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  • Seasonal fruit and vegetables‚ what are they?

    Do you remember when fruit seemed to taste, well ‚ fruitier?

    And vegetables seemed to taste like vegetables? I’m old enough to remember tomatoes bursting with flavour and every so often I get that taste again so I’ve been on a quest to find the flavour and here’s what I have found. (Excuse me if you already know this,) but it’s mostly about buying fruit and vegetables locally, in season, and cooking them correctly.

    I’m not alone in not knowing which fruit and vegetables are in season in the UK. Chatting with friends and family, very few of them could honestly say which fruits and vegetables were at their best in which season. We knew that locally sourced fruit and vegetables would be better for us in terms of nutrition. We also knew it should be cheaper and better for the Planet. So it seemed that we would like to shop for seasonal fruit and vegetables but needed to know what they are.

    There’s an old saying ‘you are what you eat’ so it’s great to eat healthily as far as possible. We are so lucky in this Country that in every season there is an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables to choose from. Supermarkets, Farmers’ Markets, and local shops are all able to supply us with most of our fresh fruit and vegetables. With such a choice, our only problem is going to be what not to take home and cook!

    In the UK, summer officially runs from 21st June through to 21st September so we’ll have a look at the different fruits and vegetables that are in season during July, August and September.

    July

    This month, there are lots of lovely fruit and vegetables available, so we don’t need to get bored by eating salads with every meal. Here is a selection of just some of the fruit and vegetables you can choose from:

    Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Broad Beans, Broccoli (including purple sprouting and tender stem)

    Cabbage (Savoy, red, spring, pointed and white), Carrots, Cauliflower, Cavolo nero, Celery, Chantenay carrots, CourgettesLettuce (particularly Iceberg, little gem, and romaine)

    Lettuce (particularly Iceberg, little gem, and romaine), Leeks, New Potatoes, Pak choi, Parsnips, Podded Peas, Sugar Snap Peas

     

    August.

    Struggling to include extra fruit and vegetables in your diet? Try some of these delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables and you won’t get bored this season.

    Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Plums, Raspberries, Strawberries, Broccoli (including purple sprouting and tender stem), Brussels sprouts, Cabbage (Savoy, red, spring, pointed and white), Carrots, Cauliflower, Cavolo Nero, Celery, Chantenay, Cauliflower, Cavolo Nero, Celery, Chantenay Carrots, Courgettes, Lettuce (little gem and romaine), Leeks, New potatoes, Pak choi, Parsnips, Sugar snap peas, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes

    Cauliflower, Cavolo Nero, Celery, Chantenay, Cauliflower, Cavolo Nero, Celery, Chantenay Carrots, Courgettes, Lettuce (little gem and romaine), Leeks, New potatoes, Pak choi, Parsnips, Sugar snap peas, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Cavolo Nero, Celery, Chantenay, Cauliflower, Cavolo Nero, Celery, Chantenay Carrots, Courgettes, Lettuce (little gem and romaine), Leeks, New potatoes, Pak choi, Parsnips, Sugar snap peas, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes

    Sweetcorn, Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Cavolo Nero, Celery, Chantenay, Cauliflower, Cavolo Nero, Celery, Chantenay Carrots, Courgettes, Lettuce (little gem and romaine), Leeks, New potatoes, Pak choi, Parsnips, Sugar snap peas, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes

     

    September.

    Summer isn’t over so make the most of these lovely colourful fruits and vegetables to keep your plate nice and bright.

    Apples, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli (including purple sprouting and tender stem), Brussels Sprouts, Cherries, Pears, Plums, Raspberries, Strawberries, Cabbage (Savoy, red, spring, pointed and white)

    Carrots (including chantey), Cauliflower, Cavolo nero, Celery, Lettuce (iceberg, little gem and romaine), Leeks, Parsnips, Tomatoes‚ Sweetcorn

     

    Set yourself a challenge throughout the summer of eating at least 3 portions of seasonal fruit and vegetables every day throughout the summer months. Eat these in addition to your salads. You will be well on your way to a delicious and healthy eating plan.

    Look out for our autumn seasonal vegetable blog scheduled for September.

