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Bye-bye 2020 – Hello 2021

Happy New Year to you all!  Bye-bye 2020 – Hello 2021!!

 

Any new year resolutions this year?  …. NO?!  Me neither! The good news is that New Year resolutions have been cancelled this year (along with loads of other things unfortunately!).

Another unusual thing this January is that the schools are closed – so home schooling is on the go again.  I’ve always fancied being a teacher so please humour me and we’ll try a bit of it ourselves! 

Here we go…lámha suas… who can list the usual new year resolutions we make

  • lose weight
  • improve our diet and eat healthy foods
  • be more active
  • quit smoking
  • worry less

All of the above are still important points and obviously good for you but I’m not going to go on about stuff that you already know.  

Instead lets try something different… lets focus on the positives in our daily lives….. right so, lámha suas arís

  1. The evenings are getting longer – woohoo!!  (extra time to go for a walk, kick a ball, puck a sliotar or indeed do more work!!!)
  2. Springtime is around the corner – new life, new starts, some farms have new calves already and daffodils have also been spotted
  3. Sports and the Late Late Show are still keeping us entertained!
  4. We’ve highly trained healthcare professionals in our hospitals minding our loved ones
  5. The COVID vaccine is here and is being rolled out as quick as possible
  6. We have learned new ways to communicate, to learn, to teach, to work, to carry on.
  7. Us Irish people have also learned how to say “No” if they are uncomfortable in a given situation
  8. Life has slowed down a bit, we’re not rushing about as much
  9. We have more time to spend with our families and appreciate them
  10. We are more aware of the most important things in life – health, family and friends

 

An-mhaith ar fad, super stuff! Hopefully everyone will agree with some of the above points.

Wow! This home schooling is harder than I thought  – time for a tea break (no sugar and one biscuit instead of two!)

If you have any other health concerns please do not hesitate to call us 023 8841115 – we’re here to help.

Until next time,

Keep well, keep safe and keep smiling!

 

Paula

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Tackling your Winter Woes and Worries

This post was written by

Paula Egan| Supervising Pharmacist at McLaughlins Pharmacy

 

The winter months can be a “quieter time”, but farmers as a breed like to be busy and some find these darker months difficult especially this year with everything else that’s going on around us!

Here’s a few suggestions to hopefully help you through these dull days. As always, at McLaughlins we’re here to help.

 

Keep Active!

Exercise produces serotonin “the happy hormone” so even if you don’t feel like exercising you’ll definitely feel better for doing it.  It doesn’t have to be for a very long time  – 30 minutes every day will benefit you and help prevent heart disease.  Chocolate also helps, would you believe!! Chocolate produces serotonin and dark chocolate has been scientifically proven to protect the heart.

 

Boost Your Immune System

Nobody wants to catch a cold (especially these days) but we can help our immune system by increasing our Vitamin C intake, naturally, by eating citrus fruits or by using supplements.  

Zinc and Lysine also help to prevent cold sores.  Echinacea is a natural product used to strengthen our immune system  and it’s available in many different forms  –  tablets, drops, liquid.

 

Vitamin D

A high proportion of Irish people are deficient in Vitamin D – especially during the winter months.  It helps prevent respiratory conditions and benefits immune function. Vitamin D “the sunshine vitamin” is produced in our skin when it is exposed to the sun. Since the sun is pretty hard to find these days a supplement is highly recommended.  Other natural sources are oily fish, eggs, liver and fortified foods.

 

An all-round super supplement is Revive Active, it supports energy, the immune system and a healthy heart.  It’s a tasty powder that you mix with water and take it daily.  If you’d prefer a capsule I would highly recommend Pharmaton (a multivitamin with Ginseng to help boost energy).

 

If you’re feeling a bit low in mood see my previous blog that includes tips to help boost your mental wellness.

 

Until next time. Keep well, keep safe and keep smiling!

 

Paula

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Stiff, Sore and Sorrowful?

This post was written by

Paula Egan| Supervising Pharmacist at McLaughlins Pharmacy

 

Stiff, Sore and Sorrowful?

 

Farmwork can be EXHAUSTING…. you can’t “call in sick” so it’s really important to keep healthy in body AND mind.

 

We all try our best to eat a well balanced diet. If you’re anything like my Da – you LOVE your dinner!!!!  But sometimes you just don’t get the full nutrition you need from the meals that you have.  That’s where supplements come in handy.  They act as a top-up of vitamins and minerals that your body may be missing. There are a huge variety of them available but I want to highlight just a few to you…….

 

Stiff and Sore?

 

Revive Joint Complex – this product is designed to keep you active and moving.  You give the tractor various things to keep it working well  (oil, brake fluid, antifreeze) – so why don’t you treat yourself to a supplement that does the same?!  It supports joint health, not just in one way but targets several areas – cartilage, bones and joints, connective tissue and muscle function.

 

 

Tired or Stressed Out??? – Try Zenflore – it’s a unique product that has been proven to reduce fatigue and stress levels.  There is no magic cure to make our worries disappear but people who have used Zenflore find that they have more energy and are better equipped to deal with the stress in their lives.

 

Feeling a bit low?

 

Low mood affects more people than you know.  It’s normal to have bad days but if you find there are more bad days than good then maybe it’s time to talk to someone and see if they can help.  Depression can sneak up on you and can feel like a tonne weight on your shoulders.  By seeking help and talking about what’s on your mind, that weight which has been holding you down, can be released and you can get back to enjoying life again.

 

If you want to get any more information or advice on the above or any other health concern please call us  – that’s what we’re here for.

 

Keep well, keep safe and keep smiling!

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