Why did nobody tell me that midlife would be a constant battle to get enough sleep?! I took sleep for granted until I had children, but since then it’s been a scarce commodity. The broken nights of early parenthood have given way to the broken nights of middle age, menopause and beyond. A steady stream…
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…
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…
YOUTHFUL SKIN FROM THE INSIDE OUT – AND CHOCOLATE PEANUT SQUARES
If you’ve just found us via Telegraph online – welcome to Kale & Cocoa! We believe in eating well to age well and are thrilled to be collaborating with the Telegraph again to spread the word about how more youthful skin can come from the inside out. You can read the full article here or a…
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…
CHOCOLATE CAN HELP PREVENT DEMENTIA? AND CHOCO-MATCHA COOKIES
We called our blog ‘Kale & Cocoa’ for a reason – while we love the health benefits of kale, we love a bit of chocolate too. So yet more evidence that chocolate is good for us is a bonus! Early in the summer it was widely reported that around 100g of chocolate a…
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…