Recipe of the Week Archives - Page 8 of 9

Tips For Brushing Well No Matter Your Routine

July 13, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t give much thought to how you brush your teeth, beyond squirting on some tooth- paste and scrubbing back and forth. But how you brush your teeth matters a great deal; frequency, duration, technique, and the toothbrush all influence the effective- ness of your brushing.

To gain the maximum benefits, you should brush for at least two minutes morning and night, using a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head and a flexible neck. These brushes remove the plaque and debris without damaging your teeth and gums.

It’s all in the technique.

You should clean your teeth systematically, starting at the back of your mouth with the toothbrush bristle at the gum line on a 45° angle, brushing gently in a circular motion. If you scrub too hard from side to side, you can run the risk of causing your gums to re- cede, as well as damaging the tooth enam- el. You should take care to brush carefully along the inner, outer and chewing surfac- es, making sure you angle the toothbrush so you can reach the inner front areas of the teeth, which are often missed.

And yes, while it may seem strange at first to brush your tongue, it reduces the bacteria in your mouth and helps your breath stay fresh. All you need to do is push the bristles on the tongue and scrape gently forward.

When you have finished brushing, try to spit out the toothpaste but don’t rinse with water. Leaving some toothpaste on your teeth gives your teeth some ongoing protection.

If limited dexterity is an issue, you might consider using a powered toothbrush. They can be programmed to run for two minutes, making it easier to brush for the right length of time.

Tempting as it is to think that pressing harder on your teeth equals a better clean, the fact is that too much pressure damages your gums and tooth enamel. If the bristles are wearing out on your toothbrushes be- fore the three-month mark, you’re pressing too hard and you should ask your dentist to show you a less damaging technique. Replace your brush when the bristles start to spread, or every three months, whichever comes first.

If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to call us at Richardson Dental Surgery on 6862 1261.

Palliative Care in Parkes

July 13, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Palliative care is often overlooked when discussing health management and delivery, but it is an essential service that can have a tremendous and far-reaching effect on well-being , not just for the patient, but for their families and carers as well. Quality palliative care isn’t just dependent on nurs- ing staff – many volunteers work alongside health professionals to provide crucial and compassionate end-of-life care.

The not-for-profit organisation Neighbourhood Central has been involved with pallia- tive care volunteers since about 2012, and works in conjunction with the Parkes Palliative Care team. The volunteers visit people at home or in the community, offering support and companionship for people in pallia- tive care, as well as their family and carers.

The Parkes Palliative Care Team receives about 110 referrals a year.

Parkes Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Bernadette Orange was one of the pioneers behind the service. She said that volunteers are a valuable part of the palliative care team.

Palliative care NSW recently completed a survey of nurses’ experiences of palliative care volunteers, called: A space of caring: NSW nurses’ experiences of Palliative Care Volunteers in inpatient settings.

The survey emphasised the importance of volunteers in providing care. Of the respondents, 89% agreed that volunteers display empathy and emotional awareness and contributed to better palliative care, and 70% said they would like more volunteers in their service.

Palliative care volunteers attached to Neighbourhood Central are hosting a conference at the Railway Hotel next Thursday. There will be presentations from key speakers, interactive discussions, networking opportunities, plus time to reflect on the role of volunteers in palliative care today.

“We are really proud of our volunteers, and for the support of Neighbourhood Central,” Bernadette said. “Not everyone in palliative care will experience pain, but the pain is made worse when a person is distressed about something in their life,” she said. “This conference is all about the important role that the volunteers have in easing that sort of pain and in supporting people in our community.”

For more information visit www.volun- teerhub.com.au or contact Tony Fisher on 0428 970 559.

Tax Talk

June 22, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

For Personal Tax And Business Assistance

Peter Woods and Associates have an experienced team of 11 staff, led by Mark Job and Samantha Bennett.

They are available to support you and your business, not only with tax returns and activity statements, but also the requirements of running a business, and business advice. They recognise that every business is different and will require different levels of support at different times in the business lifecycle.

