Latest news with #Feelgood
Irish Examiner
02-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Top 8: Low-caffeine hot drinks that taste good and may have health benefits
AS Feelgood celebrates its 25th anniversary, I am proud to say I have been part of it from the first edition. From the start, I've sought out products with minimal processing and outstanding flavour. This week, I am exploring unusual and intriguing hot beverages that are low in caffeine but offer an interesting experience. We have looked for drinks that taste good and may have health benefits. Cheerful Buddha Lion's Mane Mushroom Green tea (15 bags €6.49) is an example. Said to be good for the brain, increasing serotonin and dopamine, which can reduce anxiety and depression, but we found it lacked taste. We liked Yerba Mate CBSé Frutos de Bosque (a good value at €6.50 for 500g) from Three Spoons in Market Parade, Cork—an example of a good, tea-free fruit tisane. We can make delicious tisanes economically at home. Add a few branches of fresh thyme to a teapot, then add boiling water and infuse for 5 minutes. Drink as it is (it has savoury, almost meaty flavours) or add a slice of lemon, lime, or honey. Do the same with Scots Pine needles, which are available to buy (€2.50/bag) from the Robinson Farm stall on Cornmarket Street, Cork, every Saturday — a refreshing, warming drink that may help with spring colds and coughs. Clearpring Organic Japanese Kukicha 90g €5.97 Pictures: Chani Anderson. Organically grown roasted green tea twigs, stems, and leaves are first steamed, rolled, dried and aged before being roasted to reduce the caffeine content. Simmer with water in a saucepan for three minutes for a smooth, slightly rich, nutty flavour and aroma with none of the tannic edge of black tea. Delicious. Also available in teabags. We bought in Quay Co-op, Cork. Score: 9.5 Daffee Date Beans coffee 125g €5.99 Made from 'upcycled date beans', this drink contains nothing else and is caffeine-free. Already ground, it's suitable for coffee plungers and drip machines. We used a plunger and tried it black and as a frothy cappuccino. Both worked well, though the milk seemed to bring out the hint of date best. Otherwise, it tastes just like coffee. Score: 8 Sonnentor Turmeric Latte 60g €5.10 The blend of 53% organic turmeric, cinnamon, 15% ginger, cardamom and black pepper is delicious. A good mix of spices which have various health benefits. While it may seem expensive, a 2g level teaspoonful makes a full cup when added to your choice of milk. We bought in Quay Co-Op Cork. Score: 9 Cotswold Roasted dandelion coffee 100g €4.77 Just dandelion root here in branchy bits, which can be put into a coffee grinder to use in a percolator or coffee machine. We used an Aeropress and got a very good result when we added frothy milk. Black, it was less interesting, but tasters found little difference between it and regular coffee. From health food shops. Score: 9 Teapigs Lemon & ginger in fusion 15 bags 37.5g €4.95 No tea here, just 65% ginger, 25% lemongrass, 5% lemon peel, liquorice root. Deliciously fresh and vibrant with no sting from the ginger. A well-balanced product. Score: 8.5 Twinings Heartea 20 bags 40g €5.39 Nettle, hibiscus (24%), apple pieces, raspberry and other natural flavourings, rosemary, beetroot, honey, blackcurrant and thiamine make a pleasant, light drink (with no taste of nettles). Good as an iced tea in the months to come. Hopefully, it's good for the heart, too, as the name suggests. Score: 7.75 Chikko Not Coffee Organic Roasted Lupine 250g €6.99 These lupini beans are often salted and used as a snack with drinks. Here they are ground to make a caffeine-free drink, which is nutty and interesting. The lupin bean contains good fibre and protein, which could help lower cholesterol levels. We also liked the brand's Instant Chicory (150g €6.15), which, unusually for an instant coffee, has no additives, just ground chicory root. Good as cappuccino. From health food shops. Score: 9 M&S Defence 20 bags 40g €3.75 Warm flavours of orange and lemon, ginger, black pepper, with dried manuka honey added to help combat summer colds further. Of all the M&S offerings in this category, tasters liked this one best; the lemon and ginger version also went down well. This just edged out Niks Tea hemp chillout (15 bags, €5.75, Tesco), which contains rooibos, Tulsi herb, lemon balm, and more. Irish and worth trying. Score: 8.75
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
We still ‘Feelgood' after 25 years
