A&H March 2014

RUNNING FOR HER LIFE Meet the mum with a mission

MARCH’ 30 . ISSUE 54

MALTA’S BEST AND BRIGHTEST HEALTH AND WELL BEING MAGAZINE

CHEAT SHEET

BITTER SWEET WHY SUGAR SUBSTITUTES AREN’T THE HEALTHY OPTION

ARE YOU A SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICT? WIN with

How to exercise without disrupting your day

GO SLOW

Life outside the fast lane

HEALTHY EATING? 6 FOODS YOU SHOULD AVOID

DO THEY OR DON’T THEY?

How parents face up to teens’ sex lives

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17/03/2014 15:15

IN THIS ISSUE

Real Lives 04

16

RUNNING FOR HER LIFE Josette Falzon is a mum with a mission

20

SUPER MUMS How celebrities get back in shape

34

FIT FOR DANCING Meet ZumbaDru

BOUNCING BACK

Lifestyle 08

ARE YOU A SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICT? Take our fun quiz

16 22 37

BOUNCING BACK How to survive a crisis

40 43

GO SLOW Slow living is a lifestyle choice

EYES RIGHT Take care of your peepers CHEAT SHEET Slot exercise into your schedule

LAST LOOK Random health check

Food & Nutri on 10

POST BINGE DIETING Keep yourself on track

14 30

6 UNHEALTHY FOODS BITTER SWEET The downside of sugarsubstitutes

Regulars 12 44 45

COMPETITIONS

46 48

PRODUCT NEWS

10

PHARMACIES HEALTH CLINICS AND HAIR SALONS

POST BINGE DIETING

40

INFORMATION

GO SLOW

04 RUNNING FOR HER LIFE

30

BITTER SWEET March 2014

1

SAYS...

w

elcome to the spring 2014 edi on of A&H. We’ve got a new look and inside you’ll find lots more to read and enjoy. In this issue, we meet Jose e Falzon, who’s known for raising awareness of cys c fibrosis and funds for research into the condi on. We also take a look at post-binge die ng, and how to shed excess weight safely.

Nutri on features once more prominently in this issue with ar cles related to unhealthy foods and the truth and myths behind sweeteners. A healthy lifestyle revolves around two fundamental choices – what to eat and how to exercise. The la er tends to be a headache for many due to our packed days but finding me for yourself has to be a priority. So why not join a group of friends and unwind from the day’s problems in an hour or so following Zumba® instructor Andrew Pace’s a.k.a. ZumbaDru? You’ll find his sugges ons for basic moves here in this issue of A& H. This issue features the secrets of celebrity mothers who, a few weeks a er giving birth, were featured on magazine covers around the world. Everyone can be a glamorous mother; me management is once more the key to it all. We hope that, at the end of a day’s work, you enjoy reading this edi on.

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EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Corinne Vella ASSISTANT EDITOR Anna Maria Ga COVER CONCEPT Antoine e Micallef – Box Design DESIGNER Conrad Bondin – Standard Publica ons Ltd. CONTRIBUTORS Daniela Allen, Suzanne Bonello, Jo Caruana, Anna Maria Ga , Corinne Vella, Mark Xuereb PHOTOGRAPHY Pippa Zammit Cutajar PRINTER Print-it DISTRIBUTION Bi-monthly with The Malta Independent on Sunday, and in clinics, hair and beauty salons and pharmacies.

ADVERTISING Lily Agius – Standard Publica ons Ltd. T 2134 5888 ext 131. E lagius@independent.com.mt SALES CO ORDINATOR/ARTWORK COLLECTION Chris ne Mifsud – Standard Publica ons Ltd. T 2134 5888 ext 138 PUBLISHER Standard Publica ons Ltd, Standard House, Birkirara Hill, St Julian’s STJ1149, Malta.

T (356) 2134 5888 F (356) 2134 6062, 2134 3460 The informa on in this magazine should not be used as a subs tute for the care and advice of a health professional. Appropriate treatment varies according to an individual’s par cular condi on and circumstances. Self-diagnosis is risky, especially in the case of serious condi ons.

All rights reserved. Reproduc on of this magazine in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without the wri en consent of Standard Publica ons Ltd. A&H’s publishers cannot be held responsible for any ac on taken without the advice of a medical specialist. The opinions expressed in this publica on are not necessarily those of the publishers or the editor. While every a empt has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher and the editor cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions from ar cles, adver sing, photographs or illustra ons, for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other material, or for submissions of any kind, whether delivered electronically or by conven onal mail, which are lost or damaged in transit.

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LIVING & LOVING

Photograph: Pippa Zammit Cutajar

March 2014

4

LIVING & LOVING

Every anniversary, Josette reminds herself how important a mother’s intuition is

RUNNING FOR HER LIFE

JOSETTE FALZON IS A MUM WITH A MISSION. SHE’S RAISING AWARENESS OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS, AND FUNDS TO HELP BEAT THE DISEASE. INTERVIEW BY SUZANNE BONELLO.

t

he first me I had heard Jose e Falzon’s name was when she ran the London Marathon to raise funds for cys c fibrosis research. At present, there is no cure for this condi on. Hopefully, with more awareness, more funds for research will be raised and a cure found.

Seven years ago, Jose e lost a friend to cys c fibrosis. She had promised her friend she would run the Malta marathon to raise funds, and so she did, followed by the London Full Marathon in 2011 Jose e’s name is now closely associated with the fight to see off CF, as it's known. She tells me running that first race was terribly exci ng. I, a non-runner, can only take my hat off to her and all others who run, especially if they do it to raise money for their charity of choice. She describes the London Marathon as amazing, with people choking the streets for miles on end, cheering the runners on. Shivers of vicarious excitement run through me. I am all ears as she speaks.

This year Jose e and her daughter will be flying out to London together, but this me Jose e will be cheering from the sidelines. Three of her friends will be running the marathon to raise funds to see off CF. The Falzon girls will be suppor ng Mark Gaglione, E enne Camenzuli and Stefan Borg. Good luck gentlemen, and thank you.

Beyond the public image, who is Jose e and what makes her ck? This young mum is mother to Francesca, who is now thirteen and a half. She loves food but not cooking, enjoys a good film but doesn’t watch TV. She walks marathons but doesn’t like exercising much. She enjoys silence but adores being the life and soul of a party. She loves having people around her and her circle of friends are

very important to her, but once a week, for the en re day, it is strictly mother and daughter me.

Franny was born one lovely August day and the world smiled.

Her mother's laughter lines must have changed to worry lines a er a while as the li le baby did not seem to be growing. She was small, and cried incessantly.

Visits to the pediatrician proved fu le. This baby was feeding and soiling her nappy at the same me, and even as a first me mum, Jose e knew something was wrong.

“Babies are like ducks”, she was told, “they poop a lot”. When her li le baby was four and a half months old, Jose e shared her worries with a straight talking friend, also called Francesca, who did exactly what any friend would do. She gave her a telling off and told her, in no uncertain terms, that a mother’s intui on was the most important thing she had, and to act on it.

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March 2014

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LIVING & LOVING

Photograph: Pippa Zammit Cutajar

The very next day Jose e took her baby girl to see another doctor. Adult Francesca’s rant had paid off and baby Francesca was diagnosed with cys c fibrosis a er the ini al consulta on showed that all the main pointers for CF were present. Tests finally confirmed the ini al diagnosis. This was on 23rd December. Every anniversary, Jose e reminds herself how important a mother’s intui on is.

Franny is now a teen like any other. There are mes when she has to spend a while in hospital but she loves it as she knows everyone there, and, I should say, everyone knows her, and has done since Franny was four and a half months old. She loves having a room with a TV all to herself and nurses popping in to say hello and see if there is anything she needs. She takes medica on daily and has a moan about it every so o en. “Surely she knows it’s for her own good!” I ask. Jose e grins. “Yes, she does, but she’s a teen isn’t she, and they tend to moan about everything!” comes the swi reply.

That’s Jose e for you – all smiles and posi vity.

Jose e exudes posi ve energy and is decent to the core. Her friends a est to that. She is loyal, and hardworking. This is apparent in her fundraising. She organises two major events a year. The marathon, where some run but she and her crowd walk, and a social event in November, which is a blast.

For such a relaxed individual she is a perfec onist when it comes to organiza on.

She leaves nothing to chance, and ensures

Photograph: Jonathan Borg

6

March 2014

everything runs smoothly, down to the niest detail.

Year a er year, she pores over the events and tries to see how she can improve on the formula which makes her success what it is. Last November, her event was a ended by over 800 people, who braved the terrible weather, knowing that they were going to raise money for a great cause and have a fantas c me to boot.

To date she has raised Eur 200,000, which goes to The Cys c Fibrosis UK Trust. Her efforts are reless and she will only rest when a cure is found. Will she keep running? Jose e has run 2 half marathons in Malta and full marathon in London. The other marathons are walkathons. But she leaves me with a smile and a promise: “If they find a cure for CF, I will run the London Marathon again”. I, for one, will be cheering her on when it happens.

›‹

WHAT IS CYSTIC FIBROSIS? Cys c fibrosis is an inherited disease.

It is characterised by a build-up of thick s cky mucus that can damage many of the body's organs. The features and severity of the disease differ among individuals. Many people are able to live well into adulthood because of improved treatment and management of symptoms. Currently, there is no known cure.

SEE OFF CF Donate to cys c fibrosis research at h p://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/cfmalta

Her mother’s laughter lines must have changed to worry lines after a while as the little baby did not seem to be growing

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LIFE & Style

Are you a

SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICT?

SOCIALISING ONCE MEANT MEETING UP IN PERSON, CHATTING AND RESPONDING TO EACH OTHER’S FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND GESTURES. NOW, WE ‘MEET’ OTHERS, GOSSIP, INVESTIGATE AND CHAT THROUGH A SCREEN. IT’S FUN AND FASCINATING, BUT HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? TAKE OUR QUIZ TO FIND OUT WHETHER YOU’RE ADDICTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA. alarm rings; it’s time to 1 The wake up. You: a. prepare a cup of coffee and run a bath; b.wake up your better half; c. check your mobile phone for any new notifications.

2 3

On the way to work, you stop to: a. buy the daily newspaper; b.pick up your office colleague who lives just down the road; c. check the news online and post a comment.

Today it is your sister’s birthday. You: a. call her at work to wish her a happy birthday; b.meet up for lunch during break; c. post a message on her Facebook wall.

work someone says that a 4 Atfamous actor has just passed away. You: a. phone a friend of yours whom you know is a fan; b.discuss his latest movie with colleagues during a coffee break; c. log onto Facebook and post a comment ending in RIP.

are watching the 5 You Eurovision Song Festival on TV with a group of friends. You: a. are more interested in the set-up of the show than in the songs; b.engage in an on-going discussion; c. post a comment after each and every song, and share video links.

you’re out having a pizza on a Saturday night, your 6 While mobile phone is: a. in your jacket pocket; b.in your friend’s bag; c. right next to your plate on the table.

you go for a picnic in the 7 When countryside you: a. take a good book with you and sometimes check the latest football scores; b.organise games and encourage your friends to go for a long walk; c. take photos of everything and upload them in a new album.

your partner / parent / 8 Does employer ever complain that you are spending too much time looking at your mobile phone? a. rarely; b.never; c. constantly.

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March 2014

RESULTS Mostly A’s You acknowledge the use and advantages of social media. You make use of these sites to inform yourself, pass on messages and share information which might be of interest to others. At times, you tend to gossip and chat but you are always in control and know when to quit and go back to normal life. You set your priorities and are not influenced easily by what you read or see.

Mostly B’s You certainly are no fan of social media and probably do not have a Facebook or Twitter account. To some, you might seem strange, but you can be sure that others admire you and look forward to being in your company. You still appreciate personal bonds and communication and feel that you want to understand deeply the person you are with. You feel you are missing nothing by not seeing your friend’s vacation photos or your neighbour’s new baby online.

Mostly C’s You definitely are a social media addict and feel lost if your mobile phone’s battery is flat for just a couple of minutes. You need to control yourself to avoid becoming isolated in the physical world. You might be in contact with thousands of friends with whom you chat but, at the same time, if you never meet, you can never be sure whether these persons are real friends or not. Try to go out once in a while without being connected to the internet. Engage in discussions and avoid tapping your smart phone or taking photos all the time. Memories of a good laugh with friends don’t need to be photographed for them to last forever.

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FOOD & NUTRITION

cu�ing

DOWN TO SIZE WEIGHT CONTROL DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN STARVING YOURSELF, DANIELA ALLEN REPORTS

t

he post-vacation, post-binge feeling is all too familiar. You’re desperate to shrink back – instantly – to the weight you were before. Some take up a demanding exercise regime. Others try eating less, start out on a detox diet, go lactosefree, eat high-protein / low-carb meals, or cut down on sugar.

Different people need different plans, depending on their lifestyle, habits and preferences. Christine Busuttil, a nutritional therapist, explains how to lose that post-binge weight. She empathises and says getting back on track after the holidays or after a period of binging can be challenging, but that it’s not an impossible task.

“If your diet has included a significant amount of sugar over a number of days or weeks it is sometimes hard to break this habit, since sugar is fairly addictive,” she says. To break the sugar habit, she advises a two-week cleanse regime which generally eliminates not only sugar but other common allergens and stimulants too.

“The two-week cleanse eliminates wheat, sugar,

caffeine, eggs and dairy from your diet. The first three days can be a bit challenging depending on how much you have over indulged. However, after that you start to feel great and full of energy,” she says.

Ms Busuttil explains that during those two weeks, the diet is based heavily on fruit, vegetable protein and fish, and also includes some rice. “The cleanse helps you get back on track, eliminates the sugar cravings and allows you to resume a healthy eating plan. I would definitely not recommend a juice-only or vegetable cleanse since this can be quite unhealthy.”

Busuttil’s idea of healthy eating is based on a diet that includes all food groups; eating food that is as unprocessed as possible, watching portion sizes and ensuring that 60% of any meal is made up of vegetables. “Eating five small meals a day will help keep your metabolism working optimally and ensure you don't binge when it is time to eat,” she says.

Meanwhile, she says that low-fat animal protein and vegetable protein are very important since protein keeps you feeling full for a long time. It also helps sustain muscle mass, contains the amino acids

Eating five small meals a day will help keep your metabolism working optimally 10

March 2014

FOOD & NUTRITION

your body needs, helps maintain insulin levels and is necessary for cell repair. This way of eating does not mean you completely eliminate carbohydrates.

“The aim,” Busuttil insists “is a balanced, clean diet.”

No one system suits everyone so someone who has extensively studied nutrition is in a better position to give more accurate advice than was ever previously possible.

Individuals seeking advice about weight loss or healthy eating should contact a formally qualified nutritionist, nutrition therapist or dietician, she emphasises: “Having personally lost weight, being skinny or eating healthily means you have personal

experience but it does not equip you to give advice to others.”

