Holly Willoughby marks her 44th birthday today (February 10) and the much-loved TV star continues to dazzle fans with her ageless glow.
With over 8 million followers on Instagram, Holly often shares snippets of her life, regularly receiving waves of admiration. A recent post prompted one admirer to comment: “You look so beautiful, as always.” Another fan gushed: “You look fantastic in this outfit.”
For those curious about her secret to maintaining such a youthful appearance, the ex-This Morning host has shared a few tips over time, including her fondness for a particular nutritious snack.
Holly’s diet
Regarding Holly’s diet, an insider once told the Mirror: “Holly is determined to keep her new-look body so she eats chicken, carrots and hummus. You’ll never see her without a pack of mango either, to satisfy her sweet tooth.”
What the experts say
Mangoes are not just a treat for the taste buds; they’re packed with over 20 vitamins, offering benefits for the heart, skin, eyes, and immune system.
On the subject of mangoes and health, Maya Vadiveloo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of Rhode Island, shared: “Vitamin C is good for immunity. It’s an antioxidant so it can help with oxidative stress in the body.”
She added: “The primary benefit, in addition to being a really good source of vitamin C, is that (mangoes) are a decent source of vitamin A, folate and are pretty high in fiber, which is beneficial for colon cancer prevention, heart disease and weight control.”
The fibre in mangoes not only tantalises the taste buds but also plays a role in preventing hunger pangs, which is why Maya underscored their benefits for weight management.
She elaborated on the versatility of mangoes, saying: “One thing that is nice about mango is that people do combine it with different things, like salsa, and it can be combined with a lot of vegetables. A great way to reduce your total calories is to combine fruits with some of the non-starchy leafy vegetables and make an interesting salad. Or add some mango to your fish.”
Dietitian Carly Sedlacek also chimed in on the health advantages of mangoes, particularly in relation to blood pressure control. She explained the mechanism behind this benefit: “Potassium helps fight high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Eating mangoes and other potassium-rich foods each day can boost your cardiovascular health.”
Holly’s reflection
Reflecting on her personal journey, Holly recently opened up about enduring a “tough” year. This comes after the distressing ordeal involving Gavin Plump, who was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years for threatening to kidnap and murder her.
Now returning to the limelight with Netflix series Celebrity Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls, Holly spoke candidly to The Sunday Times Style magazine about her experience with the Plump case. She expressed her resolve, stating: “You either decide, ‘Right, I can take this on board and it can absolutely affect all aspects of my life.’ Or I can make a choice to go, ‘Let’s focus on everything positive and good, all those important things.'”