Feelgood 21-05-2010

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MALE MAGNETSWE PUT THE MEN FROM SEX ANDTHE CITY ON THE COUCH: 4, 5

POSITIVE THINKINGLIMERICK WOMAN REFUSES TOGIVE INTO MS: 6

BIG CHEESEEIGHT DIFFERENT CHEDDARSPUT TO THE TASTE TEST: 12

SUMMERSIZZLERLatest update on why it’svital to be sun smart: 8, 9

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FeelgoodFeelgoodFriday, May 21, 2010

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FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2010

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Feelgood

HEALTH NOTES

Kate O’Reilly

WHAT’S ON

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

BIG TODDLE: Celebrity Mum GailKaneswaran with her toddler JacksonKaneswaran-Ryan who turned out for theDanone Big Toddle for Barnardos. Picture::Kieran Harnett

GET ready to toddle in aid of Barnados. Thechildren’s charity aims to raise to raise

350,000 from this year’s Big Toddle. It’s thebiggest fundraising event for the charity, withall monies raised guaranteed to directly fundvital services offered by Barnardos for chil-dren and families.

Since it started six years ago the event hasseen more than 90,000 toddlers from crèches,montessoris and junior schools take part inthe Danone Big Toddle for Barnardos.

Sign up to the Big Toddle by logging ontowww.barnardos.ie/bigtoddle or by phoning1850 222 300. All entrants will get a free funpack with everything they need to organise aBig Toddle.

KEEPING your pearlies in good condition ismore than just cosmetic, it’s also the routeto good health, say scientists at the Univer-sity of Kentucky in America. In a recentstudy they put people aged between 75 and90 through a simple memory test and foundthat those with fewer teeth scored lowerthan those with more teeth.There is growing scientific evidence link-

ing bad teeth to overall health. Other stud-ies have associated poor oral health toAlzheimer’s, strokes, heart disease, dia-betes, lung disease and, in some cases,miscarriage and premature birth. So startflossing today.

A group of 27 volunteers have lost a whop-

ping 313lbs over the past 12 weeks in aid ofARC Cancer Support House. And they arenot about to stop there. To show the resultsof their hard work, the determined crew

from the Feel Good, Do Good Challengewill strut their stuff at a gala fashion show atOriel House, Ballincollig, Co Cork, onWednesday, May 26, at 8pm.

Juliet Murphy owner of the Health andFitness Club in Ballincollig, led the team ofexperts who mentored the participants overthe 12-week challenge. Included in theteam were former Cork hurling coach JohnAllen, camogie player Linda Mellerick, Irishrugby international Terry Kingston andfootballer Valerie Mulcahy.

Tickets for the fashion show cost 15. Tobook call 021-4810830.

Make a world of a difference today. Voda-fone Ireland Foundation is asking you tovote for the final winner of World of Differ-ence 2010. Three winners have alreadybeen selected from a pool of 300 entrantsby judges Claire Byrne, Ray D’Arcy, RoisinIngle, Gavin Duffy and VIF’s CarolanLennon.Now the fourth winner is up to you. Vot-

ing on the World of Difference Facebookpage closes at noon on Sunday, May 30.For profiles of the finalists log onto theFacebook page. The lucky winners will gettheir wages (up to 40,000) and expensescovered by Vodafone Ireland Foundation.Nice one.

Irene Feighan

HEALTH DAY: There will be an OpenHealth Day in Clonakilty CommunityHospital on Thursday next from 9.30amto 2pm. The day will include free bloodpressure checks, glaucoma testing, shoeclinic and other health stands. Call TessChambers on 086-3818486.

ALLERGY FAIR: The first Irish Aller-gy Fair will take place in the RDS MainHall from May 28 to 30. This new eventwill deal with the prevention, diagnosisand treatment of a range of allergiesand food intolerances, including asth-ma, eczema, anaphylaxis and glutenintolerance.There will be seminars from dieti-

cians, nutritionists and other allergyspecialists, cooking demonstrations,and tips on how to keep your home al-lergen free.Opening times are noon to 7pm on

Friday and 11am to 6pm on Saturdayand Sunday and admission is 10. Seewww.allergyfair.ie for more details.

BIODIVERSITY DAY: Sonairte, theNational Ecology Centre, in Laytown CoMeath, is holding a family event tomor-row to celebrate Biodiversity Day. 2010is the International Year for Biodiversityand Biodiversity Day is a United Nationsevent which aims to increase under-standing and awareness of biodiversityissues globally.Events at Sonairte include a guided

tour of the organic gardens and naturetrailwhere you can learn about nativeIrish plant species.At 2pm there is a workshop and tour

on The Wild Larder, where you canlearn how to forage for wild food. Thiscosts 15 per person, all other eventsare free. Visit www.sonairte.ie or call041-982 7572. See www.noticenature.iefor more details on events taking placenationwide to mark National Biodiversi-ty Week (May 21 to 30.).

HEART CLINIC: The Irish Heart Foun-dation will hold a free Blood Pressureand Cholesterol testing Clinic at theParish Centre, Carrigaline on Wednes-day next from 10am to 12pm.For details call their Cork office

021-4505822.If you have questions about stroke or

heart disease you can also contact theirhelpline, 1890 432787

MINDING THE MIND: The last lec-ture in the St John of God Hospital freepublic lecture series will take place onMonday next.Dr Ahmed Errasoul will speak on the

treatment of bipolar disorder at 8pm inthe hospital campus on the StillorganRoad, Dublin.Visit www.sjoghosp.ie or contact the

hospital on 01-2771400 for moredetails.

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

While danger lurks in water, we need it for healthy living.Rosie Shelley says the answer may lie in a filter system

DRINK UP:Drinkingwater everyday isessential forour health.Picture: iStock

Liquid lifesaverW ATER is the very essence

of life. It makes up morethan 70% of our body and

is vital for every one of its functions, fromnutrition to excretion, and underpinningliterally thousands of biochemical processes.

“Water is the body’s most vital nutrient— and most people don’t get enough,” saysnutrition guru Patrick Holford, who agreeswith general medical opinion that we needbetween 1.5 to 2 litres a day (but no more,unless caffeine intake, exercise or summerheat are extreme).

Adequate hydration is also a key tool forslimmers. Personal trainer Karl Henry says:“it aids fat loss, increases your energy levelsand decreases hunger pangs”.

So it’s worrying that experts are nowwarning that the very stuff that many of usdutifully guzzle every day could be harmingour health — or even making us fat.

Mineral water, for example, often comesin plastic bottles, which can leach theirso-called gender-bending chemicals, such asxenoestrogens, into the contents, especiallyif left in warm temperatures. And in theview of Dr Marilyn Glenville, a leadingwomen’s nutritionist: “Tap water is not ide-al because in many areas it’s contaminatedwith arsenic, lead or copper. Other sub-stances, such as pesticides and fertilisers, canalso leach in through the ground.”

Dr Adam Carey, professor of nutrition atLeeds Metropolitan University, says exces-

sive amount of oestrogen compounds inour water supplies (from pesticides and her-bicides, and also as waste from women tak-ing the contraceptive pill) “not only drivescertain cancers, such as specific types ofbreast cancer, but also affects the way weaccumulate fat”.

He is concerned, too, about the impactthese chemicals could be having on ourincreasing rates of infertility. Another argu-ment comes from thyroid specialist, DrBarry Durrant-Peatfield, who believes that

chemicals in our water could be contribut-ing to the obesity epidemic because “fluo-ride toxins can cause hypothyroidism, a dis-order affecting the thyroid gland controllingweight”.

In Dr Carey’s view, the answer is to use areverse osmosis purification kit at home. Orto filter your water.

“Filtering water helps,”, says Dr Glenville“But won’t eliminate every impurity. In myopinion the best option is to drink stillmineral water in glass bottles.”

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FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2010Feelgood

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THE SHAPE I'M IN Billy Ocean

I can cry easilybut I don’t like

others to see mecry. At my mother’sfuneral in 1989, Iwas trying to stop

the tears but Icouldn’t. They were

like a flood

MINDING HIMSELF: Billy Ocean thanks his mum for hishealthy genes. He is also a vegetarian and exercisesregularly, which also helps to keep him in good shape.

On a healthy noteTHE man who brought us Love Really Hurts WithoutYou and When The Going Gets Tough is set to playDublin’s Vicar Street on Sunday, May 30.Ocean says he has sold more than 30 million records and

this January the Trinidad-born star celebrated his 60thbirthday.“It was just a surprise turning 60. I remember my moth-

er and father when they were 60 — and suddenly I’m thatage. But I’m not afraid of ageing at all — it’s a lovelything,” says Billy, who settled in London’s East End at theage of seven, and whose wife, Judy, is from Barbados.“We met in Britain as kids. When I first knew her, I was

13. She was a friend. We kept in touch. Later, things de-veloped,” says the Ascot-based dad of three, whose eldestdaughter, Cherie, 28, is one of his backing singers.■ Tickets from Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.ie or0818-719300.

