Do you have any tips for avoiding piling on the pounds over Christmas?

 

If you are one of the many UK families who enjoy a roast turkey dinner at Christmas, don't worry as you don't have to watch everyone else tuck in while you eat a lettuce leaf. Making some sensible changes to your roast is enough. For example, turkey is one of the healthiest meat options, just avoid the skin. Fill your plate with vegetables, and ditch the Yorkshire puddings for a wholemeal roll. If you can't resist potatoes, have mashed rather then roasted and avoid butter.

Parties at any time of the year are usually accompanied by a bulging buffet table. When you are watching your weight, it can sometimes be tough to tell the bad foods from the healthy foods. Try to steer clear of high-fat foods such as peanuts, cheese, mayonnaise, and cakes including mince pies. Instead aim for the low-fat options like rice crackers, sandwiches without mayonnaise, and salsa dip. I would also advise that you eat healthily at home before going to the party so that you are not hungry and tempted to overeat when you get there.

Alcohol is packed with calories so don't be tempted to have a few drinks as a substitute for enjoying your favourite snacks. You can still put on weight and have a nasty hangover the next day.

What should I keep in my First Aid Kit?

It is important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home to deal with minor accidents and injuries - especially over Christmas and New Year when your house can be full of people. The NHSScotland Be Health-Wise this Winter campaign encourages people to make sure they have remedies for dealing with coughs, colds and flu in their medicine cabinet because it is at this time of year when they circulate within communities.

Your first aid kit should be locked and kept in a cool, dry place, out of reach of children and medicines should be checked regularly to make sure that they are within their use-by dates.

As well as a basic first aid kit should contain:

€¢ Plasters, in a variety of different sizes and shapes.

€¢ Small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings.

€¢ At least two sterile eye dressings.

€¢ Triangular bandages.

ۢ Cr̻pe rolled bandages.

€¢ Safety pins.

€¢ Disposable sterile gloves.

€¢ Tweezers.

€¢ Scissors.

€¢ Alcohol-free cleansing wipes.

€¢ Sticky tape.

€¢ Thermometer, preferably digital.

€¢ Skin rash cream such as hydrocortisone or calendula.

€¢ Cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings.

€¢ Antiseptic cream.

€¢ Painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen.

€¢ Cough medicine.

€¢ Decongestant tablets or nasal spray.

€¢ Antihistamine tablets.

€¢ Distilled water, for cleaning wounds and as an eye bath.

What is Uveitis?

Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, which is known as the uvea or uveal tract.

The uvea is made up of the iris (coloured part of the eye), the ciliary body (ring of muscle behind the iris) and the choroid (layer of tissue that supports the retina).

The symptoms of uveitis include pain in one or both eyes, redness of the eye and blurred vision. There are a wide range of potential causes for uveitis, including injury, infection or an underlying condition. However, in around 1 in 3 cases, no obvious causes can be found.