Author: Padraic Guilfoyle

Alcohol is a toxic, addictive drug that can be very damaging to health. Alcohol products, mainly beer, spirits and wine can be marketed without reference to alcohol in the advertising. Alcohol is consumed without restraint or regard for its health consequences.
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Do you know how alcohol affects your skin? 10 Q&A’s

1. Why does your skin appear dull after drinking?

Alcohol dehydrates your skin and depletes it of vital skin nutrients

2. If you overindulge in alcohol, what long-term effect on facial blood vessels occur?

Drinking alcohol causes facial blood vessels to dilate. Excessive alcohol can cause the vessels to dilate permanently. This causes red spiky veins.

3. Does alcohol consumption affect other skin conditions such as rosacea and psoriasis?

Alcohol may aggravate these skin conditions and cause additional flare ups

4. Which foods should you avoid when suffering a hangover?

Anything fried. Choose nutrient rich foods to reverse some of the negative effects of the drinking from the night before, whole grain toast for example

5. Alcohol depletes which beneficial vitamin?

Vitamin A, an important anti-oxidant

6. Why is vitamin A beneficial to the skin?

Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant that boosts collagen production and skin cell turnover

7. What is the primary physical trait of heavy drinkers?

Heavy drinkers usually have rosy cheeks, a red nose or a flushed face

8. What should you drink along with alcohol to avoid dehydration?

Drinking water along with alcohol will counteract the effects of the alcohol and will decrease dehydration

9. The toxins in alcohol can contribute to what unattractive skin flaw?

Alcohol can cause the build up of cellulite

10. After several drinks, the body will divert oxygen and blood away from where?

The skin. Skin loses important blood circulation because oxygen and blood is diverted to the liver and other organs

Source: Howstuffworks.com

 

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Guinness Paint the Town Black? Never Again

Drinkawaste.com complained about this campaign through the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland

On the basis the slogan, ” Paint the Town Black”  was coined from the phrase ” Paint the Town Red”

Paint the town red, is to engage in a wild spree. The allusion is to the kind of riotous behaviour that results in blood being spilt, according to Urbandictionary.com

Under pressure Diageo/Guinness withdrew the campaign for its alcohol product. It was a clear directive to abuse alcohol on Arthur’s Day and St Patrick’s Day

Now Diageo/Guinness say there will be no more Arthur’s Day. That is good news for the community, the  police, ambulance people, hospitals and others, who had to deal with the mayhem Arthur’s Day created

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Missing Link Between Breast Cancer and Alcohol Discovered

A protein has been identified that plays a key role in the link between drinking alcohol and breast cancer.

Women with higher levels of the molecule in their breasts are more likely to develop cancer if they drink too much, research suggests.

Scientists in Mexico say their discovery could lead to a test showing which individuals are most at risk. Preventative measures could them be taken, such as helping vulnerable people cut down on alcohol.

The protein, an enzyme called CYP2E1, is believed to be involved in breaking down ethanol, otherwise known as alcohol , in the body.

In the process, unstable destructive oxygen molecules called free radicals are generated, which attack cell membranes and DNA.

Free radical damage, or oxidative stress, is known to be linked to cancer as well as other health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

Alcohol consumption is a long-established risk factor for breast cancer but until now the reason for the link has not been clear.

In this situation why aren’t women being warned of the dangers? How are drinks companies allowed advertise alcohol without any warning? Why is there no breakdown of the composition of alcohol drinks on the bottles or cans?

 

 

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Smithwick’s is 92% water. What’s the secret?

Smithwicks

The average pint of beer is 92% water according to Nutrition.self.com. So what’s the secret?

It must be the alcohol at around 4%. Alcohol is a toxic, intoxicating, addictive drug

Drinks companies don’t like the word, alcohol, even though they get most of their revenues from selling it

That’s why you don’t see alcohol mentioned in advertising or any marketing communications

Instead they ask you to enjoy xxx sensibly. How do you do that? Maybe that’s the secret!