What shape are you in?I’m in good shape. I try to exercise regularly. I runalmost every other day and I swim occasionally. Thingsaren’t as good as they were when I was 20 but I’ve got noaches and pains.

Do you have any health concerns?No — my mother was a very fit woman and I’ve inher-ited some of those good genes. If you look after yourbody, it tends to look after you.

What are your healthiest eating habits?I’m a vegetarian. I don’t eat meat or eggs. I quite enjoythe taste of cheese. I drink soya milk and I get proteinfrom plenty of pulses, beans and rice.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?I’ve never really had a sweet tooth or cravings for choco-late. I have a drop of red wine now and then and the oddGuinness but I’m not a regular drinker.

What would keep you awake at night?Not very much, but sometimes, when I’m on the road Ifind being in a strange bed can keep me up. Lying on an-other pillow in a different country is one of the hardestthings about touring — different bedrooms carry differentvibes.

How do you relax?I like reading and pottering around my garden. I strummy guitar, read my Bible. I relax mostly at home.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?My wife and kids — who better to share dinner with?

When did you last cry?I can cry easily but I don’t like others to see me cry. Atmy mother’s funeral in 1989, I remember trying to runinto a corner of the crematorium grounds. I was trying tostop the tears but I couldn’t. They were like a flood.

What would you change about your appearance?I’d like to be taller and a bit bigger. But if I were taller,my wife would be too short and my clothes wouldn’t fitme — so maybe leave me as I am.

What’s your favourite smell?The smell of good food cooking.

What trait do you least like in others?I don’t like people who can’t behave themselves, peoplewithout discipline, who prefer to argue than listen.

What trait do you least like in yourself?Sometimes I wish I was a harder person. I tend to be theperson people walk over. You can be too kind — some-times people play on that.

Do you pray?Yes, I think it’s necessary to pray. Though you mightn’tsee the benefits directly in front of you, you do get yourrewards.

What would cheer up your day?My kids aren’t at home anymore, so just getting a phonecall from one of them. Hearing them say “Hi Dad, how’sMum, I’m coming home on Friday” — that’s nicer thananything else.

Helen O’Callaghan

FEELGOOD

A DIFFERENTVIEWON LIFESTYLEYour guide to fitness, health,happiness and lifestyle. Greatwriters and mentors.Where you come first.Every Friday.

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Feelgood Feelgood

It’s easy to dismiss the Smith Jerrod charac-ter as two dimensional eye candy, but beyondthe youthful masculine beauty he is perhapsthe most radical male character. Unlike hispeers, he doesn’t drink or do drugs; he happilyembraces the reverse stereotype of olderman/younger woman, by falling in love withthe much older Samantha; he finances his artby waiting tables, rather than giving up hisdreams of acting.The Smith character develops further when

Samantha gets cancer, and he remains totallydevoted. You never doubt his love for her.Even when he becomes successful, thanks toher smart marketing of him, he remainsgrounded.Brunner, however, is not convinced of the

character’s credibility: “Wasn’t he a bityoung?” Well, yes. Which was what made himso refreshing — unlike Big or Petrovsky, hesaw beauty in all women, not just the youngerones.

Not rich, not handsome, not tall, Steve, theIrish-American bar man from Queens, is theone none of us fancy, but the one whose valueswe most identify with.He is masculine reality, unlike the fantasy fig-

ures of Big and Petrovsky.He reminds Miranda that her career is not her

entire life, that it’s important to stop and smellthe flowers, that being a parent is the most re-warding experience. He loves women as humanbeings rather than accessories, and unlike therest of the cast, is not seduced by hyper-con-sumerism.He has a sense of community, measures hap-

piness beyond acquisition and consumption,and is devoted to his partner, his son and hismother.So why don’t we fancy him?“The show can’t control which character its

female audience are attracted to,” says Brun-ner.“Steve is not rich or powerful, but we still

like him the best — and he is definitely theone we would most like to be married to.”

choose fromCarrie gets carried away with the artisticsuccess of the Russian. While Big gets hispower from Wall Street, Petrovsky is an artworld giant. She is seduced by not just byhis creativity, but by the success of his cre-ativity, and its glamorous international trap-pings. Yet Petrovsky has little interest in herother than as part of his collection of beauti-ful objects; he views her as an accessory,and has no interest in her needs, her cre-ativity, or her success. He is entirely self-ab-sorbed. She is very low down on his list.“Petrovsky is horrible,” agrees Brunner.

“He is an old-style European representationof masculinity, in direct contrast to Big.”With his charm, culture, and European ex-oticism, he initially appears the consum-mate romantic, in pursuit of truth and beau-ty via art. The reality, as Carrie discovers inParis, is more old school misogynist thanold school gentleman. The relationship endswhen he hits her.“He pulls out all the stops to win her over

and once he has her he quickly loses inter-est, letting her down time and time again,eroding her self confidence,” says LisaO’Hara. “Abusive relationships are nothealthy ones.”

Like the best chocolate, Big is rich, darkand not terribly good for you. He marriesmodels and moves continents withouttelling Carrie, then ditches her at the altar.Yet he is her true love, and somewhat irre-sistible to even the most cynical bystander.His old-school attraction centres aroundpots of money and power, and little desireto psychoanalyse himself or any of hiswomen. Even his taste in music — heleaves Carrie a record of Moon River afterhe has left her — harks back to a bygoneera.“Big is irritable because of the cultural

space he inhabits,” says Laura Brunner.“His character is reminiscent of old schoolmasculinity from old movies — he is likeCary Grant in Breakfast At Tiffany’s, and theway he calls Carrie ‘kid’ harks back toHumphrey Bogart in Casablanca.” And thenthere’s all that cash. “Consumerism is ahuge factor within the Manhattan land-scape,” says Brunner. She remains doubtfulabout the credibility of Big no longer wish-ing to live the toxic bachelor/modeliserlifestyle and settle down with Carrie: “Whatdoesn’t add up for me is how Big suddenly‘gets it’ and realises he loves her and wantsto commit.”“He was the man that was always just out

of her reach,” says Lisa O’Hara. “He was amystery to her — did she even know hisname until the end of the series? If we areworking with the scarcity principle based onthat which is scarce is highly prized he be-came all the more attractive to her.”

Aidan – reclaimed masculinityWITH his huge frame, shaggy hair,shaggy dog and creativity — he makesbespoke furniture, which is manly withoutbeing soullessly mechanical — Aidan isthe perfect boyfriend.He is kind, understanding, emotionally

literate, and still very masculine.He is the one everyone thought Carrie

should have stuck with, rather thanreturning to the unreliable Big — or wereyou one of those women who, like me,thought Aidan was a bit wet?“He is one of the nicest characters,”

says Brunner.“He’s all about new masculinity.” Aidan

has a cabin in the woods, he chops wood,he works with his hands, yet he is athome in Manhattan, and when he bumpsinto Carrie after their break-up he has ababy strapped to his broad manly chest,

A big menu toJack Berger is a narcissist, neurotic andself-obsessed. Although his initial charmmay have been in his humour, his constantself-consciousness made for a tiresomecharacter.He may have perceived himself as

a post-modern Kerouac, with hismotorbike and literary talent, but he couldn’tsee beyond himself.“He was the least able to handle

Carrie’s career,” says Brunner.Berger was almost a caricature of insecure

yet narcissistic masculinity: when shebought him a Prada shirt, he felt over-whelmed; when she had a moment of finan-cial success, he became petulant; when hefelt no longer able to continue their relation-ship, he dumped her by Post-It.Carrie’s female audience applauded —

Berger was not only rubbish in bed, butneeded a rainforest soundtrack in his bed-room to lure him off to sleep, like a neuroticand over-indulged toddler.“Narcissists are terribly insecure

people who are highly manipulative andwant all the praise — there’s no room foranyone else up on their stage,” says LisaO’Hara.“Being in a relationship with a narcissist

brings up all our own insecurities as they donot take any blame/responsibility whenthings go wrong. Instead the finger will bepointed firmly in your direction.”

AIDAN

BERGERBIG

SMITH JERROD

PETROVSKY

STEVE

like a noughties Athenaposter.“What does it say about

women who find the Aidancharacter ‘too nice’?” won-ders Brunner. Hmmm.“Women can become very

attracted to a man who ex-hibits his masculinity yet isalso in touch with his softer,more feminine side,” saysLisa O’Hara.“It’s all about being him be-

ing comfortable with his ownemotions and whether she canappreciate this side of him. Yetshe may find it off-putting attimes when she needshim to ‘act like aman’.”

Reclaimed Masculinity

Insecure Masculinity

Stereotypical or real? Suzanne Harrington checks out the main male characters in Sex and the City and asks what makes them attractive — or not

A LTHOUGH always secondaryto the female characters, themen in Sex and the City were

no mere on-trend accessory. Initially, theywere arranged in subgroups of ‘modelisers’and ‘toxic bachelors’, rather than developedas individual characters. Then, as Big,Steve, Aidan et al came into being, theyeach came to represent an element ofmasculinity — old style, reclaimed,post-feminist, insecure, romantic, devoted,commitment-phobic, even misogynist.They were all there, embodied by variousboyfriends and lovers.

