Jerusalem artichoke soup with sage and flaked almonds

Posted on By JoanF

This recipe is taken from Amelia Freer‘s website. I came across it while looking for inspiration on what to do with Jerusalem artichokes. I had wanted to include them in my diet while they were in season this winter as they are such a good source of prebiotic fibre. Prebiotic foods feed the “good” bacteria in our gut, and as so many aspects of our health are dependent on our gut bacterial diversity, it is very important that we consume them on a regular basis.… Read the rest

Cauliflower Rice

Posted on By JoanF
Cauliflower Rice

If you’re trying to reduce your carbohydrate intake, perhaps to lose weight, then you’ll want some easy swaps to transition your way into your new way of eating. Cauliflower rice is low in carbohydrate and is incredibly easy to make, in less time than it takes to boil white rice. And best of all, cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable.… Read the rest

Detox: fad or necessity?

Posted on By JoanF
juice fast

At this time of year, the media is often full of articles urging us to embark on a detox to cleanse us of the excesses of the Christmas season. By contrast, a common response to this is to assert that the body has perfectly good systems of detoxification in place – the liver and the kidneys – and that we do not need to do anything to further promote detoxification.… Read the rest

Starting the Conversation: a review of the 2017 Yes to Life conference

Posted on By JoanF

My blog is a little different this month as it’s not my musings on a particular nutrition or health issue. Instead, I thought I’d bring you a review of the this year’s Yes to Life conference on integrative approaches to cancer which took place in London on Saturday 25 November 2017. I know a few people who would have liked to have attended the conference but couldn’t make it.… Read the rest

Vitamin D – are you getting enough?

Posted on By JoanF

Now that British Summer Time is over, unless you are lucky enough to be on holiday in a sunnier climate, it’s time to consider you much vitamin D you should be taking. In 2016, Public Health England issued guidance(1) stating that all adults in the UK need to obtain at least 10mcg (400IU) vitamin D every day to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.… Read the rest

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Posted on By JoanF

A bowl of homemade soup is wonderfully nourishing. Warming and easier to digest than raw vegetables, it is the perfect food for autumn and winter.

Cruciferous vegetables are particularly important to include in your diet on a regular basis. Compounds in cruciferous vegetables protect cells from DNA damage, help the liver detoxify carcinogens and excess hormones (and are therefore important for women’s hormonal health issues), inhibit cancer cells from forming their own blood supply and prevent them from spreading.… Read the rest

Eating for Autumn

Posted on By JoanF

Autumn leaves

Now that we are past the equinox, it definitely feels like autumn. As I’m writing this, the sun is just breaking through the mist, but it has taken until 11.30am. I love autumn: the colours of the trees in glory, morning mist, the smell of bonfires, scrunching through leaves.

I’ve lived in cities all my life.… Read the rest

Butternut Squash Noodle Stir-Fry

Posted on By JoanF

Butternut squash noodle stir-fry

Butternut squash noodles are a great autumnal alternative to wheat or rice noodles, and have the added bonus of being packed with beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A. Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant, and vitamin A contributes to healthy eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Pak choi and broccoli are cruciferous vegetables which have numerous benefits including helping to normalise oestrogen metabolism and upregulating liver detoxification enzymes.… Read the rest