“There is no magic bullet,” Busuttil says, “though I understand that is what everyone is looking for.” She says fad diets work only in the short term. The best way to sort weight issues out is to seek professional help: “Weight loss and control follow a healthy eating plan which you can see yourself following for the rest of your life not a few short weeks or months.”

Christine Busuttil holds a BSc degree in nutritional therapy and is registered with the Complementary and Health Care Council in the UK. She is a Fellow of the UK’s Royal Society of Medicine, and a member of British Society of Nutrition Therapists.

Fad diets promise to help you lose weight quickly. Those who really want weight loss, especially after a vacation or a binge are most likely to succumb to them. Weight loss might well occur, but it is likely to creep back once the quick-fix diet is stopped.

Ms Busuttil says that though there might be some weight loss, dieters should ask themselves whether the diet is sustainable over a lifetime.

Losing excess weight and maintaining an ideal weight is about finding a system that works long term on an individual basis. Ideally, it should include some form of exercise and should not be a plan that works for months or weeks.

Busuttil says that any eating plan which eliminate entire food groups, such as those that require the complete elimination of protein or carbohydrate, is unhealthy because of the loss of essential vitamins and minerals.

Dairy-free or gluten-free diets, on the other hand, are not necessarily harmful as there are many product substitutes on the market. “However, one may want to ask themselves if this is indeed necessary,” Busuttil cautions.

“To determine whether a gluten-free and dairy-free diet is best for you, you may want to try an elimination diet similar to the cleanse I mentioned above. This can help determine if gluten or dairy are really bothering you.” For instance, you may find out that cow's milk upsets your system and causes bloating, but natural Greek yogurt doesn't.

Removing these items and reintroducing them one at a time, allowing a few days in between the reintroduction of each, will better help one determine if a gluten-free or dairyfree diet is indeed the best choice.

Asked about the Paleo diet, which is gluten-free and limits the intake of dairy products, and the 5:2 diet which calls for fasting, when only 500 calories are allowed, Ms Busuttil says there is not enough scientific evidence supporting these two plans, so she doesn’t recommend or support them.

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March 2014

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FOOD & NUTRITION

6

UNHEALTHY FOODS

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT YOUR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TIME SNACKS. ‘HEALTHY’ FOOD ISN’T ALWAYS WHAT IT SEEMS.

1 Mixed nuts and fruit

Unless you’re taking certain types of medication or are on a low-fat or low-sugar diet for health reasons, snacking on nuts and fruit is fine. They contain essential microingredients and can provide a much-needed energy boost when you’re on the go. But not all nuts and fruit are equal, and nut-and-fruit mixes can be the worst offenders. Ready-mixed nuts often contain extra salt. Dried fruit concentrates sugar content. Extra treats, like chocolate-, sugar- or yogurt coated nuts and berries are often stirred into the mix.

A few handfuls of those and you could be adding several spoonfuls of refined sugar and several hundred extra empty calories to your daily diet. Shop with care or mix your own. Bypass ready-mixed packs that include coated nuts and fruit. Pick unsalted nuts and cut back on the dried fruit to reduce the overall sugar content.

2 Energy bars

The instant energy fix in your pocket or handbag isn’t as healthy as you might think. The packaging can be deceptive, so take a closer look at the ingredients label when shopping. You’ll often find that energy bars are packed with salt, fat and extra sugar. “90% fat-free” means each bar contains 10% fat. “Natural goodness” could mean your favourite snack is loaded with high-calorie syrup or honey – bad news if you’re on a calorie-controlled or lowsugar diet.

3 Morning muesli

A bowlful of grains and fruit splashed with low-fat milk seems far healthier than sugary processed cereals or a traditional greasy fry-up. But that’s only if you choose carefully. Glossy, attractive packaging doesn’t tell you what you need to know, unless you take a close look at the ingredients label. Many types of prepackaged muesli contain high amounts of fat and added sugar – not the best ingredients for a healthy start to the day. Choose carefully or mix your own. You’ll find grains and seeds at most good supermarkets.

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March 2014

4 Tuna sushi

Weight gain isn’t the only food risk. When tucking into sushi, you save on calories but eat too much of it and your mercury levels could shoot up, which affects your neurological health. An occasional sushi meal isn’t anything to worry about, but a daily sushi habit isn’t a good idea. If you’re pregnant, avoid tuna sushi and all other raw fish altogether.

5 Ready-made salads

When eating out, salads aren’t always the best option if you’re trying to avoid extra fat and excess calories. The basic ingredients might be drenched in calorie-laden dressing, tossed with fatty mayonnaise or contain non-lean meat or fatty cheese. That’s fine, if that’s what you want, but not if you’re trying to avoid fat or cut down on your calorie-intake. When ordering a salad, ask what the ingredients are or have the dressing served on the side so you can add as much as you want. If you normally buy a takeaway salad to eat at your desk, pick one with a light dressing served on the side. Or else, save cash and calories by making up your own at home.

6 Wraps

With their thin bread, fine slices of meat, and lots of salad leaves, wraps look like a health-freak’s dream meal-on-the-go. But they could pack a meal-sized portion of calories into a snack that leaves you craving more within a short while. The flat bread’s usually made of refined flour, which doesn’t give you much fibre to keep you feeling full. If the bread’s stuffed with preserved meat and cheese, then you’re taking in more salt and fat than you might want in what is just a snack. For taste, choose wraps made with mustard rather than mayonnaise, pick whole-grain wraps over ones made with white flour and look for wraps filled with vegetables, rather than cheese.

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MIND & MINDFULNESS

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March 2014

MIND & MINDFULNESS

Resilience is strongly linked to emotional intelligence – the ability to understand, name and respond effectively to your emotions

BOUNCING BACK

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IS A PROCESS, NOT A PERSONALITY TRAIT. MARK XUEREB EXPLAINS WHY.

r

Fall seven times and stand up eight.

– Japanese proverb

esilient people are like emotional rubber bands-stretched to the limit by life, without ultimately breaking, eventually bouncing back into something that resembles their previous shape.

Resilience grows out of exposure to adversity and an individual’s positive behavioural adjustment to it. It involves an individual’s capability to adapt to current circumstances without compromising on personal principles.

Difficult times and challenges affect us by increasing our stress levels. During these times, our ability to cope depends on our ability to handle different types and levels of stress. The triggers are many and varied: bereavement, divorce or relationship problems, redundancy or work related problems, to name just a few.

We feel stressed when we perceive the challenge we are facing to be beyond our ability to cope. This is demonstrated by the fact that we are not all stressed out by the same circumstances. Some stress can be beneficial because it drives us and helps us to get things done. Extreme stress can have negative effects on our mental health and on our physical health too, causing heart disease, low immunity, and hormonal problems among other things.

Several studies show that having a positive outlook is a very good coping strategy. Resilient people avoid seeing crises as insurmountable problems. Since we cannot change the fact that stressful situations happen, we have to change how we interpret and respond to these events.

Looking to the future with hope, believing that things will get better and also recalling difficult situations which we have successfully survived, will make us

feel better. A realistic sense of perspective and avoiding blowing things out of proportion helps keep us stable.

Accepting change is also an important factor in coping. Accepting circumstances that cannot be changed can help you focus on those you can alter.

As a result of difficult circumstances, we may have to accept that certain goals are no longer attainable.

For instance, a severe injury may prevent one from achieving a career in sports but the person’s ability to make other positive plans will determine how he comes through the challenge – with a positive mental attitude or as a broken man.

Having goals and taking decisive actions to achieve these goals helps you to feel you are in control. Often, people who react negatively to stressful situations feel powerless in the face of them. Being powerless is a prelude to rapid psychological decompensation. The effect is so strong that, in its extreme form, being powerless can overwhelm the person to the extent that he may resort to violence against himself or others.

Resilient individuals take control and plan how they are going to deal with the hand they have been dealt. Taking small steps and celebrating small achievements along the way will help to promote feelings of positivity and an attitude of “I can do this.”

Skillful emotional resilience results from two thought-patterns in particular.

One is a habit of seeing situations in terms of what is good rather than just what is problematic in them. The second is rapid switching from a brief initial expression of emotions to problem-solving.

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March 2014

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MIND & MINDFULNESS Problem-solvers boost their morale initially by looking for a way to see the bright side. They are experts at gratitude, using it to reframe their dilemma by looking at what they felt thankful for.

I remember once watching an Italian patient who had just been operated upon for a brain tumour and who developed partial paralysis of his body after the operation. “At least I am alive,” he said “It could have been worse.”

For couples, resilience is the ability to quickly move from annoyance or frustration to figuring what to do about the problem situation. No time for attributing blame or hiding in shame. Resilience is ability to respond to disappointments and annoyances, as well as to tragedies and catastrophes, with optimally quick recovery.

Emotional resilience is the sequence of mental actions that enable you, when you feel “bent out of shape”, to return to your earlier feeling that you and the world are reasonably fine. I remember during my exam days when we had various clinical stations to perform within a time frame. There was a clinical task at each station. Then the bell rang and we quickly had to shift to another scenario. In this case, resilience implied forgetting about what was done, i.e. the

The following factors determine our ability to cope with stress.

• The capacity to make realistic plans and take steps to carry them out.

• Having a positive view of oneself and confidence in one’s strengths and abilities.

• Good communication and problem-solving skills.

• Emotional intelligence and the ability to control strong feelings and impulses.

TURNING ADVERSITY INTO SUCCESS J. K. Rowling, writer of the Harry Potter books, made it through a broken marriage, disapproval from her parents, and poverty that bordered on homelessness and which sent her back to her first dream of writing because she had nothing left to lose. “Failure stripped away everything inessential,” she says. “It taught me things about myself I could have learned no other way.”

Apple Founder Steve Jobs dropped out of college, was fired from the company he founded, and battled cancer, but didn’t give up.

“I have failed over and over and over again, and that is why I succeed,” said Michael Jordan—as did Oprah Winfrey, Walt Disney, Henry Ford, Winston Churchill, and Thomas Edison, in slightly different words.

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past, and focusing on the present. This is another way of developing a resilient mind.

Of course, once any situation is over, learning from our mistakes can help make us more resilient in future situations. Desist from pointing fingers. This will only fuel negative emotions and stop you looking at options to handle a future crisis.

In sports, at work, at home in couple and family situations, and throughout your life, resilience enables you to feel better sooner, and to solve problems in a way that makes the future look positive. Admitting that we are all on a learning curve will help us bounce back time and time again.

Ultimately, resilience is strongly linked to emotional intelligence — the ability to understand, name and respond effectively to your emotions. The good news is that it is a skill you learn and build. In the words of the famous car maker Henry Ford, “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”

Dr. Mark Xuereb is a psychiatrist and university lecturer with a special interest in crisis management and emergency medicine.

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Different individuals need different ways of reducing stress. The American Psychological Association recommends the following, as research shows they are effective in reducing stress in the short and long terms.

Taking a break

Social support

Taking care of oneself and taking time away from the actual problem could be beneficial.

Time out allows one to gain a new perspective or practice coping techniques. This is why it is healthy to go on holiday. It is also important to engage in enjoyable activities and hobbies such as gardening, reading, or handcrafts. Likewise, a massage or a day in a spa can work wonders.

Sharing one’s concerns and feelings with another person, be it a friend or family member, can help relieve stress. Social support can also be gained by joining an organisation or group. It is extremely important though to open up to a person whom you can trust and who will be understanding. Many studies show that the primary factor in resilience is having caring and supportive relationships within and outside the family. Relationships that supply love and trust, provide role models and offer encouragement and reassurance, help bolster a person’s resilience.

Exercise Exercise is an excellent stress reducer.

There is a growing amount of evidence that supports this. The physical advantages of exercise are well known, and the associated release of hormones helps us feel good and reenergised. For the best results, exercise should be vigorous. As a rule of thumb, this implies sweating and not being able to hold a conversation. You will feel exhausted initially but the feeling of relaxation you achieve afterwards is priceless.

Humour Research shows that smiling and laughing are beneficial in managing stressful situations. Since stress often results in tension around the face, relaxing the muscles in the face through laughter can help reduce the tension and improve the situation.

Meditation Prayer and meditation help the mind and body to relax and focus. Mindfulness can help people see new perspectives, develop selfcompassion and forgiveness. When practicing a form of mindfulness, people can release emotions that may have been causing the body physical stress. Much like exercise, research has shown that even meditating briefly can reap immediate benefits. Yoga and meditation help one to discover oneself, increasing feelings of self worth, a greater sense of strength even while feeling vulnerable and a more developed spirituality and heightened appreciation for life.

LIFE & STYLE

NINE MONTHS ON, NINE MONTHS OFF Heidi Klum motivated herself into exercising by taking photographs of herself every week to be able to see and enjoy her progress

b

ecoming pregnant is a double-edged sword. For the majority of women, becoming a mother is the ultimate dream. On the other hand, putting on weight for nine months and then trying to shed it quickly (they say it takes another nine months) is not much fun. Not all women are bothered about this but every woman would admit that, deep down in her heart, she wishes she could fit into her old pair of skinny jeans or get away with wearing the latest bikini soon after giving birth.

Tabloids and fashion magazines are full of pictures of celebrity mothers who miraculously make that extra weight disappear as if by magic right after

giving birth. Celebrities have all the time in the world to think about themselves and their own figures. They are surrounded by professional people who help plan their day for them. But we should also add another disposition which famous women often have – they are determined and motivated to make it since looking good is the top requirement for their careers.

Not being a celebrity and not having to look tiptop all the time doesn’t mean we can’t be motivated to look good and feel good. Try to plan your day and fit in some simple exercises which you can do while your baby is sleeping. Going for a daily walk will also help. We suggest you take advice from your doctor about the type of exercise you can do and what foods you should and must eat. A little help and support from your loved ones will give you the boost you need.

HOW DID THEY DO THAT? How celebrity mummies look good months – or even weeks – after giving birth.

1. Breastfeeding

3. Exercise

Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow credit breastfeeding for their losing weight rapidly (that’s in addition to Paltrow’s famously rigorous exercise routine). Women burn 500 calories a day producing breast milk when breastfeeding. Apart from creating a bond with your baby (or babies, in the case of J-Lo who had twins), breastfeeding has many other benefits, both physical and emotional.

Breastfeeding has to be coupled with a good diet for the benefit of both mother and baby.

Remember the stunning photos of the Duchess of Cambridge only weeks after giving birth to Prince George? The former Kate Middleton’s secret is regular exercise. She herself confessed to going to the gym and jogging regularly. She did not opt for a crash diet but limited herself to healthy snacks throughout the day. There are different forms of exercise which new mothers can engage in (doctors recommend waiting until six weeks after giving birth). Former Spice girl Mel B found dancing is the best option. Scary Spice believes in listening to her body to balance her daily activities. Other celebrities take up martial arts training, yoga, swimming and that most accessible form of exercise – walking.

