Feelgood 14-01-2011

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Feelgood Friday, January 14, 2011

Intensive care

It’s costly to store umbilical cord stem cells to protect your baby’s future health – is it worth it? 8, 9

Picture: iStockphoto

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2 News front Kate O’Reilly WHAT’S ON ■ AWARE VOLUNTEERS: Aware, the national depression support organisation, is seeking new volunteers in Mallow and other areas of Co Cork. The support groups offer a safe space where individuals with experience of depression, or family members/friends who are concerned for a loved one can discuss their concerns and explore available options. Contact Kate Donnelly on 087-299 3142 or email kate.donnelly@aware.ie. More information about Aware is available on www.aware.ie ■ CHOICES 2011: Choices 2011, a free careers, education and work and study abroad exhibition will be held in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium from Friday, January 21 to Monday January 24. Irish employers will be recruiting at the event, while voluntary organisations will provide information on opportunities overseas. There will also be an opportunity to discuss courses for those who want to learn new or improve on existing skills. See www.choices2011.com ■ NUTRITION SEMINAR: A free nutrition seminar is being organised by health food company Kelkin, in the CityWest Hotel, Saggart on Wednesday next, January 19, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Aveen Bannon, consultant nutritionist to Kelkin will give practical hints on how to boost energy levels and mood with nutrition and how to incorporate these changes into your daily routine to help you get the most from your diet. Places can be reserved by contacting Kelkin on 01-4600400 or emailing nutritionalclasses@kelkin.ie.

■ HEART TALKS: The Irish Heart Foundation’s Health Promotion Nurse, Sr Siobhan Ryan, is available to talk to groups in Munster (eg the ICA, Active Retired, Men’s Groups, Parent’s Associations, Special Interest). Sr Siobhan covers subjects ranging from stroke awareness, healthy eating, cholesterol and blood pressure, physical activity etc.

There will also be a free blood pressure and cholesterol testing clinic at the Family Resource Centre, Farranree on Wednesday next January 19 from 2.30pm to 4pm. Contact the Munster Regional Office on 021-4505822 for more details or to book a talk. If you have questions about stroke or heart disease you can contact the Irish Heart Foundation’s helpline 1890 432787.

■ REIKI TALK: Reiki is a natural Japanese healing art. When activated it accelerates the body’s ability to heal physical ailments and opens the mind and spirit to the causes of disease and pain, says Regina O’Mahony who is giving a free introductory talk on Thursday next January 20 at 8pm in Douglas, Cork. Call 021- 489 7229for more details; www.healthyhappyways.com ■ ISLAND CLASSES: Evening classes have resumed at Bere Island Heritage Centre including meditation on Wednesday nights from 7pm to 8pm. A small donation is asked for to cover light and heat. Call the centre on: 027-75956 Items for inclusion in this column can be sent to koreilly8@gmail.com

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The arrival of a new baby is an exciting event but one that needs to be prepared for, writes Arlene Harris

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Baby makes six

HEY are probably the world’s most photographed family — the footballer, the fashion icon and their three handsome sons. Love them or put up with them, there is no denying that hardly a day goes by without one of the Beckhams making the headlines.

Earlier this week, the high-profile duo announced the impending arrival of their fourth child. This apparent show of fecundity has become fashionable in recent years with bigger families being the norm for higher income families rather than the traditionally opposite situation.

But with busy careers and hectic lifestyles how do families cope with an extra child, especially if they are hoping for a gender-specific addition (Victoria Beckham has made no secret in the past for her desire for a daughter)?

Peadar Maxwell is a senior psychologist in the Department of Child, Adolescent and Family Psychology. He says while the arrival of a new baby will herald much joy for families, it can also cause underlying anxieties.

“The arrival of a new baby can be exciting, but it can also cause us to feel anxious, depressed and afraid of what the future holds,” he says. “It is important to talk about your feelings — positive and negative. Face your emotions: allow yourself to feel the excitement and the fear. Start to

HAPPY FAMILY: David and Victoria Beckham with sons Brooklyn, Cruz and Romeo (front, left to right).

Victoria Beckham, who is pregnant with her fourth child, has made no secret of her desire to have a girl.

Picture: David Davies/PA Wire

plan for any necessary changes as soon as possible. This may include changes in your living space or re-budgeting for the demands of another family member.”

Larger families are usually created by the desire to provide siblings for existing children but in some cases, parents may be longing for a child of a specific gender to complete their brood.

“Many expectant and new parents who secretly have gender preferences feel guilty or embarrassed about it. But wanting the experience of parenting a boy and a girl is a perfectly normal desire and the majority of parents will love their new child and attach well whatever the gender.”

A new sibling may be difficult for existing children to accept and, Maxwell says, it is important to prepare your child for the new arrival.

“When discussing the pregnancy, consider your child’s maturity level. Looking at photos and telling stories about when they were born will help them to get them in touch.

And it is important to reassure your child that this will be a positive experience and that they will get to be the big sibling.”

Whatever the Beckham children’s reactions will be to the new arrival, the baby is guaranteed to be the latest star in the Posh-andBecks empire.

■ For more information visit: www.hse.ie

HEALTH NOTES THE Irish Dental Association is urging Irish people to prioritise their dental health. Top tips for keeping your teeth in tip top order during 2011 include: 1. brush your teeth and gums at the same time every day.

2. Ensure all teeth and gums are cleaned thoroughly. You can use different sized inter-dental brushes to clean plaque from inaccessible areas.

3. Quit smoking — not only is it a deadly habit, it’s also can cause bad breath, stained teeth, tooth loss and oral cancer.

4. Change your toothbrush every three months and floss at least once a day.

5. Keep snacks between meals to low-sugar or sugar-free foods.

For information visit: www.dentist.ie The HSE has announced plans to introduce a national diabetes foot-care screening programme.

“Between 2005 and 2009 1,579 people with diabetes in Ireland underwent a below knee amputation and nearly 6,000 with diabetes developed a foot ulcer requiring in-patient treatment. This cost the Government an estimated F239 million,” said Diabetes Federation of Ireland CEO Kieran O’Leary.

“We very much welcome the HSE’s commitment of F1m this year to develop this programme which, if properly implemented, will advance diabetes care greatly, improve the quality of life of patients and, in time,

www.irishexaminer.com www.irishexaminer.com

BRUSH UP: The Irish Dental Association says it’s best to brush your teeth at the same time every day.

Picture: iStock

make huge financial saving for the government,” he added.

Dr Ronan Canavan, consultant endocrinologist, St Vincent’s Hospital said, “This programme is a major first step in reducing the current level of foot ulcers and lower-limb amputations in Ireland by up to 70%. These occur largely because of a lack of early de-

www.irishexaminer.com feelgood@examiner.ie

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

tection and timely intervention of foot problems.”

Tinnitus — an incessant ringing in the ears — can be eliminated by “retuning” part of the brain, scientists have discovered.

Researchers were able to halt tinnitus in laboratory rats using a technique that involved nerve stimulation paired with sounds.

An early clinical trial testing the treatment on human patients is due to begin in a few months.

Tinnitus is often triggered by exposure to loud noise, which destroys cells in the inner ear that transmit sound signals to the brain.

Scientists believe the brain tries to compensate for the missing signals, leading to phantom sounds ranging from rattles to roaring, whooshing, or a jet-engine whine. Other causes include injury and normal ageing.

The study was conducted at the University of Texas, Dallas, and reported in Nature.

Children who are victims of cyber-bullying are more likely to use technology to pick on people themselves, according to research published this week.

A survey of British secondary school pupils found girls were more likely to bully others using texts or the internet.

Child psychologist Shane Gallagher from Cambridgeshire Educational Psychology Service also found that parents were unlikely to know the extent of the problem, whether their child was a victim or a bully.

Editorial: 021 4802 292

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In profile

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Mikey Graham

THE SHAPE I'M IN

My stage of life B OYZONE’S Mikey Graham has had a busy year. He starred in the fifth series of Dancing On Ice and he was a contender in Eurosong 2010, with his song, Baby, There’s Nothing Wrong.

Mikey, 38, says being so busy helped him, at a time when the lads from Boyzone were grieving hard for bandmate, Stephen Gately, who died in October, 2009.

“It gave me something to be focused on, rather than the dreadful reality of what was occurring at the time.

Stephen’s still a huge loss, as he will be forever. It makes you aware of your own mortality and that life is precious.

We’re only here for a blip of time, so it’s important to get into the right state of mind,” he says.

Married to Karen Corradi, Mikey is dad to two daughters — Sienna Nicole, 4, and Hannah, 14 — and is looking forward to touring with Boyzone next year. Currently, he’s starring as the evil Abanazar in Aladdin — this year’s panto at the Gaiety Theatre, it runs from November 28 to January 30 (visit www.gaietytheatre.com).

What shape are you in?

We generally start our training schedule late in the year, before going on tour, so I’d be in peak shape around March/April. I graze through the summer and put on a stone or more. Then, I concentrate on losing that. I go to the gym three times a week for 45 minutes.

Do you pray?

Not in the traditional religious way — I have my own way of connecting with the source.

What would cheer up your day?

My children are my world, so when my four-year-old jumps into bed beside me, I turn around and look at her and that makes my day.

