24 May 2021|Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Sustainability
Strawberries = Pesticide central. I LOVE them; they’re packed with antioxidants and I wish they didn’t top the Dirty Dozen list, with more pesticides than other crops, but they do. Every year EWG.org publish a list of the most (Dirty Dozen) and least (Clean Fifteen) pesticide contaminated fruits and vegetables (USDA data). Sadly, it’s worth knowing.
This book isn’t even on our site… Another of his works is though ‘Reasons to Stay Alive‘. I love how Matt Haig approaches the subject of our (and his) mental health and devoured this bestseller (currently No2 in the Amazon charts) in two days.
The Midnight Library is a beautifully woven tale in which Nora is given the chance to undo her regrets and try out each of the other lives she might have had.
With infinite choices, what is the best way for her to live?
Careful what you wish for…
These two just make me smile and this curry really is as easy as they make out it is. I’ve had this more than once this week – and it’s had chicken added to it for guests who wanted it and another time prawns added by those who wanted those too. For me – it’s vegan self was more than enough. More from these Irish smilers here
Here’s a FREE series exploring the most powerful complementary and alternative medicine – all backed by major scientific studies that PROVE their effectiveness. We’re booked – from 1 June.
17 May 2021|Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Sustainability
I’m one for keeping my options open, which is exactly what I did when I was working to heal from grade 3 breast cancer in 2017. The Conquering Cancer free 8 day summit, which begins on 18th May, combines conventional and natural options too. Many names, which are now very familiar to me, feature. They feature on our site too: Dr Leigh Erin Connealy, Dr Veronique Desaulniers, Dr Kelly Turner, Dr Joel Fuhrman and Ocean Robbins. You can sign up for your free place here
Future pine trees in a ball!
These little balls are made of clay and compost and contain a seed inside. The compost provides all the nutrients the seeds need to grow, and the clay protects them from animals and heat. Just toss them onto the ground, sit back and leave the rest to nature. They have a 70% success rate of germinating.
@Get.waste.ed are planting millions of trees in Pakistan, which is suffering Asia’s worst de-forestation and risks losing ALL of it’s forests in the next 50 years.
Heart-shaped garden blooms, along with hedgerow finds, alongside more from Ella’s new Quick and Easy cookbook, which you can still pick up for 99 cents, 99p or $1.16 on Amazon Kindle. Already had my money’s worth out of that one.
Yesterday we hosted a Church lunch and enjoyed Peach and Plum Crumble and Garlic Vegan Mayo on new pots. Great food, great day.
10 May 2021|Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Sustainability
Who doesn’t love a free movie? One that could improve your life too? I watched this one many years ago, it was one of many ‘aha’ moments. As one of the newsreaders says: ‘We have a growing problem and the ones that are growing are us.’
There’s a youthful Michelle Obama sharing her vision of health for the nation prior to her stint as First Lady and another newsreader sharing that the answer is not to be found in pills – but with spinach. And yes, it really is free – in recognition of it’s 10th anniversary of release. Sadly the stats have only gotten worse.
Quick & Easy is the title of Deliciously Ella‘s new offering, which we purchased this week. This dish was both: Spiced Sweet Potato and Coconut Laksa. It’s in the 20-30min section of the book and it really did take only that long. Doubled up the portions; served us for supper one night and lunch, with added spinach and cashew nuts, the next day. The book has a list of ‘store cupboard ingredients’ which prompted the purchase of some new things to try; brown rice miso paste and spelt flour here we come!
Another ‘freebie’ we signed up for this week is the online ‘Vitamin Masterclass‘ starting 11 May. Dr Andrew Saul is known as ‘The Megavitamin Man’. He’s been teaching people how to use vitamins for almost 45 years. Hear his recommendations for using common every day vitamins to prevent and treat some of today’s most notorious diseases (and viruses).
Like us he doesn’t sell or endorse vitamin products, so you can be sure of an honest opinion.
Sir David: people’s advocate for the COP26 meeting in Glasgow in November, at which he will deliver a speech on conservation. Attenborough will also address G7 world leaders in Cornwall, next month. “There is no better person to build momentum for further change’ said PM Boris Johnson. Agreed.
