Archive for the ‘ Health ’ Category
There is a part of my brain that awakens and remembers – push on, don’t stop, it will end. My legs have long gone to rubber and it feels like I’m dragging my drunk and rowdy lower half through a painful session it has no interest in completing. But the brain, the brain has remembered, and it has no intention in stopping now. It may be only week 2 but the cruel edge of the internal competitor has laid down the law – we are here until the end. Read more
I looked into the recycling box – cans of Sprite, Coke, pizzas, spicy chicken slices, ready meals and all the calories and chemicals that come with them. Opened up the fridge and there was a spring onion crawling around a drawer closer to re-incarnation than its edible condition and a clove of garlic that was thinking of rooting in the egg drawer.
The drink and cigarettes are gone. A small sentence but a huge and daunting decision. I’m sure everyone would agree. What about the social occasions I loved and enjoyed? The Sunday nights with the lads, the quick cigarette at the door on Saturday nights? Those few lovely pints while listening to good music and the banter? It sent a cold shiver down my spine and I will admit to shaking a little now as I write.
Habit is a two-edged sword. It can provide us with a work week of stability and income, a sense of comfort and security that we all need to be happy. Habit can also strengthen excuses for a lifestyle routine that deep down we neither desired nor wish to continue…
It was somewhere around the fourth pint on another Sunday night when I realised I didn’t like the way things had become. I saw ahead to a tomorrow morning of a near-empty wallet, strangling hangover and fast food wrappers. We all have points when we twig to the idea that our lifestyle had become a habit rather than a desired existence, this was mine. Read more
We all know what it is like to be a teenager. Full of hopes, dreams and itching to get out there and see the world. However, for one vibrant teenager, all this was taken away so cruelly. The most cruel blow of all, was that it may have been prevented with one simple action.
Terri Devine was just 16 when meningitis cruelly robbed her of her ambitions, her dreams and her life. Just four days before Christmas, Sean and Marie Devine lost their daughter Terri after she battled with Meningitis B for just a few short days.
An avid GAA player, Terri was suffering flu like symptoms and arrived home from school early on a Wednesday. Put to bed with paracetamol, Terri’s parents thought that she had nothing more than a flu as there was no visible rash. After several checks on her, Terri seemed a little brighter, but when her father heard what he described as ‘unearthly moaning’ in their Glenmornan home in County Tyrone, he ran to Terri’s side and found her unconscious. She was rushed to Altnagalvin hospital where the family were told it was highly likely that Terri had meningitis. This was confirmed on the Friday and by the Saturday the Devine family received the earth shattering news that their beloved and bubbly Terri had no brain activity. Within a few minutes, the family made what would later become three phenomenal gifts. They decided to donate Terri’s organs and her mother Marie was informed only a short time later that in their darkest hour of grief, they had bestowed the gift of life to a 10 month old baby, a 13 year old boy and a 31 year old woman. Read more
The sun is beginning to peep out, we have started shrugging off the winter woollies and summer is on the horizon, yet not everyone can rush out and enjoy what seems to be a twenty minute flash of sunshine. It is once again approaching the time of year dreaded by many young people. Examination time has reared its ugly head once again. As dissertation deadlines loom and many of us students have taken up residence in the library in order to meet the expectations of our tutors, the stresses of University life have taken its toll on many young minds. Read more
Yoga has been around for thousands of years and many schools of yoga have manifested since it has been created.
When the word “yoga” is mentioned, the thought of a contortionist turning themselves into a human knot springs to mind!! With years of practice and dedication, that vision is very plausible. For the rest of us, the goal is just to touch their toes with straight legs. That can be very easily achieved, but it does take time.
To introduce yoga to your daily routine, you must show respect and harmony for your body in order to allow enhanced movement.
With a tense mind, the body will also be tense and rigid. So to relieve any tension, at the beginning of every yoga class everyone centres the mind and the focus is inward. This would be a form of meditation. It leaves the woes of the day at the door so the body and can be more open. Read more
Last August I was asked to join the cast of hit TV show Tallafornia for a few days. While chatting to fellow cast member Jay on the phone, he told me there was a heat wave in Santa Ponsa and the villa we would be staying in had a swimming pool. The villa also had its own private walk-way down to a stone balcony which had an amazing view of the ocean. I couldn’t wait to get over there, Jay was having a great time and I thought I may as well have some fun in the sun. Read more
A group of eight are set to go to hell and back in an attempt to raise much needed awareness and funds for Pieta House, the centre for prevention of self harm and suicide.
The group, spearheaded by Catriona Bergin are running in two teams of four in memory of her brother Aibhne.
Two of the team members, Catriona and her cousin Jason Joyce, have written exclusively for Irish News Review in an attempt to show the country just what to hell and back is all about.
