‘Blue spaces' can be calming. Here's the science behind it.
Shortly after, Kelly, an Irish native, 'got a job in this beautiful, wild part of the West of Ireland on the Atlantic coast,' she said. 'When I got there, I felt like I automatically exhaled.'
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12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Glanbia to sell Body & Fit online sports-nutrition business
Ireland's Glanbia is selling its online Body & Fit sports-nutrition business to an unnamed buyer. Vague details were provided in Dublin-headquartered Glanbia's first-half results today (13 August) showing overall sales and volumes within its Performance Nutrition (PN) division declined. Netherlands-based Body & Fit, which also sits within the PN business unit, along with the SlimFast weight-loss brand and the Optimum Nutrition protein powders line, was acquired by Glanbia in 2017 for an undisclosed sum. 'In line with previous announcements regarding non-core brands, Glanbia has signed an agreement for the sale of Body & Fit, the Benelux direct-to-consumer e-commerce business, subject to certain customary deliverables,' Glanbia said. The deal is expected to be finalised in the final quarter of this year. Body & Fit's portfolio includes protein powders, bars and sports nutrition supplements. Glanbia's Optimum Nutrition brand covering similar categories is also sold on the platform, according to Body & Fit's website. In the half to 5 July, revenue for the PN unit dropped 3.8% on a constant-currency basis to $850m and was down 3.6% in reported terms. Volumes fell 3.5% with a 0.3% decrease in price. Excluding SlimFast and Body & Fit, revenue fell 1.5%. 'The volume decline was largely driven by anticipated challenges in the US club and speciality channels and declines in non-core brands, partly offset by good growth in online and FDM channels,' Glanbia said. The company said Optimum Nutrition accounts for 67% of the PN division's revenue but the metric dropped 0.5% in the half. Revenue for the brand turned to positive growth in the second quarter, Glanbia added. Outside of the PN business, Glanbia operates two other units: Health and Nutrition, and Dairy Nutrition, mainly encapsulating food and beverages ingredients, along with cheese for the latter. Company-wide revenue climbed 6% in the half to $1.9bn with volume up 0.9%. EBITDA, pre-exceptional, fell 7.5% to $241.3m. Adjusted EPS dropped 7.5% in constant currency to $63.03. CEO Hugh McGuire said: 'Today's results reflect a first half of significant execution and progress as we generated 6% revenue growth in the period, underpinned by strong growth in H&N and DN and a sequential improvement in PN through the period as the group navigated significant macroeconomic volatility. 'First-half results were driven by volume growth, earnings and margin progression in H&N and DN, reflecting strong customer demand. This was offset by anticipated reduced performance in PN primarily as a result of elevated whey costs during the period.' McGuire added: 'The category trends remain positive, and we expect to see continued improvement in volumes across PN in the second half of the year with continued momentum in H&N and DN.' Meanwhile, Glanbia will have a new chairman. Independent non-executive director Paul Duffy becomes chair designate from today and will succeed Donard Gaynor as chairman on 1 January. Gaynor is retiring. "Glanbia to sell Body & Fit online sports-nutrition business" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14 hours ago
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I lost both parents to cancer. It taught me you have to lean into your grief.