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What are your healthiest eating habits?

I’d be a relatively healthy eater. I love fruit, veg, lean meat and fish. It’s easier when I’m on tour, because catering has the right meals ready for us. At home, when it’s a toss-up between a two-minute microwave dinner or chopping vegetables for half an hour, you can guess which one I’ll have.

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What’s your guiltiest pleasure?

There’s nothing like a glass of red wine and a large pizza with pepperoni.

Hy n

Are you a good sleeper?

I’m not a good night-sleeper. I haven’t been since I was a child. If I’ve got an early start, I’m always on edge. I go into a deep sleep at 5am and then wake up, knackered, at 7.

I’m like a vampire. My circadian rhythm is Australian.

Over the last few years, I nod off on the couch during the day.

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Do you have fears, phobias or unwanted habits that limit you in everyday life?

Use the Power of your mind to create the life of your dreams

How do you relax?

There’s a nice little country pub, a couple of hundred metres from where I live, in north Co Dublin. I like to go there, especially in winter, when the fire is blazing. I enjoy going in and having a chat with the fellows at the bar.

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Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Albert Einstein, Gandhi, Plato or Socrates and some famous world leaders like John F Kennedy. They’d be my kind of people. We’d have a good old chat.

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When did you last cry?

I think it was at Stephen Gately’s funeral.

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What’s your favourite smell?

The smell of onion and garlic frying.

What would you change about your appearance?

I wish I was tall, dark and handsome.

What trait do you least like in others?

Dishonesty — being untruthful with your word. It’s very important to me that I can trust people for their word, that they have a strong sense of integrity.

For more information visit

www.powerwithin.ie

What trait do you least like in yourself?

I think too much. I sometimes wish I could be more blasé about things. I’m extremely analytical.

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Deal of the week from

Helen O’Callaghan

FOR THE GIRLS: Mikey as Abanazar, in Aladdin piled on weight over summer but lost it once he hit the gym.

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CALL JEAN NOW FOR A FREE INTRODUCTORY CONSULTATION (NO OBLIGATION) 73 Wilton Road, Cork

087 9601701 or 086 3728307 FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

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Making moves Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore, says Arlene Harris as she tries to keep

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up with three women who stay in shape while doing unusual and enjoyable activities

They stay fit in a fun-filled way On my first day I was told that I would have a bum like Beyonce

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and it seems to ringing true so far

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ARTINA MCDONALD is a member of the Dublin Roller Girls (DRG).This high-octane sport involves being fast on your feet, having a good sense of balance and building up a good level of stamina.

“Last summer, my friend and I met some of the DRG at a fundraiser,” recalls the 23-year-old. “They were all so friendly and we thought they looked really cool so we went home and checked them out online and that’s where it all began.

“There was an induction day coming up so I went along to that, fell in love with the game and haven’t looked back since.”

The fast-paced sport is not for the faint hearted, but the Kildare woman says it produces results — fast.

“It is a fantastic way to keep fit — helping you lose weight and get toned in a very enjoyable way,” she says. “You’re so involved in the game, that you don’t even notice the exercise.

“Skating tones you up all over, especially in hips, thighs and bum — on my first day I was told that I would have a bum like Beyonce — and it seems to be ringing true so far.

“It is also a great way to release the stresses of everyday life.”

Each training session is usually two hours long, with a 10 minute warm-up at the start, followed by a lively game which involves both teams trying to block their opponents from scoring points and a cool-down at the end.

“As a beginner, you train one day a week and work on skating skills, derby rules and endurance,” says McDonald, who works as an artist. “Once you pass the induction stage, you train two days a week and get introduced to physical contact, tactics and strategies. When you pass the intermediate level you become a senior roller girl and are eligible to attend three sessions per week.”

With teams all over the country, Roller Derby is fast becoming a popular sport suitable for all ages.

“The great thing about derby is that it includes everyone and is accepting of all body types and anyone over 18,” she says. “It’s definitely a sport that strives to promote a healthy body image and it’s very important to us that the sport is represented in this way.

“Derby brings people together and is overflowing with team spirit. We train together, plan together, win together and most importantly, have fun together.

“Women from such a wide range of backgrounds are brought together by Roller Derby and it allows you to build relationships with people you otherwise wouldn’t know.”

OW many times have you promised yourself that the new year will see a fitter, healthier and altogether better version of yourself? We have all made resolutions to lose weight and while many of us don’t last more than a month, a few stalwarts find the willpower to stick with their guns and change their lifestyle for good.

Those who last the distance are either very determined or happen to stumble upon a fitness regime that manages to be effective and enjoyable.

We spoke to three women who found unusual ways to get fit while having fun.

TEAM PLAYER: Roller skating is so fast and intense you don’t even notice the heavy-duty exercise, says Martina McDonald. Picture: Nick

Bradshaw.

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■ For more information on Roller Derby visit: www.facebook.com/dublinrollergirls or email dublinrollergirls@gmail.com

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NN NORTON is a 37-year-old mother-of-three. Unlike most of her counterparts she doesn’t keep fit through walking, jogging or swimming — instead, in a bid to tone up and raise much needed funds for a children’s charity she has taken up white-collar boxing.

“I took up boxing towards the end of last year to take part in a fundraising event for the Clare Crusaders Children’s Charity,” says Norton. “It started with an eight-week training programme which included two nights in Ennis Boxing Club and one night at the gym.

“I’m fairly fit and in the past have done a couple of marathons and 10k runs, but boxing is definitely one of the best exercises I have ever taken part in — it’s really tough but very rewarding.”

The Clare woman (who voluntarily manages the children’s charity) says training sessions are serious and focused with each would-be boxer envisaging their own end goal. “Training takes place on Monday and Friday evenings and there is never any time to talk — it s straight down to business,” she says. “Running laps, skipping, press-ups, sit-ups and lots of other floor exercises are done before any boxing takes place.

“Then after the warm up, we spar with each other in the ring — it’s tough and gruelling and I don’t think I have ever drunk as much water in all my life. It’s exhausting and exhilarating at the same time.”

In the run-up to a boxing match before Christmas training was extra

FIGHTING FIT: Ann Norton has taken up white-collar boxing for charity.

Picture: Eamon Ward

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hard as she needed to be in peak condition.

“While preparing for my fight, I boxed at least twice a week and often ran every night,” she says. “That was really hard, but I had to be as fit as possible, so I also did spinning and circuit training to improve my fitness levels — it was really intense.”

After eight weeks of training Ann (whose husband Cathal also took part in the boxing event) was ready to show what she was made of — but did the novice boxer have enough to see her through the match?

“When it came to fight night I was fit and looking forward to going into the ring,” she says. “I think a lot of people expected handbag fighting, but we were well trained and were ready to give it our all.”

With an audience of more than 100 people, the petite boxer was running on adrenalin.

“There was a great buzz in the air and it made the whole thing very exciting,” she recalls. “I went into the ring used everything I had learnt over the eight weeks. So I was delighted that I stayed on my feet and managed to make it to a draw. I was on a high — so proud off myself, and sorry that it was over.”

But she has no intention of hanging up the boxing gloves just yet and plans to continue with the training on a less frantic level.

“I’m definitely going to keep on with the training and would highly recommend boxing as a form of exercise,” she says. “It helps you to tone up and lose weight, but it is also good for your mind.

“Boxing a punch bag is a great way to release stress. It did me so much good that I have continued to train with the boxers once a week. I lost a stone in weight and I want to keep it off — also I feel so much more energetic and that’s definitely a good thing.”

Raising money for the Clare Crusaders is not an easy task and Ann and her colleagues hope to keep up their fitness.

“Because I volunteer my services by running the clinic and fundraising events, I have to be willing to take part myself,” she says.

“The upside is that I will remain fit and healthy and hopefully this will be an annual event for us.”

■ For more information about boxing visit www.whitecollarboxing.ie ■ To support the Clare Crusaders visit their website www.clarecrusaders.ie

Boxing helps you to tone up and lose weight but it is also good for your mind

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ÓISÍN CORRIGAN fell in love with dancing as a young girl. But unlike her friends, she wasn’t interested in doing a reel — her intentions were far more exotic.

“I used to watch the James Bond films with my mum on Saturday nights and during From Russia with Love I first saw a belly dancer in a red and silver costume,” recalls the 35-year-old. “Even though I was only seven, I was immediately fascinated by the beautiful way she was moving and decided that I would learn the dance when I grew up.”

Twenty years later, the Dublin woman took her first class and although a novice, her enthusiasm made her stand out from the rest of her classmates.

“I saw a flyer for a belly-dancing class and went religiously very week — I loved it,” she says. “Then I started getting requests to take part in gigs outside the class and began to train in cabaret belly dance.”

The recruitment consultant was so taken with this Eastern dance form that she began to experiment and after discovering Tribal Fusion belly dance (an amalgamation of different styles including American tribal, flamenco, belly-dance and hip-hop) decided to take her workout to another level by teaching others how to dance.

“There was no Tribal Fusion going on in Ireland. So I set about creating that presence and now it has really taken off.”

Róisín’s classes last for two hours or more and she keeps herself and her classmates fit with a mix of stretching, warm-ups and vigorous dancing.

