Nearly all oil that is poured down a drain will find its way into rivers, streams and ultimately the sea and have a devastating effect on the environment and wildlife. Similarly if it is poured onto the ground it can find its way into the groundwater beneath.

Why recycle your waste engine oil?

Oil can be recycled and reused which helps preserve the earths natural resources for future generations
Recycling waste oil saves energy and money
Recycling oil helps protect the ground from pollution. If waste oil enters into the ground it contaminates the soil and kills off bacteria, micro organisms and earthworms, basically everything that is required to regenerate the soil
Even a tiny amount of oil is harmful to water, for example only 1 litre of oil can pollute literally millions of litres of water and kills fish, birds and other creatures. It is also an extremely costly exercise to clean up
Burning the oil is not the solution either as burning oil causes air pollution and is of course illegal too without the proper facilities and authorisations

When you have waste oil, store the oil in sealed containers and dont mix it with any other substances like paint or solvents as this can cause problems and make it very difficult to recycle. Storing it in containers also helps prevent accidental spillage. If you do accidentally spill oil, absorb smaller spillages with sand or another absorbent material like sawdust and dispose of the solid waste in an oil bank. Do not hose spilled oil away with water. For larger spills, contact the environmental agency or your local environmental health department immediately.

Where can you recycle your waste oil?

The Environmental Agency has established an oil care campaign to promote environmentally friendly disposal of waste oil, which basically means recycling it. Waste engine oil can be recycled in any of the oil banks situated across the country.

What happens to recycled oil?

When waste oil is taken for recycling, it is emptied into tanks and processed to filter out any unwanted elements or particles. The oil can then be reused in power stations, furnaces, boilers, cement and lime kilns and heaters as an alternative source of fuel. It might also be laundered, which means it is cleaned up and sent back to the supplier for reusing, or it can be refined to produce new oil.

What about cooking oil?

Oil banks are not for used cooking oil. Large amounts of used cooking oil from factories, restaurants and food outlets can be recycled so contact your local authority for details on what facilities are available for disposing of waste cooking oil in your area. Recycled cooking oil can be refined and used to make detergents or converted into bio fuels and some organisations will collect the waste free of charge or will buy it from you.

At home, small amounts of cooking oil can be disposed of along with household rubbish but make sure it is cooled first. It is important not to dispose of used cooking oil down the sink as it can cause problems and blockages when it solidifies. Some local authorities have facilities for collecting and recycling used cooking oil from domestic sources, contact your local authority to find out if this applies in your area.

Our duty

Under The Environmental Protection Act 1990, there is a Duty of Care placed on all industry producers of waste oil to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to look after any waste generated and prevent its illegal disposal by others. On an individual basis, we all have a moral as well as a legal obligation to protect the earth and our environment from unnecessary contamination of any kind and as such, it is vital that we dispose of our oil in an environmentally friendly way.

Certainly, all of us can experience anxiety at times, especially when we have a particularly difficult situation to deal with, like taking a driving test for example, or going for a job interview, but when the anxiety is so severe that it disrupts our daily lives, then it could be that we are suffering from an anxiety- related mental health disorder.

Similarly, each of us know what its like to feel a bit down in the dumps, we may even say we are depressed, but true depression is where the symptoms dont subside after a short period of time, they persist and are severe enough to impair our ability to carry out our normal routines.

The following list represents some of the more commonly known mental health disorders with a brief description of their typical symptoms.

Phobias

A phobia is an anxiety related disorder characterised by extreme fear, perhaps fear of a situation, an object, a place or a creature and this fear is completely out of proportion to the norm. There are literally hundreds of known phobias but common ones include fear of public places, confined spaces, flying, spiders, and fear of heights. A sufferer will try to avoid their fear at all costs, and when faced with it, will experience severe anxiety which can include palpitations, nausea and panic attacks.

Panic attacks

A panic attack can be a terrifying experience. Someone experiencing a panic attack is engulfed by overwhelming fear and panic often without warning. Various physical symptoms can accompany a panic attack, which include difficulty breathing, trembling, palpitations, dizziness, sweating, and nausea and a feeling of impending death.

