Newsletter No.22 – June 2020

We have welcomed some new people to our virtual drop in’s this month and are hearing of how hard it is going to hospital appointments alone and facing treatments, scans, tests, results, masked up and alone. Many very kind hospital staff going the extra mile to try and offer support and for this we are all grateful.

There have been for some, family get togethers, quietly and slowly as lockdown eases but for many who are shielding this is making it even harder seeing and hearing about reunions. Over the coming months everyone’s experiences and daily life will be so very different and we will try and support all those we can. Please do let us know if you are finding things hard, we are here to help.

Zoe King – FIOS MIOS (LC) Swimming Teacher – Water Therapy

Zoe is a  GP referral for exercise consultant with over 20 years experience in swimming teaching and coaching, having set up SwimSouthWest over 15yrs ago and bringing the life skill of swimming to hundreds of children privately and in schools around the SouthWest.  In recent years she has been working more with adults and water therapy.

“I love the diversity of all the magic the water can offer both from a therapeutic angle and the lifesaving and fitness skill of swimming. On a Weekly basis I see people benefitting in the most rewarding ways, physically and psychologically.

A session in the water can be uplifting and relaxing and can enable the body to utilise medication to its maximum benefit and reduce the side effects.

With the support from the water joints can move more freely and exercise with a bigger range of motion, reducing impact due to reduced gravity.

I enjoy the ability to be flexible and bespoke in what I can offer, maybe you would like to swim for fitness and fun, need to improve your crawl or learn to swim with your head in or spend some time enjoying the healing properties of water therapy tailored to your specific needs.”

I started my fermenting journey quite by chance 15 years ago when I was given a kefir culture by a friend. I had been struggling with health issues for decades and was amazed how the simple addition of making kefir and adding it to my diet transformed my health.

I have never looked back. Since then there has been am explosion of interest in fermenting, but what seems like a new health trend does in fact have roots going back to ancient civilisations all over the world. Historically, fermenting was a means of preserving foods but as food technologies advanced in the food industry and the desire for convenience foods increased these ancient practices fell by the wayside.

Fermentation of vegetables or dairy products is a simple process which naturally converts sugar into lactic acid. Lactic acid prevents harmful microbial growth while at the same time promoting the growth of good bacteria which increases the amount of nutrients and vitamins are bodies are able to absorb. There is a lot of scientific evidence to support the fact that fermented foods are really good for you, but for a lot of people the process itself can seem a very daunting prospect.

In my workshops the intention is to make it as simple and easy as possible so that can be incorporated into anyone’s routine and kitchen. After all, in my mind, if it’s easy to do, you’ll do it and reap the huge health benefits, of something that’s not just healthy, but also fun and delicious! Having a diversity of different foods in our diet can be transformative for our gut health, that’s why if you can incorporate different types of fermented food into your diet that’s all the better.

The three that I would recommend are known as The Trilogy, kefir, kombucha, and cultured vegetables. Each one of these foods are completely unique with their own combination of good bacteria and yeasts which can enhance the trillions of microorganisms that make up our microbiome allowing them to thrive and multiply. Learning about these foods will also allow you to see which one really resonates with you.

If you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of making them yourself you can buy good makes but just make sure they are not heat treated or pasteurised. Over this last year I have really enjoyed teaching fermenting workshops for the charity. It’s been fantastic to meet so many incredible people and share our collective fermenting experience and knowledge. I’m really looking forward to doing more.

In September I will be running a workshop on Kefir which I am passionate about. It will include learning about the huge health benefits of both water kefir and dairy kefir and also how versatile this culture is. I am always available to answer questions and troubleshoot for anyone who has attended a workshop.

Dates for 2020 are as follows:
7^th September – Kefir – Bookable on the website shop.
November – Date and Workshop to be confirmed.

The benefits are well reported across the medical press now although this style of food has been used in many of cultures for 1000’s of years. More information can be seen on Tiffany’s website https://culturelove.co.uk/Numbers are limited but you can book on the website, and they are free! www.axminsterandlymecacnersupport.co.uk
They will be held at the Lyme Regis Football Club.

We would like you to send us your favourite recipe with a photo and story as to why it is your favourite. It may be a recipe from childhood, a firm family ‘go to’ or something that has a lovely story behind it. We will print these up and aim for them to be available to buy in the autumn. We can do all this remotely so I do hope you can send in contributions!
Please send to admin@axminsterandlymecancersupport.co.uk  DEADLINE IS 31ST JULY 2020

Axminster & Lyme Cancer Support –
Client Questionnaire.

At Axminster & Lyme Cancer Support we would love your feedback to help us continue to help with everyone’s needs and requirements as much as possible.

If you could click the link or scan the QR code below and answer a few questions. This is open to everyone who follows and supports the charity. We will also have hard copies at drop-in each week for the next couple of months.

Your opinion matters to us and it also helps us with grants to know what people think about the services we provide.

Thank you in advance
ALCS

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ALCSDrop-in