Whether you need your personal tax return completed, or assistance with your business requirements, contact Peter Woods and Associates on 6862 1366.

Discover Tax Time With M D Trimmer & Co

Mark and the team are available for all your general tax and compliance needs, but they do much, much, more than that…

As your accountant, our real job is to help put you and your busi- ness on the path to success.

Prove the benefits of Xero and associated applications to in- crease controls and efficiencies with up to date, accurate, current reports, budgeting and cashflows. There are applications to cater for every business situation including the farmer, tradesmen, coffee shops, beauty salons, mechanical workshops, gym operations, retail outlets including those that require stock control, manufacturers and everyone in between.

Farm Financial Management: Figured has now partnered with two banks and have an Agworld Integration with Xero, providing a smarter way to manage farm finances online. www.figured.com

Tradesmen: Tradify nails the paperwork problem for tradies! Go to Zrilo for a demo; quote ZRP17. www.zrilo.comfreedemo/tradify

Knowledge & Experience: There are numerous brand-name tax agents that can assist you with the lodgement of a simple tax re- turn, but sometimes they simply do not have the knowledge or experience to give you the service that you deserve. Personalised, professional advice and caring consideration enters into every ser- vice provided…

Financial Planning Services: A free consultation to review your current and future needs and requirements for insurance, retire- ment, investments and mortgages – tailored to what you are com- fortable with!

Proactive Referral System: Every referral is recognised and ap- preciated as are all loyal clients, with deductions given to all new clients with discounts applied to the referring client, being 10% of the fee or $20 – $300 to which conditions apply. Quote P17 to receive this offering if you come along without a referral.

Locally owend and operated, Here for You! You know what accountants do, and yes, we do all that, but the most important thing to us is YOU, and what YOU require in the way of support and assistance, so act now, and reserve your place in the busy schedule that is Tax Time…

How To Avoid Crooked Teeth

June 8, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

1. Brushing habits

Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is the best way to avoid dental diseases, which can lead to tooth loss.

For adults this can reduce this risk of tooth movement and tooth loss, which is a common side effect of gum disease.

For children this can reduce the risk of early tooth loss due to tooth decay. Baby teeth are very important for maintaining the spaces needed for adult teeth to develop and erupt into the mouth.

2. Avoid thumb sucking and dummies

The pressure associated with sucking thumbs, fingers or dummies for a long pe- riod of time can lead to altering how the jaw and teeth develop. This can affect the shape of jaw and tooth positioning, which can cause the teeth to develop crooked and distort the appearance of the natural jaw shape.

3. Early intervention

Genetics play a major role in tooth and jaw development. Attending regular dental appointments will not only reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, but will also allow your dentist to observe and monitor the growth and development of the teeth and jaw and provide intervention as needed.

If you have any questions or concerns, or need to book an appointment, call Richardson dental surgery on 6862 1261.

Arts OutWest Showcases Parkes At Annual Meeting

May 11, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Parkes has been picked for the annual general meeting of the regional arts development organisation of Central NSW, Arts OutWest, this year.

Arts OutWest have teamed up with Parkes Shire Council to showcase creatives from the region some of the arts and cultural success stories, plans and infrastructure of our town.

The meeting will be held on Sunday, 28th May and start at 11.30am with a tour of the Parkes Library, hearing about the planned expansion and a viewing of the current exhibition. This will be followed by a tour of the Little Theatre and a short performance by Parkes M&D Society from their latest production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which opens tomorrow night.

The program for the day includes a free lunch in the Hart Bar at the Railway Hotel.

After lunch and the formal meeting, which will include a pictorial of Arts OutWest’s activities throughout 2016, there will be a tour of local street art and a visit to local museums.

“Everyone is welcome to come along, we’d love to see familiar faces and like- wise meet people who just want to know more about what their regional arts organisation does,” Arts OutWest executive di- rector, Tracey Callinan said.

“The formal meeting aspect of our AGMs are always short. We really use our AGM as a chance to showcase the arts and cultural scene in a particular local gov- ernment area. This year it’s Parkes’ turn” Tracey said.

