tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24913894239108614242024-03-12T17:22:22.238-07:00My Tried and TestedHealth journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-70734782065943285382015-04-07T08:06:00.001-07:002015-04-07T08:06:57.100-07:0021 reasons why I never lose weight
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Easter. Hot cross buns and chocolate. Enough said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Children/grandchildren. Preparing three meals a day.
Eating up leftovers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Being an ex-smoker. Still need oral gratification -
vaping invented too late.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. City breaks. Ensaimadas for breakfast. Pintxos for lunch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. Heartbreak. Losing friends, relations, trust, sense
of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>proportion = comfort eating.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. Eccles cakes. All those currents. Surely count as one of
my five-a-day? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7. Summer barbecues. Bangers, beer and burgers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8. Boredom. What’s in the cupboard? Ooh, peanut butter. And
crisps. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9. Wine. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPQL-KnaLwhsUgAcT719Zki7WqRkkjtWnbj__28jo3I1Ilrr2Kx-9ZhsX03gNnc3eaJf-5Vzk-6YH2Pg8QcrNCzuDa_xQWhUOzd2jqM3gzYf_gIxRdbt40qllateNPa08bJSYb5_nMA/s1600/IMG_0021.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10. Great British Bake Off. I’d like to bake a pineapple upside down cake.
Now I’ll eat it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11. Marriage. To a man who likes a little snackette. And
three square meals a day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12. Halloween. Pumpkin pie and Haribos.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
13. Great British weather. Carbs help keep out the
chill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
14. Sunday lunch. Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
15. Christmas. Mince pies and brandy butter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
16. Rows (leading to fridge raiding) and reconciliations
(let’s drink to that).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
17. Wedding Anniversary. Maybe roses, definitely chocolates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
18. Valentine’s Day. Ditto.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
19. Mother’s Day. Ditto but from offspring.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
20. Birthday. Ditto – from everybody. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
21. Oh look – it’s Easter again ….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-5320111841186962992015-03-05T04:27:00.000-08:002015-03-05T04:27:48.370-08:00Sandwich anyone?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RKTudwOea5QWaykj6wK1O-z7APtgOq6fSrcvQ7NfYsbZ71hfSgYVOPjiPOuUcNhYW1ANlwF2NZn_dKAX1kfLNiVSNph8SDhCmqIhnx_ZWIrrXQaCBuzWdNog_FJ2i4vzECSAaAzw7Q/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RKTudwOea5QWaykj6wK1O-z7APtgOq6fSrcvQ7NfYsbZ71hfSgYVOPjiPOuUcNhYW1ANlwF2NZn_dKAX1kfLNiVSNph8SDhCmqIhnx_ZWIrrXQaCBuzWdNog_FJ2i4vzECSAaAzw7Q/s1600/Picture+1.png" height="75" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">L</span>ike many women today I am part of the so-called
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2809241/One-million-belong-new-sandwich-generation-forced-support-parents-adult-children.html">sandwich generation</a> –
caught in the middle between the need to look after elderly relatives, my own
children and now, increasingly, their children. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I read with interest <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2979782/The-utter-torment-sandwich-mother-Career-woman-devoted-mother-dutiful-daughter.html">this account</a> in the Daily Mail. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What
I felt most, however, was not sympathy for the hard-pressed mum in the middle
but surprise that her mother’s carers had on several occasions fed the old dear sandwiches made
from mouldy bread.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have power of attorney for my 93-year-old uncle – the
sole survivor of those in my family who lived through the last war. Now
housebound following a stroke, heart attack and a long stay in hospital where
he caught a series of life-threatening bugs but still, somehow, pulled through,
he has carers coming in four times a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They do his washing, change his sheets, see to his catheter,
get him up, put him to bed, make sure he takes his medicines, wash him, shave
him, make him cups of tea and give him three meals. It costs – but it’s still cheaper than going into a care
home which is something he refuses to consider anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am grateful that I am not expected to perform any of the
above tasks but making sure that there is always enough food in the fridge and
freezer is a constant worry, especially since I live a one and half hour drive
away. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The main problems are caused by use-by or best before dates. The
carers have been trained never to use anything that is out of time. Never mind
that the tomatoes look, feel and smell fine. Ditto the ham slices. Or the apples.
Or the cheese. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If something’s past the best before or use by date, it goes
in the bin. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve taken to unwrapping as much as possible so that they
are forced to use their eyes, noses and commonsense. But that doesn’t work for
everything. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They won’t even use stale bread for toast – let alone for
sandwiches. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-47117530358711944522015-02-23T03:09:00.000-08:002015-02-23T03:09:40.882-08:00Joy of Specs
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">S</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">omeone recently announced to a room full of journalists
that varifocal glasses are more hip-replacement than hipster. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Admittedly they were promoting the benefits of a new type of contact lens, but their throwaway remark hit home. For, dear reader, I have been wearing varifocals for some years now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new contact lenses are, admittedly, impressive. Not only
do they help with presbyopia – the inevitable change in eyesight that comes as
we get older, causing problems when reading menus and threading needles – but
they are also made of a material that is much kinder to older eyes, which tend
to be dryer than younger ones. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this makes the new <a href="http://www.biotrue.co.uk/">Biotrue</a> lenses more
comfortable to wear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indeed, two people of a certain age who were at the launch
and tried out the lenses there and then were suitably impressed. So impressed
that I volunteered to have the optician on hand check my eyes to see if I’d be
a suitable candidate too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly the answer was ‘no’. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As well as myopia (short sight) and presbyopia (the loss of
the ability to focus close up), I have astigmatism (my eye isn’t a perfect
curve).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2964318/The-comfy-contacts-help-read-middle-age-Lenses-special-gel-mimics-surface-eye.html">the lenses</a> can’t
correct that – although manufacturers <a href="http://www.bausch.co.uk/">Bausch + Lomb</a> say they are working on
ones that will.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So specs it is then. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it’s not so bad, honestly. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even with lenses I don’t think anyone would find me remotely hipster. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMKrWO_767vZeH7vRJvppHP_aBh-LREs0zFA8LTodKD0ilO9xGzWXH7bh2IMDPixvIwk-vRjrwHfO57GigYExBktU1jvaBDh_ItrG4qpBbOTwEbBu3126APre5nIaT5FhyJQfQKVJ-w/s1600/Picture+2.png" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="246" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it comes to the gory/scary bits in films I can just
look over the top of my specs instead of having to close my eyes. And glasses
disguise those late night under-eye bags and shadows much better than lenses. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-50322681420869057582014-12-17T06:45:00.001-08:002014-12-17T06:45:20.017-08:00Your mission this Christmas...
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I</span>’ve been hanging silver
baubles on the tree, dusting mince pies with icing sugar, soaking dried fruits
in marsala … and cursing when the sticky tape sticks to itself instead of the
wrapping paper I’m using for my Christmas presents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">Yes – it’s that time of
year again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">And I love it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">Love looking at the Nativity pictures on my
grandchildren’s school website. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">Love listening to choirs singing Once in Royal
David’s City (The Pogue’s in New York, not so much).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSZLGwB8Y8kyFbwQzmEZpAKNnixMmL_OL26vN3TUeSVq4Qjzzt1xFcL8vz4BB0fVmiiLudurpSZ99HCCR-euRoijf-XI5iucW62ylvdnRlyo_qO6aewcFQNbXM0a3OvWPqldi94btkw/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSZLGwB8Y8kyFbwQzmEZpAKNnixMmL_OL26vN3TUeSVq4Qjzzt1xFcL8vz4BB0fVmiiLudurpSZ99HCCR-euRoijf-XI5iucW62ylvdnRlyo_qO6aewcFQNbXM0a3OvWPqldi94btkw/s1600/Picture+1.png" height="287" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">But I’m also thinking about
those who find Christmas so much more of a struggle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">Who, this year, are in too
much pain to bake or decorate or fill stockings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">The National Rheumatoid
Arthritis Society says, for example, that there are 690,000 people in the UK
coping with RA this Christmas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">And in order to raise awareness of the need for
improved management of the disease they are calling for more recruits to their
<a href="http://remission.nras.org.uk/">Remission Mission</a></span><span style="font-family: Geneva;">. </span><span style="font-family: Geneva; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">They say: “It’s really easy to join – simply take a photograph of
yourself, upload it to the photo wall using the upload button and tell us what
remission means to you by following the instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The photo wall is open to everyone with RA, family members and friends,
regardless of age.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sounds like a lovely idea. Happy snapping – Happy Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-40012594261678265682014-12-01T03:08:00.000-08:002014-12-01T03:08:29.168-08:00Hangovers past and present
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snoring</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sad to say the asonor was not a success. But I did find out
a possible reason why. I am the wrong kind of snorer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.britishsnoring.co.uk/">The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea </a>website has
an online sleep test which helps people work out what kind of snorer they are -
it appears I am a multifactoral snorer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So before you invest in any kind of anti-snoring aid, I’d
suggest you visit this site and take the test. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psoriasis</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My guinea pig failed to report back, so I am none the wiser.
