‘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…
Chocolate Hommous
I first encountered a chocolate hommous recipe in a Facebook group that I belong to. The recipe used maple syrup, whereas I prefer to use fibre-rich dates as a wholefood sweetener. Hommous purists (including Lebanese grandmothers!) might be horrified at the idea of turning the classic savoury dip into a sweet treat, but once you’ve…
ABC Spread
Home made nut spreads are so easy to make with a high powered blender such as a Vitamix, or a Thermomix. And they’re much cheaper than commercial versions, too! ABC spread consists of equal parts almonds, Brazil nuts and cashews, and it’s one of my all time favourite nut spreads. Ingredients: 130 g raw almonds…
Exercise beats fat genes in postmenopausal women
One of the most common complaints I hear from my older female clients is how hard it is to maintain a healthy body weight after menopause. Women who have been slim their whole lives suddenly find they’re growing a belly, while those who’ve been fighting the battle of the bulge for as long as they…