Ad linking alcohol to cancer most effective at curbing drinking, study finds

A graphic Australian advertisement that highlights the link between alcohol and cancer has been nominated by drinkers as the most effective in leading them to reconsider their alcohol intake.

The video advertisement, titled Spread, was developed and funded by the Western Australia government. It shows alcohol being absorbed into the bloodstream, spreading and causing cancerous cell mutations in the liver, bowel and throat.

Researchers led by renowned international behavioural scientist Professor Melanie Wakefield tested 83 English-language alcohol advertisements from around the world on 2,174 Australian adults who regularly consume alcohol.

Study participants ranked each advertisement on a five-point scale, with a score of “one” representing a low motivation to reduce drinking after viewing and “five” representing high motivation to reduce drinking after viewing.

Spread ranked the highest with an average score of 3.77 and was favoured across a range of groups including men, women, young and older adults, and low and high-risk drinkers.

Four out of the top 10 most effective advertisements were from Australia and of those, all were from Western Australia. The least motivating ad, from New Zealand, was titled Add Nothing, and encouraged drinking water instead of beer. The results were published on Thursday in the medical journal BMJ Open.

The McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth gave input into the development of the highest-ranked ad. The centre’s executive officer, Julia Stafford, said Spread was successful because experts in the field had been approached for input.

“We are really pleased that the evidence base for these harm-reduction ads is building and that we are learning more about what works in designing and running them,” Stafford said.

“It is important that very careful, research-based approaches are being taken.”

According to the Cancer Council of Australia, more than 3,200 cases of cancer each year could be prevented nationally if people limited their alcohol consumption.

But the CEO of Cancel Council Victoria, Todd Harper, said the carcinogenic properties of alcohol were still widely unknown in the community.

“Our 2015 survey of Victorian men and women found that nearly half of the respondents either believed that alcohol made no difference or were not sure if it had any effect on a person’s risk of cancer,” Harper said.

“It’s worrying because alcohol is a group one carcinogen – the highest classification available. It means that there is strong evidence that alcohol causes cancer at some body sites in humans.”

He said that “every drink” increased the risk of mouth, throat, bowel, liver and female breast cancers.

This risk as well as other alcohol-related harms has prompted some public health experts and health professionals to call for plain packaging on alcohol products that warn people of their risk, similar to that used on tobacco products.

But Alcohol Beverages Australia executive director Fergus Taylor dismissed the Spread adas “off the mark” and “scaremongering”.

“The industry has long advocated for targeted measures to deal with specific areas of problem consumption and misuse, as opposed to broad-based, population-wide measures like ads that use cynical scare tactics to frighten responsible drinkers,” he said.

“These ads will just be dismissed as scaremongering by the vast majority of Australians who drink responsibly and are well aware that alcohol should be consumed in moderation.”

Taylor accused researchers of “simply demonising a product that has well-established health benefits when consumed at moderate and responsible levels”.

Evidence from the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research identifies a causal relationship between alcohol and cancer. While any level of drinking increases cancer risk, this risk increases in line with the level of consumption.

Ad linking alcohol to cancer most effective at curbing drinking, study finds

Moderate drinking can lower risk of heart attack, says study

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Drinking in moderation helps protect heart, with study finding it lowers risk of many conditions compared with not drinking

Moderate drinking can lower the risk of several heart conditions, according to a study that will further fuel the debate about the health implications of alcohol consumption.

The study of 1.93 million people in the UK aged over 30 found that drinking in moderation – defined as consuming no more than 14 units of alcohol a week – had a protective effect on the heart compared with not drinking.

Related: Life-saving alcohol services face devastating cuts

Continue reading…

Moderate drinking can lower risk of heart attack, says study

Burnout, stress and drinking in the NHS | Letters

Your article (Oncologists suffer alarming rates of burnout and stress, research finds, 17 February) ought not to surprise us. Nor is burnout confined to hard-pressed specialists: it is widespread at every level of practice and even among medical students. Doctors expect a lot of themselves, but if demands pile up and become unrelenting, the ability to adapt well has neurobiological limits. Neuroscience shows that intimate contact with suffering is physically and emotionally demanding, and that persistent stress will eventually distort how we see ourselves, our patients, and our working world. Long before stress makes us ill, it makes us dull and unfriendly. A cascade of stress responses increases error-rates, heightens irritability, engenders disengagement, and fuels the downward spiral into burnout. Yet there is evidence for an upward spiral, too: empathic doctors are safer, more effective and happier in their work. So if we want our doctors to flourish individually and professionally in these challenging times, certain human needs should be non-negotiable. Perhaps the solution is as basic as providing a little time for reflection and recovery; time that has been whittled away wherever NHS organisations lack the resources to cope with the ever-increasing demands they face.
Professor David Peters (director), Professor George Lewith, Dr Chris Manning and Professor Chantal Simon
Westminster Centre for Resilience, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Westminster

• It has long been unacceptable and a disciplinary issue for an NHS worker to drink at lunchtime before working because of the possible impact on patient care. But it appears to be socially acceptable (‘Drinking is how the market works’ – Lloyd’s lunchtime ban falls flat in City, 18 February) for bankers and financial services staff to be drunk in charge of our investments, pensions and savings. The NHS will be there to pick them up even if they cause austerity, reducing funding available for the NHS.
Chris Jeffries
Stockport

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

Burnout, stress and drinking in the NHS | Letters

Health Benefits of Drinking A Cup of Pomegranate Juice Everyday

Have a cup of pomegranate juice in the morning to start your day with energy, and it will protect you from several diseases as studies found that pomegranate provides lots of potential health benefits. This red, juicy fruit contains a powerful antioxidant called punicalagin, makes pomegranate juice to have greater antioxidant capacity than green tea, cranberry juice, acai juice and red wine.

Health Benefits of Drinking A Cup of Pomegranate Juice A Day

1. With strong anti-inflammatory properties, pomegranate juice protects you against many chronic diseases including cancer, especially breast, lung, nd prostate cancer.

2. Pomegranate lowers risk of heart disease by reducing LDL(bad cholesterol) and raising HDL(good cholesterol). (10 Foods That Will Lower Your Cholesterol)

3. Pomegranate phytochemicals may lowers high blood pressure. Studies have found that consume 1.7 ounces of pomegranate juice a day would lower the blood pressure as much as 5 percent.

4. In a study, people who drank pomegranate juice daily performed better on a memory task than those who didn’t drink the juice. Pomegranate can improve the brain function and may prevent or slow Alzheimer’s disease.

5. Inhibitors in pomegranate can help prevent the damage to cartilage, so if you want to improve your bone’s quality, drink a cup of pomegranate juice a day.

6. Pomegranate juice helps relieve the problems that caused by indigestion, as it helps to secrete enzymes with anti-bacterial properties. Drink pomegranate juice regularly if you have digestive issues such as nausea, diarrhea, intestinal parasites and dysentery.

