Feelgood 04-11-2011 by Evening Echo

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Feelgood

Friday, November 4, 2011

Fighting ďŹ t

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How to stay in tip top condition from 40 onwards: 8, 9

PRESENTS OF MIND

Expert advice on how to stay in the black this Christmas: 4, 5

BEHAVIOUR CONTROL

Why we need to stop medicating children with ADHD: 7

EASY AS PIE

Gap year trip abroad inspires award-winning food business: 12

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2 News front Kate O’Reilly WHAT’S ON ■ RETINA 2011: Irish charity, Fighting Blindness, will host its annual international retina conference at the Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin, on November 11 and 12. The two-day conference will host experts discussing topical issues such as stem-cell research and genetic therapy, and developments in degenerative blindness, which affects 80,000 people in Ireland. Fighting Blindness invites patients, family members and medical professionals. Registration fees are free for patients and family members; €25 for students; €50 for principal investigators and clinicians and €75 for industry representatives. For more information about Retina 2011, email research@fightingblindness.ie or contact Anna Moran on 01-709 3050. To register online, visit www.retina.ie. ■ SANTA RUN: Rathwood, the shopping and activity centre in Co Carlow, is looking for 300 Santas to take part in its ‘santa run’ on Sunday, November 13 at 11am. The 3km run raises funds for the National Rehab Hospital and Suzanne O’Neill Fund. All levels of fitness and ages are welcome. Adults will pay €20 for their Santa outfits, while children can enter the fun run for €5 and receive a Santa hat. Entry forms from Rathwood on www.rathwood.com/SantaRun.html . For information, contact Tony Donoghue, 059-8624167, or Rathwood staff on 059-9156285. Entries will be accepted until November 9. ■ CONCERN FAST: Every year, 3.5m children die from malnutrition. The Concern Fast is Concern’s annual fundraiser to help children in the world’s poorest countries and over a quarter of a million Irish people have taken part to date. This year’s fast is on November 10; to sign up, log on to www.concernfast.org or call 1850-505055. ■ WESTPORT SEA2SUMMIT: More than 1,000 thrill-seeking sports enthusiasts are expected in Mayo next Saturday, November 12, for the Westport Sea2Summit. It caters for advanced to beginner adventure racers. There will be two separate races with three categories in both, catering for beginners to advanced adventure racers, with a mix of road running, cycling, and a mountain hike. A percentage of each fee goes to charity. For further details, visit www.westportsea2summit.ie; call 098-55088. ■ SLEEP TALK: Craig Hudson MD, a Canadian psychiatrist, will host a free public talk in The Gresham Hotel, Dublin on November 7 at 7pm, to launch his ‘One Week to Better Sleep’ programme. Dr Hudson developed the programme in conjunction with leading sleep psychologists across North America. It guides sleep-deprived people through adjustments to their diet, behaviour and sleep environment, helping them to re-establish a healthy sleep pattern. ‘One Week to Better Sleep’ will be also be available as a free download from www.zenbev.com from November 7, and in printed form from health food stores and pharmacies. ● Items for inclusion in this column can be sent to koreilly8@gmail.com

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Experts have warned against reading too much into a trial linking aspirin and cancer prevention, writes Arlene Harris

Early days yet M

ANY people use it to curb the pain of a simple headache but over the years aspirin has had a mixed reputation. It has been praised for preventing DVT (deep vain thrombosis) and criticised for having little effect on the condition. It has also been blamed for causing cancer and helping to prevent it. A study published last week in The Lancet medical journal showed how more than 850 patients with Lynch syndrome — a genetic fault leading to the early onset of bowel cancer and other types of cancer — were given two 600mg aspirin tablets a day for two years, while another group were given a placebo. Although little change was reported at the conclusion of the study, a five-year follow-up showed the aspirin-taking participants had 44% less signs of bowel cancer than those who had taken the placebo. Rates of other cancers linked to Lynch syndrome were also almost halved by taking aspirin. Dr John Ball of the Irish College of General Practitioners says while the research is positive, it is not representative of the majority of cancer patients. “This is very encouraging research but it would not be enough to warrant putting everyone on aspirin at present,” he says. “For example, aspirin used to be given to all people with heart disease risk factors such as high blood

MAGIC PILL: The jury is still out on aspirin’s effectiveness in preventing cancer. Picture: Stephen Kelly/PA

pressure or high cholesterol and in recent years it has been shown that the risk benefit is not warranted. “We are now taking patients off aspirin who used to be on it for years. I think it would certainly be worth discussing with patients who (as in the research) have a family history of colon cancer. But with all these decisions it has to be weighed against possible downsides such as the increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding that aspirin can cause.” A spokeswoman for the National Cancer Screening programme agrees: “This study is very interesting but the total number of

cancers are small and the follow up is still quite short,” she says. “And it doesn’t relate to the rest of the population who might develop bowel cancer and who do not have this uncommon genetic predisposition (Lynch syndrome).” Similarly, the Irish Medicines Board urges people to err on the side of caution. “The IMB is aware of the study which was aimed at investigating the anti-cancer effects of 600mg aspirin per day in carriers of hereditary colorectal cancer,” says a spokesman. “But it is likely that further studies will be needed to establish the optimum dose and duration of aspirin treatment.”

HEALTH NOTES For information, visit www.hopefoundation.ie, email adayofhope@hopefoundation.ie or phone 021-4292990.

Cork Samaritans is hosting an information night for new volunteers on Thursday, November 10 in the Metropole hotel at 7:30pm. Samaritans is the largest support line of its kind in the country and is dependent on volunteers to man the service. Currently, there are 2,000 volunteers in Ireland with 180 based in Coach Street in Cork. For more details, email director@corksamaritans.ie. If you are in need of support or know anyone who may be in need of support, contact Samaritans at 1850 609090.

A red-wine ingredient may protect people at risk of heart disease and diabetes by changing their metabolism, according to research. Obese men and women are more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, an umbrella term for a range of problems that raise the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. The new research, reported in the journal, Cell Metabolism, suggests resveratrol, taken in a concentrated form, can help to prevent metabolic syndrome. Resveratrol’s beneficial effects were thought to involve the mitochondria, tiny energy-generating powerhouses in cells.

The Irish Heart Foundation will hold a free blood pressure and cholesterol testing clinic at the community centre, Ballinlough on Wednesday next, November 9, from 10.30am to 12 noon. For further details, call 021-4505822, or if you have questions about stroke or heart disease, you can contact their helpline, 1890-432787. The Hope Foundation is calling on schools and companies nationwide to register and volunteer on November 25 to help sell the Butler’s chocolates HOPE bars, €2. The aim is to sell 50,000 bars and raise funds for street children and families living in poverty across Kolkata (Calcutta), India. Each bar of chocolate sold could save a child’s life.

www.irishexaminer.com www.irishexaminer.com

SWEET GESTURE: Miriam O’Callaghan with Jay and Abbie Sorensen help to launch A Day of HOPE, in partnership with Butlers Chocolates, which will take place on Friday November 25. Picture: Paul Sherwood

www.irishexaminer.com feelgood@examiner.ie

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Yoga may be the answer for people disabled by chronic lower back pain. In a recent study, patients taught the ancient Eastern practice experienced a greater improvement in back function than those given conventional treatment alone. Yoga combines stretching poses and meditation techniques believed to date back 5,000 years. The findings were published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Editorial: 021 4802 292

Advertising: 021 4802 215

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In Profile

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THE SHAPE I'M IN

Dickie Rock

Harmonious life S

DICKIE Rock was a member of the Miami Showband for a decade. He had seven number-one hits with them and he sang for Ireland in the 1966 Eurovision Song Contest. If the Cabra-born crooner could revisit any phase of his life, it would be this era. “It probably was the height of the showband. I was in the Eurovision Song Contest and I married Judy the same year. It was a happy year, though there was sadness at the end when my younger brother, Joseph, died,” he says. Dickie, who won’t admit to being 75, recently starred in Celebrity ICA Bootcamp, where he was faced with a sheep’s innards and had to make an item of clothing out of a curtain. “I thought it was fantastic, the whole idea of doing it for charity. The ICA is a great organisation for women and I really realised the hard work of the farming community. It’s a tough life and I think you have to be born into it,” says the man who started life as an apprentice welder. A father of six and grandfather of two, Dickie recently wrote his autobiography, Dickie Rock Always Me. He lives in Dublin but is “back and forward” a lot to Spain.

Nothing, really. If I have a big concert coming up, that’d be on my mind a lot — thinking about the programme for it. How do you relax? I like a game of golf. I like TV and a game of snooker.

What would you change about your appearance? I wouldn’t be so vain as to want to — it would go against my inherited appearance, what my parents gave me. When did you last cry? Probably when my mother died eight years ago. What’s your favourite smell? The smell of curry cooking. What trait do you least like in others? I don’t like people who are argumentative, who are bitter, who hold things in and bear grudges. You can never really have a good relationship with people like that. But it’s more damaging for them than it is for other people.

Do you have any health concerns? None at all. I was in hospital once to get my appendix out — I was about 25 at the time.

What trait do you least like in yourself? I take a while to get angry. I’d rather get angry quicker. When you hold things in too long, it comes out too angry then. It’s better to get it off your chest quicker.

What is your guiltiest pleasure? I love cream cakes. What would keep you awake at night?

The perfect keepsake to celebrate a baby’s birth

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? I’d invite Elvis because he was the rock and roll king. I’d also love to talk to Frank Sinatra. He was the greatest popular vocalist of all time and I’d like to talk with him about his technique and how he learned from the early days.

What shape are you in? I feel great. I’m blessed in that I inherited good genes. I exercise to a degree. I play golf and I’m very active when I play it — I don’t just stroll around. I also walk and run along the beach when I’m in Spain.

