Health & wellbeing

VALLEY TO COAST 2020 NEWS

Sadly this year we have decided to cancel the Valley to Coast Walk, however instead of doing the 18 mile walk as the original plan which was to walk from Blaengarw to Porthcawl we are asking if you would do the 18 miles over the month of August. This way you’re still doing the 18 miles and hopefully we’re getting some funds in. As a charity we are really lucky as we run from the offices of Moss Technical so we don’t have any overheads like rent, rate and wages etc but we still do need funds to help people, so if you’ve got any fundraising ideas again we would really love to hear them. You can go to www.costofcancer.org.uk/events if you want to download a sponsor form. Below is the image for the walk and also the logo for the company who sponsored us this year. They are Autobahn Finance, thank you to Craig and Sarah Judd for your support this year. Anyway, keep yourselves safe and look after your friends, families and neighbours.

Nicky, Emma & Cath Trustees

MEDITATION

Behaviour has changed and social distancing is working. Walking in the local CO-OP, I noticed that people are engaging in a lot of rapid eye scanning, checking and double-checking. This is a response to a worryful mind. Eye contact is also avoided and movements of people’s hands a little erratic. Completely natural in the circumstances. I know that there is a weight of thoughts that sit behind this behaviour. There is suffering - visible here and now. I do recall writing many months ago about how you can hold your hands and use the position of your hands to provide a natural pause, an opening for self-compassion. Meditation in daily life! You can ask - What is the inclination of the mind and heart now? Many times through out the day, the hand can be placed over the heart area. Affirming that in struggle, it will be ok. If this can break the pattern just for one moment. The life of threat and tunnel vision may be opened to a new Psychological freedom. This is called Mindfulness in Buddhism - simply knowing thoughts, knowing the body. May we meet as strangers in the Coop with ease!

Neville Evans

HELP FOR THOSE WITH PARKINSON’S

Do you have Parkinson’s? Do you struggle with Speech and Communication? Do people sometimes ask you to speak up? Are you just a little bit savvy with on-line communication? We could have the answer for you. “LIVE LOUD” is a group of people with Parkinson’s, run by trained Parkinson’s UK volunteers. It gives participants opportunities to practice using their voices and build their confidence. Groups run regularly on-line; are free to attend and partners/ carers are welcome to assist. The aim is to be heard, so you will encourage one another to speak loudly and clearly. Each session has a variety of activities with an emphasis on fun and enjoyment. The sessions have been running at Bridgend for 15 months and there is the opportunity to join in. To register your interest, please contact Bernie Rock, Live Loud Lead Volunteer & Local Branch Secretary E-mail: b.rock@sky.com Tel. 07812 196170

We hope you are able to join us.

Deadline date for the August issue is: Wednesday 15th July

THE BENEFITS OF ASTAXANTHIN

So what is this mystery nutrient? It’s a deep red-colored phytonutrient synthesized by microalgae called Haematococcus. It’s grown in fresh water using sophisticated techniques that encourage the algae to grow its own powerful medicines that protect it from oxidation, UV radiation and other environmental stresses. When harvested from the algae and concentrated into a liquid, astaxanthin becomes the most powerful antioxidant known in the natural world, demonstrating 550 times the antioxidant power of Vitamin E, for example. Now why is antioxidant power important? Think about it: Much of what goes on during the ageing of the human body is due to oxidation. Every time you breathe, you’re inhaling some oxygen, right? That oxygen reacts with your cells to create energy, but the byproduct of that energy is the creation of free radicals. These free radicals cause DNA damage, nerve cell damage, accelerated ageing of internal organs and more. The way to stop those free radicals is with antioxidants, which bind to them, neutralising their damaging effects. Astaxanthin, it turns out, is so good at halting free radicals that it seems to confer miracle-class health benefits to the human body... benefits that might be described as “anti-ageing” or “reversing disease.”

Read more at www.naturalnews.com Supplied by Glyn Hardwicke