Feelgood 22-10-2010

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BabyloveIs our futureshaped by whatwe experiencein the womb? 8, 9

FeelgoodFriday, October 22, 2010

Feelgood

COLD SPELLMeet the woman who loveseverything about winter: 4, 5

APPLE FEASTMake the most ofrich autumn harvest: 12

QUICK SNIPWhy more and more menare getting vasectomies: 13

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2010

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Feelgood

HEALTH NOTES

Kate O’Reilly

WHAT’S ON

www.irishexaminer.com www.irishexaminer.comFeelgoodMag FeelgoodMag www.irishexaminer.com [email protected] Editorial: 021 4802 292 Advertising: 021 4802 215

News front

Desmond Morris doesn’t believe in doling out advice toparents, he just watches and learns, says Lisa Salmon

Portrait of a childBRIGHTSPARKS: Youngchildren arebrighter thanwe think.Picture: Getty Images

WHEN Desmond Morriswas a baby in the late1920s, many young moth-

ers, including his own, religiously followedadvice in the latest childcare ‘bible’.The book, by the psychologist John Wat-

son, told parents to ignore babies whenthey cried, as they were just trying to bedominant. So Morris’s mother left him ashe cried in his pram outside in a bitter eastwind, and he caught double pneumonia.His mother threw the book away, andMorris has never been a fan of parentingadvice books since.He has, however, written his own book

about children. But the book, Child, con-tains no advice — it’s simply a portrait ofchildren aged between two and five years.The zoologist, most well-known for his

book the Naked Ape, explains:“I’m a zoologist — I watch, I study and I

report objectively on what I see.“This book is a portrait of a preschool

child. It tells you what a child’s really like,how its body and brain are developing, andif you read it you don’t need me to tell youwhat to do — it’s obvious.”The beautifully illustrated book looks at

how preschool children develop, tacklingissues including nature versus nurture and

personality traits, before looking at the waythey play, eat, grow and move and examiningin detail the way children develop in specificpreschool years.Morris is particularly keen to highlight

children’s language, and how parents speak tothem. Baby language spoken by adults tochildren annoys this eminent grandfather, andhe cites research which shows that if a babybabbling in various countries is recorded andplayed back to people, they can tell whichcountry the baby is from.“Before words are being formed, the

rhythm of a language is already detectable.

Baby talk is wrong,” he says.He says if a parent talks to a young child

normally, the information is going into theirbrains and they’re learning the rhythm oftheir language. “Talking to them normally ismuch better than goo goo talk,” he says.“What I’m trying to say in the book is

that the preschool child has much more go-ing on than people allow for. They’rebrighter than you think.”

■ Child by Desmond Morris, Hamlyn,33.

■ BEFORE BIRTH: See pages 8,9

■ CF HEAD SHAVE: The Evergreen Barin Turner’s Cross will hold a fundraiserin aid of cystic fibrosis facilities at CorkUniversity Hospital at 9pm tonight. PaulO’Neill of Bazzers Barbers in Washing-ton Street will attempt to break theworld record for the most head shavesin one hour. Contact Paul Higgins of theCFAI Cork branch for more details on086-386 3949.

■ SPORTS DEVELOPMENT: Are you in-terested in a career in sports develop-ment or in being more involved insports in your community in a voluntarycapacity? A six-week introduction tosports development course will com-mence in Ballincollig on Tuesday,November 2. To find out more contactClaire Hurley at Cork Sports Partnershipon 021-4665081.

■ ALLERGY WORKSHOP: AnaphylaxisIreland is holding a workshop for theparents of children with severe food al-lergies. The workshop will be facilitatedby dietitian Caroline O’Connor and willtake place at the Radisson Hotel, LittleIsland, Cork, on Wednesday, November24 from 7pm to 9.30pm. Booking is es-sential. The cost is 10 and the bookingform can be downloaded fromwww.anaphylaxisireland.ie or you cancall 0818 300 238. Forms should be re-turned by November 3.

■ BREAST CANCER: Hermitage MedicalClinic in Dublin, in association with Avi-va, have organised a free educationalevening about breast cancer from6.30pm to 8.30pm on Wednesday next,October 27. A team of consultants fromthe clinic will explore what exactlybreast cancer is, diagnosis and treat-ment options, followed by a presenta-tion on their specialist areas. To register,email [email protected] orphone 01-645 9216.

■ FAMILY GAMES: Board games teachchildren important social skills such assharing, obeying rules, taking turns andwinning and losing. Playing boardgames will also develop the key skillsneeded for literacy and successful learn-ing. It’ll be fun and games for all fromOctober 22-29 when National GamePlaying Week is back. See www.ngpw.ie

■ RSCI LECTURES: The Royal Collegeof Surgeons in Ireland will hold its Min-iMed 2010 / 2011 Open Lecture Serieson the last Wednesday of every monthfrom October 2010 to May 2011. Topicsinclude Life after Stroke, CardiovascularDisease, Youth Mental Health and theOrigin of Drugs. The lectures are free ofcharge; however registration is essen-tial. Next Wednesday’s lecture is Cancerof the Oesophagus, given by ProfessorThomas Walsh, James Connolly Memo-rial Hospital, Dublin. Register online atwww.rcsi.ie/minimed.

■ HEART CLINIC: The Irish Heart Foun-dation will hold a free blood pressureand cholesterol testing clinic at theParish Centre, Carrigaline on Wednes-day, October 27 from 10am-12pm. Forfurther details call 021-4505822.

Items for inclusion in this columncan be sent to [email protected].

BOOZE BREAKTHROUGH: People with the‘tipsy’ gene break down alcohol morereadily, researchers have found. Picture: iStock

A “TIPSY” gene has been identified whichmay help to explain why some of us feelthe effects of alcohol more quickly than oth-ers. Most of the alcohol we drink is brokendown in the liver, but some is metabolisedin the brain by an enzyme with the help ofthe CYP2E1 gene. Those who have the “tip-sy” version of CYP2E1 break down alcoholmore readily.According to US researchers, 10% to 20%

of people have a version of the gene. Theybelieve it may offer a degree of protectionagainst alcoholism as those who reactquickly to alcohol are less likely to becomeaddicted. In time, people could be givenCYP2E1-like drugs to build their sensitivityto alcohol — not to get them drunk morequickly, but to put them off drinking to thepoint where they are drunk. The resultswere published in the Alcoholism: Clinicaland Experimental Research journal.

SOME leukaemia patients could be cured oftheir disease by a standard drug treatment,new trial results suggest.A proportion of patients with chronic

myeloid leukaemia (CML) remained com-pletely free of the disease two years after doc-tors stopped treating them, the findingsshowed. The results raise the possibility thatat least some patients with CML can becured by the drug imatinib. Previously it wasbelieved the disease would always return iftreatment was halted, due to the presence ofresistant stem cells.Researchers found remission was main-

tained in 41% of patients one year after stop-ping treatment, and in 38% of patients for upto two years. The findings were reported inThe Lancet Oncology.

Hormone replacement therapy can increasethe risk of more advanced, potentially dead-ly breast cancer, a study has shown.Death rates from the disease were found

to double in a group of women who under-went HRT for an average 5.6 years. A linkbetween HRT and breast cancer inpost-menopausal women is well known.Now new findings from the Women’s HealthInitiative (WHI) show that use of oestrogenplus progestin hormone therapy increasesthe incidence of more advanced forms ofbreast cancer. It is also associated with ahigher risk of deaths attributed to the dis-

ease. The findings were reported in theJournal of the American Medical Associa-tion.

People lacking sufficient levels of vitaminB12 may be more prone to Alzheimer’s inlater life, a study suggests.The vitamin may protect against

Alzheimer’s by reducing levels of homocys-teine, an amino acid in the blood that hasbeen linked to the disease.People vary in the amount of B12 they

have in their blood and the elderly often havelow levels. Since B vitamins are found in fish,meat and milk they can be missing from thediets of non-dairy vegetarians.In September scientists reported that high

doses of B vitamins may halve the rate ofbrain shrinkage in older people experiencingwarning signs of Alzheimer’s.

To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month,the spa at The Aghadoe Heights Hotel is of-fering a day of free cancer wellness mas-sages next Wednesday. Four of the spatherapists have undergone training in mas-sage techniques for cancer patients andmany of the spa treatments have beenadapted for the cancer care programme.Studies show cancer patients receiving

massage often have lowered anxiety levels.Many patients say the release of muscletension can lead to pain relief. Enhancedenergy, feelings of deep relaxation, calmand wholeness are most commonly report-ed.Any donations on the day will go to the

Marie Keating foundation. For details visit:www.aghadoeheights.com or phone064-6631766.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2010Feelgood

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THE SHAPE I'M IN Gloria Hunniford

In profile

Glorious outlook

GLASS HALFFULL GIRL:GloriaHunnifordjudges herselfby energylevels, not byachieving aperfect size.

TV and radio presenter Gloria Hunniford likes totalk about her daughter, Caron Keating, whodied of breast cancer six years ago aged 41.

“She was an incredible girl, the woman I liked talkingto best in the whole world. I’ve lost my parents, my for-mer husband, but to lose a child — it has the biggest im-pact. They say people never die while they live on the lipsof the living. I like to talk about her, particularly to thegrandchildren,” says the woman who admits to being “atthe wrong end of 60”.Born in Portadown, Co Armagh, Gloria was the first

woman to have her own daily radio show on BBC Radio2. “I didn’t set out to be a great champion of women. Itjust transpired that way.” Right now, she’s looking forwardto seeing her latest project air on BBC 1 through Novem-ber — a new series of Rip Off Britain. “It’s about howpeople feel ripped off, a topic that touches so manynerves.”Married to celebrity hairdresser Stephen Way, the moth-

er of three was shocked recently to discover her choles-terol was at 6.8. “I started taking a pro activ drink once aday, I stepped up my exercise and I put a lock on the cakeand sweet cupboard. Now I’ve reduced it down to 5.2.”On World Heart Day 2010, Gloria teamed up with Flo-

ra pro.activ to encourage Irish people to adoptheart-healthy diets and lifestyles.

