Look Good Feel Good

Look Good Feel Good O ur bodies are wonderful, complex, amazing things. We are born with a natural ability to grow, develop and heal ourselves abundantly as we go through our early years. Think of how it easy it was to go out three nights in a row when you were in your early twenties and still feel fresh at work on a Monday morning, and how young kids have such vibrant energy and seem to heal so quickly from falls and scrapes. Why does this change as we get older? Why now, when we are beyond forty, do two nights out in a row leave us shattered for the week ahead? When we get bruised or fall, why does it take so long for us to feel one hundred per cent again? And, as we enter midlife, why do we get more illnesses and diseases? It’s a fact that prescribing of medication is increasing each year. The age of our cells has a lot to answer for. Cellular age is determined by many factors and external influences have a big impact. We live in a busy world where stress is part of day to day life for many of us. We are surrounded by devices that affect our brain, we ingest pesticides, consume processed food and breathe in more pollutants than ever before. All of these cause free radicals to form which cause cell damage - a term known as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is known to be the number one reason that we age and why wrinkles appear on our faces, and why we are more likely to get a degenerative disease. You only need to internet search the term to see that it’s linked with over two hundred age related diseases, including Alzheimer’s and heart disease. From the day we take our first breath, our amazing bodies are working undercover to fight the free radical damage to our cells. When we are young our bodies produce an abundance of antioxidants to balance out the free radicals. The ageing of our cells takes place because beyond our early adulthood BIO Nicola Browne is the owner of A Revolution in Wellness. Here, for the past three years, she has been helping her customers to feel better through activating their bodies’ natural pathways using Nutrigenomics - the future of personal health. How to age well

years, the body’s natural production of these antioxidants, such as glutathione, slows down. Antioxidants are the answer to keeping our cells healthy and young, but how can you support your body to reduce oxidative stress as your natural antioxidant production slows down? 1. Eat a healthy balanced diet rich in whole foods, fruits, vegetables and berries. 2. Limit the intake of processed foods and those with high sugars and fats. 3. Exercise regularly. 4. Reduce the stresses in your life, utilise meditation and talking therapies to calm your mind, and look to remove anything that causes you stress. 5. Take a proven activator to boost your body’s natural production of antioxidants, reducing oxidative stress by forty per cent. Written by: Nicola Browne M. 07714 896820 FB Nicola Browne Insta @arevolutioninwellness

Speak Out and Seek Help

By Frank Allison

Kevin Ellison is a wellknown and respected professional football player who plays for Morecambe FC in the English Football League Division Two. Kevin has enjoyed a long, injury free career, playing for several different English football league clubs at various levels. He recently hit the headlines when he bravely decided to speak out about the anxiety and depression that he has suffered from for the last eight or nine years. This decision was initially prompted by another professional football player who spoke out about depression on social media. Kevin contacted this player, with whom he was acquainted, having previously played against him. The player told Kevin that in his opinion, the message would perhaps have more gravitas coming from him, because Kevin had earned a reputation in footballing circles as a competitive and somewhat tough opponent. Rightly, or wrongly, this was not the impression that I gained, when I met up with Kevin for a chat about his struggles and how he manages to maintain a positive mental health outlook today. In fact, he is a genuine, sincere, articulate man who is trying his best to encourage football players and others to speak out and seek the help they need in order to manage their mental health issues. In conversation, I asked Kevin a few questions to gain a better understanding of his experiences past and present.

Was your depression formally diagnosed? “No, I only realised that I was suffering from depression a few years later, following a series of counselling sessions arranged by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA). I had suffered from very low moods and dark thoughts. Naturally, this affected family life as I became intensely focused on my training schedules in an attempt to blot out the demons. When the ‘dark cloud’ descended over me, I became

miserable, angry and snappy. My partner felt that she was ‘walking on eggshells’ when I was feeling low.”