     

  • Performance Anxiety: Is it just in the mind?

    Have you ever had to make a public announcement, a speech or a presentation and woken up feeling sick at the thought of it? Some call it stage fright but the technical term is performance anxiety.

    The relatively harmless symptoms can make your life miserable ‚ sweaty palms, a frequent need for the toilet, heart palpitations and a general feeling of dread.

    You start to label yourself a failure, you second guess your worth and your inner mind starts reeling off all your shortcomings.

    Anxiety and depression are medical conditions that should be treated by a doctor. There are medications that can help you sleep, calm your nerves and cope with stress. But in the same way that curing presentation nerves come from adequate preparation, resolving performance anxiety come from both mental and physical preparation.

    Everyone needs a moment of panic to motivate them, so when you find yourself stressing, take a moment to remind yourself that you feel this because you are passionate about what you are going to do.

     

     

    A good rule of thumb is hard work and preparation.

     

    Avoidance Mode

     

    The biggest disadvantage of performance anxiety is that you feel bad about something thus you avoid preparations. People feel so awful that they distract themselves with anything but the task at hand.

    Typically, playing online games, talking on the phone, cleaning, organising, shopping, cooking, watching TV, and reading books are the most popular distractions.

    This can create a vicious cycle‚ the more you avoid, the more stressed you will become as the event draws nearer. You may become even more avoidant than previously.

    Clinical hypnosis can reduce and even remove this state of panic by training the unconscious mind to enable you to achieve. The techniques apply to those suffering exam nerves, work-based anxiety, sports, and competitive anxieties, or any time where the spotlight is on you. Several professionals including lawyers, corporate leaders, athletes, and performers use hypnosis to help them focus.

     

    Breathe in, Breathe out

     

    A hypnotherapist will generally teach you how to perform breathing exercises, which you can do yourself outside of the session. They are easy to do and take just a couple of minutes.

    They will also teach you how to change your inner dialogue so that your inner voice becomes a source of positivity.

    The minute you stop stressing your mind clears allowing you to think clearly and productively once again. This is when the hypnotherapist will speak directly to your unconscious mind helping to refocus on behaviours that will help you succeed.

    Many feel rejuvenated and confident after treatment because the resistance holding them back has melted away into positive thoughts and actions.

    The hypnotherapist will also help you to focus on how you feel after completing the task that made you anxious. They will use these positive emotions to boost motivation and confidence.

  • Mental Health Awareness week 8-14th May 2017

     

    Seven simple ways to improve your mental health this mental health awareness week. A quarter of the population is currently experiencing some form of mental health issue.

     

    Isn’t it time we gave our minds a little TLC?

     

     

    • Eat Healthily

    When you feel low, it is tempting to reach for comfort food, but take a little longer to cook something simple, it will fuel the body and boost the mind. It is important to eat three meals a day and keep hydrated which has been linked to low mood.

    • Get Moving

    This doesn’t mean you should hit the gym. A brisk walk or even a thirty-minute swim are not only good distractions but release endorphins (responsible for lifting mood).

    • Self-Care

    This can be as simple as taking a bath, an hour of pampering or allowing yourself an hour to focus on a hobby. Whichever task you choose, the important thing is to allow yourself to switch off and not feel guilty. Remember that feeling down is nothing to be ashamed of, so taking time out is important.

    • Screen Break

    A great way to keep in contact and up-to-date with events, the pressure of the media can cause negative comparisons. Make a conscious effort to log out an hour before bed this will help you sleep better and clear the mind of digital distractions.

    • Try Something New

    Learning a new skill will boost your confidence and break up the daily routine especially if you find something you enjoy. Perhaps take a course or join a club.

    • Talk to Someone

    Open up to a friend or family member, it may seem daunting, but sharing feelings will help connect you to those around you. By being open to others about your mental health experiences, you may help them to open up.

    • Speak with a Professional

    Although it is common to feel down some of the time if your mood is consistently low and you find yourself disinterested in things you normally enjoy, consider talking to your doctor or a counsellor. They can talk you through options that will help you.

     

     

    Do you have any useful tips that could help others?

    Please comment below with your suggestions.

