The Age-Well Project

Change the way you age

Get our posts direct to your inbox

  • About The Age-Well Project
  • Books
    • Our Books
    • Reviews
    • References
  • Blog
  • Recipes
    • Recipes By Ingredient
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Family
    • On The Go
    • Soups and Salads
    • Treats and Snacks
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Press

CAN YOU HELP SCIENCE? YES YOU CAN… SPICED NETTLES WITH GREEN OLIVES

April 27, 2018 4 Comments

basket nettles in nettles

Is it time to make yourself available to science? And I don’t mean donating your dead body (although we’re big supporters of organ donation too) or giving blood (another good thing to do), but taking part in a living, breathing research project.

Over the last four years of blogging, we’ve become increasingly aware of the critical importance of top quality research. Yes, studies of mice and fruit flies are a great start. But it’s only from studies of people that scientists can draw genuinely valid conclusions (occasionally).

And for the results to be (occasionally) statistically significant, researchers need large numbers of people. And those people must commit to donating time and energy (and sometimes their bodies too), often over a long period of time.

I say occasionally because many projects don’t produce useful results, either because of how the cohort was selected, how they engaged, how the study was designed – or a myriad other reasons.

We know all this from poring over hundreds of studies. But now I know it from the other side. That is, from the side of being a study participant.

The study I’ve signed up to is comprehensive, large-scale (at least 5000 people) and will run for ten years. These are exactly the longitudinal studies Susan and I rely on for credible data. But more importantly, scientists rely on them as they try to improve quality of life for us all.

I know first-hand how comprehensive this study is because I’ve spent several hours doing cognition tests and on-line surveys and I’ve been warned that DNA samples will be requested. Not only that, but Mr K&C has also had to complete two surveys on the state of my brain (although I think he quite enjoyed that!).

This particular study is, we think, important. It’ll explore the changing ageing brain and the impact of lifestyle on cognition. There’s no Big Pharma behind it, although the findings may point a way to that ever-elusive cure for dementia. And with a duration of ten years it’s unlikely to be about enhancing the ego of its authors (although that may come too, of course).

Finally, the study’s being run by one of the top 25 universities in the world, with a track record of producing high quality research.

So if you’re interested in giving something back to science, now, while you can, please take a look. The study is still recruiting (over 50s only) and you can find out all about it at http://protectstudy.org.uk/

Now is the time to get out foraging. We love nettles! One of the most chlorophyll-rich plants, nettles are rich in Vitamins C and K, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium. One of our earlier posts featured nettle soup  but this weekend I made something even simpler with my garden nettles tops, which we wolfed for Sunday lunch, leaving nothing to photograph. Normally I’d have cooked a second batch to photograph but we’re too busy interviewing, cooking and writing for our Age-Well book, so you’ll have to make do without a picture… But here’s the recipe:

SPICED NETTLES WITH GREEN OLIVES (serves 2)

  • 1 carrier bag of nettle tops, blanched for 3 minutes in boiling water (use garden or rubber gloves to pick)
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tbsp ground coriander
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • Handful green olives, chopped
  • Olive oil, seasoning, lemon juice

Saute the chopped onion in 1 tbsp olive oil for 5 mins.

Add the cumin, coriander and garlic and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.

Drain the nettles and squeeze out surplus water. Add to the pan with the chopped olives, and season well.

Heat through, drizzle with extra olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice and some sea salt.

Eat!

Annabel

  • Meal Types: Dinner, Soups and Salads
  • Conditions: Alzheimer's
  • Ingredients: Nettles
« THESE VEGETABLES WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR BONES – AND KALE SHAKSHUKA
WHY WE’RE NOT VEGAN, AND A PLANT-BASED FAMILY DINNER »

Comments

  1. Charles says

    April 29, 2018 at 10:39 pm

    It’s been so cold here that the nettles are still too small to pick! Try and find a healthy recipe for wild garlic, it’s easy to identify, smells lovely and is part of the onion family.

    Very good blog with interesting facts and a good sense of humour.

    Reply
    • Annabel Abbs says

      May 10, 2018 at 5:20 pm

      Thank you, Charles. You’re right about the wild garlic which is out now in the south. I love a wild garlic pesto. In fact I’ve just posted the most basic ‘recipe’ ever (but still very good and I am determined to get everyone eating wild greens!) for wild greens on toast for tomorrow, that includes wild garlic snipped in at the end. Hope your nettles ‘ripen’ soon!

      Reply
  2. Charlotte Holtam says

    May 3, 2018 at 4:43 pm

    I have signed up for the study and completed the questionnaires. Am very upset and shocked that they ask about what supplements you take but not what food you eat. What a missed opportunity and how stupid.