2. Dieting Celebrities are all into dieting. They have the luxury of being surrounded by professional nutritionists who help plan their daily food intake.

Catherine Zeta Jones followed the Atkins diet by eating more lowcarbohydrate and high protein foods like lean meats, fish and vegetables.

Other stars do not follow any particular diet but stick to low-fat foods, include protein foods in every meal, and drink water regularly. Doctors recommend that new mothers should not follow any strict diets because they need energy to cope with body changes and the hectic life that a new baby brings.

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4. Aim and goals Looking forward to achieving something makes you more determined to succeed. Celebrities might have a movie contract in the pipeline which they don’t want to lose. The Duchess of Cambridge might have to attend official occasions where her presence is obligatory. Model Heidi Klum believes in controlling the mind. She never liked exercise but, after having a baby, she motivated herself into exercising by taking photographs of herself every week to be able to see and enjoy her progress.

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CARE & AWARENESS

eyes

RIGHT

OF ALL FIVE SENSES, MOST PEOPLE FEAR LOSING THEIR SIGHT. YET OUR MOST SENSITIVE ORGANS ARE TAKEN FOR GRANTED, RATHER THAN GIVEN THE ATTENTION AND CARE THEY NEED. DANIELA ALLEN REPORTS.

d

o you remember being told, as a child, to eat your carrots and green leafy vegetables because “they are healthy and good for your eyes”? The grown ups were right. Eye health starts with a healthy diet and lifestyle.

“The eyes are an integral part of the human body.

They need to be protected by eating a balanced diet with some emphasis on vitamin A,” says consultant eye surgeon, Mr Melvin Gouder.

Eating a well-balanced diet helps to maintain a healthy weight. Consequently this makes one less likely to get obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, a leading cause of blindness in adults.

Beyond food choices, lifestyle choices can affect eye health. “For example,” Mr Gouder says, “smoking and high cholesterol are associated with

increased risks for eye diseases related to circulation in the retina area.” It follows that kicking the smoking habit and lowering bad cholesterol boosts our chances of long term eye health.

Ensuring a healthy vitamin A intake is just the start.

Eye health and safety mean more than good nourishment. Be aware of eye health and act on any symptoms you notice. Always seek professional advice if you suspect something’s wrong. What you might dismiss as nothing to worry about might be or can develop into something serious.

Protect your eyes from one of the most common causes of eye damage. In a country like Malta where the sun shines practically all year round, a good pair of sunglasses is essential. The use of poor quality sunglasses is always at the cost of your eye health.

Sunglasses are more than a fashion accessory. They safeguard the health of your eyes and the

surrounding tissue. Just as the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage skin, they can also harm the lens and cornea of the eyes.

Good sunglasses are like good sunscreen. They filter out harmful rays and play a vital role in shielding the fragile tissue around the eye. This skin, including the eyelid itself, is very thin and vulnerable to cancer. On the vanity front, proper sunglasses shield you against the formation of wrinkles caused

by UV exposure.

Mr Gouder who feels very strongly about the subject warns that “Poor quality sunglasses are made from poor quality material. This scratches easily, warps, changes shape in different circumstances and will have doubtful UV protection.” CE-marked glasses are always the safest and the best, he emphasises. The CE mark proves they conform to the European Community Standard.

HOW TO CHOOSE SUNGLASSES

Melvin Gouder recommends a 4-point test when choosing sunglasses.

1. FRAME SIZE The bigger the frame the more protection around the eye. UV rays have damaging effects not only on the eyes’ internal structures but also the delicate skin surrounding the eyes, especially in women where the skin layers tend to be thinner.

2. PRESENCE OF UV FILTER The sign UV400 means that the filter in the spectacle glasses blocks anything below the 400nm light (UV). UV is associated with ageing effects on the eye and risk of skin tumours on eyelids. There is proper instrumentation to check whether spectacle lenses have a UV filter and in 22

March 2014

what percentage they are able to block UV rays.

3. TINT Sunglasses are tinted to varying degrees and in various hues. Tinted lenses do not necessarily incorporate a UV filter. However, the darker the tint, the less the glare and dazzle effects on the eye.

4. POLARISED FILTER A polarized filter is more for comfort than for protection. It works to neutralise reflections off shiny surfaces like car bonnets and windows. Polarised glasses are especially suitable for those who like boating as they eliminate the rays reflected from the sea.

CARE & AWARENESS Photograph: Loredana Bejerita

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW 1. The CE mark on sunglasses proves they conform to the European Community Standard 2. Do not confuse the shade of the lenses with their ability to filter UV rays. Dark sunglasses may still allow UV rays to enter the eye.

3. UV protection has nothing to do with lens colour. It has everything to do with blasting radiation that can damage your eyes.

4. Anti-reflective coatings eliminate glare.

5. Impact-resistant lenses are essential for a sporty or active lifestyle as they are made from polycarbonate or toughened glass.

6. High-contrast lenses work like a graphic equaliser on a stereo: they balance pitches of light, helping the wearer to see things more naturally.

7. Wraparound styles further protect the eyes by helping to keep out peripheral glare.

8. Short sight (myopia) is where the eyeball is elongated or the lens is too thick, causing the image to focus in front of the retina.

9. Long sight is where the eyeball is too short or the lens too thin, causing the image to focus behind the retina.

10. Both long and short sightedness can be overcome by wearing glasses.

Smoking and high cholesterol are associated with increased risks for eye diseases related to circulation in the retina area EATING FOR EYE HEALTH Foods that contain vitamin A are essential to eye health as, among other things, they help nourish the surface linings of your eyes.

Vitamin A rich foods include: Sweet potato, carrots, liver (veal), spices (paprika, cayenne, chilli powder), dried apricots, hard goat cheese, green peas, butternut squash, romaine lettuce, fresh herbs (parsley), dried herbs (mint), zucchini, watercress, passion fruit, butter, silken tofu, tomatoes, eggs (yolks), fortified oatmeal and milk.

EYE SAFETY AWARENESS Prevent injury while practicing sports or at your place of work. One practical tip is to ensure that, whenever required, you wear proper protective gear or masks.

We cannot completely prevent common eye problems such as infections, red eyes and other conditions. These can be easily treated, but rely on professional advice, rather than self-medication.

Congenital disorders that are coded into the individual’s genetic makeup need particular attention. If you know there is a relative of yours who has had a serious eye condition such as glaucoma, inform your doctor so that you can be screened accordingly.

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March 2014

23

SEX & RELATIONSHIPS

don’t MIND

THE GAP

i

am proud to say that I have developed an honest relationship with my daughter. It’s the type of relationship which, unfortunately, I did not have with my parents. I try to think with my daughter’s mind, although it would be better if I tried to guess what is in her heart.

When my daughter menstruated for the first time, it was a shock for me even though it had to happen sometime. My first thought was, “my little girl is becoming a woman”. But this shock made me realise that now a new parenting phase was starting and, if I faced it with courage and strength, the experience would be as exciting and rewarding as her childhood years were.

I believe that parents need help with parenting.

Children don’t come into this world equipped with a manual of instructions. Becoming a parent is a road of discovery. My husband and I accepted all the help which was offered to us through meetings organised at my daughter’s school and even by our parish, so we felt better prepared.

I worry a lot, especially when she goes out with her friends, but I try not to look tense in front of her. I explain to her that we believe in her strength but then we let go.

Posed by models

NATHALIE*, MOTHER OF A 15 YEAR OLD GIRL

ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHAT’S ACCEPTABLE CLOTHING, HOW MUCH MAKE UP IS TOO MUCH OR WHETHER A HAIRDO IS STYLISH OR FREAKY ARE AN UNCHANGING FEATURE OF FAMILY LIFE. AS CHILDREN GROW INTO ADOLESCENCE, ARGUMENTS OFTEN INTENSIFY AROUND ISSUES INVOLVING RELIGION, MONEY MANAGEMENT AND SEXUALITY. HOW DO PARENTS COPE? A&H MET THREE PARENTS OF ADOLESCENTS TO FIND OUT HOW THEY VIEW SEXUALITY GENERALLY AND HOW THEY RELATE TO THEIR CHILDREN’S CHANGING LIVES.

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I worry a lot, especially when she goes out with her friends, but I try not to look tense in front of her March 2014

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SEX & RELATIONSHIPS Posed by models

A&H COMMENTS

Regarding sexuality, I am sure that my daughter knows much more than what I try to explain to her.

As do many of the girls her age, she follows all these celebrities and has some role-models whom she tries to imitate. I try to follow as well to strike up a discussion over breakfast or supper.

I point out the good things these celebrities do, for example that they managed to graduate and succeed in their show-business career at the same time. Whenever we watch a music video which includes some really bad sexual content, I try to pass on the message of how ridiculous these actors seem. I want her to appreciate the richness of the human body. At times she agrees with me but some days, especially when she has one of her moods, she just shrugs and glares.

I believe that this journey will be full of ups and downs but I want to do my best, together with my husband, to help her and guide her to enjoy this special period of her life without restricting her too much.

ANTHONY*, FATHER OF 13 YEAR OLD TWINS A BOY AND A GIRL Seeing my children starting their secondary school years shook me. I had been used to them going to the same school together. Then, suddenly, three years ago, they separated and each one of them discovered a new environment and new friends. It was as if someone whispered in my ear, “Hey, they are grown-ups now.”

I am worried sick about them all the time. It might be because I am a single father and so I have no one to share my worries with. Now that they are thirteen years old, they don’t want to stay at their grandma’s house anymore after school. They want to wait for me at our home. There was a major flare-up between me and them, when my daughter asked for the house keys for the first time.

My colleagues and siblings all encouraged me to allow my children to stay home alone, but at work I could not concentrate and I kept calling them every half an hour to check on them. I notice that they are becoming more rebellious as they grow older and it is becoming easier for them to speak back to me, sometimes in an arrogant way. Till now they have not started to go out with friends. That is something I’ll have to worry about later on.

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Parents tend to think that their children are not interested in sex but that other children are. It is not easy for a father to think about his precious daughter as sexually attractive to boys and men, even though all parents like to think of their children as being the most attractive and beautiful.

Many parents find it difficult to believe that their children are actually thinking about their bodies, their pleasures and their feelings. Some keep postponing the discussion about sex even though children start to ask questions from an early age about the way babies come into the world.

Parents have to realise that, nowadays, explanations involving harbours and ships, hospital shops and storks are obsolete. Easy access to the media makes it easy for children to get the information they want.

Unfortunately, the information they pick up might be incorrect, incomplete or misleading. It is better to open up and discuss things with your children before they start to experiment based on what they read on the web or in glossy magazines.

Another important point is that parents should not blame their children’s friends for their own child’s behaviour.

It’s best to have an ongoing discussion about sexual matters.

There is no need to plan a big breaking-the-news session covering everything from anatomy and the risk of sexually transmitted infections to unintended pregnancy, the benefits of abstinence, and the importance of using contraception. Informal, impromptu conversations work best and will make your children – and you – feel comfortable talking about the subject.

To end on a positive note, it is natural for parents to want to keep their children safe and provide them with everything they need for a great life ahead. Worrying is part and parcel of a parent’s life. Controlling your emotions and creating a positive atmosphere within the family is the best way to handle whatever comes your way.

Regarding sexuality, I don’t recollect one single moment when this topic was brought up. My mother explained to my daughter about the changes expected in a woman but I am not sure whether it has happened already or not.

What worries me is my son’s attitude towards women. Being brought up without a mother figure I am confused about whether he will seek a woman’s comfort and attention or else show disrespect towards women. Now, I have to do my best to spend some quality time with him alone, but because I work full-time and I take care of the house as well, the possibility of quality time has been always postponed.

MARTHESE*, MOTHER OF A 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER I had my daughter when I was only 17 years old so we look more like two friends than like mother and daughter. I encourage my daughter to look good because I believe that if she looks good, she’ll feel good and that this will help her self-esteem and make her stronger. I speak openly with my daughter and she appreciates that, I am always ready to listen to her problems without judging her. I discuss her friends with her and also talk to her about how she pictures her boyfriend.

Regarding sexuality, I explained to her the significance and risks of sexual affairs but, based on my experience, I try to point out the importance of being cautious. I can’t tell her not to have any affairs because it will back-fire. But I try to make her see the dangers of having one-night stands – how the experience will affect her physically and emotionally and will also damage her reputation.

I talk quite openly with my daughter about sex.

Other parents might describe me as being too liberal, but keeping secrets from her and treating sex as taboo is more likely to arouse her curiosity to find out what this fuss is all about.

She knows everything about safe sex through our discussions. I’d rather she learned what she needs to know by talking to me, rather than hearing things from her friends or picking up unreliable information from the many rubbish sites on the internet. I feel that being able to talk to me will make her stronger and more careful about her own behaviour. *All names have been changed.

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NEWS & VIEWS

What is tooth whitening?

Tooth whitening involves bleaching your teeth to make them lighter in colour. The chemical used is hydrogen peroxide and its use is subject to conditions laid down in directive 76/768/EEC. Products containing or releasing more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide are considered unsafe to be used by consumers or non-dentists.

In a dental cosmetic procedure, dentists are permitted to use not more than 6% hydrogen peroxide. Power bleaching with laser or light gives an initially whiter result by dehydration of enamel. This whiter effect is lost in a couple of weeks.

In addition, the use of other, non-peroxide chemicals like perborates is not legally allowed as most of these products are very acidic and damage teeth. Tooth whitening is also deemed unsafe for patients under 18 years of age. In Malta, the relevant legislation came into force through legal notice LN192, cap.427.

Who can perform tooth whitening?

Tooth whitening is a form of dentistry. This means that you should only have your teeth whitened by a dentist. Some beauty salons offer tooth whitening, but this is illegal and it may put your oral and general health at risk.

What are the risks of home kits and salon tooth whitening?

With the new legislation limiting peroxide concentration to below 0.1%, over the counter home toothwhitening kits don’t contain enough of the whitening product to be very effective. More generally, if a dentist is not doing the whitening, the mouth tray carrying the gel provided may not fit properly so some of the bleaching gel may leak out onto your gums and into your mouth, causing poisoning, blistering and sensitivity.

How does tooth whitening work?

Hydrogen peroxide from the whitening gel breaks down into oxygen radicals. This free oxygen then migrates between the enamel prisms and enters the tooth, removing any colored molecules that cause tooth discoloration. These tiny oxygen radicals move in all directions and in this way the entire tooth is whitened whilst the tooth structure remains unharmed.

Why choose professional whitening?

Teaming up with your dentist is the healthiest way to get the whitening results you want. Your dentist will first examine your mouth and assess your oral health, and then prepare your mouth to receive the appropriate treatment.

Special recommendations often involve individualised treatment to control gum disease as well as tooth decay and sensitivity. The colour of dental restorations such as fillings, crowns and false teeth will not change with tooth whitening.