What are your healthiest eating habits? My wife makes sure I eat well. I like plenty of vegetables — cabbage, broccoli, peas. Greens are very good. I like meat but I wouldn’t eat a lot of it. We eat lots of fish in Spain and chicken too.

€50

Do you pray? Not really, no. What would cheer up your day? It would have to be when I’m with my wife and my grandchildren — my grand-daughter, Mia, is one, and my grandson, Benjamin, is 13. Helen O’Callaghan

A framed Irish Examiner front page from the day baby was born. Contact the Irish Examiner on Tel. 021 4272722 Email: counter@examiner.ie

ROCK ON: Dickie Rock says he has been blessed with good genes. He enjoys golf at a quick walks and runs along the beach.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

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4 Consumer advice

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What kind of spender are you? With just over seven weeks to Christmas we get some expert advice for lean times on how to mind your pocket. Áilin Quinlan reports

JINGLE WARNING BELLS

SPOT WHAT TYPE OF SHOPPER YOU ARE IMPULSE SHOPPER: Buys without considering cost or long-term purpose. Strategy: You cannot alter who you are — but you can contain the damage: 1. Don’t buy anything over €30 on impulse. 2. Arrange to have an expensive item put by and revisit — you may reconsider on a second viewing or find something better in the meantime. 3. Make a list of the type of person you are buying for, what he or she likes and already has, and target your shopping trip. That way, says psychologist Patricia Murray, “if you buy for them on impulse, it’s impulse informed by knowledge.” LAST-MINUTE SHOPPER: Faced with diminished stocks, is often forced to buy more expensive items. Strategy: You have to motivate yourself to buy early. Pinpoint a day. Now. Promise yourself a treat if you do one hour’s shopping beforehand, says Murray: “You’d be amazed what you can get once you only have an hour and have a treat for yourself waiting at the end of that hour.” DRIP, DRIP: Picking up pressies for weeks on end. Strategy: Keep on doing what you’re doing, but avoid over-expenditure on random little items which you may end up passing on to people for whom you normally wouldn’t buy a gift. Buy for a specific person, not for any version of yourself out there. HIT-AND-RUN: You’ve got to get all the presents at once. Strategy: Cut it down to a fine art, says Murray, and categorise the gifts before you set out — kid/teen/adult/male/female. “If you’re not buying clothes, try a gadget-type shop for teen and adult, or hit a music or book shop and go for the best-sellers in each age-range. Give gift receipts with each gift so they can be returned if not suitable.” Don’t buy chain-store items for teens, she says. They’d often rather a tiny item with a brand than a new outfit from a general store. THE PROCRASTINATOR: You cannot make a decision on what to buy because you’re scared of getting it wrong — you spend a lot of time thinking about what gifts to buy but delay the excursion. “They’re not disorganised like the ‘last-minute shopper’ — they think and talk about it a lot but just don’t get it done,” says Murray. Strategy: Stop wittering, make a list, get out there and do it.

IN THE BAG: By making alterations to your shopping style, you could save money and reduce your stress levels coming up to the festive season. Picture: iStock

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

AST week John Lowe of financial advisory company Money Doctor launched an app which he says will help consumers track their spending — just in time for Christmas. The free app can be used on any type of smartphone to record your spending habits on a weekly or even daily basis if you need it — and, according to the research, we need it. Despite cutting our spending in response to the recession, Irish people are expected to splash out up to €1,000 a head on the festive season this year — nearly twice as much as the European average of €590. As a nation, we spend an eye-watering €2 billion on our credit cards every Christmas. Yet a lot of the time, we don’t actually know where our money goes. “Many people have come to me and said they take money out of the ATM machine and they don’t know what happed to it,” says Lowe, a former banker, and warns that many people unwisely take out big overdrafts or long-term bank loans to cover a shortfall in their festive funding. Lowe’s rule for Christmas spending is simple: “If you don’t have the wherewithal to pay back an overdraft or the loan, you really shouldn’t be borrowing for Christmas.” His solution for those who haven’t saved enough and don’t want to borrow? “Minimise your expenditure.” But how? The kids want the world, as usual. And your extended family just keeps on, well, extending — every year, it seems there’s a new crop of nieces and nephews to buy for. Once you put your mind to it, however, cutting corners is not impossible, reassures psychologist Patricia Murray. “You have to manage kids’ expectations,” she explains. Talk to your children about the need to cut back, but without frightening them, counsels Murray — they may already understand more than you imagine. Emphasise that Christmas is a wonderful family time, and that we will have great fun this year. “Your children go to school, they listen to things, they know about the recession and they know that other children are getting smaller presents. Emphasise that we’re all fine, that it’s just a case of smaller presents.” If the children have been used to a festive skiing holiday, for example, explain that this year you’ll all still be going on an excursion — but this year it will be go-karting or ice-skating. “Don’t forget that children often worry far more than adults realise. Emphasise that they are the lucky ones and children will fall in line with that.” If you’re worried about the impact on your pocket of newly-born nephews and nieces, Murray says, talk to your family. “A lot of people are emailing their siblings to say they want to cut back a bit this year. People are saying we’ll give a box of chocolates or something child-focused, so that everyone knows in advance.” Suggest buying for children only — but no individual presents, she says. Get a game, for example, that would suit all the children in one family, or introduce a Kris Kringle where each person only has to buy one present. And don’t forget, says Lowe, Christmas presents can be bought all year round — so why wait until mid-December? If you haven’t already, start now. One of the biggest mistakes we make in buying Christmas presents is focusing on how it

How to stay wise IF you want to get through Christmas by spending wisely, there are a few basic rules, according to the experts. ■ Set money aside for the inevitable January bills, says MABS — Money Advice and Budgeting Service. ■ “Don’t count on bonuses or overtime payments — if you rely on them and don’t get them, you’ll have overspent,” the organisation says. ■ Make out a budget, see how much you can afford to spend — check out the MABS Christmas budget planner on www.mabs.ie. ■ “Decide in advance exactly what you need to buy — and, more importantly, the amount you can afford to spend.” ■ Shop early so that you can compare prices, and give yourself time to shop around for the best bargains. ■ Check the internet — it can help to compare prices online. ■ Pay cash when you go shopping for presents. Leave the credit card at home. ■ Opt for a pre-paid credit card which will only allow you to spend what you lodge in it. ■ Make a shopping list. ● MABS helpline 1890-283438

SOUND ADVICE: Psychologist Patricia Murray says your children will understand why you need to cut back this Christmas. Picture: Maura HIckey will make us look, says Murray. “Sometimes people buy presents to preserve their own self-image and spend more than they should. It’s more about showcasing themselves than on focusing on the person they are buying for.” That was the boom mentality, she warns, — and the boom is gone. So, if you gave somebody a €200 voucher last year or the year before, and can only afford €25 this year, don’t put yourself under pressure. “Get a nice present like a book and a CD you know they’d like — something that is personal and says something,” she explains. “Everyone’s in the same boat and we all feel fine about it.” There are four Christmas spending categories to prepare for, says Lowe: 1. Gifts for family and friends, as well as bursaries — the envelope for the postperson or binman. 2. Cards, decorations, tree wreaths, etc. 3. Food and drink — a category that often sees a lot of over-spend, Lowe warns: “Families go mad stocking up at Christmas, and getting in enough food and drink to feed an army.” 4. Entertainment: “People go to Funderland, to the cinema, the panto and the zoo.

Excursions outside the home cost money so budget for it,” he advises. Remember, says Lowe, that Christmas presents don’t have to be cash related: “Give your time — offer to wash your father’s car. Promise that you will mow the lawn for your grandmother three times over the summer. That’s worth money to that person. There are lots of examples — running errands, cleaning the house, etc.” People won’t think the worse of you for it, he says, because everyone’s in the recession mindset. “We have undergone a sea change. Our very core values are changing. Humility is in. The Celtic Tiger created a feeling of invincibility but now people have been shaken to the core and we’re feeling vulnerable again.”

TAKE IT EASY: Financial advisor John Lowe says since everyone is in a recession mindset, it’s acceptable to cut back on present buying this year. Picture: Nick Bradshaw

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Irish people are expected to splash out up to €1,000 a head on the festive season this year — nearly twice as much as the European average of €590

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4 Consumer advice

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What kind of spender are you? With just over seven weeks to Christmas we get some expert advice for lean times on how to mind your pocket. Áilin Quinlan reports

JINGLE WARNING BELLS

IN THE BAG: By making alterations to your shopping style, you could save money and reduce your stress levels coming up to the festive season. Picture: iStock

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

TAKE IT EASY: Financial advisor John Lowe says since everyone is in a recession mindset, it’s acceptable to cut back on present buying this year. Picture: Nick Bradshaw

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Irish people are expected to splash out up to €1,000 a head on the festive season this year — nearly twice as much as the European average of €590

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Male health ill health 6 Fighting

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As the colder weather descends, Kate Whiting discovers how we can use the power of food and drink to combat common complaints throughout the winter

Food as medicine F

ROM advice to avoid eating chocolate or drinking red wine, the list of food tips is long and often contradictory. Yet as winter arrives and the annual calorie fest looms, there’s never been a better time to think about what we’re eating and how it’s affecting our health. “In the run-up to Christmas, our bodies have a multitude of attacks to deal with,” says Lucy Jones, dietician and presenter of Channel 4’s new health show The Food Hospital. “Besides the usual colds and flu, we’re also well known for abusing our bodies, with poor dietary changes and increased alcohol consumption.” In order to shed some light on how food affects our bodies, Channel 4 has examined the science behind using food as medicine in the new eight-part series. It’s perfect timing for those worried about their immune systems ahead of the party season. “This is known as the age of the dietician. Over the past 10 years, people have developed a real fascination with the way that diet can influence our health,” says Jones. From asthma to varicose veins, the series shows how, by eating certain foods and avoiding others, you can ease the symptoms. Oily fish apparently helps asthmatics, while anyone with varicose veins should steer clear of white bread and other refined foods. “We’re not trying to promote nutrition as an alternative to medicine — people should still go to their GP. But there’s a lot you can do to help your condition,” adds Jones. “Food impacts on the workings of every single cell in our body because it’s our fuel, so every bit of cell renewal, every bit of metabolism, will be affected by what you eat.”

