Vaccines: Science, Undone Science and Anti-Science
13 March 2017 Vaccination policy is in the news again, with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s comment on the ABC’s Insider’s program that “I think people have a right to investigate [the vaccination issue] themselves” generating a firestorm of criticism from both sides of politics, medical and public health associations, media outlets, bloggers and just…
Chocolate Mint Sweet Potato Brownies
A burgeoning crop of fresh mint inspired this week’s recipe for a wholesome sweet treat. Ingredients: 330 g Medjool dates, pitted 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves 1 cup water (I used water saved from steaming the sweet potatoes) 200 g sweet potatoes (steamed, mashed with a bit of the cooking water) 1/2 cup cacao (raw…
The final nail in dairy’s coffin? Drinking milk makes you die sooner
Ask most Australian adults how much milk they drink, and they’ll answer ‘I really don’t drink milk – I just have a bit on my cereal and a dash in my coffee’. But consumption data gathered by the dairy industry tell a different tale. Annual fluid milk consumption stood at 105 litres per person…
German Apple Cake
My son Mitchell, who just turned 16, chose this recipe as his birthday cake. The original recipe was vegan, but still contained non-wholefood ingredients such as oil and sugar. All it took was a few tweaks… and the results were so spectacular, my husband has already put in his order to have this as his…
Making Stuff Up: Popular internet ‘wisdom’ about healing leaky gut
As I always do when preparing to give a seminar or workshop, I’ve been delving deep into the scientific literature on how fats and oils affect the human body to prepare for the Plant-Powered Oil-Free Cooking workshop that I held last Saturday. As I explained to workshop participants, consuming oils has adverse effects on…
Chilled Beetroot Soup
I have been getting the most amazing organically-grown beetroots through my food co-op lately, and they – along with Sydney’s sweltering weather – inspired the creation of this chilled soup. It’s perfect for either lunch or dinner. Ingredients: 1/2 cup roughly chopped celery 1/2 cup roughly chopped carrot 2 cups water 1 onion, peeled 2…
Why do we do things we know are bad for us?
Why do we humans do things that we know are bad for us, like smoking, eating junk food, and drinking alcohol to excess? It’s a simple enough question, but for millennia it’s occupied the minds of philosophers, researchers, public health officials, psychologists, writers… and of course, countless people who are frustrated with their inability…
Pinto Bean and Corn Salad
A bumper crop of basil from our garden, a batch of pinto beans that I bulk-cooked in the pressure cooker, and Sydney’s heat wave inspired this delicious salad, which makes a perfect lunch or dinner when served on a bed of greens. Ingredients: 2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels 1 1/2 cups cooked, drained…
Drugs vs food
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” that’s attributed to the Greek physician Hippocrates, who is often called the father of medicine. But have you ever thought about what it really means? A couple of articles I read this week caused me to reflect more deeply…
Beetroot, Chickpea and Coriander Burgers
Have I mentioned that I love burgers? I honestly don’t think it’s possible to have too many plant-based burger recipes! This one emerged out of some fresh beetroot that needed to be used up, and a pressure cooker full of chick peas. Ingredients: 4 medium beetroot, peeled and diced 1/2 cup aquafaba (liquid from cooking…