“The first half hour of every class is devoted to conditioning and strengthening with a lot of emphasis on muscle-isolating exercises and deep, yoga-inspired stretches,” she says. “Then we drill, drill, drill as the challenging moves can only be mastered by repetition.

“The nature of this exercise helps to define the waist as you are constantly using these muscles — it also develops and defines the shoulders and arms. And some of the movements such as power-shimmies involve moving the hips and buttocks so fast that it builds stamina

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Belly dancing really makes you sweat and burn up those calories really quickly and as you are using some of the major muscle groups, it really makes you sweat and burn up those calories.”

Róisín says that despite the mysterious image of belly dancing, it is an exercise form that would benefit people of all ages.

“Belly dance is for all women, young and old, of all shapes and sizes,” she says.

“There are too many myths surrounding what a woman should look like, it’s all nonsense — extremely slim women dance every bit as well as their curvier sisters and vice versa.

“It’s all down to your passion and dedication. It’s great fun and good exercise — every woman should take at least one class.”

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To find out about belly-dancing classes, email aoifehardiman@gmail.com.

RIGHT MOVES: Róisín Corrigan incorporates conditioning and strengthening into her belly-dancing classes. Picture: Maura Hickey

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Is the reason we comfort eat solely down to mood or could it be due to genetics?

Nutritionist Carina Norris investigates

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LMOST all of us will vouch for the fact that comfort eating is a very real phenomenon. Who hasn’t grabbed a slice of cake or a chocolate bar after a tough day at work, or eaten a whole tub of ice cream in front of the TV after breaking up with a boyfriend? Food makes us feel better — and we rarely choose healthy foods to prop ourselves up. Sticky toffee pudding is so much more comforting than broccoli.

Last year, the media trumpeted the discovery of a ‘comfort eating’ gene that drove people to eat during times of stress.

If this existed, EMOTIONAL LINK: comfort eaters Associations form around the world between ‘treat’ foods could rejoice — and happy feelings — because all we would need to do we’re given ice cream when we’re good, for to boost our chances of success- example as kids. Then, when we grow up, the ful weight-loss would be to relax. links strengthen.

The scientists in Picture: Getty Images the studies genetically engineered mice to be ‘super stressed’ by switching on a gene that produced extra amounts of a chemical called UCN3, which is associated with stress. The stressed mice went on to gain weight, but not because they ate more; they ate the same as the ‘normal’ mice. But the bodies of the stressed mice stored more fat, and that’s why they put on weight.

So, if the same holds true for humans, stress could contribute to weight-gain, but because of our metabolisms, not because the suspect gene drove us to comfort eat.

That’s not to say that genetics doesn’t play a very important role in comfort eating, though. Genes are involved in appetite and willpower, so unfortunately some people are hard-wired to be hungrier and less strong-willed than others.

WHY WE COMFORT EAT Whatever genetic hand we’re dealt though, we all battle with comfort eating to a certain extent. Food and psychology are inextricably entwined, and the process starts when we’re children.

Associations form between ‘treat’ foods and

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Picture: Getty Images

Chews for yourself Next time we feel low, we turn to chocolate again, and we become conditioned to think we need a sweet comforting treat in order to make us feel good again.

It’s a vicious cycle happy feelings — we’re given ice cream when we’re good, for example. Then, when we grow up, the links strengthen — when the boss yells at us, we eat a chocolate bar, and, lo and behold, we feel better. Next time we feel low, we turn to chocolate again, and we become conditioned to think we need a sweet, comforting treat in order to make us feel good again. It’s a vicious cycle.

We turn to food as a crutch — a bit like cigarettes or alcohol — when we’re under pressure. On top of that, we’re less able to stick to our healthy eating resolutions when we’re stressed or feeling low, just at the time when we need to eat healthily more than ever. Stress depletes our levels of many essential vitamins, including the B vitamins and vitamin C. BREAKING OUT OF THE TRAP Identify when and why you comfort eat.

Sometimes comfort eating is just a habit — maybe you always have a sticky pastry with your latte, or a glass of wine when you get home from work. So try to break the association and form a healthier habit — if you have a different drink, such as tea instead of your latte, for example, you might find it acceptable to have a more healthy treat, such as a small biscotti.

Or it could be that you are eating out of boredom: do you always find yourself ‘picking’ when you’re watching TV? If so, find something else to do with your hands, even take up knitting if it helps.

Exercise is also a great alternative to comfort food — whatever the cause. It raises your endorphin levels, boosting your mood, and distracts you from whatever was leading you to eat in the first place.

Many women comfort eat before their period, too. Hormonal mood swings make it harder to resist temptation, but cleaning up

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your diet can help. Cut down on processed food, get your energy from wholegrains, eat as much fruit and veg as you can, and drink plenty of water. Taking a supplement of evening primrose or starflower oil, or calcium and magnesium, can also be of benefit. Ask a registered nutritionist or dietician for further advice.

Eating regular meals and snacks with a low-glycaemic index (GI) will also help maintain steady blood sugar levels, keeping your energy levels, and also your mood, stable. They’ll help you resist the craving for something sweet and comforting too.

Finally, stick notes on your fridge and food cupboards, for when you feel yourself crumbling, saying ‘Will I regret this?’. If certain foods, such as biscuits or ice cream, are your downfall, ban them from the house entirely.

That’s not to say you must never have them again, just make sure you only eat them when you’re out, and only have one.

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Psychology Children must be allowed to express their fears, doubts and depressions

Positive response

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�� ����� PRIMA BALLERINA Natalie Portman puts her best foot forward in the critically acclaimed Black Swan.

Tony Humphreys

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ROM the moment of conception there is a unique individual present and it is for this reason that the parenting of a child needs to start at conception, not at birth. Unless each of us as adults learn to parent ourselves, develop a solid sense of our individuality and a consistent active listening and nurturing of ourselves, we are not even remotely ready to parent a child.

The preparation of prospective parents for the unselfish task of mature parenting is an urgent issue. Much of what has happened in the dark religious, political, educational, social and economic history of Ireland, not only in the major downturn over the last three years, but since the founding of the state, would not have happened if we had more enlightened and mature leaders.

Crises provide the opportunity for profound reflection and a deep examination by each person of their interiority. Such an examination appears to be only slowly emerging. When the unique and sacred presence of each person is recognised and there is an absence of blaming and judging, crucial self-examination is more likely to happen.

When any politician condemns and judges a member of another party, he or she is in a serious place of denial and it does not bode well for any of us were that individual to get into government.

Christ put it so well when he said ‘Forgive them for they know not what they do.’ Christ saw the darkness within individuals and knew that that darkness was unconsciously created by the person to hide the light of their true nature from those who were not in a place to affirm and celebrate it. It is not that Christ was excusing people for their dark actions, but he knew that no hope of change was possible, unless compassion and understanding were present.

Currently, we need to see an abundance of unconditional love and compassion in order for the authenticity, accountability and personal responsibility to emerge so that maturity is what defines what happens within and between individuals.

This week’s article was prompted by a recent initiative by the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) whose members expressed concern for primary school children who are manifesting worries about the downturn in the economy, family financial difficulties, emigration and, no doubt, a change in their own financial situation — less to spend than before and, certainly, less being spent on them.

IPPN members expressed wise concerns about the children’s expressed fears and depression. They decided that a response on their part was required and came up with Positivity Week, which it is hoped will take place in schools towards the end of January. The week will focus on a celebration of children’s extra-curricular activities and talents, such as sport, music and art and the development of a ‘green’ environment.

Children, from their earliest moments of existence notice any threats — physical, sexual, intellectual, social, behavioural — to their wellbeing and will automatically and unconsciously create defensive responses to those threats. Children are not victims to the threats they encounter, but they are certainly

ALL THAT GLITTERS An insider’s guide to the Golden Globes.

HELPING OUT: Young children are manifesting worries about the downturn in the economy and families’ financial difficulties. Picture: Getty Images

very powerful defenders of their sacred selves. What parents and teachers describe as troubled behaviour in children — fears, anxieties, depression, hyperactivity, passivity, shyness, isolation — are powerful defences against experiencing further abandonment threats or, at least, reducing the number of such sad experiences.

Teachers are to be praised for noticing what may be going on in children’s interior worlds, but there is a danger that the ‘Positivity’ initiative could become a whitewash, a masking of the very real fears the children are experiencing.

A true positivity response would be where children in small groups are allowed to express their fears, doubts and depression about what is happening in their lives and to be supported and encouraged — each child — to find their own answers to their current difficulties.

The old saying ‘children should be seen but not heard’ resonates here, and we need to ensure that each child is personalised, that active listening is present and that there is no attempt on an adult’s part to reassure that everything will be all right, or to dilute, to neutralise what the child is experiencing and expressing.

We know as adults that when we are going through difficult times the last thing we require is ‘ad-vice’ (emphasis on the fact that it is a ‘vice’ to give advice), but what truly helps is a kind and patient active listening where it becomes possible for the confusion within to clarify itself and for you to create your own answers. In this regard, children have similar needs and abilities to understand and find their own answers.

Talking with children is the most powerful way for them to feel a sense of being in charge, a sense of security and a sense that ‘I’m going to be okay’.