TOP TABLE: Dr Gio Miletto, dietitian Lucy Jones and Dr Shaw Somers are showcasing healthy eating options on The Food Hospital. Picture: PA Photo/Channel 4

The presenting team, including Dr Gio Miletto, a GP, and gastrointestinal surgeon Dr Shaw Somers, also aim to debunk some of the myths about healthy eating, from overdosing on so-called ‘superfoods’ such as blueberries and goji berries to relying heavily on supplements. “You should be able to get everything you

need from a healthy balanced diet,” says Jones. But your mental state can also affect your health and digestion, she adds. “Stress is closely linked to lots of illnesses, particularly gastrointestinal symptoms. “This is why people who suffer with IBS and illnesses such as Crohn’s often have

flare-ups when stressed.” ● The Food Hospital: Simple, Delicious Recipes For A Healthy Life by Dr Gio Miletto, Lucy Jones and Dr Shaw Somers is published by Michael Joseph, €22.45 ● The Food Hospital is on Channel 4 on Tuesdays

What you eat can prevent some common complaints PREVENT or cure some of the most common health complaints of the season with dietitian Lucy Jones’s top tips... BLOATING Cause: A lack of dietary fibre can lead to a build-up of gas in the stomach, as food sits and ferments rather than being digested. Bloating can also be caused by stress, owing to changes in the digestion of foods. Some people are also sensitive to ‘fermentable carbohydrates’ — known for their gas-producing properties. Advice: Aim to spread meals evenly throughout the day and eat slowly and calmly. Limit alcohol, keep well hydrated to avoid constipation, which encourages bloating, and consume lots of fibre to keep your bowels moving. Eat fruits, vegetables, pulses such as beans and lentils, oats and wholegrains, avoiding fatty foods. Some people may find certain healthy foods which easily ferment, such as apples and leeks, worsen their symptoms.

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INDIGESTION/HEARTBURN Cause: Stomach acid refluxing back into the food pipe (oesophagus) can cause a burning feeling. Stress can increase the amount of acid produced and being overweight also makes people susceptible. Advice: Big meals, fatty foods, smoking, fizzy drinks and alcohol cause the valve at the top of your stomach to relax. Avoid eating too much at any one time and don’t eat for the two hours before bed. Vegetables offer protective nutrients, which can help repair the damage caused to your oesophagus from heartburn. COLD SORES Cause: The herpes simplex virus, with attacks triggered by a range of factors including stress. Advice: Try to keep your immune system strong by eating a nutrient-rich diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, sleeping properly and taking regular exercise. Avoid over-indulging in sweets. Some people find increasing their intake of lysine (found in fish, chicken, eggs and potatoes) helps to reduce the number of attacks. However, lysine supplements could raise cholesterol, so consult your GP before changing your diet.

STRESS Cause: Stress is a natural phenomenon that gives us our fight or flight response. But chronic stress is damaging to health and increases the risk of illness and chronic disease. Advice: Stress hormones make you crave fatty and sugary foods — but these can distort your blood sugar levels, leading to spikes in energy levels and mood. Consuming a low glycaemic index (GI) diet can help to keep your blood sugars stable. Consider including more grains, nuts and seeds in your diet. Also, remember that a diet low in B vitamins and iron can leave you feeling exhausted and unable to cope, so beef up the wholegrains and green leafy vegetables. Also eat two brazil nuts a day for selenium, as low levels are linked to low mood. INSOMNIA Cause: Trouble falling or staying asleep is closely linked to stress and can be caused by various illnesses and medications. Advice: Avoid having excess caffeine, from the afternoon onwards, and alcohol,

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

which causes broken sleep, and try having a high carbohydrate snack or hot milk shortly before bed as this can help stimulate insulin production. Eat plenty of magnesium-rich foods, such as almonds, cashews, bananas and dried apricots, as deficiency causes insomnia. COLDS AND FLU Cause: The change in weather means spending more time indoors and this increases the risk of catching colds and flu from others. Advice: Eat plenty of vitamin C (citrus, tomatoes, berries, kiwi and pineapple) and zinc (seafood, dairy, eggs, poultry and nuts) to keep your immune system strong. Garlic has anti-viral properties so is a great food for keeping colds and flu at bay. Also, keep well hydrated as it is common to urinate more and sweat when you are unwell, so extra fluids are vital. Hot drinks can help to ease chest symptoms, so keep a steady flow going. And the old adage about chicken soup is true – its anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce the symptoms of respiratory infections.

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Psychology

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Medicating children with an ADHD diagnosis does more to help teachers and parents than the children

Difficult behaviour Tony Humphreys

EFORE 1980 there were no distressed children or teenagers labelled with the ‘brain-disease’ attention-deficit with hyperactivity (ADHD) psychiatric disorder. Neither were young people medicated before this year. In 1980 nearly one million US children were labelled with ADHD. The disorder was found in every classroom. Five years later that number had doubled. Today, some 3.5 million American children are medicated for ADHD, resulting in one in every 23 American children aged four to 17 years being medicated. This phenomenon has been replicated throughout the western world. What is interesting is that the diagnosis of ADHD arises primarily from teacher complaints as “only a minority of children with the disorder exhibit symptoms during a physician’s office visit” (The Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 16 (2008): 151-66). Ritalin or Concerta are the drugs often prescribed to children who are diagnosed. There are two fundamental questions to be asked concerning the unprecedented rise of ‘mental illness’ among children and the prescription of stimulants to treat the particular syndrome. 1. Is ADHD a ‘brain disease’? 2. Do the medications help? As regards the first question, there is no doubt that children and teenagers can be troubled and troubling and that they and their parents and teachers need help to identify the sources of their distress and how best to resolve it within the social settings — family, classroom, school — they exhibit their unhappy state. To say that these young people have a mental illness — a frightening prospect for children and their parents — requires a substantial empirical basis. The truth is that “attempts to define a biological basis for ADHD have been consistently unsuccessful” (Gerald Golden, paediatric neurologist, Seminars on Neurology, 11, 1991). Furthermore, neuro-imaging has demonstrated that the brains of children with ADHD are normal. In 1998, a panel of experts convened by the American National Institute of Health concluded: “After years of clinical research and experience with ADHD, our knowledge about the cause or causes of ADHD remains largely speculative.” In the Textbook of Neuropsychiatry (1997), the authors confessed that they have failed to identify any chemical imbalance in ADHD children. It is important to note that physicians did not look for a cause or causes beyond the neuro-biological domain. Given the above research facts, it appears unbelievable that professionals continue to label children with ADHD. In my clinical experience, the causes of children’s distressing responses lie in the context within which they live. Parents and teachers do their best, but we unconsciously carry unresolved emotional issues from childhood into our adult years which affect how we interact with others. Helping adults who have charge of children to become consciousness of their unconscious defences is key to resolving the inner turmoil of children and teenagers. Children’s ‘difficult’ behaviour is unconsciously designed to show how difficult life is for them, not to make life difficult for parents, teachers and peers. Their hope is that their inner turmoil will be identified by an adult.

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Given the research facts, it appears unbelievable that professionals continue to label children with ADHD. In my own clinical experience Picture: iStock the causes of children’s distressing responses lie in the context within which they live The Department of Education needs to drop its requirement of a psychiatric label before it provides professional supports for children in distress and for their parents and teachers. ‘Relationship, relationship, relationship’ needs to be the primary focus of intervention. Medication, as we will see, is totally counterproductive to the child’s wellbeing. The research evidence on Ritalin certainly shows that the medication benefits the teacher, but not the child. All of the research reports (detailed in Anatomy of an Epidemic (2010) by Robert Whitaker) reveal that students who had previously been disruptive in classroom were stilled — a great relief for the besieged teacher. For example, the drug research shows that medication reduces a child’s “curiosity about the environment”; causes the child to “lose his sparkle”; results in the child becoming “passive, submissive and socially withdrawn”; leads to some children appearing “zombie-like”. But, in terms of the child’s progress, no benefits have been found. Indeed, Whitaker, an award-winning investigative medical journalist, reports that Ritalin makes children “depressed, lonely, fills them with a sense of inadequacy and impairs rather than improves learning”. Whitaker goes on to say: “Ritalin and the other ADHD medications cause a long list of physical, emotional, and psychiatric adverse effects. The physical problems include drowsiness, appetite loss, lethargy, insomnia, headaches, abdominal pain, motor abnormalities, facial and vocal tics, jaw clenching, skin problems, liver disorders, weight loss, growth suppression, hypertension and sudden cardiac death. The psychiatric problems include obsessive-compulsive symptoms, mania, paranoia, psychotic episodes, and hallucinations.” Such are the research findings for Ritalin along with other ADHD medications. While it is true to say that in the short term a child’s hyperactivity is altered in a way that teachers and parents find helpful, the reality for the child is that his or her life is diminished in many ways and, later as an adult, they have a reduced physiological capacity to experience joy. Dr Tony Humphreys is a clinical psychologist, author and speaker. His book, Self-Esteem, the Key to Your Child’s Future is relevant to today’s article

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

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Male story health 8 Cover

Staying xxxxxx vital

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Not alone is there life after 40, but if you follow our experts’ tips you can keep yourself healthy in mind and body. Rachel Borrill reports

What’s age got to do with it?

S there life after 40 ? Obviously the answer is yes, but what kind of life do you really want? Do you want to nurture your maturing relationship and reconnect with your partner now that the children have gone? Are we really happy to sit back and watch our muffin tops and beer bellies spread even further, or do we say no more, and start to exercise? Do you want to feel confident, and look your best? We ask the experts, exactly how we can be happy, healthy and fabulous after 40.