Cherry trees are bursting out all over in blousy candy-pink blossoms. The exuberant seasonal display is a reminder of Feelgood's birthday, and even more so this year, as we celebrate 25 years around the sun. Much has changed in Feelgood since the first edition rolled off the presses. And while women have increasingly found their collective voice, our focus has shifted. More than 14,000 articles have been published, most reflecting the concerns and interests of their time. It would be overambitious to comment on each one, so, instead, I've decided to look at the standout themes and developments. Body politics Our early editions followed in the footsteps of popular women's magazines, so it was natural that weight loss was a recurring theme. Tabloid-style headlines, such as 'Hotpants diet' and 'Drop a dress size' and 'Get beach ready,' were commonplace. Gradually, the focus shifted to health and well-being, regardless of body size. Feelgood now has articles on building strength, improving flexibility, and eating well for overall health — not weight loss. A January 2020 cover story on intuitive eating, headlined, 'What diet? Eating what you want, when you want it', neatly captures our stance on body positivity. However, some sectors of society remain fixated on body size. The parade of super-thin female celebrities on the red carpet, for example, points to entrenched, oppressive standards. The arrival of the drug semaglutide, known as Ozempic, in 2017, has been a game-changer. It was first prescribed for type 2 diabetes, and quickly rolled out as a treatment for obesity, which is now regarded as a disease. Highly influential talk-show host Oprah Winfrey described how the drug turned down the volume on food noise and she acknowledged using it as a 'maintenance tool' in 2023. (She left the board of WeightWatchers a year later.) The interest in the drug shows no signs of diminishing. Nearly every time we publish an article about Ozempic, we see a spike in online interest. A recent one on the TikTok obsession with 'oatzempic' — a filling blend of oats, lime juice, and water — also drew a large readership. (You're welcome, Flavahans.) Let's talk about sex From the outset, Feelgood didn't shy away from sex. We aimed to open the discussion about what makes it good and satisfying. The lad culture of the '90s did little to encourage intimate communication between couples. But by the noughties, the ground was shifting, thanks to progressive writers who weren't afraid to talk about sexual organs, vibrators, and orgasms. In 2013, sex columnist Suzi Godson joined Feelgood. Her unique blend of psychology, research, and common sense encourages readers to embrace and enjoy sex for all its life-giving and joyful qualities. In 2013, sex columnist Suzi Godson joined Feelgood. Picture: David Bebber The explosion of the #MeToo movement in 2017 revealed the depth and breadth of sexual harassment in the entertainment business, with sex seen as an entitlement by some in positions of power. But sexual power politics also play out in our everyday lives. We've run numerous articles on consent in Feelgood to highlight what constitutes a good sexual experience. Sex educator Olivia Teahan put it eloquently, when she wrote last year: 'Knowing and owning our body is where the magic happens.' Consent education programmes are going a long way towards making sex safe and enjoyable for couples. Irish students' unions picked up the baton, running campaigns with catchy titles, such as SHAG and SHIFT, to highlight why consent cannot be assumed and why it's essential to keep checking in with your partner. (The sex scene between Connell and Marianne in Normal People in 2020 is a masterclass.) Menopause for thought When Feelgood first started running stories about menopause, it was difficult to get women to come forward and speak about what they were going through. The stigma went deep. However, some were determined to break the mould. In a 2012 article, author Sheila Flanagan, singer Mary Coughlan, and social entrepreneur Mary Davis discussed the impact of hormonal changes on their lives, including how it affected their sense of femininity. Six years later, we were keen to initiate a discussion about supporting women in the workplace who were experiencing menopause, but we struggled to find an HR expert to discuss it with us — one laughed at the suggestion. But all was about to change. On May 5, 2021, Sallyanne Brady, founder of the support group the Irish Menopause, spoke to RTÉ's Liveline about the 'living hell of menopause'. Her raw honesty opened the floodgates. Such was the response that a dedicated phone line was established. Davina McCall is on a mission to end the silent misery many women experience during perimenopause and menopause. Picture: TUI Blue/PA. A week later, Davina McCall stormed onto our screens in a Channel 4 documentary about menopause. She wanted to end the silent misery many women experience during perimenopause and menopause, and argued that HRT should be brought in from the cold. HRT was widely used in the US and Europe from the early 1970s. However, in 2002, the Women's Health Initiative, an American study of more than 16,000 women, reported that breast cancer