Natural Immune Support

By Elizabeth Harfleet

Hello, I’m Elizabeth Harfleet, a full-time Methodist minister in Dartford and also a qualified Nutritional Therapist. In my work as a minister, I enjoy sharing the benefits of nutrition with the people and communities I work with. Nutritional therapy is not just about diet but is a whole person approach which aims to harness Nature’s tools in supporting the human body’s innate healing ability.

Our immune system is an amazing defence mechanism which operates within our other bodily systems. As up to 70% of our immune system is located within the digestive tract, maintaining a healthy gut is essential for an efficient immune system. Whilst our immune system will successfully deal with many challenges, inflammation is the immune system’s response to harmful stimuli and may be the first symptom of an imbalance within the body. Here are a few things which could help to support immune function, so reducing the potential for inflammation to occur. Vitamin C Vitamin C is famously important for supporting the immune system and can be found in many fruits and vegetables, including green leafy vegetables, broccoli, peppers, blackcurrants and citrus fruits. Fruits and vegetables are also a good source of other vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin D Vitamin D is essential for bones, teeth and muscles as well as immunity. Regular exposure to sunlight enables the body to make Vitamin D. Dietary sources include mushrooms, soya milk, oily fish and fortified breakfast cereals. Vitamin D can also be taken in supplement form. Essential Fats Essential Fatty Acids are essential for many bodily functions, including hormone production and maintaining healthy joints and skin. Omega 3 is noted for its anti-inflammatory properties and can be found in oily fish, like salmon, tuna and mackerel, as well as in flaxseeds, nuts and seeds.

Coconut Oil Coconut oil’s versatility and antimicrobial properties make it a store cupboard staple. You can cook with it; apply it to the skin and hair; use it as a massage oil or to nourish dry skin. It can even be applied to the external bladder area, for those prone to bacterial urinary tract infections.

Turmeric Turmeric is far more than just a colourful curry ingredient but has lots of health benefits too. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can help to support all kinds of health conditions. It can be used in sweet and savoury recipes in either powder or whole root form. Turmeric can also be taken as a dietary supplement.

I always recommend taking things slowly, noting how you feel and what your body is telling you. The dietary and lifestyle choices you make each day really can help to shape your health and wellbeing. Deacon Elizabeth Harfleet is an ordained Methodist minister serving in the North Kent Methodist Circuit and a qualified nutritional therapist. Elizabeth is unable to offer individual appointments. This information is not a substitute for personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not take into account any individual’s health conditions. Contact: e.harfleet@gmail.com

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Here’s a story that caught my attention… Man Utd change Old Trafford large banners from red to black after players’ struggles. Manchester United have changed the colour of the banners covering the seats at Old Trafford from red to black to try and win more home games. Anyone remember the grey kit from almost 25 years ago that was changed at half time?? Well it’s almost 25 years to the day since former manager Sir Alex Ferguson ordered his players to change their grey shirts at half-time in a match against Southampton because they were struggling to pick each other out. The current manager suggests a similar issue may be a reason for his side’s problems at home this season. United have won 13 (54.2%) and lost six (25%) of their 24 home games in all competitions this season. In contrast the figures away from Old Trafford are 17 wins (65.4%) and three defeats (11.5%) from 26 matches. In the efforts to find a solution, the previous seat coverings were not helping, so have been changed with some players mentioning that split-second decisions where you look over your shoulder to see if your teammate is there or not, is impacted by the red shirt on a red background with red seats. The proof of the pudding is in the eating… so let’s see if this improves their home record??

