A self-confessed fan of vitamins and supplements, Oz Clarke has quite a collection in his cabinet
Image credit: Keith Barnes Photography
Like all of us, the humdrum of pandemic isolation took its toll on Oz. But thanks to his plethora of interests, from being an avid football supporter to keeping fit on his bike, the monotony of life within lockdown was certainly shaken up. Not to mention his five-year-old daughter who needs entertaining…
“At this time of year I’m usually hosting or presenting at wine events around the world and working on TV shows,” Oz says. “Instead, I have spent much of the 12 months appearing on Zoom productions. While the technology is wonderful and we’re lucky to be connected, I end up feeling exhausted instead of exhilarated at the end of a working day.”
Exercise
Oz usually enjoys playing tennis and golf and keeps fit using a cross trainer, treadmill and bike in the gym.
“I opt for exercise that doesn’t hurt my joints as I’ve jumped off too many gates in the past and have had the occasional painful encounter when horsing around with my daughter,” he says.
But every year Oz gears up for an annual bike ride of around 220 miles over four days.
“The event is a way of supporting music therapy for older people and those living with dementia,” he explains. “We visit care homes and retirement villages along the route, giving short, socially-distanced, performances of classical music to bring a little cheer to residents. Music has been found to help reconnect memory and alleviate anxiety in people living with dementia.
“There has been so little to cheer residents this year and after the concerts it was wonderful to see how much more energised, happy and engaged people were.
“As for the days of cycling, I’m grateful that I don’t experience any back or knee pain, but I do take an ibuprofen each morning just in case. I don’t usually take painkillers, so when I do, they work very well.”
You are what you eat
Oz clearly loves cooking and thrives on a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, grains, herbs and spices.
“I only have two meals a day, a habit left over from my acting days,” he says. “If I go over my target weight, I actively try to reduce my intake of food and take more exercise.”
A self-confessed fan of vitamins and supplements, Oz has quite a collection in his cabinet; perhaps they are the secret to his good health. “I asked my doctor about glucosamine chondroitin supplements as I read they were good for joints; he said they may help if I was happy to spend the money. I take Ginkgo, which is said to aid memory and cognitive performance, and Co Enzyme Q10 which may increase energy production in the cells and strengthen the function of the heart and the kidneys.
“Vitamin D3, echinacea, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin E and garlic are part of my daily regime, along with milk thistle if I’m doing a wine tasting as it’s said to be good for the liver.
“I don’t know if they work or not, but I’m in good shape and am not keen to stop taking them to find out!”
Food for the soul
To keep his spirits up during periods of boredom during periods of pandemic-induced restriction, Oz has spent any extra time he has in books and music.
“In the first lockdown in March 2020, I realised I was surrounded by hundreds of books I’d never read,” he says. “Of course, it is easier to simply turn on the TV, but instead I escaped into books, from Shakespearian plays to biographies.
“Likewise, if I am feeling low or have time at home or when driving in the car, I listen to music – Classic FM or Radio 3 depending on my mood. Music is an emotional wordless language that gets through to people. It’s relaxing and uplifting and makes us feel better.”
PS Did you know that Arthritis Digest Magazine is labelled the best UK Arthritis blog from thousands of blogs on the web ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness? First published March 2021