rates rose in HRT users. The findings hit the headlines around the world, leading to millions of women stopping their hormonal treatment. However, the study was discredited years later. In October 2022, the Bank of Ireland introduced an extensive menopause support policy, leading the way for other companies to follow. The public debate continued to build with two national menopause summits held in Dublin (March) and Cork (October) in 2023, headlined by Davina McCall and Mariella Frostrup, respectively. I attended both events and was struck by the women's willingness to speak openly and honestly about the impact menopause had on their lives. They were no longer prepared to suffer silently. Laura Dowling — aka the Fabulous Pharmacist — is on a mission to educate women about their bodies, particularly their vulvas. Picture: Moya Nolan. Into this shame-free space stepped Dublin pharmacist Laura Dowling — aka the Fabulous Pharmacist — who is on a mission to educate women about their bodies, particularly their vulvas. Dowling was a Feelgood guest columnist in 2024, covering topics such as vaginal thrush, sex, and orgasms, her trademark directness bouncing off every line. Proving that women's health education could be fun, she hosted the Viva La Vulva roadshow — a sassy and entertaining event encouraging women to be proactive about their health and to get support when needed, be it for urinary incontinence or a flatlining libido. The Women's Health Taskforce, established in September 2019, deserves credit for the positive impact it has had across the country. We now have free contraception for females aged between 17 and 35, six regional fertility hubs, specialist menopause clinics, and community-based period poverty initiatives. While a new scheme to provide free HRT for women was scheduled to commence in January 2025, it has yet to be delivered. Covid and lockdown The first lockdown was announced in March 2020, and we switched from daily commutes and busy offices to working from home. The weather that April was glorious, and many took the opportunity to work on their gardens, repaint the house, or even build a new patio. Fitness instructors quickly pivoted to online platforms, offering live and recorded classes to their clients. For many, it was an ideal opportunity to increase their fitness in the comfort of their sitting room. Feelgood also played our part, featuring Greg O'Shea's workout advice, along with Maeve Madden, and Ray Lally, also known as the Happy Fitness Guy. However, fear of the virus was never far from the surface and was not unfounded. Some 1.7m cases were reported in Ireland and 9,791 deaths up to December 2024. Almost 90% of those who died were over 65. Those over 70 were told to cocoon at home, and while it was intended to protect them, the cost was profound. Loneliness and lack of outdoor exercise proved crippling for many. In response, Feelgood ran a special report in May 2020, asking readers to describe their experience. A 67-year-old man from Galway bleakly reported that lockdown had 'robbed me of hugs from my adult children and grandchildren, all of whom I love dearly'. Young adults on the cusp of independence also felt the brunt of covid restrictions. In a joint project with youth charity SpunOut, Feelgood surveyed more than 1,400 third-level students. Some 70% said they were 'anxious', 60% felt 'uncertain', and 34% described themselves as 'sad'. Additionally, 28% were 'pessimistic' and 25% were 'fearful'. Few want to dwell on the pandemic. Yet, its impact lingers, from those who are still battling long covid to young children who missed key developmental opportunities afforded by family and social gatherings. Trailblazing women Cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan sent shockwaves around the country in 2018, when she addressed a knot of reporters outside the High Court, after winning her case against Clinical Pathology Laboratories. She surrendered her privacy so other women would know that theirs was not an isolated case and would seek compensation for the laboratories' failure to identify their false negative smear tests. Vicky Phelan sent shockwaves around the country in 2018, when she addressed a knot of reporters outside the High Court, after winning her case against Clinical Pathology Laboratories. Picture: Naomi Gaffey. It was a privilege to work with her the following year, when she guest edited a special Feelgood edition to mark International Women's Day. One of the articles she was proudest of was on the impact of brachytherapy, internal radiation that, while killing off deadly cancer cells, can damage the vagina to the extent it makes sex impossible. No topic was off limits for this trailblazer. Phelan had plans to do more work around raising awareness about cervical cancer, but time was not on her side. To mark the first anniversary of her death, in November 2023, Feelgood realised her wish to promote cervical screening, with a hint of her trademark mischievous sense of humour. Our creative campaign, 'Read My Lips,' was supported by high-profile Irish women who wanted to drive home Vicky's critical message. It was rolled out across print, social media, video, and audio and received a record response from readers online. Last month, another woman on a mission collaborated on a special Feelgood edition on bowel cancer. Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon was working as a GP when she was diagnosed with stage-four bowel cancer in 2014. She responded well to treatment and returned to work. However, last summer, the mother of three was told the cancer had returned and that she needed further treatment. Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon collaborated on a special edition on bowel cancer. Although still under medical care, she played a central role in shaping the content, advising on the main themes, connecting us with experts, and giving feedback on submitted articles. While most would understandably retreat, Fitzgibbon has, instead, used her illness as a platform to educate us about bowel cancer. And for those who find it difficult to contemplate taking a sample of their poo to BowelScreen, she pointed out in an article: 'People happily stand in the middle of the street manhandling their dog's poo with a flimsy plastic bag, yet a potentially life-saving interaction with our waste product seems a step too far for some.' Challenging times We are now faced with other, troubling global challenges: The climate crisis that is gathering pace, grinding war in Gaza and Ukraine with no end in sight, and recent US trade tariffs that have left markets in a tailspin. These are matters over which ordinary citizens have little control. However, we do have agency over how we live our daily lives. I hope that the articles you find, and continue to find, in our Feelgood will help you live your best life. Your loyalty to us over the years is what brings us to our desks every day. In the push and pull to publish, week in, week out, somehow 25 years have passed. Each and every edition has been powered by a band of mostly freelance journalists who conduct interviews, carry out in-depth research, check facts, and weave all the strands together to make a coherent article. Their ongoing commitment deserves praise and recognition. Special appreciation goes to talented deputy production editor Jay Carcione, whose unique design stamp has been on every page since he joined our department. My colleagues recently organised a party to celebrate our milestone anniversary. Looking around the crowded room, I could only think of how Feelgood is possible because of the combined efforts of all departments, from advertising and marketing to graphics, picture desk, social media, page design, subbing, printing, and distribution. To quote a line from John Spillane's joyful The Dance of the Cherry Trees: 'Well done, everyone, well done.' Read More Workplace Wellbeing: Most of us benefit from connecting with colleagues in the office
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Millennial medics share their prescriptions for good health and wellbeing
Feelgood was launched in April 2000. To commemorate its anniversary, we asked four medics born in the millennial year about their approaches to health and to gauge the nation's pulse. All had tips for better health. 'Get 20 minutes of sunlight every day,' says Fiona Morahan, intern doctor at the South Infirmary Hospital in Cork. 'And when there's no sunlight, like in winter, take vitamin-D supplements.' Cork City intern paramedic Diarmuid Lynch says consistent, quality sleep is crucial and ensures you feel more energised during the day and less reliant on stimulants, like caffeine. For Lena Dablouk, an intern doctor at Cork University Hospital, it's the simple things, like making sure to stay active. 'If you can walk somewhere, instead of driving or getting public transport, even short distances, that will stand to you.' Diarmuid Lynch: Consistent, quality sleep is crucial and ensures you feel more energised during the day and less reliant on stimulants, like caffeine. Intern midwife Jessie McCarthy, at Cork University Maternity Hospital, advises people to stay away from Dr Google. 'Avoid searching your symptoms on Google and go to see an actual doctor if you're not feeling right.' These four young medics are all conscious of developing healthy habits in their 20s. Being active outside is the healthy habit that unifies them. 'I find any reason to move and get outside in the fresh air. That helps all my problems,' says Lynch, while Dablouk says she always takes the stairs, never a lift, and McCarthy finds moments every day to get fresh air. Morahan also focuses on her mental health. 