■ YOUR MIND

morning and night, for 20 minutes, so that it becomes a way of life. “You can find loads of good advice about lifestyle and diet but what we find is that when people mediate, it broadens their awareness and they introduce life changes themselves,’’ says Lyons. “Maybe they stop rushing their meals, or go to bed earlier, or they might cut down on sugary foods or whatever. Their mental perception is clearer now. If you are stressed and tired you eat on the run, you crave the wrong types of food and you body suffers.’’ ● www.tm-ireland.org

■ BEAUTY ■ Looking after your skin is vital — always cleanse, tone and moisturise ■ Always use sun cream ■ Do not be afraid to experiment with make-up and ask for advice

HEAD SPACE: Jack Lyons says 20 minutes of daily mediation gives a feeling of inner calm. Picture: Nick Bradshaw ■ Learn to have me time ■ Learn to relax ■ Mediation could help to ease stress JUGGLING demanding children, a career, and the problems of ageing parents is stressful at the best of times, so keeping a clear and calm mind is vital for your wellbeing. Make sure you have ‘me time’ — a long hot bath, a massage — somewhere, that you can totally relax and forget about the outside world, if only for an hour. Deep breathing and mediation have also been proven to help. Jack Lyons, 61, a transcendental mediation teacher based in Rathmines, Dublin, for more than 35 years, believes it is the best way to deal with the stresses of modern day living. “Twenty minutes of mediation gives a feeling of inner calm that tends to persist and continue afterwards. You find it continues with you for the day and acts as a shock absorber for any future stresses that come along,’’ he says. “It is like experiencing a six-inch wave on a one-foot pond, but if the pond becomes ten feet deep then the little six-inch wave is far less of a problem. It hasn’t changed itself but the context has changed.’’ Lyons says anybody can learn TM, and after a number of classes, it is recommended that people mediate twice a day,

Feelgood

FOR men and women alike, skin care should be a priority. A daily routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising is essential to protect and nourish your skin. Sheila Curran, a beauty therapist for over 30 years and principal of Coogan Bergin College of Beauty, Wicklow Street, Dublin, suggests people should have their skin correctly analysed so that they can understand exactly what their skin needs. “We can all have a bad hair day, but you can start over again. But you can’t with your skin, and it is your duty to mind it,” she says. “Men need to moisturise even more than women as shaving is so aggressive on the skin and they do it almost every day of their lives.” Curran, 50, suggests men should also make

EYES RIGHT: When you’re looking good, you tend to feel better too — and that’s true for both men and women. Picture: iStock sure their shaving products are not too astringent, as they can cause breakouts and dehydrate the skin further. Not surprisingly, as we get older, many women get stuck in a rut with their make-up, afraid to experiment and stick loyally to their favourite brand or lipstick for years. Curran understands this but calls on women to be adventurous, and visit a beauty ther-

■ EXERCISE

apist or beauty counter each season to look at the new colours and have your make-up done professionally. “We all have a drawer at home full of cosmetics that don’t suit us, that are the wrong type. So don’t be afraid to ask to try, before you buy. “Play with colours, it’s invigorating and makes you feel better. We need to reinvent ourselves, experiment with different eye shadows, change our lipsticks. There will be something that suits you every season,” she says. Her tips on looking good, are to use liquid foundations as they are not so heavy, and ensure they are not too dark as it will emphasise any lines. And always blend your eye shadows, to create a subtle look. “We don’t want to be mutton dressed as lamb, but it doesn’t mean you have to hibernate or become boring. “You need to adapt but you can still look fantastic.”

● www.bodycenteringpilates.com ● www.sffitnesscamps.com

■ DIET ■ Do not go on any fad diets ■ Reduce salt and sugar intake ■ Eat healthy, fresh food every day

GYM’LL FIX IT: Fitness expert John O’Connell says toning up with exercise makes us feel better all round. Picture: Nick Bradshaw ■ It is never to late to start ■ Exercise three to four times a week ■ Quality not quantity is the key

● www.cooganbergin.com

■ RELATIONSHIPS ■ Communication is the key. Be honest about your needs and feelings ■ Make date nights ■ Seek professional help if you need it HOW do your nurture a mature relationship? Now that the children have grown-up, is your partner still the person you want to be with, are you still attracted to them after 20 years or more together? “It’s true, relationships now enter a very vulnerable stage of their life-cycle. You are not old, but you are no longer young. Couples can get very consumed by the parenting side of things, and they can forget that they were once a couple who were in love,’’ says Lisa O’Hara, a counsellor with Relationship Ireland. “They need to ask, ‘what is it about my partner that I really like and admire?’ and start from there. You can get very het-up, criticising them about all the things they don’t do. But what about all the good things they still do? If you focus on the negatives it can be very harmful to a relationship. You need to inject it with a bit of positivity.’’ To do that, couples should spend time together alone, start dating again, remember what attracted them to each other in the past and have fun. Sex can become a big issue, as many menopausal women are no longer interested in it, while over 40% of men can suffer at some stage from erectile dysfunction. The key to helping each other through this, is to be honest. “Men cannot deal with the menopause because they don’t experience it. Do not presume that the man in your life has any idea, just as he didn’t know what it was like to be pregnant,’’ says Stephen Cummins, the director of marriage education services at Accord.

you will probably get quicker results, because you haven’t done anything for so long. It is better late then never,” he says.

Picture: Getty Images

“So be open, be honest. Sex is a form of conversation. You are giving yourself to another person, and your needs have to be expressed. Discuss what they are, and what your differences are, and it is in the mutuality,

your understanding of each other that it will happen.’’ ● www.relationshipireand.com ● www.accord.ie

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

UNFORTUNATELY, one the hardest lessons of ageing is realising we should have appreciated our toned and fit body in our 20s. Now with our muffin tops and beer bellies, they are just too depressing to look at. But, it is never too late to do something about it. In fact, it is vital for our future health and well-being that we all start to exercise. As we age, our flexibility, strength and muscle tone will decline, if we don’t use them. “You need to stimulate your muscles to prevent them becoming weaker, to make your body stronger and to increase your metabolism,” says John O’Connell, a leading fitness expert, who has trained the New Zealand All-Blacks, and devised fitness programmes for the Garda “You should use weights. You can do these exercises at home: use dumb-bells, do lunges, squats, and push-ups. You must think, ‘how many muscles am I working?’ It’s like getting a return on your investment.” Mags Clark-Smith, founder and instructor at the Body Centring Pilates studio in Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow, agrees, and says Pilates will strengthen muscle tone, and posture, from your spine to your diaphragm and pelvic floor. “Pilates empowers people psychologically because you feel better, you understand what your body is capable of. You become more toned,’’ she explains. “Within six weeks, people will come back and say ‘I have dropped a dress size’. Their posture has altered and they feel better. So there is a feelgood factor to it.’’ Clark-Smith, who counts Rosanna Davidson and her mother Diane among her clients, says people should check the qualifications of their Pilates teacher before joining a class, and that they should always have one individual lesson to learn the techniques. O’Connell also suggests hiring a qualified personal trainer to encourage and advise on which weights to use at a gym, and how to use them properly. “Find someone with a track record, get testimonies. It isn’t too late to start and actually,

NOW we have reached 40, we really need to start taking care and watching exactly what we eat. Ian Marber, a nutrition consultant known as the Food Doctor says there lots of diet tips that will help improve energy levels, sex drive, cardiovascular health, hormonal issues and mood. Reduce your sugar, salt, and simple carbohydrates intake and instead increase your complex carbohydrates, always choose lean protein and make sure you have omega 3 and omega 6 essential fats every day. Marber says 99% of the time, men and women can generally eat the same food. But there are some food types that do benefit each sex, individually. For women he suggests seeds and nuts like almonds, flax COMMON SENSE: Abandon seeds, and oats. Vegeta- fad ‘diets’ and eat sensibly, bles, should says Ian Marber. Picture: PA include kale, avocado, watercress and chickpeas. Fruit, should include, raspberries and cantaloupe melon, and any kind of seafood. For men, he suggests green tea, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and tofu. Vegetables should include cabbage, broccoli, red peppers and tomatoes. Fruit should include bananas and blueberries. Seafood should include oysters and wild salmon. Meat should include turkey and venison. “Never follow a fad or crash diet if you are over 40,’’ he says. “It takes longer when you are slightly older for the metabolism to recover, and not only is it more difficult to lose weight, it is harder to lose it the second, third and fourth time around. “Even though it is easy to say, the tip is ‘learn how to eat, not how to diet’. Set yourself sensible goals. If you need to lose a couple of stone, do it over a year. Do not be seduced by those ‘lose a stone in a week’ offers. You are not stupid enough to fall for those ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes offering you a year’s salary in a week. That is the equivalent of these ridiculous diets.” ● www.thefooddoctor.com

Fit and fab at 40 plus HERE are some Irish men and women who are over 40 — and some well beyond it — who look healthy and fit: MEN 1 Pat Kenny, 63. The RTÉ presenter still obviously takes pride in his appearance, looking younger than many of his peers. 2 Gabriel Byrne, 61, pictured. The actor is still in his prime. 3 Mark Cagney, 54. The TV3 presenter, is looking well, despite the early mornings. 4 Paul McGrath, 51. The ex-footballer, looks fit and healthy, even with his dodgy knees. 5 Ian Dempsey, 50. The Today FM presenter, doesn’t have a grey hair in sight. 6 Larry Mullen JR, 50. The U2 drummer looks as cool as ever. 7 Ray D’Arcy, 47. The Today FM presenter, is as fit as ever, and ran the Dublin Marathon on Monday. 8 Niall Quinn, 45. The ex-Sunderland FC chairman, still has his boyish good looks. 9 Roy Keane, 40. The ex-footballer/manager now TV pundit, has matured with age, looking better now with his suits and stubble, than ever before. 10 Brendan Courtney, 40. The RTÉ presenter knows exactly how to look his best. WOMEN 1 Sinead Cusack, 63, actress with head-turning good looks and charm. 2 Mary Kennedy, 55. The RTÉ presenter looks healthy, confident and very stylish. 3 Mairead McGuinness, 52. The Fine Gael MEP still has her youthful good looks. 4 Miriam O’Callaghan, 50. The RTÉ presenter and mother of eight has a winning combination of beauty and intelligence. 5 Marian Keyes, 48. The best-selling author radiates warmth and humour. 6 Maria Doyle Kennedy, 47, pictured above. The actress and singer is a classic Irish beauty. 7 Niamh Kavanagh, 43. The Eurovision winner combines looks with a stunning voice. 8 Deirdre O’Kane, 42, actress and comedian — witty and very pretty. 9 Sharon Corr, 41, singer — a classic beauty. 10 Anna Nolan, 41. The presenter and writer is cool, stylish and honest.