7. A cup of pomegranate juice also helps increase kid’s appetite.

8. Pomegranate juice is a good agent to cleanse the body, this process will also help you lose weight easier.

9. As a common natural ingredient in many beauty products, pomegranate benefits to your skin in variety ways:

• Protects the skin from the sun damage and free radical;


• Healing cuts and wounds by regenerating cells;


• Reducing wrinkles and fine lines;


• Provides additional moisture to treat dry skin;


• Benefits to oily skin as well, thus preventing pimples and acne.

Also Read: Top 10 Worst Skin Care Mistakes Every Woman Should Avoid

10. Pomegranate juice aids in a healthy pregnancy by providing rich nutrients, including folic acid, niacin, calcium, potassium, iron and several vitamins.

Sources: drfuhrman.com, globalhealingcenter.com, blogs.naturalnews.com

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Binge drinking turning NHS into "national hangover service", says chief

The NHS is being transformed into the “national hangover service” as binge drinking diverts vital resources, the head of the health service in England said. Simon Stevens condemned “selfish” partygoers in a stark warning as the nation gears up for one of the most alcohol-steeped nights of the year.

The chief executive of NHS England added that the health service was already facing considerable strain from the annual spike in winter emergencies.

Millions of revellers are expected to pack bars, pubs and clubs across the UK to celebrate the arrival of 2017 on Saturday night. Figures from the health service show that admissions for alcohol-related incidents rocket on the first day of the new year.

Stevens told the Daily Telegraph: “At a time of year when hospitals are always under pressure, caring for a spike in winter emergencies, it’s really selfish to get so blotto that you end up in an ambulance or A&E. More than a third of A&E attendances at peak times are caused by drunkenness. Casualty nurses and doctors are understandably frustrated about the NHS being used as a national hangover service.

“In our towns and cities this Christmas and new year, the paramedic called to a drunk partygoer passed out on the pavement is an ambulance crew obviously not then available for a genuine medical emergency.”

Binge drinking turning NHS into "national hangover service", says chief

"Dad was an alcoholic": MP Jonathan Ashworth urges action on drinking

Childhood memories of growing up with an alcoholic father have prompted the shadow health secretary to call for greater recognition of the damage done by excessive drinking.

Jonathan Ashworth said there was a need for urgent action because the cost of alcohol-related harm was not just the £3.5bn NHS price-tag, but up to £7bn in lost productivity for the British economy.

During an interview with the Guardian, the Labour MP said he also wanted there to be much more focus on the needs of families affected by alcoholism, claiming the issue would be a priority for him and Labour in 2017.

Ashworth said he was surprised to find himself disclosing, for the first time to a national newspaper, the reason he felt so passionately about the issue.

“It’s quite personal for me, because my dad was an alcoholic,” he said, suddenly spilling out early memories of his father falling over drunkenly at the school gates and of returning home to a fridge stacked with cheap booze and no food.

Ashworth said he had never really considered his experience as something relevant in policy terms. “You didn’t think there was a problem, you just thought ‘that is the life I’ve got’,” he said.

Then he came across the work being carried out by his Labour colleague, Liam Byrne, whose childhood was affected in a similar way.

The MP’s all-party parliamentary group dedicated to the children of alcoholics has revealed that local authorities across the country tend to have no specific strategies to help young people affected in this way.

The group, which is publishing research on the issue in the new year, said that millions of children were “suffering in silence”.

Inspired by Byrne’s work, Ashworth felt he wanted to make the issue a priority in 2017. “I wanted to do something on alcoholism so that if nothing else I’ll have done something on that,” he said, before adding: “I know it’s cliched.”

As well as backing Byrne’s ideas he wants to support a phoneline run by the National Association for Children of Alcoholics to help make it a nationwide service. He also wants more specialised training for professionals to support children and for councils to be properly funded to be able to reach out to families affected by alcoholism through schools, via community nurses and in Sure Start children’s centres.

Ashworth was inspired by Labour MP Liam Byrne who has set up an all-party parliamentary group dedicated to the children of alcoholics. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Ashworth talked about his own experience as an only child in a working-class part of north Manchester after his mother, who worked as a barmaid, and his father, a croupier in a Salford casino, divorced.

He spoke vividly about the days that he stayed with his father – whom he said he loved dearly.

“I remember him falling over when he picked me up at the school gates and we’d get home and there would be nothing in the fridge other than bottles of wine – he drank cheap horrible bottles of white wine … and cans of lager and Stone’s bitter,” said Ashworth.

“When I got to 11 or 12 then I was effectively looking after him on the weekends because he was drunk all weekend,” he said, pausing before adding: “And eventually he died.”

Ashworth recalled trying to persuade his father not to move to Thailand one Christmas. The MP said he knew in his heart it would end badly, but his father replied: “No, I’m going,” and he went.

“I never saw him again,” said the MP.

About a year later he received a call telling him to travel to the small apartment where his father had been staying. When he got there he found his bed surrounded by empty whisky bottles. “He was in Thailand for that last year drinking a bottle of whisky a day … I had to clear it up. That was my life. He was 60.”

Ashworth said his father, also called Jon, had not been offered formal help, although he himself had tried to raise the issue of his drinking as an adult. He said his dad thought he was OK because he didn’t touch alcohol during his working hours. “But as a child I didn’t see him at work,” he said.

Ashworth, who was politically active for the Labour party from the age of 15, through college and on into a job advising Gordon Brown, said the experience with his dad left him feeling “not damaged but determined”.

The MP for LeicesterSouth – who was promoted to shadow health secretary by Jeremy Corbyn after his second victory in a leadership contest – now feels he has an opportunity to take action.

As well as the work he outlined with charities and councils, he believes that part of the solution must also be a cultural drive to have alcoholism taken more seriously. Ashworth recalled how “people used to think it was funny – a right laugh” that his dad was a drinker.

He remembered his father in goal in the work football team and people pointing off the pitch and shouting: “Oh Jon Ash is in goal – just throw a crate of Stella in that direction and he’ll go after that.”

“And I was like ‘oh yeah that’s funny’, but actually that was my dad and for my teenage years I was looking after him. It just became a norm. I had to grow up very fast.”

But he is not just concerned about alcohol. “Public health has been cut back by the Tories but they are storing up huge problems,” he said. “Obesity is a huge problem that costs the NHS billions. The debate on obesity and diabetes hasn’t punched through.”

Ashworth said there were lessons to be learned from the bold action to ban smoking in public places, which had a massive impact. He called for much more direct action on poor diet.

“I think we have to be bold about what we say to the advertising industry – not just with kids programmes but families sitting down watching The X Factor. Think of the hundreds of thousands of calories being advertised this winter in the run-up to Christmas,” said Ashworth, arguing that fast food and supermarkets selling “tasty treats” were all over family viewing times.

“The government watered this down. There were going to be stricter restrictions on the industry, [David] Cameron was going to go for it and the story is that Theresa May got her red pen out and cut it out. I think we have got to be bold.”

"Dad was an alcoholic": MP Jonathan Ashworth urges action on drinking

"Dad was an alcoholic": MP Jonathan Ashworth urges action on drinking

Childhood memories of growing up with an alcoholic father have prompted the shadow health secretary to call for greater recognition of the damage done by excessive drinking.

