Reasons for Banning Trans Fats

Scientists are concerned that there is no safe level of trans fat consumption. Despite a large amount of negative press about trans fats, they are still being widely used by food manufacturers in the UK.

Scientists say that that they are not even necessary as an ingredient in food, and a safe level of trans fat consumption does not exist.

Calcium and Vitamin D Prevent Fractures

A study has revealed that bone fracture risk is reduced by taking Vitamin D and calcium supplements. The study involved almost 70,000 patients from all over Europe and America.

The study especially revealed that the benefits were applicable to all people male or female, young or old and those who had or had not experienced a bone fracture in the past.

The Truth about Tanning

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in under-35s in the UK. Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts looks at Britain's obsession with sunbeds, meeting those who have become addicted to sunbeds and visiting a skin cancer clinic.

with thanks to healthypages.co.uk for these items

We came across
this link on
the internet recently:
www.videojug.com/filmsuggestion/where-is-the-best-place-to-get-food-allergy-tests-done

We have no idea who wrote it, though it's very flattering to hear that someone somewhere votes Equilibrium the best clinic in the UK for an Allergy Test. It may explain why our Allergy Tester Robin Ravenhill has been so busy recently!

If you'd like to see whether you agree that Robin's the UK's best, please call 01273 470955 to book your appointment - and please provide as much notice as possible.

Most current classes are now full, so we are now booking for Courses & Workshops starting after Easter.

To be sure of your place, please book soon. Send cheque (payable to Equilibrium) to:
Equilibrium Health Centre
16 Station Street
Lewes
East Sussex BN7 2DB

• Scaravelli Yoga 6.30pm Mon 12 April
• Scaravelli Yoga 8.00pm Mon 12 April
• Beginners Tai Chi 6.00pm Mon 12 April
• Improvers Tai Chi 6.00pm Mon 12 April
• Pilates Body Control 6.15pm Tues 13 April
• Pilates Body Control 7.30pm Tues 13 April
• Tai Chi with Horses 11.00am Mon 12 April
• Tai Chi Newhaven 11.00am Fri 16 April
• Reiki Level 1 Certificated Course Sun 18 & 25 April Buy online
• Reiki Level 2 Certificated Course Sun 6 & 13 June
• Pregnancy Yoga 4.00pm - Every Monday
• Pregnancy Yoga 6.00pm - Every Monday
• Feldenkrais 9.00am - Every Saturday

Would you like more info on other events and courses? To check future courses & events, please click here.

Winter is the perfect time of year to focus on building up supplies of internal strength and vitality that can be drawn upon for the rest of the year.

According to ancient Oriental medicine, we are in the season of the water element when the energy of the kidneys (adrenals) & bladder are at their peak. Orientals believe the kidneys to be the storehouse of "jing", our energy or vital force.

In the natural world there is a deep stillness as many animals are in hibernation and plants and trees stand dormant, drawing energy from the earth in preparation for the spring growth spurt. Nature is resting and replenishing. For us humans, rather than doing a cleanse, which is best done in the expansive energy of spring, it's a good time to top up nutritional reserves to supply energy and to fortify natural defences for the months ahead.

Chinese New Year is the biggest festival of the year in Chinese communities and is sometimes known as the Spring festival. As it is based on the lunar and solar calendars, the date varies from late January to mid-February.

Each year in the Chinese calendar is represented by one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac: the Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, Ox, Tiger and Rabbit.

In the days leading up to the Chinese New Year, people clean their houses, repay debts, buy new clothes and have their hair cut. A celebratory meal is held on the eve of the new year, with many traditional dishes served, and fireworks and firecrackers are let off to see in the new year.

With the start of the new year, Lion Dancers pass through the streets to bring good luck to the households and businesses they visit. The drums, gongs and cymbals that accompany the Lion Dance are used to scare away evil and bad luck.

Chinese New Year 2010 takes place on the Sunday 14th February. As this coincides with Valentine's Day there may be local variations in the date of celebration, so if you are planning to join the fun, check before you go. For example the London parade and dances in Chinatown take place a week later on Sunday 21st February, from 12noon to 6pm.

Want to know what animal you are? Find out the legendary origins of the Chinese New Year animals.

We recently discovered an excellent new free resource which could be invaluable for parents of under-21s:
The Centre for Complementary Healthcare and Integrated Medicine (CCHIM) has a website about Traditional and Complementary Approaches to Healthcare (TCA). This is part of a project being carried out by a team from Thames Valley University in London. It was set up to respond to the fact that more and more parents are using traditional and complementary medicines for their children, yet there is a lack of reliable and evidence based information for both parents and healthcare practitioners. If you are a parent, you can fill out a questionnaire about your experiences using TCA for your children here.

On the website you can access information about some healthcare approaches being used for children, findings from research by the CCHIM and others, and links to other useful organisations. Parents click here, Healthcare Professionals click here.

A survey of paediatric outpatients at a North West London hospital found that the main reason for using complementary medicine (CM) was word of mouth (45%) and the main source of information was friends and family (51%). The most popular treatments used for children were homeopathy and herbal medicine (used by 30% and 28% of CM users, respectively). 88% of complementary medicine was bought over the counter and 53% of CM use was not reported to their doctor.