Considerations to changing these restorations post whitening are discussed before prescribing whitening.

Your dentist will monitor progress, treat any sensitivity issues arising and give advice on maintenance of the result.

Colour stability is expected to last for about a year, depending on oral hygiene and lifestyle.

Tea, coffee, smoking, and certain foods will stain teeth prematurely. Your dentist will help you keep your teeth clean and healthy and may prescribe top ups to maintain your result.

Tooth whitening works in 90% of cases. Using 6% hydrogen peroxide can lighten the shade of your natural teeth considerably without the undesirable false chalk-white, overbleached effect.

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SHADES ARE YOU CONSIDERING TOOTH WHITENING? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE COMMITTING TO TREATMENT.

3D GO WHITE 3D GO WHITE is a fast and easy treatment for sensitive smiles. This treatment combines everything that is now safe and healthy whitening.

o

nce the oral assessment and preparation are complete, the patient is dispensed with convenient, ready-to-use disposable trays containing the whitening gel. The gel is compliant with the new safety regulations and the 6% hydrogen peroxide formula is delivered in a unique ultra-fit tray which custom forms in the mouth using heat activated polymers.

The ultra-fit tray ensures maximum amount of gel staying in contact with the teeth and no unwanted spillage onto the gums or in the mouth. The gels contain a mix of potassium nitrate and fluoride according to the individual’s needs.

Potassium nitrate reduces sensitivity and fluoride reduces decay and strengthens tooth enamel. This personalised sequence of trays and gels helps to improve the overall health of the teeth. These trays are easy and comfortable to wear on the go. Wear times are about 60 minutes daily for 5 to 10 days.

Using 6% hydrogen peroxide can lighten the shade of your natural teeth considerably, choosing the degree of whitening, without the undesirable false chalk-white, over-bleached effect.

Maintenance of the result is easy using the correct brushing as advised. Special formulated toothpaste is also provided to help remove daily staining. The toothpaste also contains potassium nitrate and fluoride to keep your smile healthy and happy.

3d Dental Centre Independence Avenue, Mosta www.3ddental.info

NEWS & VIEWS

ES OF WHITE “There are HUNDREDS of languages around the world... but a Smile speaks them All...”

WIN

a tooth whitening treatment worth over €200 TREAT YOURSELF TO A CHANCE OF WINNING A BRIGHT NEW SMILE

BY ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING QUESTION. Home tooth whitening kits are more effective than whitening treatment by a dentist.

A.True B. False

Lip colours that whiten our teeth Lipstick is usually worn based on our mood and to match the colour of the outfits. However finding the perfect shade of lipstick can make the teeth appear whiter and brighter.

• The lips act as a frame for your smile.

• Bright true reds reflect the white of the teeth and enhance them.

• The darker lipstick colours offer a direct contrast and enhance the smile.

• FOR YELLOW TEETH – use cool toned lipstick with blue undertones, these counteract the yellow tinge of the teeth.

• Red and pink lipsticks stand out.

• Beige or orangey shades blend into discoloured teeth.

• Bright orange and yellow toned reds emphasize the yellow tones that can be in the teeth.

• Frosty lipsticks and mattes accentuate the stains in the teeth and make them look dull and lifeless.

• LIPSTICKS WITH BLUE UNDERTONE SHADES – bright pinks & reds – These pick up the reflective edging on the teeth making your smile appear whiter.

• Deep berry lipstick is perfect for winter.

• Cool purple blue undertones is the perfect contrast for making teeth appear whiter.

• SPARKLE IT UP – dab on opalescent illuminator on the cupid’s bow of your mouth. This allows the white luminescence to pick up reflection off your teeth.

• BRONZERS – sweep on a bronzer on the high points of your face – hairline, nosebridge, cheek bones and tip of your chin. The teeth will receive

an instant benefit to appear whiter.

• CLOTHES – wearing the right colours close to the fasce helps teeth look whiter.

• BRUNETTES – wear tops and scarves that are bright white or jewel toned colours – ruby red or emerald green.

• BLONDES – summery pastels.

• STRAWBERRY BLOND – wear spring colourstomatoe red.

• REDHEADS – autun shades – rust and off white • Save goldtones for the eyelids and avoid it near your lips or teeth.

• The shine from the gold resemble yellow which will accentuate stains making teeth appear darker yellow.

• Colours to avoid – lipsticks that have yellow or orange based tones such as red – orange, coral and brown hues, nudes, neutral pinks, peaches, frosted and matte finishes.

Send your reply by SMS to 50615101 by 15th April 2014. Include ‘teeth’ in your text message. Participants accept to receive commercial information from the sponsors of this competition.

Competition entries are only accepted

by SMS*. No entries will be accepted by email, post, phone or fax. Your contact number will automatically be attached to your message. The publisher’s decision is final. The prize will be awarded to the first correct entry drawn out of all those received up to 15th April 2014. No correspondence regarding the competition or prize draw will be entered into. Employees and immediate relatives of Watermelon Media and Communications Ltd. and Standard Publications Ltd. are excluded from participating in this competition.

A&H readers may enter all competitions in each issue of A&H as many times as they wish. All prizes will be awarded. However, to ensure a fair distribution of prizes, only one per winner will be awarded for each issue of A&H. *Each messages costs €0.58

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So if you want a white smile today, reach out for that perfect colour shade to make it happen.

March 2014

29

NEWS & VIEWS

bi�er SWEET t

JO CARUANA INVESTIGATES THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

here’s a lot of on-going talk about artificial sweeteners. On the one hand, we all know that we need to reduce our sugar intake as the risk of type-two diabetes is ever-prevalent. On the other hand, we know that we should avoid synthetic chemicals as much as possible, especially as they have been linked to issues such as seizures and depression, as well as diseases including Alzheimer’s and cancer.

The latter argument does pack quite a punch and automatically makes most people want to avoid artificial sweeteners, but that can be hard to do.

Somewhat annoyingly, artificial sweeteners are hidden in all sorts of foods – everything from fizzy drinks and cereals, to sugar-free chewing gum and jam.

“Artificial sweeteners come in many different forms but not all of them have equal calories. They are also made from many different chemical structures,” explains nutrition professional Julie Culley.

“The most common sweeteners used in food products are sugar alcohols, sucralose (which is probably the safest), saccharin, Rebiana, Neotame, Agave Nectar, high-fructose corn syrup and aspartame.

“All of them have been subject to years of scientific research, most of which has shown they are of very little benefit to humans when compared to natural sources.”

Julie Culley is very knowledgeable on the topic and, after much research, she believes we should avoid chemical sweeteners at all costs.

That seems to be advice worth taking on. Ms 30

March 2014

Culley has 19 years’ experience as a health and lifestyle coach in Australia, her home country, where she also ran a restaurant and winery.

Having settled in Malta in 2013, she recently launched Julesy’s Kitchen and now develops healthy ready meals for her diet-conscious clients.

Additionally, she provides counselling sessions on topics including ‘Juicing for Vitality’, ‘Performance Nutrition’ and ‘Diet Myths and Healthy Tricks’.

“Over the years I have noticed that it was actually my clients who used artificial sweeteners who suffered from sugar addiction, rather than the ones who had never used them all,” she says.

“Additionally, those clients often report binge eating patterns, increased weight gain, tiredness, joint problems and insomnia, among other common symptoms. Sadly, there can be more serious repercussions too, such as the ones mentioned above.”

In fact, artificial sweeteners have been linked to auto-immune disease, cancer, bloating, diarrhoea, DNA damage and obesity. Plus, recent studies have shown that some of these sweeteners actually block the taste receptors on our tongues that send the message to our brain telling us we have consumed calories. As a result, these studies have often concluded that people actually consume more calories after ingesting these artificial chemicals, as opposed to when they have had real sugar.

With that in mind, Julie, a passionate cook, says she has never used artificial sweeteners in her dishes, and would never use them.

“I believe everyone should be aware of what they are ingesting in calories and chemicals,” she continues. “My advice would be to choose sources that only come from nature.

The further that food gets away from its natural state, then the more harm you can assume will be done to you

NEWS & VIEWS

SWEETENER GUIDE Sugar alcohols Sorbitol, xylitol and mannitol are less sweet and contain fewer calories than sugar. They’re normally marketed as a sugar substitute for diabetics.

However, they do contain carbohydrates – approximately, 2.6 calories per gramme – so eating them in large amounts increases blood sugar and can cause bloating and diarrhoea. Typically, they’re used in sugarfree sweets, gum and desserts.

Sucralose

only non-nutritive sweetener approved by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Honey Honey contains traces of vitamins and minerals and antioxidants.

However, as a sweetener it should be used sparingly as it contains 21 calories per teaspoon. It is found in cereals, teas, biscuits and baked goods.

High-fructose corn syrup

Sucralose is found in fruit drinks, in canned fruit and in syrups. A 1998 study showed that it may have a negative impact on the immune system but this was not correlated in follow-up studies. It is not sensitive to heat, so it can be used in baking. Its calorie content is nil.

HFCS contains fructose and glucose from processed corn syrup. It’s found in sodas, desserts, and cereals. At 17 calories per teaspoonful, it’s best to limit your consumption.

Saccharin

Aspartame

Saccharin is used in sweets and to sweeten drinks and canned goods.

A 1970 study showed a link between saccharin consumption and bladder cancer in rats but there is a lack of evidence that saccharin can cause cancer in humans. However, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based group that advocates for safer and more healthful foods, recommends avoiding saccharin even though its calorie content is nil.

Aspartame has been blamed for everything from weight gain to cancer.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest ranks it lowest on their list of food additives. It is found in drinks, gum, yogurt and cough drops. Its calorie value is nil.

Rebiana Derived from the stevia plant, Rebiana is seen as the natural alternative to artificial sweeteners as a cane-sugar substitute. It is used in diet drinks and in yogurts. Its calorie content is nil.

Neotame Neotame is 7,000-13,000 times sweeter than table sugar. It is found in some drinks, and in dairy products, frozen desserts, puddings and fruit juices. Produced by the same company that makes aspartame, it is the

Agave nectar Produced from the agave cactus, agave nectar has a similar taste and texture to honey and approximately as many calories. It is sweeter than table sugar and contains more fructose. A recent study showed it’s less likely to cause a spike in blood sugar but could reduce metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

Acesulfame potassium This non-nutritive artificial sweetener is used in soft drinks, gelatins, chewing gum, and frozen desserts. Studies in animals have shown that it may be linked to cancer. However, it has been in use since 1988 and seems to be safe when used in moderation.

The further that food gets away from its natural state, the more harm you can assume will be done to you.

“The world is full of wonderful goodness and natural sweetness in foods, so there really is no need to add these chemicals to your diet. Plus, these chemicals also aid in extending the shelf life of products for manufacturers.” The purpose is to increase bottom line profits, not food quality, which should concern consumers.

But, of course, most people still look for that burst of sweetness in their food. So it there a solution for sweet-toothed foodies who want to take the healthiest route possible?

“Well, I commonly use honey and palm sugar, which is also known as coconut sugar, for sweetening, as well as fruit for sweetness in treats,” Julie continues. “Honey actually has a GI (Glycaemic Index) of 55 and palm sugar has a GI rating of 35, which essentially means that these natural sources release energy more slowly into our system than refined sugar does, making them much healthier and avoiding dangerous insulin spikes.

“With all of that I mind I really don’t see any need

for the use of artificial sweeteners, unless you have diabetes. I always used the motto of energy in versus energy out, which helps to ensure you get what you need and you use up as much of it as possible. In short, it’s vital to know the calories you are eating, know the energy you are using, and to avoid chemicals as much as possible.” That sounds like good advice.

SUCROSE Sucrose is better known as table sugar. It provides energy, but no nutrition. Nutrition experts suggest that women should consume no more than 6 teaspoons of added table sugar per day (approximately 5% of a 2,000 calorie diet) and men no more than 9 teaspoons. Sucrose is found naturally in fruit, and is usually added to baked goods, jams, marinades, and salad dressings.

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NEWS & VIEWS

TOBACCO APPROVE PEOPLE F WAY BACK IN NOVEMBER 2012, THE ISSUE TOPPED MEPS’ CONCERNS D LAST MONTH, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ENDORSED DRAFT LEGISLATION UPDAT TO YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS LEGISLATION WILL REQUIRE ALL PACKS TO CAR REGULATED, EITHER AS MEDICINAL P

700,000 premature deaths every year, 14 fewer years of life on average for smokers, more years spent in poor health

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March 2014

U IN R R

NEWS & VIEWS

CO DIRECTIVE: PARLIAMENT VES PLANS TO DETER YOUNG E FROM SMOKING

D T R P

URING THE GRILLING OF THE MALTESE COMMISSIONER DESIGNATE, TONIO BORG. ING THE EU TOBACCO DIRECTIVE TO MAKE TOBACCO PRODUCTS LESS ATTRACTIVE RY PICTURE WARNINGS COVERING 65% OF THEIR SURFACE. E CIGARETTES WILL BE RODUCTS IF THEY CLAIM TO HELP SMOKERS TO QUIT, OR AS TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

t

his is the culmination of years of work against the background of intense lobbying from the tobacco industry and its front groups.

The new measures are a big step forward for tobacco control, and will help to prevent the next generation of smokers from being recruited. We know that it is children – not adults – who start to smoke: the overwhelming majority of smokers start before their 18th birthday” said rapporteur Linda McAvan. The draft legislation was approved by 514 votes to 66, with 58 abstentions.

EU Commissioner for Health Tonio Borg expressed his staisfaction at seeing the proposal being supported by the Parliament. “Today is a great day for EU health policy. The Parliament’s formal endorsement of the Tobacco Products Directive is a testament to the political will to put the health of our citizens first.”

“This is more significant considering the devastating effect tobacco has on the health of EU citizens – 700,000 premature deaths every year, 14 fewer years of life on average for smokers, more years spent in poor health”, Borg said. He reiterated that by ensuring that tobacco products look and taste like tobacco products, the new rules will help to reduce the number of people who start smoking in the EU. Commissioner Borg referred also to electronic cigarettes. “I am particularly pleased the Parliament fully endorsed new rules on electronic cigarettes which introduce robust safety and quality standards to protect consumers.”

Health warnings: two-thirds of the pack, front and back Current legislation requires that health warnings cover at least 30% of the area of the front of the pack and 40% of the back. The proposed text would increase this to 65%, front and back, and would require these warnings to be in picture form - something that does not happen in the majority of member states at the moment. Packs of fewer than 20 cigarettes – which are cheaper and hence more accessible to children – would be banned in the handful of countries where they are still allowed on the market.

Dual route for E-cigarettes As proposed by MEPs, e-cigarettes would be regulated, either as medicinal products, if they are marketed as a quitting aid, or alternatively as tobacco products. In the latter case, their nicotine concentration should not exceed 20 mg/ml. Refillable e-cigarettes would be allowed. Electronic cigarettes should be childproof and should carry health warnings. They would be subject to the same advertising restrictions as tobacco products.