What shape are you in?I’m in reasonable shape. As I get older, I judge myselfby my energy levels and not by whether I’m a perfect sizeanything. I’d rather feel good and energetic than be a per-fect size 10. I don’t relish exercise but I like walking mydog. I’ve got a static bike and I make sure to have a TV

nearby — on a good day, I’ll do 20 to 25 minutes, on abad day eight to 10 minutes. I also have a treadmill, whichI use at weekends when the weather’s bad.

Aside from having had high cholesterol, do you haveany health concerns?I have an under-active thyroid so I have to take a thy-roxin every day. I’ve been taking vitamins since the age of17. I follow a programme that (naturopath) Jan de Vriesdevised for me.

What are your healthiest eating habits?I’ve tried to cut down on the sweet stuff and I don’thave as much of the Ulster fry as I once did. I’m quitegood on juices. Caron was very fond of juicing. I like amix of pineapple and grapefruit or beetroot, apple andcarrot.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?I have to curb my ice-cream habit.

What would keep you awake at night?My husband’s snoring. I’m not the greatest of sleepers atthe best of times. I seem to go for four hours and thenmy mind goes into overdrive, particularly if I’ve got a loton my plate.

How do you relax?I love the garden, walking our King Charles Cavalier,having dinner with Stephen. Where we live in Kent, thereare lots of lovely villages with bric-a-brac shops. I enjoythose.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?I’d definitely have Peter Ustinov — he was one of thebest raconteurs. I’d also invite Audrey Hepburn. When Iwas growing up I wanted to be her — I thought herexquisitely beautiful.

When did you last cry?I cried on my grandson Charlie’s 16th birthday. Hewent off to boarding school. My tears were of joy tingedwith sadness — that Caron wasn’t there. I cried when Isaw a soldier from Afghanistan on TV — he’d lost hislimbs but was so positive and brave. I thought I’ll nevermoan again.

What’s your favourite smell?Bread baking — it brings me back to Northern Ireland,to my mother’s kitchen on a Saturday, when she made 12different types of bread.

What would you change about your appearance?A lot — I’d like a permanent airbrush.

What trait do you least like in others?Unfairness. And I can’t stand when people don’tkeep their word. I’d fall over a mountain to keep myword.

What trait do you least like in yourself?I’m very impatient. I work, move and talk fast. Iwant everything done yesterday. My husband’svery patient — I’d like to be more like him.

Do you pray?Yes, I do. Sometimes they’re selfishprayers. During Caron’s illness, I neverprayed so hard in my life. Even though thatultimate prayer wasn’t answered, it hasn’tput me off. I like to believe.

What would cheer up your day?I like to do something relaxing everyday.

Going to the theatre would bring me a lot of joy,a cup of coffee with a good friend, a bit of retail thera-py.

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Feelgood Feelgood

Seasonal adjustment

My dark side gets happily unleashed

Daylight provides a vital spark to our wellbeing

SUN SENSE: Ourbodies need lightevery day to triggerfull hormonefunction so it’simportant not toshun daylight.

BRIGHTSPARK:Dr WilliamReville,AssociateProfessor inBiochemistry,UCC, says weneed to getinto the sun.every day.

W E OFTEN underestimate justhow important light is to us.Full-spectrum light from the

sun (or from some specially designed artificiallight sources that simulate it) can cure jaun-dice in newborns, stimulate the production ofvitamin D, aid calcium absorption in elderlypeople, and is used to treat conditions likepsoriasis, arthritis and herpes simplex. Lighthas also been shown to have a huge bearingon our mood, visual acuity, stress levels andproductivity.In 1984, psychiatrist Dr Norman E.

Rosenthal described and named seasonal af-fective disorder (SAD). He went on to pio-neer the use of light therapy as a treatment.

Let light inLight is essential to triggering hormonefunction. It needs to enter the eye to stimu-late the pineal and pituitary glands in thebrain, which control the endocrine system.

For this reason people who cover themselvesup from the sun, wear sunglasses a lot and arefrequently indoors or behind tinted glass maybe at risk of light deprivation.“It’s not wise to restrict the amount of nat-

ural light that enters your eye,” says ProfessorWilliam Reville, University College CorkDepartment of Biochemistry. “We should begetting out in the sun at some point everyday. However, of course, he cautions againsttoo much exposure, which puts you at risk ofskin cancer and premature ageing of the skin.

Optimal mental healthLight also has a huge influence on our mentalhealth. Solar radiation activates importantbiochemical reactions in our bodies includingour biological clocks and the smooth runningof our circadian rhythms. It’s not unusual forpeople to feel down in the darker days ofwinter and boosted when the sun shines.Significant research advances continue to be

made in this whole area. Last year a group ofinternational researchers raised many an eye-brow when their findings showed that therate of suicide and self harm actually peaks inthe summer and dips in the winter. Scientistsfrom the Karolinska Institute, the Scripps In-stitute California and the University ofSouthern Denmark concluded that this sea-sonal effect was most pronounced in thenorth of Greenland where the sun doesn’t setbetween April and August.Research by Dr Dara Cannon, co-director

of the Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory atNUI Galway, showed that the levels of sero-

tonin transporter (targeted by anti-depressantslike prozac) are abnormal in people sufferingfrom depression.“Light may affect these people differently,

thus the peak suicide rate in June,” says DrCannon. One theory is that an abundance oflight and subsequent serotonin secretioncombined with a lack of sleep may set off asort of trigger in those at risk of suicide.This concurs with Galway-based research

findings linking manic depression and day-light hours carried out in the 1980s by re-tired consultant psychiatrist Dr P A Carney,who was also a professor of psychiatry atNUI Galway. “We could demonstrate as thedays got longer people were more likely tobe manic. They were in the manic phase ofmanic depression,” he said. Dr Carneyshowed a dramatic increase in the number ofsubmissions of people with a diagnosis of ma-nia during the summer months. “There was ahint that an increase in temperature also had

a bearing,” he added.

A helping handThe darker days of winter can take theirtoll on some people more than others.Michael Woods, a field worker with GROW,says the number of people attending thegroup support meetings goes up when theweather is bad, typically in wintertime.“We take the view that the bad weather

can’t last forever and we move on,” he says.Instead, the focus is on suggesting some prac-tical actions people can do to help alleviatetheir worries.Exercise is another great reliever of stress,

especially things like yoga which promotegood relaxation. Getting outdoors is also veryimportant as fresh air and sunlight give you anatural lift.

— Lisa Matassa

What could be more romantic thancuddling up with your loved one

beside a log fire, listening to therain and wind rattle against the win-dow? What fun is there in that same

scene on a hot June night?

While most of us shiver at the thought of winter, Siobhán Cronin greets the season by piling on the layers and embracing all things bleak and mysterious

THE evenings are getting shorter andthe mornings are getting darker.Within days, the clocks will go back

and we will be travelling to and from workwith our headlights on.We will be stocking up once more on

de-icer sprays, and digging out the woollytights, alpaca gloves and fleece hats.To most people reading this, those few sen-

tences alone will be enough to send themspiralling into their own private darkness.Comments like ‘Oh the winter is coming’

from colleagues are usually accompanied byfurrowed brows, pursed lips and hands beingrubbed together in a silent message of ‘we’llall be bloody frozen again soon’.But, for someone like me, who suffers

from the opposite of SAD (seasonal affectivedisorder), those harbingers herald the start ofmy favourite time of year and get me giddyas a turkey that’s made it to the New Year.Spring-time comments like ‘Oh aren’t the

evenings getting lovely and short?’ are redrags to this raging bull.But mention the onset of the long, dark,

chilly evenings of winter, and you will seemy frosty stare melt.This time of year is the time I relish. I ab-

solutely love the fact that the days are gettingshorter, the cold months are approaching,and my warm winter clothes are being re-leased from summer hibernation.The prevalence of SAD syndrome is

well-documented at this stage and has morefollowers than a finale of the X Factor. Callme odd, but I have self-diagnosed myself asbeing a sufferer of HSD — Hatred of Sum-mer Disorder. I am self-diagnosed withoutthe help of the internet, too, as there seemsto be not one other HSD sufferer in thewhole of cyberspace.Like Graham Norton’s comment about be-

ing gay (‘I knew I was different growing upin Cork — but I thought it was because I

was Protestant’), I always knew there wassomething not quite right about me — dueto my reaction to the seasons.Even from a young age, when the school

holidays began, I was plagued with a fear ofhaving to endure three months of summerwithout even the refuge of a sticky prefab.Fair-skinned and lazy, I hated the idea of

three or four months of warmth, includingendless days of having to amuse myself out-doors in the searing summers of the 1970sand ‘80s.Even as a toddler, the words ‘let’s go to

the beach’ filled me with instant horror as Ivisualised the seemingly endless cycle ofsuncream-swim-suncream-swim-suncreamand having to spend hours playing with mytreacherous summer-loving siblings, when Iwould rather be at home playing with myDinkies in a darkened room.It seemed that summer was invented just

to torture me — a veritable playtime for allthe world’s most vile creatures — beetles,ants, gigantic moths (aka ‘butterflies’),wasps, bumble bees, jellyfish, earthwormsand those tickly red and black hel-met-wearing yokes, mischievously called la-dybirds to lull you into a false sense of se-

curity before they fall over and display theirugly wriggly underbellies.I am not quite sure why I became the

black sheep of the family — my mothercould never get enough of the sun’s rays,despite her red hair and Irish skin. Myolive-skinned father sunbathed on Mayobeaches ‘til he got sunstroke and my broth-ers and sisters seemed to shine once the sundid.But I always preferred the dark side. I