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The sun shines

Good weather makes a big difference. Warm and dry, long bright days

The horses are full of exuberance, bucking and leaping when they’re turned out

They’re without heavy winter rugs and can smell the growing grass

They have to be kept apart from the new-born lambs, might hurt them accidentally

Birds are shouting at each other, robins have to make way for those returning from their winter retreats

Competition for food intensifies, stuff is growing but it’s still early days

Meanwhile the supermarkets take advantage of the ritual Easter feasting

By selling the “Perfect match” for roast lamb, or the “Perfect partner” for turkey

We’re talking bottles of wine, Easter is a big time for wine

But remember wine is usually around 12 – 14% pure alcohol. And  can be very damaging to your health

Especially if you drink too much. So…

A glass of wine is good, the whole bottle very bad

Have a good Easter. Paste ferecit as they say in Romania

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The Cobblestone

Dublin, Smithfield,
Dublin, Smithfield,

The Tumbleweed Love Sessions, a great gig last night

First up the awesome Mongoose, brilliant harmonies and lyrics from a dramatic quartet

Then Hidden Highways lush sound fuses Americana’s country and folk like mist off a swamp

Finally The Prairie Dawgs, the big band sound of Louisiana bluegrass blasts the cobwebs off the Cobblestone

Great music.  Tumbleweed Love Sessions are not to be missed!

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Hunting with the Brays

Bray hunt

Horses, hounds, hyper, hot ports, no foxes

Masters, Whips, Huntsmen, riders, nervous, ready to go

Wide green fields, let them go

Ditches, fences, cross poles, stone walls, some falls

Yelling, bleating, blowing, cantering

Gates opening, closing, lush farmland, careful, hoof marks

“Oh my god, we going down there”?

Swearing, sweating, splashing

“That wasn’t too bad, thank god we’re back”

Hosing down. Winding down – in the Powerscourt Arms

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The Super Spud

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Ireland is the spiritual home of the potato. We grow them better here than anywhere else

News  that consumption of potatoes is falling is hard to believe

The potato is super charged with energy.  At 75 kcal per 100 gms, its right at the top of the vegetable tree.

Potatoes are healthy, full of vitamin C, high in potassium and great value for money

Get your day off to a flyer with Irish Potato Cakes for breakfast. See  http://www.thedailyspud.com – spud full of recipes, info and fun. Well worth a visit

Potatoes are versatile. Think how many different ways there are to cook them.

THE SUPER SPUD. HIGH IN ENERGY. LOW IN FAT

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The Long-Field

“We have all grown up with the Long-Field. City folk see it as green ditches with no footpaths as soon as they have escaped the urban. Cattle and sheep view it as manna from heaven when they escape out on to it from their closures and rural folk, well rural folk are always delighted to inform their fellow farmers that it is their stock that has escaped onto the Long – Field and not their own”

Evan Doyle of “Strawberry Tree” fame talks about his passion for Wild Food, a feature of his restaurant.

Evan goes on to describe the Long – Field;

“The Long – Field is the 327,258 km of 543px-PerfectStrawberryIrish grass verges and hedge rows. Our lush damp climate produces a stunning array of wild foods, from fresh spring herbs to summer berries to autumn mushrooms and nuts”

His chefs can be seen out foraging for nettles for the” Wild Nettle Tea”and Dillisk for oatcakes. Or wading for seaweed for “Wild Carrigeen and Wild Prawn Bisque”.   They pick wild garlic for the “Wild garlic, leek and potato bake” and mushrooms for the “Wild St. Georges mushroom, spinach and gorgonzola risotto”. They are gathering Wild Sea Beet, Wild Rock Samphire, Wild Sorrell and others, all to put into delicious dishes. The book is full of recipes.

“Wild Food” is an eye opener to the harvest nature provides. “Wild Food” by Biddy White Lennon and Evan Doyle is published by O’Brien Press. The Strawberry Tree, Macreddin Village, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow.