I recently had a (very basic) health check – the free one you’re offered when you reach a certain age (if you’re lucky enough to live in the UK). I went in rather smugly, having been on the Kale & Cocoa diet for 18 months now – and came out a little less smugly. It…
WHY MUSTARD IS A MUST-HAVE, AND MUSTARD-MAPLE SALMON
As a kid, I hated mustard. I couldn’t understand the pre-Sunday lunch ritual of mixing bright yellow powder into a paste with a teeny tiny spoon (does anyone still own a mustard spoon, I wonder?) or the fervour with which my parents would seek out good Dijon on trips to France. But now I get…
SHOULD I GO PESCETARIAN? AND PRAWN, PEA AND PEPPER PAELLA
Bit of a bombshell from my daughters this week when they announced they have gone pescetarian. One has some clearly well-considered thoughts about animal welfare, the other is more concerned about the quality of meat they are served at school (which does sound awful to be honest). I’ve said that I’ll support them in their…
WHY THE GREAT OUTDOORS (AND WALNUTS) WILL KEEP YOU YOUNG
Ever felt that deep yearning to be out in the wild? If you have, you’re not alone. If you haven’t, it’s time to tune in. There’s now a huge body of medical evidence proving that being with wildlife keeps you healthier and happier. I write this as a committed Londoner who frequently feels a deep…
FABULOUS FERMENTED FOODS AND TEMPEH STIR FRY
You may have noticed that at Kale & Cocoa we are pretty much gut obsessed. From my perspective, it’s been a real education to discover how closely the health of our brains (and the rest of our bodies) are linked to the well-being of our gut. There’s new research published all the time: this week…
IS THE REDUCED CALORIE DIET DEAD? KALE CAESAR SALAD
There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about the reduced calorie (RC) diet. Many long-term studies show that a significant reduction in calories (20-40%) promotes longevity. Scientists aren’t quite sure why it works but think the RC diet tricks the body into thinking famine is imminent. Your cells then rally and this postpones…
SALMON: LET ME COUNT THE WAYS, AND THE EASIEST AFTER-WORK SALMON SALAD
If someone says ‘brain food’ what’s the first thing you think of? My guess is that it’s going to be fish – and probably oily fish. And if it’s oily fish, it’s got to be salmon. It’s become synonymous with healthy eating in recent decades. And it’s not just the brain that salmon can help….
ONE YEAR ON – COOKIES FOR KIDS (AND ADULTS!)
Happy Birthday to us! Kale & Cocoa is a year old today and we’d like to thank our 1000 followers for all their support. You’ve made all the hard work worthwhile! But our first birthday has got me thinking. During the last twelve months, we’ve immersed ourselves in hundreds of research reports, medical studies, blogs,…
SHOULD YOU EAT ORGANIC? HOT NICOISE SALAD WITH TUNA
When my children were babies I tried to buy organic food wherever possible. But then austerity struck and the cost of organic food suddenly seemed prohibitive – and along came a Government report saying organic food had no more nutrients than non-organic food. I carried on growing (organically of course!) as many of our fruit…
IMPROVE YOUR EYESIGHT – EAT MORE FREEKEH!
Have you noticed your eyesight isn’t what it used to be? Irritating isn’t it? Frightening even. Following the horrific crash of the Germanwings plane in the Alps two weeks ago, it turned out the 27-year old co-pilot responsible was suffering serious sight problems and had already lost 30 percent of his vision – possibly a…