sometimes blame my mother’s first utter-ance after my birth: “How did the Houndof the Baskervilles end?” she asked the doc-tor, even before enquiring as to my sex.She was, apparently, more than a little an-noyed that an inconvenience like childbirthhad made her miss the ending to the eerietale of a gruesome moors murder inspiredby a devilish dog.I reckon that was the moment I was

drawn to enquire about all things dark,devilish and wintry.While other kids equated September with

going back to school, I saw it as heraldingmy favourite time of year — if homeworkis back, the cold unforgiving winter can’tbe too far behind.I guess I was always a bit weird. Dracula

became, and has remained, my favouritebook since I was 12 and I would ratherspend a night traipsing around a graveyardthan a day lounging on a beach.Listening to a winter weather forecast,

my eyes light up at the mention of ‘highwinds’, ‘storm’ or indeed ‘lightning’. I willimmediately dig out my cosiest pair ofboots, don the ski jacket, hat and gloves,and head for the nearest mountain orbeach.Who wants to sit on a towel in sweltering

heat when you can get such a shot of ener-gy and vitality from standing on a cliff edgeon a wild November night and watching a

furious sea as thewaves lash againstthe rocks below?What fun is there

kayaking across aperfectly still lakeon a scorching hotJune day when youcould be battlingwith the elementsin your canoe, cov-ered up in yourhead-to-toe wetsuitand jacket on ablustery Octoberevening?When you are

too hot, there areonly so many itemsyou can peel offbefore becoming arrested, but in winter youcan just keeping piling on the Aran sweatersand long johns until you reach your optimumtemperature.How could an Algarve-in-July package

holiday ever compare with a day spent fallingin crisp French or Swiss snow, as you samplethe spills and thrills of Alpine skiing?And afterwards, what could possibly be

more romantic than cuddling up with yourloved one beside a log fire, listening to therain and wind rattle against the window?What fun is there in that same scene on a hotJune night?But my love of all things dark and cold has

meant that the onset of January actually fillsme with fear. I can’t bear the thought ofleaving those dark and cold winter eveningsbehind. As SAD sufferers all around me startto eulogise about longer days and planningsummer holidays, they are unknowinglysending me into my own private hell.I like nothing better than losing myself in

my fantasy of a land where the sun only

shines for a few hoursa day to defrost mywindscreen — andonly then longenough to allow meto get to the shops tostock up with hotdrinks and stew in-gredients for a coldand dark, dark, dark,night by the fire.I drool jealously at

news reports of snowblizzards in Canada orScandinavia and Iwould prefer my ifmy birth cert read‘Iceland’ or ‘Siberia’so I could sneakback home and set

up a log cabin there for half the year withcentral heating and satellite TV, with no needof horrible skimpy summer clothes or nastylittle sandals or swimming togs.Even our winters are too warm for me.

Boyfriends who may have called me frigid inthe past were just reading the signs wrong. Iwasn’t gone cold on them, I was just longingfor a man who would whisk me off to anAlpine ranch in winter and a South Ameri-can ski resort in summer.My favourite holiday has always been a few

days in Reykjavik in November or Januarywatching the little ducks sitting happily onthe city’s frozen lake, or taking a trip to thestunning Gullfoss waterfall where the splashesfrom the gushing water turn instantly to icepebbles around my feet. It feels like my spiri-tual home.So, my fellow elevator passengers and other

do-wellers, please go easy with your com-ments about long evenings and brighter days:I might look miserable in the spring, but atleast I’m not SAD.

My love of allthings dark andcold has meantthat the onset ofJanuary actuallyfills me with fear.I can’t bear thethought ofleaving thosedark andcold wintereveningsbehind

IT’S A WRAP:Siobhán wrapsup with gleefor the coldwinter ahead.Picture: Pat Good

IN THE SHADOWS: Our writer would rather spenda night traipsing around a graveyard than a daylounging on a beach.


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Feelgood

Tony Humphreys

Psychology

Not only did eachof the 33 minershave to face the

demon mountain thathad collapsed in on top

of him but each ofthem also had to facehis own inner demons

We often hide our true selves in dark places andneed to be rescued, just like the Chilean miners

Into the light

POWER OF LOVE: Miner Franklin Lobo, right, embraces hisdaughter Carolina after he was rescued from the collapsedSan Jose gold and copper mine. Picture:(AP Photo/Chileangovernment, Gabriel Ortega)THERE are individuals who have been so traumatised

as children and who continue to be re-traumatisedin their later and current years that they have buried

their true selves and their true natures in the dark subter-ranean world of the unconscious. Their world is not unlikethat of the Chilean miners who found themselves buried for69 days 600 metres below ground level. Not only did each ofthe 33 miners have to face the demon mountain that had col-lapsed in on top of him but each of them also had to face hisown inner demons.The demons each one of us have had to face are the

mis-takes made by parents and other significant adults whenthey confused our presence with our behaviour and the com-pounding of those mistakes in schools, classrooms, communi-ties, churches and workplaces.When a child is not responded to unconditionally, when

his person is not seen as separate from his behaviour andwhen certain behaviours gain attention and others rejection,then it is like extinguishing the light of a candle with onemovement and plunging the child into utter and relentlessdarkness.In having one’s individuality completely ignored or harshly

rejected or conditionally accepted is like being pushed quiteout of life — like being blown out as one blows out a candle.Clearly the frequency of the extinctions, the intensity of theresponses and the endurance over time add immeasurably tothe darkness.While the Chilean miners were rescued from what initially

was seen as certain death, individuals who have had to burythe light of their unique worth from early childhood can betrapped down in their subterranean dark havens for years onend without any signs of being rescued. I call these heartlessplaces havens because the individuals know that any attemptto move towards expressing their light will result in furtherannihilation and so there is a comfort in being hidden, butwhat a disaster if they are never found.What was striking about the Chilean rescue mission was

the presence of love, patience, determination and ingenuity tobring the trapped men to the surface. These same qualitiesare needed to rescue individuals who feel that nobody is evergoing to see their lovability and the value of their uniquelives.Like the Chilean miners who fought against tremendous

odds to keep their spirits alive — particularly when there hadbeen no contact with the outside for 17 days — and who fer-vently hoped to be saved, individuals in psychological dark-ness also crave redemption. Having been delivered from theirunderground prison the Chilean miners still have to face theirown inner demons, which no doubt came very much to theforefront while entombed in the mountain. Facing these in-ner demons — the darkness of not being loved and cherishedfor self — will take far longer than 69 days, but the hope isthat the love, courage and endurance shown by their rescuers,family members, lovers and friends — even politicians — willprovide the safety for each of them to go on his own much

more hazardous inner rescue mission.What would help enormously is the continuation of the

tremendous support shown during their time when they weretrapped in the dark bowels of the San Jose mine.Each of us has to mine the unique diamond of self — there

is no one of us who has not self-esteem difficulties. While itis the responsibility of each one of us to inhabit his or herown individuality, it is also the responsibility of each of us toprovide the love, patience, kindness, support and encourage-ment that creates the safety for the person hidden in heartlessdarkness to reveal and express his or her fullness.In order to possess such qualities one would have needed to

have plumbed the depths of one’s own pain and be able thento sit with the pain of another. If it takes the world to raise achild it also takes the world to rescue individuals from thedarkness of anonymity.The Chilean miners’ story is a lesson for us all but we need

to realise that the person sitting across from you right now oryour own self may be locked away in miserable and hopelessdarkness. Are we in a place to stretch out a helping hand?

Dr Tony Humphreys is a clinical psychologist, author and in-ternational speaker. His new book Relationship, Relationship,Relationship, The Heart of a Mature Society is now available.

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A DIFFERENT VIEWON LIFESTYLEYour guide to fitness, health, happiness and lifestyle.Great writers and mentors.Where you come first.Every Friday.

FEELGOOD

The

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TERAPROOF:User:GREGMCCANNDate:20/10/2010Time:15:55:49Edition:22/10/2010FeelgoodXH2210Page:7 Zone:XH

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Get fit for autumn: Week 4

For more exercises with Gillian O’Sullivan, visit:irishexaminer.com/feelgood/autumnworkout

This routine shows how to workcore abs/tummymuscles.

1. Lie on the mat with your kneesup and feet pointing forward.

2. Make sure your back is plantedinto the mat and that there is nogap between the back and the mat.

3. Place a rolled up towel underyour neck for additional supportand never pull your neck forward.

4. Place your hands at your earsand keep looking up towards theceiling.

5. Imagine there is a gap be-tween the chin and chest andmaintain that throughout.

6. Lift the chest and shoulders offthe floor.

7. Aim to move your chest to-wards the knees and lower backdown again.

8. Repeat the movement for 10.Take a 20 second break and com-plete two more sets.

■ www.gillianosullivan.ie

■

HOW TO DO AN ABS CRUNCH

■

Edel on track withfirst 10-minute run

FASTTRACK:PersonalTrainerGillianO’Sullivan,left, puttingEdelO’Sullivanthrough herpaces inHayfieldManor gym,Cork City.Picture: CillianKelly

BIG news: Edel has completed her first non-stop10-minute run. She is thrilled, especially as this hadbeen one of her goals from the outset.

Now she is well on track to accomplish her ultimategoal of running continuously for 20 minutes. And whilethe running is getting easier, it is, nevertheless, tough tokeep going without a break.“I am still wrecked after it,” she admits. “But, it must

be remembered I am pushing myself more now as wellbecause I know I can do it. You just have to put yourmind to it.”Edel has switched to running on the treadmill at her lo-

cal gym in Ballincollig, Co Cork, and finds it easier thanrunning on the road. It’s also proving to be a time-saver.“I can now get all training done in the one session. In-

stead of coming home from your run and then trying tofind time to do the weights I can get everything done inthe one go.”