Dr Tony Humphreys is a clinical psychologist, author and international speaker. His recent book with co-author Helen Ruddle, Relationship, Relationship, Relationship: The Heart of a Mature Society is relevant to today’s topic.

CHIN UP 21 reasons to be cheerful about 2011.

Cork Buteyko Course for Snoring and Asthma commencing Sunday 30th January 50% less wheezing and coughing & 70% less need for reliever medication within TWO WEEKS. 50% less preventer medication within 3–6 MONTHS. (Mater Hospital, Brisbane) 75% less snoring within TWO WEEKS.

By Patrick McKeown, author & International practitioner.

As seen on RTE Health Squad, Irish Times and Irish Independent.

Freecall: 1800 931 935 or visit www.asthmacare.ie

Feelgood

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

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Acting forxxxxxxxx the future

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Stem cells collected from umbilical cord blood may help your child to fight future illnesses, but John Hearne says there are sharply divided views on the practice

Avoiding a cell-by date A

Picture: Getty Images

Feelgood

S Ashley Cavers approached the birth of her first child, Conor, there was one thing she was determined to do. Members of her husband’s family had been diagnosed with the devastating degenerative condition, Huntington’s disease.

Though there are currently no stem cell treatments for the condition, she decided to collect her new baby’s stem cells. “If my children were to develop the disease it would not be for another 30 years or so,” says the Cork mother.

“Who knows what advancements there may be in stem cell therapy in that time?”

Stem cells are essentially immature cells that have the potential to develop into one of the many types of cell that make up the human body. They can act as a kind of repair kit, replenishing dead and damaged cells. It is this capacity that has fuelled research into potential stem cell therapies for a range of conditions.

And because the umbilical cord is a source of stem cells, it has become increasingly popular to collect these cells at birth, and then store them cryogenically. It’s regarded as a kind of insurance policy.

“The way we approached it,” says Ashley Cavers, “was that we could not forgive ourselves if we had not taken every possible measure to protect the future health of our children.”

But when she talked to staff at the hospital where she was due to give birth, problems emerged. “We were very unlucky in that when we first made enquiries about cord blood collection in Ireland, the hospitals were just beginning to react to a European directive requiring hospitals to meet certain conditions before allowing it to take place. Before this, it had happened quite easily in most hospitals up and down the country. But rather than take this as an opportunity to clarify and formalise the procedure of cord blood collection, most hospitals in Ireland decided it would be easier just to stop them happening altogether.”

Ashley and her husband offered compromises — they would bring in their own midwife, they offered to sign waivers absolving the hospital of all responsibility. Cavers even considered flying to Britain and having the baby there.

“I ended up contacting the Irish Medicines Board directly and pretty much threatened to hold them responsible, morally and legally, if they prevented me from collecting the cord blood.” Permission to collect the cells came a week before her due date, on condition that she bring her own midwife. “In the end, the hospital was very helpful,” she says. “I believe they were always sympathetic to our case, but they felt themselves bound by red tape and a lack of clarity regarding national policy to be able to help us.”

Five years later the lack of clarity is gone. Unless you go to a private hospital where staff are willing to facilitate you, you will not be able to collect cord blood. The HSE says that patients in Ireland who need stem cells can access these through donations from a family member or from donations from unrelated members of the public. In a statement, a spokesperson says that these stem cells are mostly

from bone marrow.

Cord blood banking is currently not a publicly provided service in Ireland.

The irony is that since Ashley’s experience, an EU directive which deals with the collection of cord blood has been fully implemented in Ireland, giving the process a legal framework which it had lacked.

Michael Doherty is MD of Medicare Health and Living Ltd, a Dublin- based company which offers cord blood collection services. He is mystified as to why the HSE will not facilitate the services he provides. “We have asked for meetings with them and we’ve asked for contact with them. We are the first company in Europe to obtain a procurement authorisation under the European directive. On that basis, we wrote to the HSE asking to be included in their review panel. We didn’t receive any reply, so it is something of a mystery to us as to why, especially now that it has a legal framework and is an identifiable process endorsed by the IMB, the HSE don’t facilitate us.”

The company trains one of the medical professionals present at the birth, provides all the equipment needed to carry out the procedure, then conveys the collected blood to a storage facility in Britain, where it will be held until such time as it may be needed. The full cost is F2,450, plus blood testing, which Doherty says costs in the region of F330. Health insurers Aviva cover cord blood stem preservation under their maternity benefits. There’s a F600 contribution towards a single child or identical twins and a F900 contribution towards non-identical of twins.

Despite the fact that

TRUE BLOOD: A colour scan of foetal blood stem cells. Picture: Science Photo Library.

<

HSE hospitals do not officially facilitate the collection of cord blood, Doherty says that extenuating circumstances can sometimes apply.

“You might have a consultant who’s very keen to do it because he or she believes in it. You may have a case where the parent has an existing sick child and they’re desperate to have it done.”

Doherty has also seen situations where, like Ashley Caver, parents succeed by forcing the issue. More frequently the parents’ wishes are ignored. “It’s an extraordinary situation where a mum says ‘I want to collect my own blood and tissue’ and yet it’s being discarded against her wishes.”

The chances of needing the cells based on the current therapies available is very low, approximately one in 200,000. Cord blood transfusions, it should be said, are very common in Ireland, but all transfusions are sourced from public banks overseas. “We are one of the few countries that are happy to take from the other banks,” says Michael Doherty, “but not happy to contribute.”

Not everyone believes collecting stem cells is always worthwhile. Dr Stephen Sullivan is chief scientific officer of the Irish Stem Cell Foundation. “There is medical evidence that blood stem cells can be used effectively to treat nine different conditions… That’s it. That’s where science and medicine stops.”

Sullivan’s particular concern is with what he terms stem cell tourism.

There are now a range of private clinics around the world which offer, usually at huge cost, stem cell treatments for conditions which, says Sullivan, cannot possibly work. Media focus on the X-Cell clinic in Germany highlighted a range of patient experiences; some claiming mir-

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

The way we approached stem cell therapy is that we could not forgive ourselves if we had not taken every possible measure to protect the future health of our child SAFE KEEPING: Ashley Kavers pictured with her son Conor in 2008.

Picture:Daragh Mac Sweeney/Provision

acle improvements, others reporting little or no change to their conditions. Sullivan vehemently rejects the idea that any of these treatments can ever work. “The idea that you can take stem cells and use them to treat the intricate wiring of the human brain is a bit like saying you can fix your car by throwing a battery at the bonnet.”

“People are under huge amount of stress,” he continues. “Sometimes if you offer them any hope at all, the fact that they’re doing something about their condition can make them feel better. It’s called the placebo effect, but ultimately these effects are short lived and unfortunately, the patient’s underlying condition isn’t being treated by what the clinic is doing.”

But doesn’t the insurance argument make sense? “The thing is you’d have to work out what is the probability that this could help my child.” Says Sullivan. “Insurance represents good value for money when the outcome is quite probable…You can’t make a blanket statement that covers every child’s condition.

You have to consult a haematologist about your children’s condition and if it’s a condition that doesn’t relate to the blood, then (collecting cord blood) is not going to help you.”

Ashley Caver accepts this logic. “I understand when I am told by medical professionals that it is unlikely stem cell science will ever provide a cure to this particular illness that so tragically affects my family.

“However, in the future it may provide the answer for treatments to help alleviate the symptoms or even delay the onset of the disease. How could we not take that gamble?”

HARVEST TIME: Tubes of umbilical cord blood are saved for stem cell harvesting.

Picture: Science Photo Library

GOOD SERVICE: Helen McConnell with her 11-week-old son Thomas. It cost over F2,500 to use the cord blood collection service. Picture: Nick Bradshaw

It’s packaged in a box and taken for storage

N

EWSPAPER articles about cord blood collection first prompted Helen McConnell to explore the possibility when she was pregnant with her first child. Though there are no known genetic conditions in either her own or her husband’s families, she knew people whose children had been diagnosed with leukemia, and was swayed by the insurance argument.

“It cost around F2,000 to get it done, but I weighed it up and decided I wanted it.

You have it there for 20 years if your child gets ill. You want to do the best for your baby. We wanted to do everything we could.”

Because HSE hospitals do not facilitate the collection of cord blood, McConnell chose to have the baby in a private hospital — Mount Carmel in Dublin. She got in touch with Medicare Health and Living,

which provide stem cell collection services, and asked her consultant to perform the procedure on the day. Though she had to have a caesarean, the blood was still collected, and the procedure itself was not at all intrusive.

“I didn’t even notice it being done,” she says. “There are certain parts you have to do yourself, but the staff are very helpful.

The consultant collects the blood, you just have to package it in the box and write up the labels when the baby’s born. It’s not difficult. You just ring up Medicare and they arrange a courier straight away to collect it.”

The blood is then analysed to ensure it is of sufficient quality, then it’s conveyed to a stem cell bank in Britain where it will be held for 20 years. “It’s the only chance I had to do it and I’m very happy that I did it,” says McConnell: “There’s great peace of mind in knowing that it’s there.”

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10 Medical matters

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Q

HOW important is your body shape and why are doctors concerned now about your waist measurement being more important than BMI? Also, what is the most important risk factor for heart disease?