American feminist academic Laura Brun-ner from the University of Maryland re-cently published a paper, How Big Is BigEnough? Steve, Big, and Phallic Masculini-ty in Sex and the City. “This is the firsttime women were central characters,” shesays of the show’s unending success. “Therewas a feminist tendency in the originalpurpose of the show, and a range of mento look at the way women have alwaysbeen looked at.”

So which version of masculinity, por-trayed by Big, Aidan, Berger, Steve, Alek-sandr Petrovsky or Smith Jerrod, would doit for you? Or are they simply too stereo-typical to be real? “We live in moderntimes where women have it all,” says rela-tionship therapist Lisa O’Hara. “If a guycomes on all ‘masculine caveman’ we’dshow him the door, but there may beanother more primal part of us that quitelikes a guy who’s not afraid to be a man.

“Men will often say that they don’t knowhow to be. It’s confusing because we wom-en want it all. When I look at each of theSex and the City masculine stereotypesmyself, I am attracted to a bit of all ofthem, even if they seem contradictory tothe next type. Maybe it’s because it mirrorsthe complexity of ourselves.”

Old School European Masculinity

Post-Feminist MasculinityGenuine Masculinity

Old School American Masculinity

If a guy comes onall ‘masculine

caveman’ we’dshow him the

door, but theremay be

another moreprimal part of usthat quite likes a

guy who’s notafraid to be a

man

■ Sex and the City 2,opens Friday, May 28.

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Feelgood

Tony Humphreys

The absence of unconditional love in the home isa factor in the onset of asthmatic attacks

An inner longing

BREATH OF LIFE: The environmental threats that are farmore prevalent for children who suffer from asthma areemotional and social. Picture:Getty Images

M AY 4 was Asthma Day. It reminded me ofthe high and increasing level of asthma inIreland, which affects more than 440,000

individuals.Bronchial asthma refers to the type of suffocation-spasm

typified by wheezing during expiration. It is preceded by aconstriction of the small bronchi and bronchioles, whichcan be caused by a cramping (a prolonged holding) of thesmooth musculature, an inflammatory itching of the air-ways and an allergic swelling and secretion of the mucousmembranes. Individuals — children and adults alike — ex-perience asthma as a life-threatening suffocation: sufferersclaw for air and breathe in gasps with the out breath espe-cially throttled.

The causes of asthma are not known and the suggestionof a genetic link is too remote to be seriously considered.Certainly, environmental causes have been posited — dustmites, pollution, over-heated homes — but these don’tring true because most people who are exposed to thesesame physical environmental threats do not develop asth-ma. The environmental threats that are far more prevalentfor children are emotional and social. The home is themost dangerous place for children to be — the threats theymay daily encounter are physical, sexual, emotional, intel-lectual, behavioural and social — the greatest of all beingthe absence of unconditional love.

Many adults who suffer from asthmatic attacks have toldme they experienced their first attack when they encoun-tered their parents arguing or, in some instances, beingviolent towards each other. The feelings of abandonment,helplessness and fears of the future caused the child to in-hale deeply, which is the first instinctual response to oth-ers. Shout at any child or, indeed, adult and you see theminhale deeply and freeze their breath. Unfortunately, theconsequence is that the airways go into spasm and thebreath can only be released as an asthmatic wheeze. Clear-ly, the frequency, intensity and endurance of the parentalconflict or aggression towards the child himself or herselfwill have a telling effect on the severity of the condition.

Whatever the cause, all treatments need to minimise thechild’s or adult’s extreme physical discomfort. However,long-term use of inhalers — which have numerous sideeffects — while certainly ameliorating the symptoms, donot focus on the possible emotional causes and the creativeintentions of the condition.

What is often not appreciated is that when the child hasan asthmatic attack, the parents stop fighting or being crosswith the child or stop pressuring for high performance —academic, sports or otherwise — and give comfort to thechild. This will be unconsciously remembered at a laterdate when emotional attention is required.

Generally speaking, individuals who are asthmatic arepeople who are longing for love, fearful of asking for itand fearful of showing it. It is because they want to beloved that they do so much breathing in — as the breath isa substitute for the love they are not receiving and they arereluctant to let the breath go, because they would lose thefeeling of fullness that holding the breath provides. This is

very similar to the person who is addicted to drugs, alco-hol or food — they fill the void of feeling loveless withthese substances and are reluctant to let go of imbibingthem because of the dark emptiness they will experiencewithout them.

Until there is a possibility of receiving what is missing— the security of unconditional love — they will wiselyhold onto their addictions. So it is for those who are asth-matic — the substitute of breath holding, the soothingeffects of the inhaler and, most of all, the attention theyreceive from significant adults, will be held onto until whatthey are really craving for — unconditional love — is pre-sent.

The resolution of asthma of an emotional origin that de-veloped in childhood lies in the exploration of the natureof relationships that existed when the first attack tookplace and to what degree these conflicts have endured.

Consciousness of the unmet emotional needs is critical toresolution, as is the emotional and social safety to dare toexpress (breathe out) these needs.

The adult whose asthma originated in childhood needsto do a similar exploration. However, the difference is thatthe adult himself needs to find the safety — probably in apsychotherapeutic relationship — to express his experi-ences of abandonment and to breathe in love of self fromhimself, so that he is no longer dependent on others to feelful-filled.

Contrary to medical expectation, adults between the agesof their 30s to 60s are developing asthma and, as for chil-dren, the causes are not at all clear. For those adults it isoften the case that the onset of asthma is a result of griefwhere the person puts on a brave face and masks his feel-ings of loss rather than expressing them and taking matureactions to resolve the loss.

With the right support, those with asthma can begin toface the emotional processes that trigger their illness andreach the point of being able to express what has lainhidden — their worthiness of being loved.

Finally, it is paramount to understand that no parent everwants to threaten a child’s wellbeing, but the reality is thatthere is no adult who does not carry emotional baggageinto their adult roles. What is required is compassion forsuch inner conflicts and the determination to seek resolu-tion. Furthermore, whether the asthma is of a purely phys-ical or an emotional origin, parents always do their bestand it is important that they seek the relevant help andsupport — medical or psychological — when they arestruggling.

■ Dr Tony Humphreys is a clinical psychologist and authorof several books on practical psychology including TheCompassionate Intentions of Illness which is co-authoredwith Helen Ruddle.

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FEELGOOD

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

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RECENT studies show thatHairloss is a topic close tothe hearts of up to 40% ofIrish people. It affects bothmale and female alike andcan be extremely upsetting,irrespective of the age orsex of the sufferer.When 24-year-old Cork-

man Tomas Horgan noticedhis hair was getting thinerhis confidence hit rock bot-tom.“I hated it” saidTomas.“I became very

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Feelgood

Be sun smartfor the kids

Warning signs of changingmoles:

■ Asymmetry — any change insymmetry, where one half of amole is unlike the other.

■ Border — is it rough, unclearor irregular? Are there changesin the edge of a mole?

■ Colour variety — are therechanges in the colour of amole? Or colour difference be-

tween one area of a mole andanother (shades of tan, brown orblack and sometimes white, redor blue)?

■ Diameter — is there a changein size of a mole/is it getting big-ger? Most melanomas are largerthan 6mm, the size of a penciltop.

Cover up

■ Use sunscreen with a factor

higher than 15. Look for a prod-uct with UVA and UVB protec-tion. Apply thickly 20 minutes be-fore going into sun and re-applyevery two hours.

■ Wear sunglasses to preventeye damage by UV rays.

■ Sit in the shade between 11amand 3pm.

■ Wear a hat with a wide brimand a t-shirt with a collar.

With skin cancer rates doubling in the last ten years, Deirdre Reynolds says early detection is vital in effectively treating the growing disease in Ireland

CRUELDISEASE: Farleft, SharonRice who diedfrom skincancer, andleft, AilsaHolland, whosays checkingis vital.