'I journal every day. I've been doing that since the pandemic.' Never too late While it's advisable to develop healthy habits early in life to reap the long-term benefits, starting in later life has many benefits. Dablouk says: 'It's never too late to initiate something or try and change something you're doing, whether that's eating better or getting some exercise in. You can still do it.' McCarthy emphasises the importance of regular check-ups with a GP, especially for older people. 'Get regular health checks, get your blood tested, and make sure you're on top of any supplements that make you feel better. And, of course, it's still not too late to get in to a good habit of eating and being active.' In addition to physical health, Morahan and Lynch stress the importance of caring for your mental health in later life. 'Keeping up with exercise is really important in older age, but social activities are equally important. As you get older, to prevent isolation, getting involved in social communities is a good thing to do,' she says. 'One of the biggest issues with the older population is mental health. Older people need to be vocal about how they're feeling, because we all know, once we actually get talking, we often quickly realise how small a problem can be. Intern midwife Jessie McCarthy, at Cork University Maternity Hospital, advises people to stay away from Dr Google. 'Avoid searching your symptoms on Google and go to see an actual doctor if you're not feeling right.' Picture Dan Linehan 'Additionally, movement, even if it's simply getting up out of a chair a couple of times a day, keeps you nimble and helps maintain your mobility. It's a very quick downward spiral once your mobility goes. It's all tied in together; depression can easily set in once your mobility goes,' explains Lynch. Now that she's working in a hospital, Dablouk sees firsthand how healthy habits, such as being active, can have positive long-term effects. 'I see some patients who are in their 70s and 80s, but they look so much younger. All of these patients have regular exercise in common.' Exercising is essential at any age, but McCarthy suggests it's easier if you're enjoying it. 'Finding some kind of sport or exercise that you enjoy is important. You are much more likely to want to do exercise if you're happy doing it,' he says. 'We need to spend less time on our phones and social media and have more in-person interactions,' says Lynch. 'This will help mentally and help us with our social interactions.' Online resources The availability of health information online is good, so long as it comes from a reputable source, say all four young medics. 'There are definitely great pages and information out there, but you have to be careful and do a background check on whatever you're reading to be sure that it's accurate information,' says Dablouk. 'It's difficult to verify what qualifications somebody has. But, social media can be good to connect with people in a similar position, through online communities and support groups,' says Morahan. 'There are a lot of people on social media preaching fitness and many of them are just giving their personal opinions, saying things like, 'If you do this, you can achieve this goal in six months.' But when people don't achieve that goal in six months, they can get demotivated,' warns Lynch. For Lena Dablouk, an intern doctor at Cork University Hospital, it's the simple things, like making sure to stay active. 'If you can walk somewhere, instead of driving or getting public transport, even short distances, that will stand to you.' Finding the balance can be difficult, they agree, but all advise double-checking any information you see online. That equilibrium can also apply to the volume of health data we all have access to from dedicated apps or wearables. 'Some people find it good to have that insight in to their health,' says Morahan. 'But it's something that doesn't work for everyone. The volume of health data can lead to anxiety, as it can be really overwhelming and difficult to understand.' Dablouk says it can be 'a slippery slope', as some may become 'too obsessed with the numbers'. Lynch suggests listening to your body, not the figures. 'Wearables can provide fantastic motivation for anyone tracking their fitness. But it's important to go by how your own body feels, and don't get bogged down by what your wearable might say.' Healthcare system Speaking with these 25-year-old medics, it's clear they are prioritising their health and are realistic about the information they see online. As they continue to build their careers in Ireland's healthcare system, they are also clear that changes need to happen. Dablouk says: 'There's always room for improvement with any system. It's important to always be looking for ways to make things better, but, to do that, you need to get feedback from the people who actually work those jobs on the frontline, day in and day out.' McCarthy sees daily the effect that waiting times and waiting lists can have on patients. 