DIETS...DIETS...DIETS...DIETS....DIETS...DIETS...DIETS...DIETS...
The gorgeous Anna Friel - nicknamed Anna Banana by her Pushing Daisies colleagues
SUPERFOOD OF THE WEEK... BEETROOT
Rich in folic acid, iron and vitamin C, it's an immunity booster and increases the production of disease-fighting antibodies and white blood cells.
It also contains betanin, a powerful antioxidant.
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JUNE 15 LOSE LBS, SAVE £££S, 10 DEADLY DIET SINS, JENNY FROST
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MAY 25 HEALTHY DIET MAKING YOU FAT?, 20 MINUTE DIET, TRINNY AND SUSANNAH
MAY 18 CHARLIE BROOKS, SPICE GIRLS' DIET SECRETS, GILLIAN MCKEITH, PLUS-SIZED AND PROUD, DAVID KIRSCH
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APRIL 27 'I LOST 4ST THROUGH FABDIETS', SNACK ATTACK, MAKE-A-BABY DIET, MARTINE MCCUTHEON, DRIED AND TESTED
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APRIL 13 JESSICA ALBA, FAB DIET SUCCESS, COLEEN MCLOUGHLIN, PREGNANCY HITS/MISSES, FAT AND HAPPY?
APRIL 6 ALEX CURRAN, CATCH OF THE DAY, SAMMY WINWARD, THE MEL B DIET, NELL MCANDREW
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FEB 24 PUMP IT UP, LOSE WEIGHT - NO DIETING, THINK PINK
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Anna Friel's BODY SECRETS
THE BROOKIE ACTRESS HAS MADE IT BIG IN AMERICA, BUT STILL REFUSES TO TURN INTO A STICK-THIN MODEL. ANNA REVEALS ALL HER BODY SECRETS TO STAYING HEALTHY - PLUS WIN THE EXERCISE MACHINE SHE SWEARS BY
By Laura Bond
Anna Friel has revealed she loves how she looks now she's adopted the high-maintenance Hollywood glamour look.
Since the former Brookside star landed the lead in hot US TV show Pushing Daisies, she's found the high profile role has meant she's had to pay closer attention to her diet and fitness regime.
Like many of us, the gorgeous 31-year-old actress admits she finds it a struggle to eat as much fruit and veg as she should.
"I'm always trying to find inventive ways of making myself eat more veg," she explains.
"So I eat a lot of salad with bacon and avocado, which is a good way of sneaking in some leaves."
Another tip she has is learning to cook fresh vegetables in an appealing way.
"I have masses of recipe books and cook a lot of traditional English things, stews and wholesome soups.
I'm not a massive vegetable fan - I've been better since I discovered how to undercook them so they were crispy rather than trying to eat mushy overcooked stuff, which really put me off," she says.
The actress, who's always been a slim size 8, has a very healthy attitude towards food.
"I've never been on a strict diet in my life.
"I just don't overeat, and I don't eat if I'm not hungry," she says.
"Look at the French women, they eat cheese, drink wine, and they have incredible bodies and skin."
When Anna's at home, eating with her family is important to her because they eat out so much when they're away.
"Every morning we all have porridge for breakfast, with blueberries for the antioxidants and Manuka honey (that's also great for spots - just dab it on and they heal up)," she says.
Even in the warm LA sunshine, it seems the svelte actress can't break away from her English roots.
She loves a nice cuppa!
"I do drink English tea, all day long. Eight cups a day! I also eat three bananas a day, every day.
"On set they call me Anna Banana. I'm obsessed. If I'm tired, they make me feel better," she says.
Anna, who's originally from Rochdale, says that during her pregnancy she didn't do anything extreme at all.
"I ate very healthily all the way through my pregnancy and afterwards.
"Up until the last month, I had nothing but a tiny bump," she says.
"All I did was walk a lot. I was also breast-feeding."
And since the birth of her daughter Gracie, who's two-years-old, Anna has been spotted running in LA with her trainer, who pushes the buggy while she exercises!
She also puts her newly toned look down to pilates and workouts on her home rowing machine.
"When I'm not working I don't have a lot of time, especially with my daughter to look after.
"So I hop on my WaterRower for a workout while Gracie plays," she says.
When the Lancashire-born actress wants to lose weight and get in shape quickly, she swears by this piece of equipment.
"If you use one every day for just one week you'll feel totally in shape.
"It's also a really fun way to burn calories and keep fit," she says.
"That's how I lost all my baby weight in three months!"
Anna Friel seems like a good down-to-earth lass who's happy with how she looks.
When a film producer once asked her to eat fewer doughnuts, she put him straight.
"I told him he could have me - or a model without a brain in her head.
"The obsession with weight today is just incredible.
"Curves have gone out of the window and I don't understand it.
"For me, I think if you're disciplined enough to stop eating when you're not hungry, then you can maintain a balance."
Photography: Alamy, Landmark Media
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