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Male story health 8 Cover

Staying xxxxxx vital

XH - V1

Not alone is there life after 40, but if you follow our experts’ tips you can keep yourself healthy in mind and body. Rachel Borrill reports

What’s age got to do with it?

■ YOUR MIND

■ BEAUTY ■ Looking after your skin is vital — always cleanse, tone and moisturise ■ Always use sun cream ■ Do not be afraid to experiment with make-up and ask for advice

Feelgood

■ EXERCISE

● www.bodycenteringpilates.com ● www.sffitnesscamps.com

■ DIET ■ Do not go on any fad diets ■ Reduce salt and sugar intake ■ Eat healthy, fresh food every day

● www.cooganbergin.com

you will probably get quicker results, because you haven’t done anything for so long. It is better late then never,” he says.

Picture: Getty Images

your understanding of each other that it will happen.’’ ● www.relationshipireand.com ● www.accord.ie

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

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Male health of wisdom 10 Words

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Inspired by the commencement speech of Steve Jobs at Stanford University in 2005, which was widely quoted following his recent death, we asked you, our readers, to write your own commencement speeches. Here are three of your contributions:

OU are unique, You are a one-off, embrace your uniqueness. Love is everything. Love yourself unconditionally and if you can do so truly, then it will be possible to love others unconditionally. Love family, love friends and love life. Smile when you greet yourself in your mirror, smile with your eyes and smile when you greet all others. Work your body. Play your body. Nourish and rest your body. Give of yourself. Give of your time, energy and love for the benefit of others. Be a volunteer — to give is to grow. Find your voice, find your message, find your courage and find your confidence to stand and speak. Communication is about connection to one and all. Read The Art of War and live in peace with yourself and all others. Also read If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him! Be a Buddha. Read Tony Humphreys every Friday in the Feelgood section, religiously. Music is the food of love — play on and dance on daily. When you encounter fears, do not just feel the fears, throttle them with both hands and in the act of doing so, realise there is nothing to fear but fear itself. Meditate for five minutes every day, sit in a quiet place and tell that talking head of yours to shut up. Be at peace. Close your eyes, breath, concentrate only on the breath. After five minutes, open your eyes, feel at peace, feel energised. Carpe Diem — seize the day. In the movie Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams is the English professor who inspires his students to a love of poetry. The professor’s name was John Keating, just like mine. John Keating

he problem with trying to create a full and rewarding life is that the more time you spend trying to create it, the

Picture:Jonathan Mak Long

less time you have to live it. Or maybe that’s how life is meant to go? As Will Smith’s character says in the film The Pursuit of Happyness, “Maybe happiness is something that we can only pursue and maybe we can never actually have it.” The elderly have been there, done that. So why don’t we ask them for advice on how to live life to the max? Maybe it’s because listening for the answer could be more trouble than it’s worth. And, anyway, producer Baz Luhrmann gives a nice, easy-on-the ear alternative of old-man advice with his sunscreen song. Novelist John Steinbeck wrote that ‘man desires to leave a record of himself after he has gone. He leaves his proof on wood, on stone or on the lives of other people’. Perhaps knowing your memory will live on after you have left this world is a ticket to living happily. There are plenty of us who live for the

Catherine Shanahan MUM’S WORLD Feelgood

Y LAST child missed, by a whisker, the label of Recession Baby, born just weeks before the Lehman bank fiasco. At the time, few had any clue as to the scale of the crisis unfolding and borrowed money was being splurged with the breeze of a personal fortune. I enjoyed private obstetric care, and my child, when she arrived, did so to a brand new home, bought on the back of a loan that wouldn’t stand a snowball’s chance of an underwriter’s stamp in these days when belt-tightening has become a national pastime. Since then, the market value of our home, like thousands of others around us, has devalued to the extent that I can never envisage us voluntarily selling, while the notion of private maternity care is an unjustifiable luxury. Instead, for my third pregnancy, I’ve joined the endless queues within the public system where staff deserve medals for effort in a cauldron of fecund humanity. At my last hospital appointment, a young medical student asked me to partake in a survey on breastfeeding. To kill time, I agreed. It contained a series of statements found on the agenda of every pro-breastfeeding website: that it reduces baby’s risk of stomach upsets, ear infections, diabetes, asthma and eczema, obesity, high blood pressure in later life, and, the one that really hurts, breastfed

weekend and who wish for Monday to turn into Friday as quickly as possible. But we are basically wishing our lives away. And this cannot go hand in hand with living a fulfilled life. Apple founder Steve Jobs said we should not stop looking until we find work which makes us happy. I say we cannot hope to enjoy our work until we find the necessary state of mind. So enter your workplace each day with a positive, cheerful attitude, and you never know, work might just become enjoyable. Is that the answer? Could the secret of a happy and fulfilled life lie in something we can easily control, like our attitude? Perhaps that old Rastafarian had it right all along when he said that people should not worry, and to just be happy. Oh, and trust me on the sunscreen. Denis Duggan

babies are more intelligent. I was not breastfed. Should I feel inadequate? And where is the science to prove it? Benefits to the mother included less risk of certain cancers, of osteoporosis and a faster return to pre-pregnancy figure. It was also effective in creating a special bond between mother and baby. This argument is fine if the child likes a homegrown diet. If like me, there’s a struggle, nobody actually profits. But perhaps the statement I had greatest difficulty with was that breastfeeding is less expensive and less time consuming than using bottles. Both these claims were lumped together. I couldn’t argue with the first part, but to say breastfeeding is more time-efficient is like saying an Aga cooks faster than a microwave. You can’t hand a child to someone else to feed if you are its only source. Breastfeeding is hugely time consuming, and anyone who says otherwise is lying. For fear of creating the wrong impression, I am not anti-breastfeeding. In fact, in light of my straitened circumstances, the less expense the better. If the next child will oblige, I’ll be delighted. But I’m not going to insist on it, even if it risks Mensa membership. The bottom line is I’m pro-choice — so it’s whatever works for you both.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

ODAY will never come again. Give thanks for being alive. Interact with whoever you meet in a way that you won’t regret. Keep agreements and try to keep away from disagreements. Exercise. Think good and you’ll feel good. Be honest with yourself. Don’t seek out needy people, they’ll find you, but try to be of some help. Remember occasionally to breathe consciously. Be aware of the need to withdraw from everything sometimes. Don’t dismiss quickly what you do not readily accept. Accept the transience of life, especially your own. Have faith. Smile. Do one thing better daily no matter how little. Nightly, try to find three things that happened that you are grateful for — even one will do. Volunteer. Do one thing that you have been putting on ‘the long finger.’ If you don’t succeed this time, try again. Call, send a card or visit someone ill, you’ll need that contact someday. Stress in life is a given; accept it but don’t encourage it. Learn to juggle — it amuses young and old alike, and amazes everyone when you still do it in old age. Know that your boundaries will be tested every day and that you will often ‘fail.’ Accept this and know that every achievement has a lifelong benefit. Be careful of advice accepted and given. If in doubt, let go and let God. Laugh. Don’t compare yourself to others. Do nice things anonymously from time to time. Aim to leave the world a little better when you leave. Each day, thank someone for a wonderful day with all its faults and failings, and have no regrets that today will never come again. Tony McGarry

To say breastfeeding is more time efficient is like saying an Aga cooks faster than a microwave. You can’t hand a child to someone else to feed if you are its only source

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Future trends

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Synthetic ‘meat’ may soon be available, shutting abattoirs and reducing the impact of farming on the environment. But would you eat it, asks Carl Dixon

An alternative dish

MAGINE you are going out for a restaurant meal in 2100. Your elegant, robot waitress glides over to take your order and offers you a choice. Would you prefer an expensive, natural steak derived from a real animal or would you prefer a less-costly steak for which no animal has suffered and died? While such a scene may seem fanciful, a recent conference in Gothenburg heard from Mark Post, of Maastricht University, that the first synthetic hamburger may be only a year away. To create a basic, meat-like substance, animal stem cells — a cell that can duplicate itself — are incubated in vats of nutrient broth. The cells multiply to form a slippery, grey material that must be stretched until it develops a usable texture. But as Post told the New Scientist magazine, efforts to date have not looked appetising. Technically, there is no genetic engineering involved. So in-vitro meat would not be significantly different, from a human health perspective, than conventional meat. In fact, the saturated-fat content of this new meat could be controlled and it should be easier to prevent bacterial contamination. It also raises the intriguing possibility of eating novel types of meat. Polar bear steak or lizard burger might well prove tastier than beef. The livestock industry, while undoubtedly producing food most of us find palatable, creates problems on a global scale. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that livestock production uses 30% of the earth’s land surface, creates huge volumes of waste, inefficiently depletes scare water resources and produces 18% of human-derived greenhouse gases. Clearance of land for meat production has caused huge damage to rainforests, and other ecosystems, and over-fishing continues to wreck havoc on the world’s oceans. Theoretically, huge in-vitro bio-reactors could produce enormous volumes of artificial meat and fish to feed a growing world population, which is predicted to reach nine billion by 2050. The bio-reactors should be highly efficient, as they would produce only the pieces of a given animal that we want to eat, without the parts, such as hooves, bones and brain, that we don’t. Hanna Tuomisto, from the University of Oxford, estimates that cultured meat would require 99% less land than beef farming. In-vitro meat would ease the suffering of factory-farmed animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have of-