'That has a lot to do with staffing. If we were to get more staff, then, hopefully, waiting lists would be a lot shorter, and the wait times at appointments wouldn't be as long, either. The Government should be thinking about how to make it more appealing for staff to stay and work in Ireland, instead of moving abroad.' For Morahan, who has an interest in mental health, staffing is an issue that needs to be addressed, but, in tandem with that, she says the distribution of resources needs to be managed more effectively, particularly in the area of mental health, where the lack of resources in psychiatric services is very evident. Paramedic Lynch says many patients end up in the emergency department who may not have needed to be brought in. 'I think, perhaps, we could put a greater focus on primary care, with the aim of keeping people at home, where possible, either through the community paramedics, or the Pathfinder team with the ambulance service, who are fantastic at evaluating people.' Read More Workplace Wellbeing: Most of us benefit from connecting with colleagues in the office
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
President of Ireland: Congratulations Feelgood on milestone achievement
May I congratulate all of the editors, writers, and production staff, past and present, of the Irish Examiner's Feelgood section on reaching the significant milestone of its 25th anniversary. Over the course of the last quarter of a century, Feelgood has provided an important public service in offering readers access to quality articles on topics such as health, fitness, and many related issues. In particular, Feelgood has helped to encourage and build awareness around life-threatening challenges such as breast cancer. The special edition, edited by the late Vicky Phelan for International Women's Day in 2019, where she highlighted the importance of women continuing to get cervical screening tests, provided vital and trusted information at a time of great worry for so many people. The importance of choosing screening was something that the section returned to as a special campaign to mark and pay tribute to Vicky's legacy on the first anniversary of her death. The important work of building awareness around cancer has continued in the special edition on bowel cancer last month, a collaboration with Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon. Other issues given prominence in the supplement over the years include fertility and pregnancy, menopause, men's health, and raising children, among many others. In its coverage of such a broad range of issues, Feelgood has encouraged conversations that may have been avoided in the past due to the risk of causing embarrassment. This might have led to a reluctance to make that vital first necessary visit to a doctor. Feelgood's campaigns and publicity have helped to provoke a more positive public conversation on topics which affect the health of all members of our society. I have no doubt that articles such as those found in the section will have encouraged people to take actions which will have made a crucial contribution to their personal health. As we look to the future, it remains more important than ever that all countries meet their commitment, including those in relation to health, under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Goal number three aims to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all people at all ages. Some of the targets included under this goal include such important global necessities as reducing maternal mortality, ending all preventable deaths under five years of age, fighting communicable diseases, and achieving universal health coverage. I am pleased to note that Feelgood has continued throughout the years to cover health and fitness issues across the full spectrum of life — from childhood through to old age. There is now a welcome greater and necessary recognition than ever of the importance of positive ageing, and the section continues to provide evidence-based information and expert views to assist people in making healthy choices throughout their life. Feelgood has evolved over time, meeting its audience with new means of communication. Podcasts and videos have helped expand coverage beyond the limits of the physical newspaper, and I am sure that such innovation will continue into the future. As we look forward to the next 25 years, may I, as President of Ireland, extend my best wishes to all those who have been associated with Feelgood, as well as all of its dedicated readers, listeners and viewers, on this special occasion. Mo bhuíochas libh uilig. Traoslaím libh agus gach rath don todchaí. Beir beannacht. - Michael D. Higgins, Uachtarán na hÉireann Read More Workplace Wellbeing: Most of us benefit from connecting with colleagues in the office
