5 July 2023|Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Research papers, Sustainability
Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high
Classic Louis Armstrong, classic summer dish; Gazpacho.
This one’s by Amelia Freer, nutritionist, whose recipes feature on our site. First, but not last attempt. Delicious and healthy too:
1 red pepper, 1/2 stick of celery, 1/4 cucumber, 500g ripe tomatoes, 1 spring onion, 1/2 clove of garlic, handful of fresh basil, 1 1/2 teaspoons sherry vinegar, generous dash of Tabasco, salt and pepper. Whiz in a food processor and garnish with pumpkin seeds and basil leaves. That’s it.
Another step towards DIY (Do it Yourself) health was announced in the UK press this week. Online checks are to be offered to every 40-74 year old next year as part of ‘a government drive to “digitise” health services’.
With ‘2.6 million Britons off work with long-term sickness and two in three adults overweight or obese’ the UK clearly has a health problem. Is this the answer?
Steve Barclay, the UK Health Secretary says this: ‘It is a sad fact of life that some of the worst diseases we can suffer are often entirely preventable, especially if they are caught early. But so often life gets in the way of the simple check-ups or “mid-life MoTs” that can spot the growing risk of sickness’.
Cautious words from David Baines, of the Local Government Association however: ‘Making more digital health checks available is a useful tool to detect certain illnesses but it should be treated as an addition to, not a replacement for, a physical health check, which is still the best way to provide early detection of ill health.”
Full article here.
Our health. Our responsibility. Our priority!
Last week found me in the lavender fields of Provence; mile upon mile of scented, stunning flowers. The bees were in heaven, me too.
This is the lesser known, lighter coloured variety. It has a stronger, slightly bitter odour when bottled and the producer told me is used more often in fabric conditioner, rather than essential oil form.
Who knew?
Lavender is a natural powerhouse, here’s an article from the Cleveland Clinic explaining its uses and benefits.
‘The number of adults living with diabetes worldwide will more than double by 2050′ says a recent article in the UK’s Guardian newspaper.
The research authors wrote: “Type 2 diabetes, which makes up the bulk of diabetes cases, is largely preventable and, in some cases, potentially reversible if identified and managed early in the disease course. However, all evidence indicates that diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide, primarily due to a rise in obesity caused by multiple factors.”
Largely preventable – take a look at our diabetes resource. Many doctors agree.
The Financial Times published scary statistics this week from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine showing that over the past 30 years cancer rates in industrialised nations have increased by 22% in 25-29 years olds and rates for 20-34 year olds are at their highest level in 30 years. Good news in that cases in 75+ year olds have declined.
The article also shared that scientists are becoming convinced that changes to nutrition and lifestyle are partly to blame. With an increase of 70% in colorectal cancer in 15-39 year olds we have to share their convictions. The World Health Organisation declares processed meats to be carcinogenic (cancer causing), those sausages and burgers are just not worth it…
You can find many more doctors on our massive cancer resource that would wholeheartedly agree.
Let’s cover another one of the big non-communicable illnesses that are crippling our world and people are dying unnecessarily from: heart disease.
‘Analysis of official government data suggests that more than 500 people a week are dying needlessly from heart disease, heart attacks or strokes. There have been 96,540 extra cardiovascular-related deaths since March 2020, according to the report by the British Heart Foundation’ reports The Guardian newspaper in the UK. There have been ‘100000 excess deaths since March 2020’.
Not 100k deaths, but 100k ADDITIONAL deaths than would be expected.
What is going on? What has changed since March 2020?
Head to our heart disease resource where you’ll find many doctors offering hope to us all with lifestyle and dietary changes.
Speaking of lifestyle and dietary changes…
Just finished reading Dr Spector‘s latest offering: Food for Life, which we thoroughly recommend, as we do this one, which is a bargain on Kindle this month.
Until we really know what’s in processed food we won’t stop eating it, it tastes SO good, but when you know, well, you know…
Always nice to receive ‘thank you’s’. Dreena Burton’s work features on our site.
Health isn’t just about what we eat however. You can have as healthy a diet as you can, but without peace anxiety and stress will scupper your best efforts. Found a ‘piece of my peace’ here a few days ago.
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