Additives listed, flavours banned The text bans flavourings in cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco that make the product more attractive by giving it a “characterising flavour”. Menthol would be banned from 2020. Flavours would be allowed for water pipe tobacco.

Certain additives which are particularly damaging to health would be banned, and regulators would have new powers to require the tobacco industry to carry out extra studies on a “priority list” list of additives, to be set out in a delegated act. Additives essential to produce tobacco, such as sugar, would be authorised.

700,000 deaths per year in the EU Twelve years after the current directive entered into force, smoking remains the principal preventable cause of death in the EU and about 700,000 people die of it each year. Over the years, measures taken to discourage smoking have helped to reduce the proportion of EU citizens who smoke from 40% in the EU15 in 2002 to 28% in the EU 27 in 2012.

Next steps The Council of Ministers approved the directive on 14 March and it is expected to enter into force in May. Member states will then have two years to transpose the directive into their national laws.

Future packs will feature mandatory picture and text health warnings covering 65% of the front and the back of cigarette packs.

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March 2014

33

SPORT & FITNESS

fitFOR DANCING NO MASS EVENT IS COMPLETE WITHOUT ZUMBA® WHY IS IT SO POPULAR AND HOW DIFFERENT IS IT FROM THE 1980S FAD FOR AEROBICS CLASSES? ANDREW PACE AKA ZUMBADRU TALKS TO ANNA MARIA GATT ABOUT HIS PASSION.

z Photograph: Viktor Vella Photography

If you’re planning to attend Zumba® classes, take note.

• Wear comfortable workout clothes and shoes. Remember that you will use your feet a lot, so you need comfortable shoes.

• You need to re-hydrate between dances, so make sure to carry a bottle of water with you and to drink often.

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March 2014

umba® originated in the 1990s in South America, precisely in Colombia, when an aerobics instructor, Beto Perez, forgot his aerobics’ music cassette tape at home before a lesson. As an alternative solution, he improvised a class using traditional Colombian salsa and merengue music. His class that day was an enormous success.

After touring South America promoting this innovative way of exercise, Perez moved to the United States where he met Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion. Together, the trio created Zumba®.

Not just a fitness programme, Zumba® combines elements of dance and aerobics. Its enthusiasts are found all over the world, including Malta. Andrew Pace, known as ZumbaDru, is one of them. A teacher by profession, Andrew is a dynamic Zumba® instructor whose energy and enthusiasm are infectious.

“The first time I experienced Zumba®, I was hooked,” he says. I can believe that. The first time I met him, I could see that he’s multi-talented. Andrew is a teacher, an actor, a musician, a choreographer, and a dancer.

Those who know him describe him as someone who does his best to make others happy.

Andrew says that a friend introduced him to Zumba®: “I accompanied her to a Zumba® class and after a few minutes I knew that it was what I wanted to do.” To become a Zumba® instructor, one has to attend courses which, as Andrew points out, are still not available in Malta. In fact, he did his training in Italy and Australia.

Mentioning Australia brings a twinkle to Andrew’s eyes. “Together with two of my friends, I spent a year travelling down under,” he says. “It was a wonderful experience exploring this far-away continent which has close ties with our little island. While I was there, I

finished my Zumba® instructor’s training and even earned my living there leading classes.”

Back in Malta, Andrew returned to a regular sort of classroom, teaching at school in the morning and then zumbaing the evening away around Malta. “I always prepare myself before going for a session,” Andrew says. “I spend an average of three hours a week practising new routines and choreography. I’m a perfectionist, so I make sure I learn the routine by heart before facing a class.”

Anyone who attends Andrew’s classes can confirm this. His routines are safe, effective and, most important of all, fun. “Zumba® is for everyone. You don’t need to be a dancer and don’t have to worry if you feel like you don’t have ‘rhythm’,” he says. “You’ll be surprised at just how quickly you can pick up those Latin moves. It really helps to be surrounded by enthusiastic people all doing the same thing in a remarkably uplifting and energetic environment.

Before you know it, you’re not just copying everyone else, you’re doing your own thing and you’re doing it in style.”

Zumba sessions are usually about an hour long. The exercises include music with fast and slow rhythms, as well as cardio, balance, co-ordination and toning exercises – a whole package, in other words. Music comes in different dance styles: salsa, merengue, mambo, flamenco, reggae and hip hop.

“Because it has a strong element of dance, an hour of Zumba® is different from any other type of workout. It is just fun,” Andrew says. “In fact, research and even many of my clients confirm that Zumba® is an excellent way to boost energy and improve your mood.”

He hopes to go on designing new routines and to keep spreading energy and love for exercise among his clients. “I plan to carry on doing what I enjoy doing, which is helping others keep fit and putting smiles on people’s faces. Exercise has so many benefits. Joining a FUNtastic class where you could burn loads of calories certainly makes your day.” I couldn’t agree more.

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SPORT & FITNESS

Photograph: Viktor Vella Photography

Some basic moves and stretches which you could practice at home Basic Salsa • • • • • •

Stand with both feet together.

Step to the right, bend your knees.

Back to the middle.

Step to the left, bend your knees.

Back to the middle.

Repeat slightly faster. Rock to the side slightly as you move. Loosen up your upper body. Let your shoulders move with your feet.

• Back to the middle.

• Take arms to the left and do four steps to the left.

• Back to the middle.

your knees.

• Bring your arms forward, hands together as if in prayer pose.

• Repeat in sets of eight.

Fly Stretch • Keep one foot on the floor, knee slightly bent.

• Extend the other leg back into the air, squeezing your gluteals and abdominal muscles.

• Do two sets of eight on each side.

Travel Salsa

Stand and Drop Squat

• Arms to the right, pointing upwards, knees slightly bent.

• Take four steps to the right, moving your hips as you go.

• Stand up tall, legs spread wide, feet parallel, ready to squat.

• Extend arms and lift chest.

• Squat low, bringing your butt to the level of

Punch, lunge and lift • Punch your right arm out, left arm back with elbow bent.

• Hands are in fists, left leg forward in a lunge position, and your right leg extended backwards.

• Jump, bring your right leg up, knee bent, and switch arms with left hand extended up into the air above your head.

• Right arm swings back with your elbow bent.

Repeat on both sides of the body.

March 2014

35

Don’t just listen to us, listen to our clients 99%

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SPORT & FITNESS

cheat SHEET

HOW TO FIT EXERCISE INTO A HECTIC DAY

B

usy days squeeze exercise out of our diaries. Paying in advance for gym membership is one way of motivating yourself to keep to fixed weekly workout appointments.

But, for others, exercise keeps being postponed. Here's how you can squeeze in the recommended daily minimum of 30 minutes' exercise without disrupting your daily schedule.

1 Wake up ten minutes earlier

An extra ten minutes in the morning can be used in a variety of ways. Avoid switching on your mobile phone or tablet to check the news. Instead, go for a quick walk round the block. If you have a dog, why not take him for a stroll?

Others might choose to go on foot to the corner shop to pick up the newspaper or fresh bread. If you don’t like going out in the dark, or if bad weather puts you off, do some basic cardio-exercise at home such as jogging on the spot and lightimpact jumps. Include strength exercises such as sit-ups, leg-raises and push-ups.

2 Move as much as you can during the day

This depends on what type of work you do. If you work in an office, stand up every 20 minutes or so and go for a short walk through the offices. If you need to pass on a message to a colleague on another floor, do it personally and avoid using the lift or quick messaging systems. If you are still a student, during a free lecture go for a walk instead of sitting down on campus. If you don’t work, do your errands on foot instead of driving around.

3 See the positive aspect of house-chores

After a day at work, house-work doesn’t look very appealing. Keeping in mind that housework can be another form of exercise should give you that extra boost of energy you need. Try to spread housework throughout the week to

avoid accumulating chores during your non-working days. Too much housework can be a strain.

4 Use your waiting time

If, after work, your diary and commitments shift towards your children’s after-school activities, try to use your time to the full. Many plan to do errands while their children are attending lessons or activities. If you usually wait in your car, why not opt to go for a walk or a quick jog instead? If the club where your children train offers classes for parents, try to join in. If not, take the initiative and ask other parents to join you for a walk or jog while your children are occupied.

5 Find 10-minutes for yourself

Before showering and sitting down to relax on the sofa, make the effort to squeeze in some more exercise. Be sure to eat early so that you have ample time left to do some last-minute exercise. You can download exercise videos from the internet or just dance following a music video on TV. Avoid strenuous exercise just before you go to bed because you will have problems to falling asleep.

6 Use your weekends and days off

During your days off work, choose an outdoor activity to help loosen up after a week at work. Trekking has become very popular, for instance. Choose a safe route and wear appropriate footwear. Going for a bicycle ride is another option. During the summer months, what better way to spend a day off work than by having a swim? Take the initiative to motivate and organise your friends into being physically active. Sharing your enthusiasm will help keep you motivated to include exercise in your daily routine.

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March 2014

37

PERSONAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND WELLBEING WITH ATLAS HEALTHCARE AND AXA PPP HEALTHCARE

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BECAUSE GETTING THE BEST MEDICAL CARE MEANS A LOT MORE THAN JUST HAVING YOUR MEDICAL EXPENSES COVERED.

tlas Healthcare members may now extend their policies to include a new benefit: Personal Case Management and Wellbeing. This extension can be purchased by anyone having a health insurance policy and it enhances Atlas Healthcare’s existing products by providing more comprehensive assistance and benefits.

The extension takes health insurance in Malta to a whole new level and will include Personal Medical Case Management, an independent international service provided through AXA PPP, where members with serious medical illnesses will be given medical guidance, supervision and support, to help them make informed choices at critical times, especially when the individual is feeling most confused and vulnerable.

At some point in life, many of us will have to deal with the consequences of serious illness in the family.

As we go about our increasingly busy lives it can be easy to ignore just how often illnesses such as cancer and heart disease can strike. In the event that you or a family member is diagnosed with a serious condition it can be difficult to know what decision to make without the right information and guidance.

• Is the diagnosis right and what does it actually mean?

• Were all the necessary tests performed?

• What is the best treatment for my condition and where is it available?

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March 2014

• Are there any new medical developments we need to be aware of?

• Who is recommended as a leading physician in the specialty related to my medical problem?

• How does one manage a medical problem during and after hospitalisation?

These questions demonstrate why simply covering medical expenses is often no longer enough. This is where a global case management service steps in. It provides the latest evidence-based information and guidance on the quality of care offered by leading medical specialists around the world, coupled with ongoing support and supervision of that treatment.

With personal case management, the patient will get a specialist medical case manager and a nurse medical coordinator dedicated to their needs and interests, ideally working with the local specialist. Far more than just getting a second opinion, the medical case will be re-assessed, in order to obtain objective, quality information regarding where to receive the best treatment and by whom. The patient will receive direct access to advice from a global network of leading specialists and medical centres that will provide ongoing medical opinions and guidance and will also have access to a call centre for real-time medical information and support – 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a minimum period of three months, including referrals to leading specialists and hospitals.

The service is provided through Medix, an international organization totally independent from

AXA, which provides the case supervision to AXA members having this cover, even speaking to patients several times a week so that they have someone to turn to at all times. The personal medical case manager is usually an internal medicine specialist or, in the case of children, a paediatrician, since these specialists have a very broad knowledge in many areas of medicine and are trained to manage different conditions simultaneously. Their call centre offers 24/7 clinical support and, if required, the call is directed to the attending nurse or physician or to the personal medical coordinator and case manager.

This new optional benefit also provides cover for routine visits and tests when a person has been diagnosed with one of the listed chronic medical conditions. These include diabetes, high cholesterol and asthma.

Vaccinations for children and adults are also covered.

These include the legally required vaccinations usually administered at government health clinics as well as travel innoculations.

When a child, aged under 18, is in a private hospital for treatment, accommodation costs for a parent are also covered. In short, this new health insurance high-end cover incorporates three complete innovations for the Maltese health insurance market.

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LIFE & STYLE

Taking t

Clothing: People Tree. Photograph: Vince Migno

he pace and demands of modern life can leave you with a knot in your stomach.

Answering your mobile phones while rushing to pick up the kids from school and take them to an extra-curricular ac vity. Rushing through birthday present shopping by shoving random purchases into an online shopping basket, or hun ng for a budget holiday for the whole family and doing the weekly grocery shop on your mobile phone while looking for clothing bargains in a shopping arcade. Life has definitely become impossibly fast.

Some people have decided to put the brakes on and join the ‘slow movement’ – a crusade that advocates a cultural shi towards a slower pace and the concept of embracing the moment.

As a movement, it all began in 1986 with Italian footballer and writer Carlo Petrini’s protest against the opening of a par cular fast food chain in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna. This sparked the development of the slow food concept, which strives to encourage tradi onal and sustainable agricultural methods and to promote small, local businesses and, ul mately, push for slow ci es, slow living and slow design.

“As the name suggests, slow food came about as a response to fast food,” explains Sardinia-born Veronica Crespi, a London-based slow fashion consultant and the founder of Rewardrobe.

It makes sense that the movement originated in Italy, a country that not only celebrates food in general, but very much tries to highlight the infinite regional differences and provenances that are on offer. The idea was to refuse the concept of standardised and globalised food produc on, by reevalua ng the quality of local produce in all its varie es.

As Veronica explains, this proved to be a highly

Photograph: Ariel da Silva Parreira

40

March 2014

LIFE & STYLE

it SLOWLY

WITH A SLOWER PACE IN MIND, JO CARUANA MEETS LONDON@BASED SLOW MOVEMENT EXPERT VERONICA CRESPI TO DISCOVER WHY MALTA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LEAD SLOW@LIFESTYLE LIVING transferable set of values that could be applied to other areas where raw materials and manufacturing are core to the quality of the end product, such as fashion. And it is, perhaps, no coincidence that Italy also has a globally renowned fashion industry too.

“I suppose the fact I'm Italian played a decisive part in my choice to contribute to the Slow Movement,” Veronica con nues. “It is somehow ingrained in me to understand the importance of provenance and ar sanality. When I moved to London, the catalyst was my impact with high street fashion, which is so pervasive in the UK. “Of course there are numerous chains in Italy too, but I had never experienced such a level of standardisa on. I immediately felt I couldn't conform to that without completely renouncing my Italian sensibility, so I started looking for alterna ve ways of shopping and researching brands that have core values other than profit.”

Veronica now works in fashion and media and, in the past, she has o en worked with the public too – helping to shed light on the movement and its many benefits.

“I wanted to work on both ends of the spectrum: to show customers how to shop more consciously and take be er care of their own wardrobe, and to show brands how to communicate their slow values in a way that highlights their uniqueness and is a rac ve to the public.

