Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
That’s lucky
Black cat Dexter is home after being found a mile from where he disappeared 11 YEARS AGO
A BLACK cat is back home with his owner 11 years after he disappeared over the garden fence.
Julie Gibbons, 56, took in Dexter and his sister Daisy in 2010 but he went missing just weeks later.
Last month she was contacted by a vet who said “we’ve found your cat”.
Amazingly, he was found just a mile from where he disappeared.
Julie said: “It was devastating when we lost him. We’d only just adopted him. We searched high and low but couldn’t find him. He was microchipped so we hoped we’d find him that way. But there was no sign of him.”
Dexter, now 16, was spotted by a concerned couple who took him to a vet where it was discovered he had gone blind. His microchip was checked and he was reunited with NHS manager Julie at her home in Warrington.
She said: “I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it. He was living about a mile from where we live.
“We don’t know what happened to him out there but he’s blind now.
“He’s bumping into furniture and goes about slowly but he’s very gentle. We think he has been blind for a while now because he does seem quite comfortable moving around.”
The mum of two added: “We’re amazed and overjoyed to have him back with us. The fact he’s lived to 16 is amazing, he’s so resilient. To have him back after all this time is unbelievable.
“Daisy is quite a nervous cat so she’s still avoiding him. We’re hoping they’ll eventually get used to each other.
“We’re going to let him have a nice quiet life and work things slowly. It’s not going to be easy but we’re just happy we’re all together. He’s so cute.”
We’re overjoyed to have him back. The fact he’s lived to 16 is amazing.. he’s so resilient JULIE GIBBONS AFTER BEING REUNITED WITH HER CAT DEXTER
Cases of back pain have shot up by a third during lockdown, and it’s clear that urgent action needs to be taken. It can be agonising and debilitating, and getting better often feels like an uphill struggle.
However, personal trainer Nicki Philips has a solution.
Yesterday, she outlined common causes of back pain and revealed simple lifestyle switches that can help.
Today, she reveals an exclusive new workout that she has designed to help tackle back pain – and fast.
She advises doing the exercises three times a week to strengthen your back and the key muscles around it, including your glutes and core.
You should aim to repeat each exercise 10 times.
But don’t worry if you can’t do that to begin with. Just do your best. And don’t forget to consult your GP before starting this or any other fitness regime.
TABLE-TOP LEGS
Aim: To strengthen the stability of the pelvis, spine and shoulders, while activating movement from the hip.
How to: On all fours, with a neutral spine and pelvis, hips over the knees and shoulders over the hands, slide one leg along the mat in line with the hip joint.
Point the foot as you exhale and lift the leg to hip height or as high as possible without moving your pelvis.
Lower the leg back to the start position and repeat on the other side.
In part two o tackle this co personal tra reveals her e that is desig spine and le
For snooker champion Shaun Murphy, seeing his weight go up dramatically in a generally grim 2020 left his self-esteem in bits.
“I went down a rabbit hole last year,” says the 38-year-old.
“Really it was depression – and I’m an emotional eater, so when I celebrate I eat well and when I lose I use food for comfort.”
Early in the first lockdown last year, 2005 World Champion Murphy even stopped running as he found himself receiving cruel taunts about his appearance when out.
“I started trying to run again in the first lockdown last March. One or two saw me out there with bits wobbling and there were a lot of nasty messages and abuse on Twitter.
“Those things can have a bad effect on a person’s mental health, comments can be like daggers
through the heart. The line between bullying and banter is a fine one.”
In addition, he became convinced his weight issues were affecting his confidence at the table.
“If I had to give one reason why I haven’t won more, I would say my eating habits,” he admits candidly.
“I have felt uncomfortable reaching over the table playing certain shots, and being out there in a dinner suit under the bright lights is not great if you’re carrying extra weight.”
The ‘big four’ currently playing the game – Judd Trump, Ronnie O’sullivan, Mark Selby and Neil Robertson – are all lean and mean, and suffer no ill-effects from fatigue in late-night epics.
“Fair play to Ronnie O’sullivan,” he says.
“At 45 he is still as fit as a butcher’s dog. I think that translates to high self-esteem and feeling good about yourself in the arena.”
Murphy, whose career high was winning the world title 16 years ago at the Crucible in Sheffield, lost around three-and-a-half stone for the 2013 season using meal replacement shakes, but it wasn’t a long-term solution. Now he wants to “rewire” his relationship with food – and thinks some healthy competition might be the answer. Murphy, who lives in Ireland with his wife Elaine and young children Harry and Molly, has channelled his sporting instincts into a new challenge, Snooker’s Biggest Loser – a very public weight-loss contest with boxing and snooker MC Phil Seymour.
“I will be eating more chicken, fruit and vegetables, and keeping a close eye on my carb intake,” he says. “I can’t lose this challenge to Phil. The loser must pay a forfeit and the worst thing he could make me do would be a bungee jump, or parachute out of a plane – my biggest nightmares.”
Their battle began on New Year’s Day, when Shaun weighed in at 18st 5lb and Phil at 18st 11lb.
The pair will battle it out until the eve of the World Championship in April to shed the most pounds.
However Murphy, who has seen previous attempts at losing weight ultimately flounder, believes there can be no losers in this battle.
