PERSPECTIVES: Dr ALAN BARCLAY
FIBRE AND GLYCEMIC INDEX There is a common belief that foods that are high in fibre do not raise blood glucose levels as much as those that are low in fibre, and therefore “high fibre” can be used as a surrogate marker for “low GI” when shopping for foods. Is this belief valid? Before I …
PERSPECTIVES: Dr ALAN BARCLAY
FOOD AND MOOD Most of us are aware that certain foods and drinks, like chocolate, or a nice hot cuppa, can provide comfort when feeling down, but many would be surprised to learn that there is increasing evidence that the types of foods and drinks we consume on a regular basis can have a more …
PERSPECTIVES: Dr ALAN BARCLAY
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION COMPARED TO PERSONALISED DIETARY ADVICE Diet-related health conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers (e.g., bowel) are increasing all around the globe and governments are struggling to cope with their economic costs as are individuals with their social, psychological and financial costs. Strategies for reducing their burden range …
PERSPECTIVES: Dr ALAN BARCLAY
IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO It is generally well accepted that a key factor in the health and wellbeing of both the mother and new-born infant is an optimal food and nutrient intake before and during pregnancy. Of course, the nutritional status of prospective fathers is also an important factor in at the very least …
PERSPECTIVES
People today may be surprised to learn that until early in the 20th century, chocolate was considered to be a health food, with a range of potential health benefits. It was used thousands of years ago by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs, and much later by Europeans between the 16th and 19th centuries, as an …
PERSPECTIVES WITH DR ALAN BARCLAY
WATER, THIRST AND HYDRATION Water is an essential nutrient – in fact, more important to life than all other nutrients. The average healthy adult can survive just 2–5 days without water, but several months without food. Water is essential to life because it: Helps with the regulation of body temperature, as the evaporation of sweat …
PERSPECTIVES WITH DR ALAN BARCLAY
EATING FOR HEALTHY EYES The risk of developing eye disease increases as we age, potentially undermining our quality of life. The most common eye diseases associated with ageing are: Age-related cataracts, a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye, are a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is associated with …
PERSPECTIVES WITH DR ALAN BARCLAY
Kidneys, kidney disease and protein Most people have two bean-shaped kidneys, each about the size of a clenched fist, in the rear left and right sides of their torso, just below their ribs. They have many essential functions (e.g., regulating blood pressure, producing hormones and activating vitamin D), but most importantly they filter our blood …
PERSPECTIVES WITH DR ALAN BARCLAY
DRIED FRUITS KEEP IT REGULAR The World Health Organisation classifies traditional dried fruits like apples, apricots, dates, figs, prunes, pears, raisins and sultanas as “fruit”, and like fresh fruit, their natural sugars content is not defined as “free sugars”. In contrast, some dried fruits such as blueberries, cranberries, cherries, strawberries and mangoes are often infused …
PERSPECTIVES WITH DR ALAN BARCLAY
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: A GOOD SERVANT BUT A CRUEL MASTER People have been drinking alcoholic beverages for thousands of years – partly due to their intoxicating effects and partly due to the fact that they once provided a safer means of hydration when clean water was scarce. For many people around the world today, an alcoholic …