Post traumatic stress

Post traumatic stress can follow an intensely disturbing experience such as a car crash, violence or rape, being in extreme danger or basically any event that causes severe psychological distress. The symptoms include constantly reliving the event in the mind through flashbacks and nightmares, disturbed sleep, anxiety and depression.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety related disorder manifesting itself in irrational and obsessive thoughts that spark illogical rituals and behaviours or compulsions, for example, constantly thinking (obsessing) that your hands are not clean causing you to repeatedly wash your hands (a compulsion). Other examples include excessive cleaning, checking and rechecking that doors are locked and windows closed etc. Someone with OCD can feel intensely anxious if they dont carry out their rituals so performing them is a way to relieve their feelings of anxiety and distress.

Depression

Depression is more than a period of the blues. Clinical depression can be said to exist when the symptoms of depression persist for longer than a couple of weeks and are severe enough to interfere with normal daily routines. There is also a loss of pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed. There are many symptoms associated with depression including feelings of sadness and despair, lethargy, sleep disturbances, changes in eating patterns, sudden changes in behaviour and mood, anxiety, guilt, and thoughts of death and suicide. We can all experience some of these symptoms at times but when truly depressed these symptoms dont just subside, they persist.

Bipolar disorder (manic depression)

Bipolar disorder is characterised by extreme fluctuations in mood with episodes of euphoria and mania alternating with episodes of depression and despair. During a manic phase the bipolar sufferer may need very little sleep, may think and talk very quickly, can be highly creative, appear completely confident and without inhibition, they could leave their job, go on a spending spree or behave in other potentially destructive ways. During a depressive episode they may experience strong feelings of hopelessness and despair and find themselves unable to muster the energy to do even the simplest of tasks. They may also withdraw from social situations and even contemplate suicide. Bipolar is a lifelong disorder affecting around 1 percent of the population.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a particularly severe kind of mental health disorder, which is characterised by hallucinations, delusions, and strange behaviour and beliefs.

Conclusion

Mental health disorders are complex so making an accurate diagnosis yourself can be difficult, many people will present with symptoms of more than one type of disorder and many of the symptoms of each disorder overlap with each other. Consequently, it is important to seek the right help. In the first instance you should speak to your doctor who will be able to make full medical assessment and guide you towards an appropriate course of treatment.

Sadly, many people are afraid of seeking help and as such, will suffer in silence which can be an isolating and lonely experience with potentially devastating effects. Fortunately, mental health disorders are treatable and those who do seek help can go on to lead normal lives once again.

If we consider that an average household goes through around 600 steel cans and 200 aluminium cans a year then it isnt hard to imagine the staggering amount of waste that is being generated by each and every one of us annually. We cannot go on burying this waste in landfill sites as the pressure on landfill sites is now nearing capacity and the estimations are that we will run out of space for new landfill sites within the next decade.

At the moment, approximately 80 percent of our household waste goes to landfill sites and as the amount of waste we produce is increasing each year we have to find new and creative ways of disposing of our waste. Landfill is no longer a viable option, not only because there isnt any space, but because landfill sites are not pleasant. There are risks associated with landfill that include the risk of explosion and also a risk of leakage of toxic pollutants into the surrounding earth and waterways which can present a health risk.

Basically, landfill sites are a threat to the environment so disposing of our waste in an environmentally friendly way that saves resources, energy and costs should be a matter of concern for all of us. Fortunately, more and more people are waking up to the idea of recycling. Local authorities also recognise the advantages of recycling and so roadside collections and the number of collection banks where you can deposit waste is on the increase.

Why recycle cans

Cans are one of the easiest items to recycle and the fact is, each and every can that ends up in landfill is a waste of a valuable resource and heres why. Producing new metal to make new cans depletes the earth of natural resources, such as iron, coal and water to make steel and bauxite to make aluminium and basically it costs more to produce new metal than it does to recycle it.

For example, recycling aluminium not only uses 95 percent less energy than it does to produce new aluminium if we recycle just 1kg of aluminium it saves 6kg of Bauxite. Similarly, if we recycle 1 tonne of steel it saves 1.5 tonnes of iron ore, half a tonne of coal, and uses 75 percent less energy than it does to make new steel. Recycling any type of metal reduces the CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere, reduces water pollution and massively reduces costs in general.