However, I was reasonably impressed with the before and after pix the pr sent
of a case study, so I guess if you can afford to try this, it might be worth a
go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally … I’ve been sent two products to check out: one
aimed at fitness fans, the other at party animals. (I’ll let you guess which
category I might fall into).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Blood pressure/endurance</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beet-it.com/">BEET IT Sport Pro-Elite bar</a> <a href="http://www.beet-it.com/">www.beet-it.com</a>
contains oats and 400mg of ‘natural dietary nitrate, the equivalent of 400ml
beetroot juice.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWer9aI41SZmn7v9Rf1Y-nhCYNbJjKFvYtTBydNrhAqZkudEqjg-vk_KF6UK6PLG-Ix_3pnaVlmISLqz3VwtwnWbg17-G_MfmA36-jRW_GzsWRz04ZnIF6Gtp-xI_FDrhJFscpxpDfQ/s1600/Bar_Low-res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWer9aI41SZmn7v9Rf1Y-nhCYNbJjKFvYtTBydNrhAqZkudEqjg-vk_KF6UK6PLG-Ix_3pnaVlmISLqz3VwtwnWbg17-G_MfmA36-jRW_GzsWRz04ZnIF6Gtp-xI_FDrhJFscpxpDfQ/s1600/Bar_Low-res.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is being marketed as a sport nutrition product because
research shows that nitrate ‘interacts with enzymes in alive to boost nitric
oxide levels in the blood. This natural vasodilator increases blood flow and
oxygen supply to muscles with a beneficial impact on strength and endurance.’</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can’t vouch for that – but I do that know drinking
beetroot juice every day can lower your blood pressure. I did it. The only
trouble was, I soon began to detest the taste. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s possible the BEET IT bars would have the same effect.
They certainly taste nicer than a glass of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>beetroot juice. (You can get them at Holland and Barret rrp
£1.85 a bar).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Hangovers </b><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O.R.S Hydration Tablets contain a formula of electrolytes,
glucose and minerals which, when dissolved in water, help to rehydrate you if
you’ve been ill or are have a hangover. (That thumping headache is a sign of
dehydration.) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tablets come in three flavours – lemon, blackcurrant and
strawberry – and cost £4.99 for a tube of 12 or £6.99 for 24. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far, I haven’t had an opportunity to try them out – but
there are a few Christmas parties on the calendar so maybe …</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-58964382931322211942014-10-15T03:08:00.001-07:002014-10-15T04:36:58.848-07:00ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz (if only)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">O</span>K – I snore<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span> So does my husband. It’s sometimes so bad one or
other of us decamps to the spare room. I know I should lose weight and drink
less red wine in the evening. But until I manage to do both, will Asonor help? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ASONOR</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Claim: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first ever clinically proven nasal spray for the relief
of snoring … provides relief in 75 per cent of cases, offering snorers (and
their partners) a better night’s sleep.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How it works: <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It lubricates and softens the mucus membranes in the throat
while also tightening its musculature. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Price:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
RRP £14.75 available online from <a href="http://www.scrubsuk.com/">www.scrubsuk.com</a>
and Boots. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t get psoriasis – but two members of the family do. It
is unpleasant and demoralising. They will try anything that might make a
difference. Will Dermalex? I’ll keep you posted. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
DERMALEX REPAIR – Scalp Psoriasis</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Claim:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A new non-greasy, steroid and coal-tar free gel for mild to
moderate scalp psoriasis. In clinical studies … it has been proven to reduce
scalp itching from the first week, and has shown a reduction in scaling from
two week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How it works:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The topical barrier repair gel normalises skin cell
production and facilitates the skin’s own repair mechanism. It fortifies the
skin’s barrier by creating a protective shield and preventing water loss and
soothes symptoms such as scaling, itching, dandruff-like flaking and redness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Price:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
RRP £18.99 and available, for example, from <a href="http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/">www.lloydspharmacy.com</a> and Amazon. </div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-90934551611903934792014-08-08T02:18:00.000-07:002014-08-08T02:18:04.997-07:00Oh, I wish I'd looked after my teeth
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I </span>was never as negligent as the person in the Pam Ayres poem
but, even so, my gnashers have always been trouble. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They have been filled, refilled, and extracted. I’ve had
crowns, a bridge and an implant, and before my daughter’s wedding I spent many
sleepless nights trying to adjust to the gumshields full of an expensive
whitener that I hoped would neutralise the effect of the red wine and coffee I’d
been drinking so recklessly over the years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It worked – but only temporarily. So I was keen to try Rapid
White’s Instant Whitening Toothpaste. Launched last month and available in
<a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Rapid-White-Instant-Whitening-Toothpaste-75ml_1492574/">Boots</a> it claims to leave teeth up to one and half shades whiter after just one
brushing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6azOgEZ_li0UAMSOlI8j1W6oC4Ybr4UCkKr6YN09gDERIdaNRTC7-IhgvbXnbN7C7jbl1Rei-_S4cXxYVwLnRLtJPhTaEDMbWsA3VOF3lcuzUxRwjAc5HcZRTJ93X8XdUj6GaM9OyQ/s1600/Picture+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6azOgEZ_li0UAMSOlI8j1W6oC4Ybr4UCkKr6YN09gDERIdaNRTC7-IhgvbXnbN7C7jbl1Rei-_S4cXxYVwLnRLtJPhTaEDMbWsA3VOF3lcuzUxRwjAc5HcZRTJ93X8XdUj6GaM9OyQ/s1600/Picture+6.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Apparently: “The brightening formula with new ‘optical
brightening technology’ (no, I don’t know why this is in quotes either) absorbs
light and increases the amount of blue light reflected from the teeth,
eliminating yellow hues to give you a brighter smile without damaging tooth
enamel.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I brushed optimistically but afterwards I couldn’t see a
difference at all – I even took before and after selfies to show you but
decided not to publish pictures of my teeth on the grounds that they are too
scary.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will carry on using the toothpaste until it’s finished but
at £7.99 a tube (or £5.99 if it’s on special offer) I don’t think I’ll be
buying another one!</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-73690985211032654532014-07-10T04:42:00.001-07:002014-07-10T04:42:09.122-07:00A little bit of froth
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">D</span>ualit is one of those brands I think we should all support:
iconic designs and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">– </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as importantly – stuff that’s made right here in Britain.
