Don’t Be SAD!

My most recent Saddleworth Monthly article for you…!

As I write this, actually outside it is one of those lovely cold crisp sunny Autumn days, but for some this time of year causes SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. As the days get darker and shorter, there is less light. No one quite knows why the amount of light we get really affects our moods, but we all know it does! How much better do you feel on a sunny bright day than a grey dull overcast one?

 In simple terms, experts think that light affects how much melatonin and serotonin we make. These are brain chemicals if you like that help control how good we feel. I always think of serotonin as the ‘feel good chemical’ and it is this chemical that antidepressants like Prozac or Citalopram are designed to boost. Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, which is a gland the size of a pea at the base of the brain. As the sun goes down at night, this little gland starts producing tiny amounts of melatonin – it’s like a cue to start getting sleepy. As light dawns, the gland gradually stops producing it, and hence we start to wake up. What is thought to happen in some people is that their pineal gland continues to produce melatonin as they aren’t getting enough light for them to switch it off. Hence, you feel lethargic, fuzzy and not really firing on all cylinders.

This pineal gland also produces serotonin, the feel good brain chemical. It is known that we produce less serotonin in Winter than we do in Summer, and that the amount we make is directly related to the amount of light we have available. So, just imagine, if you are person who naturally produces a bit less serotonin anyway (this is very common in women) and along comes a long dark Autumn and Winter – BANG! You’re not exactly going to feel in tip top condition, are you?

The most common symptoms of SAD include lethargy, sleep problems, comfort or over eating (especially of chocolate as this helps us produce serotonin – now you know!), loss of libido and social confidence, and low mood. It has even been linked to PMS, is pretty common in children and teenagers and often people turn to feel-good substances like alcohol, chocolate, caffeine etc.

So, if you think this might be a problem, what do you do? Simple. Try to get more light and boost your serotonin levels. You could get yourself a light box (10,000 lux), a light cap you can wear around the house, or invest in full spectrum lighting (we had this at the Purehealth Clinic in Uppermill). It can make a huge difference and is like sitting in daylight. Get out and about – have a walk around the park, tidy your garden or walk the dog. Sit near big clean windows if indoors.

There are supplements which can help you make your own natural serotonin. It is said to be effective in lifting your mood, helping you to sleep and controlling food cravings. Don’t forget too that hypnotherapy can really help you turn around anxiety or worrying about life; it normally only takes a couple of sessions to learn how to let go of that worry and remember how to relax, so contact Philip if you need his help. Call or go to the website to read more and find out where to get light boxes etc. Don’t be SAD this year – be happy.

Air-Fresheners – My Pet Hate!

As I’m sure many of you know (as I have nagged you enough!), one of my pet hates in the unnecessary use of chemicals is air-fresheners. If I hated them before, I detest them even more now the plug-in variety has become the most popular type – think of all that wasted energy simply to make sure your home is constantly full of potentially toxic and harmful chemicals? Beggars belief!

 

WDDTY (What Doctors Don’t Tell You) recently did another report on air fresheners in their April issue. And it makes stark reading so I thought I’d take the opportunity to remind you to stay well away from them. I won’t labour the point by going on about the various chemicals found by the researchers studying 74 different air fresheners used across Europe, but suffice to say I wouldn’t want them in my house or lungs. They are a source of indoor pollution, are designed by marketeers who have created a product for a need that doesn’t exist just so you part with your hard-earned cash and cause actual physical harm. It just doesn’t make sense.

 

Did you know that air fresheners don’t actually break down nasty pongs? They don’t even just mask them. A lot of them contain the chemicals to actually interfere with your nasal passages to stop you smelling things by either coating the nose lining with a thin oily film, or even by deadening nerves so your nose doesn’t work properly.

 

So, avoid them especially if you are pregnant, have children or elderly people in the house with vulnerable lungs or are planning a family – or in fact have a pulse!

Get rid of the source of any bad smells, ventilate your house by opening windows and if you do need something fill a garden spray with filtered water and add 10-20 drops of your favourite essential oil or mix. A mix of high notes like basil or peppermint with middle notes like lavender or ylang ylang and a deep note like jasmin works great, or just go for your favourite smell and spray around the house, not directly at yourself.  Don’t be tempted to buy pot pourri or aromatherapy candles (unless they’re the ones we’ve told you about from Heaven Scent) – these are just as bad.

Quote of the Month

In the Work section of The Guardian recently, a businessman from the Geek Squad was describing the pledges he asks his IT problem-solving employees to sign up to when they join. I thought they were great and would love more people in service industries to adopt this attitude. My favourites were: “I will assume every problem is my fault, unless proven otherwise.” “I will never say ‘I don’t know’. Instead I will say ‘I’ll find out’.” And lastly “I will always understand that my clients’ time is more valuable than my own.” They are also expected to arrive at appointments 5 minutes early and to offer to take off their shoes before entering a client’s home. How refreshing! (By the way, I hope you view our customer service highly – we try very hard to make dealing with us a pleasure!)

A Diabetes Pill For Life? On Yer Bike…

In a recent study, 3234 non-diabetic patients with elevated glucose – a high-risk population for developing diabetes – were assigned to either a placebo, metformin (a diabetes drug) or lifestyle change involving at least 7% weight loss and 150 minutes of physical activity per week. The average length of time for follow-up was 2.8 years. Results showed that after this time the incidence of diabetes had been reduced by 58% in the lifestyle intervention group as compared to the placebo, whereas metformin group had reduced their incidence of diabetes only 31%.¹

 

This has been backed up by numerous other studies and one particular study suggested that lifestyle change could reduce the incidence of disease by 20% and delay the development of diabetes by 11 years as compared to Metformin which only resulted in an 8% reduction in disease and delayed onset of diabetes by 3 years.

 Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group, New Engl J Med 2002;346(6): 393-403

In Praise Of Eggs

I eat a lot of eggs. I think they are great protein, filling and the ultimate fast-food. Here, then, are some of my favourite ways to use them…

 

As a Wrap

Simply make a thin plain or herb omelette by whisking an egg or two, swirling it thinly around the pan, much as you would a pancake. Let it cook through completely. If you’re feeling brave, flip it over and make sure the other side is cooked and brown too. If using straight away, let it cool, then place it on a plate and add whatever you fancy in the middle – chicken bits and salad, prawns, roasted veg, hummus etc. Then fold it up at the bottom and in at the sides, lift and munch – a high protein wrap! Good eh?

 

Mini Tortilla Bites

This is a great snack. Oil a small muffin/cake/Yorkshire pud tray (or if you don’t have one, you can use muffin cases). Then whisk up some eggs, add some seasoning and add whatever you like or keep them plain. I sometimes add fresh herbs or some thinly sliced onions and potato like a traditional Spanish omelette, but how about roasted red peppers, cherry tomatoes, spring onions etc? Or, for a treat, layer some naturally smoked salmon or left over salmon from last night’s tea in the bottom of the little muffin moulds and then pour over your egg mixture. Fill the moulds almost to the top as they will rise a bit, pop in the oven for 10 minutes or until done and bob’s your uncle – mini tortillas for when you’re hungry! Keep in a glass box in the fridge (Ikea do some good ones).

 

Boiled Eggs

I know you don’t need a recipe for this! But I just had to say that one of the easiest snacks I know is to boil 6 eggs at the beginning of the week, put them back into the box when cool, refrigerate and then munch one when you need something satisfying to eat. If you fancy yours hot and don’t want bread soldiers, how about dipping in asparagus or strips of non-wheat pitta bread instead?  

Suncare Products

I know, I know. Not been much call for them recently. But some of you I know are planning Autumn and Winter breaks. So, having thought that the AMB new range is admittedly excellent, but also quite pricey, I have decided to stock more of the great Green People range. We have been doing the Factor 22 Lotion and Self Tan for some time, which many of you love. I am now adding Factor 8 (£13.99), Factor 15 (£15.99) and the After Sun (£9.99). All come in large 200ml squeezable tubes, are almost identical to the old AMB formulations, but are almost half the price of the new ones!

New Skin Exfoliator

I have been reviewing the skin exfoliators in the range. I know some of you like the Green People Fruit Scrub, but personally I find it a bit too rough on my skin. I was going to delist it, but I have kept it on for those of you who like it. However, I have also decided to offer the new AMB one as it is now thankfully free of parabens, is much more gentle than the scrub and is anti-ageing. A little bit of luxury at £21.05 but it will last a good 6 months at least. Goes great with the existing AMB LL Regeneration skincare range if you’re using that.

Brown mascara

Many of you have been asking for a brown mascara, and regrettably, AMB don’t do one in the new make-up range. However, as always, I have been on the trail of a replacement. I have found a really nice one from Lavera. Even a little bit cheaper at £9.90. So, I have now added it onto the list for you. Apologies for the delay!

INDIGESTION DRUG ‘CAN RAISE BRITTLE BONE DISEASE’

 

Drugs used by millions of patients in UK to treat indigestion can increase the risk of osteoporosis,  researchers warn. Their study shows long-term use is linked to weakened bones later in life.  The drugs are called proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are prescribed by doctors and sold over the counter.  The research team in Canada found those using them regularly for 5 years had a 44% higher chance of a hip fracture.  The NHS spends around £400m a year in England on PPIs such as lanasoprazole & omeprazole – sold over the counter as Zanprol – to treat indigestion, heartburn & peptic ulcers. 

 

The researchers at Manitoba Uni in Canada studied over 60,000 adults aged over 50, including nearly 16,000 who had suffered a fractured hip, spine or wrist due to osteopororis.  When they analysed prescription records, they found those with hip fractures were 62% more likely to have used PPIs for 5 years or more than those with healthy hips.    For those on the drugs for 7 years the risk of fracture soared by more than 400%, according to the study published in the Canadian Medical Assoc’s Journal. Daily Mail 16.8.08.

 

Ed’s Comment: In my experience, most people taking antacids and indigestion drugs are taking the exact opposite of what they need: more acid. For techy reasons I won’t go into now, often the signal to stop producing acid in the stomach doesn’t get triggered and so we keep on producing more and more. The reason? Because we don’t produce enough to trigger the body to think there is enough in the stomach. I routinely test this and 9 times out of 10, it is indeed a under acid problem, not an over acid one. If you want to know which yours is, please ask me for a free test sheet that you can do simply at home using lemon juice or bicarbonate of soda. Simple when you know how!

SWIMMERS CAN WAVE GOODBYE TO CHLORINE

I was really pleased to read this – I have discouraged people from swimming in the past because it is just too toxic: “It’s the bane of swimmers’ lives – but chlorine in pools may become a thing of the past. An odourless, colourless alternative called PoolSan, has had a successful 2 year trial at Leatherhead Leisure Centre, Surrey and in the US.  Now, according to Celine Brown, PoolSan’s UK distributor, it is ready for widespread use.  She said “It’s the end of chlorine – the smells & itches. The water is clean & everyone from pregnant women to asthmatics can go in it”. Using precious metals & natural minerals, it works through ionisation.  When a slight electric current is passed through the water the minerals react to destroy bacteria.  Mail on Sunday 13.7.08.