Cans are also 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled almost indefinitely without any loss of quality to the metal itself. Recycling metal is also a relatively simple process, in fact; it can take as little as six weeks for aluminium cans to be back on the supermarket shelves after collection.

One of the barriers to recycling other materials is the demand for the product. Take plastic for example; it can be cheaper to produce new plastic than to recycle it so there is less of a demand for used plastic. However, there is a great demand for used metal, so much so that there are schemes in operation that will pay you cash for your used aluminium cans.

Another barrier is sorting the waste. Sorting broken bits of glass can be a complex process but sorting aluminium from steel is not difficult. You can tell the difference between aluminium and steel using a simple magnet. If it sticks it is steel, which makes separation of steel very easy as magnets can be used to extract it.

So bearing in mind all the advantages involved in recycling cans, why are any food or drinks cans still ending up in landfill?

How you can make a difference

The truth is that we can all do more to protect the environment if we remember that each can dumped in landfill is a real waste. You can make a difference at home and at work by making sure that your cans are recycled and are not disposed of along with other rubbish. If kerbside collection is not available in your area yet, find out where the nearest collection bank or collection scheme is and deposit your cans there. If we all do our bit we can all benefit from a healthier environment and can preserve the earths resources for future generations.

What is Fish Oil

Fish oil is a naturally occurring compound that’s, obviously, found in the fatty oils of fish. Composed of essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, these nutrients act differently than regular fats, helping to add healthful benefits to the body rather than causing harmful effects. These fats need to be taken into the body via nutritional choices or supplementation as the body can not produce these chemicals on its own.

The body uses essential fatty acids to help with cellular functions as well as in the control of inflammation in the body. But aside from these functions, essential fatty acids also help the body transmit signals from one nerve to the next as well helping in the role of DNA in the body. When DNA is activated, it creates the messages needed for body functions, so adding fish oil and essential fatty acids to the body is necessary to continue these processes.

How Does Fish Oil Affect the Brain

Before one can discuss the merits of using fish oil for the management of ADHD, it’s important to learn how fish oil affects the brain in general. Since fish oil helps in the process of signalling in the brain and along the nervous system, the brain is better able to react to stimuli and things that are sent for processing. For example, if you were to burn your finger and the signalling process wasn’t working, you might not realise it for a few seconds, seriously burning the skin on your finger. But when your nervous system is working correctly, it will let you know that your finger is burning and that you need to remove it from the hot surface.

Studies have already shown that fish oil can help with mood disorders like depression and compulsive disorders (according to studies done by the University of Sheffield), so it’s not a gigantic leap to understand how these supplements might be advantageous to those with ADHD as well as ADD.

What is ADHD and ADD

These acronyms refer to the conditions of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder. In these conditions, children and adult have troubles maintaining their focus on the task at hand. For those suffering from hyperactivity as well, they can be restless and agitated in addition to not being able to focus. This can lead to troubles with learning as well as sitting still in a school setting. The typical way to manage this condition is through the use of Ritalin or other pharmaceutical treatments, but there can be an equal number of troubles with taking these drugs. Some children do not respond well to these drugs or they have troubles remembering to take the medication on a regular basis. In addition, the level of the drug can be hard to control in order to get the maximum benefit.

Ritalin has also been linked with dangerous side effects like heart disease, depression, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, and even strokes. However, fish oil does not have any side effects in most children, making it a better choice for those who have had troubles with ADHD drugs in the past.

What are Studies Saying about Fish Oil and ADHD

Some psychologists have read about the possible connection between fish oils and a decrease in symptoms of ADHD and ADD, so they have tried to use fish oil as a way to manage these conditions with dramatic results. Children who have been given 1000 mg of fish oil a day have seen increased concentration and decreased hyperactivity within four to six weeks. Most of these children can be taken off any other drugs they might have been taking.

Teachers that have seen these results have noted that the children do better on their examinations and are quieter and more cooperative in the class room. Children are also noting that they are happier in school and more excited about the learning process. Instead of fearing going to class, children are ready to learn and to work with their class mates.