The company has just announced that they are launching a special pink edition
of their classic toaster in October which is, as I’m sure lots of you know,
breast cancer awareness month.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_Qro0sCgGa7PNlKN-ShbZna0hAXuTkRd0Zq8_QsHSecrj18t-v2eugjvaKMfH0tic1Ib-bAhkuBMaY1bHE-HLGle_soBDNfcnIptm6mye-LcCabf39d4DtnDy2dGV5i7cy7EI9dI9g/s1600/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_Qro0sCgGa7PNlKN-ShbZna0hAXuTkRd0Zq8_QsHSecrj18t-v2eugjvaKMfH0tic1Ib-bAhkuBMaY1bHE-HLGle_soBDNfcnIptm6mye-LcCabf39d4DtnDy2dGV5i7cy7EI9dI9g/s1600/Picture+5.png" height="197" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having had my own brush with breast cancer some years ago I
don’t really need a special month to make me aware of it, but tie-ins like this
are one way of raising money to support various worthy charities. In this case,
a charity called the Haven – which has centres in London, Leeds and Hereford
providing a wide range of therapies to complement the medical care patients get
from the NHS – will get a £20 donation for each toaster </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sold.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile my other half is discovering his inner barista playing with our latest kitchen gadget –<a href="http://www.dualit.com/products/new-milk-frother"> Dualit’s milk frother</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe the novelty will wear off, but until then I am enjoying my cap</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">puccinos and next
time the littlies are here he will be able to magic up babyccinos to amuse
them. Who needs Harris and Hoole?</span><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-51223136194276772822014-07-08T04:16:00.000-07:002014-07-08T04:16:02.126-07:00Eye, eye<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">W</span>hen did you last have your eyes tested? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYozpJ_-NEEqlBw3YJ3ya_zQ4ZldgKpujkS2PvX5RwNSUAKn8aSNsCv_ea7TJAkK6hG1AI3Fz9oVqPryn_XFKKVLDp9rzovAC-guOKFp0ha8fYzZFVe1BJhJRfV2EWGlA9E3p8jq0sIg/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYozpJ_-NEEqlBw3YJ3ya_zQ4ZldgKpujkS2PvX5RwNSUAKn8aSNsCv_ea7TJAkK6hG1AI3Fz9oVqPryn_XFKKVLDp9rzovAC-guOKFp0ha8fYzZFVe1BJhJRfV2EWGlA9E3p8jq0sIg/s1600/Picture+1.png" /></a>I only ask because I learned last week that having a digital retinal photograph taken could alert you to a range of health problems including diabetes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Many of us, it seems, overlook some of symptoms of
this condition – extreme tiredness or getting up to go to the loo in the night,
for example – because we assume this just happens as we get older.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Indeed, according to a survey commissioned by ShARP
(the Simplyhealth Advisory Research Panel) almost half of those questioned were
already displaying one or more warning signs. Yet 53 per cent had convinced
themselves that they were at no risk of developing Type 2 diabetes at all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So why might a retinal scan be useful? Diabetes can
damage the retina – the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye.
The damage occurs because a continuously high blood sugar level can cause the
tiny blood vessels that supply the retina to become blocked or leak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And if the blood vessels in your eyes are affected
then so, too will the blood vessels be elsewhere in your body – in your
kidneys, for example. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: ArialMT; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My eyes turned out to be fine. Time you checked yours?
http://www.mylocaloptician.co.uk/subcontent.asp?id=1&subid=108<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-46666275641165175142014-06-30T04:46:00.000-07:002014-06-30T04:46:17.376-07:00Grow your own<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">E</span>dible flowers always seem like a lovely idea - so I was pleased when I was given a grow your own kit for my birthday. But how successful would I be?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDRZI7j3XShFnWP-MUlG4stUtVb4KLMT6K8H_Yy6aC7GK9V1FGelhryZeqi8z_rjT2EJeWGMLlcPJfTnPhDfC9KdCrYTbTrFM8SGXrop36R5KIBYWsrckPhes-fhIA_howfxUgH5Uog/s1600/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDRZI7j3XShFnWP-MUlG4stUtVb4KLMT6K8H_Yy6aC7GK9V1FGelhryZeqi8z_rjT2EJeWGMLlcPJfTnPhDfC9KdCrYTbTrFM8SGXrop36R5KIBYWsrckPhes-fhIA_howfxUgH5Uog/s1600/Picture+5.png" height="199" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Not very, it seemed back in May - leggy cornflowers<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KmeHsqswc0NOnnnfw8Tc_7izOmoR8sJieud6Y6OLB68gPxMWXWwjYuBXw4EWS1y4n1zKHpR0hcoqxaLsnI5uCuEghNBjIMeO96FxZqKve9qI7MrWrnYfBjnKSR8tE4S64IkCMioXUw/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KmeHsqswc0NOnnnfw8Tc_7izOmoR8sJieud6Y6OLB68gPxMWXWwjYuBXw4EWS1y4n1zKHpR0hcoqxaLsnI5uCuEghNBjIMeO96FxZqKve9qI7MrWrnYfBjnKSR8tE4S64IkCMioXUw/s1600/Picture+3.png" height="320" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But look at the marigolds and nasturtiums now!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-85812944246799526292014-05-15T02:33:00.001-07:002014-05-15T02:33:07.713-07:00Stork talk
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</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I </span>know a little bit about wanting a baby and fearing you might never
have one (ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage etc) and I am really thankful that I
never had to go down the expensive fertility clinic route to end up with my
lovely, now grown-up, children. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">So I should be pleased that the Stork has
landed in the UK.</span></span><br />
<br />
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</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">‘The Stork helps
“bridge the gap” between natural intercourse and in-clinic assisted treatments
such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF) or
clomifene.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRaqPwETKXgbBp6f76WgccaB7QCmIi1TtlnF6uWAaUhUs2b-Q99h57-mv5YrKbbrAFHPV9Mp729DQQJHR8gi6CROw5yN_ub4Dxl2kXhmHiwc_D9JPny5V18Q11yS7zHsmO99lgAhsCg/s1600/_I4A8820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRaqPwETKXgbBp6f76WgccaB7QCmIi1TtlnF6uWAaUhUs2b-Q99h57-mv5YrKbbrAFHPV9Mp729DQQJHR8gi6CROw5yN_ub4Dxl2kXhmHiwc_D9JPny5V18Q11yS7zHsmO99lgAhsCg/s1600/_I4A8820.jpg" height="320" width="160" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">I’m sure there is a
market for the Stork. But although using it costs a fraction of what treatment
at a private clinic would be, it isn’t exactly cheap – the recommended retail
price is £99.95, for which you get just one device to be used in one ovulation
cycle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And
it isn’t offering exactly the same as IUI because in a clinic </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the man’s sperm
would be treated to ensure that only the highest-quality motile ones were used
for the procedure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The manufacturers say that
cervical cap insemination has a recorded success rate of around 20 per cent which
is comparable to IUI - with recorded success rates between 16 and 21 per cent.
