Bear with me writing about diets again, but it is still January. And what does ‘diet’ really mean? The word is usually associated with weight loss, of course, but there are ways to alter eating habits to bring both health benefits AND weight loss where needed. The honest truth is that many of us could…
2016: THE YEAR TO CUT YOUR CANCER RISK AND PLAY PING PONG
So. Now we know: 70-90% of cancers are caused by lifestyle choices. That’s scary. But it’s also hugely empowering. And we think it’s a great note on which to start the new year! We’re not fans of dieting and detoxing, but by making a few lifestyle changes and sticking to them (yes, that means to…
SEAWEED – IS IT ALL IT’S CRACKED UP TO BE? WAKAME & CARROT SALAD
If you asked me to name the most hyped food of 2015, I’d have to say seaweed. This year’s seen a spate of headlines on the benefits of eating seaweed – not to mention numerous glossy supplements in which celebrity chefs offer up their favourite seaweed recipes. In July scientists in the US made the…
EAT BEANS EVERY DAY & BEST EVER BLACK BEAN SOUP
Eat beans every day – that’s the message from Dan Buettner, whose third book on Blue Zones came out earlier this year. It’s a message I like – beans are cheap, convenient and delicious. So to discover they’re now, officially, the world’s number one food for longevity was music to my ears. Thanks to Jamie…
WHY WE SHOULD SIT LESS AND FIDGET MORE – WARM SQUASH SALAD
If you sit for more than six hours a day, you need to get up – yes, right now! And yes – that’s six hours in total. And if you think you’re off the hook because you’ve spent an hour in the gym, you need to think again. New research shows our sedentary lifestyles are…
IS POOR SLEEP THE NEW KILLER? DIET CAN HELP
I’ve been a poor sleeper for over a decade now, often getting by on five or six hours a night. The recent spate of research showing the importance of sleep isn’t helping. Ironic, I know. But I’m not alone. The other day a girlfriend confessed to having lain awake all night worrying that if she…
HOW RED/BLUE JUICE CAN KEEP A SPRING IN YOUR STEP – POMEGRANATE AND CUCUMBER SALAD
The health benefits of blueberries, pomegranate and purple grapes have been widely reported recently, with experts claiming they can help halt the spread of cancer (pomegranates), prevent Parkinson’s (blueberries) and protect against hearing loss (purple grapes) among a host of other benefits. Every month another discovery is made about the potent medicinal value of these…
THINNING AGEING HAIR – WARM CHICKEN LIVER SALAD
A few weeks ago, as I was preparing to leave the hairdressers, I politely asked the stylist if she could stop my hair from sticking up, static-style, from the top of my scalp. For some reason, lots of short stray hairs were standing upright – and yes, it did rather ruin the look! But when…
CANCER, NUTRITION AND, ER, SOME SUMMER SALAD DRESSINGS
I’ve been blind-sided in recent weeks by news that a family member has secondary cancer. We’re keeping everything crossed but it’s tough news to hear. This, and the cancer treatment that a close friend’s mum is undergoing, has made me keen to know more about the advice given to cancer patients, and their carers, on…
IS THE REDUCED CALORIE DIET DEAD? KALE CAESAR SALAD
There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about the reduced calorie (RC) diet. Many long-term studies show that a significant reduction in calories (20-40%) promotes longevity. Scientists aren’t quite sure why it works but think the RC diet tricks the body into thinking famine is imminent. Your cells then rally and this postpones…