Health
Wear Your Youth Like An Outdated Badge
By ALICE O’BRIEN
Alice O’Brien Counselling, Newmarket Last week at work a directive came from above- we were to renew our identity badges. A photographer was dispatched and we all duly lined up. Now, we all know the importance of photo ID but around here most people would know the last three generations of your family, so a photo seems over-zealous. My photo ID up to last week was taken in 2000. I was 22 years old. I wore my youth around my neck with pride, my eyes were shining with wonder- not a crows-foot to be seen. I had blonde curls in place of my grey hairs now and I was full of hope for the long career that lay
ahead of me. But, much and all as I valued that picture, there is such an honour in having a few miles on the clock. Some of the advantages include: • A greater sense of acceptance for self and others. When we are young, we don’t know ourselves or who we think we should be, so we try desperately to fit in, to impress others. And in our youth we can be a bit judgemental - we think we know people, we don’t have the experience to see the depth of a person. • We develop a happier outlook as we age. We can connect more meaningfully with others as we don’t worry about trivial things. We know what makes
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us happy and we are not afraid to prioritise that. With age comes experience, we gain a wisdom that we didn’t have in youth. As they say - you can’t put an old head on young shoulders.
I was also keenly aware of my colleagues and friends back in the year 2000 - and those who are not here now to renew their badge. Life is precious and we cannot take age for granted- age is an honour that is not bestowed to everyone. Having said all that, I may conveniently misplace my new badge and continue to fool myself that I am that 20year old - just for a little longer.
Miracle Mineral Magnesium
By MAIREAD O’KEEFFE New Leaf Health Store
Magnesium is a mineral that is sorely missing from the Irish diet. Not only are our soils depleted of this vital nutrient but the foods that are rich sources, e.g. leafy greens, nuts, seeds, beans, whole grains, wheat and oat bran, are not consumed often enough to provide an adequate dose. Magnesium is essential to our bodies playing a role in over 300 enzyme reactions. Magnesium helps our muscles to function, it even controls our heart beat. It helps turn our food into energy and benefits our digestive system. Magnesium helps our bodies to
activate vitamin D which supports immune and bone health. Magnesium enhances our brain function and helps our bodies to cope with stress and it benefits our sleep. It also helps us to maintain hormonal balance and a healthy reproductive system. Every single cell in the human body demands adequate magnesium to function, it’s considered to be one of the body’s most important nutrients. If you don’t get enough magnesium you could find yourself suffering one of many symptoms, these include muscle cramps and restless leg. You may lack energy, feel stressed or unable to sleep. Some people get headaches whilst others get constipation.
WIN WIN WIN
As a supplement it is always combined with another substance to create a stable salt that your body can absorb. Often the additional substance can further enhance the benefits. For example Magnesium Bisglycinate contains the amino acid glycine which is known for boosting mood and sleep. Magnesium malate is one of the more energizing forms of magnesium. It contains malic acid which is useful for those with fatigue or wanting energy support pre-workout. There are lots of forms though, so call in to see us in New Leaf and we’ll help you choose the best one for you. It’s a good idea to check with your doctor before taking supplements if you are on medication.
Win PrizMag. Send an email to hello@newleafonline.ie with your contact details - we’ll add you to our email list and enter you for the draw. We’ll also have some samples for you to try if you call in to the shop and mention this article. Winner announced in the next edition.
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Issue 101 November 3rd, 2023