CHEWING IT OVER: Scientists are working to create a meat-like substance from stem cells. Picture: Getty Images

fered a $1m reward to the first scientist to successfully create tasty, artificial chicken. For many, the act of killing animals has largely been divorced from the process of eating meat in Western society. We receive our meat neatly packaged in a sanitised environment and have no need, metaphorically speaking, to get our hands dirty. If a story broke of a puppy farm in which thousands of dogs were confined into narrow concrete cells without stimulation and forced to breed for their short lives, before being killed, many people would be appalled. Yet, we have significantly less qualms about pigs being kept under similar conditions, if the end product is crispy bacon. Pigs are friendly and curious creatures, with an intelligence level similar to the beloved family pooch. Would it be possible to morally justify such farming methods if viable alternatives were available? Ethical issues aside, the million-dollar question is whether consumers will buy into the concept. As so ably highlighted by Jamie Oliver’s School Dinners programme, Western consumers are willing to eat, and indeed feed their children, pretty dubious mixtures of mechanically-recovered meat and fat, disguised with flavour enhancers and preservatives. But will ‘Frankenstein meat’ prove a jump too far for consumers? Joe Kerry, senior lecturer in the school of food and nutritional sciences at University College Cork, says that although it might seem like science fiction, the science can’t be ignored. “There are a lot of issues, such as global warming, world food demand and a growing world population, that could make this technology very valuable,” he says. “I remember a time in Ireland when people would quite happily boil up a pig’s head and happily eat it, but the modern consumer in Ireland is now very careful about what they eat. There is such an emphasis on natural foods and small, local producers that it will be difficult to persuade Irish consumers of the merits of mass-produced, synthetic meat. “However, there is a huge demand for protein in developing countries and as many of these populations are genetically lactose intolerant, this protein will have to come from meat. There are also parts of the world where a much greater range of exotic meats are eaten and I think it is in those areas that it will have its greatest impact in the short term.”

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

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Healthy food

Roz Crowley

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PIE SQUARED

Inspiration from her travels abroad landed Úna Martin with an award-winning food product

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OT being able to get a job worked out well for me,” says Úna Martin, Bord Bia’s best artisan producer at the Blas na hÉireann National ‘Irish Food awards. An out-of-work graduate with a masters in urban planning and sustainable development, Martin knows the job she would have had in better times would be wrong for her. “Stuck in an office, I wouldn’t have lasted more than a couple of years,” she says. Only one of her class of 30 is working in Ireland and, like her, many took a year off after graduating to slough off academia and cut loose in South America and Australia. Martin chose Australia for her gap year and while there noticed the Oz penchant for pies. “They really are obsessed with them, like our chippers,” she says. They were delicious, and given Australia’s multi-ethnicity, came in many flavours. So enthusiastic was she about the pies that she cut her working visa short and came home to experiment making pies in her parents’ summer home in Caherdaniel, Co Kerry. Martin learned to cook from her mother and grandmother, who was a home economics teacher. Also her year’s experience in Nash 19 café gave her a keen sense of the food business. “I found it inspiring there and learned a lot about running a business and dealing with customers, which I enjoyed. My wages there provided my travel funds,” she says. Martin says she showed no entrepreneurial flair at university, but, dynamic and clear-headed, once she had her idea she moved to the kitchen of Cork Constitution rugby club. She has since transferred to the former kitchens of Dee’s Wholefoods, which we featured here at start-up stage. That company has since expanded and moved to larger premises. Martin is making her own shortcrust pastry but this will soon be replaced with an Irish-made all-butter frozen pastry, which will free her up to concentrate on developing ideas while settling into the new premises. Through Cork County Enterprise Board’s advanced food development programme, Martin was allocated a mentor, Conor Hyde, of Bullseye marketing, who introduced her to, and taught her to deal with, buyers and has also been invaluable with advice on packaging. The new paper-based box is unique and

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EARNING A CRUST: Úna Martin at her stall Úna’s pies at the farmers’ market at the Douglas Court shopping Centre, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

it’s important to her that it is sustainable and made in Ireland. This ethos goes throughout her product, with ingredients sourced in Ireland from producers known to her. She has made an application for a priming grant for employment and equipment, as, with growing demand, she will soon be employing at least one person. Already she supplies delicatessens including Nelly’s Pantry in Bishopstown, Cork, Manning’s Emporium in Ballylicky and Stephen Pearse Emporium in Shanagarry. There are ten others in the pipeline and supermarkets will be approached at a later date, with perhaps the range tweaked to facilitate the longer shelf life required by them.

It’s a winner ONE of Aldi’s 16 award winners at the recent Blas na hÉireann National Irish Food Awards, Nature’s Isle specially selected Angus fillet steak is delicious. Like all steak, it needs to be cooked, lightly-oiled, at the highest temperature possible. Heston Blummenthal says we should turn steak every second or so, until cooked to taste. A little black pepper on each side is all that is needed for this one. €13.99 for 400g is enough for three or four people, paired with lots of vegetables or salad greens for maximum iron absorption.

The gold award, sponsored by An Bord Bia, went to her roasted veg with Ardsallagh goats cheese pie, a delicious blend of contrasting flavours in a crisp, light shortcrust pastry. Her chicken with Gubeen chorizo and red pepper pie won silver, and the chicken and asparagus won bronze. With dark nights upon us, the steak with Murphy’s rich deep flavours of autumn is the winner in my house, with suggestions to keep some in the freezer for my nights out. The mince and onion pie is also hearty with diced carrot and potato and the most popular with children. Many of Martin’s pies are bought by vegetarian households where there is just one

meat eater, or a visiting carnivore, and by ‘empty nesters’ who buy as a midweek treat or by younger customers instead of a takeaway at the weekend or while studying. Soon, there will be a gluten-free and vegetarian (including the pastry) version and larger family sizes are in the pipeline. She also makes to order for parties and events, including a cute canapé size. For now, at €4.99, the chunky pies are generous and plenty for one. If 21 million Australians eat 260 million pies each year, we have a long way to catch up. Britain’s market is worth stg£229m. If Martin gets a tiny slice of the growing market here, she will deserve her success. She has all the right ingredients.

The right mix

Berry nice

IT’S good to see breads we have featured in the past being given more accolades, especially when they offer a tasty alternative for those with food intolerance. Cathy’s Bread won a gold medal at National Irish Food Awards, and a Great Taste gold medal in London for her flapjack mix. Her tomato and herb spelt bread/pizza base mix was selected the joint winner of the gold medal in the cake-and-bread mixes category at the Blas na hEireann, the National Irish Food Awards, hosted in Dingle last month. Delicious, the Gluten Free Bakery continued its unbroken record to win gold again at the Great Taste Awards for its gluten, wheat and dairy-free pizza.

THE blackcurrant and cassis mousse base from Marks & Spencer is a wonderful addition to the store cupboard for an easy dessert. It’s made from blackcurrants and cassis liqueur, cornflour to thicken and invert sugar syrup, which provides a long shelf life. The flavour is bursting with fresh blackcurrant without being too sweet. I added it to cream-cheese icing for colour and flavour and in a sponge with cream. It can also be added to cream for a simple mousse. The 190g jar, from the Terribly Clever range, really is quite clever. €2.19

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Male Male health health 13

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Diabetes dilemma

NE in three families in Ireland is affected by diabetes, according to a study by the Diabetes Federation of Ireland. “Diabetes is everywhere in Ireland. It’s in urban and rural communities, in rich areas and less well-off areas. We’re facing a national crisis,” says Professor Seamus Sreenan, consultant endocrinologist and medical director of Diabetes Federation of Ireland. This is worrying for men, with Scottish research showing that they are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than women. Men develop the condition at a lower body mass index than women, meaning they have to gain less weight than women to be susceptible, according to researchers at Glasgow University. According to a recent survey, 95% of Irish people know that being overweight and not getting enough exercise are risk factors for diabetes. But less than half of those surveyed (46%) knew that being over 45 was a risk

Deirdre O'Flynn

ROUTINE SYMPTOM: Thirst can be a sign of diabetes, as can fatigue and infections.

MOSTLY MEN

Picture: iStock

factor. Severe thirst and fatigue are among the symptoms of diabetes. “In reality, there are a lot of symptoms for diabetes, but in some people they may not present for years or it may be just as a thirst or repeated infections,” says Professor Sreenan. “What you have to bear in mind is that, on average, there is a 12-year period between the onset of type 2 diabetes and its diagnosis.”

There are approximately 30,000 people in Ireland with undiagnosed diabetes, and a potential 146,000 people have undetected pre-diabetes and may have type 2 diabetes within the next five years unless they take action. It is worrying that four out of 10 Irish people say they have never been screened for diabetes, particularly as it is estimated that one in eight Irish people over 60 years has diabetes.

Become Aware of support out there

Jamie is facing more Movember hair growth

THOUSANDS of people suffering from depression have received help through Aware’s LoCall helpline, the depression support groups it runs all over Ireland, its confidential email support service and online support group service. So far this year, Aware has opened

LAST year, rugby players Cian Healey and Jamie Heaslip sported impressive moustaches for Movember. During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in Ireland and around the world. The aim is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. This year, Jamie Heaslip, pictured here getting a shave before his Movember 2010 growth spurt, will once again grow a ‘mo’.

or re-opened groups in Ballina, Co Mayo; Mullingar, Co Westmeath; Blackpool, Cork city; Cavan; Waterford city; and Dungarvan, Co Waterford. Next up is Kilkenny, where a new Thursday evening group will open on November 17.