Jonathan Ashworth said there was a need for urgent action because the cost of alcohol-related harm was not just the £3.5bn NHS price-tag, but up to £7bn in lost productivity for the British economy.

During an interview with the Guardian, the Labour MP said he also wanted there to be much more focus on the needs of families affected by alcoholism, claiming the issue would be a priority for him and Labour in 2017.

Ashworth said he was surprised to find himself disclosing, for the first time to a national newspaper, the reason he felt so passionately about the issue.

“It’s quite personal for me, because my dad was an alcoholic,” he said, suddenly spilling out early memories of his father falling over drunkenly at the school gates and of returning home to a fridge stacked with cheap booze and no food.

Ashworth said he had never really considered his experience as something relevant in policy terms. “You didn’t think there was a problem, you just thought ‘that is the life I’ve got’,” he said.

Then he came across the work being carried out by his Labour colleague, Liam Byrne, whose childhood was affected in a similar way.

The MP’s all-party parliamentary group dedicated to the children of alcoholics has revealed that local authorities across the country tend to have no specific strategies to help young people affected in this way.

The group, which is publishing research on the issue in the new year, said that millions of children were “suffering in silence”.

Inspired by Byrne’s work, Ashworth felt he wanted to make the issue a priority in 2017. “I wanted to do something on alcoholism so that if nothing else I’ll have done something on that,” he said, before adding: “I know it’s cliched.”

As well as backing Byrne’s ideas he wants to support a phoneline run by the National Association for Children of Alcoholics to help make it a nationwide service. He also wants more specialised training for professionals to support children and for councils to be properly funded to be able to reach out to families affected by alcoholism through schools, via community nurses and in Sure Start children’s centres.

Ashworth was inspired by Labour MP Liam Byrne who has set up an all-party parliamentary group dedicated to the children of alcoholics. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Ashworth talked about his own experience as an only child in a working-class part of north Manchester after his mother, who worked as a barmaid, and his father, a croupier in a Salford casino, divorced.

He spoke vividly about the days that he stayed with his father – whom he said he loved dearly.

“I remember him falling over when he picked me up at the school gates and we’d get home and there would be nothing in the fridge other than bottles of wine – he drank cheap horrible bottles of white wine … and cans of lager and Stone’s bitter,” said Ashworth.

“When I got to 11 or 12 then I was effectively looking after him on the weekends because he was drunk all weekend,” he said, pausing before adding: “And eventually he died.”

Ashworth recalled trying to persuade his father not to move to Thailand one Christmas. The MP said he knew in his heart it would end badly, but his father replied: “No, I’m going,” and he went.

“I never saw him again,” said the MP.

About a year later he received a call telling him to travel to the small apartment where his father had been staying. When he got there he found his bed surrounded by empty whisky bottles. “He was in Thailand for that last year drinking a bottle of whisky a day … I had to clear it up. That was my life. He was 60.”

Ashworth said his father, also called Jon, had not been offered formal help, although he himself had tried to raise the issue of his drinking as an adult. He said his dad thought he was OK because he didn’t touch alcohol during his working hours. “But as a child I didn’t see him at work,” he said.

Ashworth, who was politically active for the Labour party from the age of 15, through college and on into a job advising Gordon Brown, said the experience with his dad left him feeling “not damaged but determined”.

The MP for LeicesterSouth – who was promoted to shadow health secretary by Jeremy Corbyn after his second victory in a leadership contest – now feels he has an opportunity to take action.

As well as the work he outlined with charities and councils, he believes that part of the solution must also be a cultural drive to have alcoholism taken more seriously. Ashworth recalled how “people used to think it was funny – a right laugh” that his dad was a drinker.

He remembered his father in goal in the work football team and people pointing off the pitch and shouting: “Oh Jon Ash is in goal – just throw a crate of Stella in that direction and he’ll go after that.”

“And I was like ‘oh yeah that’s funny’, but actually that was my dad and for my teenage years I was looking after him. It just became a norm. I had to grow up very fast.”

But he is not just concerned about alcohol. “Public health has been cut back by the Tories but they are storing up huge problems,” he said. “Obesity is a huge problem that costs the NHS billions. The debate on obesity and diabetes hasn’t punched through.”

Ashworth said there were lessons to be learned from the bold action to ban smoking in public places, which had a massive impact. He called for much more direct action on poor diet.

“I think we have to be bold about what we say to the advertising industry – not just with kids programmes but families sitting down watching The X Factor. Think of the hundreds of thousands of calories being advertised this winter in the run-up to Christmas,” said Ashworth, arguing that fast food and supermarkets selling “tasty treats” were all over family viewing times.

“The government watered this down. There were going to be stricter restrictions on the industry, [David] Cameron was going to go for it and the story is that Theresa May got her red pen out and cut it out. I think we have got to be bold.”

"Dad was an alcoholic": MP Jonathan Ashworth urges action on drinking

Siberian city declares emergency as dozens die from drinking alcoholic bath tincture

A state of emergency has been declared in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, as at least 48 people were reported dead on Monday from drinking a bath tincture known for its high alcohol content.

The deaths have renewed controversy over the widespread ingestion of “surrogate” alcohol in Russia, including medical ethanol, window cleaner and perfume. Experts estimate that up to 12 million Russians regularly ingest such surrogates.

The deaths in Irkutsk appear to have been caused by a counterfeit batch of Boyaryshnik, a concentrated liquid sold as a relaxant to add to bathwater but widely known as a cheap alcohol substitute. It cost a maximum of 40 roubles (£0.52) per bottle, making it cheaper than even the lowest-cost vodka, and was even put on sale in public vending machines earlier this year.

According to the label, Boyaryshnik contains 93% ethanol, hawthorn extract and lemon oils but tests on the Irkutsk consignment suggested it also contained methanol, an ingredient in antifreeze. Police said they had discovered an underground workshop in the city where bottles of fake Boyaryshnik were being produced, along with counterfeit bottles of well-known vodka brands.

Russia’s investigative committee said it had detained two people on Monday, and seized over two tonnes of the liquid from shops and kiosks around Irkutsk, to ensure no more of the batch reached consumers. Other reports suggested five people had been arrested.

Dmitry Berdnikov, the mayor of Irkutsk, declared a state of emergency in the city on Monday afternoon and also placed a temporary ban on the sale of all liquids containing alcohol not designed for consumption.

The death toll rose steadily throughout the day, with 41 confirmed dead by evening in Irkutsk. A further nine people remained in serious condition in hospital. The local prosecutor’s office said the majority of victims had arrived at hospitals already in a coma.

Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told journalists that the deaths were “a terrible tragedy” and said the Russian president had been informed.

Dmitry Medvedev told a meeting of the cabinet that the deaths were unacceptable. The prime minister said: “We cannot put up with this any longer. We must take all measures either to get this kind of product off the market, or to ensure full control of the way they are sold.”

Medvedev also told the interior minister to ensure people involved in black-market production or sale of such industrial alcohol drinks would face criminal charges, and suggested tightening the law to provide harsher penalties.

