Feelgood 23-10-2009

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Feelgood Friday, October 23, 2009

All fired up

Turn up the heat this winter with our 10-step plan to boost your metabolism: 8, 9

DATING GAME

Three dating coaches on ďŹ nding love in the noughties: 4,5

ALL SMILES

Mum of cleft palate boy raises funds for special bottles: 7

BABY ALERT

Key steps to reduce the risk of cot death: 11

Pictuere: Getty Images

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Breast milk is better for baby, but many nursing mothers still face obstacles to feed their infants in public, says Arlene Harris Kate O’Reilly WHAT’S ON AWARE GROUP: Aware support groups help those who live with depression. A new support group was launched in Mallow in Le Cheile Family Resource (next to Mercy Centre), Fair Street last night. The Mallow Aware support group will run on Thursday nights at the same venue from October 29 at 8pm.

For further information contact Rebecca Fahy at 066-7194713, or email: awaretralee@eircom.net CANCER CYCLE: Since October 1, staff at Debenhams, Patrick St, Cork and other Debenhams stores nationwide have been Cycling to the Moon as part of their fundraising activities for breast cancer.

The distance to the moon is 225,000 miles, so each store is assigned a daily target of 47 miles cycling on an exercise bike. Today staff in Patrick St will be joined by Red FM, who are broadcasting live from the front window of the store.

Money raised will go to Dr Marie McIlroy’s cancer research project at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland.

NEW VISION: Marianne Williamson, one of the world’s most respected spiritual teachers and authors, is making a rare visit to Dublin to host an evening workshop. It’s on next Tuesday, 6.30pm to 10pm at the Stillorgan Park Hotel.

Cost F75. For details log onto www.seminars.ie or phone 01-2875524.

BACK CARE: Since September Cork chiropractor Dr Virginia Cantillon has been running a Cork Back Campaign to highlight the importance of good posture and spine health. This includes information on the three-minute exercise programme Straighten Up. If you would like to see these exercises demonstrated, or if you have any questions on spine health, then drop into her free weekly back care talks at the SMA Centre Wilton on Wednesdays at 7.30pm running for the month of October. Cork Chiropractic Clinic is located in Wilton, 021-4342933.

HOLIDAY FESTIVAL: The Mind Body Spirit & Yoga Festival offers visitors the opportunity to experience holistic therapies with over 175 exhibits at the RDS this weekend.

The festival includes more than 60 free lectures, as well as paid workshops.

It runs from 11am to 7pm tomorrow and Sunday and from 11am to 6pm on Bank Holiday Monday.

Admission is F12 (Senior Citizens F8 and under 12s free). For a full list of lectures and workshops visit www.mindbodyspirit.ie Items for inclusion in this column can be sent to koreilly8@gmail.com

A public debate B REASTFEEDING is the most natural thing in the world, but Ireland has one of the lowest rates in Europe. Almost 75% of Scandinavian babies are breastfed but despite being promoted by health officials across the country, only 19% of Irish mothers will exclusively breast feed their children once they have left the maternity ward.

But if half of the babies born in Ireland are given the breast while in hospital, what happens once they enter the real world? A heated debate on this week’s Liveline suggests the problem might lie within Irish society as many people struggle to accept the right for nursing mothers to feed their babies in public.

Maureen Fallon, the National Breastfeeding Coordinator, says that acceptance of nursing mothers is vital for the health and wellbeing of the country.

“Breastfeeding is the biologically normal and natural way to ensure optimal, growth, development and health for infants,” she says.

“The evidence base for the long-lasting health enhancing and disease preventative benefits of breastfeeding is so convincing that its promotion, protection and support has become a public health priority in virtually every country worldwide.

“Sexual associations with the human breast can lead to embarrassment and un-

warranted intrusions upon the mother while she is responding to her baby’s needs.

“Irish research surveys bear this out with many respondents identifying embarrassment, or fear of an adverse response as a reason for not breastfeeding.”

Fallon says there has to be a change in tradition and attitude in order for women to feed their babies as nature intended and

the HSE is taking steps to ensure that this takes place.

“The HSE is promoting an ongoing campaign to make breastfeeding a normal and unremarkable part of good child rearing in Ireland,” she says. “Businesses and service providers have been asked to actively support the campaign by displaying a breastfeeding supportive sticker at their entrances.”

“If Irish society is to effectively support breastfeeding it needs, at the very least, to protect mothers from adverse comment and other forms of discrimination when they are responding to the normal needs of their infants outside of home,” she adds.

Community midwife Margaret Hanafoe agrees: “There are very few places in this country that make women feel comfortable about breastfeeding,” she says.

“Most people think the bottle is a quick and easy fix and are embarrassed by the sight of a woman breastfeeding.

“Maybe it’s down to our culture but acceptance should begin at school — people need to grow up with the knowledge that breasts aren’t just sexual — they have a greater purpose and nursing mothers need to be given as much support and encouragement as possible.”

■ For more information visit www.breastfeeding.ie

HEALTH NOTES and is planning extra opening hours to coincide with the launch of the Dublin Diocesan Report into clerical sexual abuse in Dublin.

Freephone Connect on 1800-477 477 (Republic of Ireland) and 00800-477 477 77 (Northern Ireland), or log onto www.connectcounsselling.ie.

RESEARCH shows that eight in 10 people who die by suicide have indicated their intentions to someone in the preceding weeks, which means there’s a window of opportunity for assisting people in distress. 1Life, a new 24-hour suicide prevention helpline provided by a team of professional counsellors and trained volunteers, offers confidential help and support to individuals in suicidal crisis, as well as to those who are feeling very low, have had suicidal thoughts, are self-harming, or who want to discuss any problems in relation to suicide. The helpline can be accessed on 1800-247100.

IT’S up to 10 times cheaper to provide calories in the form of unhealthy foods — high in fat, salt and sugar — than from healthy alternatives such as fruit, vegetables, lean meat and fish. This is one of the findings of a scientific study by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland into the affordability of healthy diets for low-income households.

The finding has prompted a warning from Healthy Food for All — an all-island multi-agency initiative promoting awareness of food poverty among policy-makers — that cuts in social welfare and child benefit, recommended in the McCarthy report, will result in unhealthy diets and long-term health problems.

THE national telephone-based counselling service for adult survivors of abuse has seen a 39% increase in calls this year. Connect received 6,288 calls from January to September

BODYWHYS — the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland has launched an information booklet offering support to parents of those affected by eating disorders. Eating Disorders — A Resource for Parents gives a broad range of info around identifying and understanding eating disorders, as well as answering some of parents’ most frequently asked questions. Bodywhys CEO Jacinta Hastings says information is key for parents wishing to support their child. For a copy of the booklet, call 01-283 4963 or email info@bodywhys.ie.

INFO BOOKLET: Jacinta Hastings of Bodywhys says information is key to dealing with eating disorders. Picture:Nick Bradshaw 2009 compared to 4,505 during the same period in 2008. Connect director Anne Richardson said the major reason for the increase was a massive rise in calls relating to sexual abuse, following the release of the Ryan Report in May. She also reported a 10% increase in calls from men compared to the same period last year. The service is open from 6pm-10pm Wednesday to Sunday

A NEW genetic-screening test more than doubles the success of IVF, a British study indicates. The screening technique detects abnormalities in number of chromosomes in an egg or embryo, allowing the best embryos to be selected and transplanted into the mother’s womb. The study found that 66% of women fell pregnant after screening — more than double the amount who became pregnant without the screening (28%). Many of the 115 women involved in the study were on their ‘last chance’ of IVF — aged 39 and having already undergone two failed IVF cycles.

Helen O’Callaghan

feelgood@examiner.ie EDITORIAL: Irene Feighan 021-4802292 ADVERTISING: Niamh Kelly 021-4802215

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THE SHAPE I'M IN

Ruth O’Neill

The Silva Method Live life at your level

™

Career comes first

TOTAL Xposure finalist Ruth O’Neill has got over her disappointment at not winning the TV3 reality show’s ultimate prize — stepping into Lorraine Keane’s shoes as an Xposé presenter.

“I was really disappointed. It would have been an amazing first career break, but losing is just the nature of the business — and when you lose out it makes you more hungry for your dream job.”

The 22-year-old, who has been modelling since the age of 16, says her dream job would ideally see her hosting a “big entertainment show”. The Castleknock native has a commerce degree — specialising in marketing — from UCD. “Marketing is so intertwined in our lives that it’s a good degree to have no matter what career you choose,” says Ruth, who’s currently doing an internship at TV3. “I’m totally career-blinkered at the moment,” she replies when asked about romance, confirming that she’s enjoying being single.

A spokeswoman for Wellbeing of Women Ireland — a charity dedicated to raising awareness of reproductive and gynaecological issues, which is about to launch in Ireland — Ruth is participating in the glamorous ‘heels that heal’ high-heel fundraising walk in Dundrum Town Centre on Saturday, October 31.