SKIN cancer is back in the news afterthe Irish Cancer Society revealedthere’s been a dramatic 92% increase in

melanoma cases here in the last 10 years.Far more shocking than any statistics, though,

are the seemingly perfectly healthy young peoplewho become victims of the deadly disease.Young, bubbly and newly married, Sharon Rice

O’Beirne had just embarked on the most excitingchapter of her life.After feathering a nest with new husband Dar-

ren, the beautiful blonde from Leixlip, Kildare, wasready for the challenges and rewards of family life— from mortgage to motherhood.Then a tiny mole on her left leg changed every-

thing.Her heartbroken mum Bernie Rice is still trying

to come to terms with the death of her eldestdaughter at 33 from an entirely treatable illness.“If you look back at her wedding photos,

Sharon was beaming,” says Bernie. “She certainlydidn’t look sick. None of us really even knewwhat melanoma was at the time — and we defi-

nitely didn’t think it could be fatal.”The Rice family got a unex-pected crash course in the dis-ease when IT managerSharon was diagnosed withmalignant melanoma in2006, after the unassum-ing mole on her leg be-gan to change shape.“She was very positive

about the whole situa-tion,” says Bernie. “She hadit removed and was moving

on with her life. She even ranthe mini marathon for the Irish

Cancer Society that summer.”Two years and a battery of biopsies, operations

and chemotherapy later, however, the cancer re-turned with a vengeance — spreading to herblood stream, liver and groin. In the end, inFebruary 2008, the disease defeated Sharon in justtwo days, says mum Bernie.“On Thursday night Sharon was feeling unwell

and went into hospital. We didn’t really take anynotice — we figured it was just part of the ups anddowns of recovery. By Saturday morning, the on-cologist told us she was passing on.”In the wake of her daughter’s untimely death,

devastated Bernie set up the Sharon RiceO’Beirne Melanoma Trust to raise awareness ofthe disease and the importance of early detection.“We could not justify such a young girl dying

from a preventable disease. Sharon was a brightand intelligent girl, but when you think of herlack of knowledge about the mole that ultimatelykilled her — we had to do something.”She adds: “There’s this attitude in Ireland ‘Sure

we don’t get the sun’, or that skin cancer is an oldperson’s disease. But melanoma doesn’t discrimi-nate — it’s a vicious disease.”While the latest study by the Irish Cancer Soci-

ety pinpoints the spike to people in their 60s and70, experts acknowledge that melanoma — whichdevelops in cells in the outer layers of the skin and

can grow from a mole, freckle or regular skin — canlie dormant for decades before it finally attacks.And, scaremongering or not, getting sunburnt even

once as a child increases your susceptibility to skincancer later in life.“We believe the soaring increase in this older gen-

eration shows the impact of the tanning behaviour ofmen and women who were in their adolescent yearsand early 20s when the explosion in the pack-age holiday industry began when sunburnbefore suntan became a common ritualand sunbeds arrived in Ireland,” saysNorma Cronin, health promotionmanager of the Irish Cancer Soci-ety.Whether staycationing or jetting

to sunnier climes this summer, thesociety’s annual SunSmart cam-paign urges Irish people to wise upto the sun’s killer UV rays.But you don’t need to sunbake on a

blistering beach to fall prey to the coun-try’s most common form of cancer. Despiteour grey skies, Ireland has among the highest skincancer rates in Europe — with one in eight men andone in 10 women here developing the disease by theage of 74.SPF isn’t just for sun holidays, warns Julienne Cur-

ran, Vichy and La Roche Posay medical trainingmanager, who is a trained oncology nurse.“You can still get burnt on a cloudy day,” says Cur-

ran. “Up to 85% of the sun’s harmful UV rays canpass through clouds all year round, so it’s important toalways wear sun protection.”.“Around 80% of sun damage happens before the

age of 20, so it’s also vital to protect your children.”Slapping on after sun lotion may soothe lobster

skin, but it does nothing to ward off the much uglierside effects of sun burn, she adds.

“Any tanning or burning causes skin damage —which is permanent. It’s also cumulative, meaningdamage done to your skin this summer is added todamage done in previous years, increasing your risk ofskin cancer.”But for teenage girls who idolise perma-tanned

celebrities like Lady Gaga and Paris Hilton, the mes-sage about melanoma may be wasted.

Considered the ultimate symbol of ajet-setting, champagne lifestyle, mi-ni-fashionistas as young as 11 areusing sunbeds to cultivate ayear-round tan, according tothe Irish Cancer Society.And a report published lastyear revealing that the risk ofskin cancer jumps by 75%when sunbed use starts beforethe age of 30 is unlikely toconvince tanorexic teens to gocold turkey on tanning.In Britain earlier this year, un-

der-18s were banned from using sunbeds. And at the launch of May Melanoma

Awareness Month in Dublin recently, Minister forHealth and Children Mary Harney vowed to followsuit.“It’s a difficult message to convey to teens,” con-

cedes Julienne Curran. “But the only safe tan is a faketan.”However, even fake-baking came under fire lately

when Kelly Osbourne controversially boasted thatwearing St Tropez self-tan made her feel “10lbs skin-nier”. It won’t make you thinner, but self-tan mayhelp stop women killing themselves for the sun-kissedlook, reckons Tan Organic founder Noelle O’Con-nor.“Irish women want a tan,” says O’Connor, whose

sunless tanner became an overnight sensation after

featuring on RTÉ’s Dragons’ Den. “They don’t wantto look pasty all summer.”“In the past, women used everything from baby oil

to cooking oil to get a tan — so I think it’s a goodthing that we’re using fake tan instead.“But it’s important for women to remember to use

SPF too. Just because you looked bronzed alreadydoesn’t mean you’re immune to burning. As a beautytherapist I always tell women to wear Factor 30 sun-screen on exposed areas like their face and hands 365days a year.“Unfortunately, self-tan containing SPF doesn’t ex-

ist yet — so until then women should use both.”Prevention, as always, is better than cure. But unless

you’re one of the Twilight vampires, most of us havealready been exposed to sun damage. Vigilance is thenext best weapon in the war on skin cancer, says sur-vivor Ailsa Holland, from Passage West, Cork.“In my early 30s, a mole appeared on the side of

my nose,” says Ailsa, now in her mid-forties. “Itlooked just like a freckle, except bigger.“I went to my GP and she referred me to a derma-

tologist who said it was nothing to worry about.”Almost 10 years later though, alarm bells sounded

for Ailsa when the mole began to look bigger anddarker.“I was in work when the doctor called to say it was

malignant melanoma — the most aggressive type ofskin cancer. I was floored. No-one can describe theshock of being told ‘It’s cancer’.”Nonetheless, the mum-of-two soldiered on with

surgery to remove the disease.“Having plastic surgery on your face is traumatic,”

she says. “After the mole was removed, skin from be-hind my ear was grafted over the wound. It lookedhideous. I hid at home while it healed.”“But I’m very lucky that I spotted the change so

early. The doctors told me that if I had ignored it,there would have been nothing they could have donefor me.”“90% of melanoma can be cured,” says Dr Denis

Lawlor, plastic surgeon and founder of the EcclesClinic in Dublin. “But early detection is vital for sur-vival.“Moles don’t suddenly change overnight. It’s a

gradual thing, so you have to keep an eye on them.Myskincheck.ie is an excellent website for anyoneworried about a mole. If you’re still concerned, go toyour GP and have it checked out.“The skin cancer curve is going up and we need to

put a stop to it now.”Cancer-free for more than two years now, Ailsa

hopes her story will help others beat cancer.“It’s so important to keep checking your skin —

even if you’ve been given the allclear. I’ve never used asunbed in my life, butI’m proof that it canhappen to anyone.”

■ For more infor-mation log onto:www.irishcancerso-ciety.ie.

You can still be burnton a cloudy day.Despite our greyskies Ireland has thehighest skin cancerrates in Europe

BUILDING sandcastles, eatingice-cream cones and splashingabout in the pool sitting in the

sun can contribute towards many hap-py memories for your children.But with a lot of sun damage done

by the age of 20, here’s how to makethe most of all those precioussun-soaked summer holiday momentswithout putting your child in jeop-ardy.

■ Keep babies under six months outof the sun and keep children in theshade from 11-3pm when the sun raysare strongest. But remember they canstill burn from reflected UV rays.Make sure the parasol — or whateveryou use — casts a dark shadow andalways use sunscreen as well.

■ Use a minimum of SPF 30 broadspectrum, water resistant sunscreen.Apply liberally at least 20 minutes be-fore they go outside and top up reli-giously every two hours.

■ Choose protective clothing thatcovers as much skin as possible, for ex-ample, a long-sleeved top in closeweave fabric such as cotton,broad-rimmed hat and good qualitywrap-around sun glasses. Lycra swim-suits stay protective when wet.

■ Make sure they drink plenty of flu-ids.

Picture: Getty Images

Around 80% of sundamage happensbefore the age of20. it is alsocumulative,increasing yourrisk of skin cancereach year

Teenagers whoidolise perm-tannedcelebs should knowthe risk of skincancer jumps by 75%when sunbed usestarts before theage of 30

PROTECT YOURSELFPROTECT YOURSELF


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Feelgood

CatherineShanahan

MUM’S WORLD

CatherineShanahan

MUM’S WORLD

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

Dr NiamhHouston

FAMILY

GROWING up, my mother had a broadarsenal of advice, ranging from wise tocockeyed.“Money doesn’t grow on trees,” she

would say 10 times a day, prompting meto ask why then did banks have branch-es.What she really meant was the chance

of her parting with hard-earned cash tofund a fleeting craze was less likely thanMoses taking a second stab at partingthe Red Sea.One or two nuggets really riled me.