They also point out that the average the cost of IUI can range from £500 -
£1000 depending on where you go and which drugs are required for treatment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;">Yet I still wonder
if you couldn’t get fitted for a cervical cap for free (do family planning
clinics still have them?) and simply use it the same way as the Stork with the
same results. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If anyone has tried this,
let me know. Meanwhile you can check out the Stork<a href="http://www.thestorkconception.co.uk/"> here.</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20759b;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">And you can buy it
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.superdrug.com/page/stork">here</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">W</span>hen I edited the health
pages on a women’s magazine I was often asked to write about stuff that the NHS
wouldn’t do, stuff that people – usually parents – had to spend a fortune on to
get abroad or privately in the UK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">Skull helmets for babies
were a typical example.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_F0V4MIZ6bwehj_gW4txIyY1Cd5jJFXuDhPQl4R-QqNompWSBm-anyym8XJbjtzWnppgdIIZrP1I0Ch7TbMMpRENc0oho5jBPFWzvg36j5Xj8Z0-M7Fr1pjpLTWfUFHGKuUZJa65sOA/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_F0V4MIZ6bwehj_gW4txIyY1Cd5jJFXuDhPQl4R-QqNompWSBm-anyym8XJbjtzWnppgdIIZrP1I0Ch7TbMMpRENc0oho5jBPFWzvg36j5Xj8Z0-M7Fr1pjpLTWfUFHGKuUZJa65sOA/s1600/Picture+1.png" height="286" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">Magazines like running
stories about skull helmets because they usually come with cute pix and
heart-wrenching quotes. But should journalists really be encouraging parents to buy these devices? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">The helmets are designed
to correct ‘flat head syndrome’ which is caused by infants frequently lying on
the same part of their head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">The syndrome has become
more common now that parents are told to put their babies on their backs to
sleep to reduce the risk of cot death. Babies also spend a lot of time in those
little chairs you can carry from car to home and back again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMJpgmUXwhvpEi2UGS7AlVzv_FSAVMdQ8KITs8t6se0UH1sgZ-ZFtm3g5-p4-XCHDvpzR_DLxL9_cYnf1sJGmWcOFduyxs7v0BwEEYbTe9QexGYumMqGV3F68Tt2XLAIvyIEWovbdeg/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMJpgmUXwhvpEi2UGS7AlVzv_FSAVMdQ8KITs8t6se0UH1sgZ-ZFtm3g5-p4-XCHDvpzR_DLxL9_cYnf1sJGmWcOFduyxs7v0BwEEYbTe9QexGYumMqGV3F68Tt2XLAIvyIEWovbdeg/s1600/Picture+3.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 13.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;">The skull helmets have to be worn for several months for up to 23 hours a day. But they can cost more than £2000 – and the first</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;"><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g2741"> randomised, controlled study</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;"> of the treatment has found </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;"><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/helmets-do-little-to-help-moderate-infant-skull-flattening-study-finds/">no evidence that they make much difference in skull shape by the time a child is two.</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">The study also revealed that all the parents whose babies wore a helmet reported side-effects – from skin irritation to feeling hindered from cuddling their children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Geneva;">So instead of encouraging worried mums and dads to part with their hard-earned cash for skull helmets without being in possession of all the facts, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;">I'd like</span><span style="font-family: Geneva;"> magazines and newspapers to try to get the word across that it's not a good idea for babies to spend too much time in the same position - on their back - day and night and to refer them to the sensible advice</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858;"><a href="http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/plagiocephaly/Pages/Introduction.aspx"> here</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #585858; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It says: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 13.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -36.0pt; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858;">Give your baby time on their tummy during the day</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858;">
and encourage them to try new positions during play time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 13.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -36.0pt; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858;">Switch your baby between a sloping chair, a sling
and a flat surface</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858;">, so that there isn't constant pressure
on one part of their head.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 36.0pt; margin-right: 13.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -36.0pt; tab-stops: 11.0pt 36.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -36.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858;">Change the position of toys and mobiles in
their cot</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #585858;"> to encourage your baby to turn their head to the
non-flattened side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-16695339380355558652014-04-29T02:16:00.000-07:002014-04-29T02:16:59.583-07:00Rabbit, rabbit
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9EPHa_oKx-FEMqoO0jMapYPhcuYn6qmgK_UpGcEtOKP4ghKKJXlGsY1ZCM8nEuK11tnFDzfRrBR2Xux0Ne7dgQ-prKKKukrKtPQxsLqx2L6RwcCcyKnrWjK5Qq2oa0Wt8gIP7F5tKg/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9EPHa_oKx-FEMqoO0jMapYPhcuYn6qmgK_UpGcEtOKP4ghKKJXlGsY1ZCM8nEuK11tnFDzfRrBR2Xux0Ne7dgQ-prKKKukrKtPQxsLqx2L6RwcCcyKnrWjK5Qq2oa0Wt8gIP7F5tKg/s1600/Picture+1.png" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Ariel; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s easy to jump to the wrong conclusion when you write about food and drink as well as family life. Today’s in-box contained an email with the header: <b>Rabbit Awareness Week 10 – 18 May.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Ariel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Having
recently received an alert for <a href="http://www.watercressfestival.org/">watercress week</a></span><span style="font-family: Ariel; font-size: 14.0pt;">, I opened the email expecting be
told about the <a href="http://riseandshinerabbitry.com/2011/10/15/health-benefits-of-rabbit-meat">health benefits of eating rabbit</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: Ariel; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="font-family: Ariel; font-size: 14.0pt;">or given recipes for <a href="http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/527595">rabbit terrine</a> or pate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Ariel; font-size: 14.0pt;">Instead I
read: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Ariel; font-size: 14.0pt;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Ariel; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s
Rabbit Awareness Week, from the 10 - 18 May. One million households in the UK
own a rabbit, so the RSPCA is encouraging the nation to take the opportunity to
learn more about one of the UK’s most popular pets!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Ariel; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Oops.</span><span style="font-family: Ariel; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-9412334343751474622014-04-22T05:07:00.000-07:002014-04-22T05:09:20.270-07:00A Royal BOGOF<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yr_9dxu2OAEdctXCgxULXydupabk6cI0dbW7WX_bpQeYxxb53K9shJ3q-scCTgGG4wVy9RCbMaz1SyY6nUOajylKm6O7QVdouB3ujLXWAbFvZzZShKGxOBrqXMNOJIcrhjJIMKY12w/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yr_9dxu2OAEdctXCgxULXydupabk6cI0dbW7WX_bpQeYxxb53K9shJ3q-scCTgGG4wVy9RCbMaz1SyY6nUOajylKm6O7QVdouB3ujLXWAbFvZzZShKGxOBrqXMNOJIcrhjJIMKY12w/s1600/Picture+3.png" height="129" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Geneva;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I</span></span><span style="font-family: Geneva; font-size: 14.0pt;">t’s three
hundred years since </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #474747; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">George I ascended the throne and
ushered in a new age. I’ve always liked the Georgians – maybe because they were
a lot like us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #474747; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As the<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2515841/Georgian-exhibition-British-Library-reveals-started-modern-obsession-sex-celebs-300-years-ago.html"> Daily Mail</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #474747; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">put it: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #474747; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva; font-size: 19px;"><i>Think binge-drinking is a modern phenomenon?
Think again.</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Georgian Britain was pretty much drunk from
dawn to dusk - and for several hours afterwards.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i> In fact, many aspects of modern life, from shopping
to a rampant hunger for celebrity gossip, have their roots in Georgian Britain.
The shopping mall was a Georgian invention, plus furniture catalogues, women’s
magazines and a devotion to interior decoration</i><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Be that as it may, there’s a lot of Georgian-related
stuff going on this year and over Easter we visited the Queen’s Gallery,
Buckingham Palace to see the <a href="http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/exhibitions/the-first-georgians-art-monarchy-1714-1760">The First Georgians: Art and Monarchy 1714 – 1760</a>.