“I got involved because I love the idea of a women’s charity. If women in their 20s became more aware of checking their health, it would have a ripple effect for later in their lives. It would empower women and make them more confident.”

For those who want to join in the fun on October 31, registration — cost F5 — is between 9am-10am with the walk beginning at 10.30am. More info on www.heelsthatheal.com.

Dr. Alma Quinones-Prone

What’s your favourite smell?

A nice man’s aftershave — something like Chanel Allure.

When did you last cry?

While watching a TV show about the 9/11 calls people trapped in the Twin Towers made to their families in the seconds they knew they were going to die. Hearing those recorded calls really showed me the impact a terrorist attack has on ordinary human beings. It really moved me.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Oprah, Simon Cowell, Donald Trump and Princess Diana. They all have very unique stories and have been so successful. I’d love to pick Oprah’s brain — she’s a really smart woman.

What trait do you least like in others?

Arrogance — it’s such an ugly trait.

What trait do you least like in yourself?

My incredible impatience, particularly about my career.

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Do you pray?

I’m more spiritual than religious but I definitely believe in the power of prayer. I think regular prayer makes you stronger. I try to be more thankful when I pray, rather than seeking out things.

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What would cheer up your day?

I love when a friend calls to tell me a really funny story about the weekend and I’m in ribbons laughing.

Helen O’Callaghan

www.silvamethod.ie

What shape are you in?

I’m in okay shape. I go to the gym three times a week and I try to do a spin class once a week. I always find my legs, thighs and bum are the hardest to tone up.

Do you have any health concerns?

My older sister has asthma but I’ve been really lucky. According to an allergy test I did a few years ago, I’m a little allergic to eggs but I still eat them.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I always have three meals a day and ensure I never skip breakfast. I drink green tea as much as I can. I take vitamins, don’t smoke and rarely get takeaways.

• Manage Weight Easily • Overcome Limiting Beliefs • Enhance Intuition Abilities • Improve Relationships • Enhance Self-Esteem

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What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

Definitely chips at 5am on a Saturday morning after the nightclub. I always have them with cheese and garlic. I also like Butler’s hot chocolate.

What would keep you awake at night?

Worrying about my career and how to get it off the ground. I’m constantly thinking of my next move. I also think about my parents, about their health. I’m pretty lucky — I haven’t lost anyone close yet.

How do you relax?

I love going for a walk with my iPod, getting out in the fresh air away from everyone and letting my mind run. I like vegging in front of the TV watching E! News — it’s complete escapism.

What would you change about your appearance?

I’d like to be two inches taller — I’d like to be five foot ten. I’d love skinnier legs, bigger lips and wavier hair.

TV TRIALS: Ruth’s dream job would be hosting a ‘big entertainment show’. Picture:Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE

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It’s not so easy for Ireland’s two million singletons to meet a romantic partner, but

Love could be just

F

INDING love was so much simpler in the days of the slow dance. If he fancied you, he asked you out to dance. If he walked by you and asked your friend to dance instead, you might have been disappointed, but at least you knew where you stood.

Although advances in technology have made it easier than ever to contact potential romantic partners, the dating scene today can be a terrifying place, particularly for the over-30s who are ready to settle down in a serious relationship.

Singletons who have not yet found the man or woman of their dreams agree it’s not easy to meet a partner on today’s social scene of pubs and clubs. And many 30-plus singles would love to see the return of the slow dance.

The latest CSO figures show that singles account for 43% of the population aged over 15 and 46.4% are married (excluding separated). The remaining 10.6% are either widowed, separated or divorced. The university cities of Galway and Maynooth remain the single capitals of Ireland.

One in four Irish singletons have not had one date in the last year, according to research carried out by dating agency, It’s Just Lunch, and over half have had between one and five dates.

Galway dating coach Edel Kerins says after living in the US for a while she was struck by how different the approach to dating is in Ireland.

“In America, dating is seen as just another thing that people want to manage or organise. A woman might be dating two or three different guys and eventually get serious about one. I think if she was doing that here, there might be a name for it,” she laughs.

Edel decided to set up her date coaching business, Get Up To Date after listening to lots of her single friends constantly complaining about being single, but doing very little to change the situation.

“Almost every single client I have, says ‘it must be me, I must be doing something wrong’. They think it’s sufficient to get all dressed up and go out on a Saturday night, but it’s not. For a girl, it’s about how you behave when you’re out, if you flirt or send out the right signals, and for a guy, body language is important and not launching yourself straight onto a girl, or doing the rounds of “do you want to dance?”.

Edel, who recently got engaged, advises those looking for love to be open to every opportunity, from funerals and weddings to the supermarket and jogging in the park.

Hugh Redmond of Getout.ie, Ireland’s biggest singles events company, says he set up the business two years ago to give people a choice in how to meet potential partners.

“The 30-plus crowd in particular are very tired of the normal bar and nightclub scene. Our events tend to be a lot more relaxing because you are meeting people of similar interests who are genuinely

Feelgood

This could be theto space for a back into dating We are trying get people pullquote.

Or just maybe another picture. rather than hoping to meet somebody in clubs or Whatever suits the story best.

This pubs after a few pints of Dutch courage could be the space for a pullquote.

— Anne-Marie Cussen looking to meet somebody for a relationship.”

Getout.ie run a wide range of events in Dublin, Cork and Galway from parties, adventure days and dinner dates to quiz and games nights, barbecues and the recently launched mystery nights. Hugh says it’s been an eye-opener for him how far people are prepared to travel to attend the events.

“Another big focus for me personally is to do more events for the plus-35 crowd, I get so many calls from this age group. Many are separated, divorced or still single

for whatever reason, and are completely stuck on where to socialise and meet new people.

There’s definitely a need for more of these events around the country.”

One of the biggest problems Hugh faces in organising his events is, not surprisingly, the reluctance of many Irish men to get involved, and he believes this is all down to a lack of confidence.

Hugh advises single people if they have a passion for something,

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

whether it’s stamp collecting or samba dancing, to get involved in organisations where they will meet people of similar passions.

And he’s speaking from experience here — he met his own wife hill walking.

“Alternatively, consider a dating agency and give yourself a great opportunity to meet people. The whole idea of being single and connected with a company like ours, still has a kind of stigma attached to it in Ireland which seems to be very slow to change. In

NEW PASTURES: Hugh Redmond of Getout.ie, Ireland’s biggest singles events company, says the 30-plus group in particular are tired of the normal bar and nightclub scene.

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dating experts are now coming to the rescue, reports Michelle McDonagh

around the corner GETTING A DATE WITH A MATE

G

ALWAYMAN Seamus describes his experience of returning to the dating scene at the age of 43 after his marriage of 10 years broke up as “frightening”.

For six years after he discovered that his wife had cheated on him, he was so devastated he didn’t even want to meet anybody else. And when he did finally go back to pubs and clubs, he was shocked at how much things had changed.

“I found it very difficult to go back to the dating scene at 43, especially with the whole stigma attached to having been married. In my day, we had the slow sets and it was much easier to meet people. None of my friends were single. If I went and talked to a girl and she rejected me I took it very hard.”

He tried online dating, but found it wasn’t for him as he preferred to meet people face-to-face. After coming across Galway date coach Edel Kerins on the internet, Seamus decided to contact her a year ago. “We worked a lot on building up my own self-confidence and self-worth so that I could approach women and not fear rejection so much. I found it worked well for me, I am definitely more assertive now.

I’m going out with a girl whom I met in a bar for six months now and things are going well.”

DUBLIN couple Mark and Toni had both been single for a while when they met for a date through dating agency, It’s Just Lunch.

“We met up for lunch in town on a Saturday afternoon, July 28, 2007, and even though we chatted for almost four hours and got on very well, neither of us felt a spark between us. We met up again the

Britain and the US, it’s normal for people to go to singles events.”

Anne-Marie Cussen, director of It’s Just Lunch, agrees there is still a certain amount of stigma attached to dating agencies in Ireland.

“There is a perception that the people who use these agencies are people who can’t find anybody else, but that’s not the case at all.

Our clients range from attractive to very attractive — they are normal individuals who find it hard to meet people through conventional methods,” says Anne-Marie.

It’s Just Lunch is a specialised dating agency aimed at busy professionals with offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast. Clients are interviewed one-on-one and, based on the information and criteria discussed, a suitable

Feelgood

following Thursday evening for a drink and halfway through the evening we realised there was something there,” Mark recalls.

Mark (37) is happy to report that he and Toni (39) are “still going strong” over two years later.

He had tried speed dating before which he says was a lot of fun, but he couldn’t see himself meeting a partner that way.

Toni says: “It’s Just Lunch works well. Everybody is interviewed and assessed beforehand. They give you a list of topics to talk about if you get stuck, such as your favourite holiday or what you like about your job. You can find out a lot about somebody without being invasive or peppering them with questions.”

And if the date is a total disaster, the agency provides clients with a list of suggested ways to leave politely.

COACH APPROACH: Galway dating coach Edel Kerins helps build up client’s confidence.

match is hand selected for them to meet for a lunch date. And as she is in a relationship herself, Anne-Marie laughs that she doesn’t steal all the best men.

