Last Sunday sweet potatoes came to church with us in the form of a delicious Sweet Potato and Coconut Curry.
Sweet potatoes are nutritional powerhouses. Research shows they have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity, support cardiovascular health, demonstrate anticancer properties, and may even help improve memory, metabolic health and intestinal barrier function.
We also learned something new: They are the seventh most produced crop in the world. With good reason.
Super Saturday Comfort Food
Super Saturday; the finale of this year’s Six Nations rugby, required proper nourishment.
This broccoli soup delivered exactly that:
- Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli
- Fibre: broccoli and kale
- Carbohydrates: potatoes (skin left on)
- Protein: butter beans
No dairy. No added fats. Just simple, hearty, healthy comfort food.
The Curious Case of the YouTube Doctor
This morning we discovered a YouTube channel run by someone calling himself Dr Alex.
We watched this video first:
It was interesting enough that we decided to subscribe. Then curiosity got the better of us.
A quick search revealed:
- 234K subscribers
- 14 million views
- Hundreds of 20-minute videos
All apparently produced within just a few months. Which raises an interesting question. How does a busy practicing doctor find the time to produce that much content?
Reddit commentators believe the channel might actually be AI-generated.
We were initially fooled. Or perhaps we weren’t. Because here’s the question: The advice itself seems solid. If it is AI and it could well be, does it matter?
We’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts.
Climate Trails – And Why We Should Pay Attention
We also stumbled across the trailer for a film exploring Climate Trails and their impact on human health.
We added it here as a reminder to watch it later.
But then something odd happened.
The film is not available in Europe on Prime.
Nor is it available in Europe on Vimeo.
That alone raised our curiosity.
The data behind the project highlights growing evidence linking climate patterns and human health outcomes.
Meanwhile… Denise Was in Florida
Part of the reason this blog arrives a little later than usual is that Denise has been Stateside attending the annual conference organised by the Annie Appleseed Project.
This gathering brings together:
- cancer patients
- survivors
- advocates
- integrative medical professionals
All focused on better conversations about cancer and healing.
Among those present — many of whom appear on our cancer resource — were:
- Jane McLelland
- Joe Tippens
- Chris Wark
- Amanda King
- Mark Lintern
- Ryan Sternagel
Alongside conference organisers including president Julia Chiappetta and vice president Joanna Gatto.
The conference was sold out.
The waitlist had to be closed.
Two things were impossible to ignore:
- The average age of attendees had dropped significantly
- The severity of cancer diagnoses had increased
Which sadly means one thing:
Next year, we’re going to need a bigger venue.
A Memory from Medical School
The conference also reminded us of a conversation years ago with a medical student from Cambridge University.
During his six-year medical degree, the total time spent studying nutrition was…
One afternoon lecture.
Thankfully, things do appear to be slowly changing.
Life Can Change in an Instant
And often does.
Mel Robbins often talks about this on her weekly podcast — one of the reasons she features on our Healthy Mind resource.
Her message is simple but powerful:
Small shifts in how we think and speak can reshape our lives.
A Free Series Worth Watching
If you’re looking for thoughtful viewing, both seasons of the Transcendence series are currently available for free until 31 March.
Trailer for Season 1:
Trailer for Season 2:
Across the two seasons, 47 speakers explore the intersection of health, mindset and healing – many of whom appear on our Healthy Body and Healthy Mind resources.
Hope in Healing
One of the most powerful parts of the Annie Appleseed conference is the shared belief that healing is possible.
When more than 300 people gather who truly believe that, something remarkable happens.
This year’s event was particularly powerful.
We’re now waiting expectantly to hear from those who spent time in the conference’s Green Room; a quiet space set aside for prayer and meditation.
Conversations That Matter
Book signings often turn into something more meaningful.
They become spaces for spontaneous conversations, even mini consultations.
Cancer patients.
Survivors.
Doctors.
Researchers.
All sharing knowledge, stories and encouragement.
A community united around one simple message:
There is hope in healing.
The Brits Go to the Beach
After the conference ended, the British contingent did what British people tend to do when abroad.
We went to the beach.
And yes, typical British weather greeted us there.
Mushrooms at the Market
The following morning brought church… and then a farmers market.
One of the highlights was beautiful home-grown organic pink and yellow mushrooms.
Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles have published fascinating research on the many health benefits of mushrooms, from immune support to metabolic health.
Nature continues to surprise us.
The Power of Words in Healing
A big thank you to everyone who attended my talk on the power of verbal communication in healing.
There is now an increasing body of research showing that the language we us, both outwardly and internally, can influence health outcomes.
We’ll be publishing the talk on our Substack later this week.
I got to meet Mr Joe Tippens before I introduced him to the conference’s main stage. He’s a bit of a legend in the complimentary and alternative medicine world. Have a look at his blog and you’ll see why.
A Full-Circle Moment
One particularly meaningful moment came when Denise met Chris Wark. Back in 2018, his books and his Square One program played an important role in her own healing journey.
Soon they’ll be recording a video interview together, which we’ll add to our cancer resource.
Spoiler: Just don’t. Full article here
A recent smile.
After reading the ingredient labels on some protein shakes…margaritas might actually be the healthier option.
(Only half joking.)
It is. Thank you Dawn. You can find more from Dawn on our cancer resource.
Free 3 hour summit with these ladies. Sign up with your email here
There’s a reason James Clear’s work has been part of our Healthy Mind resource since day one. He talks a whole lotta sense:
Small things change lives.
A meal shared.
A conversation started.
A community gathered around hope.
This week reminded us that healing doesn’t always begin with a breakthrough.
Sometimes it begins with something as simple as a sweet potato curry… and a conversation.
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There’s something very engaging about the tone of this piece. It feels natural but still insightful, and I’m grateful you shared it with readers.