     

     

  • Drum Birthing Workshop with Martine Wakefield

    Sunday, June 4th, 2017

    10am-4.30pm

    Join Martine Wakefield in making your own Shamanic healing drum and beater at The Devon Clinic

    Limited spaces available

    Cost  £150.00  Deposit  £25

    For more information and to reserve a place please telephone Martine on 07776 134274

  • Ten Reasons Why You Should Try Hypnotherapy

    Looking to break a habit or regain control?

     

    Hypnotherapy could be a viable option. From celebrities to your neighbours down the road, more and more people are turning to hypnosis to help them out.



    Below are ten reasons to give it a go:

    1. Hypnosis is a natural state of relaxation. It is fact that we all fall into a trance-like state several times throughout the day, so the feeling of being hypnotised will feel natural and leave you energised.

     

    1. Approximately six in ten Britons suffer from sleep problems. Night after night, lying awake unable to shut off as thoughts race around your mind. Hypnosis can help manage these thoughts and train your mind to drift gently into sleep. Disruptive sleep affects performance as we need to be firing on all cylinders to achieve optimum output.

     

    1. Losing and keeping off the weight. The top reason most diets do not work is that they do not address the underlying issue(s). Hypnosis focus’ on the root cause rather than calories in vs calories out. It is possible to achieve the body you want with hypnotherapy.

     

    1. Did you know that more people fear speaking publicly than dying? Hypnotherapy can help you release this fear and enable you to speak confidently in front of others.

     

    1. Three-quarters of adults admit to experiencing moderate to high levels of stress every month in the UK. Granted we all face times of stress but regardless of the trigger, your body will react to those triggers in a fight or flight manner. Hypnotherapy can help change your thought pattern and interpretations allowing you to feel relaxed and calm in those situations.

    1. Quitting smoking-the bane of many a person who has tried and failed. Smoking is just like any habit, a cycle that requires breaking. Hypnosis can alleviate the urge and release you of those pesky cravings, leaving you with the choice of freedom to never smoke again.

     

    1. Anger, the emotion that can cause an awful lot of damage. What if you could process anger positively and release it in a controlled way? With hypnotherapy, the result can help you achieve this and become a more relaxed and healthier person.

     

    1. Have you held back from embracing life due to a deep-rooted fear? Does flying, spiders, heights or snakes make you step back from the world? Hypnosis can enable you to overcome these fears allowing you to regain control and feel liberated.

     

    1. Procrastination is the roadblock to success in life. We have all been there, we have all put off that important thing telling ourselves that we will do it later. Hypnotherapy can change that mindset into a “take action” one which will enable you to achieve more and stop you from putting off the important things.

     

    1. A lack of self-confidence makes life harder than it needs to be. Do you miss opportunities or avoid certain situations because you just don’t believe in yourself? Hypnotherapy can remove these obstacles, allowing you to focus and develop. You were born confident, but life can sometimes drag us down. Hypnotherapy can re-establish confidence and positivity.

    If you are interested in learning more about Hypnotherapy please call The Devon Clinic to arrange a free taster session with Mr Chris Fleet.

     

  • Reiki healing to overcome drug addiction and stress

    Youngsters opt for Reiki to overcome drug addictions and stress

    Reiki is a Japanese healing therapy that is fast gaining popularity among millennials

     

    Healing hands for drug addiction

    Instead of the de-addiction and rehabilitation centres, quite a few youngsters are choosing Reiki to break free of drug and alcohol addictions. Reiki teacher, Vijay Shende, who specialises in the de-addiction of youngsters between 18 and 25 who come in for Reiki treatments are dealing with some form of addiction. Sceptical at first, many had bid adieu to their addiction after using Reiki for twenty-one days. Whilst the rate of tobacco addiction is higher, many are also addicted to marijuana and morphine, some even consume sanitisers to battle depression.

