Catherine Saxelby's Blog, page 2

Prunes preserve bones (who knew?) and spring recipes to try

This month, I’ll let you know about a new study that shows how eating just five or six prunes a day helps your hip bones stay young (interesting).  And share with you some of the results of the  Vegetable Challenge for Women’s Health Week 2022 which ran from 5 September to 11 September inclusive.

This month I look at this and more...  AuthorCatherine Saxelby

Spring Vegetable Pesto Pasta Salad

Product snapshot: Berkelo’s Khorasan Macaroni

I’m loving this macaroni from Berkelo. I was sent a sample for Whole Grain Week 2022 by the Grains Legume Nutrition Council. I cooked it up and found that it was just divine! Read on for more …

AuthorCatherine Saxelby

Get back to basics

“Get back to basics”.  I hear this all the time so it’s a good topic to spell out more! Here’s what I regard as the ‘basics’.

AuthorCatherine Saxelby

Can you outrun a poor diet? The findings are in.

In a recent study, researchers looked into the quality of diet and whether exercise is enough on it's own to lower the incidence of heart disease and cancer.  Can we 'outrun' disease or is diet equally or more important.   I also tackle the age old question of how much idodine do we really need.  

This month I look at this and more...  AuthorCatherine Saxelby

7 ways to build a strong immune system

A properly functioning immune system is your best protection against energy-draining sicknesses such as the common cold or flu, and may also help to prevent more serious illnesses such as COVID-19 or swine flu. But before you spend up big on expensive herbal supplements or ‘immune-boosters’, try these seven basics first.

What's a serve of vegetables?

For optimal health, nutritionists recommend that adults should eat five serves a day of vegetables or salad, either raw or cooked, and more if you can. But few of us eat this amount.

The amount of vegies children should eat depends on their age, appetite and physical activity levels. After about nine years old, children should eat the same serves of vegetables as adults – meaning that kids can also aim for five a day.

Can frozen vegetables take the place of fresh?

The motto for healthy eating used to be ‘Eat fresh’. However, many of us have little time, so frozen ingredients are a handy replacement for most fresh ones. Plus, the price of fresh vegetables has risen recently due to floods and a shortage of pickers. So yes, some frozen vegies can make up your five serves a day. But you still need to eat some fresh produce to get enough vitamin C, folate and thiamine in your diet. This includes vitamin C–rich fresh fruit such as oranges or kiwi fruit (remember, you only need two serves of fruit a day).

AuthorCatherine Saxelby

Squash-ed spaghetti bolognaise

Hangry? Tame that beast with food ideas ... and more

In a recent study, researchers linked hunger to emotions such as anger, irritability and less pleasure, even after accounting for variables such as a person’s age, body mass index, sex and dietary behaviours. The results were the same: people were angry and irritable when they didn’t eat.  Anyone with a teenager or toddler who hasn't had their lunch can relate! 

This month I look at this and more...  AuthorCatherine Saxelby