“The best helping hand is at the end ofyour own arm,” is not the response youwant when seeking assistance with thewash-up. Or the favourite line of refusalwhen pleading for permission to gosomewhere with a friend: “If Maryjumped off the Empire State Building,would you want to do it too?” she wouldask, knowing that while I might have saidI would give my left eye for Mary’s

lifestyle, in reality, I was not about to risklife and limb.I hated the “little birdy” who kept her

in the loop about all our shenanigans.Nothing went under the radar of thatavian snoop.And anytime my mother went AWOL, it

was to “meet a man about a dog”. Wenever met the man and we only ever hadone dog, scarcely justifying the numberof meetings she purported to attend. Wewondered what my father thought of allthe men she met to discuss their caninefriends.Her favourite cop out was “I don’t have

to explain myself. I said no”, or “I’mdoing this for your own good”, acommon conversational disaster andhardly a strategy to deflect or redirectnegative behaviour.A teen may understand why a parent

refuses to fund a tongue bifurcation, butnot a straight-forward ear-piercing.

Sometimes she would ask if she wastalking to a brick wall, a question best leftunanswered.I spent years in the slipstream of

Momisms, with regular reminders toclose the door, we didn’t live in a barn; todo as I was told as long as I lived undermy parents’ roof, and that just becausemy last maid had died of overwork andunderpay didn’t mean my mother intend-ed to follow suit.I survived them all and even tried to

take some on board, particularly: “Treatothers as you would like them to treatyou”.My poor mother, who endured years of

abuse for unpopular decisions justified by“I just want what’s best for you”, has alsohad some payback.One of her Momism’s was “I hope

someday you will have children just likeyou”. Her wish came true. I made mybed. Now I must lie on it.

SOUND BITES: If you are snoring excessively be sure to consult with your doctor, it maybe a sign of something more serious. Picture: Getty Images

Q My partner snores so much Ihave had to move into anoth-er room. He has no idea howbad his snoring is —sometimes he seems to stop

breathing during the night. Is there any-thing he can do or take to stop this?

A. Most people don’t think of snoring asa sign of something serious, but it may besign of a potentially serious sleep disorder— obstructive sleep apnoea.

This occurs when the muscles in the backof your throat relax too much to allow nor-mal breathing. Your airway narrows or clos-es as you breathe in and normal breathingmay be altered for 10-20 seconds. This canlower the level of oxygen in the blood,which your brain responds to and brieflyrouses you from sleep so you can reopenyour airway.

One of the signs of obstructive sleep ap-noea include loud snoring, episodes of paus-es in the breathing while asleep (up to 10seconds or more), abrupt awakenings, some-times with a snorting, choking, or gaspingsound. People with this condition may no-tice feeling drowsy during the day, evenfalling asleep while at work, driving, orwhen watching TV. They may not even beaware that their sleep was interrupted.

Anyone can develop sleep apnoea, butmore than half of those with obstructivetype are overweight. Also a neck circumfer-ence greater than 17 inches (43cm) for menand 15 inches (38cm) for women is anotherrisk factor. In general, men are twice aslikely to have sleep apnoea, while a woman’srisk appears to increase after the menopause.

About half of people with sleep apnoeainclude high blood pressure and cardiovas-cular problems. Sudden drops in blood oxy-gen levels increase blood pressure and strainthe heart, and you are more likely to devel-op abnormal heart rhythms. Other risks in-clude complications after major surgery asyou’re prone to breathing problems especial-ly when sedated and lying on your back.

For these reasons, as well as to preventfurther disruption to your relationship, yourhusband needs to speak to his doctor abouthis excessive snoring. A referral to a sleepspecialist and specific tests will help confirmif he has this condition.

For milder cases of obstructive sleep ap-noea, lifestyle changes such as losing weightor quitting smoking are recommended first.If these measures don’t improve the symp-toms, or if the apnoea is more severe, thereare a number of treatments available. A ma-chine that delivers air pressure through amask placed over your nose while asleep(CPAP) prevents snoring and apnoea.

Another option is wearing a mouthpiecedesigned to keep your throat open. Someare designed to open the throat by bringingthe jaw forward, which can relieve snoring

and mild obstructive sleep apnoea. Mouth-pieces aren’t as consistently effective asCPAP and follow-up is needed to make surethe sleep apnoea is successfully treated.Surgery removing tissue from the back ofthe mouth as well as tonsils and adenoidscan be successful in stopping throat struc-tures from vibrating and causing snoring.

While waiting to see the sleep specialist,keep a sleep diary, recording sleep patterns,bedtime, number of hours slept, nighttimeawakenings and awake time and well as yourdaily routine, and how you feel during theday. Lose weight — even a slight loss in ex-cess weight can help relieve constriction ofthe airway. Avoid alcohol, sleep on your sideor stomach rather than on your back. If yousuffer with nasal congestion, use a salinenasal spray to keep the nasal passages open.

Q. Can you tell me about Gerson thera-py? I am receiving chemotherapy forend-stage cancer and have been told thereis very little else my doctors can do forme. I read about it on the internet, andwould like your opinion please?

A. There is no evidence to show thatGerson therapy works as a cure forcancer. It involves a very specific diet withsupplements and has been used to treat can-cer. It aims to rid the body of toxins andstrengthen the body’s immune system. Thetherapy is based on the belief that peoplewith cancer have too much salt (sodium) intheir bodies.

By eating large quantities of fruit and veg-etables this will restore the right balance andallow the liver to rid the body of cancercells. There are three key part to the

therapy: a diet of organic fruits, vegetablesand whole grains, supplements to helpcorrect cell metabolism and detoxification toremove harmful substances from the body.

The diet can help people feel better psy-chologically and may reduce the need forpainkillers. But some Gerson therapists donot support the use of chemotherapy as theybelieve it damages immunity.

I can understand you may want to trysomething if you think it might help treat orcure your cancer and it can be difficult toaccept the news from your doctor that con-ventional cancer treatments have failed. Butyour cancer specialist can help relieve andcontrol your symptoms. Diet may play animportant role in helping to prevent cancer,but there is no proof that making drasticchanges to your diet will help to kill cancercells.

The Gerson diet is a very strict low saltdiet. Each day you will need to drink about9kg of crushed fruit and vegetables (oneglass of juice hourly), take potassium, pan-creatic enzymes and thyroid supplements, aswell as have three to four coffee or castor oilenemas. This can cause serious side effectsSome elements of the Gerson diet are defi-nitely healthy, but taking this to the extremecan be harmful for people who are alreadyweak and ill.

You will also need to think of the costsinvolved — Gerson therapy is veryexpensive. Talk your specialist about anyalternative or complementary therapies thatyou want to try.

Beware also of some treatments that aresold for a great deal of money on the inter-net as potential cures. They can target peo-ple who are already ill and very vulnerable.

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


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If I’m not on top ofit, it’s on top of meMaggieCarraghermeets a braveLimerick womanwho refuses togive in to MS

DETERMINED LADY: Regina Cagney is living with multiple sclerosis for the past 20 years andis determined to live life to the full. Kieran Clancy / Picsure

R EGINA CAGNEY was just 22when she first displayed symp-toms of multiple sclerosis.

“My first daughter was just 12 weeks oldwhen out of the blue, I lost my speech andcoordination. It was terrifying.”There followed a panicked visit to her then

GP, who ordered blood tests and a lumbarpuncture — but, amazingly, Regina had towait three years to have her condition con-firmed.“I still can’t figure out why the doctor

didn’t tell me right away,” she says. “Maybehe was putting it off because I was so young,hoping I’d go into remission.”In the meantime, Regina was prescribed

steroids, which slowly alleviated her symp-toms, and painkillers.It was shortly after the birth of her second

child in 1994 that she was referred to a neu-rologist who diagnosed MS.“My husband, Derry, was with me,” she re-

calls. “Afterwards he hugged me and I burstinto tears. I remember thinking: ‘ThankGod. Now that I know what’s wrong withme I’ll be able to fight it’.”And fight it she did, and continues to do,

despite episodes that regularly leave her“wiped out”.“When it’s bad, it’s very bad,” she says, re-

counting an episode in 2008 which landedher in hospital for the entire summer.“The weight fell off me. I couldn’t wash, I

could hardly walk, I could barely feed my-

self,” she says. “But after 11 steroid drips —which play havoc with your veins — and aplasma exchange, I began to improve.”Despite such setbacks, Regina remains re-

markably upbeat about her condition.“People ask me, where do you get such a

fantastic attitude? I tell them I buy it inDunnes for 2.99! But seriously, I have nochoice but to fight MS. If I’m not on top ofit, it’s on top of me,” says the 42-year-oldLimerick woman.She also credits Tara, Limerick’s MS Re-

source Centre, for its support. “I drop in

there regularly,” she says, name-checking thestaff.“Gretta Allen, Carol, Angela, Maria,

Sinead. They’re all great.”And while she might have a wheelchair in

the corner, Regina regards it as a last resort.“I know it’s there if I need it,” she says. “In

the meantime, I can walk, I can swim, I candrive. I have a wonderful husband, two lovelydaughters and a dog. I have a lot to be thank-ful for.”■ World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day is onMay 26

No boundaries■ ALAN OSMOND of the OsmondBrothers, was 37 when he was diag-nosed with progressive MS. This formof the illness differs from the morecommon relapsing-remitting MS in thatprogressive MS does not typically im-prove, but rather worsens steadily.Once diagnosed, Osmond felt he

could deal with the challenge more ef-fectively. He attributes his positive atti-tude to humour, prayer and nurturing ahealthy spirit by helping others.In a cruel twist of fate, Alan’s son

David, was also diagnosed with MS. Aprofessional musician, David wasforced to put his career on hold whilehe battled the condition. However, re-cent improvements in his health haveallowed him to refocus on music andhe featured in last year’s hit TV showAmerican Idol.

