Talk about timing: it’s almost Christmas and here comes a report suggesting that the key to ageing slowly is cutting calories – especially carbs. That’s just mean if you ask me. But, without being Bah! Humbug about it, it’s worth taking a moment to look at the stats and science as we start the seasonal…
HEALTHY HALLOWEEN: PUMPKIN AND POMEGRANATE HUMMUS
It probably hasn’t escaped your notice that today is Halloween. It’s among the more bizarre of our ‘festivals’, you have to admit, and like many others it’s been taken over by the food industry pushing sugar on all and sundry, especially children. But I try not to be too po-faced about it all, as it…
BOOST YOUR BRAIN HEALTH – BEST-EVER BLACKBERRY MUFFINS
Not only is it blackberry season but it’s also World Alzheimer Month (bet you didn’t know that!). Last week saw the publication of the 2014 World Alzheimer Report from London’s King’s College. Encouragingly, the report says the risk of dementia can be reduced if we control diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. Diabetes…
SUGAR, DEMENTIA AND VERY BERRY LOLLIES
This year’s nutritional bad guy? Without a doubt, it has to be sugar. If last years’ big diet trend was 5:2, then this year’s is low – or no – sugar. Now, it’s ‘most things in moderation’ here at Kale and Cocoa, so NO sugar is a bit hardcore (No ketchup? No Chutney? Really?) But…
WHY WE ARE NUTS ABOUT NUTS – AND A RECIPE FOR ALMOND-GINGER DIPPING SAUCE
Eating well to age well (our Kale and Cocoa mantra) isn’t about the odd sprinkle of chia seeds and goji berries (although we love them both) – it’s about making real change to how we eat: whacking up the amount of vegetables and fruit, reducing processed, refined foods and focussing on foods that do us…
PRO-AGEING RED BEANS – SPICED KIDNEY BEAN DIP WITH SMOKED PAPRIKA CRISPS AND CHERRY TOMATOES
This week’s big break-through has been the lycopene study, proving that lycopene really does protect against heart disease and strokes. We’ll be telling you more about lovely lycopene later, but you can catch up at: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/jun/09/tomato-extract-lycopene-relieves-damaged-arteries-cambridge-study But my favourite research? The one showing cynics faced a ‘far higher risk of Alzheimer’s’! Indeed, the Scandinavian study…
NEW RESEARCH ON DEMENTIA – AND COCONUT CHOCOLATE BRAIN BALLS FOR EXAM-SITTING TEENS
It’s National Dementia Week and two really great things have happened: 1) We’ve launched Kale and Cocoa. 2) For the first time there has been an acknowledgment from a government-funded body that lifestyle IS a factor in reducing the risk of dementia. This rather dry tweet from @PHE-uk (Public Health England) is SO important:…
COCONUT OIL – A VERY BIG QUESTION (AND COOKIES!)
A VERY BIG QUESTION “What if there was a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, and no-one knew?” That’s a very big – and very loaded – question. Particularly as the cure in question is one very simple food: COCONUT OIL. The internet is awash with stories of carers who have seen remarkable improvement in their dementic…
