Why vegans’ health matters
As a health practitioner, I see two broad groupings of people: those who adopted a vegan diet for ethical reasons, and those who are eating (or would do well to adopt) a plant-based diet for health reasons. Full disclosure: Personally, I have a foot in both camps. I went vegetarian at the age of 15…
Broccoli and Corn Frittata
Once you have the basic formula for a tofu frittata sorted out, you can adapt it for whatever vegetables you have on hand. This week I had a glut of broccoli, corn and rainbow chard from my organic co-op, so guess what ended up in the frittata? Ingredients: 1 onion, peeled and diced 2…
The futility of risk factor management: Cholesterol-lowering drugs cause diabetes
A meta-analysis of observational studies published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases has found that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 44%. Statins remain the most-prescribed drugs in Australia: atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor) led the top 10 drugs by prescription count in 2015, with 10 557…
Kale Streamer Salad
The colours in this salad are just so pretty! Be sure to leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving to allow the kale to soften. Ingredients: 1 orange, peeled 3 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1/3 cup raw cashews 1 bunch kale, tough stems removed 1 large carrot…
Want your child to do well in school? Pass the broccoli…. and hold the cordial
Every parent wants their child to have the best chance at success in life, and like it or not, how well a child does at school is an important determinant of their future employment opportunities and earning capacity, which in turn affects health status, personal fulfillment and life satisfaction. Parents often invest considerable amounts of…
Spiced Apple Polenta Cake
I currently have a bit of a fetish for polenta. I don’t know why; there’s just something about this traditional Italian cornmeal porridge that is really floating my boat right now! Polenta is typically a savoury dish, but today I had a hankering for a sweet incarnation of it. This layered apple cake is not…
All plant foods are not created equal when it comes to your heart
In last week’s post, I wrote about the dangers of saturated fat for heart health… including for vegans who have enthusiastically embraced the coconut oil craze! The article I referenced in that post – ‘Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association’ – cautioned that replacing saturated fat with refined…
Choc-Berry Buckwheat Pudding
After my first foray into blending soaked buckwheat (see my Buckwheat Breakfast Parfait) I was hooked! I’ve been experimenting with other buckwheat combos, and this one is my current favourite. Ingredients: 2 cups raw buckwheat groats, soaked overnight or for at least 8 hours, in plenty of water 1 cup pitted dates 1 cup fresh…
Saturated fat is still bad for you… and coconut oil is not exempt
One of the most disturbing trends I’ve witnessed in recent years is the number of vegans who have fallen for the ‘saturated fat is good for you’ propaganda. Every week, I see multiple comments in vegan Facebook groups that I belong to, claiming that “The dangers of saturated fat have been exaggerated”, “You need saturated…
4 B Burgers
Beetroot, basil, black beans and bourghal make up the 4 ‘B’s in these burgers. Keeping a supply of baked vegetables – beetroot, sweet potato, potato and pumpkin – in the fridge, and bulk cooking legumes for fridge or freezer storage, is one of my key secrets for easy meal preparation. If you already have these…