“I offer wardrobe and style consulta on and personal shopping for private clients, while working with Slow brands on their communica on strategy.

We focus on harnessing the power of social media, which puts them in a direct dialogue with their target market. It's not just about gaining press anymore: it's establishing a conversa on with the consumers, with unprecedented opportuni es to tell

the brand's story – and behind a Slow brand there is always a beau ful story.”

Veronica is also keen to encourage more people to discover the importance and benefits of Slow living.

“It sounds like a cliche', but it starts with the acknowledgment that less is more,” she explains.

“We don't need a bulging wardrobe; we need a wardrobe full of beau ful things. We don't need lots of gadgets; we only need what makes our lives easier. Essen ally, we don't need to shop for everything we are told we must buy, but only for those things that bring quality to our lifestyle.

“It's a case of stepping back and looking at how much we already have, and how we can make great use of it, without the need to acquire more and more. And when we do buy something new, remember that cheap does not mean a bargain and it gives an only flee ng sense of superficial sa sfac on. I prefer to buy less frequently, and look at quality rather than price.”

Following a visit here to Malta, Veronica is also keen to stress that our island is the ideal loca on for the development of the Slow Movement.

“I think Malta has a huge opportunity to become a leader in all things Slow,” she says. “Crea ng an opportunity out of geographical necessity, it is obvious that Malta very much values its own local resources. With a fledging crea ve industry now becoming established, local talent can create a brand for local food and manufacturing, injec ng value into anything that reflects the spirit of the country.

“This is an opportunity to consolidate local business, and to offer one more reason for tourists to visit an island that is so perfect for a Slow holiday, with its relaxing atmosphere and raw, fascina ng nature.”

What more could a fan of the Slow Movement want?

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Turn off all technology and pretend it doesn’t exist

MAKE THE SWITCH TO SLOW Slow living involves a shift in mind-set and lifestyle, and it can take a while to really get into it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make a start today.

Here’s how you can make your way, slowly.

GO FRANTIC FREE AT WEEKENDS Leave your fast-paced lifestyle at the door come Friday evening and settle in for some downtime. Plan nothing and give yourselves a good break.

GO OLD SCHOOL Do things that would now often be considered obsolete, such as baking your own bread, playing a childhood game with the kids (like hide-and-seek) or making jam. Turn off all technology and pretend it doesn’t exist.

EMBRACE YOUR COMMUNITY A fair-trade fair in the village hall? A fruit festival in the next town? Make time for activities like these and learn from them.

WRITE A LETTER When was the last time you put pen to paper other than to write a to-do list? Today, instead of emailing or video-chatting with a relative, write them a letter, using a pen.

MAKE TIME TO READ BOOKS These days we all read on our tablets and flick through news sites for our current-affairs fix. So few of us actually make time to read properly. This year, aim to get through at least one book a month. That could be your 2014 resolution to make up for the ones you haven’t kept.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES Instead of buying everything from a supermarket, visit your butcher, baker and green grocer. Also, avoid buying gifts from big online stores but aim to shop from Maltese artisans instead.

ra March 2014

41

LAST LOOK

Health CHECK

SNIPPETS OF USEFUL STUFF TO KNOW

s

DRINKING AND SNORING

leeping with a snorer is never fun. The unbearable noise ratchets up after a few drinks. That’s because alcohol causes muscle relaxation and dilates blood vessels. The resulting nasal congestion forces a snorer to breathe through the mouth. It gets worse: the tongue can fall back, the throat muscles slacken and the palate softens further, blocking the airways and increasing the snoring by several decibels. But there’s a health issue too. Drinking aggravates the possibility of sleep apnoea, a condition where breathing stops for several seconds at a time, resulting in less-thanrestful sleep and the likelihood of falling asleep unexpectedly during the day. The solution? Cut back on the drinks, sleep alone after a night out, and don’t do anything demanding or risky the next day.

SWEET DREAMS If you’re under pressure, take a nap. Your ability to think clearly and solve problems is compromised when you’re tired. Poring over your business plans or cramming for exams is pointless when you’re tired. You’re more likely to make mistakes and are less likely to absorb any new information or resolve any problems. Sleep helps you process information and thoughts, helping you learn and solve problems better. Dreaming is an important function of good quality sleep as that is when your brain is able to understand, process and assimilate new information. Winding down before going to bed will help improve your sleep quality. About the worst thing you could do when you’re busy is to take mental tasks to bed. That includes watching TV as well as reading an all-important report or your final

comically fake. They don’t do anything that real brows do which means you could end up with watery streaks of eye pencil running into your eyes.

HEALTHCARE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

revision notes. Move the TV out of your bedroom, put away your reports and exam notes, read something soothing and then turn off the light. By morning, you’ll be mentally clearer. A power nap during the day can have a similar effect, but do that in your own time, not your employer’s.

RAISE AN EYEBROW Those furry slugs above your eyes aren’t there just for facial decoration. They’ve got a useful function too.

Nature designed eyebrows to protect the eyes. They trap moisture when we sweat, funneling it sideways to keep it out of our eyes. On average, there are around 250 hairs in each eyebrow, each of which lasts for about four months before falling out and regrowing. That’s enough to keep waxers and pluckers in business for a while. If you fix your own brows, go slow on the plucking. Remove enough to neaten their shape, but leave some of your natural brows in place.

Pencil lines, however well drawn, don’t only look

You can tell a lot by looking at someone’s nails, especially about their health. Anything unusual about the nail’s structure or colour could indicate a disease. Bluish nail bed? Your lungs might need to be seen to. Capillaries in your cuticles? See your doctor about a possible autoimmune disease. Seeing to the condition of your nails could sometimes save your life. A dark brown patch or streak along or across the nail bed could be melanoma, a potential killer. That’s not to be confused with the inevitable discolouration that is the result of, say, trapping your fingers in a door.

White spots, long suspected to indicate calcium deficiency, are more likely to be the result of trauma which injures the nail plate or nail matrix, leaving the sort of marks you see in a piece of bent or folded plastic.

TROLLING FOR ATTENTION Did you ever wonder why puberty turns your sweet little angel into a monstrous troll? That happens because going through puberty reshapes the brain.

Hormones affect neurological development, leading to behavioural changes. This is a normal part of personal development. The emotional awkwardness, boredom, apathy and poor decisionmaking that typify adolescence are part of the process of developing into a normal, healthy and well-adjusted human being.

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Seeing to the condition of your nails could sometimes save your life March 2014

43

d�ect�y PHARMACIES AND CLINICS

VALLETTA/FLORIANA NEW BRITISH DISPENSARY, TRIQ IL GANC, VALLETTA • 21244813 CHEMIMART PHARMACY, FREEDOM SQUARE, VALLETTA • 21238355 REGENT PHARMACY, 70 MERCHANTS STREET, VALLETTA • 21247347 ROYAL PHARMACY, 271/272 REPUBLIC STEET, VALLETTA • 21234321 COLLIS & WILLIAMS PHARM., REPUBLIC STREET, VALLETTA • 21244847 EMPIRE PHARMACY, MELITA STREET, VALLETTA • 21238577 EMPIRE PHARMACY, 46 MELITA STREET, VALLETTA • 21223368 ST. PUBLIUS PHARMACY, 48 GUNLAYER STREET, FLORIANA • 21225444 VILHENA PHARMACY, 37, ST. ANNE STREET, FLORIANA • 21244114 CHEMIMART PHARMACY, 14 ST ANNE SQUARE, FLORIANA • 21239310 FLORIANA PHARMACY, 23 ST. ANNE STREET, FLORIANA • 21245833 HAMRUN SAN GEJTANU PHARMACY, PARISH PRIEST MIFSUD STR., HAMRUN • 21234570 THE CROSS PHARMACY, 859 ST JOSEPH HIGH ROAD BLATA L-BAJDA, HAMRUN • 21227682 THOMAS PHARMACY, 796 ST.JOSEPH HIGH STR., HAMRUN • 21238018 DARWIN PHARMACY, 152 ST.JOSEPH HIGH ROAD, HAMRUN • 21221512 BROWN’S PHARMACY, 706, ST.JOSEPH HIGH STREET, HAMRUN • 21238623 COSMED PHARMACY, VILLA AMBROSA RD, HAMRUN • 21225991 FRA DIEGO PHARMACY, 94 VILLA AMBROSA, HAMRUN • 21224898 INTERNATIONAL PHARMACY, 650. ST. JOSEPH HIGH STR., HAMRUN • 21236477 LISTER PHARMACY, 209 ST. JOSEPH HIGH ROAD, HAMRUN • 21245627 NATIONAL PHARMACY, 17 ST. MARY STREET, HAMRUN • 21225539 ST. VENERA ST. BARTHOLEMEW PHARMACY, 230 FLEUR DE LYS ROAD, SANTA VENERA • 21492271 ST. VENERA PHARMACY, 332 ST. JOSEPH HIGH ROAD, SANTA VENERA • 21238625 LANTERN PHARMACY, MISRAH IL-KEBBIES, SANTA VENERA • 21444648 FATIMA PHARMACY, 44 ZONQOR STR., SANTA VENERA • 21482856 B’KARA HERBA PHARMACY, 95 MAIN STREET, B’KARA • 21443406 MARRIT PHARMACY, 1 FIRST OF MAY STR. FLEUR DE LYS, B’KARA • 21488613 ST. THERESA PHARMACY, MAIN STR., B’KARA • 21442233 ST. ANNE PHARMACY(B’KARA), ST. HELEN SQUARE, B’KARA • 21441914 ST. JUDE PHARMACY, 213 VALLEY ROAD, B’KARA • 21492151 ST. PAULS PHARMACY, BRARED STREET, B’KARA • 21442135 ST. HELEN PHARMACY, 48 HERBA STREET, B’KARA • 21441589 PHARMAPLUS PHARMACY, GANU STREET, B’KARA • 21492958 HOLY CROSS PHARMACY, MAIN STREET, B’KARA • 21448454 FLEUR-DE-LYS PHARMACY, 32, FLEUR-DE-LYS ROAD, BIRKIRKARA • 21488884 MACKIES PHARMACY, L. CASOLANI STREET, B’KARA • 21496089 RATIONAL PHARMACY, 185 VALLEY ROAD, B’KARA • 21441513 IKLIN/LIJA/BALZAN/ATTARD IKLIN PHARMACY, GERONIMO ABOS STR., IKLIN • 21415499 MEHRIEZ PHARMACY, GIOVANNI CURMI STR., IKLIN • 21435567 ST. MICHAEL’S PHARMACY, TRANSFIGURATION AVE., LIJA • 21435875 ST. JOSEPH PHARMACY, 172 MAIN STREET, LIJA • 21418846 BALZAN PHARMACY, 70 ST. FRANCIS STREET, BALZAN • 21444035 MEDICA PHARMACY, NAXXAR ROAD, BALZAN • 21445741 ST CATHERINE PH.(ATTARD), TRIQ ID-DIELJA, ATTARD • 21413442 ST. MARY (ATTARD), 1 ANTONIO SCHEMBRI STR., ATTARD • 21436339 M4 PHARMACY, TRIQ IL- LINJA, ATTARD • 21436531 MISRAH KOLA PHARMACY, PITKALI ROAD, ATTARD • 21434137 MOSTA GROGNET PHARMACY, 41 CONSTITUTION STR., MOSTA • 21432038 ROTUNDA PHARMACY, CONSTITUTION STREET, MOSTA • 21433634 SANTA MARGERITA PHARMACY, VJAL IL-QALBIENA MOSTIN, MOSTA • 21416426 SGHAJTAR PHARMACY, TRIQ IS-SGHAJTAR, MOSTA • 21415198 ST.JOSEPH PHARMACY, TRIQ IZ-ZAKAK, MOSTA • 21417593 ST. LOUIS PHARMACY, CALI’S STREET, MOSTA • 21432802 ST. MARY PHARMACY(MOSTA), 14 ROTUNDA SQUARE, MOSTA • 21433833 TAT-TARGA PHARMACY, 327 CONSTITUTION STREET, MOSTA • 21433139

The magazine is also available for free at the following pharmacies, clinics and hair salons.

ST. MARY PHARMACY(DINGLI), MISRAH FRENCH ABELA, DINGLI • 21452447 HEALTHWISE PHARMACY, FRANCESCO ZAMMIT STREET, DINGLI • 21453301 MTARFA PHARMACY, 4-6, TRIQ L-ORKIDEJA, MTARFA • 21451261 ZEBBUG TAL GRAZZJA PHARMACY, TRIQ FRANGISK FARRUGIA, ZEBBUG • 21462068 ST. MARY PHARMACY(ZEBBUG), TRIQ L-GHASFURA, ZEBBUG • 21465346 BROWN’S PHARMACY, 47, VJAL IL-HELSIEN, ZEBBUG • 21465411 DE ROHAN PHARMACY, 24 ST. ANTHONT STR, ZEBBUG • 21464128 HAL-MULA PHARMACY, DUN SALV CIAPPARA STREET, ZEBBUG • 21461693 PLAZA PHARMACY, 86 MAIN STR., ZEBBUG • 21467459 SAFI/SIGGIEWI PASTEUR PHARMACY, TRIQ IT-TELLERIT, SAFI • 21689944 MENELO PHARMACY, DR. N. ZAMMIT STR, SIGGIEWI • 21462957 SAFI PHARMACY, TRIQ SAN GWANN C/W TRIQ BIEB IL-GARRA, SAFI • 21649552 ST. NICHOLAS PHARMACY, 1 PARISH STREET, SIGGIEWI • 21460828 PIETA/MSIDA ST. ANTHONYS PHARMACY, 11 ST.JOSEPH STREET G’MANGIA, PIETA’ • 21237327 ST. LUKES PHARMACY, ST. LUKES ROAD, G’MANGIA, PIETA’ • 21241293 BROWN’S PHARMACY, 10, MARINA APARTMENTS, MARINA STREET, PIETA • 21244366 CHARING CROSS PHARMACY, MIMOSA STREET G’MANGIA, PIETA’ • 21232954 DEBY’S PHARMACY, 1 QUARRIES SQUARE, MSIDA • 21222468 REGIONAL PHARMACY, E.H. FURSE STR., MSIDA • 21312449 REGAL PHARMACY, 39 ANTONIO BOSIO STR, MSIDA • 21313115 MAYER PHARMACY, 33 TA’ XBIEX SEA FRONT, MSIDA • 21331732 GZIRA/TA’XBIEX O’HEA PHARMACY, 126 MANDEL STR., GZIRA • 21330268 ST. MATTHEWS PHARMACY, 213 THE STRAND, GZIRA • 21311491 TONYS PHARMACY, 100 STEWARD TR., GZIRA • 21332080 D’ARGENS PHARMACY, 330 RUE D’ARGANS, GZIRA • 21330817 REMEDIES CHEMISTS, TRIQ G. CALI’, TA’ XBIEX • 21341649 PHARMALAND DISPENSERS, PRINCESS MARGARET STREET, TA’ XBIEX • 21346547 SLIEMA CHEMIMART PHARMACY, TOWER ROAD, SLIEMA • 21338369 STELLA MARIS PHARMACY, STREET, SLIEMA • RUDOLPH PHARMACY, 133 RUDOLPH STR., SLIEMA • 21337682 NORMAN’S PHARMACY, TOWER ROAD, SLIEMA • 21332243 WALES PHARMACY, 183 MANUEL DIMECH STR., SLIEMA • 21335492 DRUGSTORE PHARMACY, 382 MANUEL DIMECH STR., SLIEMA, • 21334627 ECONOMICAL PHARMACY, 87 DINGLI STR., SLIEMA • 21330376 EDWARD’S PHARMACY, MANUEL DIMECH STREET, SLIEMA • 21334102 VICTORS PHARMACY, 9 TOWER ROAD, SLIEMA • 21330352 BROWN’S PHARMACY, UNIT 22A, THE POINT SHOPPING MALL, TIGNE STREET, TIGNE, SLIEMA • 21313233 HARLEY PHARMACY, DINGLI STREET, SLIEMA • 21334635 MRABAT PHARMACY, 5 MRABAT STREET, SLIEMA • 21313535 SAN GWANN/GHARGHUR SAN GWANN PHARMACY, TRIQ FELIC BORG, SAN GWANN • 21386974 MEDICAL PLAZA, NAXXAR ROAD, SAN GWANN • 21377157 MARC’S PHARMACY, MENSIJA ROAD, SAN GWANN • 21373275 LOURDES PHARMACY, NAXXAR ROAD, SAN GWANN • 21387479 MEDICINE CHEST PHARMACY, TRIQ DEMETRIJU FARRUGIA, GHARGHUR • 21422204 ST. ALBERT PHARMACY, N/S IN ORATORY STREET, GHARGHUR • 21413402 SWIEQI/ST.ANDREWS/PEMBROKE PENNYLANE PHARMACY, TRIQ IS-SEJJIEH, SWIEQI • 21375373 JV’S PHARMACY, SWIEQI VALLEY, SWIEQI • 21371062 ST. ANDREW’S DISPENSARY, TRIQ IL-QASAM, ST. ANDREW’S • 21376153 KRYPTON PHARMACY, TA L-IBRAGG, ST. ANDREW’S • 21370141 SAN GIORGIO PHARMACY, 186 MANUEL BUHAGIAR STREET, PEMBROKE • 21378485 PEMBROKE PHARMACY, TRIQ GIUSEPPE MALFEGGIANI, PEMBROKE • 21372784