Before my mom was diagnosed with esophageal cancer at 69, she was the epitome of good health. Her death less than five months later, in July 2024, was — and still is — a total shock. Grief comes in waves — long-lasting with a killer crash. Great for surfers, but not for us grievers. "So, Christine, I've got cancer," my mother calmly told me over the phone one February morning. I have no idea what I said next. All I can remember is what felt like lava slowly, painfully rising from the pit of my stomach up to my chest, where it just sat bubbling, searching desperately for somewhere to escape my body. A sensation I hadn't experienced for over 15 years, when I received a similar phone call from my father. What followed was the start of my double life, in which I split my time between my home in San Diego and Dublin, 5,199 miles away and the place my mom called home. Her treatment was supposed to be chemotherapy and maybe radiation before making a full recovery, but she never even got to that stage. She became an inpatient not long after that February phone call, and the following summer, on July 14, 2024, she died. My mother's death was — and still is — a total shock The thing about cancer is that you know death might be coming long before it arrives, or in my mom's case, not long at all. I tell myself this "advanced notice" is a good thing, a coping mechanism if you will. Before she got sick at 69, my mother was the epitome of good health — playing tennis and hiking the Irish Wicklow mountains weekly. The thought that something could harm her wasn't even on my radar. I had already lost one parent to cancer. The made-up rules of life that lived in my head said it simply was not possible to lose the other, and to the same disease, no less. The call that changed everything I was heading out the door when "mom" popped up on my phone. After weeks of a raspy voice and a doctor's appointment warning that "something sinister" was at play, my mom finally had a specialist consultation scheduled. I knew the call was coming, and unlike the far too many other times that I screened her call — how I wish now I had answered the phone to her more — this was one call I answered before it even got through the first ring. As soon as I picked up, I knew something was very wrong. Maybe it was her calm voice, procrastinating sharing the specialist's update by asking me how the weather was that day. Like me, my mom would often worry about the silliest of things that she'd dissect from every angle possible. Yet here she was calling me after an important appointment, sounding as calm as I'd ever heard her. Could everything be OK? No, because if it were, I'm sure the first thing she would've said was how bad she felt for wasting everyone's time. I gave my mom a few minutes of grace when it came to the chit-chat. I too, wanted to pretend for a few minutes longer that everything was fine, normal, and no one was dying anytime soon. That's when she told me the news: it was esophageal cancer. My double life between California and Dublin I'd spend three weeks in Ireland before escaping to California for a week, where I could avoid the pain of seeing my mom go through the symptoms that come with that horrible disease. Life would start to feel normal again, but reality would always sneak in. I'd see a message pop up on our family WhatsApp group — "Hey mom, heading into the hospital now" from my sister, or "Can you bring in tissues?" from my mom. Painful reminders that I wasn't there. Once my San Diego "break" was up, it was back to my Dublin life where I had quickly developed a new routine. Every morning, I would drive to the hospital and pick up two iced lattes (or hot, depending on the Irish weather that day) for my mom and me to enjoy together. My mom couldn't actually drink the coffee I bought her. She had a tracheostomy and no ability to swallow, so she would just sip the latte, slush it around her mouth, and spit it out. But she absolutely loved it. Don't tell my siblings, but I'm 99% sure it was the highlight of her day. We were simply doing what normal moms and daughters do — catching up over a coffee. I probably had more coffee catch-ups with her in those four-ish months than I had in years. Realizing that leaves a pit in my stomach. My mom passed away less than five months after that February phone call After the funeral, I returned to San Diego feeling relieved that I could settle back into a normal life. I could unpack my suitcase, and for the first time in months, put it away. That initial relief lasted for a few weeks, but my birthday hit a month later, and not waking up to a sweet birthday card or text from my mom was one of the first moments of reality setting in. My husband tells me that grief comes in waves — sometimes it's a small ripple that comes and goes, oftentimes when I'm not expecting it. Just the other day, I opened a Clarins moisturizer and boom, the grief hit. My mom used Clarins for as long as I can remember, and the smell of it took me right back to the master bathroom of her house in Dublin, where I'd bug her to borrow it while I was visiting because I would always forget to bring my own. I paused to take her in for that short moment, and then it was over. Sometimes the waves are the type a surfer dreams of — long-lasting with a killer crash. Great for surfers, not so much for us grievers. You have no idea how long the grief is going to last, and you can't get out of it. You just have to wait for the crash to come. I've listened to Calm's grief podcast series, I've read books like Edith Eger's "The Gift" exploring how to overcome grief, but there's no healing it. The sad reality is that there isn't a pretty bow you can wrap around death. You can't "hope" because the worst has already happened, but you can appreciate what you had. And if you're one of the lucky ones, you just have to pick up the phone next time you see "mom" pop up. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
