From an ancient diet, the latest apps and analysing our social media habits, here are 10 ways to freeze time

WE reveal our top stress-busting tips which will be sure to stand you in good stead for the year ahead.

Our tips include treating yourself to a Greek getaway, bingeing on blackcurrants and embracing the city pace.

1 — Keep up with the Icarians

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Never heard of Icaria? Residents of this tiny Greek island live on average 10 years longer than people elsewhere in Europe, with one in three surviving to 90, partly thanks to what they eat.

“Even compared with a standard Mediterranean diet, Icarians eat more fish and fresh vegetables, especially wild greens including dandelion, fennel and horta, a cousin of spinach,” says Dr Sara Gottfried.

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2 — Get tested

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It’s now possible to analyse 40 of our genes to find out if we’re at a higher risk of age-related conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and vitamin deficiencies.

“A simple blood test will show if your vitamin D levels are low, which causes tiredness,” says nutritionist Lola Ross.

“But a genetic test could highlight a small impairment in the way you metabolise vitamin D. Treatment is a personalised plan that involves getting additional vitamin D from foods and therapeutic supplements.” Tests start from £250 ().

3 — Embrace the city pace  

With London’s 24/7 hustle and bustle, you’d expect it to be the UK’s stress spot. Yet a recent study showed the capital is behind the North West, the West Midlands and the North East when it comes to everyday anxiety levels.

“One reason is that people in the capital are aware it’s a stressful place to live, so perceive daily challenges such as heavy traffic as a part of life,” says Lorna Cordwell, head of counselling at Chrysalis Courses, who conducted the research.

“And in rural areas people drive more often, missing out on the stress-reducing benefits of walking.”

4 — Avoid ‘inflamm-ageing’

Anti-ageing isn’t just about your skin – the gut plays an important role, too. Current thinking is that chronic, low-grade inflammation in the body, which can cause everything from arthritis to poor memory, is controlled by microbiota cells in our digestive system.

“Research shows probiotics may help slow this process by increasing production of butyrate, an anti-inflammatory fatty acid,” says Dr Davinder Garcha, medical advisor at Bio-Kult. And don’t be afraid to start taking them now.

“Think of it like a pension – better late than never, but if you can start in your 20s and 30s you’ll be protecting yourself long-term.” .

5 — Exerc-eyes

Beat presbyopia (the stiffening of our eyes’ lenses as we age) with this daily habit. “Sit facing a window with a view of a distant landscape,” says Dr Gottfried.

“Hold a pencil 18-20 inches from your face. Look at the pencil point, then slowly pull it to the bridge of your nose.

Repeat three times. Then, holding the pencil in front of you, look to the horizon of your view outside for five seconds, then focus back on the pencil.”

6 — Look after your joints

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Joint pain isn’t just something we face in old age: nine out of 10 mums say they push through regular discomfort to complete chores.**

“Your 20s and 30s are a good time to start thinking about joints in order to avoid issues in later life such as osteoarthritis,” says Dr Rod Hughes, consultant rheumatologist at St Peter’s Hospital, Surrey. “Keeping your weight under control and exercising regularly helps, but a supplement such as Gopo, derived from rosehip, can improve joint function in active, healthy adults, potentially preventing the degeneration of cartilage and tissues.”

7 — Jump around

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Bouncy castles will make you feel young and boost fitness. Adults-only workouts at Inflata Nation, an indoor inflatable theme park in Manchester, burn 700 calories in an hour-long session, £6.

“The classes involve squats on the duel podium, HIIT training in the ball pool and relays on slides,” says instructor Emma Roycroft. Not your bag? Amazon Echo’s Alexa, £89.99, puts you through your paces at home with sessions like the Seven Minute HIIT Workout involving wall sits, press-ups and squats.

8 — Boost your social (media) life

Stress hormone cortisol shortens telomeres, the DNA that protects our cells from ageing.

With countless studies linking social media to anxiety, harnessing it to improve mental health sounds counter-intuitive.

But free mood tracker PostMood analyses your Facebook posts to seek out patterns in your life, such as always having a terrible day on a Thursday.

“There could be specific things about that day, such as your commute or work environment, that you could change to lessen the worry,” says the app’s founder Alex Sass.

9 — Binge on blackcurrants

The cells of these humble berries contain compounds called anthocyanins, which can improve long-term brain function and even stall Alzheimer’s.

“Anthocyanins stimulate nitric oxide, which triggers arteries to open, allowing better blood flow in the brain,” says Professor Derek Stewart of the James Hutton Institute.

“This is important, as our brain consumes 20% of the oxygen we breathe to maintain a healthy flow, which boosts mental acuity, so you can concentrate longer and harder.”

You don’t have to stuff your face with a punnet for every meal, though. New supplement CurraNZ, £29 for 30 capsules, has the equivalent of 83 blackcurrants in each one.

10 — Try the next-gen 5:2

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Not only do fasting regimes promote weight loss, new evidence suggests calorie restriction also slows down the ageing process, potentially increasing our lifespan by years.***

“It’s only after we’ve digested food that our bodies tackle anti-ageing processes such as regeneration and repair, and fasting gives us time to do this,” explains nutritionist Kim Pearson.

But if you don’t want to suffer long periods of hunger – not to mention low energy, poor concentration, headaches or dizziness – new diet plan ProLon tricks the body into believing it’s fasting.

“Amino acids in protein trigger nutrient-sensing pathways that alert the body to focus on digestion. By temporarily reducing protein with a careful combination of plant-based ingredients including olives, vegetables, fruit, nuts and beans, your body goes into a fasting-like state, but because you’re still getting nutrients there are fewer side effects, such as tiredness,” says Kim.

Stockists: Amazon (), Bio-Kult Probiotics (), CurraNZ (), Gopo (), PostMood (), ProLon ()

Sources: National Geographic, Deep Freeze, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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