4 1/2 stars on Amazon France, well deserved in our book. Gemma Newman is a British family doctor who believes that it is only in addressing the root causes of stress and disconnection that we can truly heal. She explains the science that shows why plant-power works and how you can use it.
3 May 2021|Health, Recipes, Sustainability, Testimonials
May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month and here is my dear friend Alison, who has bladder cancer:
‘I bet like me (pre 2012), you had never even considered bladder cancer. I knew of breast, bowel, prostate, liver and lung, but why had I never heard of bladder cancer?
My journey started whilst living in France. I was due vaccinations before flying to Hong Kong for a cruise. I had a cough and my GP was reluctant to give me my jabs and gave me antibiotics instead. I will be forever grateful that she did: The next day I started to pass blood in my urine and again the next, so I called her and she told me to stop the antibiotics and if the blood persisted to come and see her. It did and she felt sure the antibiotics may have aggravated something in my bladder and sent me for an ultrasound. I was able to be seen that afternoon and a tumour was discovered. A trip to a consultant and a look inside my bladder with a flexible cystoscopy (an instrument with a camera inserted via a catheter into the bladder) showed that the tumour was starting to work its way into the muscle. Still at a relatively early stage it needed to be removed. So on my birthday, instead of flying to Hong Kong, I had the first of many TURBTS (trans-urethral re-section of bladder tumour), which removed the tumour and was biopsied. It was pointed out to me that if the tumour carries on growing and leaves the bladder it will invade other organs with a high risk of morbidity. Bladder removal is often the life-saver for many. A life-changing operation that brings with it a new way of living and having to get used to a stoma and what many term as their “bag for life”. I fortunately still have my bladder and have been fortunate to continue with regular check ups and have had many recurrences but still at intermediate grading. I have had two sessions of chemotherapy where the liquid is placed in my bladder and held for two hours before releasing. Some patients with more advanced cancers undergo other chemo or radiation treatment or the BCG vaccine.
Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in Europe and one of the most costly to treat due to it being a cancer that has a high recurrence rate.
The good news? Like every cancer the earlier you are seen the better the outcome. Do not ignore frequent urine infections, cystitis, back pain and of course blood in urine.
I discovered Fight Bladder Cancer: A charity set up by Andrew Winterbottom, who having a more advanced diagnosis could not find any support group online.
He emailed me and reassured me that with regular checks and possible surgeries I could live with bladder cancer and I do.
He set up the charity from his garden shed and although he has sadly recently passed on, his charity now has over 5,000 members globally and has a website approved by urologists and our very own Professor of Oncology to give advice and a forum that helps so many.
There is a quarterly magazine called and an online forum on Facebook alongside a bladder buddy service. The old ad used to say “It’s good to talk”, I can vouch for that and if you or anyone you know has any issues with urination and especially blood in urine…. Please get them, or yourself checked out – and then get in touch. I am so grateful to Andrew and I will continue to play my part in raising awareness.’ Alison Young.
UPDATE OCTOBER 2022
‘I’m never going to be able to say I’m in remission… Bladder Cancer has the highest rate of recurrence… BUT I am living with cancer and I won’t let it break my spirit. I will do all I can to educate others re bladder cancer and to try to live well and with positivity’. Alison
‘Big on flavour and fuss-free, the meal ideas are comforting, incredibly delicious, and show the full potential of cooking with plants!’ Earth of Maria
Move over Deliciously Ella? This is Maria Gureeva: 21 years old, Oxford Uni student, first cookbook released last month, 182k followers on Instagram….
You heard of her here first! (Although maybe not, her book’s currently out of stock on Amazon UK…)
‘If we had to keep all the plastic we used in our own homes we would stop quickly. Out of sight out of mind. We just don’t see it because plastic is shipped to places like this.’ Rebecca Manyclean-up projects are featured on our site.
26 April 2021|Health, Recipes, Sustainability, Testimonials
I can’t imagine what it’s like to live with permanent hair loss. I lived with it temporarily, following the same drug cocktail these ladies were administered in the treatment of breast cancer. Yes, these are photographs of ladies, disfigured, permanently.
Shirley knows what it’s like, all too well: “It’s difficult enough for a man to cope with baldness, but for a woman, it’s the most de-feminising disfigurement, not to mention a daily reminder of her cancer diagnoses and treatment. Various studies have shown this side-effect occurs in up to thirty three percent of women prescribed the drug (Taxotere).”
