Bay Harbour: August 22, 2018

PAGE 26 Wednesday August 22 2018
BAY HARBOUR
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Pregnant women sought for anxiety study
Fire rages, homes at risk
PREGNANT women are being
sought for a study on anxiety and
depression.
The Canterbury University
project is studying the effects of
vitamins and minerals – such
as zinc, magnesium, B12 and
vitamin D – on psychological
symptoms.
Said professor and recent
Women of Influence finalist Julia
Rucklidge: “We’re seeing whether
or not we can improve people’s
mental health by using nutrients
that are in your food but at
higher levels than you typically
get out of eating your fruit and
vegetables.”
The study is part of a wider
investigation into how vitamin
and mineral (micronutrient)
supplements could improve low
mood or anxiety.
“So, if this affects you or one of
your family members, you may
be able to participate in one of
our studies,” said Prof Rucklidge.
For the pregnancy study,
women would receive either the
micronutrients or a matching
placebo containing iodine, which
is recommended for pregnant
BREAKTHROUGH:
Canterbury
University
researchers are
seeking pregnant
women to take
part in a study to
see if vitamins and
minerals improve
low mood or anxiety.
women. Participants won’t know
whether they are on the placebo
or not. “Then we follow them for
12 weeks to see what happens
to the symptoms that they presented
with,” Prof Rucklidge said.
“After the 12 weeks, everyone
gets to try the nutrients which
gives us the opportunity to also
study the effects of these nutrients
on the infants.”
Prof Rucklidge said the university’s
mental health and nutrition
research group has been doing
this type of research for 10 years
and has published a lot of that
research. “So far it’s been very
encouraging. All of our studies
are pointing in the direction that
nutrition is incredibly relevant to
mental health.”
•To register your interest in
the micronutrient study for
pregnant women, visit the
university’s website, call 369
2386 or email
mentalhealthnutrition@
canterbury.ac.nz.
School teacher’s clothing range in Ballantynes
Young daughters inspire designs for children
• By Ashleigh Monk
WHEN DELWYN Wright’s
daughters were little, she
struggled to find nice winter
coats for them – so she designed
some herself.
Now the school teacher and
mother-of-two’s designs are set to
fill the shelves of the
Ballantynes department store.
Ms Wright’s 100 per cent New
Zealand wool garments were
picked out of about 80 applicants
to win the Ballantynes Bring it
to the Boardroom competition,
which gave designers from across
the country a chance to pitch
their products.
“I thought I had nothing to lose
and Bring It to the Boardroom
was a great opportunity to pitch
my product to Ballantynes. I
think [the judges] liked some of
the detail in the designs and saw
an opportunity to fill a gap in the
children’s wear market.”
She said her main source
of inspiration came from her
daughters.
“Warm, quality New Zealandmade
clothing is not that easy to
find and there appears to be a gap
in the market when girls reach
six-years-old.”
“I got into clothing design
when my daughters were young
and I couldn’t find them warm
winter coats to wear. In the end,
I made them a coat each and
things really just grew from
there. I started to sell a few coats,
and then I gradually built up a
loyal customer base that wanted
other items like skirts and
dresses.”
Ms Wright’s designs range
from coats and capes to dresses.
They will line the shelves of
Ballantynes’ children’s wear
department for a year. She will
keep all profits made from her
sales.
“Over the next year, I am
hoping to gain lots of advice and
guidance around the designing
and marketing of my product.
It would be great to grow my
brand, gain some wider exposure
and then I will just see where this
leads.”
“Ultimately, I remain
committed to being NZ-made
and locally-produced.”
DESIGN FLARE: Delwyn
Wright took out the
Ballantynes Bring it to the
Boardroom competition
with her children’s clothing
designs.