Alcoholism remains a major problem in Russia. A survey two years ago showed that a quarter of Russian men died before reaching the age of 55, compared with 7% of men in Britain. The survey found that the average Russian adult drank 20 litres of vodka a year, compared with an average of three litres of spirits a year consumed in Britain.

The ingestion of low-quality surrogate alcohol not meant for human consumption causes even worse health risks. Medical professionals estimate that between 10 and 12 million Russians drink these types of alcohol, including surgical spirit, aftershaves and cleaning fluids, because they cannot afford to buy vodka or other alcoholic drinks. A ministry of health survey in a town close to Moscow earlier this year found that 13% of residents admitted to consuming surrogate alcohol.

“Every year, Boyaryshnik is killing more people than terrorist acts did in the whole history of Russia,” wrote opposition politician Alexei Navalny on Monday. He said people were being pushed into drinking surrogates due to low incomes and said only fighting against poverty could improve the situation.

Oleg Kuznetsov, a Russian toxicology specialist, said deaths from surrogate alcohol ingestion had gone up this year due to the economic crisis. “People are poorer, especially those who drink a lot, but the need for alcohol remains. Before, someone with alcohol dependency would go to the shop and buy the cheapest vodka, now he’ll go and buy something different like window cleaner,” he said.

Siberian city declares emergency as dozens die from drinking alcoholic bath tincture

10 Amazing Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

Lemon water is perhaps one of the oldest beverages ever. All of us have fond memories of relishing the flavor of this uncomplicated drink as children. Even as adults, we wouldn’t mind sipping on this sweet and tangy drink. While lemon water makes for an absolute thirst quencher, did you know that it offers a large number of health benefits too? Here are 10 amazing benefits of drinking lemon juice or lemon water.

Resistance towards Colds and Flu

Lemons contain a lot of vitamin C (53mg per 100g), that’s slightly more than 50% of a lemon itself! It is generally realized that the utilization of sustenances high in vitamin C helps the body create resistance against contaminations, furthermore expelling destructive free radicals from the blood die to its antioxidant nature.

Toxin Removal

Drinking lemon juice first thing in the morning has diuretic properties. It stimulates the kidneys and by doing so, flushes toxins out of your system during the process of detoxification. You can likewise blend in 2 Tbsp. Flaxseed oil to further regulate your digestion, as it can be used as a useful laxative when necessary.

Aids with Digestion

Lemons contain citric acid that stimulates the secretion of gastric juices. This can help to get rid of queasiness and indigestion. The liver expels toxins from the circulatory system, and relieves symptoms such as heartburn and bloating which are also signs of indigestion. Although acidic in nature, it becomes alkaline when digested in our bodies.

Battles Malignancy

The vitamin C in lemons also works as an intense cancer-preventing agent that kills free radicals. It invigorates the liver to deliver more bile, boosting energy levels while destroying unwanted organisms. Lemons also contain limonoids, which are phytochemicals that are present in citrus fruits. These have been appeared to stop cell division in malignant cells, with studies showing they have the ability to fight cancers of the lungs, skin, colon and breast

Alleviates Rheumatoid Arthritis

Because of the mitigating properties of vitamin C in lemons, it has been demonstrated that it diminishes indications of agony and swelling. 1-2 oz. of lemon juice can be taken up to 3 times a day, as it contains anti-inflammatory effects that help to reduce painful sensations experienced.

Lowers Blood Sugar Levels in Diabetes

Lemons contain a flavonoid called hesperidin, which brings down glucose by expanding the movement of the protein glucokinase, hence metabolizing glucose from the circulatory system. In fact, lemons are included in The American Diabetes Association’s list of superfoods as they help to regulate blood sugar levels, and have a low glycemic index.

Prevention of Coronary Illness

Logical studies have demonstrated that admission of lemon juice has lessened the aggregate serum cholesterol and LDL (awful) cholesterol.

Treating Stones

The citrus extract in lemon juice breaks down gallstones, calcium stones, kidney stones, and pancreatic stones. In the book Back to Eden, Jethro Kloss, one of the early pioneers in herbal remedies prescribe taking 2 Tbsp. Lemon juice trailed by 2 Tbsp. additional virgin olive oil on a void stomach for 3 days.

Mitigates Sore Throat

Lemon juice can be very effective when it comes to treating tonsil inflammation and sore throats, due to its anti-inflammatory nature.

Metabolism and Weight Loss

Lemons are great for weight loss as it boosts your metabolism. It should be mixed with warm water and drank in the morning on an empty stomach to be effective. Instead of drinking sweet drinks packed with sugar and calories, lemon water would be a good alternative!

http://www.naturalnews.com/lemon_juice.html

http://wellnessmama.com/35192/benefits-of-lemon-water/

https://www.davidwolfe.com/20-incredible-things-that-happen-when-adding-warm-lemon-water-to-your-morning-routine/

10 Amazing Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

Smoking and drinking among young people at lowest level on record

Young people in England born since the turn of the century are the most clean-living generation in recent times, with the rates of those choosing to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol the lowest on record.

Fewer than 5% of children aged eight to 15 have smoked, down three-quarters since 2003, while only about 17% admitted ever drinking alcohol, a fall of two-thirds, according to an annual survey of health trends.

At the same time, the proportion claiming to eat five portions of fruit and veg has almost doubled in the same period to a fifth. Despite that, 28% of children aged two to 15 were overweight or obese in 2015, and only one in five were as physically active as they ought to have been.

Nine in 10 mothers and eight in 10 fathers of overweight children did not recognise the problem, according to the Health Survey for England 2015, published by NHS Digital on Wednesday, with charities warning that obesity is still an urgent public health epidemic.

The dramatic fall in the number of young smokers follows a cultural shift in the perception of smoking, as well as significantly tighter restrictions on tobacco sales.

In the past decade, the government raised the legal age for buying tobacco from 16 to 18, banned smoking in enclosed public spaces, introduced graphic health warnings and introduced rules that hide tobacco products from view in shops.

At the same time, off-licences have become far stricter about sales to teenagers, and bars and clubs have introduced stringent ID requirements for entry.

Gillian Prior, the head of health at the National Centre for Social Research, which carried out the survey of 8,034 adults and 5,714 children on behalf of the NHS, said: “Changes to the law mean that under-18s are prohibited from buying cigarettes and the Challenge 25 policy adopted by many retailers has meant that these laws are more rigorously enforced than they have been in the past.

“But we should not underestimate the importance of changes in the nature of childhood; changes in technology and society mean that teenagers in particular spend their time in a very different way compared to teenagers 15 years ago.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We are committed to helping people lead healthier lives so it is encouraging to see a decline in smoking rates and fewer children drinking alcohol.

“However, this survey reaffirms that we can’t let up in our efforts to tackle childhood obesity – and we are confident our world leading plan will make a real difference in the long term.”

