Your guide to staying healthy, happy, alive
KOOL KIDS
COOKING WITH KIDS
Superfoods and superpowers
COLD & FLU SEASON
Best sellers to help survive common symptoms
AN UPDATE FROM DEMI, OUR PRESCRIBING PHARMACIST
Cold and flu season is well and truly here, with Queensland Health data showing a growing number of flu cases.
The best way to protect yourself and your family against the flu is to book in for a vaccination with a pharmacist at your local Alive Pharmacy Warehouse store. This year the vaccine is FREE for all Queensland residents and can be booked online at alivepharmacy.com.au
Your Alive pharmacist will be able to provide other tips to boost immunity to help you and your family stay healthy and give you the best options to treat any symptoms you might experience.
As winter continues, it also brings with it a flare-up of common skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dry, itchy skin. As part of the Community Pharmacy Scope of Practice Pilot, our DFO Cairns store has appointments with prescribing pharmacists to help manage these conditions and many others.
Pharmacist prescriptions are continuing to grow at DFO, with our most popular service requested being for hormonal contraception. We’re also happy to share that from the 1st of July 2024, even more women will be able to access this service with the launch of the Hormonal Contraceptive Pilot.
This means women and girls over 16 years of age will be able to see our trained pharmacists to access hormonal contraception for the first time, or to continue or change their existing contraception. The pilot will allow our prescribing pharmacists to provide a variety of contraceptive choices to our community including:
• O ral contraceptive pill, both the combined oral contraceptive and the progesterone only pill (also known as the mini-pill)
• C ontraceptive injection (also known as the depo-needle)
• C ontraceptive vaginal ring
To find out how you can access this service, talk to your local Alive Pharmacy team.
Chief Pharmacist
How do kids grow big and strong? For growth and development of children and adolescents, calcium is essential.
A small amount is naturally excreted by our body.
Calcium is a mineral that is stored in our body’s bones and teeth. Calcium also has other roles in the body like assisting in muscle contractions, nerve stimulations and regulating blood pressure. Bones hold the most of our calcium – as much as 99%.
Osteoporosis is an exaggeration of the normal loss of bone mass. In childhood, if we do not have enough calcium, we may become a candidate for weak bones. This may leave us highly susceptible to fractures. A lack of calcium in an adult diet as well as a lack of exercise can also contribute to osteoporosis.
+Quick fact
Growing bones require daily calcium intake. Daily dietary recommendations increase as children grow.
How
calcium do we need daily?
Best sources of calcium:
• Milk • Soy Milk, fortified with calcium
• Cheddar cheese and other hard cheeses oghurt
Other sources of calcium in smaller quantities: Sardines and salmon with bones ried figs Soybeans, chickpeas arsley eafy green vegetables
Vitamin D is also important for children.
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from their diet. The main source of vitamin D is sunlight. Undertaking activities outdoors and during the day is usually enough to receive your dose of vitamin D.
Minimum amount:
Exposed hands, face and arms: 5-15mins, 4-6 times per week.
Deficiency in vitamin D can lead to rickets. Rickets is a preventable bone disease that is caused by weak or soft bones. Children may develop softer bones that can bend, which causes deformities and muscle weakness.
Demi
Cooking with kids
Putting food on the plate day after day can be tricky, especially for parents who work outside of the home and have children. Takeaway food can be a convenient option when you’re short on time, but it’s important to be mindful of what you’re eating.
The fact is, we can never be 100 percent sure of all the ingredients and preparation processes if we aren’t making it ourselves. Often home cooked meals will contain less sugars, fats, and sodium because we can ultimately decide what goes in. The number of unknown ingredients add up quickly on your calorie count if you’re trying to lose weight.
SUPER FOODS
1 PSYLLIUM HUSK: a great soluble fibre that helps with digestion and bowel movement. Add it to breads or bakes goods.
2 FLAXSEED:
lower cholesterol and blood pressure, good source of protein and fibre. Add them to pancakes and cereals.
3 WALNUTS: packed with antioxidants and omega 3 that are and great for cognitive function. Sprinkle on yoghurt, oatmeal, salads and banana bread.
4 BRUSSELS SPROUTS:
nutrient packed and full of fibre, vitamin K and vitamin C - great for bone health. Shred them in a food processor or cut finely with a knife and add them to a stir fries, pastas and salads.
Did you know?
Little ingredients have superpowers. For example, chia seeds contain antioxidants, minerals, fibre and omega-3 fatty acids.
Superfood fruit filled pancakes
INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cup almond milk, unsweetened
1 3/4 cup oats, dry
1/4 cup flaxseed, ground
1 medium banana
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 large egg
1 tablespoon coconut oil or butter
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Place all ingredients, except coconut oil and eggs, into a good quality blender. Mix until everything is mixed well.