■ In 1991, the award-winning Holly-wood actor and hell raiser Richard Pry-or announced that he had been suffer-ing from MS since 1986. He subse-quently ditched his long-term drughabit, declaring: “God gave me this MSsh*t to save my life.” He died in 2005.

■ Widely regarded as one of theworld’s greatest cellists, Oxford bornJacqueline du Pre’s glittering musicalcareer was cut tragically short at theage of 28 by the onset on MS. Shedied, aged 42, in 1987.

Helping to manage MS

HELPING OUT: Some MS sufferers findcomplementary therapies like reflexologyhelpful. Picture: Getty Images

OVER 7,000 people and families live withmultiple sclerosis across Ireland.

SymptomsThe presence, severity and duration ofall symptoms of MS vary considerablyfrom person to person. However, some ofthe symptoms are immediately obvious,such as reduced mobility, fatigue, changesin sensation, and memory and concentra-tion problems.

Treating and managing MSMedical treatments concentrate on man-aging symptoms, reducing inflammation

during relapses, or changing the course ofthe disease with drug treatment.Non-medical interventions, such as phys-

iotherapy, play a significant role in main-taining muscle strength and mobility.Speech and language therapy helps with

speech and swallowing, and an occupa-tional therapist can advise on techniquesaids and appliances that can increase inde-pendence.Some people with MS use complemen-

tary and alternative therapies, such asreflexology and massage as part of theirmanagement programme.■ Source www.ms-society.ie


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Feelgood

Roz Crowley

Cheddar please

Bandon Vale Vintage Cheddar15/kg

This mature-style cheddar has a dis-tinctive black wax covering. It packs aflavour punch and from a slightly drystart ends up a creamy mouthtful.Delicious. Fair value.Score: 8

Baylough Cheddar 18/kg

Made in Clogheen, Co Tipperary, ithas a bright yellow wax skin and theinside is a soft yellow. The texture isa little rubbery and the taste mildwith a little kick. This one appeals tochildren more than many vintagecheese samples. A good allrounder. Fairprice.Score: 7

Charleville Mature White Cheddar(200g 2.89) 14.45/kg

A mild cheese, it has a disappointingrubbery texture. It is not stated onthe packaging how long it has beenmatured, but it appears to be for ashort time as it is quite bland for amature cheese. The texture is notcrumbly asstated onthe pack.Poor valuecompared toothersamples.Score: 3

Cornish Cruncher Extra MatureCheddar Marks & Spencer (300g

4.99) 16.63/kg

With a nice, slightly crystalline,crumbly texture, this packs quite apunch with a distinctive nutty and al-most alcohol flavour. The packagingrates this as 7 in strength, which isnot explained, but perhaps it is on ascale of one toten. A beauti-fully well bal-anced cheesewhich has anunusual, zingylightness. Fairprice.Score: 8

Hegarty’s farmhouse cheddar,20/kg

Made in Whitechurch, Co Cork, thisis available as wedges cut freshly,as well as packed in plastic. Ma-tured for at least a year, whichshows in the deep flavour. Richlycreamy, it iswell-balancedand what weexpect from amature cheddar,with the slightestsweetness and alittle zing.Excellent.Score: 9.25

Kilmeaden Mature Red Cheddar(400g 5.75) 14.37/kg

Made by Glanbia, the aroma is ofthe first sliced cheeses we remem-ber and the rubbery texture is simi-lar. However, the flavour has a ma-turity and quite a long aftertaste.The label says it’s suitable for vege-tarians, but not why, with annatto— used for colouring and as aflavour enchancer — the only addi-tive listed. There is no mention ofvegetarian rennet which is likely.Not special enough for the money.Score: 4

Mount Callan Cheddar 27/kg

Made from raw milk and matured forenough time for any unfavourablebacteria to kill each other, some ofthis cheddar has blue veining —though not all the way through. Theoutside is covered in cheesecloth untilmature and we see the pattern of thecloth on the grey, dusty skin. Inside,the non-veined part of the cheese hasa typically cheddar flavour with a ha-zlenut tone and some delicate sweet-ness. The open, cracked texture iscreamy and theacidic flavourslinger in themouth. Made inNorth Clare, ide-al for those wholike a good bitein their cheddar.Score: 9

Valley Spire Farmhouse MatureCheddar Cheese (350g 3.28)

9.37/kg

Matured for at least nine monthsand made at selected farms forAdams Foods in Staffordshire. Veg-etarian rennet is used to curdle themilk (rennet usually has an animalsource), so the cheese is suitable forvegetarians. A less rubbery samplethan many of the dairy cheeses, thetaste is quite tangy but not in adeep, naturallyrich way. Fairvalue.Score 4.5

THE most popular cheese in theworld, cheddar goes back at least asfar as 12th century —it’s named

after the village of Cheddar in Somerset.Farmhouse cheeses differ from dairy factory

cheddars in how they are matured. Farm-house cheeses are matured in cylindricalshapes of weights of between 4 and 7 kilocalled truckles (cheddlets weigh about a kilo).They are often wrapped in linen or othernatural fabrics while maturing. Some are ma-tured in wax.

Dairy cheeses, often made in factories inhuge quantities from milk from co-ops, are

usually matured in plastic covering and aresometimes coloured orange by the use ofannatto which is also a flavour enhancer. It isnothing to worry about and in some casescan have medicinal benefits.

Dairy cheeses may be kept for up to twoyears and, like farmhouse varieties, changetaste as they mature. As with many otherhard cheeses, they can develop an attractive,crystalline and dry texture and some cracks,as well as a deep flavour with a slight tang.

Health wise cheese has its pluses and mi-nuses. High in saturated fats, cheddardelivers about 30g of fat per 30g (1oz). It alsocontains salt, but at an average of 2% it’s notenough to worry about.

On the plus side, cheddar is packed withcalcium (100g supplies all our daily needs),protein (100g supplies half our daily needs)and vitamins D (which helps absorb the cal-cium), B (for healthy nervous system), A (forhealthy skin) and a good sprinkling of miner-als such as folate, iodine and zinc.

As usual, to be healthy, we need balanceand the benefits outweigh the disadvantagesas long as we are modest in our consumption.Hard cheeses have more fat than soft cheesesso think about your consumption of otherfats during the day and see how much youcan afford to eat in one sitting. A finger ofcheese weighs about 15g, so even allowingourselves 30g we get a decent lunch or snackwithout overdoing it.

TERAPROOF:User:jaycarcioneDate:19/05/2010Time:17:20:52Edition:21/05/2010FeelgoodXH2105Page:13 Zone:XH

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Deirdre O'Flynn

MOSTLY MEN

DId you know...ME expert Weir to talkin Dublin and Galway

Your head and neck needsun protection, too Men who

cheat onceare morelikely to cheattwiceSource: PARSHIP.com dating agency survey of 5000 menand women based in Ireland, Britain and Western Europe

AS part of ME awareness month, in May, a leading Britishexpert, Dr William Weir, will give two talks on ME. On Sat-urday, May 29, Dr Weir will speak at Mount Herbert Hotel,Herbert Road, Dublin 4, at 1pm. And on Sunday, May 30, hewill speak at the Courtyard Mariott Hotel, Headford Point,Headford Road, Galway, at 2pm, in conjunction with theGalway ME/CFS Support Group.Admission for each talk is 5. Dr Weir will discuss “25

years of experience with ME: past reflections, present diffi-culties and future possibilities.”Around 12,000 people in Ireland suffer from ME, now of-

ten diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Symp-toms include overwhelming, flu-like exhaustion, muscle andjoint pains, sore throats, swollen glands, disturbed sleep,impaired concentration.■ Details on ME awareness month events and a free infor-mation pack can be obtained from the Irish ME/Chronic Fa-tigue Syndrome Association, PO Box 3075, Freepost F4439,Dublin 2. [email protected]; 01-2350965.

ALMOST three out of four menand women do not use sun protec-tion on their hair, with 65% sayingtheir hair gets dry and coarse in thesun. That’s accordingto Viviscal, the hairnourishment pro-gramme from leadingIrish natural healthcarecompany, Lifes2good.Generally, when peo-ple are protectingthemselves from the sun, the headand neck do not receive the sameattention as the rest of the body.

Viviscal has just introduced a newfragrance-free, water-resistant scalpguard to its range. Specifically for-

mulated to protect the scalp andface from the sun, the Viviscal scalpguard SPF25 is particularly suitablefor people with fine, thinning or

close-cut hair.This coincides with

national thinning hairawareness month,which runs until theend of May and is alsosupported by a freeconsumer guide, enti-

tled ‘Heads Up’. The guide is inpharmacies and health stores na-tionwide, and online at www.man-agethinninghair.ie; lo-call1890-601801, or email [email protected].