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

foods, particularly purine rich food such as meat (particularly offal), herring, anchovies, shellfish, asparagus, spinach, cauliflower, mushrooms and pulses. Alcohol especially (beer, spirits and port) and dried fruits should be limited. Keep to not more than one unit of alcohol per day for women and two units daily for men.

A. While BMI (body mass index) is Gout can affect anyone. Men are a good way to decide if you’re a more likely to get gout, but women healthy weight, it doesn’t tell the are also at risk, especially after whole story. BMI is a measure of how menopause. Gout usually affects the healthy your weight is for your height large joint of your big toe, but can aland sex. If you have a high BMI, you so occur in your feet, ankles, knees, know that you’re probably carrying hands and wrists. Certain illnesses may extra fat. But your health could be at increase the risk of developing gout. a greater risk depending on where These include untreated high blood you store that fat. We store spare body pressure, diabetes, high levels of fat fat under the skin, and also around the and cholesterol and narrowing of the vital organs in our abdomen. We now arteries (arteriosclerosis). Medications know that this fat around the absuch as thiazide diuretics and low-dose domen causes more health problems aspirin also can increase uric acid levthan fat carried on the bottom or els. thighs.

A blood test can measure the uric Having a large amount of tummy fat acid level, but results can be misleadwhen compared to having fat around ing. Some people have high levels of the bottom or thighs make you more uric acid, but never experience gout. likely to develop type 2 diabetes and And others have signs of gout, but heart disease. A healthy waist meadon’t have abnormal levels of uric acid surement for women is not more than in their blood. Conventional medicine 80cm (32”). Figuring out the risk to used to treat gout includes NSAIDs your health is simple. Measure your such as ibuprofen. These can be used at SIZE MATTERS: Waist size is now being used by hips and your waist. Divide the waist doctors as a marker for health. The larger it is the more a higher dose to control inflammation number by the hip number. A ratio of likely you are to develop type 2 diabetes and heart and pain, followed by a lower daily 1.0 or more in men or 0.85 in women disease. Picture: Getty Images dose to prevent future attacks. If you’re indicates that you are carrying too unable to take NSAIDs, another type much weight around your middle. This puts of pain reliever that can be used is risk factor. Breast and womb cancer account colchicine. For frequent gout attacks there you at increased risk of diseases that are linked to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes and for about a third of newly-diagnosed cancers are medications called xanthine oxidase inin women. heart disease. hibitors (such as allopurinol) that block uric Anyone who is carrying excess weight, Ireland has a poor record for heart disease acid production. Probenecid is a type of anywhere on the body, would find health because of our high fat diet, a tendency to medication that improves the kidney’s ability benefits from losing that weight. Improving to remove uric acid from the body. have salt in our diet (high amounts of salt your diet and increasing your physical activare found in processed, convenience foods,) To help prevent gout, drink between 2-4 ity will not only make you feel better but high incidence of obesity, the effects of litres of fluid each day (at least 50% water), will increase your life expectancy. smoking and low levels of exercise. Other avoid alcohol, eat a moderate amount of risk factors for heart disease include high protein, preferably low-fat or fat-free dairy.

Q. My husband had severe pain in his cholesterol and blood pressure.

Lose weight if indicated, and keep blood But having a large waistline is not only an big toe recently. A friend said it could be pressure and cholesterol within normal levimportant indicator of your risk for diabetes gout, but I thought that only affected els. Fasting or rapid weight loss can temolder, overweight men. He is 35 and fair- porarily raise uric acid levels. Studies have and heart condition. Experts from the ly fit, though he does indulge in a few World Cancer Research Fund have found found an association between coffee drinkglasses of wine most evenings and loves that excess body fat increases the risk of all ing and lower uric acid levels. cheese. What can he do to prevent it cancers, but is strongly linked to cancers of Supplements containing vitamin C may the bowel, pancreas, breast and womb lining coming back? reduce the levels of uric acid, but it hasn’t (endometrial cancer). Over the last few been studied as a treatment for gout. You A. Gout is caused by a build-up of uric years the evidence has become increasingly can increase your vitamin C intake by eating acid, which crystallises, causing pain in the strong that excess body fat, and particularly more fruits and vegetables, especially orjoints. Uric acid is a by-product of certain fat carried around the middle, is a cancer anges.

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

A

Catherine Shanahan MUM’S WORLD Feelgood

CHILD’S mind is like a magician’s hat — full of surprises when you could have sworn it was empty.

To get anything out of it, you must first put something in. This can involve explanations as endless as the variety of items in a housewife’s handbag. When the repetition becomes too much to bear, we point them towards dad.

“Ask your father” is a favourite get-out clause among mothers. Excuses may be tools of the incompetent, but there is a certain skill in knowing when to pass the buck.

Exhorting my son not to tell tales runs into trouble when the boy next door has his sister in a suffocating headlock and he dithers whether to dish the dirt. “No-one likes a tell-tale” mammy had said, so he stands his ground as his sister goes limp.

He is at a loss to understand mammy’s anger when, moments later, she spies the shenanigans. “WHY DIDN’T YOU COME AND TELL ME?” she roars through her rage. Luckily, the sister survives, and mammy sends the next half-hour expounding on how all morality is situational and how sometimes IT IS VITAL to spill the beans if somebody’s life is at risk.

The two-year-old is confused by her belief in the literal. She stops in her tracks

while telling Nana a story when her attentive grandmother tells her she is “All ears”.

With a quick glance at Nana’s lugs she corrects her. “You have two ears Nana,” she says solemnly, before recommencing her tale.

Neither child has any concept of time. In Lughaidh’s universe everything either happened “last night” or is due to take place tomorrow. The present is a state he doesn’t recognise.

The concept of holidays needs clarification. How could Christmas be a holiday when we never strayed beyond our own untropical town? Didn’t holidays equal aeroplanes, swimming pools and clear blue skies?

They had heard mammy say two weeks on sunny shores meant a year on the financial rocks but what the hell, they were only young once and it would be no time at all before they would sooner spend a fortnight in boot camp than holiday abroad with their parents. But what had wellies got to do with tents?

Yes, we spend an inordinate amount of time explaining the evident without any real feel for how much the child is taking in.

Better then to fill them with ideas and not stuff them with facts so that somewhere down the road they will figure out themselves how to pull the rabbit from the hat.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

The concept of holidays needs clarification. How could Christmas be a holiday when we never strayed beyond our own untropical town?

Didn’t holidays equal aeroplanes, swimming pools and clear blue skies?

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Facing change 11 I cherish each new year, because I’m lucky to be alive, says Emma Hannigan

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HE title of my cancer memoir wasn’t an accident. Talk to The Head Scarf was an obvious choice, as hair loss is such an enormous issue for many cancer patients — women, in particular.

We may have cancer, we may have to endure chemotherapy — but, please, don’t make us lose our glorious hair.

RTÉ presenter, Derek Mooney, found this out the hard way, on live television, recently when he innocently cracked a joke about a young woman in the audience who was wearing a turban — only to find out that it was to hide chemotherapy-induced hair loss.

I feel so sorry for both of them — for Derek, for hurting someone utterly by mistake and for that poor woman, who was bravely going out with a cancer-hiding turban.

Having lost my own hair to chemotherapy, I can only begin to imagine the hurt and embarrassment she must have felt.

This time four years ago, that woman in the audience could have been me.

I had lost my hair, too. I was in that position where anonymity from my illness came at the price of an itchy wig that made me feel like I’d a rampant dose of nits. To me, my wig resembled road kill.

I tried wigs and scarves (hence, Talk To The Headscarf) and managed to come out the other end.

Now, several years later, my hair has, thankfully, grown back.

Cancer changes so many things — not just your hair, or lack of it. It makes you very, very grateful. Unlike for many people, January is one of my favourite months. For me, the new year signals a fresh start.

I’ve found that the first month of the year tends to split people into two camps. Firstly, there’s Camp Misery. They lament the Christmas just past, while tutting and counting the financial cost, units of alcohol and extra weight.

They mutter phrases like: ‘All that fuss for just one day,’ and do lots of head shaking and deep sighing. There is very little joy or mirth to be had with the whole Christmas episode.

The only relief they can honestly feel comes from the fact they’ve successfully managed to ‘survive’ the holiday.

Then there’s Camp Celebrate. This lot are all arms in air, while embracing the positivity and excitement of the year ahead. They love party poppers, silly string and novelty reindeer ear rings with flashing noses. Instead of stressing, they end up shrugging and saying, ‘ah sure, it’s Christmas,’ as they whoop and pop the cork on a bottle of Cava.

I am a fully signed up member of Camp Celebrate. By January, I feel a personal sense of achievement with each year that passes.

After cancer and baldness touched my life, I’ve spent the last six New Year’s Eves filled with enormous gratitude to be alive.

Dramatic? Yes. But, in fairness, I think I’ve a decent excuse.

Six years ago, I discovered I carry a cancer gene called BRCA1. This meant I had a whooping 85% chance of developing breast cancer, and a 50% chance of developing ovarian cancer.