TAKE 1

● To find out more, see www.aware.ie

HERBAL DEFENCE: The average Irish person will suffer from two to three cold and flu infections each year, according to Nicola Murphy, a herbal advisor with the herbal products company A. Vogel. Murphy says using A.Vogel Echinaforce will strengthen people’s immune system, helping you to avoid infections. A.Vogel Echinaforce is a herbal remedy made from echinacea that the company says improves the efficiency of the immune system, helping it to recognise and kill bugs before they have a chance to cause trouble in your body, as well as easing the symptoms of cold, flu and upper respiratory tract infections. Prices start at €12.95.

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“Guys can be too quiet on the subject of their health and cancer,” says Heaslip. “If we can bring more awareness around prostate and testicular cancer, that would be great. It’s about getting the lads in the pub talking about their health. Hopefully people will see my mo on TV and at games and ask, ‘What on earth is that all about?’ and raise awareness.”

Picture: Maxwells Dublin

● To raise funds for prostate cancer this Movember, see ie.movember.com

“Given the time it takes for the condition to develop, people — especially people over 45, or those who exhibit other risk factors for diabetes — should get tested on a more regular basis,” said Professor Sreenan. With World Diabetes Day coming up on November 14, it might be an ideal time to get checked out if you are concerned. Alternatively, log onto www.diabetes.ie or call the Diabetes Federation of Ireland’s helpline on 1850 909 909.

DId you know...

Grim economic times could cause men to seek more sexual partners, giving them more chances to reproduce (Source: University of Kansas)

Immune boosters

BREATHE EASY: The salty atmosphere of salt mines has been used for centuries to ease the symptoms of respiratory system disorders. The Saltpipe, developed by Higher Nature, uses salt from the Transylvanian Praid salt mine, in an inhaler, to ease breathing problems. Allergy specialist, Dr Zoltan Ronai, tested the inhaler on 50 people over two weeks and found that 75% of those who usually experienced breathing problems had an improvement as did 65% of those who experienced night coughing. With regular daily use, the Saltpipe will last up to five years. It costs €29.95 at health-food shops and selected pharmacies nationwide.

SINUS REMEDY: Nasal washing involves flooding the nasal cavity with a warm saline solution. This removes mucus and germs and controls sinus and nasal symptoms. The NasoCleanse nasal washing system is clinically proven to relieve allergy and cold symptoms and is available as NasoCleanse Squeeze; NasoCleanse Neti Pot and NasoCleanse kids’ mist. NasoCleanse is €17.99 from pharmacies; saline refill sachets are €12.99. For more information on nasal washing or the NasoCleanse system, visit www.pharmaher.ie.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

VITAMIN BOOST: Research for the Bayer-owned supplement Berocca says that almost 60% of Irish adults have taken supplements in the past year. The company says the main reason given for taking vitamins is to prevent illness. Rugby player Cian Healy is endorsing Berocca Performance, a 30-pack costs €11.99. which contains B and C vitamins, along the calcium, magnesium and zinc. Healy features in the Berocca Performance TV ad, and more information about the product, can be found at www.berocca.ie.

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Beauty

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The news on... PURE COLOUR CYBER EYES Cyber eyes? Really? Well, according to Estée Lauder creative make-up director, Tom Pecheux, they’re the next big thing. But before you start thinking Mr Pecheux has gone all C3PO, he’s actually talking about eyeshadows — eyeshadows that offer a slight twist on the “smokey eye look.” The shadows also have a rather nifty “tribid” system that means they can be worn wet and dry and which gives an almost metallic-like sheen that’s non-creasing, non-flaking and non-fading. Nifty.

Emily O’Sullivan

Hair oil can offer an ideal solution for anyone who is fighting the frizz

● Pure Colour Gelée Powder EyeShadow, €24, is available from department stores and Lauder counters nationwide.

Take three... FACE OILS

AIR oil may not quite be not rocking my world, but it is making my hair a lot more manageable. I have wiry, frizzy, fuzzy and fairly exuberant hair. It’s nuts. Leave it natural and product-free and it quite literally explodes in a ball of unruly fluff around my face and I end up looking like a blowdried kitten. In the past I have used hairspray, gel, mousse and serum to try and control it. And serum has generally been the most successful at leaving it tamed but not crunchy, greasy or stiff. But then along came hair oil and everything changed. Hair oil was once the smelly, greasy stuff men used to wear in the 1920s but new versions are completely different. Generally, it’s produced with argan oil, which is rather excellent at treating split ends, conditioning, and calming things down. This time last year, when I reached for Moroccanoil, one of the first of the new breed of 21st-century hair oils, I didn’t really know what to expect — but hair oil is like an instant rescue remedy for out-of-control hair. It’s like your hair has just undergone an intense therapy session and is now committed to being calm. And I, for one, love it. Moroccanoil has become one of the most successful oils on the market. It now has the requisite celebrity fans. It’s featured on catwalk shows. And the oil is mentioned in beauty magazines. A lot. When I first tried the product, there were no other hairs oils that I knew of on the market and I had nothing to compare it to. I loved it, and I loved the way it worked. But I’ve since found better hair oils, and having used it again recently, I find the heavy scent and the greasy texture

IF you’re going to put it on your hair, why not put it on your face too. Many people assume oil to be too rich to use on your face, but I’ve been a fan of it for years. Keep the effects of the harsh winter weather at bay with one of these...

SHINE ON SMOOTH OPERATOR: A new generation of quality hair oils is now on the market for women. Picture: iStock

of the original oil, a bit too much. But this is the thing with hair oil — it may take a few experiments to find the one that perfectly suits your hair, but once you do you’ll stick with it. My luxury hair oil of choice is Shu Uemura’s The Art of Hair Essence Absolue. It’s like a manna for my weary locks — it leaves them glistening, tamed, glamorous and never greasy — but it is very expensive. It retails for a whopping €50 in Ireland, although I recently discovered that you can buy it for a total of £32.75 on feelunique.com and have it delivered to your door. Sweet. Next on my list of faves is Kerastase, anoth-

er pricey little number at €34. It’s a blend of four oils: Amazonian pracaxi, argan, maize and camellia. It’s a great option for mid-frizzy hair — hair that has a bit of frizz, but isn’t overwhelmed by it. I found it lovely to use, without any hint of greasiness or heaviness. If you’re thinking it’s all looking a bit pricey, don’t despair. There is a good option out there that is far more affordable than its competitors. Okay, so at €15.20, no one could argue that L’Oreal’s Mythic Oil is cheap, but it’s only a matter of time before someone cracks the hair oil code and we get the kind of high-grade hair oil for under a tenner that we deserve.

Voya Serum, €55. It’s called a serum, but it’s a combination of face oils and it’s very lovely. Expensive, yes, but as with all oils, you only need three of four drops. Designed to be used in the evening, it’s light and pleasantly scented. And, being a Voya product, it is certified organic by the Soil Association in Britain. Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil, €39. This has a scent that will transports you to some exotic spa infinitely more glamorous than your bathroom. What I love about this oil is that it instantly sinks onto the skin, with no trace of greasiness after about a minute. It’s 100% natural. Trilogy Rosehip Oil, €19.99. This is quite a rich oil, so it’s best suited to those with drier skin types. It makes the skin feel really hydrated and silky smooth and it uses 100% certified organic rosehip oil. Not surprisingly, it has won a string of awards.

STUFF WE LIKE Shu Uemura The Art of Hair Essence Absolue, €50. In a way I wish I had never tried this hair oil, because it’s so expensive. It’s light, it’s beautifully-fragranced and it lasts really well. Shop around and you’ll find it cheaper, but it’s definitely at the top of the scale price-wise. Comes in a pump bottle. Moroccanoil Treatment, €38. Moroccanoil does tend to divide people, but I think the original treatment is better on tougher, wirier hair. It has quite a strong smell, which some people love, but which I can’t quite get into. If you

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have blonde or fine hair, then you might want to opt for Moroccanoil Light, which has less of an intensely amber hue and is not quite as heavy. Comes in a twist-cap bottle. Kerastase Elixir Ultime, €34. Expensive, yes, but this is another fabulous oil that I love having on my bathroom shelf. A blend of four, lovely oils, it’s light, non-greasy and golden and it seems to lock in goodness into the hair without weighing it down.

Schwarzkopf BC Oil Miracle Finishing Treatment, €29.95. The latest of the bunch to hit the market, Schwarzkopf’s oil has a deep, amber colour similar to Moroccanoil, but with a lighter scent. It’s also quite similar in effect, so only opt for this one if you have thick, wiry hair. Otherwise, try out the more delicate Finishing Treatment Light. L’Oreal Professional Série Nature Oil, €19. This is one of two L’Oreal hair oils that have been released recently. It has olive fruit oil and argan oil, but it was the least effective of the oils I tried and it also tends

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to feel a little heavy on the hair, giving it a slightly greasy texture. Best suited to very dry, wiry hair types. L’Oreal Professional Mythic Oil, €15.20. There’s something about this oil that I like. And it’s not just the price, which, quite frankly, is welcome in view of all the wallet-busting oils out there. It has a nice, slim bottle and light, silky essence and doesn’t weigh the hair down.

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Natural health

My 11-year-old daughter is very active in team sports, but she has a problem with strong underarm odour. Is there a natural and safe deodorant that a child her age can use?

