Real Health with Karl Henry

With garden centres re-opening this week, there’s no better time to get out into your garden, if you have one, to enjoy the outdoors and get in some green-fingered mindfulness.I’ve interviewed guests about positivity, meditation and mindset since the lockdown began and my guest this week is Diarmuid Gavin, the broadcaster, author, designer and gardener extraordinaire.It’s a fascinating interview with Diarmuid who reflects that this is the first time he has been at home so much in twenty-five years, he tells me about the moment that changed his life when he got noticed by the BBC at the Chelsea Flower Show, and he has some great tips if you are looking to get out into your garden and enjoy the outdoors more.Stay healthy and safe and keep in touch with me for daily postings on Instagram and Twitter @KarlHenryPT.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/I’ve also got copies of my ‘Healthy Living Handbook’ to give away and to be in with a chance of winning, just rate, review and subscribe to the show.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although lockdown restrictions are starting to ease, the uncertainty over the coming weeks and months is still going to be a stressful time for us all, so I wanted to bring some more light, humour and positivity into your week – as well as some practical exercises to help deal with the ongoing situation.And who better than comedian, broadcaster, TodayFM presenter and meditation teacher, Dermot Whelan?Last year I spoke to Dermot about how he embraced meditation to help deal with the stresses of life and on this week’s episode I ask him how he is coping and how life has changed for him during Covid.He tells me why meditation and mindfulness are more important than ever and he has a brilliant 16 second meditation that will get you in the right frame of mind very quickly.Stay healthy and safe and keep in touch with me for daily postings on Instagram and Twitter @KarlHenryPT.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/I’ve also got copies of my ‘Healthy Living Handbook’ to give away and to be in with a chance of winning, just rate, review and subscribe to the show.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As you know, the Real Health show is all about practical advice and information that makes healthy living real and long-term and I’m delighted to say my guest this week is the best example of this.Jennifer Carroll is a Mum who, via her Instagram account, @jens_journey_ie, has taken us on her very honest journey of weight loss which has seen her lose over twelve stone to go from 25 stone to just twelve.She’s now a huge advocate of healthy eating and living and joined me this week to talk about her struggles with weight growing up, the ‘why’ moment that made her change her life, as well as giving some great tips for listeners to start your own health living journey.Stay healthy and safe and keep in touch with me for daily postings on Instagram and Twitter @KarlHenryPT.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/I’ve also got copies of my ‘Healthy Living Handbook’ to give away and to be in with a chance of winning, just rate, review and subscribe to the show.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 1st is National Workplace Wellbeing Day and who would have thought we would be celebrating it at home in 2020?Never has wellbeing been so important and while most of us aren’t at our actual places of work, for many of us, remote working from home has become the new norm. So, this week’s Real Health episode is all about the ways you can stay fit and healthy while working remotely.From correct posture and movement to efficiency, hydration and structure, my ten tips are practical and easy to implement and will make a difference if you can start putting one, two or all ten of them into your day.Stay healthy and safe and keep in touch with me for daily postings on Instagram and Twitter @KarlHenryPT.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/I’ve also got copies of my ‘Healthy Living Handbook’ to give away and to be in with a chance of winning, just rate, review and subscribe to the show.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this week’s Real Health I thought we could all do with some positivity and feel good inspiration from someone who I’ve admired for his exploits on and off the sports pitch.Donncha O’Callaghan is one of Ireland and Munster rugby’s most decorated players and since retiring has brought his cheeky chappy, fun-loving sports expertise to the telly and radio.With four young kids he’s also a big advocate of health and exercise for families and he tells me how he and his family have been during the Covid lockdown and why active play for parents and kids is so important.He also talks to me about finding new purpose after rugby and how the current situation has meant more balance and figuring out what really matters.Stay healthy and safe and keep in touch with me for daily postings on Instagram and Twitter @KarlHenryPT.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/I’ve also got copies of my ‘Healthy Living Handbook’ to give away and to be in with a chance of winning, just rate, review and subscribe to the show.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At most times, financial concerns are the biggest stressor in our lives, and while health and safety is all our priority at the moment, money worries are also still there.Looking after your financial health is key to alleviating stress and helping with your overall health and well-being, so this week I speak to finance guru, Eoin McGee, about what we need to do to manage our finances effectively whilst also planning for the future.Eoin discusses dealing with short and long term debt , our day-to-day spending, the difference between ‘happy’ and ‘crappy’ debt, and the importance of getting your money to work for you.For more information and advice from Eoin, his new book, ‘How to Be Good with Money’ is out now.Stay healthy and safe and keep in touch with me for daily postings on Instagram and Twitter @KarlHenryPT.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/And do rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nutrition and the food we eat is going to be so important over the coming weeks and months.Eating the right foods can help, not just with our overall health, but can also boost our immune system and deal with our gut reaction to stress and anxiety.For this week’s Real Health I’m joined by dietitian and gut expert, Paula Mee to find out what we should be eating and why.Paula has brilliant tips and advice on the symptoms to look out for if our gut health is acting up as well as the foods to keep ourselves fit and healthy. And if your caffeine intake is higher than usual, Paula has information on that as well!Ultimately, we should try and see the positive in all this, she says, and look to make meal times a special time, connecting and understanding the importance of food.Stay healthy and safe and keep in touch with me for daily postings on Instagram and Twitter @KarlHenryPT.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/And do rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the schools closed for the foreseeable future it can be a tough struggle for parents trying to keep their kids busy and look after their emotional well-being whilst also, for many, trying to work from home.To help you deal with these issues (and more), my guest on this week's Real Health is Ireland's leading child psychologist, David Coleman, who addresses the most common questions for parents during this Covid-19 time.From screen time and digital baby-sitting to balance and structure, as well as dealing with warning signs and difficult feelings in kids and teenagers, this week's episode will definitely help you and your children at this difficult period.Stay healthy and safe and keep in touch with me for daily postings on Instagram and Twitter @KarlHenryPT.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/And do rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you can control your breathing you can control your stress and anxiety and so this week's Real Health episode is focusing on exactly that.Niall O'Murchu is an instructor in the Wim Hof breathing method and he joins me to explain the breathing techniques you can start using to help with stress relief and introduce more calm into your day.He discusses the Wim Hof Method that he teaches and how and why it allows people to withstand extreme cold by controlling your nervous system with breathing techniques.Niall explains why the exhale is so important and how that enables you to calm your body and mind down. Plus he has a simple breathing exercise to help as well as some tips for getting used to the cold, starting with your daily shower!Stay healthy and safe and keep in touch with me for daily postings on Instagram and Twitter @KarlHenryPT.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/And do rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the second part of this week's Real Health Coronavirus special I'm joined by Minister for Health, Simon Harris.The Minister talks to me about how he is coping from both a personal and professional perspective, his pride at how people are doing their best to help out and why we still - all of us - need to do more in the crucial next few weeks.Stay healthy and safe and keep in touch with me for daily postings on Instagram and Twitter @KarlHenryPT.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/And do rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.