2. Add eggs and pulse to incorporate. Alternatively, hands whisk these in.
3. Heat a pan over medium heat and melt coconut oil or butter. Pour desired batter onto the pan and cook until brown on each side.
4. Best served warm. With a cheeky hint of maple syrup and fresh fruit!
Zyrtec Range
Rhinocort
Sally Hansen Trolls Nail Polishes
Bondi Sands Skincare Range
Natio Mens Range
ACHOO! I’VE GOT THE FLU
We’ve compiled a few This or That’s and answered some of your hard-hitting questions. Amongst our answers we’ve pointed out a few of our latest favourite products for managing cold and flu symptoms.
1PANADOL REGULAR VS OPTIZORB VS RAPID
Pain is a natural way our body tells us something is wrong, and a fever is our body fighting an infection. Paracetamol and ibuprofen come in many different forms to suit everyone (ie: tablets, caplets, liquid capsules, mini capsules, etc.). Regular Panadol are easyto-swallow mini tablets that kick-in in over half an hour. Optizorb Caplets provide faster absorption compared to regular Panadol tablets, feeling the effect after 15 minutes. Lastly Panadol Rapid Caplets provide the fastest relief, although a larger pill to swallow. In some cases it may cause stomach reflux due to higher sodium.
EAR THERMOMETERS VS ORAL THERMOMETERS VS FOREHEAD THERMOMETERS
Sometimes picking the right thermometer comes down to how easy it is to use, but we tend to lean towards the ear thermometers as they are the most accurate. Some other things to consider is small children and people with breathing irregularities might have trouble keeping their mouth closed long enough to get an accurate reading from an oral thermometer. Due to the size of their ear canal and the fitting, we don’t usually recommend the ear thermometers for infants under 6 months. Forehead thermometers require no physical contact and are very popular for ease of use. External factors like wind, indoor heating, and sunlight can affect readings.
2
Try the Panadol Range
LIPOSOMAL TECHNOLOGY VS VITAMINS
Carbohydrates are often mistakenly labelled as the nemesis of Liposomal technology is another way to intake our vitamins. It removes the sodium and sweeteners, plus, the liposomes bypass the liver and deliver nutrients directly to the bloodstream for faster absorption. Liposomal stacks up better compared to traditional vitamins like tablets, capsules, and gummies. Although these are still valuable ways to consume vitamins, liposomal provides the highest absorption and effectiveness. Liquid or gummy formation can be lifesavers for parents if children find pills hard to swallow. Either way, topping up on your essential vitamins before cold and flu season is a great idea!
VAPORISERS VS HUMIDIFIERS
Vaporisers produce steam from boiling water whereas humidifiers release cool mist from cold water by evaporation. Both vaporisers and humidifiers can help ease discomfort from dry air and provide relief from cold flu congestion. We can add essential oils or inhalants into some vaporisers as they contain fewer contaminants making them preferable for people prone to allergies. Humidifiers are sometimes safer for families with young children and pets because they don’t use boiling water, however, they will need regular cleaning.
ALLERGIES OR FLU SYMPTOMS
EFFERVESCENT VS SOLUBLE TABLET
Effervescent tablets dissolve into your liquid of choice, such as water or juice. Tablets as we know are swallowed whole. Both can absorb quite fast but overall it comes down to your own preferences. Effervescent’s will dissolve evenly in a liquid which may settle in the tummy more evenly, causing less irritation. Plus, the extra intake of fluids can help offset dehydration. If the effervescent you are taking is an electrolyte you can most likely take it with other cold and flu supplements or medication. Always consult your pharmacist if you’re unsure.
A runny nose, sneezing or watery eyes are all symptoms accompanying colds or allergies. Some cold and flu medication already contain antihistamines along with other symptom relieving ingredients. If you take individual antihistamine tablets regularly, be careful when taking other medicines during the flu season as multiple antihistamines can cause unpleasant side effects. Drug free ways to help ease allergy like symptoms can include saline rinses, sprays or drops, humidifiers or vaporisers.
Consult one of our pharmacists so we can identify your needs.
LOZENGES VS COUGH DROPS
Most throat lozenges and cough drops are medicated, and sometimes the word is used interchangeably. Lozenges essentially provide prolonged relief by cooling and soothing the throat. Some lozenges also have antibacterial and/or anaesthetics properties to fight cold and flu symptoms and throat related pain. Cough drops sometimes contain ingredients like eucalyptus oil or menthols to prevent excessive coughing and help with pain. Both products are very similar, but with subtle differences in the ingredients. Both help with coughing and sore throats.
Try the Euky Bear or Vicks Steam Vaporiser or the Able Healthcare Humidifier
Try the Berocca or Sambucol Range
Try the Codral, Difflam, or Strepsils Range
Prescribing Pharmacists available at DFO Cairns
shingles? hormonal contraception? repeats on your medication? acne & skin conditions? other health conditions?
*Prescribing Pharmacists subject to availability. Please follow our Facebook page to stay up to date.