Therese O’Callagahan

At Astellas Pharma, we are inspired by the vision of a healthier world.The Astellas CHANGING TOMORROW Awards 2010 will reflect this commitment byrecognising and rewarding the outstanding achievements of individuals or teamsworking in health, who are striving to make a better future for their patients.

The winners of each category will receive a trophy plus aneducational / research grant of €1,000.If you, your team or someone you know is changing tomorrow forpatients, visit:www.changingtomorrowawards.ie now to find outmore and download an entry form.Closing date for entries is Thursday 18 November 2010.

Awards 2010Recognising outstanding work in healthcare,

building a better future for patients

Chang i ng tomorrow

© September 2010 Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. CSC0320ASTELLAS, LEADING LIGHT FOR LIFE, the Star logo, CHANGING TOMORROW and the Ribbon logos are trademarks of Astellas Pharma Inc. and/or its related entities.


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Feelgood

Cover story Life before birth

WOMB WITH A VIEWThe moment I learnt I was

pregnant, I became a born-againteetotaller, a fanatical practitioner of

clean living — swearing off not justalcohol but caffeine, cold medicines,headache remedies, anything in a pill

or capsule

Much of what apregnant

womanencounters in her

daily life — theair she breathes,

the food anddrink she

consumes, thechemicals she’s

exposed—– isshared in some

fashion with herfoetus

Psychology author and mother AnnieMurphy Paul tells Helena deBertodano she believes the secretto a healthy life lies in the nine monthsbefore we are born

BABY TALK: Annie Murphy Paul with her son Gus, 18 months old, with whom she was pregnant when writing her book. While she says she wasrelatively hit-or-miss on her first pregnancy, she was a lot more organised and relaxed for her second, with Gus. Picture: Mike McGreger

FOUR-year-old Teddy comeshurtling out of school into his moth-er’s arms, full of chatter about his

day. Wearing a shark T-shirt and bubbling overwith energy, he tells us about the book he isplanning to make at school tomorrow. “I havemy own library in my house,” he says proudlyon the way home between bites of a strawber-ry wholemeal muffin. “My favourite books arefrom the American history section.”I am doing the school run in New Haven,

Connecticut, with Annie Murphy Paul, whosebook Origins — about how a child’s future isdetermined in the womb — recently catapult-ed her on to the front cover of Time maga-zine. Teddy sounds like a very switched-onfour-year-old and after reading the book I can-not help but conclude that his mother, whilepregnant with him, must have eaten all theright foods, steered clear of any drugs or alco-hol and kept a positive frame of mind through-out.Of course, we have always known that it is

important to eat healthily when pregnant, butPaul’s book goes far deeper than that. Drawingon modern scientific research, Paul suggeststhat almost every action and thought of thepregnant woman, however trivial, has an im-pact on her foetus and can affect both its phys-ical development and mental health for thewhole of its life.“The conditions we encounter in utero

shape our susceptibility to disease, our appetiteand metabolism, our intelligence and tempera-ment,” Paul explains in Time. “You can findreferences to the foetal origins of cancer, car-diovascular disease, allergies, asthma, hyperten-sion, diabetes, obesity, mental illness — even ofconditions associated with old age such asarthritis, osteoporosis and cognitive decline.Much of what a pregnant woman encountersin her daily life — the air she breathes, thefood and drink she consumes, the chemicalsshe’s exposed to, even the emotions she feels— is shared in some fashion with her foetus.”It’s a surprise then to learn that Paul says her

approach during her first pregnancy — withTeddy — was fairly hit-or-miss. “Like mostwomen, I was kind of buffeted here and thereby different information: I would see a head-line or hear something in passing on a radioprogramme or a friend would say, ‘Youshouldn’t have x because it does y…’ But Ididn’t really have any context for this informa-tion. My husband and I had a lot of conversa-tions about what we wanted to pass downfrom each of our families and what we wantedto prevent and how much control did we haveover any of that anyway.”So Paul, a specialist in psychology journalism

and author of The Cult of Personality, startedresearching foetal origins and was persuadedthat our uterine environment, just as much asour genes, is responsible for how we turn out.“I decided to write a book and actually signedthe contract while I was still in hospital afterTeddy’s birth.”She wrote Origins while pregnant with her

second son, Gus, now an 18-month-old tod-dler — by then the family had moved fromNew York to New Haven, home of Yale Uni-versity, where Paul and her husband had origi-nally met as students. The chapters of Originsare constructed around the months of her sec-ond pregnancy, each exploring a different pre-

natal influence — food, alcohol, medications,stress, environment, etc. “I think the personalelement helped — I was going through it, too.This wasn’t deliberate but I recently realisedthat in each chapter I start out as a basket caseand by the end I’ve reached some position ofequanimity — I hope I can help other peopledo the same.”Her second pregnancy, she says, was far more

organised. “I set out to apply what I had learntfrom my research. For example, I ate a lotmore fish. In my first pregnancy I was sospooked by the whole mercury thing that Ijust avoided fish altogether, but then I learntabout fish that are low in mercury and madethat a big part of my diet. I also exercisedmore, which I had regarded as optional duringmy first pregnancy.” She even made a con-scious effort to occasionally relax — “to takeoff the Pregnant Superwoman cape”, as sheputs it.It is relatively easy to grasp that what you in-

gest affects your foetus, but to think that yourmood has an impact too is another matter.And yet Paul cites compelling research show-ing a strong link between depressed pregnantmothers and babies who are more irritable andhyperactive, growing up to become childrenwith emotional and behavioural problems.Mothers who experience bereavement are like-ly to pass on that shock to their foetuses, re-sulting in premature births and significantly

more cases of schizophrenia in their children.The same effect is noticed in people whosemothers lived through huge catastrophes suchas earthquake or war. Initial studies show thatpregnant women who developed post-traumat-ic stress disorder after being exposed to theWorld Trade Centre attack have passed on aPTSD vulnerability to their children, as indi-cated by low basal cortisol levels in both moth-er and child.

S TRESS, of course, is an in-escapable element of modern life,but studies suggest that a mother

who is highly stressed is not doing her unbornchild any favours. On the other hand, a bit ofstress is good. “Moderate stress tones the foe-tus’s nervous system,” says Paul, sitting in herlight-flooded Dutch colonial house. In herbook Paul even cites one developmental psy-chologist who says, hilariously, that womencome to her worrying that they are notstressed enough and asking her how they can“add the appropriate amount of stress to theirapparently too-easy lives”.Heavy drinking is obviously out now that

we know about foetal-alcohol syndrome,which stunts development and can cause birthdefects. On the other hand, no alcohol is notnecessarily the best answer. Murphy refers to

studies suggesting that women who drinklightly while pregnant have children who areless likely to suffer from emotional problemsand hyperactivity than the children of womenwho drink nothing. But even those studies arenot reliable because lighter drinkers are usuallybetter-educated women from more affluenthouseholds — and this may skew the results.When Paul first started looking into the ef-

fects of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, shewas sure that the risks were overstated. As shesays to a doctor she interviews on the subject,“My mother drank when she was pregnantwith me and, look, I’m fine.”Not that long ago, the uterus was considered

a diving bell protecting the foetus from any-thing harmful. But the catastrophic effects ofdrugs such as thalidomide and DES promptedscientists to re-evaluate the effect of chemicalsingested by the mother. Few drugs are nowconsidered “safe”.Paul decided to take no chances. “The mo-

ment I learnt I was pregnant, I became aborn-again teetotaller,” she writes, “a fanaticalpractitioner of clean living – swearing off notjust alcohol but caffeine, cold medicines,headache remedies, anything that comes in apill or capsule.”Trying to find out more about her own time

as a foetus, Paul questioned her mother — tolittle effect. “I sat in my mother’s kitchen inPhiladelphia and spread out the photographs

on the table of her pregnant with me, and theobstetrician’s birth report. But all she wouldsay was, ‘I was healthy, I was happy, everythingwas fine.’ I think it’s quite uncomfortable forsome people to think that you were once en-gaged in this joint project together long ago.”In her book, Paul discusses the evidence that

women who overeat might predispose theirchild to diabetes and other hormonal disorders.On the other hand, babies born underweightappear to have a propensity to heart disease inlater life. “Apparently each kilogram decreasein birth weight has the same effect on thefunction of the arteries as smoking 20cigarettes a day for four years,” says Paul, be-fore her safety-catch voice of reason kicks in.“Obviously these are hard comparisons tomake.”

