Tag: nuts

The Myth of Good and Bad Cholesterol

According to William Roberts, the long-serving editor or the Journal of Cardiology, the only direct atherosclerotic risk factor is high cholesterol. The goal for total cholesterol level is < 150 mg/dL [3.9 mmol/L] and for LDL cholesterol it is < 70 mg/dL [1.8 mmol/L].

Atherosclerosis is not a disease of carnivores, and it is not possible to produce atherosclerosis in carnivores [dogs, cats, tigers, lions, etc.].

We are not natural carnivores. We evolved to eat plants, fruits, and starches!

It is generally accepted that HDL Cholesterol absorbs cholesterol in the blood and carries it back to the liver where if is then flushed it from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol can lower your risk for heart disease and stroke.

However, excess cholesterol can only occur in herbivores AND ALL animals have HDL Cholesterol. The purpose of HDL Cholesterol is NOT to flush the excess from the blood.
Read more ⇒

20 June 2026
Zinc, Selenium and the Immune System

Zinc and selenium are important micronutrients required for the immune system to function effectively along with vitamins A, C, E, B6, B12, C, D, E and folic acid and the trace elements iron and copper.

Both insufficient and excessive intakes of zinc and selenium can have negative consequences on the immune status.

For the majority of people, low selenium intake is not a major issue. Whole-grains provide provide a more than adequate supply for vegans.

A serum selenium test shows a short-term status of selenium whilst red blood cell selenium reflects a long-term status.

Before consuming large amounts of selenium in foods or supplements, it is important to know the true status of your selenium.
Read more ⇨

6 August 2021
PREDIMED Trial – Mediterranean Diet with Olive Oil or Nuts

The PREDIMED trial assigned 7447 participants ranging from 55 to 80 years of age who were at high cardiovascular risk, but with no cardiovascular disease at enrollment, to one of three diets: a “Mediterranean Diet” supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil; a “Mediterranean Diet” supplemented with mixed nut; or a control diet with advice to reduce dietary fat.

The “Mediterranean Diet” was the participants normal diet.

50% of the participants that did not have metabolic syndrome at the start of the trial, were afflicted at the end of the trial, irrespective of which of the 3 groups the particpants were assigned.
Read more ⇨

29 August 2020
Lyon Diet Heart Study

The Lyon Diet-Heart Study was a

“randomized, single-blind secondary prevention trial aimed at testing whether a Mediterranean-type diet, compared with a prudent Western-type diet, may reduce recurrence after a first myocardial infarction.”

The study consisted of 605 patients who had recovered from a myocardial infarction at a hospital in southern France. The experimental group emphasised “more bread, more root vegetables and green vegetables, more fish, less meat (beef, lamb and pork to be replaced with poultry), no day without fruit, and butter and cream to be replaced with margarine” which was high in alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid).
Read more ⇨

23 June 2020
Bean Patties

It is difficult to find a recipe for a vegetarian patty that does not fall apart at some stage. These falafel patties are delicious and hold their shape and can be eaten hot or cold.
Read more ⇨

26 February 2020
Impact of Gluten-free Diets

There is a substantial difference between a standard western diet and a gluten-free diet. If a gluten-free diet is no warranted, a gluten-free diet may have unintended health consequences that are not beneficial as well as creating an additional inconvenience.

Consumption of complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) and dietary fibre can be significantly less.
Read more ⇨

1 January 2020
2040 Documentary

2040 is a documentary by Damon Gameau that targets a young audience to convince them that they can make a difference to planet Earth’s well-being using technology that we all ready have at our disposal.

The key areas addressed in the documentary are transport, electricity production, agriculture, marine permaculture (kelp farming) and education.
Read more ⇨

14 September 2019
When Vegan Diets Do Not Work

It is not uncommon for people to claim that they have tried a vegan diet and it simply did not work for them. Not all vegan diets are healthy.

Much publicity is given to the longevity of the people of Japan and Okinawa (an archipelago that stretches from southern Japan to Taiwan). However, the population with the longest lifespan and the highest levels of health on the planet is the vegan Californian Seventh-day Adventists.

People are not predisposed to vegan diets or otherwise. When it comes to nutrition, we are pretty much the same – allergies being one significant difference.

Below are components of a healthy whole-food, plant-based diet. Many people on a unhealthy vegan diet are missing a number of important components of an optimal diet.
Read more ➱

27 April 2019
Macadamia and Cashew Dukhah with Australian Bush Spices

Dukkah (pronounce the u as in duke, dū’ka) originated in Egypt. It is made a mixture of seeds, nuts various roasted nuts and spices. It can be used as a topping over salads, pasta or anything else that takes your fancy.

The recipe below uses Australian spices but you can try any spice, herb or nuts that takes your fancy.
Read more ➱

4 November 2016
Men’s Shed Morpeth – 28 February 2014

The transcript of a talk given at Morpeth Men's Shed on 28 February 2014.
Read more ➱

27 February 2014