“A lot of people don’t date in Ireland, which is a pity because it’s such a great way of meeting somebody. We are trying to get people back into dating rather than just hoping to meet somebody in clubs or pubs after a few pints of Dutch courage.”

■ For more information, go to www.itsjustlunchireland.com, phone: 01-6724060.

To contact Get Up To Date, call 091-395464 or email info@getuptodate.ie. For details on Getout.ie log onto www. getout.ie, or call 01-4434533.

TOP TIPS Join new things — Find innovative and unusual places to meet people — the bar and club aren’t the only places to meet people. Join a club, do a course, volunteer or take up a new sport.

■ Use your eyes: Eyes are often referred to as one of the first things people notice in a prospective date. If you want to look friendly and approachable, don’t be afraid to make eye contact with people.

■ Be open to meeting someone: There are many opportunities throughout your regular day to meet someone, even picking up your regular morning coffee. Most of us are so consumed with our busy lives that we rarely take the time to notice what’s going on around us.

■ Smile: This may sound simple, but it works. If you look intimidating or unfriendly, people may be afraid to talk to you. A warm, inviting smile can put anyone at ease, and make you more approachable.

In America, dating is seen as just another thing to organise. A woman might be dating two or three different guys and eventually get serious about one — Edel Kerins

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

■ Approach others: If people aren’t approaching you, why not go to them. Nothing makes you look more approachable than actively seeking out people and talking to them. Seek out opportunities to interact with people.

■ Reflect: Consider the factors that might be inhibiting you from meeting somebody. Do you drink too much and then go for the drunken 2am snog that never leads anywhere or do you always go out in a large, intimidating group?

Picture:iStock

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Being ambitious without concern for others can be damaging to the individual and their loved ones

Getting the balance LOVING YOU: Many couple relationships land in trouble when one member becomes over-involved and lives life through their partner. Picture:iStock

Tony Humphreys

Feelgood

Geopathic Stress & Electromagnetic Radiation prevents our bodies immune system from working correctly leaving us vulnerable to sicknesses & diseases.

Illnesses Include but not limited to: Cancer Multiple Sclerosis Depression Asthma Infertility

Arthritis Heart Trouble Anxiety Headaches Miscarriage

Leukaemia Diabetes Insomnia High Blood Pressure Cot Death

How do I know if I am affected?

Immune dysfunctions: Colds, Flu & Increasing Ill health Constantly feeling run down & tired.

Resistance to medical treatment Inability to concentrate, sleeping disorders & nightmares

T

HE word ‘mind’ is generally defined as what goes on in your head — thoughts, imaginings, inventions, problem-solving, analysis, planning, dreams, appraisals, memories, etc.

When people miss the fact that the word ‘mind’ also means ‘to care for’ then such mind without heart is not mind at all. In other words, when the heart qualities of love, nurture, empathy and support are not present, the head without the heart can prove to be rigid, judgemental, controlling, arrogant, depersonalising and intolerant.

Our human nature only achieves equilibrium when the polarities of head and heart, feminine and masculine and right-brain and left brain are in harmony with each other.

When the head, which is largely about ‘getting ahead’ — an outward movement — is not balanced by the inward movement of the heart, it can rule in a heartless way and be a major source of threat to the wellbeing of others.

For example, the man who is highly ambitious — success being his God — will neglect his relationship with his wife and children, often resulting in considerable trauma for them. In the workplace, the loss of his own valuing of himself will manifest in a depersonalising of other staff members and clients.

While he does this unconsciously from a deep insecurity and a need to be visible through success, his head without heart for himself, his partner, children and employees threatens his own wellbeing and that of the significant others in his life.

I remember one businessman saying to me when colleagues warned him that his intense working schedule would give him a heart attack, his response was: ‘I won’t get a heart attack; I’m the one who gives heart attacks’.

The emotional disconnection evident in this stark and harsh assertion ‘I give heart attacks’ shows very clearly the major danger posed by a mind without heart.

Incidentally — and sadly — three years later he suffered a heart attack; hence his seeking psychotherapeutic help recommended by an astute GP. Sometimes it takes a major psychological crisis or illness to bring about a consciousness of hidden vulnerabilities that need resolution.

What is often not appreciated is that if mind without heart is a considerable threat to wellbeing, heart without mind is also darkness within and between people. The person who over-involves themselves in the life of another (for example, mother with child,

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friend with friend, wife with husband, employee with employer) is without mind. If mind — understanding, outwardness, determination, ambition, intention, assertion — were present then the over-belonging would be perceived as a dependence on the other, a living one’s life for the other and, thereby, making it difficult, particularly, for a child, to live his or her own life.

Indeed, many intimate couple relationships are troubled due to one member becoming over-involved and living life through their partner. Or the opposite scenario is common, whereby one partner jealously possesses, dominates and blocks any bid for independence on the part of their partner.

A similar over-involvement can occur in the workplace. I have helped individuals who bent themselves over backwards for their employers — living their lives for them — only to be devastated when criticised or, worse still, made redundant.

Over-involvement with another produces two main beliefs: ‘I should be there for you and live my life for you and ‘You should be there for me and live your life for me’.

Individuals who tend to be passive are more likely to live for others and those who bully and are aggressive demand ‘others live for them’ — either way it’s not a mature and happy situation.

Individuals then who are over-involved and enmeshed with another are in an unconscious state of denial, and unless they become conscious of their dependence on the other, then their own maturity is seriously blocked.

This unhappy situation has its origins in childhood — in the key relationship between a parent and a child — but, as adults, whatever happened to us in childhood, the matter is now in our own hands.

However, for mindfulness to emerge, the person who is over-involved needs to encounter somebody who stays separate from them and provides the unconditional holding that creates the support for the crucial disengagement that is required.

Without such support, it is unlikely that heart with mindfulness will emerge.

■ Tony Humphreys is a clinical psychologist and author of several books including Myself My Partner.

For further information please visit www.geopathicstress.org.uk.

For detection & correction services, please contact: James O’Neill Tel: 086-8123146 Email: jamesoneill200@gmail.com

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

Meet with us and find out more at our Information Day at 34 Paul Street, Cork at 10.30am or 7.30pm on Monday, November 2nd.

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Ger Walsh is overjoyed at her sons’s cleft lip surgery, she tells Áilín Quinlan

Every reason to smile B

RAVE Harry Walsh has already had two major operations — and he’s not even two years old. The Kinsale toddler, one of a pair of twins born in May 2008, arrived into the world with a unilateral cleft lip and palate — his brother, Cathal, was not affected.

When Harry was just 17 weeks old he had his first operation — a gruelling three-anda-half hours of surgery which sealed his lip.

Then, at nine months old, his palate was repaired.

His mother, Ger, was so thrilled by what she describes as the “phenomenal” results of the painstaking surgery, that she decided to thank the multi-disciplinary cleft lip and palate team at Cork’s University Hospital in a very special way.

A simple thank-you card was not sufficient for the former air hostess — instead, she and 54 others climbed more than 3,000 feet (1,044 metres) to the summit of Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrauntoohill, in Co Kerry, raising F15,000, which was presented to Cork University Hospital staff earlier this month.

The busy 38-year-old mum, who with her husband Des has four children between the ages of 17 months and five, got the idea for her fund-raising challenge last April, a few month after Harry’s final big operation.

“We wanted to say thanks to the team who carried out the operations, and, in April, I decided I wanted to do was to climb Carrauntoohill to raise money,” she says.

Her objective: to raise money for a supply of specially-designed feeding bottles to be given to mothers whose babies had the condition.

When Harry was born, they were not available in the hospital. Ger was advised by hospital personnel to buy them over the internet, which she did — but she decided she would try to raise enough money to make the special feeding bottles available to parents for free.

“Feeding a baby with a cleft lip and palate is very awkward,” she says.

“Having these special bottles makes life much easier all round — children with this condition are unable to create the necessary suction to draw milk from the bottle, but these special bottles make the sucking action much easier,” she says.

Some of the bottles are squeezable, while others feature an elongated teat that allows

the baby more suction.

During a weekend break in Killarney, Ger called into a local sports shop and asked about finding a guide for the climb.

The staff recommended experienced mountaineering guide, Richard Morrisson, from Killorglin, who, coincidentally, also had a child with the same condition as Harry.

“When I told Richard about it, he was very enthusiastic. Then, friends, family and other parents in this situation got involved in the challenge, and we eventually had 55 climbers,” she says.

The number of participants was so big that the climb had to take place on two separate days — August 22 and August 29 — raising F15,000, which was presented to the CUH team on Friday, October 2.

Now Ger’s dream has come true — and then some. Not only did her challenge raise enough money for a supply of the special bottles, which are expected to be made available in the hospital at the end of November, but she and her supporters also raised enough to buy specialised surgical equipment and provide money for research.

“By the end of November, mothers who have babies with this condition will be sent home with these special feeding bottles,” she says.

