A&H August 2015 by The Malta Independent

ESSENTIAL CARE for extremities PLUS

PEOPLE, BOOKS, PRODUCT NEWS, HEALTH DIRECTORY, AND MORE

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER . ISSUE 63

M A LTA ’ S B E S T A N D B R I G H T E S T H E A LT H A N D W E L L B E I N G M A G A Z I N E

SWEET DREAMS –WHY STEVIA?

ARE YOU A GOSSIP?

EATING FOR TWO OR MORE

MANAGING BACKTO SCHOOL ANXIETY

PRESCHOOL HEALTH CHECK

“IF YOU DREAM IT, YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT” FOOD THAT’S GOOD for you and the environment

BACK TO SCHOOL SHOES WITH ROOM TO GROW

THE POINT, TIGNE • THE PLAZA SHOPPING CENTRE, SLIEMA, VALLETTA • MOSTA • FGURA • VICTORIA , GOZO

schollfoothealthcentre.com

SAYS...

f you’re a parent to school-age children, you’re no stranger to back-to-school anxiety. The annual shi from holidays to school me rou ne can induce panic among the most well-adjusted. Relax. You’re normal and so are your children. Flick through to our ar cles on how to manage the change. To do that, you need to use your most essen al tools. There’s li le we can do without our hands, but, as with our feet, we usually take them for granted. Minor hand injuries can be debilita ng but they’re easily avoided. Find out how in our ar cles on essen al hand and foot care. No part of our body can work well without the right fuel and that starts before birth. What and how much should you eat if you’re expec ng twins, triplets or more? Junk food’s out and fresh is in. Turn to our feature on mul ple pregnancy to ﬁnd out more. One convenience food we should all eat more of is fresh ﬁsh, but we need to choose sustainably. Our quick-read feature will help you pick what’s best for you and the environment. There’s lots more in this issue of A&H. Enjoy this read. We’ll be back at the end of October.

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Corinne Vella ASSISTANT EDITOR Anna Maria Ga DESIGNER Conrad Bondin – Standard Publica ons Ltd. CONTRIBUTORS Daniela Allen, Marika Azzopardi, Alison Bezzina, Suzanne Bonello, Jo Caruana, Anna Maria Ga , Corinne Vella PHOTOGRAPHY Standard Publica ons Ltd., Anthony Sultana & others. PRINTER Print-it DISTRIBUTION Bi-monthly with The Malta Independent on Sunday, and in clinics, hair and beauty salons and pharmacies. ADVERTISING Chris ne Bu gieg – Standard Publica ons Ltd. T 2134 5888 ext 136. cbu gieg@independent.com.mt SALES CO ORDINATOR/ARTWORK COLLECTION Chris ne Mifsud – Standard Publica ons Ltd. T 2134 5888 ext 138 PUBLISHERS P&D Communica ons Ltd. Standard Publica ons Ltd., Standard House, Birkirara Hill, St Julian’s STJ1149, Malta. T (356) 2134 5888 F (356) 2134 6062, 2134 3460 The informa on in this magazine should not be used as a subs tute for the care and advice of a health professional. Appropriate treatment varies according to an individual’s par cular condi on and circumstances. Self-diagnosis is risky, especially in the case of serious condi ons. All rights reserved. Reproduc on of this magazine in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without the wri en consent of Standard Publica ons Ltd. A&H’s publishers cannot be held responsible for any ac on taken without the advice of a medical specialist. The opinions expressed in this publica on are not necessarily those of the publishers or the editor. While every a empt has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher and the editor cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions from ar cles, adver sing, photographs or illustra ons, for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other material, or for submissions of any kind, whether delivered electronically or by conven onal mail, which are lost or damaged in transit.

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IN THIS ISSUE

FAMILY LIFE

24 MY

KIND OF LIFE

08 11

PRE SCHOOL HEALTH CHECK

MULTIPLE PREGNANCY

SCHOOL NERVES How to manage back-to-school anxiety

FEATURES 06 14 18

ARE YOU A GOSSIP?

28 32

HAND CARE

SWEET DREAMS Why Stevia’s a popular sugar substitute

FEET FIRST LOWERING THE BAR Should the age of consent be lowered? FISH FOR HEALTH What’s good for you AND the environment

REAL LIVES 24

MY KIND OF LIFE Meet Mardel Fraivillig-Adams

SPORT INTERVIEW Special Olympics coach Erica Andolfi

REGULAR

22 AGENDA BOOKS 37 INFORMATION 45, 46, 47 PRODUCT NEWS 47, 48 DIRECTORY LISTINGS

18 4

FEET FIRST

FISH FOR HEALTH WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU AND THE ENVIRONMENT

LOWERING THE BAR SHOULD THE AGE OF CONSENT BE LOWERED?

August 2015

BABY GROWS THE BEST START IN LIFE IS A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND DIET IN PREGNANCY.

SCHOOL NERVES HOW TO MANAGE BACK TO SCHOOL ANXIETY

QUIZ

ARE YOU A GOSSIP? 1. While waiting for your flight, you decide to buy something to read on the plane. You choose:

a. a celebrity magazine b. a daily newspaper c. the latest paperback by your favourite author.

2. You are friends with a couple on the verge of breaking up. You: a. narrate all their dramas to your other friends; b. keep in contact with both friends separately; c. Stay away from the whole mess and let them sort out their own chaos.

3. The family in the apartment above you is organising a party but you are not invited. You: a. peep through your door to check who is going up to the party; b. stay awake and try to recognise some of the voices coming from above you; c. enjoy the comfort of your quiet sitting-room

while watching your favourite movie.

4. Your best friend tells you that she is expecting a baby but wants to keep it quiet for the first three months. You: a. immediately text another friend and make her swear not to tell anyone; b. speak to your friends and tell them that you are just ‘guessing’ that someone is pregnant; c. congratulate her and immediately forget all about it.

5. You meet a person whom you would like to ask for a date. You: a. immediately look up their Facebook profile and gather as much information as possible; b. discuss your thoughts with your closest friend; c. chat them up and invite them to go for dinner.

6. A new clerk joins your office and you have doubts about his / her sexual

orientation. You:

a. do your best to discover more by asking around and by searching the social networks; b. observe him / her throughout the day; c. don’t bother at all and bring him / her into your everyday conversations.

7. Your friend asks you to accompany her on a shopping spree. She buys a dress which you definitely don’t like. You: a. text your other friends and tell them how bad your friend’s fashion tastes are; b. tell your friends that although you don’t like the dress, it suits her; c. don’t bother to comment since she chose it.

8. Complete the following sentence: If you can’t say anything nice, then... a. spin your argument so that you avoid conflicts; b. persuade others to agree with you; c. don’t say anything at all.

RESULTS Mostly a’s: You definitely are a gossip and unfortunately you might even be described as a person one definitely has to avoid as a friend. You are interested in everyone’s life and don’t even bother to check what is wrong in your own life and attitude. You need to be aware that there are other interesting things you can talk about, apart from other people’s lives. If you never manage to keep a secret, you will never keep any friends. Mostly b’s: You like gossip but you are also a good listener especially when a friend wants a shoulder to cry on. When you hear a juicy story, you tend to open up your ears and you even offer your opinion regarding

August 2015

the topic. You can be described as a person who can really be a true friend and who can keep a secret, especially when asked to do so. Mostly c’s: You definitely are not interested in other people’s lives. While many might think that it is the ideal way to be, psychologists describe this as something not very normal. It is part of the nature of human beings to be interested in other people. Your friends might consider you to be a bore if you don’t take part in their gossip conversations. Others might want to confide in you but might think you are reluctant to offer a listening ear, and that might drive them away from you.

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FAMILY

BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH CHECK 7 THINGS YOU NEED TO DO

hen rushing around to prepare for school, don’t forget about the all-important health check. Experts recommend that annual health checks should ideally be done towards the beginning September so that if there is even the slightest problem, this can be tackled during the last vacation weeks.

1. Is your child’s immunisation card upto-date? Checking the immunisation records of each pupil is a requirement at many schools, especially pupils starting primary school. Every child is issued with a medical record booklet which is handed to the parents in hospital the day the mother is discharged with her newborn. This booklet must always be kept handy and should be taken to the child’s every medical appointment.

2. Do you know where you put your child’s medical certificates record card? All school children were issued with a medical certificates record card during the 2014 / 2015 scholastic year. This card must be signed by your doctor whenever the child is sick and absent from school. Keep the card handy as it has to be used year after year.

3. Can your child see clearly? Children sometimes develop problems with seeing clearly in class. They usually notice that they are unable to read the whiteboard at the front of the class, or they have difficulty reading their books. Some do not immediately realise their sight is problematic and they end up having frequent headaches and copying things down incorrectly in 8

August 2015

their exercise books. Have your child’s eyes checked annually since not all children are able to tell their parents they can’t see clearly. Apart from prescribing spectacles if necessary, an eye doctor can treat lazy eyes to avoid future problems.

Check the weight of your child's bag. It must never be more than 20% of your child’s weight 4. Is your child’s school up-to-date with his or her medical records? At the start of the scholastic year, every school sends parents several forms to fill in. Take the time to fill these in carefully as they include emergency contact numbers and parents’ consent for health check-ups which might be done at school during the scholastic year. Schools must also be informed of any allergies your child might have and any medication that s/he must take regularly. Schools have a duty and a right to know about your child’s health so that the child is as safe as possible while in their care.

5. Does your child need learning support? Schools offer assistance to pupils who have learning difficulties. A Learning Support Assistant is assigned to a child after assessment and approval of a report. The process of assigning a learning support assistant takes time. Meanwhile, parents should work hand in hand with the school so that the scholastic experience is as smooth as possible for the child.

6. Have you bought suitable school shoes and a school bag? School policies on suitable footwear are developed in consultation with experts so they should be followed in your child’s best interests. Young children should wear shoes without laces to avoid tripping them up. Be sure that they fit properly and are not too tight. Don’t buy shoes a size too big to allow for growth. Children’s feet need properly fitting shoes. When choosing a school bag, follow the school’s instructions. School bags must have wide straps and a padded back. Throughout the year, check the weight of your child’s bag. It must never be more than 20% of your child’s weight.

7. Have you set your school time routine? Once school starts, the whole family needs to settle down immediately to a proper routine. It is important that the children start getting used to this routine at least two weeks before school starts. Going to bed early and waking up to a healthy breakfast is an easier routine during school time if it’s established weeks before the holidays end. If you notice your children are anxious about the new scholastic year, speak to them calmly and reassure them as much as possible that you will support them throughout.

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CHILDREN

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD FEELS ANXIOUS ABOUT SCHOOL STARTING SCHOOL OR GOING BACK AFTER THE HOLIDAYS IS AN ANXIOUS TIME FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS. PREPARATION CAN EASE THE TRANSITION. DANIELA ALLEN REPORTS.

ne of the most significant milestones in a child’s life is starting school. To the child it can be an exciting experience, one they look forward to even if with trepidation. Parents invariably feel a range of emotions, including a strong dose of anxiety, which really never ends. And while the issue of parents dealing with and containing their own emotions is one that deserves attention, the children should be in focus as they need help the most.

Natasha Attard, a mother of triplet boys, says involving the children in buying stationery and other school material is one of the things that really helps ease the transition. “Before school starts, explain to your children what is going to happen. Reassure the child that you or a loved one will pick them up after school.” She says that

sending children to a summer school prior to starting the more formal school is also a great help as it prepares them and helps them deal with anxieties before starting regular school. Referring to parents, Natasha said they also need support, “because very often they are the ones who are most anxious about their child starting school. Consequently their anxiety rubs off onto the child.” While it is understandable to feel a little anxious as parents, she said if the school offers support and feedback to the parents this will help ease the worry and anxiety. “Ultimately children do learn to become more independent and grow in so many ways once they settle in school.”

