Monday, 1 October 2018

Health Awareness Workshops


DLS Health Awareness Workshops

One of our focuses here at Diversity Living Services (DLS) is to educate the community and bring awareness about various health issues. There are a number of health issues that BME communities are more at risk of facing such as Hypertension, Diabetes and Heart Disease.
Through our health awareness workshops we aim to raise individuals understanding whilst removing myths about particular issues, to highlight the importance of managing your health and taking preventative measures for a healthier future.

Our workshops include:
  • Free refreshments
  • Expertise information
  • Free blood pressure checks 
  • networking opportunities.



Please see a list below of our upcoming workshops 2018:

  1. Diabetes Awareness - Wednesday 17th October
  2. Cancer Awareness -  Wednesday 31st October 
  3. High Cholesterol Awareness - Wednesday 7th October
  4. Dementia & Mental Health Awareness - Wednesday 28th November
  5. Healthy Lifestyles - Thursday 13th December

Spaces are going Fast!
To book your place on any of our workshops,  email us at: healthinfo@diversityliving.org or  call us on 02088036161


Other DLS Services

At Diversity Living Services, we provide free personalised one-to-one support with our health coach supporting you in implementing healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits. As well as teaching you to make healthy choices that work best for your individual needs, preference & lifestyle.
- If you need help you can drop-in at our office every Wednesday from 10 am to 5 pm.

We also offer FREE Blood Pressure Checks at our outreach stand
at Edmonton Green Library we are there every
Monday & Tuesday 11am - 4pm
(no appointment required, just drop in)



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Five recipes for a healthy to help you on the road to a healthier lifestyle

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Saturated fat and your health



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The Meditteranean Diet

THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET




Mediterranean diet and its benefits



The history and tradition of the Mediterranean diet come from the historic eating and social patterns of the regions around southern Italy, Greece, Turkey and Spain.


The Mediterranean diet has long been one of the healthiest diets known to man. But it’s not just a diet or even a way of eating … it’s really a way of life. Because for thousands of years people living along the Mediterranean coast have indulged in a high-fiber diet of fruits and vegetables, also including quality fats and proteins and sometimes a glass of locally made wine to complete a meal, too. Meanwhile, this diet has gotten a reputation for disease prevention and even “enjoyable” weight manageable.

Starting in Italy thousands of years ago and spreading to Greece, Spain and other areas around the Mediterranean, this diet is now successful all over the world for promoting health and longevity. While it’s always existed, even before books and studies were dedicated to it, the diet really began to take hold around the world in the 1990s, when a Harvard University doctor showcased it as a diet useful for improving heart health, losing weight fast and easily and clearing up other health issues.



What  foods make up the Mediterranean  diet ?


The Mediterranean eating pattern is based on traditional diets of Crete, Greece and Southern Italy. The general pattern consists of: lots of vegetables, pulses, wholegrains and wholegrain cereal products. It also contains moderate amounts of poultry, fish and nuts and low fat dairy foods. Red meat is eaten less often usually once a week.


Benefits of the Mediterranean diet


Studies show that  people living around the Mediterranean suffer less from heart diseases than those who live in the UK and North of Europe. These results have lead researchers to investigate whether the Mediterranean diet is a good contribution in improving health including helping to protect our bodies from heart and circulatory diseases and  managing cholesterol levels.

Also,  research findings have demonstrated that following a Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality as well as overall mortality. The Mediterranean diet is also associated with a reduced incidence of cancer, and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Women who eat a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil and mixed nuts may have a reduced risk of breast cancer.

For these reasons, most if not all major scientific organizations encourage healthy adults to adapt a style of eating like that of the Mediterranean diet for prevention of major chronic diseases.



The Mediterranean diet emphasizes:



• Eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts

• Replacing butter with healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil

• Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavour foods

• Limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month

• Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week

• Getting plenty of exercise


Eating the Mediterranean diet does not mean you have to follow every aspect of it. This is due to the serving numbers varying on body size, activity levels and overall calorie needs. Including foods from your own culinary heritage can also be important. 

Certain African-Caribbean and Asian eating patterns are similar to the Mediterranean eating pattern as they focus on eating more plant-based sources of fats and proteins.

