Jan de Vries, naturopath
Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?
I hope so, as I really should be a good example to my patients. I do not smoke or drink and am very conscious of what I eat. I eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and cereals, and strive to avoid stress.
How often do you exercise?
One could say that I exercise whenever I work. At my clinics, I walk a lot and go up and down stairs countless times during the day. I basically like walking and, being a Dutchman, the love of cycling is in my genes.
Do you get your five a day?
Absolutely. I eat lots of fruit – organically grown if available. Fruit and vegetables are so important for getting vitamins and other nutrients into your body and help the body’s immune function. To strengthen my immune system further during the winter, I take a daily dose of Echinaforce, Vogel’s extract of fresh Echinacea.
Do you worry?
Life can be a constant worry and growing up in the Netherlands during the second World War, we were brought up with worry which has made me very conscientious about life in general. However, I often go with my worries to nature – just being in the wonderful world of plants in any garden can be so therapeutic.
What do you do to relax?
I am what people might call an “active relaxer”. I prefer to relax with a brisk walk or working in the garden, rather than to sit down and read.
However, there are times when I find a special breathing exercise, which I have used for more than 50 years, a great help to completely recharge my batteries.
What’s your unhealthiest habit?
I work too much. I am aware that my workload is too heavy, but I am coping well with it. Unfortunately, there are so many people in need of help and advice, preferring to use natural remedies in this modern, stress-filled world of ours.