L ATER in the day, we go to collectGus, who is in a daycare centre atthe Yale Law School Faculty where

his father is a professor of law. Like Teddy, heis a very healthy child, with long curly hairand a constant giggle.“Gus weighed ten pounds when he was

born,” says Annie, who is slim and petite her-self, as we walk through the university campus,Gus toddling along beside us. “One of the de-livery nurses said he was the healthiest babyshe’d seen in a long time. People are alwaystelling me he’s the happiest baby they’ve evermet. He’s reaching an assertive age so there area few more screams mixed in with the squealsof delight, but if I were to parade him as anadvertisement for my book — which I’m notabout to do — he’d be perfect.”But does she genuinely think this is all down

to what she did while pregnant with him? “It’simpossible to say,” she admits.“I know I really enjoyed my pregnancy with

him. I felt less besieged and more engaged inthe whole enterprise.”I ask her if she is ever tempted to say some-

thing if she sees a heavily pregnant womandigging into, say, a plate of French fries and abeer. “I did do that once but never again. Apregnant friend of mine told me she was goingto get a pedicure and without thinking I saidto her, ‘Make sure it’s well ventilated and yousit near the door,’ and she just looked at melike I’d slapped her. It was like, ‘The pregnancypolice are here.’”I tell her about a friend of mine who was re-

fused a glass of wine by a New York waiterwho could see she was pregnant. “Oh mygoodness,” she says. “There is this scoldingkind of attitude that isn’t necessary. Oncewhen I was pregnant I was standing at Star-bucks waiting for my drink to be made. Mydrink was actually steamed milk but it lookedlike a giant coffee and the woman next to mesaid, ‘That had better be decaf.’ There is some-thing about being pregnant that invites peopleto make judgments and comments they wouldnever make otherwise.”In the past, society seemed to recognise that

pregnant women should not overly exertthemselves. But these days women are oftenworking flat out until the day their babies areborn, the so-called Pregnant Superwoman syn-drome. New research suggests — as we mighthave guessed — that this is not doing them or

their baby much good. I tell Paul about afriend of a colleague who insisted on com-pleting her handover notes at her deskeven after her waters broke. “Her watersbroke and she carried on working!” saysPaul incredulously. “The extremity ofsome of these situations should make usstop and reflect. Sarah Palin went intolabour and then flew back to Alaska. And afriend of mine who was a partner at a lawfirm said she had such horrible back painshe would lie on her back in her officereading her briefs with tears streamingdown her face. Maybe she was an aspiringpartner and that’s why she needed to dothis.”Paul says that she, like many other wom-

en these days, felt she had to achieve evenmore once she was pregnant. “I hurried toget assignments completed and arrange-ments in place before what felt like thebiggest deadline of my life… It’s a point ofpride among women, especially well-edu-cated ambitious women for whom a careeris a central part of their identity, when youget pregnant you don’t want to feel likeyou’ve turned into a milk cow, only goodfor gestating and nursing babies.”However, new research suggests that

pregnant women should work fewer hoursand take time off before their baby is due.A study in California compared womenwho went on maternity leave early withwomen who worked up until their babies’births, finding that those who took timeoff were four times less likely to require aCaesarean delivery.All this advice is very well for women

who are currently pregnant or planning apregnancy. But what about someone likeme who has already had their children?Should I be blaming myself for somethingI did in pregnancy if my daughter comeshome with a poor maths score? Or beatingmyself up because one of my sons weighedsix pounds at birth, two pounds less thanhis siblings?“That’s a good question,” says Paul.

“How should one feel about this informa-tion now that it’s too late to do anythingabout it? I don’t want my book to makepeople feel guilt or regret. I strove mightilyto strike an open-minded and mostly posi-tive tone — it’s not meant to be a list ofdo’s and don’ts so much as an invitation tothink in a different way about pregnancy.”Most of all, says Paul, she wants women

to start enjoying their pregnancies. “It canbe a very anxiety-filled time. I want tochange that. What I really want to do iscreate T-shirts for pregnant women with aslogan that says, ‘Less guilt, more joy.’”Even women who try their hardest to do

their best by their foetus will find futureresearch shows they should have donesomething different. “Who knows”, saysPaul. “Maybe in 20 years’ time Gus andTeddy will come to me and say, ‘Whydidn’t you have a super mega dose of vita-min C, then I would be the world’s great-est athlete.’ We are all just creatures of ourtime and place.”

■ Origins by Annie Murphy Paul, HayHouse, 14.50.Picture: Getty Images


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Feelgood

Dr Niamh Houston is aGP with a specialinterest in integrativemedicine. If you have aquestion about your child’shealth email it [email protected] send a letter toFeelgoodIrish ExaminerCity QuarterLapps QuayCork

Dr NiamhHouston

FAMILY

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

Medical matters

QI WAS diagnosed with MSeight years ago. I have hadone relapse since then and amtaking Avonex. My doctorsays I have the mild form of

MS, and may never have another relapse.I would like to know about other treat-ments, in particular the liberation treat-ment and if it’s available in Ireland.

A. MS, or multiple sclerosis, is an au-to-immune disease, where the body’s im-mune system attacks its own tissues. Thisprocess destroys myelin, the fatty substancethat coats and protects nerve fibres in thebrain and spinal cord. When myelin is dam-aged, the messages that travel along thatnerve may be slowed or blocked. Symptomscan vary widely, depending on the amountof damage and which particular nerves areaffected.There is no cure for multiple sclerosis and

treatment aims to manage the symptoms.Some people have such mild symptoms thatno treatment is necessary.Avonex belongs to the Interferon type of

drugs. These work by slowing the rate atwhich symptoms worsen over time. Othercommonly used medications include corti-costeroids and Glatiramer. Another medica-tion, Tysabri, is generally reserved for peo-ple who have no results from other treat-ments, or can’t tolerate other treatments.But the main concern with Tysabri is that itcan increase the risk of progressive multi-modal leukoencephalopathy — a brain in-fection that is usually fatal.Plasmaphoresis is like dialysis, as it me-

chanically separates your blood cells fromyour plasma. This can be used sometimesfor severe symptoms, especially in peoplewho are not responding to intravenoussteroids.Liberation treatment was discovered by an

Italian doctor while researching for a curefor his wife who has MS. He found thatwith MS patients, veins running from thebrain along the neck and upper chest wereeither restricting or blocking the flow ofblood.This leads to reflux, where the used blood

flows backwards into the brain, depositingtoxins, which may be a cause of MS disabil-ity. He calls this condition CCSVI (chroniccerebro spinal venous insufficiency). A sim-ple angioplasty procedure, on the jugularveins of 4,000 MS sufferers around theworld, so far, has shown positive results withalmost all patients reporting improvement intheir symptoms. While this recent discoveryis exciting, the number of people who havereceived the treatment are still few and theprocedure is not without risk, as it is inva-sive surgery.Further treatment trials are planned and

work to discover the prevalence of CCSVI,in MS patients, is underway. Liberationtreatment is not available in Ireland. The Es-

sential Health Clinic, in Glasgow, is the onlyUK clinic to offer this procedure.MS is a very complex and multi-factorial

condition. Recent research has found evi-dence of a link between vitamin D and acommon genetic variant, the presence ofwhich increases the risk of developing MS.This research highlights the importance of

studying the interaction of genes and theenvironment to identify underlying triggersof the condition.

Q. I am 32 weeks pregnant and keepgetting painful cramps in my calves.Sometimes, they even wake me up atnight. Is there anything I can do to makethem stop?

A. You’re not alone, many pregnantwomen get these lower leg cramps and itcan be exhausting if they occur at night, aswell as during the day. If you are otherwisewell, and have no other unexplained symp-toms, then leg cramps are most likely idio-pathic (unknown cause). It was thoughtthey were caused by low levels of nutrients,like calcium in the blood, but studies on therole of supplements in treating or preventingleg cramps have had mixed results.

Stretching and massaging the affectedmuscle will usually relieve the cramp. Beforegoing to bed spend five to 10 minutesstretching the calf muscle. A simple way isto: stand about 60-90cm from a wall. Keepthe soles of the feet on the floor, bend for-ward and lean on the wall. Do this severaltimes for as long as you can manage.To prevent the calf muscle from shorten-

ing while you are asleep, you could use apillow to prop your feet up, while sleepingon your back, and keep blankets/sheetsloose at the end of the bed to prevent yourtoes from pointing downwards. Make sureyou are drinking enough fluids during theday — two litres is ideal. Get regular exer-cise, which can help reduce cramps.Magnesium Phos tissue salts may help.

Homeopathic remedies used for leg crampsduring pregnancy include Veratrum 6c, Nux6c Ledum 6c, and Colocynth 6c. See aqualified homeopath to determine the reme-dy most suited to you.If a cramp or leg pain doesn’t improve, is

severe, or is accompanied by swelling,warmth, or redness in the leg, or you haveany difficulty walking, see your doctor im-mediately as these features may indicate ablood clot in the leg.

SCIENCE has passed through a por-tal where my son could conceivablymeet a woman whose birth cert

pegs her age close to his own but who, bi-ologically, is more of a cougar.This woman is the byproduct of cryop-

reservation, a type of freezing that hasnothing to do with holding her face inplace with injections of purified proteinand everything to do with the far moremiraculous task of preserving her statefrom conception.For 20 years this woman-to-be is sus-

pended in liquid nitrogen until someonesomewhere needs her help to get preg-nant. Then, plucked from a freezing flask,she is thawed and transferred in embryon-ic state to a warm and nurturing placelater identified as the womb of her expec-tant mother.If there are shades of Tír na nÓg to this

tale, it will not be found on any library

shelf under the heading mythology. Instead,it will feature in scientific journals whereexperts in reproductive medicine hold forthon the pros and cons of a baby born from a20-year-old frozen embryo.Yes, science has once again taken us

where few men boldly go and we nowhave the spectre of siblings for our offspringborn to someone else and young enough tobe our children’s children.This is the upshot of an embryo

donation, where a couple, content withcreating one child through IVF in 1990,decided to donate four unused embryos foradoption.Two decades later a 42-year-old woman

gives birth to a baby boy on foot of theonly one of those four embryos to surviveand in doing so, the tenacious little mass ofrapidly dividing cells sets a new worldrecord for longest surviving embryo instorage to result in a live birth, beating

hands down the previous incumbent by afactor of seven years.This is no mean achievement for this lit-

tle organism but it does not please every-one. Some regard donating an embryo asno different to donating a child. Others ar-gue only God should play God and thathaving a child is not a God-given right. Orthat science has no right to interfere wherenature has patently failed. Or that Darwinwith his laws of natural selection is rightlyturning in his grave.The Very Far Right might even say take

an axe and anthrax to the lot, that embryosare sacrosanct and scientists are mad menand human life should not come from aflask.And while it does pave the way for

women who are middle-aged to have achild despite advancing years, the questionmust be asked is it a little late in life to em-bark on this formidable career?

