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Back to school to learn how to eat an apple…?
13th October 2006
So, school exams…
Are they getting easier or not?
It's an argument that's been raging for years, and now, much to the hilarity of my family, I'm going to put my tuppence worth in.
Yes me, Ray Collins, proud owner of O-levels in English Language, Art and Geography, is going to enter the fray and say they are definitely, 100%-ly (did I mention I barely scraped English…?) getting easier.
Because this week I read about the daftest lessons I've ever heard about - ones that even I'd get an Agrade in.
You boy at the back of the class - how do you eat a carrot?!
Apparently, there's growing pressure on supermarkets to run lessons on how to eat fruit and veg.
I kid you not. A government minister wants supermarkets to show that healthy, fresh fruit and vegetables are not scary.
Because many people in the UK think fresh food is just that: scary.
How, I wonder? Do they picture a turnip in a Hannibal Lector mask? Or a pineapple wielding a chainsaw?
Anyway, to ease the terrible, terrible horror of apples and bananas, the idea is that supermarkets should give in-store demonstrations on how to prepare and eat these terrifying fruit.
Now, I'm all for government drives to cut down on obesity and get people eating healthier, natural food, but this seems totally ridiculous.
Do they really think that having a supermarket assistant stand behind a counter, peeling a banana, and eating it - all in slow motion - is REALLY going to get people binning their ready meals and ice cream and have them all rushing over to the fruit hall?
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Don't be daft. What the government SHOULD be doing is curbing the amount of advertising allowed on fast food products, controlling the amount of dangerous fats that are pumped into processed foods, and taking a long hard look at the grip big business has on our food and our drug consumption.
And if the bacon starts flying in the supermarket aisles, I'll know they've done it.
In the meantime, here's another initiative that I'm fully behind…
Three cheers for Nobert Duffaut
In case you didn't know it, yesterday was World Arthritis Day.
The aim of this event is to raise awareness of this terrible disease, force the authorities to look at new ways to ease the pain of arthritis, and make sure sufferers are aware of all the different types of treatments, remedies and support that are available for them.
And in an attempt to do my bit, I'd like to tell you about the most powerful natural remedy for arthritis that I've come across…
It's called Artrosilium - a powerful compound made from organic silica, meadow sweet and blackcurrant.
The main ingredient is the organic silica, which has been used for centuries as a cure for arthritis.
Apparently it was very common in North Africa where patients would be buried up to their necks in sand. The silica from the sand would then penetrate the body and provide relief to the patient.
Luckily, there's no need to dig a great hole and bury yourself these days - thanks to Norbert Duffaut.
Norbert Duffaut, from CNRS Institute for the treatment of arthritis, developed an organic silica gel, which is easily absorbed through the skin (and a lot more comfortable than burying yourself in sand - it gets EVERYWHERE!)
Artrosilium mixes this organic silica gel with meadow sweet - well known for its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties and blackcurrant which has been used to treat arthritis for centuries.
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And this stuff works fast.
Some people experience instant results, others may take a while longer. The recommended time for the gel to work it's full magic is up to three weeks. Of course, Artrosilium is completely safe and natural; otherwise it wouldn't get a mention in this letter!
If you (or someone you know) suffer from arthritis, put them on to this. Here are the full details:
Artrosilium
As ever, if you're unsure about anything, have a chat with your doctor and see what he thinks.
And while you're there, ask him about this…
Ease the pain with exercise
While you're waiting for your Artrosilium to come through (and I really hope you try it), here's a nine point plan to improve mobility, reduce pain, and ease stiff muscles…
- Discuss exercise plans with your doctor. They'll know how much stress your body can take, and be able to advise you on the sports you should avoid.
- Don't go this alone. Go to a qualified sports therapist who knows how to set exercise programmes for people with joint problems.
- Warm up x 2! . Apply heat to sore joints, then stretch and warm-up with some gentle exercises.
- Start strengthening your muscles slowly with small weights, and do more repetitions rather than increase the weight. You don't want to put huge pressure on your joints; you just want to get them used to working a little.
- Always underestimate how good you are. Even if you feel like you can increase the workload, take it easy.
- Use cold packs after exercising - it will help calm down any inflammation caused by working your body.
- When you feel comfortable with weights, start adding some aerobic exercise to your routine.
- Listen to your body! Stop exercising if your joints start to hurt. If you're only exercising very mildly and this still happens, go back to your doctor and find out what you can do.
- Don't make this a chore. There are dozens of exercise routines you can pick up, so find something you enjoy doing. It will help you stick at it - and that's the point!
That's it for today. I've been a bit lazy and typed this in my dressing gown, so I'm off to get dressed and have some breakfast now.
I just hope the fruit bowl doesn't attack me with a knife while I'm in the shower!
Until next time,
Yours as ever,
Ray Collins
The Good Life Letter
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