Health and travel writer
As well as teaching Pilates, Anita is a freelance journalist, specializing in health and travel writing. She has written articles for many publications and organisations including the BBC, New Internationalist, the Evening Standard, The Princes Trust and Rough Guides.
Excerpts from articles by Anita:Hungry ghosts: eating disorders and sugar are close companions. Anita Ferruzzi examines the relationship.
ADDICTS are known to Buddhism as 'hungry ghosts'. No matter how much they consume, it is not enough. They are lured by the voices of sirens, their cravings, which lead them to self-destruction.
Hungry ghosts are on the increase and food has become the first love of many of them. This is particularly apparent from the wave of obesity that is spreading worldwide. The American Obesity Association says that a third of the adult population is obese and that at least 300,000 people die from obesity each year.
Huge chocolate bars, fizzy drinks, luscious cakes and tempting sweets are in every shop. They are advertised as desirable 'sins'--and people don't like to deprive themselves. If you're having a hard day at work you can reach for a chocolate bar. If your partner is annoying you then you can have a sticky cake. Sugar triggers the release of feel-good hormones into your brain--and, bang, you're fixed. To read more click here.
Brits stock up on US jet lag remedy
Increasing numbers of travel-weary Brits are stocking up on remedy for jet lag which is still not widely available in the UK.
Melatonin is sold over-the-counter in the US to help with sleep disorders and jetlag. It is also widely available on the internet.
Many people swear by the benefits, but others have pointed to evidence that the hormone can produce side effects, including a drop in lung function in asthmatics.
And in the UK it is "off licence" - only available on prescription if the doctor who is prescribing is prepared to take personal liability for any side effects. To read more click here.
Off the Beaten Track ... in Sierra Leone
Pick up any guidebook, no matter how dated, and it will tell you that Sierra Leone has some of the world’s best beaches. The white sands and crystal-clear waters set against forest-cloaked mountains lend the coastline a distinctly tropical feel. But beyond the country’s pristine shoreline, plenty of adventures await those who enjoy off-roading and roughing it together with exploring nature’s wilderness.
Situated three hours south of Freetown by speedboat, Sierra Leone’s Turtle islands (a major turtle nesting area) are an undeveloped archipelago that make a great destination for a weekend getaway from the bustle of the capital. Keep an eye out for dolphins as you motor across the Atlantic to the islands. Surrounded by inky blue waters the islands’ alluring beaches are all white sand and coconut trees and are visually reminiscent of the Maldives. Indeed you would be forgiven for mistaking the huts, which are home to the local islanders, for trendy eco-lodges. But this is full on camping terrain and perhaps the better for it, with accommodation coming by way of tents or simply covered by a mosquito net under the stars while meals typically involve freshly-caught fish being barbecued (organised by your boat operator). Indeed these idyllic islands are prime territory for professional fishermen, but even novices will come away with a plentiful catch as the waters around the island are teeming with marine life. To read more click here.