There is family history of breast and ovari-

Feelgood

an cancer. My mum, Denise, is one of eight girls and three of her sisters had breast cancer in their 30s. My aunt, Helen, died from it at the age of 42, and a grand-aunt had died of ovarian cancer. So, when my aunt Ruth, who’d had breast cancer, called a family meeting to say she was a carrier of the BCRA1 gene, I decided to get tested.

I chose to have a bi-lateral mastectomy and both ovaries removed, which earned me my sigh of relief on New Year’s Eve of 2005. In 2006, I endured the devastating surgery.

Despite taking those precautions, since then I’ve battled cancer six times in four years. I reckon each triumph earns me at least one noisy exhale, along with much smiling and hugging. I am now on an oral form of chemotherapy, which means I take tablets at home. I also attend Blackrock Clinic every three weeks, for a drug called Avastin, which helps prevent the cancer from returning.

I have plenty of other reasons to celebrate.

I’m the mother of the two best children in the universe, son Sacha and daughter Kim. I’m married to the finest husband in the planet, Cian. I’m daughter to the most amazing parents in existence and related to the crème de la crème of family. I’m also friends with the world’s most fabulous human beings.

If that wasn’t enough, in between all the operations, chemotherapy and radiation, I’ve ‘found myself.’ I hadn’t been purposely hiding before 2006, but, low and behold, bubbling

BEAUTIFUL WORLD: Emma at home in 2009 when her hair was growing back following chemotherapy.

Picture: Nick Bradshaw

underneath the surface there lurked a writer.

Previously, I was a chef, running my own catering company and I also trained to be a beautician. I now work at my family engineering company, Heard Metal.

My health experience, which I can’t say I’d describe as a journey, more orienteering (with all the ups and downs and ins and outs of hospitals), has led me down writer’s lane.

I am the proud author of two novels Designer Genes, and Miss Conceived.

My memoir, Talk to the Headscarf, details my own experience with cancer. I hope my book answers some of the questions you always wanted to know about cancer, but were afraid to ask.

So, you’ll probably understand why I embrace each new year with my arms swinging, while skipping and humming to myself. I know we are all struggling, at the moment.

The economy is on its knees and there’s a lot of hardship out there. Even though there are days when we feel the need to speak in voices two octaves deeper than usual, while hanging our heads in defeat, guess what? It’s also not illegal to crank up the radio, shake your shoulders, tap your foot and let yourself giggle. Laughing is free and wasn’t taxed in the last budget.

And if you’re watching your hair slip down the shower plug, courtesy of chemotherapy, my heart goes out to you, but there’s a big club of us out there and we’re doing our best to smile.

Finally, if you say the wrong thing to a cancer patient, hug them, say sorry and don’t run from the word cancer. It’s good to talk.

■ Emma Hannigan’s new memoir, Talk to the Head Scarf, Hachette Books Ireland, F14.99, is on sale now. For more information on Emma visit www.emmahannigan.com or follow her on twitter @MsEmmaHannigan.

After cancer and baldness touched my life, I’ve spent the last six New Year’s Eves, filled with enormous gratitude to be alive FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

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Healthy food

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Nutrition on a budget

Roz Crowley

HE cold weather has reminded us how much we love warming comfort food. If long-term forecasts are correct we need an armoury of dishes that keep chills away and are welcoming when we come in from the cold. For those working outside the home or entertaining family and friends, pies are a terrific treat and can be made days in advance ready for finishing in the oven.

For the first time in many years I made a steak and kidney pie and, conscious of our need to increase vegetable intake, I added some carrots, peas, chopped parsnip to the usual onions and meat. It was delicious.

Use tasty shin of beef — very economical — or the usual stewing, round or any cut of meat which is on special offer. Lamb’s kidney is best with the added benefit of good iron content.

Beef kidney is a little strong for many people’s taste and best used for kidney soup — another great winter warmer. To get rid of most of the strong taste of beef/ox kidney, soak for 30 minutes in cold milk before cooking. All kidney is rich is iron and vitamins B and C and folic acid, so good for winter fatigue. Cook slowly on the hob or in the oven to tenderise any cheap cut of meat.

Try to cook a cake at the same time to make the most of the heat.

There is a wonderful tradition of pies in England and there are excellent pie recipes in Canteen — Great British Food by Cass Titcombe, Domini Lake and Patrick Clayton-Malone (Ebury Press, £F18). A good website for pies is www.deliasmithcom. Another good one is www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/favourites/pie/.

Toppings for pies can be as easy or complicated as we like. Try flaky or puff pastry and just lay it on top of the dish when the filling has cooled down and just before going into the oven to ensure it doesn’t get soggy or sink in over time. Cut a few slits to allow steam to escape and keep the pastry crisp.

The sesame seed pastry I use most often has the added advantage of extra B vitamins, magnesium and calcium. I usually cook it separately from the stew/casserole and roll it out and cut into triangles to serve on the side. This way you can be sure it is crisp and can serve leftovers with cheese at another time. Store in an airtight container. It was inspired by Jocelyn Dimbleby an English cook whose books can sometimes be found on Amazon.

Try these five great pie combinations, good with or without the crust or topped with mashed potato or a combination of sweet potato and potatoes: 1. Chicken, bacon and leek 2. Fish with cream cheese and herbs (with grated carrot and peas) 3. Duck legs cooked slowly, cut into strips and combined with bacon and prunes (add lentils, onions and carrot) 4. Parsnip, sweet potato, spinach and parmesan (add cream cheese and milk to make the sauce) 5. Lamb curry with almond slivers (with carrot, onion and leek)

Feelgood

HERE are some good habits to economise without compromising on nutrition.

1. Chew more. When we break down food in the mouth we release a digestive enzyme called ptyalin which gets the process going and puts less stress on our digestive tract. Keeping food for longer in the mouth also gives us better satisfaction and we enjoy it more, perhaps even needing to eat less.

2. Think before buying. When we buy rubbish, we eat it, so avoid buying foods with a lot of sugar, salt, trans fats and hydrogenated fats which have little or no nutritional value and clog up our systems.

Avoid buying prepared ‘convenience’ foods for the sake of your budget and health, replacing them with simple beans on toast with an egg, a sandwich made with wholemeal bread, a quick stir-fry with seasonal vegetables.

3. Plan ahead. Think about how to save money on fuel. A steamer means one source of power such as a gas or electric ring can be used to cook a soup while steaming vegetables or fish. Stewed fruit can be simmered over a stew or while cooking pasta or rice.

Rice can be cooked in the oven along with cakes or biscuits.

Porridge for the next morning can be started while baking scones and reheated for breakfast.

Oatmeal biscuits for school lunches can be baked while a roast or soda bread is in the oven.

Economy and good nutrition can go hand in hand perfectly.

Sesame Seed Pastry 180g plain flour

Rub the butter into the dry

out to the size of a swiss

½ level teasp salt

ingredients to make a fine

roll tin.

130g ground rice

breadcrumb texture. If you

Cut into triangles or use a

3 level tbsps sesame

don’t have ground rice,

pastry cutter of any shape.

seeds

just use more flour.

Chill in the fridge until just

200g butter

Add enough cold water to

before placing in the oven,

Oil and water

bring the mixture together

200C/gas 6, for 20-25

into a ball. Roll or press

mins. Will keep for days.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

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Male health

Gastric bypass brings relief

T

WO years ago, at the tender age of 23, Kerry man Patrick Matthews weighed in at 31 stone. Today, the weighing scales show him at 14.5 stone. “I had a gastric bypass,” says Matthews, who works as a sales rep. The gastric bypass involved his stomach being made smaller and some of his intestines being bypassed, resulting in a smaller appetite.

“I put on a colossal amount of weight in the three or four years before the bypass and I was able to carry off a certain amount of it at my height of 5 foot 11 inches,” he says. In late 2008, however, a health scare was just the kick-start he needed to tackle his weight. “I got pain down my arm and chest and had to go to hospital,” says Matthews, now 25.

Luckily, there was no damage to any vital organs, but it was enough for Patrick to seek help.

Patrick Matthews was among the one in four obese Irish adults, with about 2,000 premature deaths in Ireland annually attributed to obesity and associated disease, and may be costing the state as much as F4 billion a year.

The direct and indirect costs of obesity are estimated at F400 million, according to the

TAKE 1

TO give your body a helping hand in clearing out the Christmas excess and get you on the right track for optimal wellbeing for the New Year, the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CMN) is organising a guided detox week in Cork, Dublin and Galway this month.

Department of Health and Children.

He had his surgery in the Britain, through The Hospital Group Ireland, which elects to send Irish patients to its own purpose-built hospital in Leeds.

“Including flights, accommodation and the surgery, I reckon the whole thing cost me F18,000-F20,000,” says Matthews, adding that his mother, Mary, paid for the undertaking out of her National Lottery winnings on RTE’s Winning Streak. “Now, I rarely feel very hungry and just eat small quantities and would always eat dinner on a side plate rather than bigger dinner plate.

“The gastric bypass has changed my life. I never realised why I had no energy, I never put the constant tiredness down to my weight. Now, I go to the gym even though I

was never into sport growing up. I’m losing weight slowly and am clothes mad. I used to buy my clothes in the US and wear super sizes, now a large size fits me.”