THE FACTS

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NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH: Ger Walsh climbed Carrauntoohill and raised F15,000 for specially designed feeding bottles.

MUMMY’S BOY: The results of Harry’s surgery are “phenomenal”, says Ger. Picture: Denis Minihane

Feeding a baby with a cleft lip and palate is very awkward.

Children with this condition are unable to create the necessary suction to draw milk, so having special bottles make the sucking action much easier Feelgood

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

BOUT one in 700 babies suffers from cleft lip and palate.

The condition has been linked to a combination of factors, explains Dr Eoin Ó Broin, cleft lip and palate surgeon at Cork University Hospital.

“There is a genetic factor. The intake of alcohol, certain medications and also smoking increase the risk, while it has also been linked to a lack of folic acid.

However, in many cases it is a chance occurrence.”

If one child in a family is born with the condition, there is a 4% chance it will re-occur in the same family.

Surgical techniques have been refined over the years, he says, and in the initial procedures, surgeons now try to correct some of the nose deformity that accompany the condition, as well as correcting the front of the palate.

Caring for a patient with cleft lip and palate requires a multi-disciplinary team, which includes a speech and language therapist among others.

“Patients can frequently suffer from hearing loss requiring grommets. They will have orthodontic and dental problems down the road and some children may require maxillofacial surgery which requires realigning the upper and lower jaws. There is also a counsellor on the team for both parents, and, down the road, possibly the child also if the need is there.”

Generally he says, surgery outcomes are “very good,” though it is difficult to completely disguise the resultant scar.

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T’S HARDLY news that metabolism slows down with age. After our 20th birthday an additional one and a half pounds a year could result in a 40-pound weight gain by our 50s. But there’s good news. More research is uncovering new reasons why middle age spread is no longer the foregone conclusion it might have been for our mothers. By looking at the intricate changes in metabolic processes that conspire to slow down our bodies’ fat-burning as we age, consultant nutritionists are now uncovering small — but incredibly effective — ways to boost them again.

Among the biggest misconceptions about metabolism, says Dr Dan Benardot, nutrition researcher at Georgia State University, is the belief that our metabolisms slow down in winter. “Our metabolic system remains the same year round, but as we move less and sit more in cold weather, we slow our bodies’ fat-burning capacity by default.”

The single biggest factor influencing metabolism, which refers to the rate at which the body turns calories from food into energy, is lean muscle tissue. “Fat needs very few calories to exist,” says Benardot. “But the more muscle you have the more calories you burn.”

In fact, muscle tissue uses 16-22% of your daily calories even when you’re doing nothing. But, although strength training with light weights twice weekly will help boost your muscle to fat ratio, it doesn’t mean the only solution to a slowing metabolism is taking up professional body building. Any regular exercise, taken at any time of the day, will help boost your muscle mass and metabolism. Benardot’s if-you-do-nothing-else advice is to move more and often, exercising — ideally, enough to break a sweat — for at least 30 minutes five times a week.

Here are some more proven ways you can boost your body’s fat-burning engine, not only for autumn but all year round.

HIGH SPIRITS: By paying attention to your diet and by exercising regularly you can stay in top form for the winter months ahead. Picture:iStock

Cheer up! Anna Magee suggests ten ways to boost your mind and body as the nights draw in and there’s a chill in the air

No need to be dark and dreary 1

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■ EAT EARLY, EAT OFTEN ■

MOST of us know that skipping breakfast is a recipe for weight gain and studies show that women who forego this meal are four and a half times more likely to be obese than their breakfast-eating counterparts.

“It’s simply the most important meal of the day,” says consultant dietitian Aveen Bannon. “People who skip breakfast have lower folic acid and calcium intakes. And skipping breakfast also increases your risk of becoming overweight and obese. The tendency is to overcompensate for the calories in the evening time.”

Many of us have also been led to believe that exercising before breakfast on an empty stomach gives our metabolism a boost when, according to Dr Benardot, the opposite is true.

“If you exercise on an empty stomach, when your blood sugar is at its lowest due to not being fuelled for eight hours, your body is forced to make glucose from the amino acid alanine, a substance found in muscle.”

In other words, rather than burning fat, exercising on an empty stomach makes us burn lean muscle mass, the very substance our bodies need to burn fat more efficiently, long-term.

“Just a glass of juice and half a slice of toast before exercise is enough to prevent your body using its own muscle mass for fuel,” suggests Benardot. “Then after your workout, have a proper breakfast.”

Include protein at breakfast, as it’s been shown to aid post-meal fat burn by 35%. This could be anything from a small bowl of porridge with a few walnuts and a live yoghurt to two boiled eggs and a slice of brown bread.

Eat regular meals for the remainder of the day, says Dr Mark Hyman, author of the New York Times bestseller Ultrametabolism (Atria F11), and you will heat up your metabolic fire and burn more calories after eating.

Eating regularly boosts the ‘thermogenic’ effect of food, which refers to the calorie burning effect kicked in as your body digests what you’ve eaten and turns it into energy. According to Hyman, the biggest impact you can make on your metabolism is by eating three meals and two snacks a day.

Ensure meals and snacks also contain some protein in the form of salmon, chicken, cheese, nuts and pulses. Turkey is a great protein source, so eat plenty.

Rather than burning fat, exercising on an empty stomach makes us burn lean muscle mass, the very substance our bodies need to burn Feelgood

■ DRINK GREEN TEA■

WE’VE known for a long time that small amounts of caffeine can give our fat-burning capacities a boost (though more than a couple of cups a day has the opposite effect).

But the slimming ingredient in green tea isn’t caffeine, it’s catechins, which also give this hot powerhouse its antioxidant effects.

A Japanese study found that men who drank three cups daily of oolong (black) tea mixed with green tea (one after each meal for six weeks) boosted their metabolism and had a significant drop in their body mass index (BMI).

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■ GO ORGANIC■

WHO would have thought a humble apple could interfere with your body’s fat-burning processes? If it’s been heavily sprayed with pesticides this could be the case. Canadian researchers report that dieters with the most organochlorines (pollutants from pesticides, which are stored in fat cells) experience a greater than normal dip in metabolism as they lose weight.

“Pesticides found on fruit and vegetables, and other chemicals such as PCBs and mercury found in farmed fish, interfere with the efficiency of your thyroid and liver,” says nutritionist Fiona Kirk, “both organs essential to metabolism.”

According to Dr Hyman, toxins also damage the mitochondria, the fat-burning centre in every one of our cells, reducing their ability to burn calories. Always choose organic when buying peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, lettuce, spinach, kale, grapes and pears as they are the fruits and vegetables on which the highest levels of pesticides are used.

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■ EAT GOOD FATS■

ALL fats are not created equal, says Dr Hyman. “Some fats are good for you and actually make you lose weight. Others make you put it on.” Bad fats, such as the trans-fats found in take away foods and processed cakes, biscuits and ready-meals containing hydrogenated vegetable fats, turn off your fat burning genes, making it much harder to lose weight. Good fats however turn on the genes in our bodies that increase metabolism, helping to burn more fat and keep blood sugar balanced.

“The king of the good fats is omega-3 fatty acids,” says Dr Hyman. “The best sources are wild herring, sardines and anchovies, flaxseeds and flax oils, walnuts, pumpkin and hemp seeds.”

If you’re going for oily fish try and choose the organic or wild varieties as farmed fish is often high in metabolism slowing chemicals such as mercury and PCBs.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

■ EAT SKINNY FAT ■

THE latest ‘skinny’ fats exciting experts are MCTs or medium chain triglycerides, found primarily in coconut oil. One study in the Journal of Nutrition found that MCT oil used as a salad dressing or added to cooking could help the body burn more calories and Naomi Beinhart, a medical nutritionist who works with overweight people clinically, suggests using it in place of butter to make your favourite winter-warming muffin.

“Replacing butter with coconut fat, or simply adding a tablespoon to a breakfast smoothie made with soy milk, flax seeds and fresh fruit is a great way to add good fats to your daily caloric intake, without really noticing.”

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■ DRINK ICED WATER■

RULE number one of weight management is to drink more water. But a German study last year found that drinking six cups of cold water a day can raise metabolism by about 50 calories daily. That’s barely a bowl of cereal, but over a year it could add up to a five pound weight loss. The theory is that the body needs to work harder to warm up the cold water when it reaches the body, thus burning more calories. Don’t exceed your two litres a day — too much water can put pressure on kidney function.

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■ SPICE IT UP ■

LOVE hot food? Now is the time to indulge. And if it makes you sweat you’ve proof of its ‘thermogenic’ (literally, ‘heat-creating’) effect on your metabolism, says Fiona Kirk. In one study on Thai women, chillies were found to immediately increase metabolic rate by 20% and sustain it for up to 30 minutes. But it’s not just chilli and cayenne pepper that can pump up your metabolism after eating. More recently cinnamon, ginger, mustard, horseradish and turmeric have all been found to have a similar thermogenic effect of literally switching on your body’s heat-production systems, boosting the metabolism as you eat them and afterwards.

