FOOD FOR THOUGHT.. Healthy eating

THE NEW "F" WORD

At the height of the F-Plan diet craze , we all knew that "f" stood for fibre... well now that has changed to flavonoids(supernutrients found in many everyday foods).. theses are now set to take over.

According to a study in the U.S.A. the more we consume each day, the longer we are likely to live. The research found that regular eating of strawberries,grapefruit,onions,apples,pears and even things like a little tea, chocolate (oh! great my favourite) and red wine all help to prolong life, mostly by protecting against cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.

SHED POUNDS, PREVENT CANCER

A study of 1.2 million British women by experts from the University of Oxford has shown that around 5% of all cancers in women could be attributed to their being overweight or obese. This means that 6,000 cases of cancer in the U.K. each year could be prevented by just shedding a few pounds.

CHICORY

WHAT IS IT

A member of the lettuce family and a distant relative of the dandelion, it has a crunchy texture and a slightly bitter taste, Grown extensively in Europe, it dates back 4,000 years

WHY IS IT GOOD FOR ME

A natural source of inulin, a prebiotic that nourishes the good bacteria in your digestive system. Studies show that inulin rich foods can help boost the immune system and may help lower the risk of bowel cancer.

WILL IT MAKE ME BIG AND STRONG

Chicory gives you vitamins c and k, calcium, phosphorus and potassium, Studies show that inulin may help boost calcium absorption and increase bone mineral density, so chicorys combination of inulin and calcium is good news for bones.

WHAT DO I DO WITH IT

Add leaves to salads or try braising halved chicory, The leaves also go well with mustard dressings and citrus fruit such as lemon or orange