Lastly, eating a Mediterranean diet may not be right for everyone and therefore, if you have an existing health conditions such as  diseases caused by allergies and intolerances, it's best to follow your GPs advice. 


References:



•   Curtis BM et al. Understanding the Mediterranean diet. Postgrad Med 112:online, 2002

•   Bautista MC et al. The Mediterranean Diet: Is it cardio protective? Prog Cardiovasc Nurs 20:70-76, 2005.

•   Kinney JM. Challenges to rebuilding the US Food Pyramid. Cur Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 8:1-7, 2005.

•   HeartUK.org.uk 




More information about the Mediterranean Diet:
Mediterranean recipes

Why are Mediterranean diets so healthy?

What is a Mediterranean diet?

What actually is the Mediterranean diet – and does it work?

Mediterranean Diet

Mediterranean diet 'could prevent 19,000 deaths a year in UK'

Embrace Mediterranean or Nordic diets to cut disease, WHO says


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Our Vision and Services

Our vision is of a society where no one should experience discrimination on the grounds of their mental health.

Mental health problems are extremely common across society, with one in four of us experiencing them in any year. Despite being so common, people from all communities will still experience discriminatory attitudes and behaviours that can prevent people from speaking out, seeking support and playing full and active roles in our communities. The impact of mental health stigma and discrimination will vary between communities as mental health has a cultural context that affects the way communities talk about the subject and engage with people who have mental health problems. In some cultures depression, for example, doesn't exist and in others an experience of a mental health problem can be attached to a sense of shame.

For the African and Caribbean communities a key issue is the overrepresentation of young African and Caribbean men in mental health services. Misconceptions and stereotypes have led to a perception that this group is more likely to pose a risk of violent behaviour and, as a result, they are more likely to be treated as inpatients and sectioned when compared to other groups. It is well documented that this has led to a fear of talking about mental health issues more openly and a fear of using mental health services. Research by the Race Equality Foundation (2011) also highlighted fears that discrimination against Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) communities and migrant service users will increase in the austerity climate and whilst commissioning arrangements change.

Our Services

· Provide information, advice, advocacy

· Represent diversity communities in Health Care services, policies and strategies

· Organise training in health and social care in collaboration with local colleges

· Provide human resources ( including interpreters) who are suitable to the diversity communities especially to break language and cultural barriers

· Provides domiciliary care and support

· Provide services such specialised support for people with mental health needs, including people who suffer from short-term memory problems, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

· Provide visits to elderly people and help them with outings and home services

· Participate in local authority and NHS consultations , research events and programmes to voice the needs of diversity communities.

· Increase access to services and rights for disadvantaged people and the most vulnerable of our society

· Help and support unemployed people to look for work, including training and job preparation

· Provide legal advice in a range of issues from on Immigration and Asylum , welfare benefits, housing, health, education, community care, and training, employment, etc.

· Provide advice and guidance, information and practical help so that our service users can access opportunities they are entitled to

· Organise training and other community learning opportunities that provide new skills, increase confidence and motivation

· Support our service users to overcome barriers to learning, employment and training

· Provide support for young people with their education, training, confidence building, employment and social needs.

Objectives of our Diversity Living Programme:

· To promote the inclusion and participation of diversity communities* in integrated care.

· To inform policy, locally and nationally, and assisting in the formulation of effective policies, strategies and good practices in integrated care in order to contribute to improved health outcomes for the people from the diversity communities (e.g. Black and minority ethnic communities) and to ensure health services are able to meet their specific needs.

· To improve the quality of life for diversity people with disability, mental health problems and their families and carers through integrated care by providing inclusive advocacy and information.

· To provide service that enable diversity groups and individuals with disability /elderly and their carers to make the right choice for themselves and have an influence on decisions made about their future.

· To promote the rights of diversity people with disability, their families and carers and make sure their rights are safe and protected.

· To promoting access to information regarding healthcare issues and to raise awareness of the needs of diversity disabled children, young people, older people and their families.

· To promote the rights of older and disabled diversity people, helping them overcome and enable them to participate in decisions about their future

· To provide support and information to those suffering the isolation and loneliness that can be associated with disability and old age

· To fight against mental health stigma in refugee, black and minority ethnic communities and ensure no one should experience discrimination on the grounds of their mental health or disability.

*Diversity communities are older people, disabled people, Black, Asian, refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and other ethnic minorities.