Who? Me? Obese?

HEAVY GOING: if you weigh 10% more thanthe recommended figure for your height youare obese, according to WHO criteria. Picture:Getty Images

YOU might think obesity is some-thing that affects other people,but you’d be surprised. “If you’re

carrying more than 10% of the recommendedweight for your height, you’re obese,” says DrAnna Clarke, health promotion and researchmanager with the Diabetes Federation of Ire-land.

According to the World Health Organisa-tion (WHO), ‘overweight’ and ‘obesity’ aredefined as abnormal or excessive fat accumu-lation that presents a risk to health. A crudepopulation measure of obesity is the bodymass index (BMI), a person’s weight (in kilo-grams) divided by the square of his or herheight (in metres). A person with a BMI of30 or more is obese. A person with a BMIequal to, or more than, 25 is overweight.

“Obesity is a medical condition that leavesyou with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes,cardiovascular disease and certain cancers,”says Dr Clarke, who was speaking to high-light European Obesity Day, tomorrow. Thisis an initiative by the Diabetes Federation, theIrish Pharmacy Union, and GlaxoSmithKlineConsumer Healthcare to raise awareness ofthe impact of obesity on health and on peo-ple’s quality of life, as well as to identify solu-tions and help people address their ownhealth and lifestyle challenges.

The cause of obesity and being overweightis an energy imbalance between calories con-

sumed and calories expended, according tothe WHO.

Globally, increases in obesity are at-tributable to a shift in diet towards increasedintake of energy-dense foods that are high infat and sugars, but low in vitamins, minerals,and other micronutrients. There is also atrend towards decreased physical activity, dueto the increasingly sedentary nature of manyforms of work, changing modes of trans-portation, and increasing urbanisation.

“We want people to get their BMI mea-sured by their pharmacist, so that they canunderstand obesity,” says Dr Clarke. “Then,the pharmacist can direct them as to whetherthey need to lose a few pounds for cosmeticreasons or lose weight for health reasons.”

Obesity has reached epidemic proportionin Ireland. Data from the Department ofHealth and Children on self-reported BMIshows an increase in obesity of more than30% for men and women, between 1998 and2007. At least 2,000 premature deaths a yearin Ireland are attributed to obesity.■ For more information, log on towww.obesityday.eu.

Hay fever natural remedieswith Kate O’ReillyTAKE 4HAY fever, an aller-

gic reaction topollen, makes the

summer a misery forabout one in five Irishpeople.

Histamine is releasedin response to exposureto the allergen, which ir-ritates and inflames thebody’s tissues, resultingin symptoms such asitchy eyes, runny noseand sneezing. The worsttime for hay fever suffer-ers is usually frommid-May for six weeks.Some natural remedieswhich might help are:

NATURAL ANTI-HISTAMINE: HigherNature’s Quercetin &

Bromelain formula, 17.40for 60 tablets combinedwith vitamin C, which is anatural antihistamine, offersimmune support for thesummer season. Quercetinis a flavonoid known to in-hibit the release of his-tamine. Bromelain, anatural proteolytic(protein digesting)enzyme found inpineapple, workssynergistically withquercetin, helpingsupport a healthy im-mune response.

HERBAL BLEND: Irishcompany NaturalifeHealth has developed a

herbal blend for hayfever SinuHay, 15.22 for 100ml, whichincludes echinacea and otherherbs which help to buildimmunity and are anti-inflammatory. They are effec-tive in drying out the mucousmembranes, reducing cough-ing, sneezing and a runnynose. Naturalife say it isthe combined action inthis formula which makesit more effective than theaction of any one singleherb alone, to preventand treat hay fever symp-toms. It is advisable to

begin taking the remedybefore the season starts.However, Naturalife saysgood relief is still obtainedif the formula is started af-ter the symptoms appear.There is a special offer on arange of Natura-life tinctures twin packs:pack of 50ml 9.49 and

100ml 14.99, avail-able in pharma-cies and healthstores or visitwww.natural-ife.ie

SALT THERAPY: Adose of salty sea airhas always been con-

sidered beneficial for peoplewith breathing problems,helping to clear out the res-piratory system. New fromHigher Nature is The Salt-pipe, 37.50, a handy in-haler which is 100% naturaland offers the benefits ofportable salt therapy.Higher Nature sayit has no side ef-fects, is very easyto use and couldbe useful in thetreatment ofasthma, hayfever, etc.

GENTLE RELIEF: Acommonly used trop-ical plant for hayfever

and other allergies is Luffa(sponge cucumber) whichacts as a natural anti-his-tamine. A.Vogel Luffa Com-plex comes in tincture,tablets and nasal spray. Thenasal spray, 11.50 for20ml, is designed tooffer gentle quick re-lief from blocked,runny and itchynoses. It is availableas a tincture ( 10.50,50ml) or tablets( 9.30, 120 tablets).See www.avogel.iefor more information.

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The Sanctuary Kyphi Nourishing HotSugar Scrub, from 14.93. This one is in-spired by the beauty regimes of the ancientEgyptians, and it does certainly have an airof the exotic about it. The main base is sug-ar, but it’s also packed with argan oil to hy-drate, smoothing lotus oil, fragrant sandal-wood and vanilla.

Elemis Exotic Limeand Ginger SaltGlow, 41.65 atblissbeauty.ie. Anaward-winning bodyscrub, this is a realjoy, with invigoratingginger as well as limepeal. The base is seasalt blended with

kukui, camellia and jojoba oils. Lovely tex-ture, great smell and excellent result.

Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar BodyPolish, 50. Mmm, the Rolls Royce of bodyexfoliators and an indulgent must-have forlovers of the rose, REN’s gentle body polishis made with fairtrade rose extract fromSouthern Morocco. It’s a really lovely, indul-gent product that makes youalmost feel like you’re in a spa.

The Body Shop Olive BodyScrub, 16.95. The Body Shop’sscrubs aren’t the best on themarket, but this olive one is defi-nitely our favourite from theircollection. It’s cream based andcontains ground olive stones,

rice granules and crushed walnut so it’sgood for getting rid of those rough bits.

Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub,31. Love this one — it’s effective and itsmells absolutely great, thanks to a lovelyscent of ginger. There’s white and brownsugars mixed with Dead Sea Salts.

Clinique Sparkle Skin BodyExfoliator, 20.50. This has quite a

chemical scent to it and notone for lovers of a more nat-ural scrub. But boy is it ef-fective. It does have a cool-ing, almost menthol feel toit, though, so it’s quite arefreshing little number forthe summer months.

WATERPROOF MASCARAS

SUMMER is the season of the waterproofmascara. There’s no point really wearingwaterproof formulations at any other timeof year — unless you do a lot of weeping atmawkish movies, but in summer, we’re inand out of the pool and getting sweaty andfrolicking in the sea and all that, so we needsomething that will stay where it should.Here’s three goodies to choose from:

Max Factor Masterpiece WaterproofMascara, 12.29. Max Fac-tor’s Masterpiece is anall-time mascara classic, andthis waterproof version is setto be an essential in our holi-day beauty make-up bag. It’sgot a great thin brush, whichis excellent for creating long,well separated lashes, andlasts well no matter howmuch water you throw at it.

Clarins Wonder Mascara in Won-der Violet, 21. We love violet mas-caras. They’re super hot right now, butare hard enough to find in regular for-mulations, let alone waterproof. Clin-ique’s new mascara gives the lashesgood curl and definition, without hav-ing that hard, dried-out effect thatsome waterproofs can result in.

Bad Gal Waterproof Mascara,21.50. We’ve been a fan of this oneever since it was launched a couple ofyears ago. It has a lovely slim applica-tor that fits neatly into back pockets.The brush is slimline, too, and is greatat really coating the lashes from rootto tip.

NAIL KITS

HOT pink? Nude? Mandarin? It’s pretty diffi-cult deciding what you’re going to go for interms of nail colour this summer. Not onlythat, but with very trend-driven shades, youcan often go off the polish before you’reeven half finished thebottle,which iswheremini-sizedversionscome inveryhandy.Urban Decay’s Summer of Love Nail Kit,from 20.11, has seven little bottles — ex-cellent for travelling and excellent for the in-decisive.

STUFF WE LIKE

TAKE THREE

The news on ...

I SEEM to spend a lot of time thinkingabout exercising, but I never actuallyget to the gym. The same goes with

exfoliating. The mere thought makes meyawn. But, look, it’s May, and there’s no get-ting away from it: if you’re planning on re-vealing anything more than an ankle thissummer, you’re probably going to have to getto grips with how to buff. And soon.Rough skin has a really unpleasant texture.