Always confident, he’s getting married in March to fiancée Deirdre, his girlfriend for

Employees let their feet do the walking for IHF OVER 2,800 employees in 43 of Ireland’s largest organisations walked over 160 million steps and raised over F5,700 for the Irish Heart Foundation, as part of December’s Smarter Travel Workplaces Pedometer Challenge 2010. The Challenge was organised by the National Transport Authority in partnership with the Irish Heart Foundation and was designed to encourage participants to take 10,000 steps a day in a fun workplace event.

“By counting steps each day, it makes it easy to see how

active you are on a daily basis,” says Ann Scanlon, health promotion officer with the Irish Heart Foundation. “The good news is that being active for as little as 30 minutes five days a week reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. From an employer’s point of view, it also increases productivity in the workplace.”

According to the Irish Heart Foundation, encouraging employees to be more active not only improves their health, but it also makes good business sense.

with Kate O’Reilly

EASY DETOX: CNM’s director of studies in Cork, Mary Carmody (www.marycarmody.nutrition.ie) has four easy tips to help cleanse your system and boost vitality: ■ Drink cup of hot water with juice of ¼ lemon first thing on waking (on an empty stomach).

■ Use a dry brush to massage your entire body before getting into the shower. Use a circular motion and work towards the heart. This boosts circulation and helps toxin elimination.

■ Take a warm bath with Epsom Salts added, to soothe and invigorate.

■ Jump on a mini trampoline for three to five minutes at a time. This is useful for stimulating lymph drainage system.

Feelgood

Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD ©

MOSTLY MEN

own practice, and from talking to other dentists, that there has been a substantial increase in the number of patients suffering from this condition,” said Dr Dermot Canavan, of the Irish Dental Association. “From talking to patients, it is clear many are facing severe financial pressures.”

The condition is linked to anxiety and stress, excessive smoking, alcohol use and too much coffee.

4

BIG CHANGE: Patrick holds up his xxxxxL ( 5xl ) Shirt after his huge weight loss. Picture:

Deirdre O'Flynn

Teeth-grinding linked to financial worries FINANCIAL worries are causing Irish people to grind their teeth, say dentists. They say one in five people will grind their teeth at some time, and many surgeries are experiencing higher rates.

The symptoms of teeth grinding, bruxism, include headaches, damage to teeth, earaches, and mouth and jaw pain.

“While we don’t have exact figures, I know from my

13

2

SUPER GREENS: Another supplement recommended by the CNM is Synergy’s Super Greens, a blend of spirulina, chlorella, barley grass and wheatgrass.

Spirulina is a microscopic freshwater plant with a high content of easily absorbed nutrients.

Chlorella is also a microscopic freshwater plant and contains more chlorophyll than any other plant. It can help cleanse and detoxify the body. Super Greens is available in powder and tablet form for F11.90 from selected health stores and pharmacies. For details visit www.naturalife.ie or call 0404-62444.

The CNM’s guided detox programme will take place in the Clarion Hotel, Cork, on January 19 and 24. For details of Dublin and Galway detox dates, contact 01-2353094 or email dublininfo@naturopathy-ireland.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

the last six years.

■ For further info on weightloss surgery, log on to www.thehospitalgroup.ie or www.weightlosssurgery.ie or call: 1850 204 090.

DId you know...

57% of Irish men support breastfeeding (QUINN-Healthcare Maternity Survey, Dublin)

Some detox tips

3

SIMPLE JUICE: Here’s a simple detox juice which can be drunk daily, weekly or whenever you wish: Chop 2 sticks of celery, 2 carrots and 1cm of ginger root. Put in a blender with a pint of apple juice (use a good quality juice that’s low in sugar) and whizz it up.

4

GOOD PROBIOTIC: After a detox nutritionists recommend taking a good probiotic like Udo’s Choice Super 8, F25.49 for 30, to increase the good bacteria in the digestive system and boost the immune system. Super 8 is a high potency probiotic blend containing eight different beneficial bacteria. Irish distributors, Naturalife, advise that Super 8s are best taken on a full stomach.

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14 Beauty

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It’s a new year and a chance to sort out your make-up bag

Inspection time SPILL OVER: Time to sort out your make-up kit and throw out any product beyond its sell-by date. As a rule of thumb, if you can’t remember when you bought it, then dump it.

Emily O’Sullivan

FRENCH TOUCH ABSOLU It would be crazy to buy a product because of the packaging. Like buying a book just for the cover. But Lancôme’s new French Touch Absolu, F30, is so gorgeous looking that it’s almost impossible not to lust after it.

Like a gleaming, shimmering, glittering ’70s disco ball, the lipstick is available in three chic shades for spring — lily Rose, Daisy Rose and Berry Rose. Divine.

TAKE THREE HAIR SMOOTHERS

T

RADITIONALLY, spring is the time to spring clean. But for us, it’s January. Post-Christmas, the kitchen counter heaves under inches of tat while stuff literally leaps out of cupboards as soon we open them. This year it’s our bathroom that is the problem — right now it’s groaning under the weight of all those gold nail polishes, silver liquid liners and red lipsticks that we thought were a fantastic investment in the run-up to Christmas. (Sadly, thanks to the “White Christmas” element of last year’s festive season there was a Christmas party wipeout and we spent more time wearing a look of disappointment than we did wearing red lippy.)

January has a good feeling to it, though.

And in beauty terms, this means sorting through your make-up bag and throwing out things that have been lurking there since Yazz and the Plastic Population were number one.

Old make-up harbours bacteria — look on the back of anything you buy and you’ll see a little icon telling you what its shelf life is. If your moisturiser says 12M, then once it’s open you should aim to use it within that time. But, as with everything else, rules are there to be broken.

Yes, in a perfect world we would all get new products once they go past their date, but we know from experience that as fastidious as we might like to be, there are some products we’ve been using far longer than we should and we can’t really see any harm that has come from that. But while we’re willing to take risks wearing old-ish lipstick, musty

The news on ...

Darren Aronofsky’s much anticipated Black Swan movie is out later this year, which means that “ballet hair” is going to be a big look. Perfect your bun early on, and make sure you have not a hair out of place with three hair smoothers that insist perfection is achieved.

mascara is not something we’d be happy about putting on our eyes. If you can’t remember when you bought it, bin it.

Make-up these days doesn’t have to be expensive and while our current mascara-lust centres around Estee Lauder’s new Sumptuous Extreme Mascara, F27, there are still plenty of well-priced options from the likes of Rimmel, as well as very super-cheap offerings from Aldi and ELF. Another positive about January is that it’s uncomplicated. You dress simpler, make fewer engagements and eat less indulgent foods.

And it also pays to simplify your skincare, and take things back to basics, especially after your skin has gone through a heavy drinking season and a bout of extreme weather. Admittedly, we do like serums and we are suckers for anything with the words “lifting”, “revitalising”, “firming” or “refinishing” in it, but the snow made us re-assess what are skin needs and it looks and feels better for it.

Complicated, chemical-laden moisturisers can often overload skin, especially if you’re using the wrong one. Instead, your complexion will benefit much more from a simple hydrating moisturiser for night and a good lotion or cream with an SPF for day. Try and keep things consistent, too. Chopping and changing products and formulations, or layering with too many can make your skin confused and can, as we know from experience, lead to problems, reactions and breakouts.

Great companies for simple moisturisers include Aveda, Trilogy, Neal’s Yard, La Roche Posay, Olay, Yes to Carrots, Botanics and good old Ponds. Organic moisturisers, such as Voya’s Me Time, F55, are a great choice especially if you want to go a more simple and natural route, but always look for a Soil Association or other accreditation, or else you’ll just be getting a product with a small rather than big percentage of an organic ingredient in it.

Redken Shine Flash, F16. If you’re pulling your hair back off your face, ballet-style, then you’re going to need serious amount of shine — this is no place for frizz or dull-looking hair. This is a glistening mist — a good bet if you’re doing a night-time look. It gives an instant shine boost and a gleaming, polished-looking finish.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime, F34. Okay, it’s no secret that our very favourite hair products right now are hair oils, but they are just so effective. This Elixir Ultime both conditions and eliminates frizz to give you the kind of hair that nature should have blessed you with. Don’t be tempted to go overboard, a little goes a long way.

L’Oreal Elnett Hairspray, F6.99. Hairspray might seem a little old school these days what with all the newfangled formulations, but Elnett is a classic and it’s lasted this long because it works. Do your bun, spray it on, smooth down wayward pieces of hair and hey presto! — hair that stays in place without that super-crunchy effect.

STUFF WE LIKE Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara, F27. Admittedly, this doesn’t look like a simple product and it doesn’t feel like a simple product, but in January it’s pretty much the only cosmetic we like to wear (along with a bit of tinted moisturiser). Once your lashes are looking dark, long and lustrous, you feel more awake and more defined and this is a great choice for 2011.

Bring it on.

Trilogy Vital Moisturising Cream with Rosehip Oil, F29.95. This is a great moisturiser — simple and effective, it’s rich enough to get you through the cold winter months and can be used day or night. Trilogy

Feelgood

products are excellent, and if you feel your skin needs extra hydration, try the Rosehip Oil. Neal’s Yard Remedies Rose and Mallow Moisturiser, F23.05. Neal’s Yard’s moisturisers are top dog in our book. They’re natural, they’re very soothing on the skin and they give our complexion radiance, a velvety texture and a smoothness many other high-tech products just can’t achieve.