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The exhibition runs until the autumn, so do go – and
use the free audio guide to get the most out of the experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo3kT3v974uxfaX_Ss3MSeITWqSBM2r4DvGqZe0wHYIEosMYqsbKZi-ndOknzdVuizR7w035NpWELMrV_e8UJXIS23gjCUjramBxgYbMS49KTcWVhTvNn5Wc7fb6hz8Nu23PBBuekeQ/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo3kT3v974uxfaX_Ss3MSeITWqSBM2r4DvGqZe0wHYIEosMYqsbKZi-ndOknzdVuizR7w035NpWELMrV_e8UJXIS23gjCUjramBxgYbMS49KTcWVhTvNn5Wc7fb6hz8Nu23PBBuekeQ/s1600/photo-2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We exited via the gift shop and were rather amused by
all the Buck House branded bling. I was also amused – having decided to buy a
tin of biscuits – that they were on a ‘buy-one-get-one-free offer’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-21249472864737258642014-04-15T04:06:00.000-07:002014-04-15T04:08:32.846-07:00Chocolate is for life ... not just for Easter<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQRdrhn87PPqfKUILh7UJ9UM9rHofzKDquXQapzBk1RZ1uNeUExAUq9xpybPIuXOLcnb7TmfcVlIoMr-Q4HxdVNrBeUlGaPYI2ndMDr6tQb1-lmROezIvaN1i1x7z8bgOf1QJ0ANVaA/s1600/eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQRdrhn87PPqfKUILh7UJ9UM9rHofzKDquXQapzBk1RZ1uNeUExAUq9xpybPIuXOLcnb7TmfcVlIoMr-Q4HxdVNrBeUlGaPYI2ndMDr6tQb1-lmROezIvaN1i1x7z8bgOf1QJ0ANVaA/s1600/eggs.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I</span>t’s nearly Easter – so here are 4 chocolate-related items that may be of interest all year round.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Eye Bar</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This comes under the category of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘what will they think of next’! The EyeBar is a dark
chocolate bar enriched with zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamins C and E and
copper – said to be essential for eye health.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The blurb says that many people find taking tablets and
capsules uncomfortable and can have trouble digesting them, so the chocolate
bar is a more enjoyable way of getting the vitamins and minerals that can help
protect your eyesight as you get older. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wouldn’t go so far as to say they are delicious - and the bars are teeny - but they
do taste quite chocolatey and are much nicer than swallowing a pill. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Price:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>£20 for
a box of 30 individually wrapped bars, available at opticians and independent pharmacies.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2w4W_amaLxt2ixcfHJdZ4ThjLRqCH3CZ2Q1vRZutIuG9FrcuRomKTH4W4jlmovWdUZOqIw9PP_f339n43tx18YNtEiGdE3W6s5vO85I-uYqdn8oc8_1veNw9A0HuYl2zj_9f6MwZ8A/s1600/CHOC_SHOT_bottle_PRINT_(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2w4W_amaLxt2ixcfHJdZ4ThjLRqCH3CZ2Q1vRZutIuG9FrcuRomKTH4W4jlmovWdUZOqIw9PP_f339n43tx18YNtEiGdE3W6s5vO85I-uYqdn8oc8_1veNw9A0HuYl2zj_9f6MwZ8A/s1600/CHOC_SHOT_bottle_PRINT_(1).jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. Choc Shot</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Billed as the ultimate dieting cheat, Choc Shot is ‘liquid
chocolate that has only 14 calories a teaspoon’ and is (they say) recommended
by Weightwatchers and Slimming World. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like it because it is nut free (so my nut allergy
grandchild can have some squeezed on her icecream) but it is also gluten free,
soya free, wheat free, dairy free, and egg free, which means it ticks plenty of
boxes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’re wondering what’s actually in it, the label says:
Sweet Freedom (natural fruit extracts: applea, grapes and carob), water, cocoa,
rapeseend oil, natural chocolate flavour. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not a lot of actual chocolate, then and I can’t say I’d give
up the real deal for this. But then I’m not dieting, even though I probably
should be.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Price: £3.59 for a 320g bottle from leading retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. Easter Egg Weigh Up</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to weightlossresources<span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">we Brits spend a £4 billion a year on chocolate. This averages out at
£65 per person and 53,000 extra calories – enough to help us gain 15lb in a
year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They’ve come up with a
<a href="http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/calories/calorie_counter/easter_eggs.htm">guide to buying Easter eggs</a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and some
helpful tips to stop you overdosing on crème eggs, truffles and the like. For
example they suggest keeping chocolate out of sight in the back of the fridge. 'It will not only stop you constantly nibbling on it and chilled </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">chocolate will last
longer in your mouth!’</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. Chocolate Paella (yes, really)</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the restaurant chain La Tasca comes <a href="http://www.digitalnewsroom.co.uk/latasca/chocolate-paella/">this idea</a> which is either brilliant or appalling – I can’t make my mind up.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7IN4ktjTdo6KoQHIuhfBy-AXLQAHnp__NWZ3rlc9oHqQZv3PQ4T4sVvG28688Jgc_sVfABmEimFCZt1qE1m6sd0fmBTivoOendbDVZJiiSJpCqRjlJEH5EbJx4rmTYWgl6LZkANLQw/s1600/paella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7IN4ktjTdo6KoQHIuhfBy-AXLQAHnp__NWZ3rlc9oHqQZv3PQ4T4sVvG28688Jgc_sVfABmEimFCZt1qE1m6sd0fmBTivoOendbDVZJiiSJpCqRjlJEH5EbJx4rmTYWgl6LZkANLQw/s1600/paella.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you try it, let me know. Happy Easter</span></span><!--EndFragment-->
Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-21134171528094506532014-04-09T03:33:00.001-07:002014-04-09T03:37:38.627-07:00When things don't feel at all rosy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">L</span>uckily rosacea is something that I have no personal experience of - members of my family seem to have been given psoriasis and eczema
in the dermatological lucky dip of life! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;">However, I do understand how distressing it is to have to live with a skin condition of any kind, let alone one that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;">is characterised by persistent redness or flushing on the face and neck.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jC01Sy2rGZMrTxJ6qTQhpjzFw7iPlSM6pRpiVkJvo7fNxFbDD31SgnE2VNpeOJ0iMNlvD_xv0W6BOEuF8wTpAb0kbndHDxIpiaINqcVHsO7i-sGJu5RZlDjtWB-o3hSuwfr73Os2ug/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jC01Sy2rGZMrTxJ6qTQhpjzFw7iPlSM6pRpiVkJvo7fNxFbDD31SgnE2VNpeOJ0iMNlvD_xv0W6BOEuF8wTpAb0kbndHDxIpiaINqcVHsO7i-sGJu5RZlDjtWB-o3hSuwfr73Os2ug/s1600/Picture+1.png" height="268" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Geneva;">Indeed, recent
research shows that</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> more than four out of 10 people with rosacea have received rude
comments and stares due to the condition and almost as many have refused or
cancelled social engagements because they were embarrassed about the way they
looked. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Now a new website, <a href="http://www.rosaceauncovered.co.uk/">Rosacea Uncovered</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Geneva; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, has been launched by Dermalex, a company that makes skincare treatments. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Geneva;">Obviously Dermalex have a vested interest in getting visitors to this website, but I’ve checked it out and it looks full of helpful advice and information. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-27263975769988380452014-04-01T02:56:00.001-07:002014-04-01T02:56:06.508-07:00Are you sitting comfortably?
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">N</span>ice feature in the <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/diet-fitness/article4050433.ece">Times today testing out the desk treadmil</a>l, although it wasn’t deemed a success. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The desk treadmill was devised by obesity expert Professor
Joe Levine who led a study which showed lean people burn about 350 extra
calories a day through involuntary movements such as pacing around the desk or
walking to the photocopier. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He also found that fat people tend to be much less fidgety
than thin people and spend more time just sitting still.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I can’t imagine anything worse than having to walk on a
treadmill while conducting a phone interview and simultaneously taking notes.