Conclusion

The idea that a school system would consider adding fish oil supplements to their daily routine in order to curb the rise in ADHD behaviours is an indication of the troubles teachers face on a regular basis. But as fish oil seems to be living up to its promises, it might be something that should be considered a bit more seriously in the future.

Landfill

Each and every one of us produces waste; this is an unavoidable and indisputable fact of life. However, what we do with our waste collectively or independently is a matter of choice. Millions of tonnes of waste end up in landfill sites each year and this poses not only a risk to the environment, but is a direct risk to our health and wellbeing.

Landfill takes up space that we are fast running out of; in fact some say we will have no space left within the next few years. Some of the rubbish rotting beneath the earth in landfill sites can take thousands of years to break down, and meanwhile toxic gases are being released into the atmosphere and into the surrounding earth and waterways, and this is despite increasing legislation and measures to control landfill sites.

The problem with Inkjet Cartridges

Inkjet cartridges contain engineering grade polymers that can take maybe a thousand years or more to decompose. If they are incinerated they produce toxic gases that are released into the atmosphere. The manufacturing process involved in making new inkjet cartridges requires the use of natural resources including nearly 100mls of oil to make each and every one.

According to Waste Online, around 14,000 tonnes of inkjet and toner cartridges were sent to landfill in 2003. It stands to reason that as more and more people move into the technological age of computers and printers, there will be more inkjet printer cartridges to dispose of each year so the problem is likely to increase unless we all do something about it.

Ways to recycle your inkjet cartridge

Every single inkjet cartridge that ends up in landfill the first time it reaches the end of its life is a waste of a resource and a waste of money because an Ink jet cartridge is one item that can be reused several times over at least.

Some companies offer a return scheme where you can take or send back your old cartridge so that it can be remanufactured or refilled and sold again.

There are numerous organisations that will take your old cartridge and will even pay you for it. Many will donate some of the money to charity.

You could have your old cartridge refilled at a mere fraction of the cost of what it would cost you to buy a new one

By recycling or refilling your old cartridge you make a valuable contribution to the health and wealth of the planet. Recycling cartridges allows you to help charities, reduce the amount of natural resources required to make new cartridges, helps reduce the amount of space taken up by landfill, reduces CO2 emissions and you even save money from your own pocket.

So why are so many inkjet cartridges still ending up in landfill. The simple answer to this question is that many people are still not making the choice to dispose of their cartridges in an environmentally friendly way and many others are still buying new cartridges instead of recycled ones.

Lets face it, it may be terribly convenient to just pop your old cartridge into the bin and buy a brand new one to replace it but in doing this, not only is the environment put at risk, so is the health and well being of the planet and each and every one of us who live on it.

Buying a recycled cartridge

One possible barrier to buying a recycled cartridge is that it is not often possible to tell if the recycled cartridge will be as good as a new one. However, when buying a recycled printer cartridge there are a number of important points you can clarify with the supplier first to ensure that you really are getting value for money and at the same time are helping to save the planet.

Has the cartridge been print tested first to ensure good print quality.

Will the recycled cartridge last as long as a new cartridge.

Does it show on the package that it is a recycled cartridge.

What happens if something goes wrong with it and is there a warranty or returns policy.

Is the supplier a member of any recognised trade associations.

Conclusion

Fortunately, attitudes to recycling are slowly changing thanks to national campaigns to raise awareness about the issues involved with landfill and the environment so more and more people are now waking up to the issue of waste in general.

Recycling or reusing our inkjet cartridges is something that all of us can do quite easily to make a difference and it neednt require a lot of effort, its simply a matter of choosing to do the right thing.

What is PMS

PMS is a syndrome that occurs once each month for many women. It can vary from being barely noticeable to being something that’s a bit more obvious in some cases. With over 150 symptoms associated with PMS, it can be hard to make an official diagnosis. Some of the more common symptoms include:

Water retention
Weight gain of up to ten pounds in some women
Moodiness and crankiness, angry outbursts
Abdominal pain and bloating
Food cravings and appetite changes
Breast tenderness
Acne
Headache

These symptoms signal a change in the body’s hormone levels preceding menstruation. As the body begins to get ready to produce an egg during the cycle, the body temperature can increase and these symptoms can occur until the egg is released into the fallopian tubes for fertilisation. When the egg is not fertilised, it is shed along with the built up lining of the uterus to produce a period. When this happens, hormones return to normal levels and PMS symptoms subside in most women.