UPCOMING EVENTS IN MAY INCLUDE:

15 May: Football - FA Cup final at Wembley 16 May: Football - Women’s Champions League final in Gothenburg 22 May: Football - Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley 22 May: Rugby Union - European Champions Cup final - venue TBC 23 May: Formula 1 - Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo 26 May: Football - Europa League final 29 May: Football - Champions League final 30 May-13 June: Tennis - French Open in Paris

YOGA, MEDITATION AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK

This year Mental Health Awareness Week is the 10th – 16th of May, World Meditation Day falls on the 21st May and in England from the 17th of May group indoor yoga classes will again be permitted under the Government Roadmap out of lockdown – hooray! Though online yoga classes have proved much more enjoyable than most of us thought possible and some even prefer online yoga in the comfort of their own home, feeling part of a community, having a sense that we are supporting each other and sharing our energy is much more easily palpable in an in-person yoga class. Although restrictions remain, logistics are tricky and we will be 2 meters apart, I am very much looking forward to the 17th of May when I can start to teach groups of people together in the same room again. For some yoga is purely a physical practice, one that has the potential to bring many benefits including a stronger more flexible body, less tension, fewer aches and pains. However, yoga offers us much more than exercise and one of the tools of yoga is meditation. Yoga developed experientially and philosophically within the culture and traditions of pan India over the last 3000 years and something that is often not known by modern practitioners is that in the early years the word yoga was originally synonymous with meditation - the breathing practices, the postures and other practices were later developments.

Research confirms that meditation has many positive outcomes for mental health including reducing stress & anxiety, improving emotional health, enhancing selfawareness, lengthening attention span, improving memory, increasing positive feelings, including kindness towards others and self-compassion, helping to break and manage addictions, improving sleep, reducing chronic pain, lowering blood pressure and stimulating the immune system. With all these benefits and more we might wonder why we aren’t all regular meditators but the reality is that not all types of meditation suit all of us and working out which type of meditation you will find doable, enjoyable and beneficial is a process not often talked about. I was lucky enough to be taught by a teacher who acknowledged that not all meditation techniques suit everyone and this is something I now pass on to those I teach. We all have different ways of experiencing the world around us and our primary sense might be either Visual, Kinesthetic, or Auditory. Knowing our primary modality can help us to choose a meditation practice that will be easier to connect to and easier to keep up. If you have tried meditation before and not found it easy or it’s not been something you have been able to stick to, it may well be because the technique you were working with didn’t match your primary modality. For this reason, in my yoga classes, I teach a range of meditation techniques with the aim of helping the participants find a meditation practice that works for them.

If you are interested and want to know more about meditation, please do get in touch. I am always more than happy to talk about yoga. clair.crestyoga@gmail.com

SUMMER 2021

By Harden Holidays As the summer draws ever closer, we still await further news from the government regarding which countries will fall within the green category of their traffic light system for international travel. Hopefully by the time you are reading this we will have some more certainty around travel in the coming months. In the meantime the Department of Transport released details in the past week regarding the conditions upon which cruising can resume around the UK: Roadmap step 3 – no earlier than 17 May Domestic cruises will be permitted in England under step 3 of the roadmap out of lockdown. Domestic cruises will be able to operate with up to 1,000 people or 50% capacity, whichever is lower. This capacity limit applies to passengers only. COVID-secure guidance will continue to apply. Groups of more than 6 people or 2 households will not be allowed to mix indoors – whether or not they originally booked in the name group. Roadmap step 4 – no earlier than 21 June By step 4, the government hopes to remove all legal limits on social contact. This includes lifting capacity limits for domestic cruises. At least 15 cruise lines have now released their plans for cruising around the UK this summer, and all cruise lines except one require passengers to be vaccinated before cruising. MSC will be bringing it’s brand new ship MSC Virtuosa to Southampton from the 20th May and will not require passengers to be vaccinated before boarding, instead they will have a robust testing procedure in place to ensure passenger safety. They have already been running similar protocols in the Mediterranean, carrying over 55,000 guests since august 2020. MSC Virtuosa’s namesake comes from the word virtuoso, meaning someone highly skilled in any field of activity, and so MSC Virtuosa was named to pay homage to the skill and expertise of the MSC Cruises architects and shipyard partners at Les Chantiers de l’Atlantique who designed and built this innovative class of ships.