Catriona
I would sincerely like to thank all who have sponsored us so far. We have raised an amazing €1,405 to date…THANK YOU!
Keep it coming.
Just a reminder of why we are doing this……
Aibhne was a big brother, a son, an uncle, a father, a husband, a friend and an accomplished athlete. My big brother Aibhne committed suicide in January 2012 and there’s not a day goes by that we are not affected by this, we miss him, we question the reasons why, we wonder if we could’ve done something to change this and we suffer silently. There are so many people who have been affected by suicide, it is greater than the loss of a person, a friend, a family member, it is the utter devastation that is left behind that makes it so difficult to bear.
When you have a cold, cough or flu you go to your doctor, when you have a toothache you go to your dentist, when you are suffering mentally with stress, depression you sit still and bottle it all up because going to see someone about your mental health is embarrassing, shameful. This needs to change! The HSE struggles to cope and charities like Pieta House can and will only survive with your help and continued support. I hope that we can all help families in need by supporting this worthy charity http://www.mycharity.ie/event/berginshellback/.
Jason
We are participating in Ireland’s 10k to Hell and Back on the 27th of January, aka Ireland’s toughest 10k Challenge.
Designed, built and customised by a former member of Elite Army Ranger Wing, the Hell and Back Challenge has now been tested and approved by the best – and is unique in commanding endurance beyond belief. With military precision, this challenge will take place on the Kilruddery Estate, tormenting competitors both physically and mentally.
Some of the challenges involve barbed wire crawling, running though swamps, rivers, The Pond, Satan’s Pit, and the Shock of Horrors (if unsuccessful – we will get electrocuted).
To train for this specifically is difficult. You need to focus on endurance and power and have a plethora of mental strength. I think the memory of Aibhne will give the latter. My sister and cousins are putting in serious effort with running up mountains and doing various types of training including boxing, circuits and yoga.
Regarding my training, I’m lucky because I’m in the middle of pre-season GAA training with Round Towers senior football team in Clondalkin. We are working on power and endurance specifically. Training involves circuits of TRX, boxing (sparring with each other), kettle bells, flipping tractor tyres, and sprinting while pushing a sleigh full of weights. That focuses on power and is very tough both mentally and physically.
We also have one football training session a week focusing on endurance. On top of this I add in one run a week where I’m pushing it @75% max capacity. Last week I did a 6.5k run in thirty minutes and will push that to try do 8k in under forty minutes this week and hopefully 10k in under fifty minutes the following week. This programme leaves me with three off days a week, two days are active recovery for thirty minutes and one is complete rest.
Mental health awareness is poor in Ireland and this has to change. So many people look to be living happy lives and yet no one knows what is going on in their heads if they do not speak. Suicide is getting worse with the highest incidence among young men. I believe the main reason for this is because young men feel it’s a sign of weakness to talk about their feelings or show vulnerability. Believe me; I used to be one of those people. Instead, they sit in silence and suffer until they feel in their own mind there is no alternative solution.
It is coming up to a year of the passing of my team mate Ciaran Carr, who died of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) while we were training. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about that night or Ciaran. On the day of Ciaran’s funeral, I received the information about Aibhne passing away. My life got flipped upside down and I didn’t know whether I was coming or going. Looking back at it now, I wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t spoke to someone. The support I received through friends, my girlfriend, family and the wider community was incredible and being able to talk to people helped significantly. I can’t highlight enough the importance of mental health and I will literally go to hell and back to spread the awareness.
I believe that supporting Pieta House and the great work it does is a very worthy cause. I also understand that times are tough financially so any donations no matter how big or small are greatly appreciated. Anyone interested in donating can do so by visiting http://www.mycharity.ie/event/berginshellback/.
Fear not, Irish News Review will bring you up to date with how the group got on, if and when they return from Hell and Back.
Long, short, thick or thin, curly or straight, having glistening, healthy hair can really enliven a person’s face and look. It cannot be denied that we ladies spend a copious amount of time, energy and money on our hair, it only makes sense that we get it looking radiant and strong. Below are some tips to help you improve and maintain your hair.
Avoid too much bleaching and over dying of your hair. Regular bleaching can cause the hair to become frizzy, rough and dry with a straw like texture. The more you bleach the worse the condition gets. However, if you’re reading this and you have already bleached your hair and are looking for ways to help improve the condition, have no fear I have a few tips. Having bleached hair myself I find that putting oil(Olive oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil etc.) in my hair over night in a towel and then washing it out the next morning really helps improve the condition of your hair. And the best part is it’s all natural! Your hair will soak up the oil over night, and your will get an intense conditioning.