The results suggest that CM use in children is higher than previously estimated in the UK.

Valentines Day Gift?
Anniversary?
Celebration?
Mothers Day?

Equilibrium Gift Vouchers
make the perfect gift for any occasion...

Depression - new ways of thinking

For those people in a depressed state, it is encouraging for them to know that there are things they can do today that will make tomorrow better. Indeed in the first week of this new year, there has been much in the papers about how meditation can help promote recovery and reduce relapses.

We all know that there are degrees of depression - from feeling slightly down - to being in the depths of despair. There are many different theories about its causes and possible cures. The World Health Organisation predicts that depression will become the second most debilitating condition worldwide by 2020 (currently fourth behind heart disease, cancer and traffic accidents).

People who feel depressed or have been diagnosed with depression tend to have certain thinking patterns in common. They tend to endlessly analyse or ruminate. They tend to have a past rather than future focus. Thoughts tend to be of the negative, half empty glass, variety. They also tend to believe the negative thoughts that they have been thinking and have difficulty differentiating between what is a valid thought and one that is best to disregard. There are other patterns too.

However, the most recent statistics show that although 15% of people who have been diagnosed as depressed currently need ongoing medication, 75 - 85% of people are able to recover completely through learning new patterns of thinking - and that having learnt these, they are better able to maintain a stable state. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one such approach for doing this.

People learn how to:

• think clearly
• behave effectively
• relate positively to themselves & others (as taught in interpersonal therapies)
• reduce vulnerability to relapses

It is also clear that these cognitive therapies are enhanced and made even more effective using hypnosis.

One of the attributes of hypnosis is that it enables a person to amplify useful memories or thoughts and diminish less helpful musing or imagination. It becomes easier to remember those times which have gone well - and how that was achieved; easier to leave memories in the past that belong in the past; easier to believe in a more positive future, with more positive relationships and more self belief.

The feeling of personal worth that this generates seems to be an important factor in sustained recovery.

~ Richard Morley
Clinical Hypnotherapist & NLP Master Practitioner, D.Hyp, PDCHyp, MBSCH

Make a bumblebee house this winter

Following our article in last month's newsletter, readers were enquiring what they could do to help the plight of the bumblebee. Winter is the best time to act, so here's how to make a cosy home for bumblebees in your garden for free:

Simply choose a quiet corner and dig a hole big enough to put a football in. Throw in as much dry moss or dry grass as you can find to provide insulation for the bees (an old bird's nest is perfect!). Cover with a slab, plank, or any other material to make it dark and dry, leaving a few cracks around the edge for the bees to get in.

Now sit back and wait! In early spring, if you are lucky, a bumblebee queen will nest inside, and you will see her daughter workers whizzing in and out through the summer.

Did you know?

Laughter really may be the best medicine, according to research presented to the American College of Cardiology. Laughing appears to boost your blood flow and researchers say it may reduce your risk of developing heart disease.

Billions spent on this. Billions spent on that. Do you know where the world's money is spent? This 'Billion Dollar Gram' visualization may surprise you.

Can you spot the yoga industry? Yoga is the only health, fitness or lifestyle industry that made it onto the diagram.

"I believe that every man should stand by his conviction.
For if you budge a single inch from the true desire of your heart, then you are being forced to live a lie."

Martin Luther King

See what we're up to day by day, and even send in your questions or comments. Explore the clinic and our therapies before choosing the most suitable treatment.

It's very simple: just click here and join (or log in). You'll then automatically be able to receive all the latest clinic & workshop info plus news of updates, events and special offers too.

Have a nice month!

Our Limited Edition Valentines Voucher lasts a whole week, and gives you £10 off any 60 minute treatment with Sara Proudfoot.

Treat yourself to an aromatherapy massage, a reflexology foot massage or a deep cleansing organic holistic facial with Sara - you'll love it!

The Limited Edition Valentines Voucher is available to the first 20 applicants only, and is valid in the week leading up to Valentine's Day (Mon 8th - Sat 13th Feb).

Please use the coupon at the bottom of your newsletter, or call 01273 470955 to book.

For an extra special treat, why not book a Pamper Day for your Valentine on Valentines Day itself (Sun 14th Feb)? It's an ideal way to spoil your partner, and an original gift. Your treatments can take place at any time during the day (subject to availability) and your inclusive free lunch can be taken later in the week at Seasons at your leisure (please note Seasons is closed Sundays & Mondays).

Full list of available treatments

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Newsletter Archive: January

Newsletter Archive: December

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Tai Chi for Health

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Limited Edition Valentines Voucher

Your Valentines Voucher is valid in the week leading up to Valentine's Day (Mon 8th - Sat 13th Feb). It lasts a whole week, and gives you £10 off any 60 minute treatment with Sara Proudfoot.

Treat yourself to an aromatherapy massage, a reflexology foot massage or a deep cleansing organic holistic facial with Sara - all treatments eligible for the discount up to 13th February!

How to book? Simply call or email reception.

Offer available to the first 20 applicants.