LOOKING GOOD

Family Health with

Jenna Evans

THIS MONTH in honour of ‘Organic September’ we'll be having a little break from our tour of the body. September is Organic month, a yearly celebration of this method of farming. Of course, at one time, before all the chemical interference and intensive methods, we simply used to call it ‘farming’!

There are lots of great reasons to use organic. A huge concern for consumers is genetic modification (GMO). There's ongoing work to challenge GMO trials in the UK and an abundance of evidence that all the claims made in support of GMO are at best from vested interests making a quick buck. Check out gmfreeze.org and grfreeme.org for more information.

Another great concern is the use of pesticides and herbicides. Residues of these chemicals make their way into the food chain and therefore us - it's alarming the amount of chemicals found stored in our bodies fatty tissues and sadly passed through breastmilk. These chemicals by their very nature are damaging to the ecosystem. It's like mass use of anti-biotics in humans, and surely we all know by now how much of a threat that poses to our health and indeed lives? To help us make better food choices, each year the Environmental Working Group produces lists of the foods most and least contaminated – the Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen. Currently the Dirty Dozen consists of strawberries, spinach, greens (kale, collards, mustard), nectarines, apples, grapes, peppers, cherries, peaches, pears, celery and tomatoes. These foods are best avoided unless organic. The Clean Fifteen currently comprise sweet potatoes, watermelon, mangoes, cantaloupe, mushrooms, cabbage, kiwi, honeydew, asparagus, sweet pea, papaya, onions, pineapple, sweetcorn, avocados. You can sign up at the EWG's website ewg.org to be sent a shoppers guide. If you eats lots of fruits and veg (which no doubt you do!), these lists can be a helpful tool if we can;t always afford or source organic produce. Staying local with farm shops, farmers markets and so on can be a great way to get to know what different producers are using on their fruit & veg – keeps us eating locally and seasonally too which is always a bonus! At Ceres we have a good selection of organic fruit and veg delivered every Wednesday, mostly packaging free and sold by weight.

Core principles or organic farming promote the protection of wildlife and the soil. Crop rotation, composting and manures are used in preference to pesticides and herbicides as a means for controlling pests and maintaining fertility of the soil. Healthy wildlife populations can be involved in pest control, let the birds, beetles and ladybirds manage the aphids, caterpillars and slimy fellows. There is no routine use of drugs like antibiotics and wormers in animals. Ethical standards are higher too. Look for the Soil Association symbol on products as they have some of the highest standards in the world.

It's not just foodstuffs that can be certified organic these days. Cosmetics and fabrics are also gaining in popularity. The chemicals used in textile production can be hugely harmful, affecting the health of producers, damaging the environment and potentially being absorbed through the skin of the wearer. Our skin is our largest organ and deserves to breathe freely and be nourished by gentle ingredients. The EWG also have a searchable database of the chemicals used in personal care products – ewg.org/skindeep – which I use a lot!

Organic doesn't have to break the bank, the more we use our pounds to support better farming practices, the cheaper these things can become. I envision a world where there is no longer a choice of organic or non-organic as we have returned to a simpler, healthier and more gentle way of living upon the earth and sharing her abundance.

Until next time, have a great month!

The health benefits of getting stuck into a good book!

From Hogwarts to Westeros, reading can transport us to completely different places from within the comfort of our own homes – something that is even more valuable for people who find themselves unable to leave their home.

Somerset County Council runs Home Library Service with the support of amazing volunteers, delivering books to people who are unable to get to their local library, such as those who are unable to leave their home, living in long-term care, carers, or people who are otherwise vulnerable. The service is open to people of all ages.

Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset County Council Lead Executive Member for Communities said: “This is a brilliant service. Reading books can help keep your mind engaged as you grow older and help prevent cognitive decline –improving memory and helping to reduce the likelihood of dementia. But it can also help people of any age to reduce stress by lowering blood pressure and heart rate”.

For more information: www.somersetlibraries.co.uk or contact the Home Library Manager on 07814 079831 or email kjenssen@somerset.gov.uk.

The Reader is a national ‘Shared Reading’ scheme where volunteers are trained to share short stories and poems and invite people to read aloud if they would like to, or just listen, then the group discusses the content. The groups are friendly and informal and peoples’ confidence blossoms. It’s about bringing people together over literature but not in an academic way, using more of a ‘feeling’ approach. For example, people can often externalise their own feelings by relating to or engaging with a fictional character. The stories and poems also offer a world where people can escape, even if only for a short time, from their own problems.

In South Somerset there are two library groups in Yeovil library on Mondays from 11.30am to 1.00pm and in Wincanton library on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Tuesdays of each month at 2.30pm. They are free and open to anyone who would like to drop in.

There’s also a programme in day care centres, specifically aimed at people who are living with dementia. Shared Reading has been particularly successful with this client group, particularly when using poetry.

Reading and writing for health, or ‘Bibliotherapy’, is fast becoming recognised as a powerful intervention with health practitioners now referring people to libraries for ‘Books on Prescription’ schemes or ‘reading pharmacies’. In a nutshell, books can make us feel better! For further information about the service and to find out about how to become a Reader Leader volunteer, go to www. thereader.org.uk or call 0151 7292200. In Somerset you can email Laura Merritt –lauramerritt@thereader.org.uk For more information about Wellbeing in South Somerset visit www.wellbeingsouthsomerset.org.

© Jenna Evans 2022 •Jenna is a Holistic Health Coach and creator of bespoke beauty products. She can be found on Facebook at ‘Alchemical Beauty UK’. Jenna is also a multi-award winning Product Advisor at Ceres Natural Foods, Yeovil. To make an appointment, please pop in or call 01935 428791 for details. Always check with a health professional before making any dramatic changes to your diet and lifestyle or starting a new supplement, especially with any existing health conditions.