Rude Health News & Events

The latest news, research and events from the world of natural health

Get active this July!

Dubliners are being encouraged to get active and take part in a Park and Trails Challenge this July. Everyone who takes part in the challenge, which covers all four local authority areas, will be entered into a prize draw.

There are a total of 24 walks to choose from, and a mixture of parks and trails have been chosen in each area. The challenge has been uploaded onto the Dublin Trails app where all of the 24 locations are listed along with maps of each walk.

The aim of the initiative is to encourage people to improve their fitness, discover their local parks and trails and also explore parks and trails in the greater Dublin area. Find out more info at dublindiscoverytrails.ie

What's in season?

Pak choi, radishes, spring onions, courgettes, French beans, peas, broad beans, aubergines, mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers rhubarb, lettuce, celery, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, blackcurrants, loganberries, gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries, thyme, chives, parsley.

Study sheds light on vitamin D guidelines

Irish researchers have carried out a study which challenges the "one-size-fits-all" approach to vitamin D supplementation guidelines.

The team, from Trinity College Dublin's School of Medicine, analysed data from half a million participants in the UK. They calculated each person's ambient ultraviolet-B (UVB) level, which is the wavelength of sunlight that induces vitamin D synthesis in the skin. This revealed that ambient UVB is a critical predictor of vitamin D status, even in a place like the UK, which receives relatively little sunlight.

The researchers also discovered that age, sex, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol level, and vitamin D supplementation significantly influence how people respond to UVB. For example, as BMI and age increase, the amount of vitamin D produced in response to UVB decreases.

Professor Lina Zgaga, the report's principal investigator, said: "We believe our findings have significant implications for the development of tailored recommendations for vitamin D supplementation. Our study underscores the need to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach towards personalised strategies for optimizing vitamin D status."

The study was published in the journal Clinical Nutrition.

B vitamins could reduce impact of age-related disease

New research from Dublin City University has revealed that vitamin B12 and folate may help to cut the risk of age-related diseases.

Pregnant women are advised to take folate, which is vitamin B9, along with vitamin B12 to reduce the risk of their baby developing neural tube defects, including spina bifida. However, researchers from DCU have now found that this combination can also help to reduce damage to our DNA, and therefore reduce the impact and risk of age-related diseases.

The research examined the mitochondria which produce the energy that each of our cells needs. These structures have their own DNA and, as we age, this gets damaged and causes age-related diseases. However, if we are getting optimal levels of vitamin B12 and folate, we can cut down on this damage.

Green leafy vegetables are a source of folate, while vitamin B12 is found in meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and specially fortified foods.

€4 million invested in women's sport

Ireland's Women in Sport Programme has received a record investment of €4 million. The funding will go towards a variety of projects and initiatives across a wide range of sports.

These projects support the government's vision for women in sport as one where women have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential, while enjoying a lifelong involvement in sport.

€1m of the funding is being ring-fenced for football, Gaelic games and rugby. A proportion of the funding will also go towards Her Outdoors Week, an annual campaign which encourages more women and girls to take part in outdoor physical activity. This year's campaign takes place from 12 to 18 August.

Nature time boosts children's mental health

Children who spend more time in natural environments have significantly better mental health, according to new research led by the University of Glasgow.

The innovative new study, which used GPS and accelerometer tracking, found that the benefits of spending time in nature were strongest for children from lower-income households.

The study, which is published in the journal Environment International, found that children who spent just 60 minutes daily in nature had a 50% lower risk of mental health issues. Notably, the benefits were greatest for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly in terms of improved behaviour and social skills. In addition, the study found that using natural environments for light activities, such as walking, was equally as beneficial as using these spaces for more vigorous activities, such as running.

Low dairy intake noted in Irish teens

Although 98% of Irish adolescents consume dairy, a recent report from the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA) has revealed that only 4% meet the recommendations set out by the Department of Health's dietary guidelines.

On average, teenagers were found to consume just under two servings of dairy per day. However, the guidelines suggest five daily servings from the "milk, yogurt and cheese" food group for those aged 9-18 years, due to higher calcium requirements during the teenage years, with three servings recommended for other age groups.

Lead researcher on the study, Dr Breige McNulty from University College Dublin, said: "Consuming enough calcium and vitamin D during the teenage years is critical in helping our bodies to build strong bones for life. We were particularly concerned to see such high levels of inadequate intakes of these key bone nutrients. These nutrients are particularly important as we lay down our bone mass, with vitamin D needed to absorb calcium. It is important that teenagers consume a healthy, balanced diet to support this rapid phase of growth and development."

The IUNA National Teens' Nutrition Survey assessed food and nutrient intakes in 428 teenagers aged 13-18 years across the Republic of Ireland. A sub-study was commissioned by the National Dairy Council to further explore the contribution of the "milk, yogurt and cheese" food group to the nutritional quality of Irish teenagers' diets.

July-August events

Pause and Come Back to Nature
20 July, Phoenix Park, Dublin
allevents.in/Dublin

Yoga Fest Ireland
3–4 August, Springfield Castle, Dromcollogher, Co. Limerick
www.yogafestireland.ie

Find more natural health events here...