“We’re even running a bus to Parkes for those who can’t make the drive out there – leaving from Bathurst and stopping in Orange on the way.”

To RSVP (for catering), or to book a seat on the bus, call Arts OutWest on 6338 4657 or email artsoutwest@csu.edu.au

The mission of Arts OutWest is to pro- mote, facilitate, educate and advocate for arts and cultural development for communities of the NSW Central West.

Warning Over Mindfulness Apps Offering Quick Fix

May 11, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Doctors are warning about the risks of relying on smartphone mindfulness apps, offering meditation and breathing exercises, for your mental health.

The apps have become some of the most popular downloads, offering everything from improved creativity to pain relief.

“We noticed that apps are promising consumers quick, easy, effortless and often instant solutions, to what they’re framing as their health issues,” said Dr Quinn Grundy, a postdoctoral researcher with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre.

She said that such quick-fix pledges could be damaging to those seeking help. “If your app has promised that you’ll get better really easily and really quickly and you don’t, consumers shouldn’t feel like there’s something wrong with them,” Dr Grundy said. “Or that their mental health can’t be treated.”

While the apps tout their healing credentials, only a small percentage of them have been created by universities or healthcare professionals.

“There was a couple from the government that we looked at, the Department of Defence for example, and a few from some prominent mental health organisations — and I would say that we had the most confidence in those.”

Many of the apps offer a small amount of content for free, after that users are asked to subscribe. While this has become common to many types of apps, Dr Grundy said those downloading mental health apps were already vulnerable.

“We would argue that mental health consumers are perhaps in a more vulnerable position to things like targeted advertising, or in-app purchases or a subscription model,” she said.

She said app creators, as well as moderators of online stores, needed to face increased regulation.

“Although developers are often the target of regulation, the big players like Apple and Google are really the de facto gate- keepers at the moment,” she said.

One PHD student said she started using a mindfulness app last year to help her with some ‘bouts of anxiety and stress’.

She decided to download an app that was highly-rated in the app store, however it soon began increasing her anxiety.

“The app would ask you to rate on a scale how you felt you’d done in certain areas of the day,” she said. “For example, had you exercised, eaten healthy, had you done any relaxation techniques.”

“If I missed out on a few activities in a day, the app would actually rate my day and it would sort of tell me that I hadn’t had a good day.”

The student said she no longer used a mindfulness app, and recommended us- ing any of these programs in conjunction with professional advice.

(Source: abc.net.au)

Time To Start Lamb Marking

May 4, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

It is that time of the year again where farmers in the district are busy lamb marking. Lambs should be marked between the ages of two to 12 weeks old.

The term tail docking is referred to as placing a rubber ring on the tail of the lamb and is recommended by the Code of Practice for Sheep for blowfly control.

Lambs can be restrained either by cradle or by hand. During lamb marking rings are also expanded with a special plier and placed over the scrotum, just above the testicles. The ring blocks blood circulation causing the scrotum and testicles to eventually fall off along with the tail.

Throughout lamb marking it is advised to use insecticide when necessary to further help prevent fly strike and use antiseptic to sterilize all equipment used. During lamb marking farmers often inject the lambs with 5 in 1 Vaccine for the prevention of pulp kidney, an injection of scabby mouth to help prevention from the disease, a drench to help prevent worms and an ear tag to help with identification when sold.

Lambs are marked to help with farm management and for the market. Operators for lamb marking need to be experi- enced and follow the required guidelines.

(Information source: Department of Primary Industries.)

Make Your Bathroom Dream A Reality With Glassplace

April 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Are you building a new home, or updating your forever home or investment property? Glassplace will help make your bathroom look lavish and inviting.

In many modern bathrooms, the shower is the centrepiece. A good shower screen needs to be durable, watertight and fit the style of your bathroom.

The economical Envy Fully Framed shower screen is a first choice for rental properties, and bathrooms that need to take a little extra loving… especially from little people.