Charmaine Attard is the mother of a 4year old. She says she started sending her child to a child care centre when he was one and a half years

old. Meanwhile she decided to go back to school herself and started attending MCAST. She says she was fortunate enough at the time to be able to send her son to a child care centre situated within the college itself. While she was attending lectures, her child was still close by. “When it was time for him to move to ‘big school’, I happened to start work at the same school,” she says. “It was easier for my son to familiarise himself with his surroundings. To help him, I used to drive around the school block and act all excited whenever I got closer.” She said she would ask her son what he thought about the school building and if he wanted to see more of it. Eventually an appointment was set to see the school together with her son. “I started

Auguist 2015

CHILDREN

When it was time for him to move to ‘big school’, I happened to start work at the same school pointing out things which I knew would catch his eye, such as the slide, sand pits, arts and crafts, and so on,” she says. “I told him that the teacher must love playing with toys since she had so many on display.” Charmaine said she would also read books related to starting school with her son and included him in every school related activity: “I took him with me to buy his ‘super cool’ school uniform, ‘fast’ new shoes and made sure he chose his own colouring pens, pencil case, glue sticks, scissors, and other stationery.” A week before her son started school, Charmaine learned that her new place of work would not allow her to be as close as she thought she would be to her son. “I was very upset not being able to take him up to his own class myself,” she says. “However I made sure I let him know that I was very close by and let him go with a warm embrace and kiss.” Although I was close (very close), he didn’t bother about me and often used to tell me “mum, I’m playing, I’m ok”. That used to make my day.

Rosalie Vella Piscopo, mother of twin boys said she found that taking children to a few school visits worked best for her and her children, together with making the whole experience seem like fun, “such as telling them about their nice new uniform, school bag and plenty of sports or activities. If they are going to take school transport, you can create some excitement around going to school on a big bus.” Rosalie says the fact that her boys have each other also helps “because they look out for each other”.

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August 2015

HOW TO EASE THE PROCESS OF STARTING SCHOOL Elaine Micallef, is a child counselling psychotherapist. She recommends doing the following. 1. Let your child know what his/her schedule will be. Explain at what time school will begin and end each day. 2. Ask your child about his/her feelings – the excitement as well as concerns about starting school. 3. Point out the positive aspects of starting school. Explain that it will be fun and s/he can make new friends. 4. Let your child know that all children are nervous about their first day of school. 5. Leave a note in your child’s lunchbox to remind him/her that you’re thinking of them while they are at school. 6. Reassure your child that if any problems arise at school, you will be there to help resolve them. 7. Build a good relationship with the teacher. 8. If one parent is anxious and finding it hard to let go, the other parent should step in. 9. Start the school time routine some weeks before school actually starts. 10. If the child is old enough, purchase the uniform and school bag together. 11. Include your child in the labelling of books and school preparation process. 12. Fantasize with your child about what the classroom will look like. 13.Speak about the new things they will learn. 14. Make a list of lunch box items your child would like you to prepare for him/her. 15. Parents should organise their schedule to make themselves available for their child in the afternoon, at least for the first few weeks when the child starts school. That will make up for the time the children spend away from their parents. 16. After your school meeting, give a lot of information to your child. 17. If it’s allowed, take a picture of the new teacher and new classroom and show it to your child. 18. Organise a few play dates before school begins so the children can meet some of the people they are going to meet at school. 19. Help your child to prepare a welcome card for their new teacher. 20. If children are taking transport to school, speak to the van supervisor before school starts and let the child know who the supervisor is. 21. Browse through the school’s website together with your child. 22. Try on the school uniform before school starts to ensure the child is comfortable in it. 23. Speak about lunch break time. It’s usually the child’s favourite time of the day. 24. If the child is going back to a familiar school remind him/her about a point of reference known from previous years such as the school nurse, secretary, etc. This is reassuring as the child will feel that some things did not change.

PODIATRY

Step up your FOOTCARE PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FOWARD WITH A&H’S FOOTCARE GUIDE, COMPILED BY MARIKA AZZOPARDI

August 2015

PODIATRY

ren’t feet amazing? 26 bones, some 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments and 33 joints keep each foot and ankle flexible and functional. The complicated engineering structures deserve more careful attention than they usually get but, as summer days take their toll, our feet bear the brunt of our abusive treatment. We walk barefoot on the beach and on rough floors, and use footwear that is often unfit foot health. As feet come out of their socks and take some airing, we suddenly become very conscious of what they are made of. With the presumption that feet are meant for footing it out, we allow them to fall into disrepair and then blame them for our aches, pains and discomfort.

Self-inflicted damage 1. Feet need a stable, secure and firm hold to be able to do their job properly. Cramped feet are just as bad as flailing feet let loose in largersized footwear. Shoes should fit properly at all times, especially children’s. Ill-fitting shoes lead to painful legs and backs, and cause calluses, corns and blisters, or worse, bad walking habits. Generally speaking, what you save on cheap shoes will be spent on treating the outcome. 2. Walking on rough surfaces with unprotected feet roughens the skin of our soles. Left untreated, rough skin cracks and causes pain and increases the possibility of skin infections. Slowly and gently remove rough skin by soaking your feet in warm water for ten minutes and then rubbing the rough skin off with a pumice stone. Alternatively, use a specially created topical product to remove the rough skin.

Auguist 2015

PODIATRY

3. Treat yourself to a regular professional pedicure for some specialised pampering. This can help avoid the formation of ingrown nails and rough skin. 4. Love high heels? Wear them at your own risk. Good quality heels do exist and wearing them occasionally will not cause more than some discomfort. However, avoid plunging into flat house shoes once you get back home. This will cause you considerable pain in the base of your foot which lingers for a few hours. Instead, step off your high heels and walk around on tiptoes, gradually allowing your over-stretched feet to return to their natural posture. 5. Avoid being barefoot in hotel and gym baths or spas, and in public or unsanitary showers or on pool and boat decks. These are breeding grounds for fungal and bacterial infections like athlete’s foot, verrucas and warts because

...during January, plantar fasciitis tends to be on the increase as people start exercise regimes after Christmas... fungi and bacteria thrive in warm wet environments. Wear non-slip beach ballerinas, flip-flops or swimming shoes and don’t forget to take them with you on holiday. 6. Wear beach shoes whenever you are at the

Expert words – Yvonne Grattan – Podiatrist What does a podiatrist do? A podiatrist provides preventative care, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of problems affecting the feet, ankles and lower legs. Specialist skills focus on infections, ailments, defects and injuries of the foot and lower leg, as well as treating foot and nail conditions related to other major health disorders.

Who is your typical client in Malta – age, status, condition? A podiatrist provides such a diverse service that there is no typical patient. The ages vary from babies through to people at end-stage of life. My typical days include appointments dealing with corns and calluses, verrucas, surgery for ingrown toe nails, bunions, fungal nails, bio-mechanical assessments and the provision and fitting of orthotics (prescription insoles).

What are the most common complaints – are they seasonal too? Common complaints can be plantar fasciitis (heel pain), bunions, ingrown nails and corns. There are seasonal factors, for instance during January, plantar fasciitis tends to be on the increase as people start exercise regimes after Christmas without proper training and preparation. They do too much too quickly and injure themselves. In summer the cases of

August 2015

fungal infections increase due to the warmer temperatures and the humidity. I also get quite a few patients attending for sea urchin spine removal.

What should we teach children (and note for ourselves) about proper foot care throughout life? As my parents told me “Look after your teeth and feet as you need them to last “. I find that feet are often the most neglected part of the body. People expect their feet to take them wherever they want to go and they are rarely given more than a nail cut. Wearing good supportive shoes that are the correct fit is so simple and yet many wear the wrong size shoe and shoes that are completely inappropriate for a particular activity. We think nothing of going to the dentist every six months for our check-up. It should be the same with our feet, at the very minimum. Having a podiatrist assess your feet is so much more than people think it is. That small investment in time of having a consultation could potentially reduce the risk of injury, slow the onset of osteo-arthritis, and reduce the need for amputation due to diabetes. Looking after your feet, ankles and lower legs means they will look after you. Exercise has been proven time again to improve your heart, mood, joints and ultimately your health. Don’t take your feet for granted.

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beach. You never know what sharp and pointed edges may lurk beneath the sand and in between those pebbles. 7. If you have developed diabetes, ask for specialised advice about appropriate footcare.

SEXUALITY

August 2015

SEXUALITY

LOWERING THE BAR MALTA’S AGE OF CONSENT IS 18. SHOULD IT BE LOWERED? WE ASKED THREE READERS WHAT THEY THINK.

e often hear of court cases involving the defilement of a minor. Many times, the accused is not much older than the alleged victim. Speculation usually surrounds such cases: was there really abuse or was there consent? It’s difficult to be sure when the victims are young and close in age, but the resounding question is usually whether the age of consent should be lowered.

Sabrina*, 17 “I still have not experienced my first sexual relationship. At my age, that puts me in a minority. All my friends have had their first sexual affair and they really do not bother about the age of consent. It is true that most of them have had older partners with whom they consented to having sex. Unfortunately sometimes my friends get dumped after having sex and this leaves them totally heartbroken. “Feeling lonely, after having given everything, might lead a minor to make up accusations of violence or rape. I am not saying that every sexual relationship is consensual – far from it. However, I’m sure that, in some cases, there are accusations of rape. I think the law enforcement agencies need to look carefully into these cases to avoid victims feeling like victims, and to avoid innocent people being unfairly blamed for their whole life. “Regarding the age of consent, I think that nowadays it should be lowered even to 15. All adolescents are sexually active. It’s ridiculous to believe that people are waiting to become adults before having sex. The need for more sex education should also be a priority. We had lessons at school but the content was not coherent with what is really happening nowadays.”

August 2015

SEXUALITY

Carlo*, 27 “No one forgets his first time. I still remember mine, even though I can’t really remember the girl’s name. I was only 16 and it happened during my first term as a sixth form student. She was there too so both of us were minors. It never occurred to me that we were doing something against the law. At that time it felt natural. We were a young couple, we were dating and eventually we ended up having sex together. She consented and was happy about it. “I remember that I never forced her into it. Even in relationships with other girls, I never asked them for sex. It happened naturally as part of the relationship. Now I’ve been going out with a girl for these last two years, so yes, now I consider myself as being in a steady relationship. We enjoy sex, but we don’t force each other. I now recognise when my partner is tired after a busy day at work and she now knows how to read my mood. “I think communication is important in all aspects of a relationship, even in sex. Regarding the age of consent, well I think it is just there written as part of the law but no one really cares about it. That is, in a normal relationship, if a couple feels prepared to have sex, then why wait till your 18th birthday? In cases when there is a large age gap between the two parties, then yes, I think the law should be enforced.”

Felicity*, 45 ‘My daughter is 15 years old and has started going out regularly with friends. I consider myself as having an open relationship with her and I speak with her

August 2015

If Romeo and Juliet lived in Malta today, they would have ended up before the courts often about sex and how she should deal with it. I don’t believe I have to frighten her about boys because I am sure she will go and experiment more. “I do try to explain the moral part of it all by saying that she is precious and that only the right person will appreciate this. I believe that more education is needed, though I am sure that in schools a lot is being done. Unfortunately there are parents who need education themselves regarding these things. “I believe the law should be enforced properly. I am sure that the large numbers of students who come here in summer do not really care about the age of consent. Do the local authorities have a right to enforce the law if a foreign 16-year old male has sex with a local 15 year-old girl? These are points of the law which must be explained and made clear, in simple terms, to us people in the street.

“Even if the girl consents, I think enforcing the law will help in a way that other youngsters think twice before having sex with the first one they meet. I think that 18 years is a reasonable age of consent and it should not be lowered.”

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*All names have been changed.

A&H says..... A national survey carried out in the UK showed that the average age of the first sexual experience is 14. Should Malta lower the age of consent to 14 years? This is very debatable since at the age of 14 you might have adolescents who have not yet fully developed and are mentally unprepared for the responsibilities of a sexual relationship. However, early sex often means that adolescents break the law unknowingly. As Felicity says, the legal situation is not always clear to someone with little knowledge of the law and the legal system. How can a magistrate decide whether sex was consensual in a particular case? At times, a couple admit to having had consensual sex but one set of parents might insist that consent was onesided. If Romeo and Juliet lived in Malta today, they would have ended up before the courts. Proper education is the solution but it would be a mistake to assume that that should happen at school. Education has to start at home, with parents openly discussing these issues with their children. Unfortunately, researchers have found that the age of consent is being used in various countries to undermine the importance of sex education and Malta is no exception. Since the legal age of consent is 18, some question the need for sex education in schools. Some are afraid that sex education at school encourages sexual activity which would mean encouraging a criminal act. Sex education goes far deeper than just explaining the importance of having safe sex. Respecting the other party and the real significance of sex are central to good sex education programmes. Nowadays, children can easily get the information they want by browsing online. Will they be reading the right stuff or will they choose to read and believe what they attracts them most? Parents who find it difficult to open up should seek professional help. Guidance teachers at school are more than willing to suggest how to tackle the subject. Parents feel that their children are precious and must be protected, loved, cared for and nurtured. That includes providing their children with proper sex education at home and at school, rather than leaving it to chance.

