Author Archives: Kevin Callan

Here are 5 ways you can help protect your heart. The Irish heart foundation report that it is Ireland’s no 1 killer. See here for statistics. We all know diet and exercise are primary factors for your well-but here are some motivating tips for you.

If your resolutions for January have petered out, Kick start with this Saturday’s bootcamp and move in the right direction. See here for details.

1. Don’t smoke or use tobacco.

Smoking or using tobacco is one of the most significant risk factors for developing heart disease. Chemicals in tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis can ultimately lead to a heart attack. When it comes to heart disease prevention, no amount of smoking is safe.

If you need a hand to quit. Come and see me. Acupuncture and Acupressure points can help reduce cravings.

The good news, though, is that when you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease drops dramatically within just one year. And no matter how long or how much you smoked, you’ll start reaping rewards as soon as you quit.

2. Exercise for 30 minutes on most days of the week

Getting … Read More

Now available on Fridays at 6:30.

If you are interested in what goes on in our community acupuncture, view this short clip below. Normally the recliners are more spaced out (like the clients) and facing outwards, but this set up gives you a better idea of what’s involved. Thanks goes out to the willing participants including our postman who was persuaded to give it a go.

This service operates on Wednesday afternoons and Friday evenings now, but if you would like to see it available at the weekends, please vote by adding a comment to this post and we will make it happen.

Acupuncture is recommended by the World Health Organisation to help with many differing conditions. It’s effectiveness has been studied over decades. To be effective you often need more than one session. Join me every Wednesday and recline whilst enjoying the benefits of affordable treatments.

To book you simply go to the online booking system here and reserve your space… Read More

If you find it difficult to beat sugar cravings and are looking to eat a healthier diet, watch this clip below with The elbowroom Director Lisa Wilkinson and me, resident naturopath and acupuncturist, Kevin Callan. If you really want to go for it, join us in our healthy eating workshop – winter food-eat well, be well Starting Saturday 10th of November running over two weekends and make big changes to your health.

Often get that 3pm slump?
Ever get sudden sugar cravings during the day or late in the evening?
Is your diet affecting your energy levels and mood?

Here are some good tips to keep you healthy in the meantime.

• Remember to always try to keep your blood sugar balanced.  The best way to start this is by having a good quality breakfast.  Think porridge or scrambled eggs.  Any breakfast that gives you a slow release of energy and helps to keep your blood sugar balanced.
• Don’t go too long between meals.  When you go too long without eating your adrenalin kicks in and makes energy with out the benefit of fuel.  You wont be surprised that this increases stress levels!  Even if you don’t feel particularly hungry it is important

… Read More

Seasonal healthy Eating for winter wellness.

We normally run our healthy eating courses during the summer months when fresh fruit and vegetables are abundant and healthy eating is easy.  But the chill is in the air now and salad just isn’t cutting it any more.  So we have asked our resident Naturopath and Acupuncturist Kevin Callan to feed us ideas and food to get us healthily through the winter months.

I have put together a condensed course over two Saturday afternoons during which I’m going to give you a clear idea of how to proceed….. we will brainstorm, work out practical considerations and motivate you!  I’m adding food tasters to whet our appetite, demo’s, a healthy lunch and a guided mediation to get us through to next year healthy, relaxed and wise.  Keep reading for wonderful recipes and some recommendations from people who have done courses with me in the past.

My course covers

• cravings – learn how to manage cravings and sustain energy as we move into the dark evenings
• super foods – learn how to prepare and include foods that have been found to boost immunity to keep those pesky colds and flu’s at bay.  You will learn

… Read More

The secret to young, glowing, healthy skin is a good diet, the secret to being fit, toned and healthy is a good diet, the secret to aging well is a good diet.  We have spent half our lives looking for the wonder pill that will transform us into beautiful gods + goddesses to find it all boils down to food!

We all want to eat healthier these days, especially if we want to look good for the Summer just around the corner! Why not join the elbowroom clinic’s resident naturopath and acupuncturist Kevin Callan for his 4 week Eat Well, Look Good course starting June 9th

Practical tips

Did you know that eating vitamin C rich foods such as peppers, guavas and rich leafy greens like kale, may help to ward off wrinkles and age related dryness.  Vitamin C’s skin-smoothing effects may be due to its ability to mop up free radicals produced from ultraviolet rays and also its role in collagen synthesis. (Vitamin C is essential for collagen production.)