For many women, the symptoms begin about a week before their period or even earlier and for a longer period of time. In some severe cases, women can experience extreme changes in mood and ability to reason. Those cases require prescribed medications in order to help the woman feel better during this time.

Treatments Used to Treat PMS

It’s not necessarily possible to treat PMS without eliminating the menstrual cycle altogether. Since PMS occurs when hormone levels fluctuate, in order to prevent it, you would need to create a cycle in which hormone levels are steadier. During pregnancy, for example, this can occur.

To mimic the hormonal effects of pregnancy, some women will begin to take birth control pills as a way to lessen their PMS symptoms. These pills are synthetic hormones that create the idea in your body that hormone levels are steadier and can reduce any ill effects from the menstrual cycle in addition to preventing pregnancy.

There are also prescription medications that are being used to help in severe cases of PMS as well as some over the counter medications that can help reduce moderate PMS symptoms.

The Usefulness of Fish Oil in PMS

Some studies on the effectiveness of fish oil seem to indicate that something other than hormones might be playing a role in PMS symptoms. Chemicals called eicosanoids seem to be produced in higher amounts during the onset of PMS, the discovery of which might lead to more effective treatments. That said, in fish oils, there is a chemical compound called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) that is derived from the Omega 3 fatty acids. This seems to help regulate the levels of these chemicals in the body, thus reducing the effects of PMS.

In one study, women were given fish oil or a placebo for two months, nothing their PMS symptoms and then the two groups switched pills to see what would happen. The women that took fish oil in both parts of the study reported less pain and fewer PMS symptoms.

The anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil in the body can also help in PMS pain as well as cramping during the actual menstrual cycle. By helping to reduce the inflammation in the body, the pain can be lessened dramatically. But instead of using fish oil as a sort of analgesic, it’s best taken on a regular basis throughout the cycle to balance the levels of EPA in the body.

What Women Need to Know

The female body is often more difficult to understand as the reproductive cycle can affect other parts of the body so easily as evidenced by the issues with PMS. Fish oils can help in other ways as well. Women who are going through menopause will also experience dips in their hormone levels, often resulting in problems that look and feel a lot like PMS. To help reduce these effects, taking fish oil has become a more popular piece of advice from doctors and gynaecologists.

Conclusion

The use of fish oil in the prevention and regulation of PMS symptoms has been proven effective in a number of studies. While the female body might still be difficult to explain, nature seems to have provided its own answer to the problems of the menstrual cycle. Fish oil is side effect free and inexpensive to use without a trip to the stirrups of the doctors office.

Take depression for example, even though there is no set pattern and each person will be affected differently; there are some simple clues that we can look out for.

What it means to be depressed

Depression is a lot more than feeling a bit fed up and down in the dumps, which is something we all experience from time to time and is a natural part of the ups and downs of life. To be clinically depressed means that we cannot just shake off our low mood and get on with our lives, the depression persists and starts to interfere with our normal daily routines and we can no longer enjoy activities and pastimes that used to be pleasurable.

We may find it hard to get up in the morning to go to work or school, and we may have difficulty getting to sleep at night and when we do get to sleep, our sleep might be disturbed
Our relationships with family, friends and work colleagues can suffer and our self esteem may be low and we dont feel good enough
We could find ourselves worrying constantly and feeling anxious and panicky for no particular reason
Our eating patterns can change and we could see fluctuations in our weight as we may eat a lot more or lose our appetite
Maybe we are tearful and cry a lot, or we may find we cannot get in touch with our emotions and feel numb and unable to express our emotion
Some of us may become more aggressive and hostile or irritable for no real reason
Life may seem too difficult and so we struggle to cope with even minor tasks
We may feel guilty and worthy of blame and punishment
Our memory and concentration might not be as good as it was and we find it more and more difficult to make decisions
Other physical symptoms such as headaches, and various other aches and pains may convince us that we have something else wrong with us

Regardless of the different ways that some of these symptoms can affect us, the main factors that point to depression are the same. Major depression is likely to be diagnosed if the symptoms of depression have persisted for more than two weeks accompanied by low moods and a lack of pleasure in pursuits that were once enjoyed and the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with normal daily routines and activities.