Smoking and drinking among young people at lowest level on record

7 Health Benefits of Drinking Peppermint Tea Every Day

Peppermint is a plant, like all other mints. The plant was originally indigenous to Europe and the Middle East but is now cultivated in many regions all over the world. Researchers recommend that everybody should drink peppermint tea. It has a pleasant, delicate flavor and serves as a refreshing beverage even if there’s no ailment that needs to be fixed and it is also excellent for your body and your mind.

Peppermint is great sources of manganese, copper and vitamin C. In addition, it has antioxidant, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and carminative properties. Here are some of the many benefits you’ll enjoy with a cup of peppermint tea.

Simply Peppermint Tea Recipe

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of dried peppermint leaves,
Steep for 10 minutes. If desired, sweeten with honey, brown sugar or maple syrup.
Drink small sips after meals, up to 3 cups a day.

7 Health Benefits of Drinking Peppermint Tea

Respiratory Issues

As an antispasmodic, it can also relieve you of that irritating sensation that makes you want to cough, thereby exacerbating your respiratory condition. By relaxing the muscles of the throat and chest, you can eliminate that aspect of cold and flu symptoms.

Sinus Relief

Peppermint contain menthol, it is a natural decongestant, providing relief from sinus pressure, related to colds and allergies, and the hot liquid can also soothe a sore throat that accompanies seasonal cold symptoms too.

Treats Cough

Peppermint tea has been cited as one of the best weapons against all types of coughs. It is stomatic, tonic, refrigerant, anodyne, stimulant, and carries menthol, a great soothing element for clearing phlegms and clogs inside our throats.

Eases Muscle Pain

Peppermint improves circulation and exhibits anti-inflammatory and analgestic effects that help relieve muscle pain. Menthol, one of the main components in peppermint, helps soothe inflamed muscle tissues.

Weight Loss

The aroma of peppermint oil and some of its organic components can actually eliminate the appetite, so smelling this substance can help reduce overeating, and subsequently, obesity!

Relieves Gas

Drinking peppermint herb tea may help relieve your symptoms, notes the American Pregnancy Association. The reason peppermint tea may effectively relieve bloating and gas is that peppermint helps relax your muscles, allowing digestive gases to pass more easily.

Reduces Fever

This might be a bit surprising, but peppermint tea is also beneficial for fever. Menthol (the decongestant), the main component in the tea, cools the system and hence, lowers the temperature of our body, both internally and externally.

Sources:

–https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/beverage/peppermint-tea.html

–http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/benefits-of-peppermint-tea-for-skin-hair-and-health/

–http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/general-health-articles/health-benefits-of-peppermint-tea

Also Read:

7 Health Benefits of Drinking Peppermint Tea Every Day

Parental absence increases risk of smoking and drinking in children

Parental absence increases the risk of children drinking and smoking before they become teenagers, research suggests.

The study found that children who had experienced the absence of a parent during their first seven years, whether as a result of death, separation or otherwise, were more than twice as likely to have tried smoking and nearly 1.5 times as likely to have drunk alcohol by the age of 11.

Rebecca Lacey, one of the authors of the study from University College London, said the research highlighted the impact of stressful events in early life. “Some children, perhaps, seem to be taking up smoking and alcohol as ways of coping with this,” she said, adding that children might need extra support should a parent become absent.

Writing in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, Lacey and colleagues describe how they examined data from 10,940 children who took part in the Millennium Cohort Study – an ongoing UK project that has been following the health of almost 19,000 children born between September 2000 and January 2002.

The children were surveyed at nine months old, then at ages three, five, seven and 11. Parental absence was monitored up to age 7, while information on smoking and drinking was self-reported at the age 11 by the children.

“What we know from previous studies is that parental absence experienced in childhood is associated with smoking and alcohol consumption in adulthood,” said Lacey. “What we have tried to look at here is to see whether parental absence is associated with those behaviours in childhood.”

The results reveal that around 4% of boys and 2% of girls said that they had tried smoking by the age of 11, with almost 15% of boys and more than 10% of girls admitting to trying alcohol.

More than a quarter of the children had experienced the absence of a biological parent at some point before their seventh birthday, with those children more than 2.5 times as likely to have tried smoking by the age of 11 than those who had always lived with both parents. The figure dropped to just over 1.5 times once factors such as maternal age at birth, parental education level and the child’s birth weight were taken into account.

Parental absence was also linked to a 46% increase in the likelihood of a child consuming alcohol by the age of 11, with the figure at 27% once the same factors were taken into account.

No link was found between smoking and drinking in children and which parent was absent, or the age of the child at which the absence began. It is also not clear whether the absence of a parent actually triggers children to engage in smoking and drinking.

“We know these things are associated but we don’t know that one causes the other,” said Lacey.

Lacey also points out that it is possible that some children experienced parental absence after the age of seven, while inaccuracies in the self-reporting of behaviour by the children cannot be ruled out.

Professor Russell Viner, officer for health promotion for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said

“Significant changes early in life are already known to have an impact on a child’s development, their later health and risky behaviours, so this latest paper not only adds to an already increasing wealth of knowledge telling us that our life trajectories are partially set very early on, but also that we need to do everything we can to put our children onto trajectories towards positive health. Early intervention can be particularly important for children who have suffered a bereavement or parental separation.

“With personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) currently lacking from school curriculums, not all children are receiving the education required early in life to raise awareness and deter them from some of these risky behaviours. Therefore it is vital that the government makes PSHE compulsory for all schools,” he said.

Parental absence increases risk of smoking and drinking in children

Drinking to Cure: How Did A Woman Cure Her Arthritis In Two Weeks With Apple Cider Vinegar

This is a real story. Linda Faulkner, a woman who was suffering from arthritis, tried countless treatments since 2006, but the results were not good, as the treatments could not help her for a long term. She still suffered from the pain in wrists, neck, and back.

A miracle happened when she decided to try apple cider vinegar, actually she drunk a mixture of apple cider vinegar and honey. A tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of raw honey with a cup of hot water, she kept drinking a cup every morning and evening. She felt the differences after 2 weeks, she was totally pain-free the first time since 2006.

Related reading about this natural ingredient –1TB of Apple Cider Vinegar A Day – Will Keep The Doctor Away!

This simple home remedy helped her, Linda felt shocked about the effective effects of this drink.

How Does Apple Cider Vinegar Relieve Arthritis Pain?

1. Joint pains and arthritis are normally caused by mineral deficiency, and apple cider vinegar is a good source of many essential minerals, such ad calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.


2. Apple cider vinegar strengthens the bone as it contains a good amount of magnesium, which helps bones absorb calcium.


3. Apple cider vinegar is packed with antioxidants and acetic acid, which help block the damaging effects of free radicals and prevent some conditions including arthritis.


4. Apple cider vinegar also aids in digestion and promotes the nutrients absorption, which is essential to healthy joints.


5. Acetic acid and mallic acid in apple cider vinegar help flush the toxins out of the body, this is also an important process for relieving the symptoms of arthritis.

There are several other recipes you can try to relieve arthritis with apple cider vinegar:

• Add 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar to a cup of cherry juice, drink it to get a relief. Cherry is a good source of anthocyanins, which battle inflammation effectively.


• Simply mixed 2-3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar into a cup water also makes an effective remedy for arthritis.


