We’ve had a bit of a week of it at The Age-Well Project: Annabel’s computer blew up, leaving her without thousands of precious documents, notes and creative work. I’ve been juggling a sick teenager, an injured puppy, a defunct boiler (so no hot water) a broken dishwasher. And, to cap it all, Tuesday’s storms saw…
THESE VEGETABLES WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR BONES – AND KALE SHAKSHUKA
Growing up, I was very close to my paternal grandmother. She was widowed young and filled her life with a cohort of doughty female friends and relations. They became, by extension, my ‘aunties’. They played whist, shopped and shored up the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service together. As time passed they all started to break bones,…
SAVE THE NHS: LOOK AFTER YOURSELF (AND PERFECT PANCAKES)
I love the NHS (that’s Britain’s beleaguered National Health Service, if you’re not from round here): the dedication of its staff never fails to humble me, its extraordinary achievements at the cutting edge of science awe me. It’s the envy of the world and we should do everything we can to keep it …. The…
COULD YOU FAST EVERY DAY? AND OVEN-BAKED PORRIDGE
No we haven’t lost the plot entirely. And no, we don’t mean not eating anything ever. We mean the hottest area of healthy ageing research: intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting has been in the news a lot in recent years: the runaway success of Michael Moseley and Mimi Spencer’s 5:2 Diet (eat normally for five days,…
HOW TO BE HAPPY, AND CHOCOLATE PANCAKES
Can food make us happy? Not as in ‘Oh God, this cheesecake makes my tummy smile’, but in terms of micronutrients which boost mood. The short answer is yes, and the good news is that happiness is – theoretically – just a salad away. Studies from all over the world support the idea that those…
DEMENTIA, BLACKCURRANTS – AND CHIA SEED PANCAKES
It’s official – middle-aged Britons have cut their risk of developing dementia by 22%. A report from Cambridge University identifies healthy eating, increased exercise and not smoking as the critical factors. Apparently the life style changes made by so many of us, from middle-age onwards, have resulted in an annual 200-300,000 fewer cases of dementia….
HEART-HEALTHY NUTS AND CHRISTMAS GRANOLA
We’ve made no secret of our passion for nuts – many of our recipes include a sprinkle of toasted nuts or a slug of almond butter. We’re not alone: our almond butter dipping sauce is one of our most shared and pinned recipes on social media. When it comes to ageing well, nuts are one…
FEWER WRINKLES? YES PLEASE! AND CHIA SEED PARFAIT
Kale & Cocoa isn’t about how we’re ageing on the outside – we’re all about eating well to reduce our risk of age-related illnesses. But if a healthy diet in midlife means fewer wrinkles then BRING IT ON! If you’ve read recent posts, you’ll know that I suffered a fracture in the summer and have…
WHY THE GREAT OUTDOORS (AND WALNUTS) WILL KEEP YOU YOUNG
Ever felt that deep yearning to be out in the wild? If you have, you’re not alone. If you haven’t, it’s time to tune in. There’s now a huge body of medical evidence proving that being with wildlife keeps you healthier and happier. I write this as a committed Londoner who frequently feels a deep…
WHY EXERCISE WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE – AND SWEET POTATO BEAN CAKES
At Kale & Cocoa our aim is to eat well and age well. So far, so good. But we know that eating well is only half the battle when it comes to ageing well. Exercise is absolutely key too – an article published by John Hopkins University in the U.S. described it as ‘the universal…