Research has found evidence of alink between vitamin D and acommon genetic variant, the

presence of which increases therisk of developing MS

CatherineShanahan

MUM’S WORLD

CatherineShanahan

MUM’S WORLD

TERAPROOF:User:irenefeighanDate:20/10/2010Time:17:19:03Edition:22/10/2010FeelgoodXH2210Page:11 Zone:XH

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According to an OECD survey carriedout from 1994 to 1998, 25% of 16 to

64 year olds in Ireland have aproblem with literacy — a term thatcovers reading, writing, numeracyand increasingly, computer skills

Life challenge

Not as easy as abc

Picture: iStock

The first step to adult literacy is the hardest, writes Sharon Ní Chonchúir

K EVIN O’DUFFY used to flushwith shame when asked to fill ina form at the bank, post office or

motor tax office. This 58-year-old fromShannonbridge in Offaly was embarrassed toadmit he had a problem with spelling.“Nobody knew except my wife,” he says.

“I’d make an excuse and bring the formhome to fill in at night time. It would takehours because I’d have to check the spellingof every word longer than three or four let-ters.”What Kevin didn’t realise at the time was

that he was far from alone. According to anOECD survey carried out from 1994 to1998, 25% of 16- to 64-year-olds in Irelandhave a problem with literacy — a term thatcovers reading, writing, numeracy and, in-creasingly, computer skills. This compareswith 3% in Sweden and 5% in Germany.This 25% has difficulty with tasks such as

determining the correct amount of medicineto take based on the information written onthe package. Like Kevin, many of these peo-ple’s problems stemmed from school.“Primary school

was a rough placein my day,” re-members Kevin.“You were beat-en if you werewrong and if youwere right. I hatedgoing to school.”Despite passing his

exams — “don’t ask mehow I did it,” he jokes— Kevin knew his op-tions for the future werelimited.“I wanted to be a chef but knew I

wouldn’t be able to write menus,” hesays. “I got a job with Bord na Mónainstead. I worked there for 27 years, us-ing a spanner and my hands. There wasno great need for writing.”He developed tactics to hide his prob-

lem, something many people with liter-acy difficulties do. They don’t putthemselves forward for promotion atwork. They don’t vote. They may noteven drive because they can’t completethe driver theory test.Shame causes them to keep their problems

secret. “I used to think I was the only oneand I was so embarrassed,” says Kevin. “Ithought people would jeer at me if theyknew.”Things started to change nine years ago

when Kevin saw a poster offering help forpeople with spelling and writing difficulties.He took down the number but it took himthree months to call it.“I was worried about who would answer

the phone,” he says. “Would they know me?”He was still fearful even after he made the

call. He made the 50-mile round trip fromhis home to the nearest VEC centre in Tul-lamore five times before he felt brave enoughto go inside. “The thought of going back to

school frightened me and I was worriedabout who would see me,” he admits.He needn’t have worried. “I had a nice

chat with a lovely lady when I eventually gotinside the door,” he says. “I didn’t realise shewas assessing me because of the kind way shedid it but a few weeks later, I was in a classwith five others. It was nothing like the class-room I used to know. Our tutor did every-thing to help us and I’ve never looked backsince.”Instead, he has been busy gaining qualifica-

tions. He has passed his Junior Certificate inordinary level English and Maths and haseven learned to use a computer.“I used to be afraid to turn one on and

now I send emails and use the internet all thetime,” he laughs.Although these are significant achieve-

ments, they are not what matters most toKevin. “They are not going tochange my future, at this stage ofmy life,” he says. “The most im-portant thing is the boost in myconfidence. I don’t worry aboutanyone laughing at me any-more.”Kevin’s story may be inspir-ing but it’s not unique.There are currently ap-proximately 50,000people attendingVEC-run adult literacyclasses in Ireland.And according to the

latest survey carried outby the National AdultLiteracy Agency(NALA), there are manymore in need of help.This survey found that40% of people questionedwere unable to answer sim-ple mathematical questionsbased on everyday calcula-tions such as calculating thearea of a rectangle or read-ing a fuel gauge.These people need help

now more than ever.Low-skilled jobs such asKevin O’Duffy’s with Bordna Móna are scarce in re-

cessionary Ireland and unemployed peoplewith literacy problems have very few optionsopen to them.NALA, in partnership with the VEC, are

keen to reassure these people that help isavailable. By addressing their problems, theycan have more opportunities in life.Take Kevin O’Duffy’s word for it. “I’d ap-

peal to anyone to contact NALA or their lo-cal VEC,” he says.“They will help you in every way they can.

Don’t be ashamed. It’s not your fault youhave a problem. But only you can do some-thing about it.”

■ For more information, contact NALA at1800 202065.

WRITE STUFF: After alifetime of literacyproblems KevinO’Duffy learned toread, write and usecomputers with helpfrom the VEC and theNational AdultLiteracy Agency.Picture: Dan Linehan

Those who have problems reading endup with difficulties with tasks such as

determining the correct amount ofmedicine to take based on the

information written on the package


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Healthy food

Roz Crowley

A PPLE trees up and down thecountry have had one of theirbest crops in years. Make the

most of the terrific nutritional value of ournative fruit and enjoy them with a wide vari-ety of foods.

Both sweet and cooking apples have hugehealth benefits and can be enjoyed in sweetor savoury dishes. I often add a chopped ap-ple to stir fries, particularly when served withpork, but also with chicken, duck and turkeyand to vegetarian versions.

Add thick apple cubes to pork stews withonions and thyme and also to lamb stews tocut through any hidden fat and make it moredigestible. Chopped apple works well withburger meat, adding moisture. It also workswell with pâtés and terrines.

Apples added tosimple sponge andMadeira-style mix-tures make themmore luxurious. Cupcakes and rock bunswill benefit from theaddition of a littlegrated apple and thentop with thin slices ofapple and slivers of al-monds before baking.

Try adding choppedapple to porridge oatbiscuits such as flap-jacks — great forschool lunches.Cubed apples are ter-rific in pancakes.Cook them with a

knob of butter, a sprinkling of cinnamon orginger and a little sugar until brown.

Serve stewed apple with cold meats such asbacon, chicken, turkey, as well as with fishand smoked fish. I often stew them with theskins on if I plan to sieve the mixture later.Remember to stew apples with just a skim ofwater with the lid on the saucepan to min-imise loss of nutrients and avoid a waterytexture. Make a batch on a day and it willkeep in the fridge for the week. It alsofreezes perfectly.

Apples contain malic and tartaric acidswhich help digestion and cut through fattyfoods — hence the great pairing with porkand goose dishes. Two apples a day are need-ed to make any impact on cholesterol. Pectinhelps eliminate the absorption of environ-mental pollutants through the digestive sys-tem.

The phyto-oestrogens in apples help reducesymptoms of PMT, so cravings for applesshould not be ignored. Rheumatism, arthritisand gout are eased with apple consumptionand there are those who swear by the fruit asa cure for a hangover.

Apples are loaded with vitamin C but getthem as fresh (and as local) as possible.

Puff and flaky pastry are excellent freezeringredients and this is a good way to usethem. This recipe couldn’t be easier.

Serves 4

Preparation time: 10 minutesCooking time: 30 minutes

3 cardamom podsJuice 1 orange4 tablespoons soft brown sugar40g butter4 apples (about 650g)200g puff pastry

Preheat oven to 180s/350f/gas 4.

Crush the cardamom pods and keep the lit-tle seeds. In a saucepan heat the orangejuice, sugar, butter and cardamom seedsuntil thick and bubbly. Pour the syrup into a25cm flan tin (it cannot be one with apush-out bottom or it will seep out).Quarter the apples and cut out the cores.

Cut each quarter into thin slices and ar-range symmetrically on top of the syrup inthe flan tin.Roll out the pastry and lay it over the top

of the apples in the tin. Cut off the excessaround the edges. Sprinkle a little more

sugar on top if youlike.Place the tin in the

oven for 30 minutes, oruntil the pastry has risenand is golden. Put a serving plate on top,hold it tightly and flip the whole thing over.Tap the bottom of the tin to ensure that allthe apple slices are on the plate, and re-move it. A magically neat and tidy tart willappear.Serve with cream or custard. Can also be

used with oranges, plums, apricots, peach-es. When using soft fruit, better to have itslightly under-ripe.

Fresh ideaWE admire a business that sets up inthese tough times. LocalMarkets.ie isa new online service delivering fresh,seasonal food and drink to your door.You can order produce and gourmet

meals and have them delivered within48 hours.The business was developed by Ro-

ry McCann, Peter Dowdall and NiamhDixon to encour-age support for lo-cal producersfrom bakery tocheese to fish,meats and special-ity foods, reducingfood miles asmuch as possible.For more information visit: www.lo-

calmarkets.ie

Fast and goodTHE Leon, Naturally Fast Food, cook-book by Henry Dimbleby and JohnVincent follows the great success ofthe first book from this award-winningLondon restaurant chain. The recipes,like the apple one be-low, are as simple asthey say. More impor-tantly, there are sym-bols indicating lowglycaemic, low satu-rated fat, wheat free,dairy free, gluten freeand vegetarian dishes.There is another sym-bol for indulgent,which reflects the zany, fun layout. Inhardback, fairly priced at 22, pub-lished by Conran Octopus.

Going local inClonmelJOURNALIST and organic food activistOllie Moore and Joe Condon of OmegaBeef Direct have established the Or-ganic Only farmers’ market in Clonmel.Buy organic meat, fish, vegetables,eggs, teas and breads — as well as asprinkling of delectable surprises — alldirectly fromproducerswho cantalk abouttheir pro-duce.Show-grounds inClonmel every Fri-day 11am-6pm.

Upside Down Apple and Cardamom Tart

Sweet ’n’ sourLOTS OF WAYS TO GET YOUR APPLE A DAY

Picture: Getty Images


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Deirdre O'Flynn

MOSTLY MEN

DId you know...

Sus-with Kate O’ReillyTAKE

Male health

Men snapup the snip

ALL DONE:Vasectomy is mostpopular amongcouples in their 30swho are in a stablerelationship with twoor three children andwho are confidenttheir family iscomplete. Picture:GettyImages

IRISH men are undergoing vasectomiesin greater numbers than ever before,willingly sharing the contraceptive bur-

den in their relationship, according to newresearch from the Irish Family Planning Asso-ciation (IFPA).