• Massage a solution of 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar with 1 tablespoon coconut oil into the painful joints to get a relief.


• Mix 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon raw honey into a glass of peppermint tea. This drink is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and also with other medicinal benefits. Drink once everyday to relieve the arthritis pain.

Now you know that apple cider vinegar is an amazing agent in relieving arthritis pain, do you know it provides several other health benefits too:

• Cures a cold


• Uses as a natural deodorant


• Balances PH


• Eases various veins


• Heals poison ivy


• Balances blood sugar


• Removes warts


• Detoxifies your body


• Uses as hair conditioner


• Whiten teeth


• Cures acid reflux


• Aids in weight loss


• Home cleaning


• Relieves allergies


• Soothes sunburn


• Repels fleas

Sources: homeremediesforlife.com, draxe.com, healthylifetricks.com

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Drinking to Cure: How Did A Woman Cure Her Arthritis In Two Weeks With Apple Cider Vinegar

THIS Will Happen When You Start Drinking Golden Milk Every Night (How it’s made)

THIS Will Happen When You Start Drinking Golden Milk Every Night (How it’s made)

Harvard Scientist Urges People To Stop Drinking Low Fat Milk

Low fat dairy might seem like the ideal choice to retain in your diet, but it’s far from being the healthy option. A Harvard scientist, David Ludwig, is urging individuals to be aware of the dangers of low fat milk. He claims it is better to go back to the full-bodied variety, and here are the reasons why.

Obesity

There’s word going around that full-fat milk can make you gain weight – which is why a lot of people are going for ‘skim-slim’ milk. Studies show, however, that this is not true. There’s actually a benefit in using full-fat milk in that those who consume full-fat often have an easier time maintaining their weight.

Heart Problems

Full-fat milk also contains a healthy dose of phytanic acid, which helps maintain insulin levels and blood pressure. There’s also conjugated linolic acid in the milk known for reducing the risks of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Consume this on a daily basis and you’ll be able to lower the risks of these 4 common health issues all at once.

Special Vitamins

Some vitamins and minerals are hard to come by in a person’s typical diet. These include retinol and vitamin K2 which are known as fat-soluble vitamins. They’re available through full-fat milk though, and should make your diet more comprehensive.

Dental Health

When it comes to healthier teeth and gums, milk is often a cited ‘must’ in your diet. Unfortunately, teeth health is only benefited through full-fat milk.

Drinking the skim variety won’t really give you any type of benefit. At least nowhere near what full-fat can provide. If you’re partial to low-fat chocolate milk, that actually makes things worse. The blended variety already contains loads of sugar which would only promote tooth decay.

What About Calcium?

There’s no question that both skim milk and full-fat milk contain calcium for better bone health. Hence, if you’re drinking milk primarily for this purpose, then the need to ‘switch’ may not be as prevalent. Bear in mind, however, that calcium is a relatively common mineral in various types of food.

Green and leafy vegetables are packed with calcium in amounts definitely higher than milk. The unique properties of full-fat however, are better than skim milk and should be taken into account, and if you’re going to drink one, it makes sense to choose the type that offers more with each gulp.

Saturated Fats

It’s a common mistake to think that ‘full fat’ as written in milk is the same as the ‘fat’ that’s attached to the body. They’re two completely different things and saturated fats which can be found in full-fat milk are actually desirable.

Replacing saturated fats with ‘alternatives’ can lead to various problems such as increased instances of obesity, lower amounts of good cholesterol, increased bad cholesterol, and increased chances of coronary heart disease.

So when scientists talk about the benefits of milk, they’re actually talking about the full-fat variety. Simply put, the dangers of low fat dairy involve doing yourself out of numerous vitamins and minerals. Bear in mind though that ‘low fat’ isn’t limited to milk as there are also cheese products advertised under the same label.

Sources: Real Farmacy, Chris Kresser, and Jama Network.

If you enjoyed reading this post, don’t forget to connect with me on Facebook or Google+ or download my FREE Book “Amy’s Home Kitchen”, packed with my family’s favorite healthy, clean and delicious recipes. 

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Harvard Scientist Urges People To Stop Drinking Low Fat Milk

How to Discuss Drinking with Your Teenage Son

Today, over half of American youths between ages 12 and 20 have experimented with alcohol. Both genders face the same experimental rates, and both face incredible dangers of binge drinking, car accidents, alcohol poisoning and prolonged health problem. Whether you’re aiming to connect with your teenage son about alcohol use, considering a discussion about alcoholic rehab centers or are concerned for your child’s future, you should tread lightly.

A discussion about alcohol isn’t necessarily difficult, but such topics, when proposed to male teens, require several specific approaches. Before discussing drinking with your teenage son, take a few things into consideration.

Your Son is Growing Up, and Fitting in is Hard

Remember: Your son is still a teenager. As children reach adolescence, “fitting in” becomes vital to their social survival. They’re more self-conscious, deal with body issues and are more likely to take risks. Your son is probably worried about how he measures up to his classmates, sports team members and the media.

For this reason, alcohol is much more than a drink. It’s a social symbol. Your son’s growing independence, whether visible or not, is heavily dependent upon his outward opinions about alcohol. Before approaching your son, respect his growing independence. In doing so, you’ll set the stage for a positive discussion.

Making a Connection Works Wonders

As mentioned above, adolescence is a troubling time. You’ll need to foster a personal connection with your son before bringing up the dangers, responsibilities and potential downfalls of alcohol consumption. If you approach the situation bluntly, you’ll conflict with your growing son’s need to be understood.

Above all: Don’t tell him he’s wrong. This doesn’t apply directly to alcohol, either. Establishing a durable connection requires flexibility. Just because your son wants to do different things, talk to different people and aspire to a different future doesn’t necessarily mean he needs to be confronted.

That said, he should be confronted if such behaviors are risky to his mental or physical health. Again, a parent-son relationship is a key component about discussing alcohol.

Be Supportive, but Be Firm

When it’s time to bring up alcohol, be prepared to give a supportive, but firm response. 17 percent of eighth graders drink, currently, and 64 percent of kids the same age consider alcohol easy to obtain. Your son, statistically, is likely to have been presented with alcohol at some point.

Be supportive, and let him know exposure to alcohol doesn’t immediately put him in trouble. It isn’t fair, anyway, to punish a child who’s simply witnessed alcohol presentation. By destigmatizing alcohol, itself, you can open the floor for conversation. Remember: Alcohol, itself, isn’t necessarily bad. Drinking underage, or irresponsibly, is.

Discuss the Age Factor

If you approach the alcohol topic from an age standpoint, you’ll break through easier. Tell your son alcohol is restricted to individuals over age 21 for a reason. Discuss the health risks, social risks and legal risks of drinking underage. Again, be conversational. Work with your son, not against him. Show your son you care about his health and help him understand that underage consumption can damage his future before it even begins.