BOOKS

lifestyle READING

AGENDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PICK OF THE LATEST LIFESTYLE BOOKS.

BEING MORTAL: ILLNESS, MEDICINE AND WHAT MATTERS IN THE END ATUL GAWANDE ISBN 9781846685828 For most of human history, death was a common, ever-present possibility. It didn't matter whether you were five or fifty - every day was a roll of the dice. But now, as medical advances push the boundaries of survival further each year, we have become increasingly detached from the reality of being mortal. So here is a book about the modern experience of mortality - about what it's like to get old and die, how medicine has changed this and how it hasn't, where our ideas about death have gone wrong. With his trademark mix of perceptiveness and sensitivity, Atul Gawande

outlines a story that crosses the globe, as he examines his experiences as a surgeon and those of his patients and family, and learns to accept the limits of what he can do. Never before has aging been such an important topic. The systems that we have put in place to manage our mortality are manifestly failing; but, as Gawande reveals, it doesn't have to be this way. The ultimate goal, after all, is not a good death, but a good life - all the way to the very end. Published in partnership with the Wellcome Collection, a free visitor destination that explores the connections between medicine, life and art.

FROM THE SOURCE ITALY: ITALY'S MOST AUTHENTIC RECIPES FROM THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THEM BEST LONELY PLANET ISBN 9781743607619 From Lonely Planet, the world's leading travel guide publisher, From the Source is a groundbreaking cookbook series that introduces food lovers and travel enthusiasts to the world's most authentic local dishes by transporting them into the kitchens where they were perfected. Each country-specific edition features sumptuous original photography, up to 70 classic recipes, and inside stories and tips from the world's best local cooks, from street-food vendors to Michelinstarred chef patrons. With From the Source Italy, you'll tour through Northeast

Italy's earthy and elegant hot broth-based soups and warming polenta and risotti, Northwest Italy's preserved cods and cakes of forest-harvested truffles and hazelnuts, Central Italy's dark gamey stews and fresh porcini mushroom pastas, and Southern Italy's citrusscented fish grills and herby salads. Authors: Lonely Planet, Sarah Berrell and Susan Wright.

I LOVE PASTA: A LONG LOVE STORY IN 120 RECIPES ACADEMIA BARILLA ISBN 9788854407848 This book, large in format and with a carefully designed editorial program, is structured using the individual formats of pasta as the basis. It presents pasta's technical and physical characteristics; reports origins of their names and brief historical annotations, rich with significance; suggests ideal

combinations with sauces and seasonings; and proposes traditional recipes from Italian gastronomy, splendidly illustrated using images produced during the preparation. A different and original point of view for discovering how much originality and taste is hidden behind a plate of pasta.

CHANGE YOUR MIND, HEAL YOUR BODY: WHEN MODERN MEDICINE HAS NO CURE THE ANSWER LIES WITHIN. MY TRUE STORY OF SELF HEALING ANNA PARKINSON ISBN 9781780286839 This book is a jargon-free account of a powerful personal story that has resonance for anyone dealing with physical or emotional crisis. It relates the author's conventional life and outlook as a busy BBC journalist and mother. This life was dramatically interrupted when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour while in the process of writing her first book. The reader can identify with the effect of her illness on her and her family. Frustrations with the medical system led her to gradually uncover the power of healing. Fascinated with this extraordinary 'parallel world' she shows how she developed her innate healing powers to the point where the MRI scan showed only tiny remnant of the tumour that

had once almost destroyed her life. In the process she uses healing to change all aspects of her life and relationships, and to heal others. Anna's experience and the extensive knowledge of different schools of healing that she has acquired since her illness help her to show how everyone can develop their innate power to heal and learn to understand the language of their body. She reinforces her narrative with information that explains clearly and lucidly how healing relates to the scientific discoveries of the last twenty years about how the body functions at a quantum level. The result is a book that is practical and usable as well as a personal and moving account.

ANXIOUS: THE MODERN MIND IN THE AGE OF ANXIETY JOSEPH E. LEDOUX ISBN 9781780747675 Anxiety is the most prevalent psychiatric problem of our time. Decades of research have gone into probing its mysteries and developing treatments. But what if we've been thinking about fear and anxiety in the wrong way for all these years? This is the groundbreaking premise behind a wave of new research, led by the lab of renowned neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux. He believes that fear and anxiety are not innate states, simply 22

August 2015

waiting to be unleashed in the brain. Rather they are assembled experiences, and that has huge implications for patients. By mapping brain circuits, LeDoux explains the origins of anxiety disorders and reveals discoveries that can restore sufferers to normality. As impressive as it is timely, Anxious is a comprehensive survey of cutting-edge research revolutionising the way we treat our most pressing mental health issue.

Magazine Published monthly with The Malta Independent on Sunday. Since 1992. Publication Dates: 13 September, 11 October, 8 November, 13 December. For advertising contact Claire GafĂ on 2134 5888 ext 118 or cgafa@independent.com.mt, for editorial enquiries contact Lily Agius on 21345888 ext 117 or lagius@independent.com.mt

REAL LIVES

MY KIND OF LIFE MARDEL FRAIVILLIG ADAMS ON BALANCED LIVING AND HOW MALTA AND BEING MALTESE INSPIRE HER DESIGN WORK IN THE USA. INTERVIEW BY SUZANNE VASSALLO.

nterviews are a fun challenge, more so when the interviewee’s someone I’ve known ever since we were in crimplene school uniforms. Mardel Fraivillig-Adams left Malta almost three decades ago. Almost every year, she flies back. She says she needs it. She has spent most of her adult life in the USA but she is, was and will always feel Maltese Her culture and her heritage keep her grounded, she says. Her roots are here, as are much of her family and many of her friends. And so she returns, whenever she can, to this tiny rock in the Mediterranean. When we meet, we’re usually off to the beach or to dinner. This time we met in her hotel’s executive lounge. I arrived armed with pen and paper and in interviewer-mode, which had Mardel in fits of laughter. Over green tea, we trawled through

memories of our schooldays, our teenage years, and, pen poised, I asked her about the moment she met James Fraivillig at Club 47. The mention of Club 47 dates us somewhat. (No, my dear young readers, that is NOT the year we were born). Suffice it to say that Mardel and I have been friends for four decades and I raise my cup of green tea to the next four. Club 47 was the place to go in Malta in the early eighties, when opportunities for youngsters were not what they are today. Six years Mardel’s senior, Jim Fraivillig was a chemical engineer working for Dupont in Malta when they first met. Before she knew it she was packing a suitcase for a six-week trip to Boston, where her American beau hailed from. Mardel recalls how cold it was and how, after a few days, she ditched wearing heels in favour of

If you dream it, you can achieve it.

Mardel with her daughter Maxine

August 2015

comfortable boots, how thick clothing was the norm, and how, on the way to the train station a few minutes away, she would repeatedly peel ice off her nose. On that trip, she discovered the infamous grilled cheese sandwich – a toasted all-American confection of calories. Some might say she could have hidden the extra cuddle under the piles of clothes she was

forced to wear, only they’d be wrong. By then, Mardel had started work as a model. Always one of the natural beauties at school, she had grown up to be an elegant and poised young woman. When Brad, a Princeton buddy of Jim’s, met Mardel he said he thought she should give modelling a go. She didn’t dismiss the idea, having featured in promotional campaigns and fashion shoots and

Photo by Jonathan Borg

REAL LIVES

shows in Malta, including a promotional campaign for a well known soft drink. “Miss P***!” I splutter. How could I have forgotten that? We giggle like two teenagers, as she tells me how embarrassed she’d felt at seeing her photo everywhere, insisting they got her “bad side”. (I had no idea she had one, left, right, inside or out. That’s Mardel for you -unaware of how lovely she really is.)

Still, she took Brad’s advice, and went into modelling while in the US. She came back to Malta but returned to the US for another three months. Then, after a wedding proposal, it was back to Malta for a wedding ceremony at Mdina Cathedral and a reception on the bastions. We said goodbye, promising to write. And write we did – real letters, the old-fashioned way.

She settled into life in the US and her career took off. But after many years of modelling and motherhood – Mardel is mom to Kurt 26, Maxine, 24 and Reed 17 – the inevitable happened. She had reached the stage where she was too old to model young fashion items and too young to model anything for older women. After years of modelling she decided to use her brain and fell back on her

August 2015

REAL LIVES

Mardel and her husband Larry head of design-build architecture ﬁrm

architecture degree which she used to develop a freelance design business. Friends would often ask her what they should do when redecorating, and it quickly became what she does professionally. “Being a European landscape architect is a selling point in the US because European style is much sought after,” Mardel says. Based in Seabrook, Texas, she is passionate about landscape architecture, and enjoys listening to her clients’ wishes and making their design dreams come true. Mostly, those wishes are dreams of La Dolce Vita and a living environment which evokes the Mediterranean way of life.

Mardel with her daughter and son, Maxine and Reed

August 2015

Her roots are here, as are much of her family and many of her friends. I know she has had many famous clients and I try to tease a few names out of her so that I can drop them on her behalf. Being the professional that she is, Mardel won’t say a word, citing client confidentiality and privacy. Rightly so, I should add, but I had to try – for my readers’ sake, not mine, you understand. She and Jim had been divorced for a while when she met Larry Adams, a horticulturist who’s equally passionate about his work. At first, they were friends. They then dated for a year before he proposed to her on her birthday. And I can also reveal that he had ordered a carriage for after dinner, and went down on a bended knee, ring in hand, declaring that “his life would be incomplete unless she was his bride.” Eighteen happy years later, she describes her husband Larry as ‘her rock’. They now head Bay Area

Mardel with her eldest son Kurt

Design and Landscape, a design-build architecture firm they developed together, but it’s his constant support that earned him that moniker. He has helped Mardel through the horror of being diagnosed with not one cancer, but two. She says he makes her smile and it’s with him she shares her fears and laughs out loud. He is, you could say, an American Dream. Life in the US has taught Mardel something - “if you dream it, you can achieve it”. She dreamed, she studied, she worked hard and achieved a lot. So what’s next? “I’d like to buy a place here to retire to,” she says. Why not? I’ll be able to see her every day. It’ll be just like old times, only this time around I’ll ditch the crimplene uniform.

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AWARENESS

talking HANDS

ur upper limbs are a very important and essential extension of our brain. However, although we depend heavily on their good use, we tend to take their function for granted. It is only when we are injured or in pain that we realise just how much we depend on them even for our most basic needs. Many hand and arm ailments are related to degenerative disease, age and accidental injuries. Repetitive overuse, which is tightly related to factory jobs, can also cause RSI (repetitive strain injuries) as well as several other conditions involving tendons. Some conditions and injuries can be prevented by careful use and proper precautions when using sharp instruments such as Stanley knives, power tools and industrial machinery.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

This is probably the commonest hand condition. It is more likely to affect people who are over 50, but it can also occur in younger patients especially during pregnancy and in those who regularly use power tools. This is when the median nerve which provides sensation to the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, and half of the ring finger, becomes compressed in the carpal tunnel. This is the space where all the tendons and the nerve enter the hand. The compression can be due to swelling but very often no cause is ever found. 28

August 2015

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON JOHN CASALETTO SPEAKS TO ALISON BEZZINA ABOUT COMMON CONDITIONS AND INJURIES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM.

Symptoms Typical symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are pins and needles as well as numbness in the fingers and hand. These are felt mostly at night and early morning. Sometimes patients are woken up by the discomfort, feeling they need to shake their hands to relieve the symptoms. As the condition progresses the pins and needles start to occur during the day, especially with actions such as holding a phone or a steering wheel. Eventually, the symptoms occur round the clock with no respite.

other repetitive movements that cause this condition. Sometimes a particular injury kicks-off the symptoms, resulting in a chronic condition.

Symptoms There isn’t much one can do to prevent Tennis Elbow. The inflammation causes pain and tenderness around the bony part on the outside of the elbow where the tendons connect. Sometimes pain radiates up and down the arm and it becomes worse when lifting or gripping an object.

