Food for thought

We are fast approaching the time of year when most of us will eat and drink too much on at least one occasion over the season of goodwill. This is nothing new and comes as no great surprise but what fascinates me is the amount written about magic cures for hangovers, advice on the “right” foods to eat, how to start/maintain a healthy diet and how to reduce the effects of over indulgence at Christmas.

We have become obsessed with food and for all of the wrong reasons. Very few people in this country go hungry these days and hardly anyone starves. We probably have the opportunity to eat more food than at any other time in history and enjoy a much more varied diet than many other nations, so why the fascination with food?

Researchers seem to be undertaking a constant search for ‘Super foods’ that will provide the elixir of life, with so numerous foods now rated on their anti-oxidants, vitamin content, fibre content….the list goes on. Just this week I was sent a communication telling me that eating just one 70g bar of a certain brand of chocolate will provide me with the same amount of antioxidants as a whole 7lb of Brussels sprouts! This interested me on two counts: one, there is no mention the particular ingredients in either the chocolate (which I like) or the sprouts (which I also like, but not enough to eat 7 lbs in one go); and two, the mixture of metric and imperial measurements. I’m not really bothered if we go metric or stay Imperial, but I am getting fed up with having to convert from one to the other and back again. We have been messing about with this since the 1970’s.

Super foods
At the moment, Blueberries are very fashionable as they have been found to contain a range of micronutrients, anthocyanins, other antioxidant pigments and various phytochemicals, as well as (possibly) helping alleviate some of the effects of ageing. But then there are Goji berries. Originating from China and Tibet, these little red berries are nutritionally rich, containing beta-carotene, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids. Apparently they are good for the liver, aid digestion and circulation, improve eyesight and boost the immune system. They are also nicknamed “happy berries” because of the sense of well-being they are said to induce. The trouble is, they taste awful.
Personally, I think “all things in moderation” works – it might not be trendy or “super”, but it is practical. I also think we gardeners have had it right all along. Growing your own fruit and veg is part of a healthy life style, because it makes you get outside for fresh air and exercise as well as providing fresh food that is chock-full of nutrients rather than being cold-stored and shipped half way across the globe. If I grow a mixture of these new fruits with my existing black currants, red currants and apples, it’s because I like the flavour!
See you next time.