Aim for a Win-Win Experience

Ask open-ended questions, and ask your son how he feels and thinks about alcohol consumption. If you feel the need to, ask him, directly, if he’s drank before. Don’t, however, presume this is the only way to discuss the subject. Avoid questions ending in “yes” or “no,” and instead aim for a win-win experience. Don’t lecture your son, but show him you respect his viewpoint.

When Facing Alcohol Abuse

In some cases, teens fall into heavy alcohol abuse. If your son is struggling with alcoholism, legal troubles or health problems, consider discussing alcoholic rehab centers. Additionally, research inpatient alcohol treatment centers yourself. Make it clear to your son that alcoholism treatment centers serve to help, not hurt. A lot of teens stigmatize alcohol rehab as “useless,” or “uncool.”

Discuss the risks of losing an educational future, the ability to legally drive or even relationships. Your son is human, too, and he cares about his health, his friendships and his future. Discussion is always important, and discussion with your son, if rough around the edges, is entirely possible.

Source

http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/OtherAlcoholInformation/makeDifference.aspx

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hope-relationships/201404/9-tips-communicating-your-teenage-son

https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/family-building/dads-reconnect-teenage-son/

http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/the-dangers-of-teenage-drinking.htm

How to Discuss Drinking with Your Teenage Son

"You can"t just walk away on a plane": passengers on drinking at airports

Jack Rice, 19, is at Manchester airport with a group of friends waiting to go on his first “lads’ holiday” to the Spanish party resort of Magaluf, on Mallorca. The group have arrived four hours early for their flight and after they go through security, they plan to sit down and have a few beers before getting on the plane.

“I’m not going to drink loads, just have a few,” he says. “We want to have a drink before we get over because it’s the start of our holiday. I’m not a big drinker, but I’m going to have a drink, because we don’t get there until later and I don’t want to be stone cold sober.”

Related: Banning alcohol in airports is the worst idea I’ve ever heard | Luke Holland

On Friday, the aviation minister, Tariq Ahmad, who was appointed by Theresa May this month, announced a review of the sale of alcohol at airports after a series of incidents involving drunk passengers.

Bars and restaurants in airports are not subject to normal licensing restrictions and can sell alcohol 24 hours a day. Although Lord Ahmad said he did not want to “kill merriment altogether”, the review will look at the times alcohol is on sale and the possibility of screening passengers before they get on their flights.

Like many other British tourists waiting to board flights to sunnier climes from Manchester, Rice does not object to the idea that there should be a limit to the amount you can drink at an airport. “If you’re too drunk, you obviously shouldn’t be allowed on a plane,” he says.

Mike Berridge, 39, is waiting with his wife, Karen, and their daughter to fly to İçmeler, Turkey. “Last year we sat just in front of an idiot who was far too drunk [and using bad language], and I don’t think it’s acceptable, especially when you’re travelling with children,” he says. “It really spoiled the journey.”

A freedom of information request by the Press Association revealed that at least 442 people were arrested in the two years to March 2016 on suspicion of being intoxicated on a plane or at an airport. Several airlines have raised concerns with the government about the number of alcohol-related incidents on flights.

In May, police were called to Manchester airport when a female passenger allegedly punched an easyJet pilot in the face after being ordered to leave a plane bound for Cyprus. In February, six British men on a stag party were arrested by German police following a mid-air brawl that caused a Ryanair flight from Luton to Bratislava to be diverted to Berlin.

Louise Mowthorpe, 46, is on her way to San Javier, Spain, with her partner, Chris Knaggs, and 10-year-old daughter. She is in favour of trying to limit people’s drinking at airports, but thinks it will be difficult to police. “Some people use drink for medicinal purposes, or when they’re stressed, they have a drink. And some people can manage alcohol better than other people,” Mowthorpe says.

Related: Should we crack down on alcohol sale and consumption at UK airports?

Knaggs says drinking in an airport is very different to drinking in a bar. “You’ve got a responsibility to other people’s safety on a plane. In a bar, you can just walk away from people, but [a plane is] a confined space and people are supposed to be able to operate doors … You don’t want to be sitting next to someone who’s been drinking and can’t function properly if they evacuate the plane,” he says.

A code of practice on disruptive passengers was published this week after talks between airlines, the police and bodies including the British Air Transport Association and the Airport Operators Association.

The code instructs airport shops to advise passengers not to drink alcohol they have purchased before or during their flight, and calls for the training of restaurant and bar staff to limit or stop serving alcohol in order to prevent or manage disruptive behaviour.

"You can"t just walk away on a plane": passengers on drinking at airports

"You can"t just walk away on a plane": passengers on drinking at airports

Jack Rice, 19, is at Manchester airport with a group of friends waiting to go on his first “lads’ holiday” to the Spanish party resort of Magaluf, on Mallorca. The group have arrived four hours early for their flight and after they go through security, they plan to sit down and have a few beers before getting on the plane.

“I’m not going to drink loads, just have a few,” he says. “We want to have a drink before we get over because it’s the start of our holiday. I’m not a big drinker, but I’m going to have a drink, because we don’t get there until later and I don’t want to be stone cold sober.”

Related: Banning alcohol in airports is the worst idea I’ve ever heard | Luke Holland

On Friday, the aviation minister, Tariq Ahmad, who was appointed by Theresa May this month, announced a review of the sale of alcohol at airports after a series of incidents involving drunk passengers.

Bars and restaurants in airports are not subject to normal licensing restrictions and can sell alcohol 24 hours a day. Although Lord Ahmad said he did not want to “kill merriment altogether”, the review will look at the times alcohol is on sale and the possibility of screening passengers before they get on their flights.

Like many other British tourists waiting to board flights to sunnier climes from Manchester, Rice does not object to the idea that there should be a limit to the amount you can drink at an airport. “If you’re too drunk, you obviously shouldn’t be allowed on a plane,” he says.

Mike Berridge, 39, is waiting with his wife, Karen, and their daughter to fly to İçmeler, Turkey. “Last year we sat just in front of an idiot who was far too drunk [and using bad language], and I don’t think it’s acceptable, especially when you’re travelling with children,” he says. “It really spoiled the journey.”

A freedom of information request by the Press Association revealed that at least 442 people were arrested in the two years to March 2016 on suspicion of being intoxicated on a plane or at an airport. Several airlines have raised concerns with the government about the number of alcohol-related incidents on flights.

In May, police were called to Manchester airport when a female passenger allegedly punched an easyJet pilot in the face after being ordered to leave a plane bound for Cyprus. In February, six British men on a stag party were arrested by German police following a mid-air brawl that caused a Ryanair flight from Luton to Bratislava to be diverted to Berlin.

Louise Mowthorpe, 46, is on her way to San Javier, Spain, with her partner, Chris Knaggs, and 10-year-old daughter. She is in favour of trying to limit people’s drinking at airports, but thinks it will be difficult to police. “Some people use drink for medicinal purposes, or when they’re stressed, they have a drink. And some people can manage alcohol better than other people,” Mowthorpe says.

Related: Should we crack down on alcohol sale and consumption at UK airports?