Our fave is the Fr ankincense Nourshing Cream, but this Rose and Mallow Cream is light, great on sensitive skin and can be used both morning and night.

La Roche Posay Hydraphase XL,

F23. This doesn’t sound like a simple skincream, and it’s not naturally based like the others, but it is very effective and is one of the best day lotions around bar none. It’s got UV filters to give a high level of protection from damaging rays and is formulated with thermal water, which is rich in anti-free radicals.

Burren Perfumery Night or Rich Day Unscented Face Cream, F25.

Oddly for a company this is Ireland’s oldest perfumery, this face cream has no scent. It’s straightforward and uncomplicated, as all good moisturisers should be, and we’re also very partial to the modern packaging.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

Green People Organic Base No Scent 24 Hour Cream, F23.45. Perfect for sensitive skin, this deeply moisturising cream is designed to keep your complexion hydrated with botanical extracts and plant oils. If you’re looking for a simple face care product that doesn’t feel utterly dull, then this is a good choice for you.

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Natural health

Q

15

I AM looking for a good source of healthy water but am confused about the benefits of distilled water. I have read information which says it’s the best water for drinking, and other information which suggests it is not suitable since it leaches nutrients from the body.

Please advise.

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

A. You are not alone in the confusion over distilled water. As you have discovered, health professionals are unable to agree as to whether or not it is beneficial beyond a short-term detoxification programme. It does work by pulling toxins and heavy minerals from the body since it is what is considered to be “hungry” water.

For many years I have recommended distilled water as a short-term solution for health and detoxification purposes, but have come across much information in the last year or two suggesting that distilled water can be used long term as it only attracts inorganic minerals for removal from the body.

Dr Allen E Banik, author of The Choice is Clear, states: “Organic minerals stay in the tissues, where they belong. The only minerals the body can utilise are the organic minerals. All the others are foreign minerals and must be disposed of or eliminated.”

Health writers Harvey and Marilyn Diamond also put aside the distilled water myth in their updated book, Fit For Life II: Living Health, explaining that “Distilled water has an inherent quality. Acting almost like a magnet, it picks up rejected, discarded, and unusable minerals and, assisted by the blood and the lymph, carries them to the lungs and kidneys for elimination from the body. The statement that distilled water leaches minerals from the body has no basis in fact. It doesn’t leach out minerals that have become part of the cell structure. It can’t and won’t. It collects only minerals that have already been rejected or excreted by the cells...To suggest that distilled water takes up minerals from foods so that the body derives no benefit from them is absurd.”

Distilled water is produced by turning the water into steam, in order to remove the impurities, then the steam is condensed back into ‘pure’ H2O. The search for healthy water is a very important one since our bodies are made up of 75% water (97% for newborn babies); which also explains why moderate levels of dehydration is a crucial factor in so many health complaints. For more information on why water is so important, I suggest you read Dr Batmanghelidj’s essential book, Your Body’s Many Cries for Water (Tagman Press).

Despite the new information regarding the properties of distilled water, exploding the myths around leaching nutrients from our bodies, I still like to choose spring water where possible — preferably directly from the source. If this appeals, then try water from The Tipperary Natural Mineral Water Company (0504 51113), which sources its

WATER WORKS: When deciding from the many options available choose spring water where possible — preferably directly from the source. Picture: Getty Images water from Borrisoleigh, where the Devil’s Bit mountains form a large natural filter.

This award-winning water is exceptionally pure and has had no treatment other than filtration.

Q. Am I correct in the understanding that homeopathic remedies don’t actually contain any medicinal substance?

A. Homeopathy has long been under scrutiny within professional and consumer Q. I understand turmeric is useful in treatcircles alike. While rigorous lab testing up ing digestive disorders, but was wondering if until this point in time has shown that there this will neutralise the positive benefits of is no trace of the original medicinal plant or taking a daily probiotic since it is antibacte- animal parts left in homeopathic remedies, rial. there is also much evidence to support the effectiveness of homeopathy without being a A. You are quite right, turmeric is wonderful case of “placebo effect”. as a herbal digestive aid and as an antimicroFrench virologist and Nobel laureate, Luc bial. Fortunately, it works specifically to elimi- Montagnier, is currently researching the nate pathogenic bacteria, yeast, fungi, and par- effects of high dilutions in homeopathy. asites, so you are able to take turmeric and Despite the fact that it has been used widely probiotics together for optimal digestive func- throughout Europe for over 200 years, there tioning. is a increased demand for ‘proof ’ in this Turmeric is effective in treating digestive or- technological age. ders because it helps to strengthen the intestiMany scientists and medical practitioners nal flora, so will support the growth of the are of the firm belief that water cannot possibeneficial bacteria you are introducing into bly hold the memory of a substance, while your gut via the daily probiotic. For best reMontagnier states the following: “I can’t say sults, ensure you use a generous amount of that homeopathy is right in everything. turmeric in your meals or take it in suppleWhat I can say now is that the high dilutions mental form. are right. High dilutions of something are If you can source fresh turmeric root then it not nothing. They are water structures is terrific grated into soups, stews, and which mimic the original molecules.” stir-fries. It also makes a surprisingly tasty hot Having previously shown that ability of drink, particularly when combined with other electromagnetic waves to emanate from warming spices, such as ginger, cinnamon, car- highly diluted DNA of pathogens, Montagdamom, cloves and a pinch of nutmeg. nier is in a good position to explain the Honey rounds the drink off nicely, and the mechanisms of homeopathy in terms that brew is great for warding off winter colds and scientists cannot dispute. flu, soothing the intestines, and improving circulation.

■ For details visit: www.irishhomeopathy.ie

Megan puts the spotlight on:

R

ED raspberry leaf, (rubus idaeus), has a well-founded reputation as a beneficial tea to be taken by women during the final six weeks of pregnancy to strengthen and tone the uterus, preparing for a trouble-free birth.

What is less well known is just how nutritious red raspberry leaves are.

High in calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, along with vitamins A, C and E, red raspberry leaf is a wonderful tonic post-partum to restore tone to the uterus and pelvic muscles, and is worth continuing throughout the breastfeeding years.

Combine it with marshmallow root for a soothing and nourishing

Feelgood

drink to increase the flow of breastmilk and enrich the quality of your milk.

It is also an excellent herbal remedy for cold and ‘flu, both as a preventative measure and to treat existing symptoms. It works well as a mouth wash for ulcers and tender gums, and will also soothe a sore throat.

Many herbalists use raspberry leaf tea as an aid in treating stomach ulcers, or topically for skin lesions and ulcerations. It is also useful to reduce nausea.

Raspberry leaf tea is considered to be a wonderful herbal brew for young girls as they approach puberty

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011

Red Raspberry Leaf TEA AID: Many herbalists use raspberry leaf tea as an aid in treating stomach ulcers. Picture: iStock

— it is believed to help ease the physical and emotional changes she experiences at this time. My 12-old daughter drinks it regularly with honey, so time will tell as to whether or not this bears true. So far, so good, I am glad to report.

It is a simple tea to prepare, either hot or cold, just use one heaped teaspoon per cup of near boiling water, or infuse two tablespoons in 600ml of cold water overnight.

Raspberry leaf tea is widely available as a dried herb or in tea bags. It is commonly found in the wild since it tends to take over in areas where it is planted, or you could grow your own raspberry patch.

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Prevention is better than cure

When 34 year old Kenneth Fallon started losing his hair 4 years ago he went to see the HairClinic and was told about a revolutionary painfree laser treatment that prevents hairloss and helps to thicken existing thin hair.

“The trichologist told me that it was important that I caught my hairloss early as when the hair is gone, it’s gone, and the laser can only work on thinning hair. I cannot grow hair on a bald head. I was

Before treatment

also told that the condition I had, known as Androgenic Alopecia, was an inherited condition and as my dad was bald, as was my grandad, I knew I has to do something as I was heading the same way.

“Unfortunately with my work and the birth of my daughter, I didn’t go ahead with treatment straight away as recommended and my hair just got worse and worse. I kept meaning to do something about it but I just

kept putting it off which I know is the worst thing to do as I know once the hair root is dead, it’s too late.

One evening, after we had been out with friends, a friend of mine posted the evening’s pictures on Facebook and I couldn’t believe how bad my hair looked. I hated seeing myself like that and I knew I had to do something. The next day I made another appointment with the HairClinic which was the original Cork City

clinic I had visited all those years ago and I was told that I has lost some hair around the crown so I would always be a little bit light in that area.

But the great news was that the laser treatment would stop my hair from getting any worse and also thicken my thinning hair.

9 months on and there has been a huge improvement in my hair and I am delighted.

I just wish I had done treatment earlier when I first noticed the thinning!

Stops hairloss and thickens hair in 94% of patients

Totally safe and painfree

Works for men and women

FDA cleared as having no side effects

FREE Consultation

After 6 months laser treatment

No 2 Camden Place, St Patricks Bridge, Cork t: (021) 4552424

OPENING TIMES: Monday to Friday 8am-9.30pm

Please log on to www.thehairclinichlcc.com Feelgood

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2011