This new cruise ship is one of the two largest in MSC Cruises’ fleet, along with her sister ship MSC Grandiosa, boasting an impressive array of guest features all coming together in perfect harmony to deliver the ultimate cruise holiday experience. MAIN FEATURES Environmental Stewardship MSC Virtuosa is one of the most environmentally-sound ships at sea and an energy-efficient role model for modern cruising. • 98% reduction of sulphur oxide (SOx) and 90% reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions thanks to the most advanced technologies. • Wide range of energy-saving equipment to maximise efficiency such as smart heating, ventilation and air conditioning. • Advanced wastewater treatment system with higher purification standards than most wastewater treatment facilities ashore. MSC Starship Club This futuristic venue is much more than just a bar. It’s an immersive entertainment experience. Featuring Rob, the first ever humanoid robotic bartender at sea, the MSC Starship Club will transport our guests to a different world. As you sip your cosmic cocktail and gaze out of the portholes across the space, Rob and his human colleagues will take you to an exciting journey to discover new galactic destinations. Galleria Virtuosa The longest LED Dome at Sea. The indoor promenade features both Main and Speciality Restaurants along with numerous shops. With 1168m2 of retail space, MSC Virtuosa will exceed the already record breaking retail space onboard MSC Grandiosa, to present the largest shopping area at sea on any cruise ship with 11 state-of-the art boutiques and over 250 brands. The promenade is destined to become the ultimate destination for socializing and entertainment possibilities for guests. MSC Virtuosa Pools MSC Virtuosa offers its guests 5 outstanding and unique pools, including one of the biggest and most intricate waterparks at sea. The pools are capable of accommodating over 1,000+ guests with comfort. The Atmosphere Pool, 1.700 m2 with about 10 m2 of public space per guest, is one of the most plentiful to be found at sea. Family & Children MSC Cruises is known for its award-winning family offering and has a long-standing partnership with the LEGO Group to design the kids club areas as well as on board activities. MSC Yacht Club The best location of the cabins and a reserved area accessible only to YC Members, dedicated restaurant and lounges and a large private pool area with solarium and whirlpool baths. 24-hour butler service, dedicated massage rooms and full access to Thermal Suite in the MSC Aurea Spa. This is the MSC Yacht Club, the ultimate luxury cruise experience. Spa & wellness MSC Aurea Spa with its thermal area, professional massages, body treatments, facials and beauty services. Panoramic gym equipped with the latest Technogym machines, 5 outstanding pools and the TOP 19 Exclusive solarium Here are a few ideas of dates and prices: - Family of 4 From £1920 total Includes 1 FUN PASS 28th May 2021 4 Nights Sail from SOUTHAMPTON Unlimited Premium Drinks included Gratuities included Kids entertainment including Bowling, FI Simulator and more - Recharge the batteries with a 50 minute traditional Balinese massage 28th May 2021 All Inclusive premium drink package Full board Entertainment Gratuities Included 50 min Balinese massage 7 nights - Bella Interior cabin WOW... £699 per person

We have missed cruising and ship visits immensely – so much so that we have booked ourselves onto one of the first voyages departing Southampton! We are super excited to be able cruise again. You can follow our journey on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn). We are happy to help you plan your next Seacation for summer 2021 - pop in to see us in Dartford Town centre or give us a call on 0800 023 8974. Healthcare workers can save up to 30%!

Dartford Town Centre

www.hardenholidays.co.uk 0800 023 8974

Full-time, experienced, qualified yoga teacher, teaching practical yoga and meditation classes in the local community and now online. When Government advice allows, the regular schedule of in person group classes in Hextable, Swanley, Sidcup and Bexleyheath will resume. For now, all regular group classes are being held online.

Yoga Alliance Professionals Senior Yoga Teacher and British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course Tutor, I am qualified and experienced in making yoga accessible.

I teach an embodied and practical approach to yoga, breath work and meditation, appropriate for all ages and abilities. You don’t need to be flexible to start!

My classes are friendly, everybody is welcome, so come and see how it feels to tune in and connect yourself and feel better. Please visit my website for more information or email me at clair.crestyoga@gmail.com.

I look forward to hearing from you.