Many foods are now sold on the basis that they are good for your health, but do we really know what the jargon in the advertising means?
Pre-biotic and pro-biotic bacteria are found in some types of yoghurt and fermented milk products. Pro-biotic bacteria is a ‘live microbial feed supplement that beneficially affects the host animal by improving its intestinal balance’. Roughly translated this means pro-biotics are able to improve the balance of bacteria in the gut, thereby reducing the risk of disease. A pre-biotic, on the other hand, is a food that isn’t digested by the body but stimulates the growth of certain bacteria in the colon, thereby improving health. Pre-biotics include carbohydrates, which are added to certain yoghurts. None of this has been proved but plain natural yoghurt is known to be good for restoring the bacterial balance in your gut following a course of antibiotics. Yoghurt is also good for soothing your stomach after a tummy upset.
Margarines enriched with plant Chemicals
Plant chemicals are called sterols and they are similar in structure to cholesterol. Unlike cholesterol, sterols are not absorbed by the gut and can inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from the diet. Studies have shown that plant sterols can significantly reduce LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) while raising HDL-cholesterol (good cholesterol) in the blood. So it is worth a try if your cholesterol is high.
Staple foods such as bread or breakfast cereals are often fortified with folic acid. Studies have shown that a good intake of folic acid or folate (B vitamin) is needed to reduce the risk of neural-tube defects, such as spina bifida, developing in unborn babies.
Studies have shown that people who have high intakes of oily fish — a rich source of omega-3 fatty acid — have a lower incidence of heart disease than those who don’t. By incorporating beneficial fish oils into products such as eggs, people who dislike oily fish can still benefit from these oils.
Recipe of the Week
Aunty Jan’s Bara Brith
Ingredients
340g Dried Mixed Fruit
285ml Strong Hot Tea
200g Soft Brown Sugar
2 tsp. Mixed Spice (optional)
340g Self-raising Flour
1 Large Egg
Handful Crushed Walnuts
Honey
Method
Mix the mixed fruit, hot tea, brown sugar and mixed spice in a large bowl, cover and leave for 24 hours. Then add the self-raising flour, one large beaten egg and a handful of crushed walnuts. Put ingredients in a 900g-loaf tin in the centre of the oven at 150º or gas Mark 4 for 90 minutes. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling tray. Coat the top of the cake with honey while it is still hot.
Ask Alva
I do water aerobics three times a week and swim 20 lengths a day. But my gym instructor has told me that to burn calories more efficiently, I should do aerobic workouts on the treadmill or in a class instead of exercising in the water. My water aerobics teacher has said my personal trainer is wrong, and that water workouts are great for calorie burning and toning. Who is right? Betty
As a calorie burning exercise, swimming has an uneven reputation. Although it gets high marks for being easy on your joints and is known as an excellent muscle and aerobic conditioner, some research indicates that it’s a poor calorie-burner.
The message seems to be that whilst elite swimmers burn a good amount of calories, the rest of us don’t use as much muscle power. So what can you do to increase the calorie burn of swimming workouts short of qualifying for the Olympics? Push yourself to improve technique and mechanical efficiency. Swim for longer periods of time and burn more calories while you’re at it. You should also do whatever kind of exercises you enjoy. If you enjoy water workouts, why give them up? You’re definitely going to burn more calories getting to the pool three times a week than if you make up excuses for missing a workout in the gym that you find boring. Alva
For all your weight concerns and questions e-mail Alva Carpenter at:
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