Just One Thing: How simple changes can transform your life

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Dr Michael Mosley is very easy to listen to and I've watched quite a few of his documentaries, however surprisingly, this is my first time reading any of his - many - books. Just One Thing - How Simple Changes Can Transform Your Life presents simple and easy changes you can make daily that will have significantly positive impacts on your overall health and wellbeing. Chances are, if you are an Aussie or Brit, you have heard of Dr Michael Mosley. He is a doctor turned science journalist and tv presenter who has published many books including The Fast Diet and the Eight Week Blood Sugar Diet.

Michael gets cosy with a cuppa to find out how drinking tea can boost your heart health, reduce stress and may even benefit your bones! With the help of Professor Andrew Steptoe, Head of Behavioural Science at University College London, Michael learns the surprising benefits of ordinary tea. They discuss the benefits of bioactive compounds in tea, including L-theanine and polyphenols. A tasty brew can not only help you recover from stress, it can even benefit your heart health and reduce inflammation…Meanwhile, our volunteer Kit enjoys adding more tea to her life.

This is everything a podcast should be. It is very clear and concise and gives you really articulate and well thought out health advice based upon what seems like qualitative research sources. There are so many brilliant ideas that I want to try, like improving my balance by brushing my teeth whilst standing on one leg, dancing and singing more, eating chocolate, yes really, and standing up more, rather than sitting around reading all day! Take a nice deep breath in… through your nose. It’s a simple way to get healthier gums, a better memory, and improved lung function. How? Well, it may partly be due to a special molecule called nitric oxide. Michael Mosley speaks to Professor Jon Lundberg from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden who made the fascinating discovery that nitric oxide is produced in your nose and travels to your lungs where it has some surprising benefits, including boosting oxygen uptake and possibly helping you fight off infections. Our volunteer Joe tries out a few tips to make nasal breathing a habit. I've decided the just one thing I'll try and do more of this year is Stand Up. When we sit for prolonged periods, many of our body's functions go into sleep mode, including our metabolism! I think we all recognise that a sedentary lifestyle and sitting for prolonged periods is terrible for our health.

Based on the popular BBC podcast, Just One Thing, this book brings to life Dr Mosley's mission to unearth small, simple things you can introduce into your routine which will have a big impact on your mental and physical health. There are 30 'things', and some of my favourites were: Sing, Stand on One Leg, Exercise Less But More Often, Eccentric Exercise, Take a Nap, Stand Up, Dance, Learn A New Skill and of course Read! Michael Mosley ventures to his local pool and the sea to explore the unique benefits of going for a swim - from improving memory and mental agility, to boosting longevity. Professor Hirofumi Tanaka, from the University of Texas at Austin, reveals why water-based exercises like swimming are especially good for improving the elasticity of your blood vessels and a new way to exercise in the pool. There really seems to be something special about being in the water that can help your heart, improve joint pain and even boost your brain. Surprisingly, water-based exercise can be more beneficial than land-based exercises!

I liked that this book gave methods or rather habits that can be added to your day such as via diet or exercise or even hobbies.