Treatment

Sometimes the condition can improve with weight loss or the use of a splint, but many times this relief is only temporary. In the case of more persistent symptoms a steroid injection can be administered, but once again relief is often short-lived. Surgery is the only long-lasting solution for this condition. The ligament causing pressure on the nerve is released and this can be now done through a keyhole operation. However, it is important that a carpal tunnel release procedure is done before constant symptoms set in to avoid irrevocable damage to the median nerve.

Initial treatment with topical gels and creams can help. Sometimes exercises to stretch the tendons (eccentric loading) can improve and even heal the condition. If symptoms persist, a steroid injection can be administered to help the inflammation. Another more recent treatment is a PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection. This is when a portion of the patient’s own blood that includes growth factors is injected into the area in order to help with inflammation. Sometimes, when everything else fails, surgery is performed to excise the inflamed area and allow the tendons to heal.

TENNIS ELBOW

Tennis elbow is an inflammation of the lateral point of the elbow where all the tendons to the hand attach to the bone. It the most common reason why people complain of elbow pain and it occurs mostly in people over forty. While it can be caused by playing tennis, more often than not it is

TRIGGER FINGER AND THUMB

Trigger finger and thumb is another common condition affecting the hand. In this condition the tendons attached to the digit finger become trapped while going through the pulleys in the

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AWARENESS

Such injuries are most often caused while trying to separate frozen slices of meat or burgers. medication, the pain can be kept under control. With more advanced discomfort and disease a steroid injection into the joint can help but eventually surgery may still be necessary. This can include excision of the arthritis, surgical bending of the bone or even joint replacement.

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hand which hold it in place. This can be caused by thickening of the tendons or the pulley, or as a result of inflammation. The condition can also be caused by repetitive movement and is also very common in patients who suffer from diabetes. Often however, no specific cause is found.

of motion. Simple tasks such as turning doorknobs, holding utensils and opening bottles become very difficult.

Treatment Initially a splint round the thumb can alleviate symptoms and, along with anti-inflammatory

Dr. John Casaletto is an orthopaedic surgeon with 14 years’ training and experience in the UK, the last five as a consultant. He obtained his FRCS (Trauma and Orthopaedics) and trained at The Wrightington Centre of Orthopaedic Excellence where the first ever hip joint replacement was performed. He is now a consultant in Malta specialising in disorders and injuries of the hands, elbows and shoulders.

Symptoms This condition usually presents itself with finger stiffness and pain in the hand, particularly in the morning. It is sometimes accompanied by a clicking sensation and/or tenderness in the palm at the base of the finger. Sometimes a visible bulge can be felt in the area under the finger. At worse the affected finger will sometimes lock in place with the patient being unable to straighten it without assistance.

Treatment Trigger finger and thumb can sometimes respond to rest. However, usually a steroid injection to the pulley is needed. This is often very successful and can be repeated once before minor surgery is needed. The procedure is easily done under local anaesthetic. During surgery, the pulley is released and this normally solves the problem entirely.

ARTHRITIS AT THE BASE OF THE THUMB As we grow older, thumb arthritis becomes very common. It occurs when cartilage starts to wear away from what is known as the carpometacarpal joint. This condition is more common in older people and particularly women, because they tend to have laxer joints.

Symptoms This condition can cause severe pain, swelling, and often results in decreased strength and range 30

August 2015

FOUR COMMON INJURIES AND HOW TO AVOID THEM 1. Stanley knife injuries are some of the most common avoidable hand injuries. Most patients are DIY enthusiasts who are rushing through jobs with improper or no use of protective gloves. Besides wearing protective gear, cutting away from the direction of the other hand can help avoid many of these injuries. The laceration often cuts through tendons and nerves and, with the hand being very intricate and delicate, these injuries often require urgent specialist attention for meticulous repair. With such injuries tendons tend to heal to near normal strength, albeit with some stiffness, but nerve recovery is never normalised. At best, it gets to around three-fifths of its original state. 2. Knife stab injuries are also very common and easily avoided. Such injuries are most often caused while trying to separate frozen slices of meat or burgers. The small puncture wound caused by the tip of a knife does not readily reveal the severe injuries to the tendons and nerves which can be caused. These wounds always need to be surgically cleaned as deep infection in the spaces of the hand can lead to hand threatening sepsis. 3. Chronic nail bed infections can be caused by nail biting or overzealous manicuring. These result in fungal infections and are not easily treated. Once the cuticle fails, infection can be very difficult to eradicate. Careful use of gloves during prolonged water immersion and when using caustic solutions can help avoid reoccurrence. 4. Ring avulsion injuries are caused when a ring catches onto something while the hand violently moves away from it peeling the soft tissues away from the bones of the finger. These can be prevented by avoiding loose rings and by removing rings all together when doing DIY, gardening, moving heavy objects or dealing with machinery with moving parts. Ring avulsion injuries can cause devastating de-gloving of the skin and soft tissues including nerves from the finger. In severe cases the finger might need to be amputated.

IN SEASON

F�h FOR HEALTH f

resh fish is one of the healthiest of convenience foods. Sprinkle a whole fresh fish with olive oil, a squirt of lemon, and a few sprigs of parsley and bake it in a foilwrapped dish for a tasty, healthy meal that’s ready in minutes. Fish is high in protein, low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and contains vitamins A and D and minerals including iodine, selenium, phosphorous, potassium, iron and calcium, though the amounts of each vary from species to species. Fish also provides Omega3 fatty acid, which can help maintain heart health and reduce inflammation.

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August 2015

FOOD SAFETY Fish spoils quickly but refridgerating it is not enough. Before you place fresh fish in your fridge, remove any plastic wrapping to reduce the growth of bacteria. If the fish stinks, throw it out. To avoid transferring microorganisms from fish to other food, keep one cutting board to use when preparing raw fish (and meat and poultry). This should be made of an absorption-resistant material such as glass. Clean it by sprinkling it with salt and then pouring hot water over it before wiping it down with disposable kitchen paper. Clean all other

utensils using hot, soapy water and wash your hands thoroughly. Like any other raw meat, raw fish contains pathogens including parasitic microorganisms that live in the fish, and any bacteria or other microorganisms that may be transferred by food handlers. Heat-cooking fish does not simply make it more palatable, it also makes it safer to eat by destroying any parasites and microorganisms that are in the raw flesh. Marinating fish in lemon juice can give it the

IN SEASON

WHEN BUYING FISH LOOK FOR: • freshness – fresh fish have clear bulging eyes, shiny skin, reddish gills, and flesh that springs back when lightly pressed; • fish fillets that are moist or that are prepared in your presence; • tightly sealed, clean packaging when buying frozen.

AND AVOID: • fish with sunken eyes, as this means that the fish has been around for days; • dry-looking fillets – buy whole fish and ask your fishmonger to fillet them in your presence; • packages of frozen fish that are thickly coated with ice crystals as the package may have defrosted and been refrozen. Freezing slows, but does not stop, deterioration due to microorganisms. Fish which has defrosted and been refrozen may be contaminated although it may look fine.

FLASH POINTS Shellfish allergy Shellfish in particular is one of several foods that are likely to trigger food allergy symptoms. The onset can be sudden, even in a person who has not previously shown any signs of food allergy. If, after eating fish, you experience swelling (particularly on the lips and eyes), break out in hives, have difficulty breathing and have an upset stomach, seek medical advice immediately.

Fish bones for calcium Fish bones are a good source of calcium but the only ones that can be eaten safely are the fine bones in cooked, canned fish such as sardines. Do NOT try to eat any other kind of fish bone, even when it is cooked.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY EATING appearance of being cooked but, unlike fish cooked by heat, marinated fish may contain active parasites. Heat-cooking is safer, particularly for young children and older people. Environmental pollutants can accumulate in fish fat. Generally, the larger the fish, the higher it is up the food chain, and the greater the accumulation of pollutants. As a rule of thumb, choose smaller fish or, if buying steaks from larger fish, trim off the skin and outer fat, and grill it over a pan so that the fat will drip off when cooking.

Eating fresh fish is good for your health but can cause environmental damage and deplete fish stocks. Some species of fish are best avoided if you want to eat in an environmentally friendly manner. Fish4tomorrow has compiled a guide with the help of scientists, fishers and other experts. Among the fish best avoided are grouper, dentex, king prawns, monkfish, swordfish and tuna. Sea urchins, sturgeon, red mullet, hake and sole are best avoided too, as are fork bear (lipp) and blue shark.

Does that leave you with any choice? Plenty, it seems. Skipjack tuna, bogue, mullet, mackerel, sardines, and dolphin fish (lampuki) can all be eaten without damaging fish stocks. So can the exotic-sounding painted comber, anchovy, garfish, Atlantic mackerel and Atlantic bonito, squid, saddled seabream, and more. Download the full guide in Maltese and English from: fish4tomorrow.com/files/ fish4tomorrow-Quickfish-Guide.pdf

August 2015

MATERNITY

Baby GROWS

THE BEST START IN LIFE IS A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND DIET IN PREGNANCY, ESPECIALLY WITH MULTIPLE BABIES. DANIELA ALLEN REPORTS.

August 2015

MATERNITY

n a multiple pregnancy, a mother’s questions and concerns multiply too. However, giving the best start in life whether for one or more babies largely depends on the adherence to a healthy lifestyle and diet during pregnancy. While some women expecting twins or more babies have intense morning sickness, others have been through a multiple pregnancy without any sickness at all. One woman expecting twins shortly told A&H that one of the things that always worried her was the expectation that she would have severe morning sickness. “I was told to prepare myself for the worst, that morning sickness for those carrying multiples is always so much worse,” she says. “In my case, fortunately, I have to say I was unaffected. I did have some morning sickness, but it was not hard to handle. The key is to eat little and often. Basically avoid getting hungry.” She says her main concern is the appearance of numerous varicose veins, something she had never experienced in her previous pregnancies. Varicose veins appear because of the weight of the babies pressing on the blood vessels of the pelvic area. Other ailments she reports are similar to those experienced during a singleton pregnancy. These include heartburn, indigestion, backache, and pelvic pain. “The advice for staying healthy in pregnancy is similar whether you are expecting twins, triplets or one baby,” explains Marie Louise Bugeja, Charge Midwife/Parentcraft Coordinator at Mater Dei Hospital. The general rule remains: eat

well, take gentle exercise, drink lots of water and find time to rest. Many mothers expecting twins or more often wonder how they should eat. Friends and families remark that they should “eat for two or three”. Experts say that expecting two or more babies does not mean you have to eat significantly more than a woman expecting one baby, despite it being considered normal for a woman to put on more weight during a twin pregnancy than woman do during a singleton pregnancy. “Eat a balanced, healthy diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain,” Ms Bugeja advises. “Include protein in your diet such as lean red meat, well-cooked eggs, nuts and seeds, and dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt. These are an important source of calcium. “If you feel peckish do not turn to empty calories such as sugary snacks, junk food or fizzy drinks. Eat fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt or sandwiches with healthy fillings instead. Remember to keep your iron levels healthy. Good sources of iron include lean red meat, leafy green vegetables, beans and fortified breakfast cereals.” Together with a balanced diet, exercise is also very beneficial during pregnancy. This helps tone your muscles and helps ease aches and pains. Recommended exercises include swimming, walking, antenatal yoga, Pilates and pelvic floor exercises.

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If you feel peckish do not turn to empty calories such as sugary snacks, junk food or fizzy drinks.

A&H DIRECTORY Parentcraft Services, Mater Dei Hospital. Telephone: 2545 5123, 2545 5124, 2545 5125 Helpline: 25455124. Email: parentcraft@gov.mt

Over the past 30 years the incidence of multiple births has risen significantly. In the UK, for instance, in 2009, 16 women per 1,000 giving birth in England and Wales had multiple births compared with 10 per 1000 in 1980. The rising multiple birth rate is due mainly to increased use of assisted reproduction techniques, including Invitro Fertilisation (IVF). Up to 24% of successful IVF procedures result in multiple pregnancies. Multiple pregnancy is associated with higher risks for the mother and babies. Women with multiple pregnancies have an increased risk of miscarriage, anaemia, hypertensive disorders, haemorrhage, operative delivery and postnatal illness. In general maternal mortality associated with multiple births is 2.5 times that for singleton births. Because of the increased risk of complication, women with multiple pregnancies need more monitoring and close contact with their healthcare professionals

HOW TO EAT WELL • Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. • Include protein like lean red meat, eggs (wellcooked), nuts and seeds. • Keep up your calcium levels with dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt. • Your iron levels need to be healthy. Eat lean red meat, leafy green vegetables, beans and fortified breakfast cereals. • Avoid sugary snacks, junk food and fizzy drinks.