Vasectomy is most popular among couplesin their 30s who are in a stable relationshipwith two or three children and who are surethey do not want any more. That’s accordingto a survey of 328 vasectomy clients from IF-PA clinics over the last 20 years. The surveylooks at three periods: 1990/1991,1998/1999 and 2007/2008. In this time,more than 3,000 vasectomies were carriedout by the IFPA.

“Vasectomy is an ideal method of perma-nent contraception for men or couples whowant to enjoy sex without fear of pregnancy,”said IFPA medical director Caitriona Hen-chion. “It has become a very acceptablechoice thanks to some brave men who brokethe taboo and spoke about their own experi-ences of vasectomy such as the recently de-ceased broadcaster Gerry Ryan.”

Vasectomy is a minor surgical procedure

that seals the tubes which carry the spermfrom a man’s testicles to his penis. The opera-tion is carried out under local anaesthetic andtakes about 10 minutes. After the operation,you will still be able to ejaculate, but the se-men will no longer contain any sperm. Thesperm in the testicles are naturally reabsorbedback into the body and do not build up.Two follow-up tests are required to confirmthe absence of sperm in your semen.

“Vasectomy is seen by many men as a wayof removing the contraceptive burden fromtheir partner when their family is complete,”says Caitriona.

“Up to that point, the woman has bornethe children and had to take the contracep-tive initiative and now that their family is

complete they wel-come the opportuni-ty for the male toplay his part.”

While cost isn’t theonly factor involved,

itcan make sense over the longterm. According to the IFPA, theone-off cost of vasectomy ( 500)compares very favourably with theoutlay involved in other forms ofcontraception. Yearly costs for useof the contraceptive pill rangefrom 160 to 244 and use ofthe Mirena coil costs 66 everyyear.

Men who earnsignificantly lessthan their femalepartners are morelikely to cheatthan those inrelationshipswhere incomes aremore or less equal(Source: Cornell University, US)

Men urged to help stopviolence against womenTHREE national organisationshave recently joined forces forthe first time to rally Irish men tobecome part of the solution toending violence against women.Rape Crisis Network Ireland,SAFE Ireland, and the Men’s De-velopment Network will work asallies to encourage Irish men tostand up and saythat violenceagainst women isan unacceptablecrime. The new al-liance and cam-paign, under thebanner “The OtherHalf”, believes that

the work to end violence againstwomen can only be fully tackledby harnessing the energy, sup-port and understanding of malesin the population. For a varietyof reasons, violence againstwomen has been largely tackledby women and has, by default,been seen as a women’s issue.

The alliancebelieves that it istime to move onand to recognisemen as powerfulallies in the fightagainst gen-der-based vio-lence.

GAA matchmaking sitecould be on to a winner

ECO DOLL: Planet Pixies are 35cm softdolls made from organic cotton andnatural materials in Sri Lanka. Each ofthe three Pixies represents a different

environment on our planet under threat due topollution, deforestation, and global warming.Their box includes information about the envi-ronmental dangers they face, and has eco-tipsfor kids to learn what they can do to help savethe planet.www.planetpix-

ies.comYou can buy

the Pixies for18.99 each, inThe Organic Cot-ton Shop in Clon-akilty, Co Cork,023-8833747;www.organiccot-tonshop.ie

CLIMATE CHANGE: Oxfam Ire-land has commissioned five Irishfashion designers to create a collec-tion of limited edition t-shirts to

help support their climate change cam-paign. Launched earlier this month, We AreTee includes designs by Joanne Hynes, Pe-ter O’Brien, Eilís Boyle, Una Burke and Ali-son Connelly. Printed on 100% Fair Tradeorganic cotton, prices rangefrom 30 to 35 and thet-shirts are available exclu-sively from A/wear.com. Freedelivery and proceeds will goto Oxfam Ireland. Speakingon the project, Joanne Hynes(her t-shirt design is right)said: “What we do today inthis side of the world, affectsfamilies and individuals liveson the other side.”

ZERO FOOTPRINT: In 2009Canadian brand Attitude becamethe first range of household

cleaning products to be ecocertified andcarbon neutral. The range which is avail-able in Ireland through Wicklow-basedwww.breatheonline.ie also includeseco-nappies, which cost 9.90 per pack.The back and top sheet of the nappies ismade of biodegradable and compostablepolylactic acid made from vegetablestarch and the woodpulp in the fluff is certi-fied by the Forest Stew-ardship Council. Nochlorine is used in theirproduction, and thenappies are hypoaller-genic. Nappy produc-tion is carbon neutral.

RECYCLED GIFTS: THE new au-tumn collection at Oxfam Ireland’sFair Trade shops includes a range of

must-have recycled gifts.Recycled glass consumes 40% less energy

than making new glass from raw materials.All the more reason then to invest in Ox-fam’s new range of recycled glassware. It’smade in Bolivia and includes wine, cocktailand beer glasses, costing from 3.75 to4.50 each. Also new is somepretty jewellery made fromrecycled materials. There’s arecycled paper jewelleryrange from Kenya with itemsfrom 6.50 to 19, while re-cycled fabric jewellery inblue or pink, made in Indiacosts 7.50 for a necklace or6.50 for a bracelet.www.oxfamirelandshop.com

1 2 3 4

A DONEGAL web design firm,Aurora Web Design, haslaunched Ireland’s first GAA-in-spired dating website, LoveG-AA.com.Dermot Lawless came up

with the idea while watchingan ad for a dating website tele-vised during a Donegal- ClareFootball Championship matchin July.“The ad said that they could

find a part-ner basedon 29 levelsof compati-bility, but Ithought

there really is only one level ofcompatibility — whether yourpartner likes GAA games ornot. You know you’ve met yoursoulmate when they standalongside you in the rain at aclub match, or shout at the tel-ly, just as loud as you do.”Lawless met his now-fiancée

on a dating website four yearsago, and believes social net-working websites will become

more importantin the future.

■ LoveGAA.com isopen to men andwomen over the ageof 18.


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Feelgood

STUFF WE LIKE

Beauty

The news on ...

Emily O’Sullivan

TAKE THREE

Ignore the latestbeauty trends. It’snever a good ideato drop mascarafrom our bag —just choose wisely

B EING without make-up has be-come a problem for me. I caughta glimpse of myself after a swim

the other week and I looked so grey, so total-ly and completely washed out that I had toheave a resigned, momentarily discontentedsigh. Clearly, the smudged leftover mascara Ithought I had thoroughly removed and thehair welded to my head with a stark middleparting didn’t help, but I looked like a60-year-old Amish woman. It was somethingof a shock.While my skin looked granite-like and,

well, just old, my eyes were where the hor-rors really lay. Small, tiny, mousey and ex-hausted looking — if they are the windowsto my soul, then my soul is in a pretty badplace.It’s got to the stage where I don’t want to

leave the house without wearing mascara.And for someone who used to happily totteraround without make-up on, that’s somethingof an issue. But this is the season — accord-ing to some of beauty’s top make-up artists— of the no-mascara look. Six months ago,it was the eyebrows that were bare in glossymagazine editorials, this season it’s the eye-lashes. This mini-mascara backlash probablyhas something to do with the fact that eye-lashes have become really quite tacky overthe past few years.Blame Jordan, blame Girls Aloud (who

launched a range of fake eyelashes), blameCher Lloyd, but lashes — and by that wemean, totally over-the-top enormous falsies— are now in the zone of the cheap andtacky, which is why directional make-upartists are steering clear of them. Oh yes, itmight all feel very Brigitte Bardot early on inthe evening, but at 2.25am when you’re stag-gering down the street with one eyelash stuckto the side of your cheek, sexy it is certainlynot.But despite this about-face on mascara,

some of the latest beauty launches are still allabout big lashes (after all, beauty companieshave products to sell). And while I’m not onefor the falsies, I have to admit, as uncool as itmight be, that I’m prone to falling slightly inlove with any product that can make my eyeslook defined, bright, awake and just a littlebit pretty. Enormous, ridiculous lashes are

out, but naturally defined, thick, lustrouslashes are never likely to go out of fashion.This season, getting the right mascara can

be a tricky exercise. Despite the whole kitand kaboodle of mascara gimmicks that beau-ty companies have been throwing at us over

the last few years (vibrating mascaras, wandsthat look like medieval torture instruments,3-in-1 products), it really depends on yourlashes and what kind of look you’re after.Decide if you want to make your lashes

look thicker and fatter or longer, or totallyknock-out, or naturally more defined andwell separated. Whatever you want to do,there’s now a product there for you, but don’tbelieve the hype — some new products thatget a lot of attention don’t quite live up to it,while some products that have been aroundfor ages shouldn’t be overlooked just becausethey’re not new (Max Factor’s Masterpiece orDior’s Diorshow for example).The other good news is that while 10 years

ago, spending a lot of money bought you afar superior mascara, these days you can getexcellent mascaras from more affordablesources, such as Rimmel and Maybelline,which is good news for beady-eyed womenon a budget. Like me.

BLISS SCENT

BERGAMOT, ylang ylang, cucumber andbright, light florals are not quite whatyou’d expect from a scent that launchesin winter, but the first fragrance fromBliss is designed to be fresh andmood-busting, replicating the kind offeeling you get from visiting a Bliss Spa.Nice. Bliss eau de toilette, 35 from bliss-london.co.uk.

GREEN EYESHADOWS

IT’S nearly Halloween so get into thetheme early with some green eyeshad-ows. Not nearly as scary as they sound,green is a hot colour this year and a goodalternative to blue for anyone that likesthe idea of a colour but doesn’t want togo too ‘80s. Keep the tone dark ratherthan grassy to maintain an element ofchic.