And it tends to group around bottoms andthighs and upper arms — not the kind ofplaces you worry about in the depths of win-ter or early spring, but in the height ofsummer on a beach, there is nowhere to hide(although we do find the kaftan cover-upquite handy indeed).There are two great things about exfolia-

tion: it doesn’t cost much, and it really doeswork. Spend a little time sloughing off therough stuff and you’ll find that the tone ofyour skin, and the smoothness of it improvesdramatically.According to Elemis skincare expert Noella

Gabriel: “The skin works on a 21-day cycleand so three weeks before a holiday is theperfect timing to start conditioning yourbody for summer. Daily body brushing, andtwice-weekly body exfoliating leaves the skinsuper soft and moisturised.”

lurking in the cupboard. Sugar and salt bothmake great bases for exfoliators (and are usedas a base by some of the most effective prod-ucts on the market).Add a little olive oil, and maybe a little es-

sential oil to give it all a good scent andyou’re ready to go. Olive oil is great foradding an element of hydration to the skin.Slough on a little sea salt and olive oil mix-ture before jumping in the shower and you’llsoon notice a difference. If you like the luxu-ry element, you’ll be spoiled for choice withreally excellent products from REN, Clin-ique, Elemis, Origins and The Body Shop.Remember, if you’re applying fake tan,

then an exfoliating session is essential. Andgive your often-neglected knees, elbows andankles a good scrub — otherwise you’ll bepaying for it. Big time.

And while they are quite similar, bodybrushing and body exfoliating do have slightdifferences. Gabriel explains. “Body brushingwill aid the appearance and toning of skin bystimulating circulation around the area whileshedding dry skin cells. Use daily beforeshowering to improve skin tone and bodyfirmness.“Exfoliating, meanwhile, tackles dead skin

cells and dehydration and should include aform of moisturisation, which leaves the skinsuper soft. Together they promote a smootherappearance, good skin tone, and stimulatecirculation, along with lymphatic drainage tospeed up the elimination of toxins.”I love products that have a DIY element,

and while you can buy a whole range of ex-cellent exfoliators, you can also knock a greatone together with stuff you already have

Now the sun hascome out to playit’s time to get ridof the rough stuff— your skin willthank you for it

Emily O’Sullivan

BUFF ’n’READY

SCRUB UP: CliniqueSparkle Skin BodyExfoliator has acooling effect , whileThe Body Shop OliveBody Scrub, below, isone of the best onthe market.

TERAPROOF:User:jaycarcioneDate:19/05/2010Time:16:50:02Edition:21/05/2010FeelgoodXH2105Page:15 Zone:XH

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Megan Sheppard

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

Megan puts the spotlight on: Amazing amino acids

Fruit andvegetables

contain all ofthe aminoacids we

need. Theyare also

abundant inprotein-rich

foods

GENTLE ENERGY: Yoga can be very useful inrelieving back pain. Picture: Stock Exchange

Q I suffer from lower back painand a friend suggested thatyoga may help. I am ready totry almost anything, but haveconcerns that this type of

movement may cause more pain ratherthan help. I would appreciate yourthoughts on this matter.A. Yoga is a wonderful method for ad-dressing lower back pain. In fact, the scien-tific community has recently acknowledgedthat some of these techniques can beproven as effective in stabilising the spineand bringing relief where back pain is con-cerned.Bandhas, or energy locks, have long been

used in traditional yoga practice to containthe flow of prana (energy) in the body.Mula bandha brings attention to the pelvicfloor, where the muscles deep within thepelvis are activated and gently lifted. Thishelps to stabilise the sacroiliac joints at thebase of the spine. Uddiyana bandha activatesthe transversus abdominis muscle which actsas a support for the lumbar spine. Thetransversus abdominis is a thick band whichwraps around the front of the torso andconnects to the stabilising connective tissueat the back.While it is best to find an experienced

yoga instructor, particularly one who hasexperience of working with injuries, youcan work on these two muscle locks quiteeasily during the day (or at night while re-laxing). Uddiyana bandha is achieved bydrawing the belly button inwards and up-wards, whilst flattening the lower abdomen.Mula bandha requires focus on the musclegroup used to stop the flow of urine andgently contract these muscles, lifting themdeep within the pelvis. Maintain this con-traction while breathing slowly and deeply.Slow, deep, and steady breaths are an im-portant part of yoga practice and especiallybeneficial during core strengthening exer-cises.

Q. I like the idea of meditation, buthave trouble with a young family findingany time to myself, let alone quiet time.Do you have any advice as to how I canmeditate around my busy daily life?A. As a home-educating mother of chil-dren between the ages of two and 11 yearsI completely understand your dilemma.Silence is both coveted and rare in ourhome, but I have discovered some usefulmethods of compromise which are as closeas I can get to quiet meditation.Background noise is not just the work of

children — we have so many appliancesand electrical goods all contributing to thehum and drone in the average household.Take the kids on a tiptoe tour around the

house and consciously listen for the noiseproduced by your electric goods and workout which ones you can unplug (obviouslythe fridge and freezer will need to keepbuzzing, but the television, computer andoven can all be safely unplugged). My chil-dren love finding things to unplug or switchoff — usually everything but thefridge/freezer. Feel your jaw unclench andneck tension begin to melt as you all stopand enjoy the relative silence.While you are busy unplugging appliances,

you are not only fostering an awareness ofthe dependency on modern electrical de-vices, you are also likely encouraging an en-vironmental consciousness. Take advantage ofthis in your quieter atmosphere and initiate apicnic lunch either outdoors, or a candlelitdinner enjoyed by the whole family. Candle-light alone can bring about a sense of calmand wonder in people of all ages.Encourage your children to create a special

quiet space of their own — somewhere theycan go alone or with a friend to just takesome time out. Find your own special quietspace and ensure that your children knowwhere this is, making it clear that when eachmember of the family is in their chosenspace, the rules of quiet apply: whisperingonly.Take nature walks together — the perfect

opportunity to reconnect with our senses.Often children will investigate with varyinglevels of excitement and wonder, but anynoise in the outdoors is far less stressful thanindoor sounds — and happy, curious chil-dren are certainly a delight to the senses.

Q. There appears to be a lot of confu-sion among professionals regarding sunexposure. I know that seasonal affectivedisorder is a very real problem, and wouldappreciate if you could enlighten me as tojust how much sun exposure is recom-mended.A. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) isthought to affect up to a quarter of the adultpopulation, with the main symptom beingdepression. It is widely accepted that weneed natural light in order to function effec-tively on emotional, mental and physical lev-els, and experts have realised we are able tostore vitamin D from sunlight in order toward off SAD.Since our bodies are designed to make vi-

tamin D through sun exposure, a little timeoutdoors is needed each day. We only need atotal of around two hours of sunshine eachweek (around 17 minutes each day) to get allthe vitamin D necessary. Vitamin D is essen-tial for maintaining strong, healthy bones andalso plays an important role in the regulationof skin cell growth.Individuals with darker skin have a higher

level of built-in sun protection, so more sunexposure is needed — around three hoursweekly (25 minutes each day). Long-termhospital and nursing home patients are ahigh-risk category for vitamin D deficiency,since they often are unable to get outdoorseach day, so oily fish is an essential additionto the diet. Just 100g of tuna, sardines,mackerel, or herring will provide around20-25mcg of vitamin D (the recommendedminimum is 15mcg for people over the ageof 70 years).

AMINO acids are the building blocksof protein, and are essential for main-taining health and vitality. Since pro-

tein is crucial for the development of mus-cles, ligaments, tendons, organs, glands,nails, hair, and are essential for the growthand repair of skin, bones, and cells — itfollows that amino acids are incrediblyimportant to our general wellbeing.When protein is broken down, we find

10 essential amino acids (essential refers tothe fact that these must be sourced throughthe diet as they are not manufactured by thebody), and 12 non-essential amino acids(we can manufacture these ones, providedwe eat a balanced diet). Insufficient levels ofamino acids can have quite significant con-sequences — if our levels of tryptophan arelow, we feel anxious and have trouble sleep-ing. If we are deficient in phenylalaninethen depression and neurological issues arelikely.

Fruit and vegetables contain all of theamino acids we need. They are also abundantin protein-rich foods, although the body hasto work a bit harder for these ones since theyneed to be broken down before they can beutilised. A balanced wholefood diet will en-sure that you are getting the building blocksyour body needs. If you are vegetarian orvegan then nuts, seeds, beans, grains, leafygreens and fruits will provide all of theamino acids without the health issues associ-ated with the consumption of manufacturedand processed vegetarian/vegan proteinproducts.

The 10 essential amino acids:

Arginine: pituitary gland functioning,healthy heart.

Histidine: tissue growth, maintenance, re-pair; anti-inflammatory response.

Isoleucine: energy, blood sugar,haemoglobin formulation.

Leucine: muscle health, bone repair,skin healing.

Lysine: tissue growth and repair, anti-body production.

Methionine: fat break-down, antioxi-dant.

Phenylalanine: mood regulation, mentalalertness, memory.

Threonine: liver health, immune func-tioning.

Tryptophan: vitamin B3 production,antidepressant.

Valine: tissue repair, nitrogen balance.


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Feelgood 21-05-2010