PARENTCRAFT SERVICES ONLINE VIDEOS Parentcraft Services have recently launched a number of instructional video modules that are now accessible online. The modules complement the Parentcraft course. The videos cover a wide range of topics such as the first visit to hospital, preparing for your pregnancy, healthy eating, proper breathing during pregnancy, the importance of dental hygiene as well as natural pain relief and what goes on when you are admitted to hospital to deliver your baby. See: https://vimeo.com/channels/parentcraft

August 2015

INFORMATION

The Powerful HEALING PROPERTIES of Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Oil TO MAINTAIN GOOD HEALTH WE NEED TO LISTEN TO OUR BODY’S NATURAL RHYTHMS AND IDEALLY BE ABLE TO PREVENT RATHER THAN CURE ANY PROBLEMS THAT ARISE. IN MODERN HEALTHCARE THE DEMAND FOR NATURAL PRODUCTS AND SOLUTIONS IS INCREASING AS PEOPLE REALISE THAT ESSENTIAL OILS, HERBS AND BOTANICAL EXTRACTS CAN BE AS POTENT AND CONVENIENT AS MANMADE CHEMICALS. Spots & blemishes Cleanse the affected area twice a day with Daily Facial Cleansing Wash followed by the application of Tea Tree Oil dircectly to the spot to prevent spreading bacteria & cleanse blocked pores.

Did you know the powerful benefits of Melaleuca Alternifolia ? • The plant became known as tea tree when Captain Cook’s crew used its leaves to make a spicy refreshing brew. Now it is better known for its potent therapeutic properties. • The Bandjalung tribe (Aborigines) used to bathe in the magic lake where leaves from the tree fell, creating a natural antiseptic bath. • Oil Extracted from these leaves was also used to treat wounds, insect bites and sunburn.

After Sun/ Sun Burn Apply Body Lotion as soon as possible to soothe burnt, dehydrated skin & avoid peeling.

Shaving burn/rash Apply After Shave Balm to relieve symptoms, avoid infection & soothe the skin. For optimum skin care wash use Facial Cleansing Wash.

Which tea tree oil should I buy? Tea tree Oil comprises 150 identified components and, although there are about 110 different species of the plant, only Melaleuca Alternifolia has natural antiseptic, anaesthetic, bactericidal and fungicidal properties, acts as a pus solvent and can promote cell and tissue growth. Make sure you read the labels and always look for the Melaleuca Alternifolia Oil and a percentage in the ingredient list. This plant is the only tree to yield the precious curative oil. This is the key ingredient in the Australian Bodycare range of skin, hair and body treatments. Australian Bodycare products are labelled with the percentage content of pure tea tree oil, e.g. Melaleuca Alternifolia 0.5%. The amounts of Tea Tree Oil optimise the treatment of a variety of skin conditions and complaints. So make sure there is a percentage written in the ingredient list The 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil produced in Australia by Australian Bodycare is quality control tested.

JOIN THE HEAD LICE FREE ZONE WITH AUSTRALIAN BODYCARE TEA TREE OIL Lice are wingless parasitic insects that live among human hairs and feed on small amounts of blood drawn from the scalp. Head lice are a very common problem and we tend to see them especially in children aged 3-12. At the start of an academic year, contracting head lice at school concerns many parents.

Insect Athlete’s Foot & Bites & Stings Fungal Infection Dab Pure Tea Tree Oil Apply cleansing Body Wash on affected area to and dab some Pure Tea Tree Oil obtain immediate on the affected area. For a more soothing relief from the effective treatment apply the sting & kill bacteria Hand & Foot Lotion. Use twice (also applicable for daily for 2 weeks. Daily use minor burns) ofHand and Foot Lotion can alsoprevent foot odour. Eczema,Dermatitis

Mouth Ulcers Use one end of a cotton bud to apply Pure Tea Tree Oil directly to the affected area twice daily for up to 7 days.

CURE 100% Tea Tree Oil being a strong antiseptic will kill lice and their eggs. To clear lice and eggs, add 5 to 10 drops of 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil to measure of Daily treatment Conditioner. Then comb out the hair to remove lice. Repeat this process 2-3 times a week for up to two weeks.

PREVENT The back-to-school season is at hand. Apply a couple of drops of 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil behind your

Cuts & Abrasions Cleanse thoroughly with Daily Cleansing Wash, apply Tea Tree Oil with cotton bud 2-3 times daily, to kill bacteria and soothe pain. Dilute in warm water, if the area is quite large.

& Psoriasis Apply Body Lotion on a regular basis to keep skin supple, calm itching, nourish skin & remove build up of scales found in psoriasis. (Always try carrying out a test patch beforehand)

child’s ears and around the hair line. Tea Tree Oil will act as a repellent without damaging the skin. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! Try Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Oil samples by calling Biocare Company Ltd on 21 42 44 01/2/3 or email us at info@biocaremalta.com Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Oil is distributed by Biocare Company Ltd. Auguist 2015

HEALTH

THE SWEETEST THING JO CARUANA EXPLORES THE BENEFITS OF STEVIA, A NATURAL SWEETENER THAT’S TAKEN THE WORLD BY STORM.

ugar has been a bad guy for a while now. There are records as far back as 1633 charting the many reasons people should avoid sugar. An article from that time professed that sugar rotted the teeth, damaged the blood and even caused bad breath. And it doesn’t stop there. Sugar is linked to all sorts of nastiness: obesity, heart disease, kidney disease, high and low blood sugar, headaches and toothaches, hyperactivity and fatigue, nearsightedness and farsightedness, dyspepsia and gout. Hence the search for a suitable alternative – and there have been many. Acesulfame Potassium is found in soft drinks, gelatins, chewing gum and frozen desserts but may be linked to cancer. Aspartame is one of the world’s most widely used sweeteners but has also been accused of causing cancers and – ironically – obesity. Saccharine has also had lots of bad press while even honey can’t be consumed in large amounts. Several of the artificial sweeteners have been on the market a long time, and have made their way into our food because, frankly, there was never a low (or ‘no’) calorie alternative that still gave consumers that

sweet fix. But, in 2011 all that changed when Stevia (which is also known as Truvia) was approved for use in the EU.

Stevia doesn’t come with the nasty side effects of some of its synthetic counterparts

Extracted from the leaves of the Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni plant, Stevia is completely natural, up to 300 times sweeter than sugar, and completely caloriefree. As a result, it has since made its way into all sorts of products, including beverages made by the largest drinks-producing companies in the world. And it has certainly made its mark. “Stevia is an excellent alternative to sugar and other artificial sweeteners,” says registered dietitiannutritionist Dr Mario Caruana. “Both the World Health Organisation's Joint Experts Committee on Food Additives and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have approved it based on longterm studies, and determined that an acceptable daily intake of the main ingredient in Stevia is up to 4mg per kilogram of body weight. “This means that a 70kg person can safely consume around 820 mg of stevia leaf extract every day over his or her lifetime, without any adverse health effect,” he explains. “This amount is equivalent to around 8 teaspoons of Stevia per day, which is the equivalent of 32 teaspoons of sugar. That’s usually more than you are likely to consume, so it is very viable.”

August 2015

HEALTH

That said, Dr Mario stresses that it is important to bear these figures in mind because, if taken in excess, Stevia may cause low blood pressure, which would be of concern to some taking blood pressure medications and may interact with common medications such as cholesterol-lowering and anti-inflammatory drugs.” He continues to explain that, in addition to providing a calorie-free option, compared with sugar, non-nutritive sweeteners such as Stevia, generally do not increase blood sugar levels, making them a good option for people with diabetes. “Also, since non-

I am definitely a convert. I have even started growing Stevia plants in my garden nutritive sweeteners do not contain carbohydrates, they do not promote tooth decay and are deemed safe in pregnancy,” he says. “Non-nutritive sweeteners may assist in weight management, especially if there is a significant consumption of nutritive sweeteners such as sugar in the diet. As another strategy, if adding non-nutritive sweeteners to nutrient-dense food choices such as fruit will help improve palatability for some, it has the potential to boost overall diet quality by increasing fruit intake.” One person who has certainly become a fast fan of Stevia is mum and self-confessed baking-addict Becca Janssens. She first discovered the sweetener when a friend added it to her mint tea. “I was really surprised as I knew she wasn’t a fan of sweeteners so I asked her what it was,” she recalls. “It was the first I’d ever heard of it so, when I got home, I decided to do some research and the rest is history.” Becca admits to having a strong sweet 40

August 2015

STEVIA: The Facts • Stevia comes from the stevia plant, which is naturally grown in Brazil and Paraguay. It has been used to sweeten foods for centuries but has only become widely recognised in recent years. • Stevia is calorie free and up to 300 times sweeter than granulated table sugar, so you really only need to use a tiny bit of it. • You can use Stevia when you bake, and this will certainly make your recipe healthier. That said, you will only need to use a tiny bit of it, and will likely need to use a bulking ingredient instead to make up for the lost volume. Stevia won’t brown, so you’ll still need to top your dish with sugar if you want it to caramelise. • Stevia is available in several forms, namely, extract powder, dried leaves, liquid extract or small pellets. • Stevia is known to be a good alternative for tooth. diabetics as it is has a glycemic index of “If there’s a zero. packet of cookies, some sweets or a piece of cake nearby, I can never have ‘just one’,” she says. “When I got pregnant I obviously had to keep an eye on my sugar intake and, equally, I didn’t want my daughter to grow up wired on candy and artificial foods. So, I decided to start trying to live a healthier lifestyle and cut out sugar and artificial additives where possible. Stevia has helped me to achieve this without sacrificing my guilty pleasures.” Becca has since come up with creative ways to use Stevia instead of sugar. “I try to replace sugar with Stevia in cakes, puddings and sweet sauces,” she says. “Sadly it isn’t always possible because some dishes require sugar for the overall structure but, nine-times-out-of10, it works really well and has proved to be a great alternative. “I really like it because, unlike Aspartame and so many of the artificial sweeteners out there, Stevia doesn’t come with the nasty side effects of some of its synthetic counterparts. “I have actually found that it goes really well with fresh fruit, mint and chocolate. Because it has its own particular flavour, mixing Stevia with more potent items masks that unfamiliar taste. On the flip side, I really don’t like it with coffee. “Either way, it is a case of trial and error, but it’s definitely worth investigating so that you can discover when you do like using it, as that will quickly mean less sugar and, thus, fewer calories. I am definitely a convert. I have even started growing Stevia plants in my garden.”

›‹

SPORT

Erica Andolﬁ, back row, second right

ENERGETIC ERICA

ERICA ANDOLFI HAS JUST RETURNED FROM THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES IN THE USA WHERE THE ATHLETES SHE COACHES WON SIX MEDALS IN TWELVE EVENTS. INTERVIEW BY ANNA MARIA GATT.

y 42

August 2015

ou can’t help but admire Erica Andolfi. She has lots of good qualities but, above all, determination, something she tries to instil in others, motivating all the family

members, friends, students, and athletes she meets. I have to declare my interest. Erica and I have shared the best years of our lives. We met in 1990 in our first year at secondary school and have been friends since then, all the way through

school, our years at Junior College and our 4-year course to become PE teachers in 2001. We are now reading for Masters degrees and, though we don’t meet every day and are studying different subjects at different universities, we still occasionally support each other with messages

SPORT during long hours of thesis writing. Sport always formed part of Erica's life and thus becoming a PE teacher was an automatic choice for her. “I am first and foremost a PE teacher,” Erica says, “but now I proudly say, I am a Special Olympics swimming coach. “I’ve practiced several sports. I played both football and netball, I was a long distance runner and I’m currently playing softball with the Knights Baseball and Softball Team. I also coached netball for a couple of years.” Now Erica is a swimming coach to Special Olympics athletes. “I have always dreamed of becoming a swimmer but I never had the opportunity. Now, I am instilling the love for swimming in my athletes,” she says. She first became involved with competitive swimming twelve years ago when she started coaching. “Six years later, I started coaching a student with autism,” she says. “She had great potential and after two years of training I felt she was ready to start competing. Her parents and I approached the Special Olympics committee and after the first training session, both my student and I became an integral part of Special Olympics. “Since that first training session, I believed that these swimmers had great potential and just needed some pushing to keep on improving their technique and timings. With the younger swimmers, we worked mostly on technique while with the older groups I started working on endurance,” Erica explains. Since this was her first encounter with Special Olympics, she wasn't that sure of what to expect. “To be honest I thought I would find it really hard but both the athletes and the Director of Special Olympics, Anna Calleja and the Sports Director, Elaine Bonnici, helped me a lot to make me feel at ease. In the end, I stopped coaching athletes without disabilities to dedicate more time to Special Olympics athletes.”