Chanel Ombre Essen-tielle Khaki Vert, 24.50.This is our favourite for thenew season, bar none. It’sgot a lovely deep khakishade, it blends really welland it’s a great shade forcreating a smoky-eye look,with a twist.

Bourjois Little Round Pot Eyeshad-ow in Noir Emeraude, 9.60. A gor-geous dark, sultry green that is subtle,flattering and very, very sexy. Definitely agood option for anyone wanting to tryout the look, without spending a fortune.

Clinique Soft Shimmer Eyeshadowin Juniper, 19. This is a nice subtleolive-shade with a delicate shimmer,which makes it good choice for daytime.

L’Oreal Volume Million Lashes, 14.99.Definitely our favourite mascara of the mo-ment, this is a little beauty and bumps up the

lashes like few others on the market. Itmakes them look very glossy and thick,but also separates and lengthens. Itmight be a bit of a dramatic look fordaytime, but for us, it’s a winner.

Rimmel 1-2-3 Mascara, 9.90.We’ve all got different mascaramoods, as it were. Some days youfeel like bigging it up, other timesyou want to be a bit more subtle.Rimmel’s new mascara allows you todo that. Turn to setting one andyour lashes will be plumped up by

three, turn to setting two, and you get fivetimes the volume, and turn to setting threeand you’ll get 10 times the volume. Differentlooks at an affordable price. We like.

No 7 Exceptional Definition Mascara,16.50. This is quite an elegant mascaraand a good option if you’re looking to de-fine, rather than dramatically amplify yourlashes. A good bet for daytime, the brushsweeps through coating and gently sepa-rating the lashes.

Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Ex-cess, 29. The great thing aboutthis mascara, pictured right, is thatit manages to plump up without

clumping at all. The finish is a glossy black,too — so the lashes are left feeling thickwithout being stiff.

Lancôme Hypnose Precious Cells,25.50. Lancôme has long been queen ofthe mascara world and the new HypnosePrecious Cells takes things to new heightsby combining lashcare and volume in one.It’s a great product — it plumps up lasheslike all Lancôme mascaras do, it doesn’t flakeand it has a gentle formula that improvescondition.

La Roche-Posay Respectissime Densify-ing Mascara, 17. Apparently 50% ofwomen complain of sensitive eyes, so LA

It’s

lash

ing

outs

ide

Picture:Fotoware

Roche-Posay have come up with agentle mascara that gives you all thebenefits of a volumising formula. It al-so claims to naturally aid weakenedlashes thanks to the inclusion of argi-nine (an anti-hair loss amino acid) andvitamin B5.

Revlon Fabulash Grow Luscious,14.50. A new one to the market,Revlon’s Grow Luscious is designedto help lashes grow longer andstronger thanks to vitamins A and E,as well as silk proteins. It’s a good vo-lumiser, and the Blackest Black shadegives great definition.


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Megan Sheppard

Do you have a questionfor Megan Sheppard?Email it [email protected] send a letter toFeelgoodIrish ExaminerCity QuarterLapps QuayCork

Megan puts the spotlight on: Garden veggie healing

Natural health

QI AM 51 years old and haverecently started themenopause. It seems to havestarted with me losing about ahalf stone in weight, which is

unusual as I understand weight gain ismore common in menopausal women.

I have been having severe night and daysweats for the last couple of months. Somedays I get one every hour and atnight-time it’s even worse, resulting invery disturbed sleep. I am taking Serenity,sage tincture and red clover tincture forthe past three to four weeks with no realsign of an improvement.

I drink a lot of water, green tea, nettletea and eat a very healthy diet. I exercise alot in the gym, using weights and takingspinning classes. I also walk a couple oftimes a week for 40-45 minutes. I drinkvery little alcohol — a few glasses of wineat the weekend, but smoke four to fivecigarettes a day which I know is not help-ing. However, these are my sanity as Iwork in a very stressful environment.

I take Zispin, (30mg) which is a mildanti-depressant, prescribed by my doctorlast year as I was quite stressed from workand was not sleeping very well. Followingthe weight loss, my doctor took someblood samples, testing for tumour markers,thyroid, iron, cholesterol etc. All of thesecame back clear. When the sweats started,I contacted my doctor who prescribed amild form of HRT. However, I am reluc-tant to take this for two reasons. There is ahistory of breast cancer in my family and Iwould prefer to use natural remedies. Iwould welcome any suggestions you mighthave.

A. While the symptoms of menopause arenumerous and varied, it is more unusual tolose weight than it is to gain weight at thistime. Hot flushes are the most commonsymptom, with three-quarters of allmenopausal women experiencing nightand/or day sweats.

Besides the smoking, you are doing every-thing that I would recommend — a healthydiet high in wholefoods, regular exercise,plenty of water, plus beneficial herbs andteas. Sage is typically the solution for mostcases of hot flushes, with Menosan by AVo-gel being product I would recommend.

What stands out from your letter is thehigh level of stress you are experiencing.Stress is a huge trigger in both weight lossand menopausal sweats, it will also reducethe quality of your sleep and rest, which ex-acerbates the issue by disrupting the healingand hormonal processes. I would suggest youwork meditation into your daily life, andconsider mixing up your fitness regime withsomething like yoga, tai chi, or qi gong.

Flower essences can also be of great help in

times of stress and change by creating a moresubtle shift in energies — and they can betaken alongside existing medication. I wouldsuggest choosing a combination remedy suchas Rescue Remedy from the Bach Flowerrange to help with specific moments ofstress, and Woman Essence (from the Aus-tralian Bush Flower range) to specifically ad-dress the hormonal changes associated withmenopause. All remedies are available fromlocal health stores or visit:www.hereshealth.ie.

Q. I have been losing hair from the frontof my hair line for the past few months. Ihave had my hormone levels, thyroid func-tion and iron checked and they are all nor-mal. I know that hair loss is related tostress but I cannot identify anything in mylife that might be causing me underlyingstress. I am 47 years old and there is nohistory in my family of this. Can you offerme any suggestions? My GP says it is diffi-cult to get to the root of this problem(pardon the pun). I started taking a highpotency food supplement from the healthfood shop for hair, skin and nails two anda half weeks ago. It is still falling out. Can

you suggest anything?

A. I would recommend that you take simi-lar advice as suggested above regarding astress-reducing activity such as yoga, tai chi,or qi gong — I completely understand thatunexplained hair loss is incredibly stressful,particularly for a woman, so anything youcan do to help this will support the healingprocess.

Keep up with the nutritional support andsupplementation, as this will be helping, butit may take some time to see the results.

For long term results and maintenance,check out the Morrocco Method products. Ilove their range, and their ingredients areraw, organic and vegan — you could justabout eat the stuff. They have a completepackage which is said to stop hair loss within30 days and establish new growth in 90 days.I have used their products for around six toseven years and they really do what theyclaim if used as directed. Take a look onlineat www.morroccomethod.com. I am notaware of any suppliers in Ireland but wouldbe happy to hear from anyone who knows ofone. I currently order it in from the US withno problems.

WHILE superfoods from around theworld with an array of amazing healthbenefits, are the current buzzword, thehealing powers of garden variety veg-etables and fruits are getting over-looked. Here are a few of the vegeta-bles which are readily available andpacked with health benefits (depend-ing on how they are prepared).

FENNELContains: Filled with vitamins B3,B5, C, E, K, betacarotene, biotin, calci-um, folate, iron, iodine, magnesium,manganese, phosphorus, potassi-um, selenium, zinc and fibre, thefennel bulb is one of those veg-etables which is easy to grow butmany people don’t include it in theircooking repertoire because theyaren’t familiar with preparing it. Fen-

nel is wonderful sautéed, steamed, orsliced thinly in a salad and it works asa natural diuretic, strengthens capillar-ies, and reduces inflammation.

It is also good for the liver, kidneys,and spleen, and may be beneficial forconditions such as asthma, heart dis-ease, irritable bowel syndrome, andpoor circulation.

POTATOContains: Vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6,C, K, biotin, folate, calcium, iodine,

iron, magnesium, manganese,phosphorus, potassium, sele-nium, zinc, fibre. The potatohas had some bad press dueto being high in carbs, but re-

ally, they are a great nutritionalfood (so long as they aren’t deepfried or smothered in butter).

Boiled, baked, or steamed, potatoescan help to lower blood pressure. Theyalso contain phytonutrients which areknown to boost immunity, reduce in-flammation, and regulate fluid elimina-tion.

LEEKContains: Vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6,C, E, K, betacarotene, biotin, folate, cal-cium, iodine, iron, magnesium, man-ganese, phosphorus, potassium, sele-nium, zinc, fibre. Wonderful in soups,baked dishes, or as a warm salad driz-zled with garlic oil and walnuts, leeksare a good heart food. They help toregulate cholesterol, blood pressure,and improve circulation. They are alsobelieved to reduce the risk of manyforms of cancer.

BEETROOTContains: Vitamins B3, B5, C,folate, betacarotene, calcium,iodine, iron, manganese,magnesium, phosphorus,potassium, zinc and fibre.Beetroot is at its nutritionalbest when it is eaten raw, andfortunately it contains naturalsugars which means that it is adelicious addition to any salador juice. The deep red colour-ing of most beets (heirloomvarieties can also be found inyellow, orange, and cream) isdue to the antioxidant, beta-cyanin. A very cleansing veg-etable, which works at a cellularlevel, and one of the key ingredi-ents in most detoxification andhealing juice recipes.

Stress is a huge trigger in both weight lossand menopausal sweats. I would suggest

that you work meditation into your daily life andconsider mixing up your fitness regime with

something like yoga, tai chi, or qi gong

Picture:Getty Images

TERAPROOF:User:PAULOKEEFFEDate:20/10/2010Time:18:55:45Edition:22/10/2010FeelgoodXH2210Page:16 Zone:XH

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