To lose one’s sight as one gets older seems terribly cruel. Can you imagine not being able to enjoy a painting? Or missing the splendour of February’s first crocuses? Or not being able to see your first grandchild? But there’s good news: researchers now think many cases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD, better known as…
SLEEP: THE KEY TO A GOOD MEMORY, TIPS FROM AN EXPERT AND CARROT TOP PESTO
I forgot to go to an appointment yesterday. Embarrassing. I would never have forgotten something like this in my youth. But could it be the poor sleep I’d had the night before? A new study links memory and everyday errors to sleep deprivation. The study (which points out that many human-caused disasters from Chernobyl to…
SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, SADNESS AND BRAIN-BOOSTING BISCUITS
News that has made me happy this week. And news that has saddened me. And throughout it all my children – along with thousands of others – have been revising and sitting a relentless string of exams. Which is why today’s recipe is one you don’t often see on our blog: chocolate biscuits made with…
NOT ALL EXERCISE IS EQUAL: ZA’TAR NUTS AND THE LONDON BOAT RACE
We know exercise is good and that any exercise is better than none. But are we being misled by Government guidelines with their constant references to moderation? In Britain the National Health Service advises us to do “150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or brisk walking every week.” But Swedish research published…
WHAT TO EAT EVERY DAY FOR LONGER, HEALTHIER LIFE
What’s the ultimate healthy ageing superfood? Blueberries? Baobab? Some weird Brazilian seed? You’re not going to believe this, but there’s something healthier than all of those. Even better, they are way cheaper than blueberries and you’ve probably got them at home already. I’m talking about beans, pulses and lentils. It’s rare to find a list…
WHY YOU SHOULD BE DANCING (& CHRISTMAS NUTS)
What you doin’ on your back, aah/ You should be dancing yeah… Anyone remember those lyrics from the Bee Gees? Well, it turns out the Bee Gees were right. And as we’re in full party swing, I’m delighted to bring you the facts and figures showing why we really should be dancing (yeah). I’m not…
BEST-EVER GRANOLA BARS
These granola bars are a great post-workout or after-school snack. They are packed with healthy fats and fibre, and are vegan and refined-sugar-free too. Not exactly diet food, but they’ll keep you full for ages. The recipe is really flexible – I use it as an opportunity to use up any dried fruit and nuts…
WHY A LINE OF FLOSS WILL KEEP YOU IN GOOD HEALTH – COURGETTE, LEEK & GRUYERE FRITTATA
As I reclined in the dental chair yesterday (jaws forcibly widened, blood drooling from my mouth, metal implements clamped to my molars), my dentist decided it was time I learned about the growing link between gum health and – er, death. Gum health, she informed me, is now thought to be a trigger for heart…
HOW TO BE CALM – SMOKED MACKEREL BRUSCHETTA
I wrote recently about gratitude, after fracturing my skull and realising how lucky I was to be alive. But as I convalesced, other less positive thoughts also swam around my head. In particular, I began thinking about people who live with fear. Why? Because I too had suddenly become fearful: What caused my collapse? Would…
WHY STRESS MATTERS – FREEKEH WITH ARTICHOKES
It’s been a stressful time in British politics. Our political elite appear to have disintegrated in the space of a week. As I’ve watched Tony Blair, David Cameron, Barack Obama and a host of other politicians on screen, I‘ve distracted myself with close scrutiny of their appearance. And I’ve been struck by how quickly they’ve…