If you still suffer from spotty skin, did you know that wheatgerm is highly nutritious and one of the richest sources of vitamin E, A and D. It also … Read More

Acupuncturist and Naturopath Kevin Callan discusses the benefits of stress management in his talk ‘Manage Your Stress’ in the elbowroom on Saturday April 28th at noon. Places for this informative talk are limited, so please book in advance!

Here’s a brief summary of what Kevin will cover on the day:

‘There is nothing quite so common that presents in my clinic room as stress. We are all very well aware that at certain times we may feel stress. It is an inevitable part of life. However, it does become a significant health concern when periods of stress become on going.
It has a very real and worrying contributing effect to nearly every health complaint you can think of. Not least of course it makes for a life less likely to be filled with joy and satisfaction.  It is such a slippery thing to deal with because there are so many contributing factors.

Here are some of the general areas that I address over a course of treatments that is designed to help my clients identify and manage stress more effectively.

Signs of stress include

•    Lowered mood
•    Anxiety
•    Poor Motivation
•    Feeling isolated
•    Irritable mood
•   … Read More

It can’t be avoided, there are a few dreaded bugs causing havoc this month! It is therefore more important than ever to make sure that you and your family are in the best possible health in preparation for the demands of Ireland’s ever-changing seasons.

Our immune system plays a central role in keeping us healthy.  It is not only responsible for protecting you from foreign invaders such as colds and flu’s but it also helps to mop up the wastes created by your body. Considering this, it’s sensible to take every practical step to support it.

Here are some of Kevin’s tips for keeping well this Spring!

Mood
It may not be the first thing you think of but stress has a hugely depleting effect on the functioning of the immune system.   Low mood and anxiety have been found in studies to hamper immune function.  Meditation is one of the cheapest and most effective tools I have found for stress management.  Indeed, my clients respond so much better to treatment for all sorts of ailments if they do only 20 minutes meditation per day.

Food
Nutrient deficiency is a major contributing factor in lowered immunity.  Try to eat more nutritious … Read More

Come and join us at our Free ‘Cravings and Crashes’ talk on Thursday Feb 9th at 7pm with the elbowroom naturopath and acupuncturist Kevin Callan, B.Sc. Dip.Ac. N.D.

Often get that 3pm slump?
Ever get sudden sugar cravings during the day or late in the evening?
Is your diet affecting your energy levels and mood?

As The elbowroom clinic’s resident naturopath and acupuncturist, my talk will discuss the healthy options supported by recent nutritional studies and help you make better food choices and keep your blood sugar levels regulated to prevent cravings.

Here are some good tips to keep you healthy in the meantime.

• Remember to always try to keep your blood sugar balanced.  The best way to start this is by having a good quality breakfast.  Think porridge or scrambled eggs.  Any breakfast that gives you a slow release of energy and helps to keep your blood sugar balanced.
• Don’t go too long between meals.  When you go too long without eating your adrenalin kicks in and makes energy with out the benefit of fuel.  You wont be surprised that this increases stress levels!  Even if you don’t feel particularly hungry it is important to not leave

… Read More

If you’ve been over indulging or just want to get in better shape for 2012, we have a series of tips to help you beat the quality street/turkey/ham/potato damage inflicted over the holidays.

If however, you feel you have just gone too far, join us on a 4 week program on Saturday mornings with our clinical expert in digestive health, Kevin Callan, to help you turn back the scales.

Here’s a few things to get you started

• Limit the number of carbohydrates you eat to early in the day and make them brown. So no sugar, chocolate, white rice/bread/pasta. Just a small portion, half the size of your clenched fist is plenty.
• Prepare food from fresh ingredients
• Try and eat good quality lean protein with each of your meals.
• Never skip breakfast
• Eat meals with a variety of coloured foods
• Take supplements of psyllium husks and acidophillous to improve uptake of nutrients and general digestive health. If you have been lording it up with rich food, your gut is probably coated in too much mucus (sorry).
• Get out and exercise. Walking, yoga, pilates, swimming or dancing in the front room.

Need a helping hand?

If you want us to steer you … Read More