Gut bugs and human health: A tale of two evolutionary trajectories
In the wonderful Pixar film WALL-E, 29th century humans are depicted as helpless, indolent, obese creatures. Generations of exposure to microgravity, and total reliance on machines to service their every need, have acted as evolutionary selection pressures. With no requirement to think for themselves, navigate adversity or perform any actions on their own behalf, both…
Red Lentil and Carrot Dip
Ingredients: 2 cloves garlic 300 g carrots, roughly chopped 150 g split red lentils, rinsed in a colander250 g water300 g carrots, roughly chopped1 tsp turmeric1 tsp dried coriander1/4 tsp black pepper1/4 cup fresh coriander2 tbsp snipped chives15 g tahini1 tsp misoJuice of 1 lemon Thermomix method: Mince garlic for 2 seconds on sp 9.…
Which meal should you skip for weight loss?
Intermittent fasting protocols have become increasingly popular among people seeking weight loss or easier weight management, improved gut function and better sleep, among numerous other health benefits touted by proponents of the practice. The most popular form of intermittent fasting is time-restricted eating (TRE), in which food intake is limited to a defined window of…
French Sorrel, Beetroot, Potato and Tempeh Salad
My local organic farmers’ market has several stalls selling the widest variety of greens I’ve ever seen in my life. Every Sunday, I’m like a kid in a lolly shop, eager to try a new green! This week, it was time to give French sorrel a whirl. French sorrel is from the buckwheat family, and…
Ultraprocessed foods make you overeat – even when you don’t want to – and cause weight gain
If you’ve been reading my articles for a while, you’ll have gathered by now that I’m a total nerd when it comes to nutrition research. I’m one of those strange people who get very excited by an elegant study design that takes an intelligent approach to an important research question and yields insights that are…
Raspberry Couscous Breakfast Bowl
Couscous is a type of pasta made from small steamed balls of crushed durum wheat semolina. It’s ridiculously easy to prepare – just pour boiling water over it and leave for 10-15 minutes – which makes it ideal for the time-poor or kitchen-challenged. It’s also versatile – its mild flavour renders it suitable for both…
Fat chance of having a healthy gut
‘Gut health’ has become the darling of the wellness movement. A Google search for the phrase threw up the following: On the one hand, I’m pleased that so many people are becoming interested in learning more about the vital role that their gastrointestinal tract, and its teeming community of microscopic inhabitants, has on their health…
Screens plus teens: a formula for sleep deprivation
If you are, or have been, the parent of an adolescent, you’ve almost certainly experienced first-hand the phenomenon of circadian phase delay, even if you’ve never heard the term. The child who was fast asleep by 8.30 pm, and charging into your room to bounce on your bed as soon as the sun rose, is…
Australia is falling behind in the life expectancy race… and it’s mostly because we’re too fat
Australia is falling behind other high-income countries when it comes to gains in life expectancy, and it’s largely attributable to poorer health and higher levels of overweight and obesity in people of my generation and younger – those born after 1970 – according to a study published in April 2019 in the Medical Journal of…
Larger body, shorter life
A couple of months ago, I wrote a post called Is the ‘Health At Every Size’ movement helping or hurting?, in which I dissected the arguments of Health At Every Size (HAES) proponents. I won’t rehash those arguments and my responses to them – just read the original post, if you’re interested. However, during a…