Health Scan: Lifestyle Q&A

Hector Ó h'Eochagáin hosts Breakfast with Hector, 7-9am on 2FM.

Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?

I don’t smoke and I exercise. Every day, I use a heavy-duty mixer to make a big carrot, orange and ginger juice before the show. That’ll do me for the winter.

How often do you exercise?

I play squash three times a week with some Galway hurlers. Don’t ever play squash with a hurler – the power in their wrists is just incredible. It’s very competitive and sometimes I win. It’s a game where you’re constantly moving – if you played squash for the first time, you wouldn’t be able to bend down the next day.

Do you get your five a day?

I’m up at 5.30am and I’ll have cereal with flaxseed or dried goji berries – forget Gillian McKeith, it’s the Irish mammies who nurtured us through the 1960s and 1970s who know about food in this country. We’ll eat dinner with the kids at about 6pm – turnip, broccoli, Kinvara spuds. I love mussels and all kinds of seafood that you can get fresh in Galway.

Do you worry?

No, I don’t get worrying. Pressure is for tyres. When you have too much time on your hands, I think the mind can control the body. If you’re active, I don’t think worry has a chance to set in. I don’t sit and wallow.

What do you do to relax?

Relaxing in the evening is easy. I like to just close the door, chill out and get the kids fed and watered. That’s what home is for – it’s not for work. I’m an avid sports fan, so I might watch Manchester United or the rugby or go racing.

What’s your unhealthiest habit?

I don’t know really. I don’t drink that much because I get the worst hangovers in hell. I’m the same jeans size I was when I was 18 – 32/32. I love a good packet of crisps though – Taytos, Hula Hoops or Discos.