TALKING HEALTH 10

Vitamin C is helpful when fighting infection and you should increase your intake at the first signs of a cold. It’s not a cure but will help speed recovery and prevent more serious illnesses developing.

Ideally you should be taking 500mg per day and some will ensure they get that intake via vitamins. Here is an idea of how much vitamin C is in the following:

• Red pepper - ½ cup = 95 mg • Red cabbage – ½ cup = 40 mg • Green pepper – ½ cup = 60 mg • Cooked Broccoli – 1 cup = 74 mg • Kiwi – 1 medium = 70 mg • Tomato juice – 1 cup = 45 mg • Orange juice- 1 cup = 97 mg

Boost your immune system

Most of the time your immune system works well without any help and defends you against diseases. However, sometimes it fails and needs some help. What can you do to boost and maintain your immune system?

• Stop smoking • Take exercise • Keep hydrated • Maintain a healthy diet high in fruit and vegetables • Get enough sleep at least 8 hours • Wash your hands frequently • Take some supplements – zinc, echinacea and selenium • Limit your alcohol intake • Avoid stress.

Overall, when a cold hits you, stay home, drink plenty of fluids, gargle with salt water, keep the air in your room moist, get plenty of rest and sleep. So grab your duvet, switch off your phone, kick back, destress and soon it will be on its way.

Elite Wellness

www.theelitewellnessgroup.com

Are you living with an addict?

What is addiction?

The most common addiction is to alcohol and drugs although addiction encompasses many other substances and behaviours. Addiction is a disfunction of the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory system. It controls how your body craves a substance, or a behaviour, and causes compulsion and obsession when craving the rewards. This compulsion in turn means the addict loses control and is oblivious to, or disregards, any negative consequences. Addiction is a disease and affects people from all walks of life and socio-economic groups.

You think your partner or family member is an addict

Living with an addict isn’t easy and leaving isn’t easy either, especially when you love someone. When you realise that your partner is an addict and you have decided to stay, to support them, there are some hard realities you will need to accept.

Your partner will be dishonest

It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but your partner will lie about where they have been and what they have been doing. They won’t be honest about where the money is going, why they were late getting home and who they were with. They will lie about their intention to get sober or drug or gambling free and continue to tell. Tell you what you want to hear just to stop you going on at them. The reality is they are also lying to themselves.

What are the signs?

There are many signs, and because someone will try and hide their addiction to the outside world, and to themselves, it can sometimes take time before you realise there is a problem.

A few brief signs include:

• Your partner is unable to stay away from a particular substance, maybe alcohol or drugs or both. Or addictive behaviour such as gambling. • Dismissive of how their behaviour is having a negative impact on your relationship. • Lacks self-control. • Lacks any emotional response. • Impaired ability to retain self-control. • Becoming more secretive. Some of the emotional behaviours include:

• Blames others for their problems. • Displays anxiety, sadness and depression. • More sensitive and emotional. • Increases aggression or irritability. Physical symptoms include:

• Bloodshot or glazed eyes. • Changes in hygiene. • Skin problems – blotches, spots, rashes. • Dilated or constricted pupils. • Insomnia or sleeping too much.