NAXXAR PILL BOX PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-BJAD, NAXXAR • 21417406 VICTORY PHARMACY (NAXXAR), 16 VICTORY STREET, NAXXAR • 21412454 NAXXAR PHARMACY, 21 SEPTEMBER AVENUE, NAXXAR • 21411438 BROWN’S PHARMACY, ST. PAUL’S STREET, NAXXAR • 21417652

ST.JULIANS MELITA PHARMACY, 127/128 ST. GEORGES RD., ST.JULIANS • 21338657 BALLUTA PHARMACY, 30, BALLUTA BUILDINGS, TRIQ IL-KBIRA, ST.JULIANS • 21317888 ST. JULIANS PHARMACY, 24 GRENFEL STREET, ST.JULIANS • 21339426 POTTERS PHARMACY, WILGA STREET, ST.JULIANS • 21343244 MERHBA PHARMACY, 2 MAISONETTS BLOCK, ST.JULIANS • 21333886

RABAT/DINGLI/MTARFA NOVA PHARMACY, 142 COLLEGE STR., RABAT • 21454247 CENTRAL PHARMACY, E.VITALE STREET, RABAT • 21455959 ST ANTHONY (RABAT), 18 MAIN STR., RABAT • 21454187 IDEAL PHARMACY, 63 MAIN STREET, RABAT • 21455479 NIGRET PHARMACY, TRIQ ZAHAR, RABAT • 21450602

QAWRA/BUGIBBA/ST.PAUL’S BAY EL MEDINA PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-KURRAZZA, QAWRA • 21576308 EUROCHEMISTS, TRIQ IL-FLIEGU, QAWRA • 21581876 QAWRA PHARMACY, TRIQ L-IMHAR, QAWRA • 21580881 ST. SIMON PHARMACY, 8 ISLETS PROMENADE, DAWRET IL GZEJJER, BUGIBBA • 21571649 PROMENADE PHARMACY, ST. PAUL’S COURT, PIONEER ROAD, BUGIBBA • 27441160

44

March 2014

ST. PAULS BAY PHARMACY, 78 SIMPSON STREET, ST. PAUL’S BAY • 21575276 PARKES PHARMACY, 582 ST. PAUL’S STREET, ST. PAUL’S BAY • 21571764 MELLIEHA/MGARR KARIZIA DRUGSTORE LTD, 69 TRIQ G.BORG OLIVIER, MELLIEHA • 21523554 VILLAGE PHARMACY, 31 MAIN STREET, MELLIEHA • 21523536 MELLIEHA PHARMACY, TRIQ G. BORG OLIVIER, MELLIEHA • 21523462 ST. MARY (MGARR), 38 SIR HARRY LUKE STR., MGARR • 21580711 GHAXAQ/QRENDI/MQABBA ST. PHILIP PHARMACY, TRIQ IC-CEPPUN, GHAXAQ • 21808723 BETA PHARMACY, 50/52 ST. MARY STREET, GHAXAQ • 21663311 QRENDI PHARMACY, 102 MAIN STREET, QRENDI • 21683781 CHRYSANTHEMUM PHARMACY, ST. NICHOLAS STREET, QRENDI • 21680828 KRISTIANNE PHARMACY, TRIQ IC-CAVI, MQABBA • 21683408 MQABBA CENTRAL PHARMACY, ST. CATHRINE STR., MQABBA • 21611133 LUQA/GUDJA/KIRKOP ST. ANDREW’S PHARMACY, 25 DUN PAWL STREET, LUQA • 21820795 CENTRAL PHARMACY, 6 ST. JOSEPH STREET, LUQA • 21692546 MEDICAID PHARMACY, VJAL IT-TORRI, GUDJA • 21676294 AIRPORT PHARMACY, MALTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, GUDJA • 21248904 GUDJA PHARMACY, TRIQ SAN CIRU, GUDJA • 21696422 KIRKOP PHARMACY, 9 PARISH STR., KIRKOP • 21682028 PRESTIGE PHARMACY, 16 ST. JOSEPH STREET, KIRKOP • 21611328 ZURRIEQ SALOS PHARMACY, 21 REPUBLIC SQUARE, ZURRIEQ • 21829508 BRONJA PHARMACY, BRONJA ROAD, ZURRIEQ • 21682251 ZURRIEQ DISPENSARY, 146 MAIN STREET, ZURRIEQ • 21689971 KRISTIANNE PHARMACY, P.P. SAYDON STREET, ZURRIEQ • 21827391 XAROLLA DENTAL CLINIC, TRIQ IT-TAĦĦAN, ŻURRIEQ MARSA/TARXIEN TARXIEN DISPENSARY, TRIQ HAL TARXIEN, TARXIEN • 21802986 THERESA JO PHARMACY, 3A XINTILL STREET, TARXIEN • 21672703 SONREN PHARMACY, ZEJTUN ROAD, TARXIEN • 21672757 TRINITY PHARMACY, 78 SIMPSON STREET, MARSA • 21235595 VIVIAN PHARMACY, C. MAGRI STREET, MARSA • 21221701 SAN RAFFAEL PHARMACY, 75 QORMI ROAD, MARSA • 21238727 BIRGU/BORMLA/SENGLEA/KALKARA VITTORIOSA PHARMACY, 9 TRIQ IL-MINA L-KBIRA, BIRGU • 21807529 WHITE CROSS PHARMACY, SHOP A BLK 1, FUQ SAN PAWL, BORMLA • 21821671 VERDALA PHARMACY, 57 BONNICI SQUARE, BORMLA • 21824720 VICTORY PHARMACY, 32 VICTORY STREET, SENGLEA • 21801698 SAN FILIPPU PHARMACY, 155 VICTORY STREET, SENGLEA • 21690500 KALKARA PHARMACY, ARCHBISHOP GONZI SQUARE, KALKARA • 21807740 ZEJTUN ST. CATHERINE PHARMACY, MONS. EM. GALEA STREET, ZEJTUN • 21678039 JOHN BORG PHARMACY, 1 CONSTITUTION STREET, ZEJTUN • 21898728 GERADA PHARMACY, 46 MATER BONI CONSIGLI STREET, ZEJTUN • 21806009 GREEN CROSS PHARMACY, 31 GREGORJU BONNICI SQ., ZEJTUN • 21693723 M’SCALA/B’BUGIA/MARSAXLOKK BELLAVISTA PHARMACY, 88, TRIQ IL-HORTAN, M’SCALA • 21633788/99927804 SAN GWAKKIN PHARMACY, NO 1 TRIQ SANT ANNA, M’SCALA • 21637994 ST. ANNE PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-QALIET, M’SCALA • 21687615 POMPEI PHARMACY, XATT IS-SAJJIEDA, MARSAXLOKK • 21651278 BLOSSOMS PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-GURGIER, B’BUGIA • 21652226 BRITTANIA PHARMACY, 5 PRETTY BAY, B’BUGIA • 21651141 MARTINS PHARMACY, 182 TRIQ B’BUGIA, B’BUGIA • 21651031-27651031/2 QORMI TAL-HLAS PHARMACY, TRIQ IL-HELSIEN, QORMI • 21487739 ANICI PHARMACY, ANICI STREET, QORMI • 21487158 ST. GEORGE PHARMACY, 401 MAIN STREET, QORMI • 21493981 EVANS PHARMACY, ST. SEBASTIAN STR., QORMI • 21487020 PINTO PHARMACY, 106 ST. SEBASTIAN STR., QORMI • 21487311 BROWN’S PHARMACY, 278, VICTORY STREET, QORMI • 21499697 PAOLA/ST. LUCIJA AGIUS PHARMACY, 64 PAOLA SQUARE, PAOLA • 21821646 BROWN’S PHARMACY, 45, PAOLA HILL, PAOLA • 21694818 ST. MONICA PHARMACY, ST MONICA STR, PAOLA • 21667146 DISTINCTION PHARMACY, 32 PAOLA SQUARE, PAOLA • 21693412 DE PAOLA PHARMACY, 36 PAOLA SQUARE, PAOLA • 21826408 FLEMING PHARMACY, 65 ZABBAR ROAD, PAOLA • 21696893 SANTA LUCIA PHARMACY, 1 DORELL PLACE, SANTA LUCIA • 21890111

d�ect�y MADDALENA PHARMACY, DAWRET IT-TORRI, SANTA LUCIA • 21677037 ZABBAR/FGURA FELICE PHARMACY, 95 SANCUARY STR., ZABBAR • 21827939 ST. JAMES PHARMACY, IS-SLIEM SQUARE, ZABBAR • 21666194 MAYDAY PHARMACY, 28 VICTORY STREET, ZABBAR • 21826529 POLYMER PHARMACY, XGHAJRA ROAD, ZABBAR • 21676263 CILIA’S PHARMACY, 303 ZABBAR ROAD, FGURA • 21801962 ALPHA PHARMACY, COSPICUA ROAD, FGURA • 21673811 FGURA PHARMACY, ST. THOMAS STREET, FGURA • 21675250 GOZO ABELA PHARMACY, 42, DE SOLDANIS STREET, VICTORIA • 21556170 AZZOPARDI PHARMACY, CAPUCHIN’S STREET, VICTORIA • 21554233 BATU PHARMACY, 38 PALM STREET, VICTORIA • 21551841 CASTLE PHARMACY, 2 INDEPENDENCE SQUARE, VICTORIA • 21556970 GOZO CHEMISTS, MGARR ROAD, XEWKIJA • 21557278 JOYCE PHARMACY, 8TH SEPTEMBER AVENUE, XAGHRA • 21561486 LAURETANA PHARMACY, 36 MGARR ROAD, GHAJNSIELEM • 21563017 NADUR PHARMACY, 31,PJAZZA 28 APRIL 1688, NADUR • 21556002 PALM PHARMACY, 2 PALM STREET, VICTORIA • 21556170 PISANI PHARMACY, BINI GDID, TRIQ SANNAT,SANNAT • 21559542 SOKKORS PHARMACY, ST.GREGORY SQUARE, KERCEM, GOZO • 21553018 ST.JOHN PHARMACY, 85 INDEPENDENCE STREET, XEWKIJA • 21563052 ST. JOSEPH PHARMACY, PJAZZA SAN GUZEPP, QALA TAC-CAWLA PHARMACY, DR. A.TABONE STREET, VICTORIA • 21557819 THISTLEDEW CLINIC, ST ELIZABETH STEET, XEWKIJA • 21/79553409 TONY’S PHARMACY, QBAJJAR ROAD, MARSALFORN • 21563617

HAIR SALONS

VALLETTA, FLORIANA, HAMRUN, ST. VENERA MICHAEL & GUY HAIRSTYLISTS, 201B TRIQ L-IRFAN, VALLETTA • 21225122 CHEZ MAURICE SALON, 7 TRIQ SAN PUBLIJU, FLORIANA • 21236692 DORIETTE HAIR SALON, DOLORES TRIQ PAWLU SALIBA, HAMRUN • 21244474 GEMINI HAIR CARE CENTRE, TARMARISK TRIQ IL-FERROVIJA, STA VENERA • 21499652 B’KARA, BALZAN, ATTARD, LIJA, IKLIN GLAMOUR HAIR & BEAUTY CENTRE, 106 TRIQ IL-PAPA GWANNI XX111, B’KARA • 21445264 ELISA HAIR SALON, TRIQ TUMAS FENECH, B’KARA • 21490704 CLASSIC HAIR DESIGN, TRIQ SIR ANTONIO MICALLEF, BALZAN • 21493643

The magazine is also available for free at the following pharmacies, clinics and hair salons.