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. While I come across many safe and natural deodorants in my line of work, my favourite (and the one that I use every day) is a homemade recipe. It makes more of a paste than something you can spray or roll on, but it is incredibly effective and simple to use. Once you have made up the paste, simply apply in the morning after bathing, and it will last all day. I friend who is a builder tried my deodorant paste on a hot summer’s day and it worked. Here is the recipe for you and your daughter — she may enjoy making it and choosing her own essential oil combination to personalise it: DEODORANT PASTE 3 tablespoons coconut oil 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder 1 tablespoon cornflour 2 tablespoons baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) 3-4 drops of essential oils Simply mix the powders together in a small jar, add the essential oils, and then slowly combine the coconut oil until it reaches the consistency of hair wax. This deodorant keeps indefinitely, and you only need use a small amount each day. Just rub it onto your fingertips to warm the coconut oil, and massage into your armpits following your morning bath or shower. Oils such as cypress, sandalwood, and bergamot work well, but it’s up to your personal preference. Q. I have just been through recovery from a painful kidney stone episode. Could you let me know which foods I should be eating or avoiding to prevent this from happening again. It was truly the most excruciating pain I have experienced. A. The first thing that you should consider is eliminating meat from your diet, since meat contains significant amounts of inorganic phosphorus — which has been linked with a higher incidence of kidney stones. Organic phosphorous, however, can help prevent kidney stones. This substance is found mostly in beans, wholegrains, and legumes. It works by inhibiting the formation of stones upon being converted to phosphorylated inositols in the urine. This information about getting the right

stones in the kidneys and gallbladder. Quebra pedra can be drunk as a tea, but I personally don’t enjoy the taste. Instead, I take the pure herb in vege capsules. Quebra Pedra tea and capsules are available from your local health store or from the Amazon herb specialists, Rio Health (www.riohealth.co.uk; 00 44 01273 570987). Capsules cost £22.99 for 90 x 500mg vegecaps — take three daily before food. The tea starts at £5.99 for 40 teabags, and can be sweetened with honey if you prefer. You will need to take the tea three times daily. Q. I am travelling abroad next month, and I find that long-haul air travel really dries out my skin. In addition to this, I seem to retain water. Please can you help. A. This is one of those common problems with long-haul flights — fortunately the solution is fairly simple, but you will need to start right now for best effect. You will need to moisturise from the inside out, by getting enough essential fatty acids (EFAs) in your diet. I suggest that you supplement with either Udo’s Oil blend, or Patrick Holford’s essential omega capsules, available from local health stores. EFAs have an anti-inflammatory acPicture: iStock tion, which will also help your circulatory system, and reduce the incidence of water retention and swelling during and after the flight. The other incredibly important part of air travel is what you choose to eat during the flight. If you have the choice of an in-flight meal service, it is always best to choose a hydrating fruit platter. Most of the other foods available tend to be dehydrating, and we need all the help we can get when we step into the airplane cabin. It is not always practical to drink loads of water during a flight, so do what you can — the walk to and from the toilet cubicle will certainly help reduce the swelling and keep your circulation going. If possible, try not to wear any make-up during the flight — if you want to hop off kind of phosphorus in your diet to prevent the plane looking refreshed, then you can alkidney stones has been in circulation for ways do a quick touch up shortly before you over 40 years — doctors in South Africa noarrive at your destination. ticed that all of their patients with kidney Do take a small spray bottle of rosewater to stones also ate high meat diets, while those mist our face with. I make a special combiwhose primary food was beans, legumes and nation of rosewater, colloidal silver, and add a whole grains were 500 times less likely to couple of drops of frankincense, lime, have renal stones. lemongrass, or sweet orange essential oils to There is also a herbal remedy which can help revive the senses. help you — quebra pedra (aka stonebreaker). If your water retention is problematic, then It is one of the traditional remedies from the you might need the help of the Ayurvedic Brazilian rainforest, used to reduce inflamherb, gotu kola — either in tincture, capsule, mation, stop muscle spasms, and break down or tea form. Take as directed.

My 11-year-old daughter is very active in team sports, but she has a problem with strong underarm odour

■ NOTE: The information contained above is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor first.

Megan puts the spotlight on:

T is that time of year, where the weather gets cold, the days get shorter, and sunshine is a distant memory. This is enough to make anyone feel tired, listless and a bit down in the dumps — however, these symptoms, together with changes in skin, mood, and general wellbeing, could indicate the presence of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is thought to affect up to a quarter of the adult population, with the main symptom being depression. Researchers have found that the hormones and brain chemicals which control mood and sleeping patterns are linked to SAD — the lower the levels, the higher the risk of developing this

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condition. Serotonin is a hormone which acts as a neurotransmitter, regulating sleep patterns, body temperature, appetite, libido, and emotions. It is available in supplement form, but you can just as easily boost production of this important horSAD DAYS: Lower light levels at this time of mone by eating a year can affect some people’s mood. high-protein Picture: iStock

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Seasonal Affective Disorder snack about three hours before bedtime. A significant factor in SAD is the huge drop in vitamin D availability. It is now believed that you can store vitamin D (which is actually a hormone) to help ward off SAD. Getting your daily dose of natural light is

crucial to your emotional, mental and physical wellbeing. Our bodies are designed to make vitamin D through sun exposure, needing as little as two hours spent in sunlight per week. While this may appear difficult on days when the sun doesn’t break through the clouds, it is still providing the exposure you need to make this important hormone. Vitamin D is not only essential for maintaining strong, healthy bones — it also plays an important role in the regulation of skin cell growth. You can purchase Biocare’s vitamin D3 2000IU drops from your local health store or online at www.hereshealth.ie, where 15ml costs €11.95.

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The Hair Clinic, Cork: 15 years of experience and expertise

Confidence restored! “I am amazed at the results and my confidence has been restored. I can honestly say it was the best thing I have ever done!”

After 6 Months

Before

After 12 Months

RECENT studies show that Hairloss is a topic close to the hearts of up to 40% of Irish people. It affects both male and female alike and can be extremely upsetting, irrespective of the age or sex of the sufferer. When 24-year-old Corkman Tomas Horgan noticed his hair was getting thiner his confidence hit rock bottom. “I hated it” said Tomas. “I became very conscious about my hair and I started wearing a baseball cap whenever I was in company, my confidence was very low, especially around women, I felt they were looking at my hair.” It was at this point that Tomas started to research on the internet about various treatments to combat hairloss. “Both my father and grandfather were bald and I read that thinning hair leading to baldness was heriditary so I knew I had to do something.” Tomas discovered, after hours of trawling through various websites, that hair transplant surgery only replaced hair

follicles that had already died, it did not prevent further hairloss. “It was during this research that I read about a laser treatment pioneered in the US that has gained full FDA which can stimulate hair growth and thicken hair, but ONLY if the Hair Root is still alive, it CANNOT grow hair if the root is dead, so I knew it was important to do something as soon as possible, before it was too late.” “I found a company in Cork, one of only a handful in Ireland to offer this treatment. I went for a free consultation to find out more at their clinic just off Patrick’s Bridge. I was told that as I had lost some roots already and that my hair was never going to be as thick as it once was but treatment would help stop any further hairloss and thicken the hair that I did have.” “I am amazed at the results and my confidence has been restored. I can honestly say it was the best thing I have ever done!”

Bouncing back from hair loss “I found that it was clinically proven to stop hair loss in 94% of patients after six months of treatment and was suitable for both men and women, it was also totally pain-free with no side-effects.”

WHEN 61-year-old Kerry grandmother-of-six Vivien O’Sullivan noticed that her hair was falling out more than normal she assumed that it was due to stress caused by a recent family bereavement. “I noticed it mainly when I washed it, the plughole in the shower used to clog up with hair,” said Vivien. “I started to really worry though when I woke up one morning and noticed several hairs on the pillow, I have always had really thick hair and my hair was definitely starting to thin out. “I was so worried about it that I went to see my GP,” says Vivien. “He said it could be a lack of iron in my diet so I started taking iron tab-

lets. “Over the next six months I took lots of different supplements, as well as iron tablets, but the thinning seemed to be getting worse.” Vivien went back to see her GP who this time advised her that she should seek advice from a hair loss specialist. Vivien visited several hair loss specialists and was advised by one clinic that her best option was a wig and by another that FUE transplant surgery was her best option. “I didn’t like the sound of either option to be honest,” says Vivien. “I was worried and unhappy with my hair loss but I didn’t feel as though it had deteriorated o wear enough to ece! a hairpiece! siI basially just cally wanted o stop to it from ling out falling

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r 2011 Until End NoOFveTHmISbADeVE RT

and thicken it up.” Vivien considered the option of surgery but again decided this was too radical and extreme. “The most important thing to me was to stop it from falling out and to hopefully thicken it up,” said Vivien. “I was told that surgery would replace the hairs that had been lost but would not stop any further hair loss, I was at a total loss as to know what to do. “Then one day my husband called to say he was reading an article in the newspaper about a laser that can help to stop hair loss and to thicken existing thin hair without the need for any surgery, I researched into it on the internet and I found that it was clinically proven to stop hair loss in 94% of patients after six months of treatment and was suitable for both men and women, it was also totally pain-free with no side-effects. “I then found there was a clinic in Cork offering this treatment, so

I contacted them and went for a free consultation, I discovered I was suffering from a condition called CTE (Chronic Telogen Effluvium). I was told this causes excessive thinning down the centre of the scalp and affects the hair’s growth cycles. It can also lead to androgenic alopecia, which can cause the hairs to get thinner and thinner until they stop growing altogether.” Vivien was informed that surgery was inappropriate as she was still losing hair, and was also unnecessary as she still had the majority of her hair which could be saved and thickened using a combination of laser treatment and medication. “I completed my course of treatment just over nine months ago and I can’t believe the difference in my hair. It has stopped falling out and it has thickened up massively. I am delighted. I would recommend anyone who is worried about thinning hair to do something about it before it’s too late!”

Vivien O’Sullivan.

ON MENTION

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, NOVEMBER 4, 2011