Erica with her husband Roberto Andolﬁ

deal with athletes of different abilities where the most important thing is to improve, not necessarily to win. I don’t teach only swimming skills but also other important life skills such as how to take turns and how to take care of personal belongings.” Erica believes that coaches need certain qualities to build a good, solid relationship with their athletes, irrespective of their ability. “I believe that every coach has to be patient and knowledgeable but most of all enthusiastic about his or her athletes,” she says. “A coach has to help athletes to improve their self esteem and believe in their potential.”

The benefits of Special Olympics are huge. Participation is not only good for the athletes' health but also for their social life Do Erica’s roles as swimming coach and PE teacher clash? Erica believes that there is a big difference between the two. “I still consider myself primarily a teacher and not a coach. A coach deals with athletes who have all the necessary skills and plans training sessions to make sure the athletes peak at the right time. I

Another great quality I always admired in Erica is the interest she shows in all those around her. I remember sharing teenage problems with her and she was always ready not just to give suggestions but, more importantly, to listen. With her athletes, Erica takes the same approach and when they compete, her heart goes out to them.

“I am very emotional. My first reaction is to cry,” she says. “I think about every single training session and all the hard work that we went through. I prefer competing myself than seeing my athletes compete because when the race starts I feel helpless. Winning a medal is not very easy, but together with the two other coaches, I have always emphasised that as long as the athletes’ timing improves, we will be proud of them.” Erica describes Special Olympics as one big family made up of coaches, athletes and their parents: “The athletes love to joke but at the same time they take their training very seriously. I coach together with Christabel D’Amato and Joyce Orland, whom I call my partners in crime. We have a great time together and I feel that our bond is part of the reason our athletes succeed.” Malta’s Special Olympics swimmers have just returned from an amazing experience in the US where they participated in the World Games. Erica describes this experience as awesome in every way. “We laughed together but we also cried together,” she says. “We had three athletes competing in Open Water swimming and in the pool while two other athletes competed only in the pool. The competition was very tough but our team still managed to win six medals in twelve events. We also missed a couple of medals by a fraction of a second. But all the athletes managed to improve their times so they achieved their personal best in all the competitions.” Throughout the competition, sport enthusiasts in Malta could follow daily footage and reports on Malta’s media about the performance and results obtained by the Special Olympics contingent.

August 2015

SPORT

Erica says that nowadays people are more aware of what are Special Olympics, though more frequent coverage would help improve awareness and interest. “Anna Calleja, Director of Special Olympics, has always tried her best to help Special Olympics receive the adequate coverage needed,” Erica says. “Recently, I think that Special Olympics became more popular thanks to Michelle Muscat swimming the Gozo-Malta channel along with our athletes.” Athletes with special needs definitely benefit a great deal from training, participating and competing with Special Olympics. “The benefits of Special Olympics are huge. Participation is not only good for the athletes' health but also for their social life,” Erica says. “They make new

Erica describes Special Olympics as one big family made up of coaches, athletes and their parents friends, learn various life skills and most of all feel important. They feel as good as anyone else. People with disabilities must be given the opportunity to develop their potential.” Watching her athletes improve and waiting to see their smile after a race, is the best gift that Erica receives. “Nowadays, I feel fulfilled,” she says. “I have to thank my athletes for this. Coaching athletes with an intellectual disability changed me so much. I see the glass half full and not half empty.

August 2015

I am more positive now. They are my heroes.” Another of Erica’s heroes is her husband Roberto. Her weekly schedule is extremely tight and she can only keep up with all her activities because of her husband’s support. “Being a coach himself, Roberto helps me a lot and even gives me advice on how to improve,” she says. One of those intensive activities is her research into inclusive schools and communities for her Masters degree. “I am 30,000 words away from graduation,” she jokes, explaining that, because lectures are held in the evenings, she has had to give up her own training. Apart from robing for graduation once again, what are Erica's plans? “Ten years ago, I never expected to see myself where I am now,” she says. “Maybe maturity has made me realise that life should be lived day by day. When I was younger, I used to plan every minute of my life. Nowadays, the only thing I plan is the weekly menu, which makes our life easier.” Erica's greatest dream is related to her Special Olympics athletes. “Something which bothers me is that our athletes’ opportunities for competing in Malta are very limited,” she says. “We are never invited to take part in the time trials or meets so we have to organise things on our own. I hope that in the future we will set up a unified sports programme where persons with a disability have the possibility to train and compete with persons without disabilities.”

›‹

PRODUCT NEWS

FORCEVAL BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY Winter is coming and so is the flu season. Boost your immunity and feel good with Forceval. Forceval multivitamin provides a complete multivitamin and multimineral supplement for adults and children over the age of 12. Vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, folic acid and zinc, are all important for the natural functioning of the body and enhance its natural defence function, which makes our body work better and prevent illness. Forceval has been on the market for over 40 years, and is the top selling multivitamin preparation in the UK. It free of gluten, lactose and artificial preservatives, and is also suitable in pregnancy. Forceval comes in a handy 30-day pack, and 1 tablet a day is all that is needed.

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BLOCKED NOSES IN BABIES & CHILDREN It’s that time of the year for colds and blocked noses. Mustela, the skincare expert for babies, has developed the right product for your child – Soothing Comfort Balm. This is a moisturising chest rub with purifying scents which is designed to help babies and children with congested noses and provide a good night’s sleep. It is the only product on the market which is proven safe to be used from birth onwards. It is based on natural ingredients, free of eucalyptus and contains no essential oils, paraben, phenoxyethanol or phthalates which are known to be harmful to your child. Soothing Comfort Balm is very popular with mothers in Europe and is recommended by paediatricians and midwives. Just rub it onto your child’s chest, up to twice-a-day, before going to sleep, for a guaranteed calm and peaceful night. Knowing that it’s Mustela you know that it’s safe, effective and the best for your child. Soothing Comfort Balm is part of the extensive range of Mustela products for babies and mothers-to-be, and is found in all leading pharmacies. Trade Enquires Cherubino Ltd T. 2134 3270.

MATERNA NUTRITION DURING BREASTFEEDING A healthy wellbalanced diet is important during breastfeeding. Although a supplement does not replace a well-balanced diet, it can provide some extra insurance on those days when taking care of your new baby keeps you from eating as well as you would like. It is important to choose a multivitamin that is especially formulated for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding that supports your nutritional requirements adequately as a nursing mother. Nestlé Materna helps provide the vitamins and minerals you need during all stages of your pregnancy. After pregnancy, Nestlé Materna provides both calcium and vitamin D to help meet the nutritional needs while breastfeeding. Available in Pharmacies

PHYRIS HYDRO ACTIVE HIGH QUALITY INTENSIVE MOISTURISING CARE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES The PHYRIS HYDRO ACTIVE products have one special target: to moisturise the skin immediately with a long-lasting effect. This new generation of deep-moisturising combines active care with lasting protection against dehydration of the skin. Every skin type and every skin condition finds its suitable moisturising product. “The care product with added moisture”. Visit our outlets or call us on 2142 2999. www.brownspharmacy.eu Brown’sPharmaLimited

TONIMER HYPERTONIC FOR A BLOCKED NOSE AND SINUSITIS Blocked, stuffy noses and sinus congestion are very common at this time of year. Both children and adults suffer alike and, despite the use of nasal decongestants which are used for limited periods due to side-effects, the problem recurs. Tonimer Hypertonic is a unique and effective decongestant spray which relieves a blocked nose and congested sinuses. Tonimer Hypertonic is based on sterile saline (sea water), which is slightly more concentrated than other saline sprays and is therefore more effective in fluidifying thickened nasal secretions and hence making them very easy to remove. Tonimer Hypertonic is suitable for children and adults and can be used as many times a day as required with no side effects. Other Tonimer Sprays exist which are less concentrated. These are Tonimer Soft and Tonimer Strong, which vary in the strength of the spray and are used by people with different levels of nasal congestion. Tonimer Baby helps relieve snuffles and blocked noses and is the only product designed specifically for newborn babies and young children with a soft gentle spray and a specifically designed atraumatic nozzle which makes it very safe to use. All of the Tonimer Nasal Sprays remain sterile even after use, for added peace of mind. Tonimer is found in all leading pharmacies. Trade Enquires: Cherubino Ltd T. 2134 3270. August 2015

PRODUCT NEWS

UNIFLU HONEY & LEMON SYRUP NATURAL RELIEF FROM COLDS Uniflu Honey and Lemon Syrup provides natural and effective relief from colds and flu. Many know of the benefits of honey and lemon (ghasel u lumi). Honey is a natural anti-viral and antibacterial agent which also soothes sore throats and dry coughs and helps one sleep better at night. Lemon is rich in vitamin C, and also serves as a natural anti-histamine, decongestant and anti-bacterial agent. Uniflu Honey and Lemon syrup also contains glycerine which serves to relief coughs and dry, tickly throats. This syrup is ideal for adults and children from one year onwards and is great in taste. It is also ideal for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

GOOD THINGS MANUKA HONEY Manuka Honey is proven to contain a high level of active antioxidants that neutralise free radicals which are responsible for skin cell damage. Assisting in the growth of new cell and tissue regeneration, Manuka Honey hydrates, nourishes and helps prevent signs of ageing. With this in mind, Good Things skincare has launched a Manuka Honey skincare range. Good Things Manuka Honey skincare range will appeal to customers wanting an anti-ageing aspect tailored with hydrated, healthy, balanced skin in simple, effective products at affordable prices. The range consists of the following. • Good Things Manuka Honey Creamy Cleanser 150ml A gentle, creamy cleanser to effectively remove daily grime and keep skin hydrated. Contains Royal Jelly and Beeswax . • Good Things Manuka Honey Refining Scrub 150ml An exfoliating scrub to balance and smooth skin. Contains Oat Meal and Sweet Almond oil. • Good Things Manuka Honey SPF 15 Daily Moisturiser 100ml Hydrates, replenishes and prevents signs of skin ageing. Contains Royal Jelly and Bee Venom. • Good Things Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask 100ml Brightening face mask to hydrate skin and promote skin radiance. Contains White Clay and Bee Venom.

SOMATOLINE INTENSIVE NIGHT SLIMMING TREATMENT SOMATOLINE INTENSIVE NIGHT SLIMMING TREATMENT is a shock treatment for women with localised fat in the hips and thighs. It has been proven to slim the silhouette by 2.25cm and leaves the skin soft and smooth. Available in leading pharmacies and beauty shops.

PAMPERED Treat Yourself, Treat Your Skin Pampered is an affordable range of showergels, shower and bath smoothies, handwashes, body lotions and roll-ons. New on the market are the new Pampered In Shower Body Moisturizers with yummy blends such as Sea Minerals and Nourishing Almond Oil which will help leave your skin feel moisturised, soft and smooth. The range is suitable for all skin types and best of all they are really an affordable indulgence available from all leading supermarkets and pharmacies. For more information please call Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd. T 2144 6205/6

Good Things Skincare is exclusively distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd. T 2144 6205

EFAMOL Get back into the swing of things after the long summer break. Efamol products contain a unique DHA-rich combination of fish oil and Evening Primrose Oil providing the important nutrients DHA, AA and GLA, which play a vital role in eye and brain function for younger and older generations. All Efamol products are supported by respected research projects and have more published trials than any other brand. Visit www.viviancorp.com; www.efamol.com or call 2258 6200 for further information.