For a metabolic kick-start first thing, try this: Grate a touch of fresh ginger into a pint of warm water, add a pinch of cinnamon and cayenne as well as the juice of half a lemon (this acts like ‘dishwashing liquid’ on your liver and is great if you have been over-indulging on the alcohol front) and consume before breakfast.

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■ FIDGET■

YOU may spend an hour at the gym each morning then sit inert at your desk for seven hours smugly thinking your body’s fat-burning needs are sorted. Think again. A study at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota found that one of the strongest factors differentiating fat people from skinny ones was the amount of ‘non-exercise activity thermogenesis’ or NEAT they packed into their day.

NEAT is just a fancy way of saying fidgeting, wiggling, finger-tapping, pottering; those daily hints of inadvertent activity most of us do without realising it. If the cold weather puts you off organised exercise, you can still work more NEAT into your life in winter — even if it’s just to keep warm.

“As you sit around watching telly, try turning the thermostat down a degree or two, so your system is forced into moving more just to stay warm,” suggests nutritionist Fiona Kirk.

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■ BREATHE AWAY

EVER wondered why you feel famished after a few hours’ spent working on a high-pressure project? “Stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, eat up B vitamins, making us crave more food,” says nutritionist Charlotte Watts, “usually in the form of ‘instant hit’ white carbohydrates and sweets.” Cortisol subsequently makes our bodies less sensitive to leptin, the hormone that tells our brains that we’re full, says Dr Hyman.

Stress also switches on the brain’s sympathetic nervous system, which responds to a perceived threat, by raising blood sugar, storing more fat and lowering our metabolism. So, when we’re stressed, not only does our body slow down our metabolic rate, it actually makes us want to consume more food. Ten minutes a day of guided breathing can make a difference to your stress level.

Try the brilliant CD Just Ten Minutes, from psychotherapist Heather Bestel (F11 from alittlebitofmetime.com). If 10 minutes seems like too long, the book The One Moment Master (Rider F7.70) has countless effective meditations, all of which take just one minute.

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■ SUPPLEMENTS■

ALTHOUGH there is no quick-fix panacea for fat-burning, certain supplements have been shown to work with the body’s metabolic processes to boost the effects of exercise and a balanced diet.

■ CLA — Conjugated linoleic acid is a substance which occurs naturally in meat and full-fat dairy foods. Norwegian scientists found that overweight and moderately obese people who took 3.4 grams of CLA daily for six months showed significant loss of fat in the lower body.

■ Chromium — Found in wholewheat flour, bread and pasta as well as beans, nuts, seeds, asparagus and mushrooms, it’s essential for controlling blood sugar balance in the body, says nutritionist Patrick Holford. People deficient in chromium often crave sweets and simple, refined carbohydrates.

Most good multivitamins contain 30mcg of chromium, but you can help balance your blood sugar and reduce cravings more quickly by taking 200-400mcg chromium.

■ HCA — An extract from the dried rind of tamarind fruit, as a supplement HCA works by inhibiting the enzymes that convert sugar from food into fat, says Holford. A recent trial confirms that HCA acts as a powerful appetite suppressant, reducing weight with no harmful side effects.

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Dr Niamh Houston

FAMILY

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Dr Niamh Houston is a GP with a special interest in integrative medicine. If you have a question about your child’s health email it to feelgood@examiner.ie or send a letter to Feelgood Irish Examiner City Quarter Lapps Quay Cork

CAN you tell me what causes a low white blood cell count. My son is six years old and had a blood test that showed his white cell count was not dangerously low, but under normal. His doctor mentioned neutropenia.

He is due to have some more tests to check his white cell count again. Is this serious and what does it mean?

A. White blood cells are the disease-fighting cells circulating in your blood.

There are several subtypes of white blood cells, each with a different, disease-fighting activity. A low white cell count can be caused by one of the following: infections, certain medications, such as antibiotics or steroids, vitamin deficiencies, congenital disorders or autoimmune diseases that destroy bone marrow function. Less common causes include some types of cancer that damage bone marrow.

The doctor indicated that your son has a decrease in one type of white blood cell — neutrophils. This type of white blood cell destroys bacteria in the blood and helps protect your child from infection.

You haven’t mentioned why your son had a blood test. Was he unwell? Children with neutropenia develop infections easily, because their white cell count is too low to ward off bacteria. Most infections occur in the lungs, mouth, throat, sinuses and skin.

Sometimes, patients experience painful mouth ulcers, or gum infections.

Your doctor is repeating the blood test because, if your son had an infection the first time, his white cell count would temporarily be low and it should return to normal once the illness has passed.

If there are no symptoms, such as frequent fevers, mouth sores, ear infections, pneumonia, or rectal sores or unusual redness, swelling or warmth at the site of an injury, then there would generally be no cause for concern. However, if the neutropenia persists, he may need further tests, such as a bone marrow aspirate to rule out other possible disorders.

Neutropenia can be a very serious condition, because without enough neutrophils your child is prone to bacterial infections that can become life-threatening. The two main treatments for this condition are antibiotics, to fight infection, and drugs, which help the bone marrow make neutrophils. These drugs are known as granulocyte colony-stimulating factors. They help keep neutrophils in the blood above the danger level, all or most of the time, and restore the body’s defence against infection.

In some cases, a bone marrow transplant may be an option.

My eight-week-old has had conjunctivitis — one of his eyes waters continu-

BUILDING IMMUNITY: A low white blood cell count leaves children prone to infections and other illnesses.

Picture: iStock

ously. His doctor said a blocked tear duct could be the problem. Will he need treatment for this?

A. Newborn babies often have partially closed ducts and this can cause one or both eyes to be constantly weepy. You may have noticed that when your baby cries the nostril on the affected side remains dry.

Blocked tear ducts are not that uncommon in newborns. The best thing to do is keep your baby’s eyes clean.

You can do this by using cotton wool soaked in freshly cooled boiled water. Use a separate piece of cotton wool for each

eye. Wipe up the bony part of the nose, over the inner corner of the eye, and then out over the eyelids. This also massages the tear duct and may help open the blockage.

Your baby’s tear ducts are likely to be normal within 18 months, without needing any treatment.

There is a small chance that discharge may continue for longer and the ducts will need to be cleared and dilated under an anaesthetic. In general, antibiotics are not needed, but occasionally may help if a bacterial infection, such as conjunctivitis, develops.

NOTE: The information contained in Dr Houston’s column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor first

Catherine Shanahan MUM’S WORLD

Feelgood

GLUM MUM was muddling through one of those days when motherhood is about as agreeable as sitting on a running chainsaw. She tinkered with the notion of vamoosing and bequeathing the front door keys to her kids but was troubled by the thought that neither had the know-how to turn a key in a lock.

Besides, absconding was pointless when payday was no nearer than the faraway far greener hills. When tainted with poverty the flavour of freedom leaves quite an unsavoury taste.

And so with bad grace and a gloom eclipsed only by the weather, she knuckled down to the task of playing mum to those in her care.

Well before breakfast the day had lurched towards disaster when Lughaidh jammed his hand in the stairgate and howled himself hoarse. This setback spoiled his mood for the morning, his toys

took a hammering and his sister did well to escape with no more than a jab.

Fortunately for everyone — with the exception of his múinteoirí — he was heading to the nearby naíonra until close to noon. To get him there Glum Mum had to prise him away from the sand pit and frog march him right to the door of the ill-fated school.

He returned home at lunchtime to plunder the playroom, decanting all boxes in fury onto the floor. A frantic search for an engine had no hope of a happy ending — it had long ago click-clacked its way to the smelter’s yard. No other toy had earned the same fond credentials and in its absence the small boy was openly and utterly distraught.

Dearbhail, in the meantime, had unearthed a cent from under the fireside rug. When Glum Mum caught up with her, she was dribbling like a dachshund

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

as she sucked the coin in her mouth.

Glum Mum sensed the onset of panic and forced herself to take a deep breath.

Kneeling by her child she extended her hand willing her to spit the cent out. An eternity passed before she obliged taking years off poor Glum Mum’s life.

She considered a playpen to dilute the stress when her kids were unruly and wild. Safe behind bars she could breathe free and easy and climb out when her kids had calmed down.

Or she could head for the playground and run Lughaidh ragged and pray he went early to bed. Then she too could retire and sleep off the stress before getting up to do it all again.

Or she could read for a while and reflect on the wisdom of writers like PJ O’Rourke for whom humans are the only animals to have children on purpose, except for guppies, who like to eat theirs.

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Simple precautions will reduce risk of cot death, writes Arlene Harris

Putting baby first A

LMOST 35 Irish families are devastated each year by a cot death. Yet, despite its name, research has shown that the safest place for a baby to sleep is in its cot.

Cot death or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) mostly affects babies aged between two and four months, and a new study in Britain has advised parents not to sleep with their babies as it promotes an added risk to this unexplained condition.