Shirley co-founded a global support group and has taken part in countless newspaper and magazine articles, podcast interviews, books and various blogs. Her memoir “Naked in the Wind: Chemo, Hair Loss and Deceit” describes the devastating impact of permanent hair loss on her life. She has dedicated many years to raising awareness about this little publicised adverse side-effect.
I read Shirley’s book last week, which is available at 99p/99cents for a limited time on Amazon Kindle UK/US. There, by the grace of God go I…
20 April 2021|Health, Nutrition, Sustainability, Testimonials
The other side of breast implants, by Ellie Young:
‘This is a very personal post that is quite hard to write but I really want to share my story in the hope of helping others and to raise awareness.
In 2012 I had breast augmentation. Before the surgery I didn’t feel feminine. I’ve always been lucky enough to have hips and a bum, but felt that my top half just didn’t fit. Following the surgery I finally had the confidence I was hoping for, I felt that my body was more balanced.
Fast forward 8.5 years and I’ve just had my implants removed.
I started to experience pain in the last few years, along with other symptoms with no explanation or medical diagnosis despite numerous tests/investigations. Symptoms such as chronic fatigue, autoimmune illness, gastro issues, tingling in my arms/hands, most days I would wake up feeling like I had a hangover! I started to accept that it was normal to feel like that. But then after doing some reading about Breast Implant Illness (BII) it was a no brainer for me. The “toxic bags” were really affecting my health. My body was constantly fighting these foreign objects and other areas of my health were suffering as a result.
I am sharing this because along with thousands of other women I think there needs to be more information around BII readily available to women considering implants. We are told implants are safe lifelong devices. We are NOT told about the possible health implications. It is amazing to have my health back again, I didn’t realise how sick I was. I’m back to the old “new” me. Most of my unexplained symptoms have already resolved. Still some healing to do but I’m on the right track. I really wish that there had been more information available to me about BII, I may have reconsidered my options.
We need to be encouraging young girls/women to love their bodies and that they ARE enough as they are. I have so many amazing people near and far who have really helped me over the last couple of months, I feel so grateful.’
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall joined the site this week with his new offering: Eat Better Forever which gives you all the tools you need to improve your eating habits, and therefore your life – permanently. And to help it all happen, he’s added 100 healthy recipes.
His 7 ways to transform your diet:
Go Whole. Go Varied. Go with your Gut. Reduce Refined Carbs. Factor in Fat. Think about your Drink. Eat (and don’t Eat) Mindfully.
The book’s already a Sunday Times bestseller in the UK. It’s excellent.
Dear David Attenborough, in my book the man’s ‘a national institution’. At 94 years young he’s released a film and a book, which he calls his Witness Statement for the natural world. They are a compelling, distressing, but ultimately hopeful read and watch.
13 April 2021|Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Research papers
From our contributor Robert Olifent: Cancer does not have to be a death sentence. There are many ways to support a person with cancer on their road to recovery, but much of this is never spoken about in the pharmaceutical-run medical system. Surely dealing with the many potential root causes of cancer should be a must? But this seems to be overlooked or ignored by some oncologists. With this in mind, it seems to me that the standard-of-care medical route is a little like trying to dry yourself off whilst still in the shower. Check out the Pubmed research site regarding low vitamin D levels and its implication in the susceptibility to cancer, it’s progression and survivability. This is just one factor, but it is incredibly important in supporting people through cancer. The medical doctors never told my parents this empowering information…
Learn from doctors, scientists and cancer survivors in this free docu-series, The Quest For the Cures (the Final Chapter). “The only barrier to truth is the presumption you already have it”.
‘Do you know the BEST anti-cancer, immune-boosting foods that have the power to protect you from heart disease, dementia, and other chronic illnesses?’ It’s the 10th Annual Food Revolution Summit 24 April – 2 May. 300K are already signed up for this FREE online event, including us. Join us?
So this was the book I swapped my China Study gift for last summer. And now, as I shared on last week’s ‘Something New’, I have both! Win/win.
‘David shares updates on the field of aging, insights on recently published studies, and opinions about how we can—and should—move forward in a world where people could be “100 years young.”
