Annabel and I were discussing last week how the world of health and longevity has changed in the (almost 12!) years since we started writing this blog. Back then, when Annabel mentioned to a doctor that she thought her health issues were related to her gut, she got very short shrift. Now, we know that…
EAT MORE GARLIC AND KEEP MAP-READING
Yes an odd combination, but both of the above could help preserve our memories. And both are easy enough to do. We all love the convenience and effortlessness of Google maps and any other digital map app or satellite navigation system we might be using. But a growing body of research suggests we may have…
THREE SIMPLE BOOSTS FOR GUT HEALTH
Are you good to your gut? We do hope so. The link between gut health and longevity is key to our Age-Well Project, so we’re excited about THREE new pieces of research providing simple ways to boost both. A quick refresher: when we say ‘gut health’ we mean the variety, quality and quantity of our…
THE ASTONISHING POWER OF SUNLIGHT: PART 2
I’ve broken a bone in my foot, which means I’ve spent a fair bit of the week in hospital and a fair bit of time hobbling around, very slowly, in a big plastic boot or weird and deeply uncomfortable, back-to-front footwear. In the same week that Vitamin D made headlines, it’ll come as no surprise…
WORK OUT, AND YOUR GUT WILL THANK YOU
Get more exercise, take more care of our gut health: two of the most important things we’ve learnt on our Age-Well Project. And so it was no surprise to discover that one influences the other. Our gut bacteria can help us get fitter, so looking after them is as key as a good pair…
CAN YOU EAT TOO MUCH FERMENTED FOOD? ZUCCHINI/COURGETTE RAGOUT
We’re big fans of fermented food – yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tofu, et al. We’ve written several times about the scientific community’s growing recognition of the microbiome’s role in chronic disease. And we’ve written about the foods that promote good gut health, including fermented foods. I have an entire shelf of gut books dating back to…
IS ALCOHOL GOOD FOR YOU? GINGER KOMBUCHA
It’s June and, in the UK, that means party-time. June has always been the month of weddings, big parties, Ascot, Wimbledon, Henley Royal Regatta and so on. This year – in my household – June has featured a celebratory bash every weekend, with several more during the week as my daughters celebrate the end of…
WHY ‘INFLAMM-AGEING’ COULD START IN THE GUT AND HARISSA-ROASTED VEGETABLE SALAD
While wrinkles and grey hair may be the external signs of ageing, there’s a whole other process going on inside our bodies. ‘Inflamm-ageing’ is the term coined by doctors to describe the low-grade inflammation intrinsically linked to the process of growing older. It plays a central role in the all the chronic conditions of ageing:…
ANOTHER COMPELLING REASON TO FAST? HORTA ON TOAST
So far, the only intervention able to dramatically extend healthy life appears to be … fasting, otherwise known as Caloric Restriction (CR). Studies – on animals – suggest that regular fasting can extend healthy life by up to 30%. Susan recently wrote about her experience of fasting after trialling Professor Longo’s Longevity Diet, and we wrote…
WHY EXERCISE IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR AGEING WELL AND THE PERFECT CLOVEY SPICE MIX
One of my favourite ageing blogs comes from an American scientist called Dr Josh Mitteldorf. Last year Josh reviewed the science behind the five things he considers most helpful in fending off dementia: physical exercise; mental stimulation and social interaction; metabolic syndrome/insulin sensitivity; diet; and drugs/supplements. We would add sleep, but Josh didn’t (clearly he’s…