“I decided to act,” he says. “It isn’t just about fitting into my waistcoat. There is a history of heart problems in my family, so I need to start looking after myself. Mainly it is about feeling better, boosting my self-esteem and the positivity that brings.”
Download the Snooker’s Biggest Loser podcast on Apple Podcasts. To sponsor Shaun and raise funds for Jessie May Children’s Hospice and Kitchen For Everyone York, go to uk.go fundme.com/f/snookers-biggest-loser
Healthy smoothies
Spirulina – a trendy blue-green algae that’s often added in powder or liquid form to health drinks and juices – and bright yellow turmeric are both currently popular ingredients for health drinks, but both are very staining, warns Dr Peta Leigh, dentist and Colgate Ambassador.
DAMAGE LIMITATION: “Drink with a straw and rinse your mouth with water afterwards,” she says.
Swimming
Chlorine affects the ph of the water and makes it acidic, so swallowing it can strip enamel to reveal darkercoloured dentine underneath – leaving teeth looking yellow. “Look out for spots of erosion on the pool ladders and trims, which indicate high levels of chlorine,” warns Dr Hanel Nathwani from Reading Smiles.
DAMAGE LIMITATION: Always drink water after swimming and, ideally, chew sugar-free gum afterwards to help stimulate saliva and counteract the effects of the chlorine.
Salad dressing
French dressings and vinaigrette can contain up to seven grams of sugar in a single serving. Look out for ingredients such as dextrose, honey, glucose and maltose on the label which are essentially variations on sugar and can be equally detrimental to our oral health.
DAMAGE LIMITATION: Switch to extra virgin olive oil instead.
Sports drinks
Nearly four out of 10 professional footballers in the UK have active tooth decay and more than half of players suffer from dental erosion, according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The fact that two-thirds drank sports drinks at least three times a week is no coincidence as the ph of nearly all sports drinks is about 3. Saliva is roughly a ph of 6.8 or 7, which is considered neutral. The lower the ph, the greater the potential for losing enamel from your teeth. And, in some people, the hyperactive energy produced by the drinks can also cause people to grind their teeth, causing breakage and loss. DAMAGE LIMITATION: Rehydrate with water. Consider brushing with Regenerate advanced toothpaste (£10 from pharmacies) designed to help restore enamel mineral and repair early enamel erosion.
Excessive brushing
Known as “toothbrush abrasion”, over brushing can lead to sensitive teeth and receding gums, wear down the enamel on the teeth, as well as damage and push back the gums.
Receding gums can also lead to other dental problems such as periodontal disease or the need for treatments such as fillings or extractions.
DAMAGE LIMITATION:
Use a soft-bristled brush, apply as little pressure as possible, and move your brush in small circular movements at a slight angle, half on the gum and half on the tooth. Or invest in an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor to prevent brushing too hard. Only brush for two minutes, twice a day.
Your medication
Antihistamines are great for controlling hay fever and other allergies but they’re not so good for your teeth, says Dr Nathwani. “They work by blocking certain receptors in your body and this affects the triggers that stimulate saliva production.” Anti-inflammatory eye drops, antidepressants, ibuprofen and blood pressure medications can also cause a dry mouth.
“Saliva helps neutralise acid attacks and bacteria in the mouth, so having less saliva can have an impact on your natural defences against this,” he explains.
DAMAGE LIMITATION: There are over-the-counter gums, lozenges and gels specifically for dry mouth that help encourage the production of saliva. Alternatively, sucking sugar-free sweets has the same effect.
Tooth whitening
Over-the-counter products could potentially damage your teeth by reducing the hardness of enamel, according to a report in the British Dental Journal. And even some whitening charcoal toothpastes contain abrasive particles that can cause damage because it’s the equivalent of scrubbing salt on your teeth, warn dentists. While they may temporarily lift stains, if the enamel is damaged that will actually leave teeth more open to staining over time. DAMAGE LIMITATION: It’s far better to wait and see your dentist for professional tooth whitening if you want to brighten your smile.
E-cigarettes
Electronic cigarettes continue to grow in popularity among younger adults and former smokers because they are often perceived as a healthier alternative to conventional cigarettes. But a US study from the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests that electronic cigarettes are just as damaging to gums and teeth as conventional tobacco cigarettes.
It found that when the vapours from an e-cigarette are burned, it causes cells to release inflammatory proteins, which result in damage that could lead to various oral diseases.
DAMAGE LIMITATION: Quit all forms of smoking.
Fruit teas
“Fruit teas, like hot water and lemon, seem like a healthy option but as these are often consumed between meals, they affect the acidity levels in your mouth which can cause erosion,” warns Dr Nathwani.
In fact, fruit-flavoured tea can be three times more damaging than orange juice, a study by the University of Bristol Dental School discovered. Fruit teas are acidic and acid eats away at tooth enamel. Lemon and blackcurrant are among the most damaging flavours.
DAMAGE LIMITATION: “Drink these with your meals when your mouth is producing more saliva and effectively neutralising the impact,” Dr Nathwani suggests. And enjoy your regular cuppa – compounds in black tea can attack the bacteria that form plaque and prevent the plaque from sticking to teeth, while a Japanese study found green tea reduces the risk of cavities.
Fruit teas can affect the acidity in your mouth, helping cause dental erosion