Antidepressant Medication? “I made a conscious decision not to take prescribed antidepressant medication for my condition. I carefully studied the possible sideeffects of antidepressants, and having a strong regard for my physical training regime, decided against them. Despite my chronic depression and anxieties, I have never had a day off through illness. I also read up about anxiety and depression to gain a better insight into these conditions that often arise together. It is difficult to pinpoint a specific cause in my particular case, but several factors such as insecurities arising from fears of injury and loss of livelihood together with moving about the country playing for different clubs must have played a part.”

Do complementary therapies help? “My counsellor suggested that I should consider complementary therapies and I have found these to be beneficial. I meditate every day and practice Yoga regularly. This helps me to focus my mind and reduce the negative thoughts and ‘mind chatter’ that accompany anxiety/depression. I now know that thoughts are not real and that dark thoughts can be overcome.”

What made you speak out about depression? “I was initially afraid to speak out about my depression because of the fear of being judged and being seen to be weak in some way. However, I felt it had to be done in order to help myself and others. The response and support from everyone including family, friends, players and management has been amazing. The people I feared

Your Men's Health would judge me the most, came through for me, and were there to support me when it really mattered.”

Source of help? “I continue to offer help and guidance to people who have contacted me about their mental health concerns. I feel that having gone through so much anxiety and depression I have gained an invaluable insight into these conditions and related fears. I try to direct people to various sources of help and support. Unfortunately, there is often a long NHS waiting list for counselling and talking therapies.”

Speaking Out “I have learned the importance of speaking out in an honest and open way about one’s true feelings. After all, depression is a human condition and it costs nothing to speak to a partner.”

The Create

Escape (Cumbria) Ltd.

Sited in a picturesque farmhouse in Hale,

The Create Escape provides people with the opportunity to ‘escape the everyday’ with cookery and creative experiences. Business partners Angela Favell and Deborah Clark deliver inspiring cookery workshops and a talented team of Cumbrian experts lead workshops on a wide range of topics from photography to felting, ceramics to somatic exercise. Angela’s journey to Hale in Cumbria started with The BBC’s Escape to the Country and Angela is on TV vowing to never leave her “forever home” but all that was to change. Through a chance conversation, she discovered that the farmhouse next door was up for sale and immediately realised that this would be the perfect venue to make a dream become a reality. The business partners met 5 years ago when, through the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce BSUS programme, Angela was appointed as Deborah’s business start-up advisor. The two instantly bonded over their love of food and cookery, both having a wealth of experience in teaching cookery skills, and a lasting friendship developed. While running their own successful businesses, they kept coming back to their dream of running their own cookery school and creative centre. Now they had a potential venue... That was in November 2018 and, since then, Angela’s house has been sold, the farmhouse

bought and renovated, an exciting calendar of events created and, at the beginning of June 2020, the doors were opened to the first visitors, or ‘Escapees’ as they are known. Since then, over 250 Escapees have enjoyed their perfect escape and the visitors’ book is full-to-brimming with delighted comments. Many people have returned again and again, trying different workshops and taking the chance to be spoilt by Angela and Deb’s now-famous hospitality. They make each day as relaxing and indulgent as possible. With home-baked treats with morning coffee on arrival, a 2-course lunch (including wine) and afternoon tea before departure, there is no chance of anyone going home hungry! Between sessions, the beautiful gardens with their stunning views provide a tranquil setting for further relaxation. We all know just how easy it is to get bogged down in the everyday; whether it’s tasks and to-do lists that take over our lives or a weekly routine that has turned into a rut. Failing to take time out for ourselves can have a detrimental effect on our health, well-being and happiness. Recent research commissioned by BBC Arts and carried out by UCL highlighted “good news for those juggling time-pressures in today’s busy, modern life. They found that “even the briefest time spent on a creative pastime...has an impact on our wellbeing and emotions” and that “trying new creative activities is particularly good for our emotions and wellbeing. The research found that getting hands-on with something new and creative is important regardless of skill level, it is the taking part that counts”. As Angela and Deborah say, “There’s been a shift. People don’t necessarily want to buy more ‘stuff’ for themselves or their loved ones, they are more excited by great experiences – and that’s what we offer, fantastic experiences that bring fun, relaxation and a sense of well-being. A true escape from the everyday”.