DR. CEUTICALS TARGETED BODYCARE FOR EFFECTIVE RESULTS WITHOUT SURGERY Dr. Ceuticals is a high performance bodycare line created to target all those hard to treat problem areas. Formulated with key active ingredients Dr. Ceuticals has been carefully formulated to make a measurable difference to the most common complaints – loss of firmness, sagging, cellulite and lack of skin tone. Dr Ceuticals range are exclusively distributed by Alfred Gera & Sons Ltd. T 2144 6205

August 2015

NEW DELICIOUS CEREAL BARS BY NESTLÉ FITNESST FITNESS Cookies and Cream Bar – Healthy just got happy We kid you not – there really are just 89 calories in this yummy wholegrain bar, speckled with cheeky white chocolate chips and cookie crumbs. If being good was always this fun, there’d be no point in ever being bad. FITNESS Crunchy Caramel Bar – Crunchy loves gooey All FITNESS cereal bars are chewy – but this one’s gooey and chewy. Naughty nuggets of caramel nestling among the wholegrain cereal clusters give it that extra edge of sweet delight. And yet these wholegrain cereal bars are all under 90 calories – chew on that!

SCHOLL VELVET SMOOTH FOOT SOAK 150ML Relaxes & cleanses. Green caviar + marine serum + vitamin E. Scholl Velvet Smooth foot soak. With green caviar, marine serum and vitamin E. Relieve tension and wash away fatigue with this relaxing and cleansing foot soak. Enhance your softening foot soak experience. Ideal for use after the Velvet Smooth Express Pedi electronic foot file. www.schollfoothealthcentre.com Trade enquiries: Pharma-Cos Ltd. T 2144 1870

SCHOLL VELVET EXPRESS PEDI The Velvet Smooth Express Pedi Electronic Foot File buffs away hard skin in minutes leaving you with fabulous feet that you’ll want to show off. www.schollfoothealthcentre.com Trade enquiries: Pharma-Cos Ltd. T 2144 1870

d�ect�y ATTARD / BALZAN / IKLIN / LIJA M4 PHARMACY, OLD RAILWAY ROAD ATTARD 21436531 MISRAH KOLA PHARMACY, PITKALI ROAD ATTARD 21434137 ST. CATHERINE PHARMACY, TRIQ ID-DIELJA K/M TRIQ SANTA KATERINA ATTARD 21413442 ST. MARY PHARMACY, 2 ANTONIO SCHEMBRI STREET ATTARD 21436348 BALZAN PHARMACY, 70 ST FRANCIS STREET BALZAN 21444035 MEDICA PHARMACY, NAXXAR ROAD BALZAN 21445741 MILIA’S PHARMACY, 73 COTTONERA STREET, BIRGU 27600126 IKLIN PHARMACY, GERONIMO ABOS STREET IKLIN 21415499 IL-MEHRIEZ PHARMACY, 31 GIOVANNI CURMI STREET IKLIN 21435567 ST. JOSEPH PHARMACY, 164 ANNIBALE PRECA STREET LIJA 21418846 ST. MICHAEL PHARMACY, TRANSFIGURATION AVENUE LIJA 21435875 BAHRIJA BAHRIJA PHARMACY, RADDET IR-ROTI STREET C/W SCHOOL STREET BAHRIJA 21450743 BIRGU / SENGLEA / VITTORIOSA VITTORIOSA PHARMACY, 9 TRIQ IL-MINA IL-KBIRA, BIRGU 21807529 VERDALA PHARMACY, 57 TRIQ IL-GENDUS BORMLA 21824720 WHITE CROSS PHARMACY, SHOP A BLOCK 1 SAN PAWL BORMLA 21821671 SAN FILIPPU PHARMACY, 155 VICTORY STREET SENGLEA 21800681 VICTORY PHARMACY, 32 VICTORY STREET SENGLEA 21801698 BIRZEBBUGIA / MARSASCALA / MARSAXLOKK BLOSSOMS PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-GURGIER BIRZEBBUGIA 21652226 BRITANNIA PHARMACY, 5 PRETTY BAY STREET BIRZEBBUGIA 21658622 MARTIN’S PHARMACY, 182 MAIN STREET BIRZEBBUGIA 21651031 BELLAVISTA PHARMACY, 88 TRIQ IL-ĦORTAN MARSASCALA 21633788 SAN GWAKKIN PHARMACY, 1 ST ANNE STREET MARSASCALA 21637994 SAN TUMAS PHARMACY, LAMPUKA STREET MARSASCALA 27023322 ST. ANNE PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-QALIET MARSASCALA 21637615 POMPEI PHARMACY, 28 XATT IS-SAJJIEDA MARSAXLOKK 21651278 BUGIBBA / QAWRA / ST PAUL’S BAY PROMENADE PHARMACY, PIONEER ROAD BUGIBBA 21571530 ST. SIMON PHARMACY, 8 ISLETS PROMENADE BUGIBBA 21571649 EL MEDINA CHEMIST, TRIQ IL-MASKLI QAWRA 21576308 EURO CHEMIST, TRIQ IL-KURAZZA QAWRA 21581876 QAWRA PHARMACY, EARL’S COURT/1 TRIQ L-IMĦAR QAWRA 21585633 PARKES PHARMACY, 582 ST PAUL STREET ST. PAUL’S BAY 21571764 ST. PAUL’S BAY PHARMACY, 504 MAIN STREET ST. PAUL’S BAY 21573406

The magazine is also available for free at the following pharmacies and clinics FGURA / PAOLA / TARXIEN ALPHA PHARMACY, ‘MARIA IMMACULATA’ COTTONER STREET FGURA 21673811 CILIA’S PHARMACY, 303 ZABBAR STREET FGURA 21801962 FGURA PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-KOPPLA FGURA 21675250 BROWN’S PAOLA SQUARE PHARMACY, 64/65 ANTOINE DE PAULE SQUARE PAOLA 21821646 BROWN’S PHARMACY, 45 PAOLA HILL PAOLA 21694818 DE PAOLA PHARMACY, 36 PJAZZA ANTOINE DE PAULE PAOLA 21826408 DISTINCTION PHARMACY, 32 PJAZZA ANTOINE DE PAULE PAOLA 21693412 FLEMING PHARMACY, 61 ZABBAR STREET PAOLA 21696893 ST. MONICA PHARMACY, 157 ST MONICA STREET PAOLA 21667146 SONREN PHARMACY, ZEJTUN STREET TARXIEN 21672757 TARXIEN PHARMACY, 59 TARXIEN STREET TARXIEN 21802986 THERESA JO PHARMACY, 3A TRIQ XINTILL TARXIEN 21672703 FLEUR DE LYS / BIRKIRKARA HERBA PHARMACY, 183 MAIN STREET BIRKIRKARA 21443406 HOLY CROSS PHARMACY, 37 MAIN STREET BIRKIRKARA 21448454 MARRIT PHARMACY, 1ST MAY STREET FLEUR-DE-LYS 21488613 PHARMAPLUS GANU STREET BIRKIRKARA 21492958 RATIONAL PHARMACY, 74/75 VALLEY ROAD BIRKIRKARA 21441513 ST. ANNE PHARMACY, 24 ST HELEN SQUARE BIRKIRKARA 27441913 ST. HELEN PHARMACY, TUMAS FENECH STREET BIRKIRKARA 21441589 ST. JUDE PHARMACY, 213 VALLEY ROAD BIRKIRKARA 21492151 ST. PAUL’S PHARMACY, BRARED STREET BIRKIRKARA 21442135 THE LOCAL DISPENSARY, CAN. K. PIROTTA STREET BIRKIARA 21493549 FLEUR-DE-LYS PHARMACY 32 FLEUR-DE-LYS 21488884 MACKIE’S PHARMACY, L. CASOLANI STREET BIRKIRKARA 21496089 FLORIANA / VALLETTA CHEMIMART LTD., 14 ST ANNE STREET FLORIANA 21239310 ST. PUBLIUS PHARMACY, 48 TRIQ IL-MIRATUR FLORIANA 21225444 VILHENA PHARMACY, 3 ST ANNE STREET FLORIANA 21244114 WATERFRONT DISPENSARY, FORNI 2I PINTO WHARF FLORIANA 21233034 MEDICINE CHEST PHARMACY, DEMITRIJU FARRUGIA ROAD GHARGHUR 21422204 ST. ALBERT PHARMACY, ORATORY STREET GHARGHUR 21413402 CHEMIMART PHARMACY REPUBLIC STREET, 20/21, REPUBLIC STREET, VALLETTA 21246051 CHEMIMART CITY GATE PHARMACY, 24, CITY GATE, VALLETTA, 21238355 COLLIS WILLIAMS PHARMACY, 15 REPUBLIC STREET VALLETTA 21226281 EMPIRE PHARMACY, 77 OLD THEATRE STREET VALLETTA 21225785 EMPIRE PHARMACY BRANCH, 46 MELITA STREET VALLETTA 21225785 NEW BRITISH DISPENSARY, 109/110 ST JOHN STREET VALLETTA 21244813 REGENT PHARMACY, 70 MERCHANTS STREET VALLETTA 21245135 ROYAL PHARMACY, 271 REPUBLIC STREET VALLETTA 21252396

August 2015

d�ect�y GHAXAQ / QRENDI / MQABBA BETA PHARMACY, 50/52 SANTA MARIA STREET GHAXAQ 21663311 CHRYSANTHEMUM PHARMACY, ST NICHOLAS STREET QRENDI 21680828 QRENDI PHARMACY, 6 MAIN STREET QRENDI 21683781 ST. PHILIP PHARMACY, TRIQ IĊ-ĊEPPUN GHAXAQ 21808723 GUDJA / LUQA / MARSA GUDJA PHARMACY, 9 TRIQ SAN ĊIRU GUDJA 21696422 MEDICAID PHARMACY, 62 VJAL IT-TORRI GUDJA 21676294 AIRPORT PHARMACY, GROUND FLOOR ARRIVAL LOUNGE MALTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL, LUQA 23696349 CENTRAL PHARMACY, 6 ST JOSEPH STREET LUQA 21692546 ST. ANDREW’S PHARMACY, 51 ST GEORGE STREET LUQA 21820795 SAN RAFFAEL PHARMACY, 247 QORMI ROAD MARSA 21221188 TRINITY PHARMACY, 32 MARSA ROAD MARSA 21235595 VIVIEN PHARMACY, TRIQ PATRI MAGRI MARSA 21221701 HAMRUN / SANTA VENERA BROWN’S PHARMACY, 706 MAIN STREET HAMRUN 21238623 CHEMIMART INTERNATIONAL PHARMACY, 650 MAIN STREET HAMRUN 21236 477 COSMED PHARMACY, SOCCORS VILLAMBROSA STREET HAMRUN 21225991 DARWIN PHARMACY, 152 MAIN STREET HAMRUN 21221512 FRA DIEGO DISPENSARY, 94 VILLAMBROSA STREET HAMRUN 21224898 LISTER PHARMACY, 678 MAIN STREET HAMRUN 21245627 NATIONAL PHARMACY, 17 SANTA MARIA STREET HAMRUN 21225539 ST. GAETAN PHARMACY, KAPPILLAN MIFSUD STREET HAMRUN 21234570 THE CROSS PHARMACY, 859 MAIN STREET HAMRUN 21227682 THOMAS’ PHARMACY, 796 MAIN STREET HAMRUN 21238018 FATIMA PHARMACY, TRIQ IŻ-ŻONQOR SANTA VENERA 21482856 LANTERN PHARMACY, MISRAĦ IL-KEBBIES SANTA VENERA 21444648 ST. BARTHOLOMEW PHARMACY, 230 FLEUR-DE-LYS SANTA VENERA 21492271 ST. VENERA PHARMACY, 532 MAIN STREET SANTA VENERA 21238625 KALKARA KALKARA PHARMACY, NO. 8 MISRAĦ L-ARĊISQOF GONZI KALKARA 21807740 KIRKOP KIRKOP PHARMACY, 9 PARISH STREET KIRKOP 21682028 PRESTIGE PHARMACY, 16 ST JOSEPH STREET KIRKOP 21641328 MELLIEHA BROWN’S PHARMACY, SHOP A GEORGE BORG OLIVIER STREET MELLIEHA 21523554 MELLIEHA PHARMACY, 111 GEORGE BORG OLIVIER STREET MELLIEHA 21523462 BROWN’S VILLAGE PHARMACY, MAIN STREET MELLIEHA 21523536 MĠARR PHARMACY, MAIN STREET C/W VITALE STREET MGARR 21577784 ST. MARY PHARMACY, 71 SIR HARRY LUKE STREET MGARR 21580711 MOSTA / NAXXAR GROGNET PHARMACY, 41 CONSTITUTION STREET MOSTA 21432038 ROTUNDA PHARMACY, 7 EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS ROAD MOSTA 21411197 SANTA MARGHERITA PHARMACY, VJAL IL-QALBIENA MOSTIN SANTA MARGHERITA ESTATE MOSTA 21416426 SGHAJTAR PHARMACY, SGĦAJTAR STREET MOSTA 21415198 ST. JOSEPH PHARMACY, 1 TRIQ IŻ-ŻAKKAK MOSTA 21417593 ST. LOUIS PHARMACY, CALI’ STREET MOSTA 21432802 ST. MARY PHARMACY, 14 PJAZZA ROTUNDA MOSTA 21433833 TAT-TARGA PHARMACY, PLOT NO. 2 CONSTITUTION STREET MOSTA 21433141 BROWN’S CHEMISTS, ST PAUL STREET NAXXAR 21417652 NAXXAR PHARMACY, VJAL IL-21 TA’ SETTEMBRU NAXXAR 21411438 PILLBOX PHARMACY, 63 TRIQ IL-BJAD NAXXAR 21417406 VICTORY PHARMACY, 16 VICTORY SQUARE NAXXAR 21412454 MQABBA KRISTIANNE PHARMACY, TRIQ IC-CAVI MQABBA 21683048 MQABBA CENTRAL PHARMACY, ST CATHERINE STREET MQABBA 21641133 MSIDA / PIETÀ /GZIRA/ TA’ XBIEX DEBY’S PHARMACY, 1 QUARRIES STREET MSIDA 21227920 MAYER PHARMACY, 33 TA’ XBIEX SEAFRONT MSIDA 21331732