Who gets depressed

No one knows why some people become depressed and not others and there is no single known cause of depression either. Depressive episodes can be triggered by biochemical, genetic, psychological, environmental and social factors or a combination of these. What is known is that certain groups of people appear more at risk of developing depression than others. These include the long term sick and disabled, those in poor living conditions, those with a history of depression in the family, the homeless, ethnic minorities and people in prison. Sometimes life circumstances can trigger an episode of depression such as redundancy, retirement, divorce, bereavement, problems at work or financial difficulties.

However, no one is immune to depression and someone can develop a depressive disorder even if they are not considered at greater risk. The reality is that any kind of mental health problem and depression can strike any one of us at any time of our lives.

Getting well again

One of the biggest barriers to recovery for someone suffering from depression or indeed any mental health problem is a reluctance to seek help. Many people are afraid of admitting that they cannot cope and so try and deal with it on their own but the symptoms are unlikely to just disappear and will continue possibly for years without appropriate help and treatment.

Any kind of mental health problem can be an intensely isolating experience as the individual concerned cannot help how they are feeling so the understanding and support of family and friends can be of enormous help for someone struggling to cope with their depression. However, the most important thing to remember is that depression is treatable and it is also fairly common.

Your doctor is the best person to advise you on what treatment options are available as he or she will be able to make full medical assessment in order to obtain a correct diagnosis and can take into account any other contributory factors that might need dealt with. Usually, treatment will consist of medication and perhaps some form of talking therapy or a combination of both.

When the body does not have access to these kinds of nutrients, cells can not fight off the progression of cancer and maintain good health. It only makes sense to look for ways to continue the natural balance of nutrients in the body especially those that the body does not make on its own.

What is Eicosapentaenoic Acid

Eicosapentaenoic acid is an essential fatty acid that is not able to be manufactured by the body without some help. Unlike other fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid can actually be constructed from another fatty acid, in a sort of chain reaction of events. When a person ingests a plant form of essential fatty acids, like flaxseed oil, for example, they are ingesting a form of EFA known as ALA or alpha linoleic acid. This essential fatty acid is also not something the body produces on its own, though it is needed in many body processes. When the person ingests this essential fatty acid, the body then converts the acid into DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA. The DHA that is produced is something that can also be taken in when the person eats an animal source of essential fatty acids.

As an Omega 3 fatty acid, the body can create eicosapentaenoic acid by taking in such things as walnuts, flaxseed oil, or canola oil to start the conversion of ALA to the EPA.

Is This Found in Fish Oil Too

What’s interesting about eicosapentaenoic acid is that while it seems to be converted from only plant sources of essential fatty acids, this is not the case in nature. Fish are another source of high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid, so they can also be used as a dietary supplement or addition. Of course, this means that a person can ingest fish oil capsules and still enjoy the health benefits.

For some people, fish oil capsules are actually the best choice for their lifestyle and tastes. Because they do not like to eat or cook fish, these supplements allow them to make the process of keeping the body in balance all the easier on a day to day basis. What’s more is that eicosapentaenoic acid can be ingested in large quantities without any known side effects, so adding supplements to each day as well as food sources is not going to cause adverse reactions, according to studies.

What are the Benefits for the Body

Often touted as the most important of all the essential fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid does provide many health benefits to the taker. According to a study done in 2003 by van Schacky, the use of eicosapentaenoic acid in the diet seems to give the user protection against heart disease. When the subjects of the study were given eicosapentaenoic acid in addition to DHA, they had a lower incidence of heart related disorders than the control group displayed. What should be noted, however, is that in this study, there was no differentiation between the two essential fatty acids, so the effects may also be a result of the combination of factors as opposed to individual EFAs.

