Health Information

Understanding Food Labels

Labels on food products tell us about their ingredients and sometimes their nutritional values.

A label is often the only source of information we have about the product. Therefore, it is extremely important that all food labels are clear and easily understood.

By law in Ireland, food labels should:

• Be clear, legible and written in at least English or both English and Irish
• Avoid displaying confusing or misleading information
• Avoid covering or hiding the label behind a picture or written information

To look at the common claims that are found on food labels and explain what exactly

they mean click here for more

Find out more about the following topics ...

Back to school

Alternative therapies

Cancer screening
Getting active

Work life balance

Workplace health

Mental health

Managing your emotions
Getting back to work
Eating disorders
Cancer awareness

Festive season

Motivation - New Year, New You!

Back to school

After a few short months of summer it's that time of year again when children and teenagers are back to school. It can be an exciting time of year particularly if your child is starting school or making the transition from primary to secondary.- click here for more

Alternative therapies

Alternative therapy is any healing practice that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine. In some instances it is based on historical or cultural traditions rather than a scientific basis - click here for more

Cancer screening

Cancer screening is used by health care professionals to help find cancer at an early stage before symptoms appear. When cancer is found early it can often be easier to treat or cure. Unfortunately there is no specific cancer screening for all types of cancer but this bulletin hopes to raise awareness of the cancer screening that is available in Ireland - click here for more

Getting active

The benefits of being active for physical and mental health are huge. Being active helps release chemicals in your brain (endorphins), which have a positive effect on your mood, not to mention the benefits to your heart, lungs, muscles and bones. Getting out and being active is also a great way to manage stress - click here for more

Work life balance

There have been considerable changes to our culture in the last 20 years, resulting in men and women taking on multiple roles. Multiple roles and responsibilities have contributed to a greater emphasis being placed on balancing work responsibilities with child care, elder care or more generally personal life commitments and hobbies - click here for more

Workplace health

Do you ever have days when you get nothing done, despite a huge effort? When your best endeavors to get through your workload come to no avail, do you reach the end of the day feeling frustrated, exhausted and stressed? Stress is defined as a temporary imbalance in a person's emotional state and behaviour. It is important to remember that we all function better with a healthy level of stress, too little does not give us the stimulation necessary to work to the best of our ability - click here for more

Mental health

It can be difficult to understand mental health conditions, as they are something you feel and often there aren't any physical signs that you can see. It's all too common to think that they won't affect you. However, more people might be affected than you think. About one in six adults has some kind of mental health problem - click here for more

Managing your emotions

Everyone experiences emotions at work. Feeling proud when praised for a 'job well done', frustration at colleagues who don't complete their part of a project or annoyance at an angry customer who doesn't realise you are trying your best to help, are just three examples - click here for more

Getting back to work

Whether it has been due to long term illness, a sabbatical, maternity leave, going back to work after time away may make you feel unsure or unprepared for your return. You may be glad getting back to normality, however settling back into your job can be a gradual process - click here for more

Eating disorders

Many of us are unhappy with our weight at some point in our life. You may think you're overweight, underweight, or that you have a strange body shape. Perhaps you have decided to eat healthier foods, or become a vegetarian. These thoughts often come and go but sometimes eating habits can affect your life - click here for more

Cancer awareness

The foods you choose each day are one of the most important factors in helping protect you against cancer. Many people eat a diet that is far too high in fat and calories. Even more important is what the average diet lacks, a variety of vegetables, fruits and whole grain foods. Eating a healthier diet protects against cancer, but also against heart disease, stroke and a number of other health problems - click here for more

Festive season

In the countdown to Christmas with festive parties and seasonal events already in full swing. For those of us who enjoy a drink over the Christmas period you would be wise to take the term "in moderation" to heart. Not only will our bank balances require an overhaul in January, you may also find your general health took a back seat during the festive season - click here for more

Motivation - New Year, New You!

The New Year brings an opportunity to assess our lives and take steps to make positive changes. Whatever your New Years resolution - losing weight, giving up smoking, taking up a new exercise or activity or improving a relationship with a family member, this bulletin provides some tips and strategies to help you stay motivated and achieve your chosen goal - click here for more