Celebrity Health - Linda Lusardi

“My motto is everything in moderation!”

Liz Parry catches up with model and TV presenter Linda Lusardi to find out how she continues to maintain a healthy and natural lifestyle

Q: How important is it to you to live a healthy lifestyle?

Linda: "It’s very important. As you get older you need to look after yourself. Your bones and skin are all changing and you need to adjust your diet and exercise. I am not a great lover of fruit but I do eat a lot of vegetables, nuts, etc. I have a Nutribullet and I make fruit and veg drinks daily. I find this an easy way to make sure I get lots of important nutrients."

Q: Do you try to avoid any foods in particular? If so, which ones?

Linda: "I love bread, crisps and potatoes which are high in carbs. I don’t cut them out completely but I cut down when I want to lose weight. I believe that moderation is the answer when it comes to food and exercise. I don’t diet."

Q: Has your diet changed a lot since when you were younger? Would you say that you are more careful about what you eat now?

Linda: "I am much more careful with my diet now than when I was younger. The saying ‘you are what you eat’ is very true. I haven’t always eaten well as I was lucky not to put on weight when I was young. I am more conscious of eating well now not only because of weight gain but your body isn’t as efficient as you age. I think it’s important to keep up your nutritional intake. I find supplements are sometimes needed to ensure I get enough of the vitamins and minerals I need."

Q: Have you tried any health foods or super foods that you would recommend?

Linda: "I have kale every day in my smoothies as it’s rich in iron. I’d definitely recommend it."

Q: We know that you are a keen cook. What is your favourite dish to cook?

Linda: "I did win Celebrity Come Dine With Me and got to the semi-finals of Celebrity MasterChef a couple of years ago but I still wouldn’t class myself as a keen cook! That said, I do make a mean scallop chowder and I like cooking for my family."

Q: The last time we spoke to you, you told us about your problem with dry eyes. Has the problem cleared up now?

Linda: "Yes, dry eyes were a huge problem for me for more than 20 years. My eyes were frequently watering, red and sore. They were so bad that people would think I had been crying and I found that eye drops didn’t really help. They were messy and the relief was only momentary. Bright, artificial lighting made my eyes flare up and I also thought they got worse after I had my children. In a chance meeting with Pharma Nord I heard about Omega 7 sea buckthorn capsules and how the oil from sea buckthorn berries can help to protect the mucous membranes throughout our bodies, giving relief from dryness. It’s not just the eyes too, it can help people who suffer from dry mouth or skin, as well as intimate dryness. After a few weeks of taking Pharma Nord’s Omega 7 I had no dryness and no need for drops! This is still the case. It has become part of my daily routine to combat my dry eyes and keep my skin looking good. It gives me a supply of vitamin E and omegas-3, -6, -7 and -9 too so I feel like I’m taking care of my whole body."

Q: How do you keep your figure so trim? Do you do a lot of exercise?

Linda: "No. I think too much exercise can do you more harm than good over 50 and I am 56 now. I walk the dog. I go on the running machine a couple of times a week for around 10 minutes and that’s about it. If I am appearing in a show or pantomime, I find that extra exercise isn’t needed as they keep me busy and active. I think excessive exercise is unnatural and can put unnecessary pressure on your heart and joints. The key is everything in moderation."

Q: What are your favourite natural remedies?

Linda: "Myself and my husband Sam Kane take a Bio-Quinone Q10 supplement to help with energy levels. We both have busy lifestyles and I find this helps to give us the extra energy we need. I also take a vitamin D supplement as I think it’s important to protect against colds and flu and to support our immune systems, especially during the winter months. We don’t get nearly enough sunshine in the UK! I have also found that a pine bark extract called Bio-pycnogenol helps to keep skin firm and plump as we age. It’s got lots of other benefits too like circulation and mood, and can work as a natural antihistamine to fight allergies. When choosing natural remedies my advice would be to always go for the best quality. A lot of products have very little of what they are advertising in them. You need to make sure your body will be able to absorb and use the nutrients they contain."

Q: Lastly, what plans do you have for the near future?

Linda: "I am enjoying being on the Loose Women team. The show is great fun and the best part is there are no lines to learn! I have always been outspoken and quite opinionated so the show suits me perfectly. I get on really well with all the ladies. I also have my own natural skincare range, Lusardi My Miracle, and I’m working on developing new products for it. I have just recorded a Halloween edition of Pointless, and I will be in Cardiff in Aladdin this Christmas."

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