Even typing up notes while treadmilling would, I suspect, be beyond me. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But a chair that wobbles as I work – now you’re talking.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me introduce the <a href="http://www.relaxbackuk.com/">Back App</a>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a ‘saddle’ seated chair without a back rest and moves
around to various degrees via a ball at the base. The movement varies from
‘slight’ through to ‘dynamic’.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUU66yO3k1B5fNIFhQGUvYx14ywcUq3EWjuuxgC3jiCfTlafeQ84W0_5s-yD7vbggnW4dMh_NvedZ5LuO1WmyORjMRAhHYEM7KPoPo0Vpm6qQ1IxYCQPfnPcaDZ816O2CddAkjz1nfg/s1600/backapp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUU66yO3k1B5fNIFhQGUvYx14ywcUq3EWjuuxgC3jiCfTlafeQ84W0_5s-yD7vbggnW4dMh_NvedZ5LuO1WmyORjMRAhHYEM7KPoPo0Vpm6qQ1IxYCQPfnPcaDZ816O2CddAkjz1nfg/s1600/backapp.png" height="320" width="190" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The chair – especially in the red version – looks like a
cross between something you’d see in a Star Trek film or a Shoreditch bar. I
was given a less dramatic black one to try out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first it felt rather odd to be more upright than usual, with my feet on the footplate. Yet within minutes I was totally used to sitting this way – and enjoying the wobble effect.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3gVrMGQKeYrqML2gB11qw3UKEMDExMwJQa4E3wt5h4TeZtJTtOVY1DtYv3I5sxn0D6THn_q14-oqEOeoaHoLODIIsisSebW-AXOF0MMAJ-KcORt8KCWOIr25sEE-lESaVXmCxLexlQ/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3gVrMGQKeYrqML2gB11qw3UKEMDExMwJQa4E3wt5h4TeZtJTtOVY1DtYv3I5sxn0D6THn_q14-oqEOeoaHoLODIIsisSebW-AXOF0MMAJ-KcORt8KCWOIr25sEE-lESaVXmCxLexlQ/s1600/photo-2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Back App was invented by a Norwegian who’d had severe
back problems: it basically improves sitting posture and strengthens the core
muscles to help support the spine. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the wobble effect not only prevents stiffness from sitting
too still, it gives you a low level core workout at the same time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved it. I wobbled when talking, thinking, typing. And
the wobble effect also reminded me to get off my butt from time to time – instead
of spending hours just sitting in front of a screen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I only tested it for a week but Mike Dilke, the UK
distributor of the chair, produced some interesting stats from a
Scandinavian study which showed that more than three out of four users reported
a significant positive health benefit from sitting on Back App, with 26 per
cent saying their back had become stronger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sadly, he couldn’t prove that wobbling around the BackApp
would help fight the flab – but I’d pick this chair over a treadmill any day. I
was sorry to have to give it back. </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-70698915695073081252014-03-28T04:07:00.002-07:002014-03-28T04:07:42.039-07:00The wrong kind of ears?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">L</span>ove, pain and snoring. What's the link? Stuff I've been sent to try out recently. Here's how things went<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The product:</b> <a href="http://www.auritech.info/products/sleep/">Auritech Hearing Protectors Sleep </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The claim: </b>Sweet dreams without annoying sounds … enjoy an
undisturbed night’s sleep particularly if you have a snoring partner. Warning
sounds (telephone, crying baby) remain audible so you can still wake up if
needed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The verdict:</b> I liked the little storage tube but neither my
husband or I managed to get the earplugs to stay in place long enough to
test the claims. ‘Useless,’ said the husband. I wondered if we had the wrong sort
of ears. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The product:</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marriage-Meetings-Lasting-Love-Relationship/dp/1608682234">Marriage Meetings for Lasting Love</a> by Marica Naomi Berger (New World Library) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The claim:</b> 30 minutes a week to the relationship you’ve always wanted.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The verdict:</b> The agenda for the weekly meetings should apparently be: expressing appreciation, co-ordinating chores, planning for good times, addressing problems and challenges. The book is full of annoying American couples (Wendy and Zack, you know who you are), I failed to find any advice on how to deal with snoring </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">– </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and I’m not sure British couples are ready to set aside half an hour a week for a regular ‘marriage meeting.’</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The product: </b><a href="http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/lloydspharmacy-pain-reliever-disposable-tens-268619"> Pain Reliever Disposable TENS</a> from Lloyds
Pharmacy rrp £6.99 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The claim:</b> Good for people who need pain relief from sports
injuries or for those who suffer from joint pain as a result of a long-term
condition.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The verdict:</b> Husband – who suffers from chronic neck and
shoulder pain – gave it a try. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘Useless, he said. I wondered if he had the wrong sort of
pain. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also pointed out that Lloyds pharmacy offer a free pain assessment
service to help people manage their pain better. By then he was asleep </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">– </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and
snoring. </span></div>
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Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-85297358946006212562014-03-27T05:45:00.001-07:002014-03-27T05:47:22.202-07:00Buzzed off<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</div>
<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tGL_rDboIGmkgJ2R6k3WZI_darjJINQs2oRTZ1mZdVdiXIa35QyHVua9T08LuXL5vARmwGRN-GImfauTN7nkPv57fMJ28cxRQahpBmZ7M9xnfMUPDH8HjigZZT4ABarVbpcxUWjpUA/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tGL_rDboIGmkgJ2R6k3WZI_darjJINQs2oRTZ1mZdVdiXIa35QyHVua9T08LuXL5vARmwGRN-GImfauTN7nkPv57fMJ28cxRQahpBmZ7M9xnfMUPDH8HjigZZT4ABarVbpcxUWjpUA/s1600/Picture+2.png" height="287" width="400" /></a>
<li></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">M</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">osquitoes have always found me particularly
tasty which is why I always slap on anti-mosi stuff even if we're just chilling out in the back garden. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">So I was interested to get a press release this morning which announced:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><b>New Topical Skin Patch Launches To Stop Insects
In Their Tracks </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><b>This Summer</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘Relax UK
has announced that it will make protecting skin from ravenous mosquitoes and
other biting insects easier than ever this summer with the launch of the new
<a href="http://www.dontbiteme.co.uk/">Don't Bite Me Patch</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. Using a natural blend of Vitamin B1 and Aloe Vera, the
clear topical patch is applied to the skin and actively deters the unwanted
attention of those pesky bugs that just won</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">t
stop biting. No more chemical sprays or sticky lotions, just a simple, easy and
discreet adhesive patch that provides up to 36 hours of guaranteed protection.’</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sounds good.
But now comes the scary stuff. According to the press release: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>‘Natural
products are gaining rapid popularity amongst health conscious consumers
worldwide. Many conventional products on the market use an array of ingredients
that are proven or suspected of being harmful towards the skin. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>‘DEET is of
particular concern, studies indicating that the toxic oil could be responsible
for neurological damage, Gulf War Syndrome and birth defects in baby boys. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘The Don</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>t
Bite Me Patch is proud to be DEET free and 100% natural. This makes it a safe
and non-irritating product that is perfect for sensitive skin types. The
formula is also gentle enough to be used on children.’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The trouble
is that there is no evidence that Vitamin B1 or aloe vera stop mosquitoes
biting – and if you are travelling to countries where maleria is a real risk,
using ‘natural products’ could be downright dangerous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And preying
on people’s concerns in this way – especially when it comes to suggesting a
link between the anti-mosi sprays you can buy in the supermarket and birth
defects – seems pretty underhand to me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Last year I met insect expert Dr James Logan from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicines who explained that even here in Britain we have more than 30 species of mosquito – and most of them like to dine on us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">Today I asked him about the claims made in the Don't Bite Me Patch press release. He said: '</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">I have never heard of this product, nor have I ever tested it, However, there is no scientifically published evidence that vitamin B repels mosquitoes. In fact, there is scientific evidence to suggest that it does not work.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">‘Aloe vera may have a mild repellent effect, as most essential oils do, but neither aloe vera or vitamin B are recommended as repellents for use against mosquito bites.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">‘This point is particularly important to note if you are travelling to a country with mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. You must use a product which has been scientifically proven to work. The only repellent products that work are those that contain DEET, PMD and picaridin.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">‘If you want some protection from mosquito bites in your own back garden in this country, where the mosquitoes do not carry diseases, then use whatever works for you, so long as it is safe to do so. However, bear in mind that we do have ticks in this country that transmit Lyme Disease, so a good repellent containing DEET or PMD should be used.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt;">‘The claim that DEET is unsafe is simply untrue if it is used appropriately and according to label guidelines. DEET has an incredibly good safety record and it has been around for at least 60 years. There are around 500 million applications of DEET to the skin every year. If it was a big problem, we would know about it by now.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">'DEET should be recommended for travellers to countries where there is a risk of mosquito-borne disease.'</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Despite these wise words, I suspect many of the old wives' tales about what will and what won’t stop mosquitoes biting will persist. G<a href="http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/hpawebfile/hpaweb_c/1203496943523">uidelines</a>,
published by Public Health England last August, tackled some of the most
common. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">This is what they said:</span></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>‘Herbal remedies have not been tested for their
ability to prevent or treat malaria.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Electronic buzzers (emitting high
frequency sound waves) are completely ineffective as mosquito repellents.
Companies selling them have been prosecuted and fined under the UK Trades
Descriptions Act … advice is that they should not be used.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>‘There is no
evidence that vitamin B1 taken orally repels mosquitoes.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>‘There is no
evidence that vitamin B12 taken orally has a repellent effect on mosquitoes.'<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>‘There is no
evidence that garlic taken orally repels mosquitoes.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>‘It is
sometimes stated that Marmite® taken orally repels mosquitoes either by giving
off a cutaneous odour repellent to mosquitoes or via its vitamin B1 content.