In the middle of the market, the best selling Envy Semi Frameless, is just that little more elegant. The Envy Semi Frameless will add a special touch to a well used room in your home.

Looking to have a frameless screen in your open plan bathroom? Glassplace can fit an Expanse walk in shower to your bathroom. Size and shape are all custom designed to fit your wishes. They can even help with glass shelving to add an elegant yet practical touch.

Looking to update your old mirror, or add one to a new bathroom? There are so many different styles on display in the showroom. Pop in to Glassplace and let them help you make your bathroom dream a reality today!

We Will Remember Them

April 20, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Arthur Parker – Royal Australian Air Force

Arthur Parker joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1955. He served as a supply supervisor and loadmaster, and was posted to many and varied locations across Australia and overseas during his 21 years of service.

Perhaps the most dramatic was his 1966 posting to Malaysia to support the Vietnam War. He and his family found themselves in the midst of civil unrest. Penang was in total lockdown, and at one point a machine-gun was set up in their garden.

In 1974 Arthur was instrumental in providing support to the Cyclone Tracey recovery effort, which earned him a Certificate of Out- standing Service.

Paul Thomas – Australian Army

Paul Thomas joined the Australian Army in 1967 and served for six years. In 1970 he was deployed to Vietnam for 12 months, and served with 24 other soldiers from Parkes. He said overall the Vietnamese people were good to Australians. “They didn’t want to be in the war as much as we didn’t want to be there,” he said.

“It made me realise how lucky we are in Australia. Their living standards were so much lower.”

Paul said that despite the hardships of the war, being there was less challenging than coming home. Many soldiers returned at a time when Vietnam veterans were widely despised.

Karl Martin – Royal Australian Navy

Karl Martin spent 15 years in the Navy, serving in the first Gulf War. Karl served on three ships; the HMAS Success – a replen- ishment ship, the HMAS Sydney- a guided missile frigate, and the HMAS Swan- a de- stroyer escort.

Karl was deployed to the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, which he described as a very tense time.

They were fortunate enough to not come under live fire during the deployments, although at one point his ship sailed into a minefield.

“We didn’t know what we were heading into. We were all just hoping nothing would happen,” he said.

Put Your Foot Down On Diabetes

April 12, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

The simple act of walking down stairs could help prevent diabetes, according to new research from Edith Cowan University (ECU). The key could be something known as eccentric exercise.

With more than one million Australians currently living with diabetes and the number expected to rise to three million in 20 years, the findings have the potential to significantly reduce the burden of the deadly disease.

Diabetes researchers from ECU’s School of Medical and Health Sciences recruited 30 obese elderly women and put them on an exercise program, with half walking upstairs and the others walking downstairs.

At the end of the 12-week program, the women who walked down stairs showed improvements on several physiological measures. They had significantly lower levels of resting glucose, insulin and haemoglobin 1AC, improved oral glucose tol- erance test, and decreased triglycerides and cholesterols together with an increase of good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) in their blood. All of these changes will have lowered their risk of developing diabetes, according to the researchers.

While both groups recorded an improvement it was significantly greater in the down stairs group. The greater improvement in the down stairs group is almost certainly because walking down stairs is what is called eccentric exercise. It is where load is placed on the muscle while it is lengthening, rather than shortening.

For example, walking down stairs is eccentric exercise because your front thigh muscles are lengthening when they are placed under load, as opposed to walking up stairs in which the muscles are shorten- ing, performing mainly concentric contractions.

As well as protecting against metabolic syndrome and diabetes, the researchers also found that the down stairs group’s physical function such as walking ability, balance, bone mineral density and resting heart rate and blood pressure all improved significantly more than the up stairs group. There are lots of ways to incorporate ec- centric exercise into your life to enjoy the health benefits. If you work in a tall build- ing, try taking the lift up to work, but then walk down the stairs when you go home. Or, if you are using weights, concentrate on lowering the weights slowly, because the lowering action causes your muscles to perform eccentric exercise.

Even sitting down in your chair slowly makes your leg muscles to contract eccentrically.

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