    How Reiki works

    “Reiki healing works with our life force energies using laying of hands. It heals and cleanses a person’s emotional, mental and physical state simultaneously.” Elaborating on this technique, she adds, “After experiencing physical pain, people realise they need medical and spiritual intervention. But the physical pain in the Reiki chart stands at the third level and it believes that the process of pain and suffering begins on the emotional level. Reiki starts healing from step one, and by the end, it roots out all kinds of addiction.”
    Reiki teacher Nirmall Desai

    Those who have successfully overcome drug addiction, low self-esteem, relationship troubles, peer pressure and depression have shared their experience with us:

    “I plunged into a deep depression at the age of 18, even though my parents gave me everything I ever wanted. But the only thing I needed was their attention, and they were not available when I needed them the most. This was the reason why I started to smoke marijuana to make myself feel comfortable and it dragged me down to darkness. But after using Reiki for a week, the urge to smoke marijuana has reduced and I have been clean since then.”

    “I dropped out of college last year as I was dealing with self-doubts and low self-esteem, but after taking Reiki, I have become more confident and focused. In fact, I have enrolled myself in college again; using this technique has helped me personally and academically.

    Reiki at The Devon Clinic

  • Hypnotherapy: Perfectionism and Imposter Syndrome

    Being a perfectionist can seem like a positive thing, something we should aspire to? After all, it is the opposite of being unconcerned about the details, isn’t it? But look a little deeper; a perfectionist is often driven to succeed by low self-esteem and constant need for approval.

    If you pursue perfection, you are likely to try very hard at all that you do. You will hold yourself to the highest standards and strive for the best possible outcome in everything you do. You probably work extremely hard to ensure you get good results and those results reflect your efforts. If you are pleased with your achievements, then this is great. However, if you are self-critical or feel praise received is unjustified, then the reason for this needs to be explored. You may be suffering from imposter syndrome.

    Imposter syndrome is generally experienced by high achievers who also express perfectionistic traits. They generally feel that success isn’t deserved by them because they are less talented than others. They will fear being exposed as a fake.

    If any of this sounds familiar to you, you will be all too aware of how stressful it can be. The need to be the very best cannot be ignored, but the rewards cannot be enjoyed either. The outcome of this operation of self-imposed pressure is likely to only negatively impact your enjoyment of life.

    Sadly, the most common response to anxious feelings is to try even harder to achieve better results, but this simply causes the cycle to become more dangerous. If you would like help to let go of these unhelpful patterns, a hypnotherapist can help. They can help you break through the barrier that lets you think you need to achieve constantly yet not enjoy your achievements.

  • Eight ways insomnia affects the body

    The British Sleep Council revealed that our sleeping habits are worse than ever. The Great British Sleep Report concluded that the average Brit manages between five and seven hours per night. A third of participants claim to have suffered insomnia for over five years, with stress cited as the top cause.
    As general levels of anxiety and stress are on the incline, add to that our over-reliance on technology, it gets harder and harder to switch off and reach those glorious eight hours of sleep.
    For some, chronic insomnia is a nightly battle as they lay awake, possibly alongside a sleeping partner, whilst trying not to toss and turn.

    But how does it affect us on a day to day level?

     

    1. Levels of anxiety increase

    Those who miss out on sleep find their cortisol (stress hormone) levels increase, along too with their heart rate. This leads to increased levels of anxiety, nervousness and high blood pressure. Sleep neuroscientist Professor Horne notes that those predisposed to anxiety are most likely to be affected by insomnia, as it is pre-existing stress.

    2. The afternoon lulls get worse

    A lack of sleep makes it all the harder to resist a three pm nap. Due to the body’s circadian rhythm, it is normal to experience an energy slump in the pm, leaving you fuzzy and on the hunt for caffeine or sugar fixes. Horne says that those with poor sleep tend to have longer periods of fuzziness in the afternoons and will have trouble staying awake.

    3. Feeling overly alert?

    A lack of sleep often leaves people jittery and hyperactive. Anxiety and insomnia are well established as linked to one another. Professor Throne points out that when you lack in sleep you feel unnaturally wired instead of tired. Getting caught up in the demands of modern life, the heart and adrenaline levels soar, and the body does not wind down sufficiently to aid sleep.