The research from Bristol and Warwick Universities has claimed that over 50% of the cases of SIDS in Britain have occurred when the baby is sleeping in a bed or on a sofa with its parent and the most likely cause of death is accidental suffocation.

In most cases the parent had been heavily sleeping after consuming alcohol or taking recreational drugs.

Researcher Professor Peter Fleming, Professor of Infant Health and Development Physiology at Bristol University, says most people understand the implications of drinking and driving and the same rule should apply to sharing a bed with your baby.

“It is vital that all parents — if they’ve had a drink or taken drugs — do not co-sleep with their baby,” he advises. “It is also really important that parents should not fall asleep with their baby on a sofa as it 25 times more risky than having them in bed with you. After parents have fed a baby it is really important they put them back in their cot.”

Niamh Healy of Cuidiu — the Irish Childbirth Trust — echoes this advice, but says responsible co-sleeping can be of benefit to the baby.

“It is important not to demonise co-sleeping as this may lead to parents falling asleep on the sofa with their baby,” she says. “This is far more dangerous as the soft surfaces can lead to suffocation and the baby can easily slip down between the cushions and end up being accidentally crushed.

“As long as the obvious risk factors (alcohol and drugs) are not present, sleeping with your baby in a bed can be of benefit to breast feeding mothers.

“However, a co-sleeping cot which attaches to the bed is the best option as it is important for the baby to sleep in the same room as its parents — their presence helps him to remember to breathe,” she adds.

Though over half of the deaths analysed occurred while the baby was sleeping in a bed with parents, one in four were linked to the baby being swaddled and one in five had been sleeping with a pillow. These findings are set to emerge as potentially new risk factors.

Cliona McGarvey, a researcher for SIDS Ireland, says while she is not aware of the risks associated with swaddling babies, it is not advisable for them to overheat.

“We have known for some time that babies under three months should not

Feelgood

It is vital that all parents — if they’ve had a drink or taken drugs — do not co-sleep with their baby. It is also really important that parents should not fall asleep with their baby on a sofa as it 25 times more risky than having them in bed with you sleep in the same bed as their parents,” she says. “If the infant is wrapped in swaddling and is sleeping with an adult, there may be a danger of overheating.”

Niamh Healy of Cuidiu says that swaddling helps to settle babies as it is assumed that it is recreates the feeling of being in the womb — however, she also says that it is vital not to wrap the baby too tightly.

“When I demonstrate swaddling to new parents, I make sure to leave a deep V shape at the neck so there is room for heat to escape from the baby’s body.”

Evidence has also shown that the position in which a baby sleeps has a bearing on the risk of cot death. “A comprehensive study in Britain has shown that placing a baby on his back significantly reduces the risk of SIDS,” says McGarvey.

“The reason for this is not clear, but it is also important to note that babies should have an amount of supervised ‘tummy time’ during the day.”

The definitive cause of SIDS is still unknown, but it is becoming less common — over the past 20 years Irish figures

have dropped from 134 per annum to 34 as parents adhere to the advice given by health workers.

“No-one knows why cot death occurs, but many SIDS parents have said that there was ‘something not right’ about their baby before they died,” says McGarvey. “There are no signs or symptoms, but if a parent is at all worried, they should seek medical advice.”

Margaret Hanafoe, community midwife manager for south Dublin, says it is important to keep things in perspective.

“The risk of cot death is very small,” she says. “We would not advise parents to swaddle babies, as a tight wrap can have the same effect as an electric blanket.

The key is to wrap the baby so he has room to move and lay him on his back.

However, if your family has a history of sleep apnea or if you have any concerns about your baby, talk to your doctor.”

■ For more advice visit www.sidsireland.ie or call helpline 1850-391391 and www.cuidiu.ie.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

■ REDUCING THE RISK ■

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ALTHOUGH there is no clear evidence showing why cot death occurs, there are a number of factors which are thought to reduce the risk.

■ Babies should always sleep in a cot.

■ Place baby on their back as they can get overheated when lying on their front.

■ Place baby on back with feet to the foot of the cot.

■ Don’t smoke during pregnancy nor allow anyone to smoke around baby.

■ Don’t let the baby get overheated, a folded blanket counts as two blankets.

■ If wrapping the baby in a blanket — do not swaddle tightly, make sure there is enough room for air to circulate.

■ Do not use soft bedding, such as pillow, duvet, quilt or cot bumper.

■ Don’t fall asleep with baby in bed or on sofa — always place baby in cot after feeding and winding.

■ Babies should sleep in a cot in the parents’ room until they are at least 12 weeks.

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Hit the right note Jazz up your menu so you can last the pace

Think moderate, not excess, for the best cure. And for smooth crooners such as the velvet-voiced Kurt Elling who sings jazz on Saturday night, try a blend of a banana, cranberry juice, a pear, some plain yoghurt and a little honey for benefits which will last for the weekend.

Roz Crowley

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ORK’S Jazz Festival this weekend is a terrific excuse to go a little wild with food, something sassy and lively, something soothing and romantic, something satisfying yet light enough to keep our energy at top speed.

Restaurants will be buzzing at a time when they badly need the business, but at home too with excellent local produce we can whip up a frenzy of top notes, deep chords and a medley of flavours and textures to echo the best of musical fun.

Picture:iStock

Kerry food fair packs plenty in THE Listowel Food Fair, in Kerry takes place from November 5 to 8. First held in 1995 to celebrate Irish food and its producers, the launch night celebrity chef is Kevin Dundon, pictured here, of Dunbrody House, Wexford.

The opening night awards ceremony includes the National Farmhouse Cheese of the Year, the best New Food Product and the Irish Food Book of the Year.

Open to all restaurants in Kerry, Just Ask! is a public awareness campaign that aims to encourage consumers to look for information on where the food (particularly meat) on their plate comes from and to encourage chefs to provide this information on their menus.

Children’s workshops, organic farming classes, start your own food business seminar, a food trail, cake decorating workshops, farming seminars and Sunday’s annual food and craft market takes place from 10am to 5.30pm. The fair finishes later that evening with a wine tasting event. Info: www.listowelfoodfair.com, 087-638 6501.

Feelgood

BREAKFAST A decent breakfast is the perfect way to kick-start a long weekend. While many don’t plan to drink too much, music has a way of keeping us lingering for just another few bars, just another song — and in just another bar — so it’s easy to put a strain on the system. Flush through the liver, kidneys and gall bladder with plenty of water. A squeeze of lemon helps too.

Try dipping bread in olive oil which cleanses better than a layer of butter.

Warm, brown toast is delicious with olive oil and sliced tomatoes, grilled or raw. Follow this with a glass of apple juice or chew an apple or two. Herbal teas are good too, especially with a slice of lemon.

Avoid heavy food which taxes the body organs, but if you fancy a rasher, have one, but not two, and not with lots of sausages and black pudding. A few slices of black pudding on wholemeal toast is good, topped with tomatoes or a few slices of apples quickly cooked in a skim of water with the lid on.

LUNCH At a long weekend, lunch can mean a leisurely brunch or a decent meal to allow early trips to the city to enjoy the fun.

Seasonal mushrooms make an easy meal, especially tasty when they are wild. The tougher they feel in the hand the longer they take to cook, so allow a few more minutes if not using cultivated supermarket bought varieties.

The versatile recipe below comes from The Italian Cookery Course by Katie Caldesi (Kyle Cathie F32) who along with her Italian husband Giancarlo run an Italian cookery school in London as well as two restaurants. The book is lively and interesting and recipes are mostly healthy and not difficult. I use this mushroom recipe as suggested, but also as a topping for a rolled out sheet of flaky pastry and pop it into a hot oven to make a quick tart. Add a skim of soft cheese under the mushrooms for a delicious feast.

GIANCARLO’S MUSHROOMS Add to an omelette, to risotto or use as a topping for crostini (or simple toast) or as a side dish with a lamb chop, steak or a few slices of bacon.

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 3 large sprigs of thyme 3 sprigs of rosemary 1 red chilli finely sliced 500g mixed mushrooms (for example, white cup, oyster, Portobello, crimini porcini), washed or wiped as necessary, thickly sliced

Generous pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat and, when hot, add the garlic, thyme, rosemary, chilli and salt and pepper. Fry for one minute, then add the mushrooms and cook them, still over high heat, tossing and stirring frequently. When the water forms the mushrooms has evaporated and they have become browned and slightly crisp they are ready.

BUTTERED APPLES Serves 6 This recipe comes from I Know How to Cook by Ginette Mathiot (Phaidon F39.95), a hefty tome of recipes from France translated and updated from its original 1932 edition. All 911 recipes will keep us warm in the kitchen as the weather gets colder. This one is particularly easy, cheap and seasonal, using leftover stale bread to make a warming dish that will make us ready for a long night of jazz and fun. Good warmed up for breakfast too.

6 large eating apples, unblemished and evenly sized 85g butter 6 slices bread slightly stale 60g vanilla sugar (or plain caster sugar) Preheat the oven to 180c/350f/gas 4.

Peel and core the apples carefully, without damaging them. Butter both sides of the bread slices with most of the butter. Line the base of a large ovenproof dish with a single layer.

