Do you need to ‘activate’ nuts?
Walk into any health food store and you’ll see packets of ‘activated’ nuts selling for up to 3 times the price of regular ones. What’s the selling point? Devotees of the practice – which involves soaking raw nuts in lightly salted water, then drying them again – claim that it reduces phytate levels, making some…
There’s nothing jolly about Silly Season weight gain
The average Australian gains between 0.8 and 1.5 kg over the Christmas period, according to Nutrition Australia; US research indicates that people who are already overweight or obese are the most likely to gain over 2 kg. That’s bad enough, considering that unlike our US and European friends who get to hide their festive flab…
Cinnamon Plantain Coins
These healthy versions of banana chips are so simple to make! Choose very ripe plantains (with black spots!) to ensure your chips will be sweet. If you don’t have a food dehydrator, just use your oven, on its lowest setting, for 4-6 hours. Ingredients: Ripe plantains, sliced 8 mm thick Ground cinnamon Ground cardamom Method:…
‘Tis the season to… have a heart attack and die
10 December 2018 Here’s some cheery news for you to savour during the festive season: heart-related deaths (known in medical circles as ‘coronary mortality’) reach a peak in December and January. The phenomenon has been described in the medical literature for almost two decades, ever since a team of US researchers headed up by Dr…
Plantain, Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew
Inspired by African flavours, this hearty stew pops with contrasts – the sweetness of the plantains, sweet potatoes and cinnamon, earthy peanuts and just a little heat from the chilli! Ingredients: 4 ripe plantains, peeled and sliced 1 cm thick 3 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp dried ginger 1/2 cup raw peanuts 1 cup wholemeal couscous…
99% of Aussie kids don’t eat enough vegetables – and their parents aren’t much better
The latest report on the state of the nation’s eating habits has just been released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and the news is not good. The report, titled ‘Nutrition across the life stages’, draws on data gathered by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) including surveys on physical activity, eating habits,…
Peanut Butter Dog/Human Treats
I made these peanut butter treats for our rescue dog, Comet, one of whose favourite jobs is ‘cleaning’ used-up peanut butter jars before they go in the recycling bin… with his tongue. But when I took them out of the oven to cool, my kids and husband started scarfing them down. In order to protect…
Don’t call them ‘negative emotions’!
26 November 2018 I have quite a few pet peeves. (OK, I admit it, more than a few.) The one I want to discuss with you today is the common practice of designating certain human experiences ‘negative emotions’. You know: feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration, fear, loneliness, disappointment, shame and regret. As a health…
High blood pressure: When drugs do more harm than good
Having high blood pressure is a big deal. According to the massive, long-running and ongoing Global Burden of Disease study, hypertension – the medical term for elevated blood pressure – is the leading risk factor contributing to the burden of disease in the world, across both developed and developing countries. High blood pressure also kills:…
Breastfeeding prevents diabetes – and the longer, the better
Guess what! It’s time for another health Awareness Day! November 14, 2018 has been designated World Diabetes Day by the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF). We in Australia had our very own National Diabetes Week back in July, so I won’t rehash the arguments against pointless ‘awareness-raising’ exercises that I made in my article Diabetes: ‘awareness’ vs…