    4. Anger levels increase without reasoning

    Small things suddenly become very irritating after a lack of sleep. Professor Thorne states that the brain is the organ most affected by the lack of sleep. Research has indicated that those missing out on sleep are likely to feel more frustrated or angry, and are prone to negative moods. Some put this down to increased amygdala activity following sleep deprivation. The connection between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex was disrupted leading to negative stimuli becoming more appealing.

    5. Your eyes tell a story

    A lack of sleep is quickly visible in the eyes. It is easy to spot when a person has not slept enough by the tell-tale bags under the eyes. Poor lymphatic drainage and fluid accumulation lead to puffy eyes. Dermatologist Dr Dennis Gross explains that dark circles under the eyes come about because your body goes into fight or flight when you are sleep deprived. This draws oxygen away from the skin and gives it to vital organs. The result is deoxygenated blood which becomes visible under the skin of your eyes.

    6. Your skin suffers

    It is called beauty sleep for a reason: sleep deprivation can negatively impact your skin. As you sleep growth hormones stimulate cell and tissue repair. Forgoing sleep can leave you looking haggard as your body is denied the repair opportunity. Dr Al-Niaimi highlights that poor sleep results in poor collagen formation which increases the appurtenance of ageing.

    7. Those carb cravings

    A lack of sleep makes us feel hungrier. Have you noticed the more overtired you get the more peckish you find yourself? In 2012 a study showed that sleep deprivation increased the levels of Ghrelin, the hunger hormone which left participants hungrier than usual. On top of that, those cravings are for sweet and salty foods. Even more rewarding were fast food items. Dr Ramlakhan adds that not getting enough sleep forces our bodies into a crisis. We start to run on adrenaline which conserves energy and stores fat namely around the middle this is called ‚trunkal thickening.

    8. Mental process‚ slow down

    Lack of sleep decreased the ability to focus on work. Sleep deprivations are known to have a detrimental effect on cognitive function, as you are overly sleepy and lack concentration. Whilst long-term sleep deprivation affects long-term memory and reasoning, even short-term deprivation has an impact on accuracy and vigilance. This can increase the risk of accidents in the workplace, travel and at home.

  • Hypnosis and anger management

    There is a buzz around mindfulness, and how it can help eradicate difficult feelings and even stop dark thoughts from becoming destructive actions. But what if the red mist (of anger) descents before you have time to step back and work through those steps?

    Perhaps hypnosis is the answer.

    Studies have shown that hypnosis is effective in treating anger problems.

    Anger and feelings are part of life but when that anger becomes out of control it can lead to both mental and physical troubles. It can also have detrimental effects on all aspects of your life from relationships to work.

    Like any problem, acknowledging that you have a problem is the first step. The second is discovering the cause, and the final step is to discover a way to stop that switch that turns on the anger.

    Hypnosis can help with this.

    Discovering the cause

    The jumping of straight to red is a learned reaction that generally stems from past experiences that have shaped your behaviour. The present apparent cause or focus may be a person, event or situation, the cause will inevitability be something in the past that you have internalised. The reality is that your anger will be projected on the present stimuli. Once the root cause has been identified, with the help of hypnosis, you can begin working on how to change your reactions to triggers.

    Identify your triggers

    Hypnosis works on both the conscious and unconscious mind to change negative thought patterns and destructive behaviours. Hypnosis begins by bringing you into a relaxed state where you will feel safe and able to open to suggestions of trigger identity.

    Discovering reserves of calm

    The goal is to stop the red mist descending so that projected feelings of anger inside do not overspill outside-reverse calm. In this focused but relaxed state, you will be able to take a step back and observe the situation before acting.

    Your hypnotherapist will guide you in reflecting on your triggers and one by one you will be asked to identify the physical sensations associated with that trigger. You will be asked to examine those feelings allowing them to dissolve one at a time. This way, you will understand that these feelings do not need to overtake when something arises.

    Once you are comfortable at dealing with each sensation you may be invited to rehearse some scenarios that have previously triggered your anger. This way you will be able to try some techniques whilst remaining in a safe place.

    It is important to remember that anger management is an ongoing process.

    Hypnosis is a proven tool to deal with anger management.

    Chris Fleet can help you regain control of your anger.

  • Which charity will The Devon Clinic be supporting in 2017?