Knaggs says drinking in an airport is very different to drinking in a bar. “You’ve got a responsibility to other people’s safety on a plane. In a bar, you can just walk away from people, but [a plane is] a confined space and people are supposed to be able to operate doors … You don’t want to be sitting next to someone who’s been drinking and can’t function properly if they evacuate the plane,” he says.

A code of practice on disruptive passengers was published this week after talks between airlines, the police and bodies including the British Air Transport Association and the Airport Operators Association.

The code instructs airport shops to advise passengers not to drink alcohol they have purchased before or during their flight, and calls for the training of restaurant and bar staff to limit or stop serving alcohol in order to prevent or manage disruptive behaviour.

"You can"t just walk away on a plane": passengers on drinking at airports

Less considering, more drinking: a situation for old-fashioned parenting | Taylor Glenn

I’ve just survived my first yr of motherhood. And I love it, it’s the greatest issue ever, lifestyle has so a lot more that means, and so forth. But let’s get to the tougher stuff: nothing could have ready me for the relentlessness of currently being so essential, for the immeasurable bodyweight of currently being so essential to the extremely survival of a helpless human currently being. Sleepless nights, hectic days, and this weird stickiness that just ends up on everything.

Regardless of being madly in really like with my baby daughter, at times I couldn’t help but truly feel like a hostage. When other mother and father say “I cannot remember daily life with no ‘em!” I believe they must have concussion. Actually? You cannot bear in mind carefree nights out and actually needing an alarm to get up in the morning? Freely using the toilet because you haven’t received a sleeping infant slung across your entire body? Not smelling of vomit? In my darkest moments it felt the only difference among motherhood and Stockholm Syndrome was the dimension of the captor.

Scientists are even now uncertain why some ladies suffer from postnatal depression but other people do not. As a former psychotherapist I’d worked with women with the sickness, but in the throes of new motherhood I identified myself befuddled by the diagnostic criteria. Particularly at 3am, when I’d torture myself by repeatedly reading through the signs and symptoms: crying spells (cue sobbing), insomnia (I’m awake Correct NOW!), depressed mood (nicely yes, now you mention it), fatigue (you effing kidding me?), anxiousness (ibid), and poor concentration (I just re-read through that six instances!?). Are there any new mothers not feeling these factors? I felt the two alone and in the secret company of hundreds of thousands.

A yr beneath my (now greater) belt, and I’m finally obtaining a grip. But a question keeps irking me: how the hell did my mother do this three times? My grandmother, 4? My aunt, six? Have been they masochists? Or just created of tougher stuff than I? When I finally asked her, my mother’s response was: “we just did not consider about stuff as significantly. Also we did whatever the doctor explained.”

It manufactured me realise the supply of my pressure wasn’t the work of parenting, per se. It was the immense worry that I was going to apocalyptically mess it up. Alas, minor comfort in simply identifying the problem, simply because research display that a parent’s capacity to deal with anxiety is the 2nd greatest predictor of a child’s well-being, just behind adore and affection. So hey, really do not tension.

As for healthcare suggestions, officially our GP is a greying man who’s worked at the very same surgical treatment because 1897. But off the record? It’s the mercurial Dr Google. (Much less medical doctor, a lot more engine). A 24-hour support providing immediate, totally free, and wholly conflicting tips, along with disturbing images. It is Dr Google who guided me in these early months, who advised me just how anxious I should be about leaving the little one to cry, about cautiously responding to a fever, and regardless of whether that wine I dared to sip with dinner would would leak into my breastmilk and make my youngster a violent psychopath later in existence. It’s amazing how significantly time you have on your hands to analysis when you have no time left for yourself.

I’m normally the 1st to eschew recommendations of reverting to “the old ways” simply because too numerous individuals who pine for the great ole’ days are a mint julep away from a racist remark and/or a jolly slap on a waitress’s bottom. But learning that so numerous other modern mothers and fathers feel related anxiety, I can’t assist but consider there’s a case for some retro options. Let’s call it the 3 measures to throwback parenting:

1. Much less Thinkin’, More Drinkin’

I’m not truly advocating that what contemporary dad and mom require is a lot more alcohol. Yeah, no, but perhaps some of us do. 1 of my fondest recollections is my grandmother offering me the gin-soaked olives from her martinis. Mmm, the briney taste of childhood! I now realise she was drinking in the middle of the day. Although she was hunting soon after me. The neurotic present day mother or father cries shame on you, Grandma! The throwback mother or father says nicely completed offering yourself (and me) a tiny treat. In contrast to early days the place I haven’t even had a sip of water because THE Baby Needs ME, and effectively, there is something to be explained for balance. I’m not minimising the really genuine results of alcohol abuse in families. But you know what Grandma wasn’t worrying about whilst she mixed a cocktail? Gina Ford v Dr Sears. Cheers.

two. A Bit of Dirt Do not Hurt

I’ve by no means been afraid of germs, but having a newborn abruptly created every thing truly feel like a giant petri dish. I remember strolling through the park and viewing horrified as a grimy toddler hovered above my valuable infant and coughed. I grumbled “hi there” but in my head gave him a swift sidekick across the park, because he was offering my daughter tuberculosis. My mother was also stunned to find out that we bathe the infant so considerably. “It’s her regimen!” I cried. But it is been established that raising baby in as well clean an surroundings robs her of the chance to develop essential immunity. I currently hate cleansing, so this is welcome guidance. Besides, chasing soon after my tired, waterlogged pre-toddler each and every evening following her bath, wrangling her into a SIDS-decreasing sleeping bag and then steaming the floors is not nearly as entertaining as just letting her chew on the toilet roll. Good unclean exciting.

three. The Internet Does not Exist

It’s not possible not to appear back above my yr and think about carrying out it all again without currently being so challenging on myself. Some of that is just my nature, some of it is possibly grounded in a genuine stress on present day dad and mom, specifically women, to do items completely. But what if I had resisted the urge to trawl the world wide web for studies on all the methods my baby’s skull could fuse incorrectly? (I confess I actually woke my husband up to show him an aerial photograph I’d taken of the baby’s head). I suppose that is one particular cause folks double down and have a second child: the possibility to do it again with out the neurosis.

I also wonder if whomever coined the term “helicopter parent” wasn’t just an observer, but like me, caught themself drowning in every single parenting guidebook printed given that the industrial revolution prior to realising the true pitfall for the properly-that means, caring parent is hovering. My mother assumed everything would operate out Ok, and just acquired on with it, whereas I discover myself constantly striving to keep away from the worst imagined final result.

Would earlier generations have been as trusting if they’d had the net? Who understands. What I do know is that if we are driven by a concern of failure, and by fear, period, we risk denying kids the likelihood to discover how to cope themselves. And here I employed to make fun of parents like me. Ah, karma.

So, as I gear up for the second year, I am determined to unwind much more. To get pleasure from the ride. To trust that the outcome will be fine if I cease striving to anticipate each possible way I could mess it up. I consider I’m receiving there. Also I hear toddlers are super easy.

Taylor Glenn is an American comedian, author and former psychotherapist based mostly in London. She at times tweets things by way of @taylorglennUK

Less considering, more drinking: a situation for old-fashioned parenting | Taylor Glenn