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Ageing with attitude: 103-year-old Bessie Nolan on the secret to staying young at heart
Bessie Nolan was 103 years old, enjoyed a couple of Superkings cigarettes a day and putting on the style to walk into town regularly to meet her friends. And she joked: 'I think God forgot all about me. I'm not on the [death] register'. The fun-loving Dubliner featured in a documentary called Older Than Ireland and was perfect subject matter for the weekly page in Feelgood titled Ageing With Attitude, which ran for over four years, from when I first began the column in 2014. A great-grandmother, Bessie lived for another three years after that starring role, when God finally caught up with her in 2018. Although many stand-out people were interviewed in over 200 pages of Ageing With Attitude, and a whole array of subjects were covered in relation to growing older, it was Bessie's spunkiness — her sense of humour and joie de vivre after living over a century of life — that made such an impression on me, grappling as I was then, with ageing in my mere late 50s. When the page launched, Feelgood editor Irene Feighan and myself thought it was timely to offer a platform for the over 55s, then considered 'old'. But it soon became apparent that there was a wide population of vibrant people, decades beyond that, who had plenty to reveal about living life to the full, overcoming obstacles, and in some cases even exceeding physical goals of those half their age. And why not? A recurrent point stressed by experts in gerontology interviewed was that people in the 'second half of life' are not a homogenous group and should not be herded, as such, into an ageist 'elderly' camp. According to the World Health Organisation, by 2030, one in six people will be aged 60 and over. And with life expectancy increasing globally, the number of 'oldest old' — 85 plus — is the fastest growing population segment in many countries. One of the UN's goals for its Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030) is to tackle ageist attitudes that portray older people as being frail and a burden on society. The diversity of individuals who told their stories in Ageing With Attitude defied such ageist stereotypes, including 62-year-old transgender woman, Kellie Maloney (who was former boxing promoter Frank); married couple Kay and Joe O'Regan, who celebrated their 80th birthdays running their final marathon together; Sligo-based Vera Power, who at 77 was the longest-surviving single lung transplant recipient in the world, three decades after her surgery, and 64-year-old Mrs Brown's Boys actress Eilish O'Carroll, who revealed that, with divorces from two husbands behind her, she was now in a loving relationship with a woman. Ageism in the language we use and in how the media portrays older people through words and imagery was inevitably discussed in the column over the years. But what about being ageist towards ourselves? Research featured by Becca Levy, a professor of psychology at Yale University, suggested that if we ourselves have a negative attitude towards ageing, we may shorten our lifespan by seven and a half years. This, and other research, seems to exhibit that our attitude to our life is a big player in how we live it out — and although that arguably applies to all stages of life, when older people are faced with societal ageism, having that self-positivity would appear to be a driving force influencing us mentally, physically, and emotionally. It helped, in this context, to tell readers that in most cases, 25% of our health and longevity is down to genetics and 75% to lifestyle — a self-empowering message to those of us who had felt hopelessly predestined to follow familial patterns. With our theme of 'ageing with attitude', we aimed to encourage, inform, and inspire our readers each week to take the reins with a positive attitude. And, with life expectancy increasing by two and a half years per decade, to live our lives as healthily as possible. Expert advice that cropped up constantly about achieving that included eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, having a purpose, staying socially active, managing our stress and our sleeping habits, abstaining from smoking, drinking alcohol moderately, volunteering in the community, and challenging the brain with novelty. This is advice that all adults could take on board. But for those of us running out of roundy birthdays, there is the poignant realisation that our days and weeks are even more precious and the longer we can stay healthy on all levels — to take a leaf from Bessie's book — the longer God might keep us off the register. Read More Workplace Wellbeing: Most of us benefit from connecting with colleagues in the office
