV exposure - it has been shown that application of 10 percent topical vitamin C showed statistical reduction of UVB-induced erythema by 52 percent and sunburn cell formation by 40-60 percent. It packs a pretty impressive punch!
  
  
• Collagen: If skin ageing is a key concern there’s no better supplement to turn to than collagen (as long it’s high-quality and sustainably sourced, of course!) The sad reality is that as we age our collagen production decreases and existing collagen networks break down. The only way to restore collagen levels is through internal supplementation (in powder or tablet form). With regular supplementation, research has observed improvement in skin elasticity and firmness, as well as counteracting wrinkles and lines.
  
  
• Probiotics: We know that there is a direct correlation between gut health and skin. An unhappy gut will show in your skin (and vice versa). Probiotics are live bacteria that boast numerous health benefits. As the majority of our immune system is housed within the digestive tract, maintaining a healthy gut is essential for overall health, including our skin.