DOREEN HAIR STUDIO, TRIQ L-GHENBA, ATTARD • 21438903 ANGEL’S TOUCH, TRIQ ANNIBALE PRECA, LIJA • 21419327 ART OF HAIR, TRIQ CENSU BUSUTTIL, IKLIN • 21495345 PIETA, GZIRA, MSIDA, TA’XBIEX, SLIEMA, SAN GWANN, SAN GILJAN, SWIEQI STYLISSIMO HAIRSTYLING, YACHT MARINA IX-XATT, PIETA’ • 21246886 TONI & GUY HAIRDRESSING, 247-249 RUE D’ARGENS, GZIRA • 21310020 ALFIE’S HAIR & BEAUTY SALON, TRIQ TAS-SLIEMA, GZIRA • 21343333 L’OREAL HAIRDRESSING CENTRE, 175 TRIQ D’ARGENS, MSIDA • 21313145 ELAINE CHEVEUX ATELIER, SHOP 4, BIK E4 QASAM BINI TAL-GVERN, TA’ XBIEX • 21333101 PRIVE, THE BASTION VIEW, TRIQ IX-XATT, SLIEMA • 21336962 CUT COIFFEUR, DE TIGNE COMPLEX, LEVEL 0 TRIQ IX-XATT, SLIEMA • 21314656 MR SCISSORS HAIRDRESSING SALON, 329 TRIQ MANUEL DIMECH, SLIEMA • 79346363 PIERRE CAMILLE, 21 TRIQ MILNER, SLIEMA • 21311349 MARK NAVARRO HAIRDRESSING, 65A TRIQ TIGNE, SLIEMA • 21344563 VILLAGE GOSSIP UNISEX HAIR SALON, TRIQ IS-SANTWARJU, SAN GWANN • 21389026 THE BEAUTY EMPORIUM, 26 TRIQ IS-SANTWARJU, SAN GWANN • 21387064 GIORGIO HAIR SALON, TRIQ TA’ L-IBRAG L-IBRAG, SWIEQI • 21374878 CROPPERS UNISEX HAIRSTYLIST, 4 TRIQ GORG BORG OLIVIER, SAN GILJAN • 21366540 MARSA, PAOLA, FGURA, ZABBAR,TARXIEN, LUQA, ST.LUCIJA CUTTING CREW HAIRDRESSING,186A TRIQ STIEFNU ZERAFA, MARSA • 21227115 ART HAIR STUDIO, 66 PJAZZA PAOLA, PAOLA • 21664719 ETHNIC STYLES UNISEX HAIR SALON, TRIQ SANT’ ANTNIN, ZABBAR • 99227253 CRIMPERS, TRIQ SAN FRANGISK, FGURA • 99888211 FRINGES UNISEX SALON, 9 TRIQ IL-WILGA, TARXIEN • 21801146 CHEVEUX CLASSIQUES BY OTTILIA, TRIQ IL-GILDA, LUQA • 21820487 FUSCO, 4, CENTRU CIVIKU TRIQ INEZ SOLER, STA LUCIJA • 21824713 GUDJA, SAFI, GHAXAQ, ZEJTUN, ZURRIEQ BRUSH & COMB SALON, SHOP 2, QASAM TAD-DJAR HAL TARXIEN, GUDJA • 99893895 BLACKS & BLONDS, TRIQ IL-KACCATURI, SAFI • 21683860 CAPELLI 2000, TRIQ IL-HAREB, GHAXAQ • 21678162 CARMEN SALON, 10 SQAQ IL- VITTORJA, ZEJTUN • 21694344 FRIDA’S UNISEX SALON, TRIQ IL-KUNCIZZJONI, ZURRIEQ • 21641610 M’XLOKK, M’SCALA, B’BUGIA ELIZABETH SALON, TRIQ VITTOTRIO CASSAR, M’XLOKK • 21658578 CURLS AD WAVES, TRIQ IS-SILLA, M’SKALA • 21634241

CATHERINE’S HAIR STYLIST, 7 TRIQ IL-PROFS ANTON TABONE, B’BUGIA • 21651118 SENGLEA, VITTORIOSA, COTTONERA, KALKARA BEAUTY 2000, 35 TRIQ IL-VITORJA, SENGLEA • 21691012 CUTTING EDGE, 3 TRIQ SANTA MARGERITA, COTTONERA • 21807976 CARINA SALON, 3 TRIQ IL-MINA L-KBIRA, VITTORIOSA • 21697932 GOLDEN HANDS SALON, TRIQ IL-KAPUCCINI, KALKARA • 99285396 QORMI, ZEBBUG, SIGGIEWI COLOURS HAIR SALON, TRIQ TEL-BAJJADA, QORMI • 21482476 CUT ‘N’ CURL BY GRAZIELLA, 18 TRIQ SANTA KATERINA, QORMI • 21470553 DIVAS HAIR STUDIO, TRIQ L-MIFSUD TOMMASI, ZEBBUG • 21466969 ANTONEA UNISEX SALON, 14 PJAZZA SAN GWANN, SIGGIEWI • 21464952 MOSTA, NAXXAR, GHARGHUR E3 HAIRDRESSING, 33 VJAL IL-LABOUR, NAXXAR • 21410972 BEAUTY TEAM, 181 TRIQ IL-KOSTITUZZJONI, MOSTA • 21423939 FRANCIA’S CLIP & DYE SALON, TRIQ L-ORATORJU, GHARGHUR • 21416724 RABAT, MTARFA, MGARR GOOD LOOKS UNISEX HAIR SALON, IC-CENTRU BINJA SANTA LUCIJA, MTARFA • 21450952 COIFFEUR D’ART UNISEX HAIR SALON, 59 TRIQ BIR IR-RIEBU, RABAT • 21452105 CARE CUTS , 46, ARC UN CIEL TRIQ L-IMWADES, MGARR • 21574552 SAINT PAUL’S BAY, MELLIEHA THE CUTTING EDGE HAIR STUDIO, TRIQ SANT’ ANTNIN BUGIBBA, SAN PAWL IL-BAHAR • 21578645 DESIGNERS CUT HAIRDRESSING & BEAUTY, TRIQ IZ-ZNUBER, MELLIEHA • 21525194 SOUL SOLUTIONS HAIR & NAIL SALON, SUNNYCOAST RESORT CLUB, QAWRA, ST. PAUL’S BAY • 270 40158 GOZO ANNA’S SALON, TRIQ SAN GUZEPP, QALA • 21562800 MICHELLE CUT ABOVE HAIR STUDIO, PJAZZA INDIPENDENZA, GHAJNSIELEM • 99829233 HAIR ILLUSIONS, 106A TRIQ IL-KNISJA, NADUR • 21522180 OLIVIA’S UNISEX HAIR SALON, 36 TRIQ JANNAR, XAGHRA • 21556255 ANNIE’S SALON, 43B TRIQ PALMA, VICTORIA • 21556660 CARMEN’S HAIR SALON, TRIQ SANT’ INDRIJA, ZEBBUG • 21563906 Margie’s Salon, 103 Triq it-Trux, Gharb • 21559980

PRODUCT NEWS

NEW PAMPERS ACTIVE FIT Born to play, and play, and play . . .

BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING Diabetes is a common life-long health condition, where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. This is because your pancreas does not produce any insulin, or not enough, to help glucose enter your body’s cells – or the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). Monitoring your health when you have diabetes is crucial to preventing some of the complications associated with diabetes. This involves knowing your blood glucose, blood pressure and blood fat levels as well as the condition of your feet and getting your eyes screened for retinopathy. We are offering you a FREE! monitoring kit. Simply turn in your old diabetic kit and we’ll give you a new IME-DC kit for free + 50 strips for only €25!

Playtime is crucial to your baby’s mental and physical development. Playful activities stimulate their imagination and problem solving skills, helping them make sense of the world. In order to let them play for hours and avoid disturbance due to leakage or wetness, Pampers set about improving absorbency with the Pampers Active Fit, to offer great protection against leaks. The new Pampers Active Fit, Pampers’ driest and best fitting nappy, has 15% more zones of absorption and new technology for up to 12 hours dryness. Pampers technology acquires liquid fast and distributes it quickly and efficiently to provide great comfort, speeding away wetness from the skin and locking it in the core for leakage protection. On top of this, Pampers Active Fit has a 3-way fit which provides strong grips and super stretchy sides to perfectly adapt to the waist, legs, and bottom, giving babies the best fit. Pampers Active Fit nappies have soft and flexible cuffs and are ultra-thin to provide maximum freedom to your babies’ movements. They’re also softer now, so Pampers Active Fit nappies wrap your baby in comfort.

For local trade enquiries, one may call VJ Salomone (Marketing) 22983201.

FORTICARE NUTRITION FOR PATIENTS WITH CANCER! FortiCare is a new and innovative drink in Malta, specifically designed for people with cancer. FortiCare is a nutritionally complete, high energy in small volume (1.6 kcal/ml), high protein, ready to drink, milk shake style nutritional supplement, which is enriched with n-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and fibre for the management of cachexia (weight loss) in patients with cancer. FortiCare can be used to supplement the diet of patients unable to meet their nutritional requirements or used as a sole source of nutrition (meal replacement) in those patients who are not eating enough or have a reduced appetite. FortiCare helps to promote weight gain and helps build lost muscles, whilst also improves physical activity and quality of life, increasing strength and improving the nutritional intake of people with cancer. Its fibre content also helps fight the common problems of diarrhoea and constipation. FortiCare is available 125ml cartons, with a flexible straw in 3 flavours which are studied to meet the preferences of people with cancer, i.e. Cappuccino, Orange & Lemon and Peach & Ginger. FortiCare is available from all leading pharmacies.

Call Pharma-Cos Ltd on 2144 1870 for more information.

For more information kindly call Cherubino Ltd on 21 34 32 70.

SMOOTH, SOFT & GENTLE

HAPPY FEET Even before they start walking, babies’ feet need protection and support. Children’s feet are still extremely delicate, so its important to protect them against cuts, scrapes or bruises. Startrite prewalkers are currently 10% off until stock lasts. Available from all Scholl Foothealth Centres in Sliema, Valletta, Fgura, Mosta and Abela’s Health and Beauty Centre, Gozo.

Some things bring out the best in each other – like Persil Non-Bio and Comfort Pure. Use them together for fresh, pure and gentle results that sensitive skin loves.

Why choose Comfort Pure?

When clothes are washed their fibres can start to tangle and bobble. Comfort Pure keeps fibres smoother so clothes feel soft and gentle. It’s dermatologically tested with skincare research recognised by the British. Skin Foundation. It’s the recommended choice for delicate skin.

For the full range visit schollfoothealthcentre.com

NURSING COMFORT BALM FOR SORE, CRACKED NIPPLES Mustela’s Nursing Comfort Balm is specifically formulated for sore, cracked nipples in breastfeeding mothers. It is clinically proven to soothe painful, sore cracked nipples whilst helping to nourish the nipple skin. It helps to restructure the delicate nipple skin with its combination of vitamins and naturally-derived ingredients rendering the nipple more supple and resistant. It quickly soothes pain and any irritations of the nipple, whilst relieving sensations of tightness that may appear, whilst helping to restructure and regenerate the skin that may have cracked. It is free of lanolin, an ingredient derived from sheep’s wool and potentially irritant to the nipple. It is easy-to-use; apply to the nipple area after every feeding and as often as needed. Does not need to be rinsed off before each feed. Knowing that it’s Mustela, you know that it’s the best and safest product for you and your baby.

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March 2014

VERY HIGH 50+SPF ULTRA SENSITIVE EXTREME FORMULA Only Once A Day For all people with extremely sensitive skin easy to apply, without leaving a greasy feel.

Water, sweat and friction resistant, especially under extreme sun conditions Contains no oil, perfume, emulsifiers or preservatives.

Available from leading pharmacies.

Exclusively distributed by A.M.Mangion Ltd, Tel: 23976000.

INFORMATION

Vitamins

FOR YOUR WELL-BEING

BY DR.NICHOLA J.VASSALLO

Why do certain people need to add supplements to their daily diet?

Vitamins and minerals are essential for normal growth for maintenance and resist disease. In cases where certain vitamins and minerals are not being taken in adequate amounts .when someone is dieting, supplements are required.

Certain diseases and lifestyles also require the addition of supplements to a patient’s nutritional regime .smokers need more vitamin C and Zinc, and so do convalescents and the elderly, because often they do not cook a varied and balanced diet.

Do people of different ages or who lead different lifestyles need different vitamins and minerals and in different amounts?

Yes, Different people require different vitamins and minerals, depending on various factors such as age, diet, activity of person involved, status of health, etc.

Must one always take supplements prescribed by doctors? Why is this important?

The doctor would make a detailed examination of the patient in order to determine the specific vitamins and minerals required for that patient, and in what quantities. Consequently the patient should adhere to the treatment regimen as prescribed by the doctor.

Some vitamins, if in taken in excess, such as Vitamin A and B3 actually cause harm. However, vitamins generally categorised as (OTC) over the counter products and doesn’t need to have prescription to take.

Apart from taking supplements, what must one do lead a healthy lifestyle?

Eat a healthy balanced diet.

•Eat in moderation 48

March 2014

•Do regular physical exercise •No smoking and prudent alcohol consumption •Reduce stress level •Regular check-ups that would include cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and other screening tests as required.

How does the elimination of toxins aid slimming?

Toxins are usually eliminated from the body by many ways-urination, perspiration, defecation, shedding of hair, etc.

When one or more of these elimination pathways is blocked, the toxins accumulate in the body and one of the adverse effects of this accumulation could be weight gains. Supplements often aid the various physiological and biochemical process involved in the elimination of these toxins, like anti-oxidants that clear free radicals.

How effective are these supplements in boosting the immune system?

The body’s own immune system in healthy individuals is usually able to resist attacks by natural biological organisms which are found everywhere in the environment, including bacteria and viruses found on the skin and in the air. In cases where the body’s immune system is weakened, such as during an attack of flu or in cases of malnutrition, supplements would be needed in higher doses than normal, as these vitamins and minerals are involved in many processes which help

the immune system overcome ant attack. Therefore, in cases where the body’s resistance is weakened, supplements should be added to a person’s diet to overcome the new threats.

At what age is it recommended to start taking supplements?

In most cases babies get enough supplements from breast or formula milk. With the possible exception of vitamin D which in certain cases might need to be added as a supplement, but always in accordance with a doctor’s advice. As a general rule, after four month babies will be getting enough nutrition from their daily food intake not to need supplement .Exception occur and these cases will often be evaluated by paediatricians .As one gets older, supplements might be needed in various forms and quantities, depending on food intake, lifestyle, state of health, etc. As a general rule, elderly patients would all benefit from supplements addition, since the immune system needs to be more resistant.

Do the elderly benefit from taking certain supplements?

As people grow older, they become more at risk of contracting diseases as the immune system gets weaker. Additionally, elderly patients often have problems with food intake, which compounds the problem. Elderly patients benefit more than other number groups by adding certain supplements to be a normal diet.

Unfortunately, even with the younger generation we are having more and more who are not following a wellbalanced diet composed of fresh foods, as opposed to processed foods.

Dr. Nicholas J. Vassallo is a family practitioner.

IN CASES WHERE THE BODY’S RESISTANCE IS WEAKENED, SUPPLEMENTS SHOULD BE ADDED TO A PERSON’S DIET TO OVERCOME THE NEW THREATS.

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Available at all pharmacies throughout Malta & Gozo. Exclusively distributed by JV Pharma