6 April 2021|Health, Nutrition, Sustainability, Testimonials
We began on Easter Sunday and continue with this, from Irena, one of our contributors:
Vicky contacted me a couple of years ago regarding a debilitating needle phobia she had suffered from since early childhood. Her goal: “not to let this phobia rule my life!” However, the underlying reason Vicky got in touch was that she and her partner wanted to start a family.
The fear Vicky felt was extremely intense and we had to abandon the process a couple of times. Finally, I decided instead of being confined to my practice room, we would take a little stroll down my country lane, and I would try using
BWRT®(BrainWorking Recursive Therapy) again – while we were walking and chatting in the sunshine. Without the pressure of expectations, Vicky was relaxed and within about 20 minutes she achieved what she came to achieve.
A few months later, Vicky texted me: “I’ve done it, given blood!” It’s always an uplifting moment when your client faces their fear and does it anyway – without a hitch!
Then in June 2020, Vicky recontacted me to announce she was two months pregnant! Also, “could we work on her birthing fears”? Osian was born in January 2021. Irena is featured on our Healthy Mind websites section.
I’ve been busy ‘cleaning up’ the site this week. You’ll notice Health Conditions have been broken down into 11 sections and I’ve begun putting comments at the top of each page of our site, bringing a friendlier feel, rather than a list of information (that’s the aim anyway! Do let me know if it works for you…) sharing things that I’ve used and learned along the way.
Jue found this gem this week too. Now why does she enjoy listening so much? Because is features Gemma Newman aka Plant Power Doctor and the regenerative agriculture advocates behind Kiss the Ground film? Or could it be the soft Aussie tones of Mr Simon Hill? I have no idea – but it really is worth a listen…
A very strange thing happened this week (it’s been quite a week by all accounts): Jue and I were out walking on Easter Saturday and came across a copy of this being offered on a free bookstall by the side of the street. In English. In a little medieval village in SW France.
I’ve been missing my copy (that Jue bought me as a birthday gift) since I swapped it with a medical student from Cambridge University, who was staying with us last summer.
Featured on the site here. I’ll tell you what I swapped it for next time.
1 April 2021|Recipes, Research papers, Sustainability
April Fool? I wish…
This was the result of me happily singing along to George Michael and Queen Live in the sunshine last weekend.
Oops. Grateful to good friends and a knight in shining armour (with a whacking great 4×4 and a tow bar). No harm done! (Apart from my driving reputation).
Made this beaut yesterday. Doesn’t look ‘quite’ like the pic on the recipe but it soon disappeared over coffee this morning with some girlfriends… No added sugar, no flour, no eggs. I’ve been missing a good old carrot cake – no more; this vegan one more than ‘ticks the box’!
1000’s more healthy recipes on our site This one’s from Forks over Knives – thank you guys.
Jue added Seaspiracy to the site this week. She says I’ll never eat fish again after watching… On Netflix – now.
Here’s some science linking low Vitamin D levels to increased CoVid risk and longer recovery periods.
Many of the sites featured under Healthy Body have stacks of peer-reviewed research articles espousing the power of this vitamin that our body needs; from sunshine, or supplemented in capsule form.
One finger for each year free of cancer. This was me today in front of Oncopole, Toulouse’s cancer hospital. This is the ‘why’ of Double-Zero: I had no idea that I was unhealthy, a ‘type C’ person as Laura Bond calls us in her wonderful book Mum’s not having Chemo, no idea that I could heal from cancer, no idea that I could make my body inhospitable to cancer. Now I do – this site’s about sharing that knowledge with you – and others you tell about it!
Pangea Movement are currently clearing beaches in Bali. When I saw the resort we honeymooned at 25 years ago it resonated: I messaged them this week on Instagram to ask what they do with the waste when removed, they replied personally:
‘Thanks for your interest. The trash is classified and audited to collect the data of the brands, products and materials that are polluting the rivers of Bali. Afterwards it is sent to a recycling centre. The hard plastics are melted and reused as PET pellets. All the data collected is then reported to the public and to the brands in an effort to drive change from the core of the problem: the producers.’ Sustainability.
One of my fave sites and this week I could not work out why they had NO recipes for my beloved celeriac. Nor did several other sites under our recipe section Turns out celeriac is celery root in American English. Something else I’ve learned…