Another study done in 2003 indicated that the use of eicosapentaenoic acid may help to slow the progression of both prostate and breast cancer in the body. Contrary to popular belief, this same study also showed that the presumed risk of a higher incidence of hormone related cancers (as in breast, uterine, and ovarian) is not indicated with the use of these supplements. This is certainly a piece of knowledge that can be tested further to see if other cancers respond as well to the use of eicosapentaenoic acid.

What About Vegetarians

In the use of eicosapentaenoic acid, it seems that more health benefits are present when the user uses fish oil supplements or fish sources. In a study of vegans and vegetarians, Harvard scientists found that these subjects had lower levels of eicosapentaenoic acid in their bodies, regardless of how many vegetables and flaxseeds they might have eaten. Whether this is a demonstration of the depression of the body’s ability to process EFAs into eicosapentaenoic acid is unclear.

Conclusion

What is clear is that people who do not take high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid into their body through supplements or adding fish to their diet may not be able to enjoy the healthy benefits that have been seen in studies over the years. Women especially may want to take note of these protective qualities of eicosapentaenoic acid and begin to take control of their health in the process.

What is counselling

Basically, counselling can be described as a type of talking therapy. It is usually delivered in a safe and private setting so that the individual concerned can relax and talk openly and freely about their particular problems or issues and the emotions or feelings that can accompany them.

It is described as a talking therapy because the counsellor will listen empathetically to an individual in order to understand the situation from the individuals point of view. In doing this a trained counsellor will be able to encourage an individual to see their situation more clearly, perhaps from a different perspective, and will be able to help them identify new ways of coping with their problems or circumstances. Counselling usually does not involve giving advice or telling someone what to do with their lives, it is more about exploring problems, identifying possible solutions and choices and obtaining clarity.

For counselling to be effective, it is essential that an element of trust develops between the counsellor and the person or persons receiving the counselling as only in this way can there be an open and free dialogue. It may take time for a person receiving counselling to lose any initial feelings of distrust, fear and embarrassment so quite often counselling will be offered over several sessions in order for a relationship to develop between the counsellor and the patient or client.

There are several types of mental health counselling services available, each drawing on its own particular theory of human psychology and development. There are also many different types of counsellors, some of who are trained to deal with a particular problem or circumstance. For example bereavement counsellors, counsellors who specialise in eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, and counsellors who understand the issues surrounding drug and alcohol addiction, as well as many others.

Counselling can take place on a one to one basis, or in group sessions, face to face or over the phone. It can last for just one session, a specific block of sessions or be open ended with no time limit at all. Regardless of the particular type of mental health problem involved, the first step to recovery is recognising that there is a problem in the first place.

When mental health counselling can help

Mental health counselling can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have a tendency to repress feelings like guilt, frustration, anger, resentment, sadness and so on and who find it difficult to cope alone and who for whatever reason, perhaps do not want to discuss how they feel with their friends and family. It can help an individual to gain new insights into their own particular circumstances and problems and to achieve clarity and direction in life. Most of all it can help an individual cope and improve their quality of life.

There are numerous circumstances where someone might seek the services of a mental health counsellor or be referred for counselling by their doctor and these include but are certainly not limited to:

Relationship problems, including separation and divorce
Problems at work or financial worries, dismissal, redundancy
Physical, sexual and/or mental abuse
Bereavement
Depression and anxiety
Post natal depression
Eating disorders
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Alcohol and drug abuse
Phobias
Panic Attacks
Dealing with stress
Post traumatic stress

Finding a counsellor

In order to get the right kind of help it is important that you access the most appropriate type of counselling for you and as there are so many available options, it can be problematic if you decide to go it alone.

In the first instance, it would be advisable to speak to your doctor as he or she will be able to take into consideration your full medical history before recommending any particular type of therapy or counsellor. If you decide to seek the services of a trained counsellor independently, it is up to you to check out the cost and the credentials of any potential counsellor before you start.

Many voluntary organisations have counsellors and there are numerous private counsellors advertising in the press, phone books and on the Internet. However, you can find an accredited counsellor from the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy website at bacp or from the National Board for Certified Counsellors at nbcc if you live in the USA.