Eat your way to better mental health?
October 10 has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as World Mental Health Day 2018, and I must confess to being somewhat less enthusiastic about this particular ‘awareness day’ than I was about last week’s Sleep Awareness Week. It’s not that I’m unconcerned about people’s psychological well being; quite the opposite. That’s why…
Sleep and food – what’s the connection?
The Sleep Health Foundation has declared October 1-7 2018 Sleep Awareness Week. Finally, an ‘awareness week’ I can get behind!!!!! The ‘2016 Sleep Health Survey of Australian Adults’, a report prepared by the Sleep Health Foundation, has uncovered some deeply worrying findings on the sleep deprivation epidemic that is tightening its grip on Australians: 33-45%…
Apple Cinnamon Buckola
I am a total fiend for cinnamon. I love the sweetness that it adds to recipes, with no empty sugar calories. It’s packed full of antioxidants, and improves insulin sensitivity which results in reduced blood glucose, triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure in people with impaired carbohydrate metabolism. That’s tasty medicine! Buckwheat…
PBNHC 2018 Conference
Day 1 – Going to California with excitement in my heart (with apologies to Led Zeppelin) I’m writing the first part of this post in the departure lounge at Sydney Kingsford Smith airport, waiting for my flight to Los Angeles and then onto San Diego for the 6th International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference. This will…
Cauliflower ‘Cheese’ Sauce
Creamy vegan sauces are usually based on high fat foods, such as cashews. Cauliflower makes the most lusciously creamy sauce, without the excess fat calories. This sauce is delicious poured over steamed vegetables or baked potatoes – or use it in a pasta bake. Ingredients: 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into small florets 1/4 cup…
Prostate cancer: duplicity, deception and betrayal
10 September 2018 September has been designated ‘International Prostate Cancer Awareness Month’ by various NGOs including the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). As I’ve discussed in previous articles (see Diabetes: ‘awareness’ vs action, Preventing bowel cancer, Keep your brain young with greens and Cancer prevention: myths, cons and big fat lies), I am deeply…
Eating for 2… or 200 trillion?
In my last several blog posts, I’ve been focusing on the fascinating and burgeoning field of microbiome research. As previously discussed, our diets and medication usage profoundly affect the composition and diversity of the teeming microbial communities that inhabit our gastrointestinal tract, which in turn profoundly affects our physical and psychological health. But the human-microbiome…
Pumpkin Bean Dip
You can use this delicious combination of sweet, baked pumpkin and nourishing white beans as either a dip or salad dressing. Ingredients: 2 cloves garlic, peeled 400 g drained white beans (e.g. great northern, cannellini) 400 g baked pumpkin 1 tbsp natural peanut butter 2 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp ground allspice 2 tbsp chopped…
Ketogenic diets: Part 6 – The gut microbiome
What impact do ketogenic diets have on the gut microbiome, and what are the implications for our health and longevity?
Red Lentil Wraps
I heard about these delicious, nutritious and super-simple wraps while listening to Corinne Nijjer’s fabulous podcast – thanks Corinne! (Don’t forget to check out my interview with Corinne, while you’re there :).) A quick Google revealed several variants of the basic recipe. Here’s my take on this modern classic. Ingredients: 3/4 cup split red lentils…