Remember when nuts were a no-no?

Now nuts are good for us and so is fat. Or to be more specific, almonds and their skins may selectively boost bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut, and of course most folk now distinguish between good fat and bad fat and those good fats include nuts, avocado, butter, olive oil, coconut oil (oh and yes, you will probably remember when that was a bad guy too)!

So if you’re confused you can bet your life you’re not nearly as confused as the marketing teams who have been flogging the no-fat, low-fat, reduced-fat horse for years and who are now required to put a different spin on things.

My advice...nature has put everything your body and brain need into the whole food, so a diet of whole, unadulterated food, grown on healthy soil, eaten fresh and when the food is in season. But how many of us can truthfully say our meals tick all of those boxes?

Therefore nutritional supplements definitely have a place, at any age or life stage, since they provide an ‘insurance policy’ when the reality of modern diets falls short of the ideal. And when you’re choosing supplements, you also need certainty about the research supporting the formulation, the source of the raw materials and the credentials of the manufacturer. I've blogged about a few of my very favourite products through the years - check 'em out!

Make mine Mediterranean!

I blogged a few weeks ago that the Mediterranean diet was under threat - thanks to the financial constraints imposed on consumers by the GFC. 

But this new study, showing the Mediterranean diet is able to cut the risk of heart disease by 30 percent also makes it clear that these particular eating habits should be enshrined as a healthy legacy for all! Of course generations have lived by its precepts and many more regularly enjoy this fine cuisine in its multiple guises. This so-called “landmark” study, which began in 2003 was terminated in 2011, cut short because the findings were so significant and because those following the standard “low fat diet” as recommended by the American Heart Association were at such a disadvantage! How’s that for damning the dietary pundits ...?

Wondering exactly what constitutes the Mediterranean diet? Think ... Spanish, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Middle Eastern. Think ... very high in fresh vegetables and fruit (red, orange, purple, green), whole grains, legumes, seafood and mono-unsaturated fats from olive oil, olives and nuts such as walnuts and almonds. Also think ... much reduced meat and dairy!

Oh and along with food lovingly prepared from a cornucopia of fresh ingredients, you’ll usually find a fine glass of red wine and convivial surroundings in that Mediterranean mix!