    Reply
    • Annabel Abbs says

      May 10, 2018 at 5:22 pm

      You’re right, Charlotte. I noticed that too but assumed (perhaps wrongly) that diet would come in later questions when they request DNA etc. Or was it in the voluntary section?? Worryingly, am struggling to remember! They’re still ‘collecting’ people, so let’s hope it’s coming. I might mention it to them anyway as we’re in touch… Thanks for signing up. The more of us the better!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Welcome to The Age-Well Project

Welcome to The Age-Well Project!
Here you’ll find easy changes for a longer, happier life. We’ve immersed ourselves in the science of longevity and distilled the research to make it work in our everyday lives. You can change the way you age: here’s how.

Favourite Posts

WHY I’VE THROWN OUT ALL MY BEAUTY PRODUCTS (nearly…)

Why Alzheimer’s Is A Women’s Issue

HOW HAVING A DOG CHANGED MY LIFE

GREEN SPACE IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, SADNESS AND BRAIN-BOOSTING BISCUITS

WHY ‘INFLAMM-AGEING’ COULD START IN THE GUT AND HARISSA-ROASTED VEGETABLE SALAD

POLYAMINES – THE NEW SECRET WEAPON FOR AGEING WELL & MOROCCAN SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS.

THINNING AGEING HAIR – WARM CHICKEN LIVER SALAD

About The Age Well Project

This site is for anyone who wants to make the second half of their life as healthy, happy and disease-free as possible. Sign up to get the latest research on ageing – and delicious recipes to match – direct to your inbox.

agewellproject

⭐️Change the way you age
📚The Age-Well Project + Age-Well Plan ⭐️Get tips & recipes on our blog - sign up ⬇️

The Age-Well Project blog
Make the most of the light summer evenings (in the Make the most of the light summer evenings (in the northern hemisphere at least) by going on a scented walk!

Our olfactory bulb (the cluster of smell cells at the top of our nostrils) more receptive in spring and summer, and not only are plants more likely to be in full perfumed bloom, but the warmer air also traps these molecules for longer. 

Now, here’s the interesting bit. Loss of smell has been linked to neurodegenerative disease, with some researchers suggesting that smell tests should be routinely offered by doctors. A 2022 study found that loss of smell (known as anosmia) was an important early sign of Alzheimer’s-related cognitive impairment.

But there’s no need to panic, because studies also show that our olfactory system is much like a muscle – use it or lose it. So get out there and sniff the air! There’s more on the blog - link in bio 

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #postmenopause #postmenopausalhealth #alzheimers #preventalzheimers
What do you want to achieve for your bones?’ T What do you want to achieve for your bones?’ 

This interesting question came from Rebekah Rotstein, who has worked with the Royal Osteoporosis Society and is founder of movement system Buff Bones @gotbuffbones when Susan interviewed her for The Power Decade. 

We thought the answer was that we wanted them to be dense, because that would protect them in the years ahead. Rebekah invited us to view this another way, ‘Your goal is not just to have high bone density,’ she explained. ‘Your goal is to not fracture and to live a full, independent life. You do this by strengthening your bones and body. But you also need to maintain and improve your balance and responsiveness to avoid falls because falls lead to fractures.’

We’re big fans of the ‘brushing your teeth standing on one leg’ trick to add extra age-well benefits to this most regular of tasks by improving balance. When we do it, we can feel movement – and a bit of a wobble – in our feet. Rebekah explains that this movement is also a form of calibration, helping us maintain balance. She urges us to try this barefoot because, as we age, we lose dexterity in our feet: we want to be able to feel the messages they’re sending us.

There’s more on better bone health on the blog - link in bio

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #postmenopause #postmenopausalhealth #bonehealth #osteoporosis #osteopenia #balance #buffbones
Beans for breakfast?! Yes please. On a recent trip Beans for breakfast?! Yes please. On a recent trip to Jordan, Annabel started her day with foul, made from fava beans. 

The Jordanians mash the cooked beans and serve them warm from a swan-necked vessel using a Harry Potter-ish long-handled ladle.  The beans are then drizzled and scattered with various spices, sauces and olive oil. 

Full of protein and fibre, it’s a great way to start the day. The (super-simple) recipe is on the blog, link in bio 

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #postmenopause #postmenopausalhealth #breakfast #breakfastrecipes #favabeans
Grab some GABA! This neurotransmitter is linked to Grab some GABA! This neurotransmitter is linked to better sleep and mood - but needs progesterone to produce it. This is why post-menopausal women are more likely to experience insomnia and anxiety. 

But there are actions we can take to produce more GABA naturally. Save this post for future reference and check out our GABA blog post - link in bio

And save this for future reference 😊

#longevity #womenover50 #agewell #ageingwell #agingwell #longevityblog #healthblog #agewellblog #over50bloggers #womenover50 #healthspan #womenover60 #postmenopause #postmenopausalhealth #GABA #neurotransmitter
A three-page interview of Annabel in today’s @ob A three-page interview of Annabel in today’s @obsmagazine extolling the benefits of walking, and of being outdoors. Just in case you’ve had your fill of the coronation… ´Walking is freedom, an escape for the mind and the body.’ 

Hear hear!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Contact Us

For any enquiries please email theagewellproject@gmail.com.

Copyright © 2023 The Age-Well Project