HEALTH TIT BIT : MUSIC, MICE (ND HUMAN TOO)

Music and Mice (and humans too?!) An experiment was carried out recently using mice and music. One group was given “classical music” to listen to. They ate well and became sleek and fat. The other control group had “hard rock music” piped into their cage. The experiment did not last long as they began to fight and eventually most of them were dead. They had killed or severely injured each other!. The choice of music could affect humans too !

Going (on) Nuts !! Nuts are a very rich, concentrated food and should only be eaten in moderation even if they do taste good! Up to 29% of their weight is protein, with B and E vitamins, calcium, iron, and other important minerals. Eaten whole, or mixed with dried fruits, they make a satisfying finish to breakfast. Nuts can be ground and used to enrich many dishes, including gravies, vegetable casseroles or hot pots, or added to dessert dishes for extra nutrition.

Some nuts like walnuts are very beneficial when used alongside a diet of plant products. It requires only a small fistful each day (the fingers closed over into a fist) for the cholesterol readings to drop. They can be eaten at breakfast or stirred into salads, or even eaten with fruity desserts. One can also use ground almonds to add to dinner as a sprinkle. Almonds have 3 times more calcium than walnuts, and 6 times more than cashews, as well as being high in iron. A word of caution some people have nut allergies. Those people develop swelling very quickly after eating nuts and have to carry adrenalin to give themselves a speedy injection if the problem occurs. This allergy is potentially serious.

Going on fruits as snacks !

Fruits have skins and are actually like nature's ready-packed snacks. The juice and the flavour is all held in tightly until you are ready and with most fruits after washing even the skin can be eaten! A red apple has different health giving qualities from a green apple too. There are many salad combinations which are worth trying. Iceberg lettuce and a tomato is better than nothing, but try to use the deeper green or red lettuce, dark-green water-cress, two or three grated brussel sprouts, or some finely cut spring cabbage. Dark-green leaves should form the basis, then build with a selection of other colours, carrots, peppers, radishes and others. It can be differently beautiful every time, but big!

An ideal combination for packed Tiffin or lunch would be a few nuts, mixed with dried fruit, a tablespoon of dressing, a small vegetable pie, a bunch of grapes, a slice of nut roast, some savoury rice, vegetable dips and sticks of crunchy vegetables, marinaded tomatoes and others, or small well rinsed olives, either black or green.