There is no evidence that either assertion is true.’ <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>‘There is no
evidence that tea tree oil is an effective mosquito repellent.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>‘There is no
evidence that proprietary bath oils provide effective protection against
mosquito bites.’ </i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-2913049111505081182014-03-21T05:43:00.000-07:002014-03-21T05:44:18.129-07:00Free MOT<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">If you are
going to faint, then I can confirm that the best time and place to do so is
probably in the House of Lords, surrounded by healthcare professionals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">It was hot,
I had been standing for the best part of two hours – and foolishly I hadn’t
eaten breakfast. Despite my protests that I’d be fine after a drink of water
and some fresh air, an ambulance was called.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzIgyV_-tyY5jzwDqkdu7DmH4TZkwP9ThfxlWAvbcC2HGUkEkLUwJekwncfnNGARvzaKaRVtFnQgJTyNM08ueZ2HjSzFYjwwW06c8DdfB6HjeVlfrJdEqhks76r-TgUdhb0PkX9zLnQ/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzIgyV_-tyY5jzwDqkdu7DmH4TZkwP9ThfxlWAvbcC2HGUkEkLUwJekwncfnNGARvzaKaRVtFnQgJTyNM08ueZ2HjSzFYjwwW06c8DdfB6HjeVlfrJdEqhks76r-TgUdhb0PkX9zLnQ/s1600/Picture+1.png" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Richard,
the first responder who arrived on a motorbike, and his colleagues in the
ambulance, were lovely and very thorough. They even gave me an ECG.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuWmwQUvXO4Gi1p76W3Gfk1UKNvuX6o6wHDLyRRB2bcCz5R4YjpXTpQ6P3vPfIrCpt7d_gMlLrHEdNgE4Hkxt2TwvQSGs0LyWsSCT7a-Pry4E2JYwSC4vad0X0TSjQYzS0YzjV6U0cA/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuWmwQUvXO4Gi1p76W3Gfk1UKNvuX6o6wHDLyRRB2bcCz5R4YjpXTpQ6P3vPfIrCpt7d_gMlLrHEdNgE4Hkxt2TwvQSGs0LyWsSCT7a-Pry4E2JYwSC4vad0X0TSjQYzS0YzjV6U0cA/s1600/Picture+2.png" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">I felt
guilty at taking up their time – I’m sure there were more urgent cases in the
capital needing their help. But top marks to the London Ambulance Service for
their prompt, professional response to a call that could have been more serious
than it was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Two days
later I was having a different kind of check-up – this time to see what<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my cholesterol levels are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">In January
the people of Rutland were given a challenge to lower their cholesterol in just
three weeks through a combination of exercise, a healthier diet and Flora
pro-activ products. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
results? Of those who stuck at it for three weeks, 82 per cent succeeded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Flora
pro-activ would like to encourage the nation to take up the challenge and I’ve
agreed to give it a try. You can find out more about the challenge <a href="http://www.flora.com/proactiv/3-week-challenge-pack">here. </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">According
to the cholesterol charity Heart UK, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">six out of every 10 adults in
Britain have<u> </u></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://heartuk.org.uk/">raised cholesterol</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><u>. </u> They say: ‘ For most
people a healthy total cholesterol level is below 5 mmol/L (which is short for
millimoles per litre of blood)’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 18.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mine came in just under this at 4.81. I’ll keep
you posted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-90963990216287495702014-03-20T04:08:00.000-07:002014-03-27T05:24:32.434-07:00A Good Life<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">O</span>ff to the House of Lords - more of this later - for the answer to the question: <i>Can you still live a good life if you have dementia? </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The HoL was the setting for the launch of a report funded by dementia specialists and independent healthcare company Red & Yellow Care and published in association with the Alzheimer’s Society.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The report - amongst other things - aims to alleviate some
of the fear people have about being diagnosed with the condition and to bring a 'more hopeful perspective' in the way we approach it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It suggests, for instance, that we should worry less
about memory and remembering and focus more on enabling people with dementia to
live in the moment and enjoy the here and now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The report has identified what it calls Six Paths to a Good
Life with Dementia. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other five are:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Respecting identity<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s not one size fits all. Being seen and valued as an
individual is central.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Sustaining Relationships<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You don’t always need words.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Valuing Contrast<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all have good days and bad days – why should we expect
things to be different for people with dementia?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Supporting Agency<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not wrapping a person with dementia in cotton wool for their
own safety - letting them do things they enjoy even if this means they take
risks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Maintaining health<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Making sure that everything is not automatically put down to
dementia. If someone is not eating, they might have dental problems, for example. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can read more <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10701400/Dementia-is-the-new-normal-charity-says.html">here. </a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-43083017529096985012014-03-14T06:00:00.002-07:002014-03-14T06:01:59.459-07:00Meaty matters<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">, like
me, you enjoy tucking in to things like <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>… beef Wellington, a juicy steak with Bearnaise sauce, leg of
lamb roasted with garlic and thyme (you get my drift) … then you might have
been dismayed by recent <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10676877/High-protein-diet-as-bad-for-health-as-smoking.html">headlines </a>suggesting that eating red meat could be more
dangerous than smoking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">May I,
then, introduce you to <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/news/Pages/about-behind-the-headlines.aspx">Behind the Headlines</a>, set up in 2007 to </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">provide an unbiased and evidence-based analysis of health stories that make the news.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">Fortunately for meat-lovers like me, when the Behind
the Headlines team examined the story they concluded: ‘We have decades of very
good evidence that smoking kills and – fortunately for meat lovers – this
latest unhelpful comparison with high protein diets largely appears to be a
triumph of PR spin.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWeFmHKChjZrNDiosdOa5wHC5ETY6QgK9SgmTr79b4JPFVaajl8En5K6wLuGhCEN68W8Nc5zsImhFih2IYFZfkFcouAfUzDZG8oxwlYu0AMxXPsrduG5qLlKrcQQqWaJ_xetFfYn-9w/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWeFmHKChjZrNDiosdOa5wHC5ETY6QgK9SgmTr79b4JPFVaajl8En5K6wLuGhCEN68W8Nc5zsImhFih2IYFZfkFcouAfUzDZG8oxwlYu0AMxXPsrduG5qLlKrcQQqWaJ_xetFfYn-9w/s1600/Picture+2.png" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">So is red
meat good or bad for us? The jury is still out. There is evidence that eating
red meat, especially if it has been barbecued, or processed, can be linked to
an increase risk of bowel cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">On the other
hand, according to the Meat Advisory Panel, who carried out a survey into
people’s red meat eating habits, most of us know little about the important
nutrients – such as iron - that red meat contains,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘Almost half (49%) of those questioned wrongly
believe that spinach is a better source of iron than red meat, whilst more than
one in five (23%) thought they were equally good. Just one in six (15%)
correctly rated red meat as a superior source of iron.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dietitian Carrie Ruxton said: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Red meat is one of the best sources of
easily absorbed iron and it is particularly important for women to understand
the value of including beef, pork or lamb as a regular part of their diets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 13.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘Low iron levels can lead to a host of niggling
health problems including tiredness, poor concentration, headaches, feeling
short of breath, irritability and dizziness. Symptoms are easily overlooked,
but other warning signs include pale skin, brittle nails, cracked lips, muscle
pain and feeling the cold.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">So … let me
