17th August 2017
protein

In defence of protein

Lately, I’ve seen a fair few articles raising concerns over the amount of protein in our diets.  In fact, I googled “Are we eating too much…” and the most popular predicted next words were “protein” and “meat”.  Are we really eating too much protein?  How much do we really need?  Do some people need more?  Does it really damage our kidneys and bones and give us cancer?  Here’s the lowdown on all things protein-based.   Quality AND quantity   Protein is one of the three macronutrients (the other two being carbohydrate and fat).  It’s made up of smaller units called amino acids, of which there are around 20, with 9 being essential in the diet as our body cannot make […]
3rd July 2017
Body positivity

Beauty and the beach

We’ve hit peak ‘Beach body ready’ in the Northern Hemisphere.  Two months’ worth of diets, exercise plans and tummy smoothing swimsuits have been forced upon us from every angle.  It’s now the height of summer and to those who dare to take their body to the beach with double digit body fat percentage: Tracy Anderson is coming to get you.   Who on earth is Tracy Anderson?  She’s a US-based personal trainer to the stars, who once fell out with Madonna and fell in with Gwyneth Paltrow and the Goopettes.  You can see where this is going already.  Now usually, I tend to ignore these celebrity trainers and self-appointed wellness gurus, but last week my interest was piqued and I […]
4th April 2017

Are super cheap foods good for you?

Tonight a new food TV series begins on ITV called Save Money: Good Food.  The show, starring presenter Susanna Reid and chef Matt Tebbutt, aims to help families eat well for less with tips on meal planning, cooking and budgeting.  I helped compare supermarket own label value foods against the more premium, branded options with some surprising results!  So when you buy a super cheap version of a food, are you really compromising on health or taste or could you be bagging yourself a healthy bargain?   Cornflakes This breakfast staple is actually nutritionally very similar, whichever brand you buy.  All consist of mostly maize with some added sugar, salt, vitamins and minerals.  What’s really interesting though, is the value-range […]
23rd February 2017
Chopping vegetables

5 a day or 10 a day? Just eat more!

Today’s headlines induced guilt for the 73% of UK adults that fail to consume 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day (NDNS data, 2016).  A new study suggests that while getting your 5 a day is good, eating 10 portions a day offers the most protection against chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.  Given that most of us struggle to achieve just 5 portions, is the reporting of these health messages doing more harm than good?   We all know that fruit and vegetables are good for us.  Many studies have shown that those who eat diets rich in fruit and veg have a lower risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.  The World Health […]