New Irish Healthtech Firm Phyxiom Set to Transform Asthma and COPD Management
Groundbreaking research by Professor Richard Costello leads to innovative digital health platform DUBLIN, August 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Phyxiom, a pioneering digital healthcare company, today announced its official launch, bringing transformative technology developed through extensive clinical research led by globally recognised respiratory specialist, Professor Richard Costello (RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Beaumont Hospital). Built upon groundbreaking studies published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine and validated by health economists, Phyxiom's platform provides clinicians with precise, real-time data to significantly enhance asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) management. Co-founded by experienced tech executive Grace O'Donnell as Chief Executive Officer and healthcare professional Elaine Mac Hale as Clinical Operations Director, along with Prof Costello, Phyxiom is a spin-out company from RCSI. Based on a strong foundational IP portfolio developed under an Enterprise Ireland (EI) Commercialisation Fund award the company has recently achieved EI High Potential Start- Up (HPSU) status. O'Donnell and Mac Hale lead Phyxiom's day-to-day operations, driving forward its mission to revolutionise respiratory healthcare through advanced digital solutions. Professor Richard Costello, Chief Medical Officer at Phyxiom and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at RCSI, explained the science behind the innovation: "Our research, spanning over a decade, has conclusively demonstrated that digitally-informed treatment significantly reduces medication use, prevents unnecessary hospitalisations, and ultimately lowers healthcare costs. By providing clinicians with objective, real-time insights into lung function and medication adherence, Phyxiom fundamentally improves diagnosis accuracy and treatment outcomes." Phyxiom's technology is already operational across 13 Health Service Executive (HSE) asthma clinics in Ireland, processing nearly 350 patients to date, with plans to expand further and engage Irish private health insurers in 2025. Grace O'Donnell, CEO, said: "Elaine and I are incredibly proud to lead this exciting RCSI spin-out company into the commercial market. We are passionate about using Richard's groundbreaking research as the foundation to deliver transformative, patient-centric healthcare solutions, significantly improving quality of life for patients suffering from uncontrolled asthma and COPD." Elaine Mac Hale, Clinical Operations Director, added: "Phyxiom seamlessly integrates into existing healthcare systems, ensuring minimal disruption to clinicians' workflows. Our evidence-based approach empowers healthcare providers with the insights needed to deliver personalised, effective, and efficient patient care." Following its successful Irish rollout, Phyxiom is expanding into the UK market in H1 2026 and plans a US launch in 2027, supported by established partnerships and integration with leading electronic health record systems. Phyxiom's launch marks a significant milestone in Ireland's healthtech landscape, highlighting Irish innovation on the global healthcare stage. Those interested in learning more about Phyxiom, can visit the website here: About RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is ranked first in the world for its contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being, in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2025. Founded in 1784 as the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland with responsibility for training surgeons in Ireland, today RCSI is an innovative, not-for-profit, international university exclusively focused on driving improvements in human health worldwide through education, research and engagement. RCSI is among the top 300 universities worldwide in the World University Rankings (2025) and has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education. In 2026, RCSI will open a new public engagement space, dedicated to health and well-being, at 118 St Stephen's Green in Dublin city centre. The space is designed to engage the public in dialogue about living longer, healthier and happier lives through dynamic events and exhibitions. Our aim is to bridge the gap between health sciences research, professional expertise, and public understanding, empowering people to make informed decisions about their health. Visit the RCSI MyHealth Expert Directory to find the details of our experts across a range of healthcare issues and concerns. Recognising their responsibility to share their knowledge and discoveries to empower people with information that leads them to better health, these clinicians and researchers are willing to engage with the media in their area of expertise. View source version on Contacts phyxiom@ or call Lewis Oakley or Kirsty Leighton on +44 20 3637 7310 Sign in to access your portfolio