now wholeheartedly recommend you to the <a href="http://www.thedukesheadhighgate.co.uk/">Duke’s Head</a> in Highgate Village.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7C_yytrJ7eLcGvIkIwoSdcWMuLaDh4MwQN-lEFa3znbRPlKJyLQlxPDlmkTRzlRv1BaR4we9VUjnsskp3Q5YGA-SDTXfKjdbrMlZBf0Q3IElnNyjhARLxEqrxBQimmVCmE1NGvp1og/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7C_yytrJ7eLcGvIkIwoSdcWMuLaDh4MwQN-lEFa3znbRPlKJyLQlxPDlmkTRzlRv1BaR4we9VUjnsskp3Q5YGA-SDTXfKjdbrMlZBf0Q3IElnNyjhARLxEqrxBQimmVCmE1NGvp1og/s1600/Picture+1.png" height="320" width="298" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Many years
ago I used to play darts (badly) in this pub. It was then a bit of a dive. Now it has
been transformed and sells a range of craft beers<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- but best of all is the food: salt beef rye buns or bagels
courtesy of <a href="http://thebrisket.wordpress.com/">The Bell & Brisket.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Food for
the soul – iron for the body. Perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-54556748544382118202014-03-12T04:38:00.000-07:002014-03-12T04:38:49.882-07:00The Sunshine Man
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnMb6PZ6pqBp066Fz1OWPaUHztEjc0H2Elnjxs7WuHueT6AoGJdGx5z3xYO9MHnfud3AzJnBv97PW2G1UzKFLEvHQLgpvUCF40LDQcqrt7Oylk7F5RdTdXGSZrc8tKgtmhye8WzhIjw/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnMb6PZ6pqBp066Fz1OWPaUHztEjc0H2Elnjxs7WuHueT6AoGJdGx5z3xYO9MHnfud3AzJnBv97PW2G1UzKFLEvHQLgpvUCF40LDQcqrt7Oylk7F5RdTdXGSZrc8tKgtmhye8WzhIjw/s1600/Picture+3.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Superheroes </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">don’t all look </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">like this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPYQNTzdostR2L7Mj157TzNZpwY-DyYqXbDvifbWxSTFHxqv1DIswW4jXR99pLcWgZMU0afnQnwdGAbuuYjM4nO-0YQ8HlMJwpgh3eofwTTE6lUt1ImsREzBIZrshqJaBfTLY2BPo9Q/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPYQNTzdostR2L7Mj157TzNZpwY-DyYqXbDvifbWxSTFHxqv1DIswW4jXR99pLcWgZMU0afnQnwdGAbuuYjM4nO-0YQ8HlMJwpgh3eofwTTE6lUt1ImsREzBIZrshqJaBfTLY2BPo9Q/s1600/Picture+1.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">Some of them look</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">more like this</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">If you know
about Vitamin D, why it’s called the sunshine vitamin, and why so many of us in
the UK don’t get enough, then Oliver Gillie is the man to thank.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He has campaigned tirelessly for the health benefits
of sunshine to be recognized and he now believes that low vitamin D levels may
be linked to a rise in a whole range of ‘modern’ diseases. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">That’s why he is calling for all pregnant women to be
given free vitamin D supplements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He says: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘<span style="color: #282828;">As a scientist and
writer, I first realised the significance of vitamin D for prevention of
ill-health some 12 years ago, at a time when it was only recognised as
important for bone growth. I have researched and written extensively on the
topic, including a report on the health benefits of sunlight - this at a time
when official advice was to avoid the sun at all costs, especially when the sun
is at its highest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #282828; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘My belief is that we could go much
further – that vitamin D, given freely to all women in pregnancy, could be used
to curb or prevent some major diseases including multiple sclerosis, diabetes,
schizophrenia, asthma and several cancers; and that it might also be used to
treat established disease, at least in early stages.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You can read the full article <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10686624/Vitamin-D-could-it-stop-modern-diseases.html">here. </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It makes sense to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-59821276846009227122014-03-11T05:27:00.001-07:002014-03-11T05:31:43.443-07:00Piecing things together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
<h4>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">W</span>hat is Mosaic?</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a) <span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt;">the art of creating images with
an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">b) a collection of compelling stories
that explore the science of life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Top marks if you answered a <b>and</b> b – and
never mind if you didn’t.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt;"> Simply check out <a href="http://mosaicscience.com/">Mosaic</a>, launched by
the Wellcome Trust and now bookmarked as one of my regular reads.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-size: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the first week's issue I particularly liked <i>The Alzheimer’s Enigma</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> which asks whether we will ever be able to pinpoint the cause of this devastating condition if,
like good detectives, we gather enough clues. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_C1SEfBb7BPMNVpZOMoFbtOLN7uqKLSKOgbC6rMkJkBx7DdrK7cqi2zOgS5ztVj9cOFiuOyJqL5HgVs2Da0V6oWoMhHF9uLF-MjrJbNGK1BdsIhT3PtD2Ke9-0u2l1QRFVHByD8M8A/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_C1SEfBb7BPMNVpZOMoFbtOLN7uqKLSKOgbC6rMkJkBx7DdrK7cqi2zOgS5ztVj9cOFiuOyJqL5HgVs2Da0V6oWoMhHF9uLF-MjrJbNGK1BdsIhT3PtD2Ke9-0u2l1QRFVHByD8M8A/s1600/Picture+1.png" height="135" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Another feature that told me things I didn't </span><span style="font-style: normal;">know </span><span style="font-style: normal;">was </span><i>The Future
of Sex </i><span style="font-style: normal;">which is </span>about the reinvented female condom – once described
as as a plastic bag </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">with the erotic appeal of a jellyfish.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The image used to accompany the article </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sparked a bit of a<a href="http://blog.mosaicscience.com/?p=621"> Twitterfest </a>– what do you think?</span></span></div>
Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2491389423910861424.post-25088740186830386242014-03-10T05:30:00.000-07:002014-03-10T05:30:19.342-07:00The Secret Phobia
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I</span>’ve written about phobias
many times – social phobia, arachnophobia, fear of flying, even fear of giving
birth. But the one phobia that magazines and newspapers don’t like featuring is
emetophobia – fear of being sick or of seeing someone being sick. ‘Too yucky,’
one commissioning editor told me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Yet emetophobia can be a
full-blown pathological phobia that significantly affects people’s lives, day
in and day out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As therapist Rob Kelly says</span><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: 'Emetophobia
is a little known but incredibly debilitating fear. I've seen the devastating
affect it has on people's lives - many are teetotal and avoid other drinkers by
not going out because they fear they may witness someone vomiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">‘Similarly, sufferers may
avoid dining out or eating food prepared by others and they worry a great deal
about hygiene - taking excessive time off work or school because they worry
about being exposed to germs that will cause them to be sick is a common
example.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">‘There are some extremes
where women avoid becoming pregnant worrying about morning sickness, or feel
completely unable to look after their children when they are unwell.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_20oVd-f0XrsRjR3bmJBl8kDDHl2nXcmGmWVIMBWNYVMiQ5ZrEJCIK7n3edazIzCFI9OdXaDUBVSJm_MbeEigwNmHciisViDUxVEtyf-u_LK283PD6w9YYatAcObLv5vaILkcSayIcw/s1600/sara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_20oVd-f0XrsRjR3bmJBl8kDDHl2nXcmGmWVIMBWNYVMiQ5ZrEJCIK7n3edazIzCFI9OdXaDUBVSJm_MbeEigwNmHciisViDUxVEtyf-u_LK283PD6w9YYatAcObLv5vaILkcSayIcw/s1600/sara.jpg" height="320" width="182" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sarah Burton used to suffer
from emetophobia. When she was 15 she was wrongly diagnosed with an eating
disorder. In fact, the reason she had stopped eating was that she was afraid
that food would make her sick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Sarah lived with emetophobia
for years, keeping it secret from friends and partners, until at the age of 36
she stumbled across the programme developed by Kelly. It lets people ‘understand
how their unhelpful beliefs and thinking styles contribute to their phobia’ and
helps them change these ways of thinking .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Kelly has now written a self help book Cure Your Emetophobia and Thrive
(available on Amazon, </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">£ 22.95</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">) and has a
<a href="http://www.emetophobia.co.uk/">website</a>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Admittedly I’ve not tried and tested his methods – but they certainly worked
for Sarah.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">She now says: ‘I don’t
obsess about sell-by dates on food any more, I can watch hospital programmes on
tv – and I’m looking forward to trying oysters!’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Personally Sarah, I’d
still give oysters a miss … <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Health journohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08176601085511469635noreply@blogger.com0