Eating a protein rich diet can encourage and promote hair growth as protein is an important component of your hair. Protein is found in many food like eggs, dark green vegetables, fish, lean beef and especially tofu. Our bodies constantly recycle protein but it is essential that we constantly replace it.
Avoid over styling and regular use of heating products such as hair straighteners, hair dryers, curlers etc. Over use can cause the hair to dry out, break and become damaged. I find that drying my hair naturally gives a softer, sleeker and healthier result than blow drying. However, if you simply cannot live without your straightener or hair dryer than buying a product that reduces heat damage is a fantastic idea. The product I use is John Frieda’s FRIZZ-EASE® Daily Nourishment Leave- In conditioning Spray. It’s a fortifying leave in conditioner with lots of vitamins that helps revitalize dry, damaged hair. I find it works excellently and you can even spray it on straight after straightening your hair if it goes extremely frizzy after the straightening, it dampens the hair and gets rid of the dreaded dry frizz look.
One last piece of advice I can give you is to get a proper night’s sleep. A good night’s sleep will help to regulate the body’s natural hormone levels which promote good overall health. When the body is healthy and thriving, your hair is also. Sleep helps reduce mental and physical stress on your body, which will again encourage growth.
As they say, You only get out what you put in, so proper maintenance of your hair is very important to keep you looking beautiful and radiant.
Cookbooks make great Christmas presents and stocking fillers, they are bright and have the most beautiful pictures that could send even the most kitchen-fearing member of your family running for the flour and eggs! However, often there are so many cookbooks in a bookshop that, unless you are a foodie at heart, you can be left feeling overwhelmed and perhaps grab the nearest you see, which could lead to disappointment on the present receiver’s part! My guide to cookbooks is based around the notion that Irish cookbooks are the best to buy, not only because in Ireland today it is essential to buy local and buy Irish but also you eliminate the risk of lack of produce that may be widely available in Britain or Europe but have not quite reached our shores yet. Often Irish cookbooks will tell you which fruits and veg are in season and when which is very helpful as you are using a recipe in which you know the ingredients will be fresh, in season and readily available! Have a look at some of the cookbooks below and you will see there is one for everybody in your family! And remember, always buy local and buy Irish!
For the Sweet-Tooth
Rachel Allen of Ballymaloe has become a welcome and permanent fixture on our bookshelves. Her recipes are simple, well-informed and easy to follow.“Cake” is absolutely no exception. The photos in the book are bright and beautiful, a welcome addition to any home cook’s bookshelf! Buy this for the sweet-tooth in your life and you could be receiving baked goods for life, result!
For Granny
I know exactly what you are thinking; my granny would never give up her own recipes to follow anybody else’s but this book, written by the Countrywomen’s Association contains all things traditional and loving that even the most precise and pernickety or grandmother’s will appreciate!
For the Italian Foodie
I’m not sure about you but I absolutely love seeing Catherine Fulvio on her tv show; she is bright, bubbly, smiley and her recipes are easy to follow whilst her authentic Italian creations are greatly inspired by the Irish landscape and produce around her in the beautiful Ballyknocken. This cookbook won’t disappoint and has lots of simple, delicious and hearty Italian recipes for you to try at home!
For Dad
Men love hearty and wholesome food, yes,I hear you, they also love to eat apple pie, but only those of you lucky to own one of those men will rarely see them faffing around with pastry. This book, “Surf’n’Turf” by Shanahan and Flynn will engage the male cook through its hearty and fulfilling recipes. There is even a pint of Guinness on the front cover, if that doesn’t make them turn the page, nothing will so just stick with the socks for Christmas!
For the Vegetarian
Café Paradiso is one of the most beautiful and amazing restaurants in Cork city. The things that thechefs can do with vegetarian food is truly a treat and this cookbook means you open up the world of awe-inspiring vegetarian cooking in Café Paradiso to the veggie in your life who is sick of the same old veggie risotto! This book is haute-cuisine vegetarian at its very best.
For your Brother
Donal Skehan has had a successful year, starring in both his own RTÉ show and on Junior Masterchef. Having come to attnetion through his cooking blog and offered a book deal and subsequently approached by RTÉ it is safe to say this boy is going places. However, one look at his simple, easy to follow and delicious looking recipes leave no question as to why he has come so far and will continue to do so!
For the Yummy-Mummy
Sheila Kiely’s book “Gimme the Recipe” is designed for busy schedules and a hectic lifestyle. They are tried and tested by herself (a mother to six children!). If anybody knows how important it is to feed your family nutritious, healthy food under time and work constraints, it’s Sheila! So, for the busy working mother in your life why not get this! The colourful, clear and bright pictures add a beautiful touch to a very popular cookbook.
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