August 2015

The magazine is also available for free at the following pharmacies and clinics

REGAL PHARMACY, 39B ANTONIO BOSIO STREET MSIDA 21313115 REGIONAL PHARMACY, E.H. FURSE STREET MSIDA 21312449 BROWN’S PHARMACY, SHOP 10 YACHT MARINA APARTMENTS TRIQ IL-MARINA PIETÀ 21244366 CHARING PHARMACY, MIMOSA STREET PIETÀ 21232954 ST. ANTHONY PHARMACY, 56 ST JOSEPH STREET PIETÀ 21237327 ST. LUKE PHARMACY, ST LUKE STREET PIETÀ 21241293 D’ARGENS PHARMACY, 330 RUE D’ARGENS GZIRA 21330817 O’HEA PHARMACY, 128 MANOEL STREET GZIRA 21330268 ST. MATTHEW’S PHARMACY, 213 THE STRAND GZIRA 21311797 TONY’S PHARMACY, 100 SIR PATRICK STUART STREET GZIRA 21332080 PHARMALAND DISPENSERS, 5 TAGLIAFERRO MANSIONS PRINCESS MARGARET STREET TA’ XBIEX 21346547 PERSONA MED-AESTHETIC CENTRE, 42, MARINA COURT, SIR UGO MIFSUD STREET, TA’ XBIEX 21340366 REMEDIES CHEMISTS, MARINA COURT 49A ABATE RIGORD STREET TA’ XBIEX 21341649 PACEVILLE / SAN GWANN / ST JULIANS POTTER CHEMISTS LTD., WILGA STREET PACEVILLE 21363244 LOURDES PHARMACY, NAXXAR ROAD SAN GWANN 21387479 MARC PHARMACY, 92 MENSIJA STREET SAN GWANN 21373275 MEDICAL PLAZA DISPENSING CHEMISTS, CASS-I-MALL BUILDINGS VJAL IR-RIHAN SAN GWANN 21372195 SAN GWANN PHARMACY, 11 FELIĊ BORG STREET SAN GWANN 21386974 SPIŻERIJA KAPPARA, ŻBIBU LANE SAN GWANN 21381776 BALLUTA PHARMACY, 30 MAIN STREET ST JULIANS 21317888 MELITA PHARMACY, 127 ST GEORGE STREET ST JULIANS 21378657 SPIŻERIJA MERĦBA, SHOP 2 LAPSI STREET TA’ GIORNI ST JULIANS 21333886 ST. JULIANS PHARMACY, 24 GEORGE BORG OLIVIER STREET ST JULIANS 21369426 PEMBROKE / SWIEQI / ST ANDREWS J.V.’S PHARMACY, SWIEQI VALLEY SWIEQI 21371062 KRYPTON CHEMISTS, IBRAGG STREET SWIEQI 21370141 ST ANDREWS PHARMACY, 87 GIUSEPPE MALFEGGIANI STREET ST ANDREWS 21372784 PENNY LANE PHARMACY, SEJJIEĦ STREET SWIEQI 21375373 SAN GIORGIO PHARMACY, MANWEL BUHAGIAR STREET PREMBROKE 21378485 ST. ANDREW’S PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-QASAM ST ANDREWS 21355205 QORMI ANICI PHARMACY, ANICI STREET QORMI 21487162 BROWN’S PHARMACY, 278 VICTORY STREET QORMI 21499697 DRUGSHOP DISPENSARY, VJAL DE LA CRUZ QORMI 21443221 EVANS PHARMACY, 96/98 ST SEBASTIAN STREET QORMI 21487020 PINTO PHARMACY, 43 ST SEBASTIAN STREET QORMI 21487311 ST. GEORGE’S PHARMACY, 21 MAIN STREET QORMI 21443045 TAL-HLAS PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-ĦELSIEN QORMI 21487739 DINGLI / MTARFA / RABAT SANTA MARIJA PHARMACY, FRENĊ ABELA SQUARE DINGLI 21452447 SPIŻERIJA CARMEN, 1 TRIQ MISRAĦ SUFFARA DINGLI 21457128 IMTARFA PHARMACY, 207 ST. DAVID ROAD MTARFA 21451261 MAKE OVER PHARMACY, BLK A TOWN CENTRE HOS MTARFA 21452833 CENTRAL PHARMACY, TRIQ GĦAJN KAJJET RABAT 21455959 IDEAL PHARMACY, 63 MAIN STREET RABAT 21455479 NIGRET PHARMACY, TRIQ IŻ-ŻAHAR RABAT 21450602 NOVA PHARMACY, 142 COLLEGE STREET RABAT 21454247 ST. ANTHONY PHARMACY, 18 MAIN STREET RABAT 21454187 SAFI PASTEUR PHARMACY, TRIQ IT-TELLERIT SAFI 21689944 SAFI PHARMACY, ST. JOHN STREET C/W BIEB IL-GARRA STREET SAFI 21649552 SANTA LUCIA MADDALENA PHARMACY, SHOP 2 TAL-FAQQANI BUILDING TOWER AVENUE SANTA LUCIA 21677037 STA. LUCIA PHARMACY, 1 MISRAĦ DORELL SANTA LUCIA 21890111

SIGGIEWI MENELO PHARMACY, DR NIKOL ZAMMIT STREET SIGGIEWI 21462957 ST. NICHOLAS PHARMACY, 1 PARISH STREET SIGGIEWI 21460828 THE BYPASS PHARMACY, MONS MIKIEL AZZOPARDI STREET SIGGIEWI 21461681 SLIEMA BROWN’S PHARMACY, UNIT 22 TIGNÈ STREET SLIEMA 21313233 CHEMIMART PHARMACY, 4 5 6 IL-PIAZZETTA TOWER ROAD SLIEMA 21338369 DRUG STORE, 382 MANWEL DIMECH STREET SLIEMA 21334627 EDWARD’S PHARMACY, 115 MANWEL DIMECH STREET SLIEMA 21334102 HARLEY PHARMACY, 1 NATHALIE POUTIATINE TABONE STREET SLIEMA 21334635 MRABAT PHARMACY, MRABAT STREET SLIEMA 21313535 NORMAN’S PHARMACY, 133 HIGH STREET SLIEMA 21332243 RUDOLPH PHARMACY, 133 RUDOLPHE STREET SLIEMA 21344722 STELLA MARIS PHARMACY, 34 MILNER STREET SLIEMA 21335217 THE ECONOMICAL DISPENSARY, 86/87 SIR ADRIAN DINGLI STREET SLIEMA 21330376 VICTOR’S PHARMACY, 9 TOWER ROAD SLIEMA 21330352 WALES PHARMACY, 183 MANWEL DIMECH STREET SLIEMA 21335492 ZABBAR ST. ELIAS PHARMACY, TRIQ SAN ELIJA XAGHJRA 21660300 FELICE DISPENSARY, 95 SANCTUARY STREET ZABBAR 21827939 MAY DAY PHARMACY, VICTORY STREET ZABBAR 21826529 MEDIATRIX PLUS PHARMACY, 7 SANCTUARY STREET ZABBAR 27826685 POLYMER PHARMACY, TRIQ IX-XGĦAJRA ZABBAR 21676263 ST. JAMES PHARMACY, 1 MISRAĦ SAN ĠAKBU ZABBAR 21666194 ST. PETER PHARMACY, TRIQ IS-SEBBELLIKA ZABBAR 21663750 ZEBBUG DE ROHAN PHARMACY, 24 ST ANTHONY STREET ZEBBUG 21464128 PLAZA PHARMACY, 86 MAIN STREET ZEBBUG 21467459 SANTA MARIJA PHARMACY, 40 GĦASFURA STREET ZEBBUG 21465346 SPIŻERIJA ĦAL-MULA, DUN SALV CIAPPARA STREET ZEBBUG 21461693 TAL-GRAZZJA PHARMACY, FRANĠISK FARRUGIA STREET ZEBBUG 21462068 BROWN’S PHARMACY, 47 VJAL IL-ĦELSIEN ZEBBUG 21465411 ZEJTUN GERADA PHARMACY, 46 MATER BONI CONSIGLI STREET ZEJTUN 21806009 GREEN CROSS PHARMACY, 31 GREGORIO BONNICI SQUARE ZEJTUN 21693723 JOHN J. BORG PHARMACY, 1 CONSTITUTION STREET ZEJTUN 21898728 ST. CATHERINE PHARMACY, PLOT 3 TRIQ IL-QADI ZEJTUN 21678039 ZURRIEQ KRISTIANNE PHARMACY, PIETRU PAWL SAYDON STREET ZURRIEQ 21647391 SALUS PHARMACY, 21 REPUBLIC SQUARE ZURRIEQ 21680761 ZURRIEQ DISPENSARY, 68 MAIN STREET ZURRIEQ 21689971 BRONJA PHARMACY, SONATA BRONJA STREET ŻURRIEQ 21682251 GOZO FONTANA PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-GĦAJN FONTANA 21566979 GĦAJNSIELEM PHARMACY, INDEPENDENCE SQUARE GHAJNSIELEM 27203615 LAURETANA PHARMACY, 36 MGARR STREET GHAJNSIELEM 21563017 SOKKORS PHARMACY, ST GREGORY STREET KERCEM 21553018 TONY’S PHARMACY, “EGRET COURT”VALLEY STREET MARSALFORN 21563617 NADUR PHARMACY, PJAZZA IT-28 TA’ APRIL 1688 NADUR 21563589 VELLA PHARMACY, 15 13TH DECEMBER STREET NADUR 21566431 ST. JOSEPH PHARMACY, 28 ST JOSEPH SQUARE QALA 21555348 ABELA’S PHARMACY, 42 G.P.F. AGIUS DE SOLDANIS STREET RABAT 21556170 AZZOPARDI PHARMACY, CAPUCHIN STREET RABAT 21563233 BATU PHARMACY, 38 PALM STREET RABAT 21551841 CASTLE PHARMACY, 2 INDEPENDENCE SQUARE RABAT 21556970 PALM PHARMACY, 2 PALM STREET RABAT 21566170 TAĊ-ĊAWLA PHARMACY, 7 JUNE 1919 STREET RABAT 21557819 PISANI PHARMACY, NEW BUILDING SANNAT STREET SANNAT 21564447 JOYCE’S PHARMACY, VJAL IT-8 TA’ SETTEMBRU XAGHRA 21561486 XAGĦRA PHARMACY 55 CHURCH STREET XAGHRA 27551140 GOZO CHEMISTS, MGARR ROAD XEWKIJA 21557278 ST. JOHN’S PHARMACY, 85 INDEPENDENCE STREET XEWKIJA 21563052