Place an apple on each slice. Fill the cavity of each apple with small knobs of the remaining butter. Sprinkle the vanilla sugar over the apples and add 2 tablespoons of water. Bake for 40 minutes.

Serve piping hot in the dish in which the apples were cooked.

BAKE YOUR OWN BREAD TIPS A CHEWY TREAT NATURE Valley’s Chewy Trail Mix bars are a good combination of oats and fruit which are not too sweet. Available in most supermarkets 79c each or F3.49 for a box of six.

Picture: Neil Danton / News Digital

LEARN how to make your own sourdough bread in a step-by-step demonstration with Declan Ryan, pictured here, of Arbutus Breads at the Crawford Art Gallery Cafe, Cork at 7.30pm on Thursday, October 29.

Hosted by Cork Free Choice Consumer Group, admission is F6, including tea, coffee and tastings.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

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More than a pinch of salt Deirdre O'Flynn MOSTLY MEN

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ALT is bad for you — we all know it, yet we don’t know why.

We don’t know how much salt we should be consuming. We don’t know how much salt food contains. And we don’t know that the reason we all love salt is that we’ve been drip-fed salt, or sodium chloride to give it its scientific name, since we were children.

But all that’s about to change. Safefood has launched a campaign to encourage people to reduce their salt intake. The Shake the Salt Habit campaign wants people to realise that our diets are still too high in salt and that the majority of dietary salt is from processed

foods such as processed meats, sauces and bread. Today, dietary salt intake levels among adults are up to 66% more than the recommended daily amount of 6g per day as advocated by health professionals.

We all need salt to maintain water balance, a healthy blood pressure and for healthy muscles and nerves. However, salt retains water. If you take in too much salt, you retain fluid, which increases the pressure inside your blood vessels. If your blood pressure stays high over a long period of time, you damage the lining of your arteries, thicken your heart muscles and generally pave the way for a heart attack.

“High dietary salt intake can have serious health consequences such as stroke, heart disease and high blood pressure,” says Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, from Safefood.

“I realise that industry has done much to reduce the salt levels in processed foods but we’re now at a bit of an impasse because we are at the stage where consumer demand for lower salt options hasn’t really changed.”

Safefood research shows that almost half of us add salt to our main evening meal.

HIDDEN PROBLEM: The majority of dietary salt is from including processed meats and sauces with intake levels among adults up to 66% more than the recommended daily amount of 6g. Picture:iStock “We need to do our part by becoming more salt aware, choosing lower salt options and readjusting our tastebuds to accept lower amounts of salt, steps which can all help to ensure our salt intake is at a healthier level,” says Foley-Nolan.

You can lower your salt intake significantly by enjoying fresh vegetables, lean meat and

Reaching out to male victims of domestic abuse

Take a walk away from the TV set

MEN are victims of domestic violence legal and other remedies available to too. But in 2005, the National Crime abused men.

Council found that only one in 20 According to Amen, the National men reported abuse Crime Council’s to the Gardaí.

2005 study showed That’s according to 26% of men suffer Amen, which runs a domestic abuse, confidential and 13% of men helpline and a supsuffer physical port service for abuse. male victims of doIn July 2009, mestic abuse. It alAmen received 309 so organises emocalls to its helpline tional support, at 046-9023718. To group meetings, call the Helpline out court accompaniof hours, call SILENT PARTNER: Only one in 20 ment, counselling 086-7941 880 or and information on men report abuse. Picture:iStock 086-1947 270.

THE Irish Heart Foundation has urged all adults to swap one TV show a day for a 30-minute brisk walk to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.

A new survey published by the national charity found that only 45% of adults meet the national guidelines of at least 30 minutes of physical activity on five days a week.

Yet the average Irish adult watches over three hours of TV daily.

“Imagine if you could avoid having a heart attack or stroke just by missing one TV show a day and going for a walk instead?” says Maureen Mulvihill, Irish Heart Foundation Health Promotion Manager. “Many people don’t realise that physical inactivity carries the same health risk as smoking, raised cholesterol and high blood pressure.”

TAKE

ARENTS are encourP aged to find time to spend playing with their

kids on a regular basis.

That’s the message from the seventh annual National Game Playing Week, which runs this year from today until October 30.

According to child psychologist, Dr Celine Mullins, spending time together as a family and especially playing together is important for a child’s development, but this critical time is often lost in the pressure of daily life.

Board games like

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Monopoly (which has been around for 70 years and still tops the bestseller lists) remain family favourites and are an inexpensive way to spend fun time together as a family.

To support National Game Playing Week, there are special offers on board games in stores and you can log on to www.ngpw.ie for downloads and tips about running your own family game night.

According to Waterford-based games manufacturer, Hasbro, four of the top games this year are:

home-cooked meals more often and keeping convenience ready-meals to a minimum. Use alternative seasonings such as black pepper, herbs, garlic and lemon juice.

■ For more information on shaking the salt habit including an online salt calculator, visit www.safefood.eu or call 1850-404567.

DId you know...

In 1900 the average life expectancy was 47 UNHEALTHY VIEWING: Give up a TV show and take a brisk walk to improve health. Picture:iStock

National Game Playing Week Monopoly City: Monopoly fans can build an actual 3-D city in the centre of the game board with Hasbro’s newest version of the world’s most popular board game, the fast-paced Monopoly City, F31.99, age eight-plus.

Guess Who Extra: The Guess Who of the 21st century, this high-tech version of the family favourite, F24.99, age six-plus is designed just like a laptop.

There are over 144 characters to choose from, electronic sound effects and a timer for added suspense.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

Bop It: With Bop It, F24.99, age eight-plus, you never know what’s coming next. You have to react fast if you want to make it through the 1,000 levels and the new ‘party bop’ mode will have you and your family dancing around the sitting room.

Pictureka: A fast moving visual game of hide and seek, Pictureka, F24.99, refines motor skills and requires quick thinking. A totally absorbing game for all the family, you can play as an individual or work together on exciting group missions. Age six-plus.

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The news on ...

BOOSTING RADIANCE AROUND this time of year, we are frequently mistaken by our children for a bowl of cold porridge, owing to the slightly lumpy, slightly grey tone to our skin.

There are loads of products on the market that have been formulated to counteract this, but one of the newest is Vichy’s Aqualia anti-ox deoxidising pro-youth range, which contains a special antioxidant that gives the skin a smoother surface, a more even complexion, and a radiant glow.

The Aqualia anti-ox serum and powder, F30, is a bit fiddly (you have to mix it up, keep it in the fridge and use it within 21 days), but it feels great on the skin, and does seem to be having an effect on our skin. A great booster for exhausted-looking complexions.

Emily O’Sullivan

T

HERE’S a rock chick in me waiting to come out. All it takes is a glimpse of Kate Moss with mussed-up, super-cool black eye make-up, and I can feel my inner Suzi Quatro start to stir. The hunt for skin-tight leather trousers is preoccupying my online hours and vintage rock T-shirts are starting to clog up my wardrobe. But whatever about the fashion, the one area it’s easy to get a rock chick look is make-up.

A grungy, sexy late-’80s/early-’90s style was huge on the catwalks this year. Models strode down the runway with messy hair and ‘I’ve been sleeping in my eyeliner’-type eye make-up. And this is one of the essential components of the rock chick look. After all, if you’re going to stand around your local newsagent making devil-horned salutes and curling your lip at passersby, then saccharine sweet pink lip gloss and “safe” brown eyeshadow aren’t going to work.

It’s pointless worrying about a bit of smudge around the eyes. Rock chicks sleep in their eyeliner. Punky rock chick Alice Delall has even said in this month’s Vogue that she never takes her black eyeliner off. Ever. While striding into the office on a Monday morning with slept-in make-up and bed hair might not be quite the thing to do, rock chick works perfectly for weekend night out. The best item to start off with is a black eyeliner — one of the most-trusted rock chick accessories.

While kohl eyeliners have come a long way over the last few years, it’s still best to road test a few on the back of your hand before buying. We like pencils with a smudgy, soft creamy texture that can be blended and smudged to your heart’s content — try good offerings from Clinique, Mac and Chanel.

Through the day your eyelids can get slightly greasy, so always start off with a base that will stop your liner from running all over the place too much. Benefit, Estee Lauder and Bobbi Brown all do good bases in bone shades that give your eyes a woken-up look.

Simple pale-coloured eyeshadows work well,

TAKE THREE BATH OILS

ROCK CHIC Get all messed up and ready to go but I find that matte cream shadows are the best for soaking up oil and moisture and lasting a long time.

When it comes to rock chick eyeshadows, black is really the way to go, with two solid black collections from Chanel and MAC launching this season, but it’s good to blend with metallics to get a softer, more wearable look. There are tons of charcoal shades on the market, so make sure to get one but don’t wear it all over the eye — it will make your eyes look instantly smaller. Instead, dab a brush in it and blend it around the bone and socket on the edge of the eye. If you’re not quite sure how to blend properly then check

out online make-up guru Lauren Luke’s website (bylaurenluke.com), which has tutorials on blending. And don’t be too fussy — this is a rock chick look so there should be a degree of mussed-up action.

Make sure to finish off with a good mascara. Bits of smudged eyeliner are good — flaky bits of mascara are bad. One of our current favourites for staying power and massive spidery lashes is Benefit’s Bad Gal Waterproof Mascara. The tube is thin and long, making it a good one for carrying around, and it delivers a real volume and lengthening boost to your lashes. And best of all, it’s got a name that all rock chicks are sure to love.

MAC Greasepaint Stick in Black, F19. Perfect for smudgy, messy looks, this black crayon is shot through with an opalescent sparkly finish, which can be blended perfectly to give a smokey-eye eyeshadow look. It’s transfer and water-resistant.

Benefit Bad Gal Waterproof Mascara, F21. It’s got the look, and it’s got the attitude. This is a great mascara, it lasts really well and doesn’t smudge or flake, and you can also wear it during the day when you’re taking a break from rocking.

IT MIGHT not quite be batten down the hatches weather, but we’re ready to rediscover bath-time as winter creeps in. Oils may not have the fun factor of bubble bath, but they beautifully scent your bathroom as well as moisturising your skin beautifully.

Here’s three we tried.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil, F50. This is the crème de la crème of bath oils, a rich luscious oil with a deep rich rose fragrance. It’s housed in a simple bottle, but once you open it, you’re immediately transported to more exotic climes. A must for rose lovers.

Score: 10 Neal’s Yard Remedies Exotic Bath Oil, from F12.95. A must-have on our bathroom shelf during winter, this lovely organic almond oil base is blended with essential oils of geranium, lemon and jasmine, which wafts around the room making you feel instantly relaxed and uplifted. It’s a great one for dark winter nights — and at a good price.

Score: 8 Origins Calm to Your Senses Lavender and Vanilla Bath Oil, F31. Lavender can be more drawer freshner than body scent but this addition of vanilla has turned this bath oil into a beautifully sweet and evocative fragrance. Soybean and olive oil soften the skin and the whole combination leaves you feeling soothed, silky smooth and ready for bed.

Score: 10

STUFF WE LIKE Chanel Eye Gloss, F51. We’re having a bit of a love/hate relationship with this product. We love it because it creates real rock chick eyes in an instant, with sweeps of seriously sexy black gloss that deliver real impact. And we hate it because it doesn’t last very well and turns everything into a bit of a mess after a while. If you’re okay with the mussed-up look, then it’s got to be in your make-up bag this season. If it’s a texture that’s too much for you, then try new Quatuor Boutons de Chanel eyeshadows, F49, from the Les Noirs collection.

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Pixi Beauty Smokey Eye Wand, F17 at pixibeauty.com. This is a great product for anyone who doesn’t have the best application techniques in the world. It’s a deep smokey shadow in a stick, which is redesigned to give you a sultry look in an instant.

Stila Smudge Pots, F13.85 at hqhair.com. Gel eyeliners are a little harder to apply and don’t work on the inner eye, but they last for ages and are our favourite eyeliner formulation. This gel eyeliner and shadow has an inky texture and can be used for precise eyelining or for smudging like a shadow.

17 Lasting Fix Nail Colour in Night

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

Shade, F3.99. Don’t ruin the rock chick effect with prissy pink nails. Dedicated rockers go for black nail polish, and black only.

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Q Megan Sheppard Do you have a question for Megan Sheppard?

Email it to feelgood@examiner.ie or send a letter to Feelgood Irish Examiner City Quarter Lapps Quay Cork

IS it true that acupressure can help with PMT, in particular lower back pain and cramping?

A. Yes, it certainly is. There is a specific point located on the ankle, sanyinjiao (SP6), which is linked to the uterus. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, pressure applied to this point will help to stimulate the energy flow through the uterus and rebalance the chi or qi.

Acupressure works on the same points as acupuncture, except it uses the applied pressure of thumb or fingers instead of the stimulation of fine needles. A firm pressure is required, but not so firm that it causes pain.

In this case you need to press for six seconds, release for two, repeating this sequence for five minutes and then switching to the other ankle. You perform the acupressure sequence on both ankles twice, with the whole technique taking 20 minutes. This has actually been shown in small-scale trials to be 94% effective in bringing significant relief of menstrual pain.

You may want to check out the specific point in a library book, or by doing a web search. It is located four fingers above the ankle bone on the inside of the leg.

interactions with prescribed medications, particularly where the supplement has gained wide popularity.

Glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM are all considered to be safe supplements to take alongside warfarin, however glucosamine can interfere with anti-diabetic medication — so if your mother is also on these then she should avoid this supplement.

Q. I have hypothyroidism to treat a thyroid problem and take eltroxin daily. I’ve been taking astragalus and have been taking this for about three months. Within two weeks of taking this herb I suddenly felt energised. I lost half a stone in eight weeks and my moods stabilised. I cannot find any literature on the long-term effects of taking this herb or if it should be for short-term use. I am not taking it at present and again am sluggish in the morning, looking for constant sugary snacks and am a little moody.

I’ve read that astragalus can accelerate autoimmune disorders so I’m reluctant to take it for too long. Could you suggest an alternative, or is it irrelevant given I feel so well when I take the herb?

A. It’s wonderful you have found a herb that resonates so well with you. I am a great believer in the power of Herb Simples, being a single herb which has a powerful effect, even when taken in relatively small doses.

The dosage, formulation, and even the usage of herbs differs widely between herbalists, and I tend to think there is little difference between the various approaches given that it all branches from the same wisdom.

What matters is what works for you, and what you have been taking in terms of the specific herb, dosage, and formulation is obviously having a marvellous impact. Interestingly, astragalus has been shown to regulate immune response, which means in your case it will reduce your autoimmune response rather than stimulate it.

Considered to be adaptogenic, it is also used to strengthen immunity, increase energy levels, and restore compromised immune functioning.

Astragalus is indeed safe to take as a long-term solution, and has no known side-effects. Enjoy your renewed energy and wellbeing.

Q. My mother has been on warfarin for three years. Her doctor has told her to avoid taking herbal medicine but to continue taking fish oil supplements. Are doctors provided with specific guidelines on what drugs cannot be taken with herbal medicine, or is this just a general rule to avoid taking both together? In particular, she wants to take glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM to help her joints.

A. Unfortunately there are no specific guidelines on each and every herb in terms of contraindications with prescription medicine. This is largely because there is an incredible amount of funding required to research all of the potential effects and interactions between natural medicines and drugs and it is not in the financial interests of pharmaceutical companies to investigate the contraindications between every herb and every drug. Independent researchers simply don’t have the resources.

This is where anecdotal evidence is worth its weight in gold, and also why it is important to report any side effects to your doctor so that they can be reported. There are a number of herbs which should be avoided while taking warfarin — specifically those which work on the cardiovascular system (such as ginkgo biloba, hawthorn berries, dong quai, devil’s claw, fenugreek, white willow, and feverfew). There is still a great deal of scientific research available regarding various supplements and their

PRESSURE POINT: Acupressure can help stimulate the energy flow through the uterus and rebalance the chi when a menstrual pain strikes.

Picture: iStock

Megan puts the spotlight on: Avoid processed foods, fizzy drinks, sugary snacks, and coffee while flying, and drink loads of water Feelgood

ONE of the main issues with long haul flights is the resulting jet lag. This is primarily due to the disruptions of the internal body clock. There is actually a tiny gland in the brain, the pineal gland, which determines when we wake and sleep by releasing the hormone, melatonin. Melatonin production is affected by long flights, disrupting our sleep-wake cycle, which can leave us feeling out of sorts when we arrive at our destination.

Frequent flyers in the know used to supplement with melatonin tablets, however, these are now only available as prescription medication.

What you can do is to increase your intake of tryptophan — either by taking a 5HTP supplement or choosing foods such as eggs, honey, milk,

Preventing Jet Lag turkey, and tuna before you go to bed.

Tryptophan works because it aids in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for the manufacture of melatonin in the brain. The whole process requires significant amounts of vitamin B6, so it is worth considering a B-complex supplement to ensure you are getting sufficient levels to optimise serotonin synthesis.

Avoid processed foods, fizzy drinks, sugary snacks, and coffee while flying, and drink loads of water. You will be amazed at the difference dietary choices make to how you feel when you arrive at your destination.

If deep vein thrombosis is a specific concern then you should check out Zinopin capsules. Zinopin is a combination of ginger and pycnogenol formulated to great-

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009

ly reduce the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and travel sickness. The recommended dosage is one capsule the day before departure, two capsules one hour before your flight departs, and one capsule daily for the two days following your arrival.

Zinopin is available from Healthy & Essential (www.healthyandessential.ie, 045- 892267) where 10 capsules cost around F19.95.

Remember to move around as much as possible, even if it is just a case of wiggling everything from your toes to your nose as you sit and relax.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2009