This week's newsletter is good for you in all sorts of ways
...some more surprising than others. Find out what being upstanding has to do with them, enjoy a nutritious recipe, and a podcast recommendation with the power to make you feel so much better
Hello!
This week’s blog is all about why what I’m doing in this picture is so good for your physical and mental health, your productivity and the quality of your work
CLICK HERE to find out more, and discover why I’m so especially chuffed with my new purchase.
THIS WEEK I’VE BEEN……LISTENING TO
The theme of THE BLOG very much chimes with the premise of this informative podcast from science presenter, producer and journalist, Dr Michael Mosley.
In each short but satisfying episode (they are generally no more than 15 minutes long) he explores one simple thing you can do to improve your physical and mental health. Bringing his professional rigour to each suggestion, Michael not only explains what the one thing is, but investigates the research and science behind it, talking to experts about exactly why and how it can boost our health and wellbeing.
In the most recent series, which is the sixth but the first I’ve listened to, he explores, amongst other suggestions, how taking a daily vitamin D tablet can boost your immune system and be good for your brain; why getting an early night can benefit your heart and help you lose weight; and why wholegrains are rocket fuel for your all important microbiomes.
If I have one quibble with the format, it’s that each episode also includes someone who agrees to try the ‘one thing’ and report how they found doing it for a week. As many of the things have benefits and effects that aren’t necessarily, or speedily, obvious, and as he’s hardly likely to feature someone who has found it onerous or disadvantageous, this element feels somewhat staged and unnecessary.
That niggle aside, Just One Thing is an enlightening and reassuringly responsible guide to all manner of easy ways to feel better.
You can find JUST ONE THING on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.
In one of the ‘Just One Thing’ episodes, Michael investigates why being kind has the power not just improve your mental health but also protect your body from disease, which makes these
WORDS OF WISDOM
from Roy T Bennett, author of a book called The Light in the Heart, practically a health prescription
And just to help you out even more on the health-giving kindness front THIS BLOG supplies you with 15 simple ways to be kind. You’re welcome.
If you’ve been getting these newsletters for a while (thank you), you’ll know I’m a fan of home-delivered recipe boxes as a way to help you eat more healthily and try a wider range of foods.
I’ve used Mindful Chef for over 3 years, and whilst I always really enjoy the meals, and, just as importantly, always find they turn out exactly as promised/shown in the picture, I fancied a bit of a change. So as my daughter has been a loyal Gusto customer for almost the same length of time, I thought I’d give them a go.
This is the first of their recipes I tried (last night in case you’re remotely interested), and very tasty it was too. (The original recipe had chorizo in the stew, but I preferred to leave that out to make it meat-free)
SPANISH-STYLE HERBY COD STEW
This takes 30-40 mins and serves two
Preheat the oven to 200C/ 180C fan/ Gas 6
Peel and cut two red onions into wedges then separate into petals. Deseed one red pepper and cut into strips. Cut six small waxy potatoes (skin on) into small bite-sized pieces. Peel and finely chop two garlic cloves.
Heat a large wide-based pan on the hob (you’ll need to cover it, so one with a lid) with a drizzle of olive oil. Cook the onion, pepper and potatoes for 3-4 mins or until the potatoes are starting to turn brown. Add the garlic and cook for a further minute.
Dissolve 1 vegetable stock cube in 400ml boiling water, and stir in two heaped tablespoons of tomato paste and half a teaspoon of sugar.
Add the liquid to the pan and cook, covered for 12-15 mins or until the potatoes are tender.
While the stew is cooking put two meaty cod fillets in a foil-lined baking tray with a knob of butter over each. Sprinkle with 1tsp dried oregano and season with salt and pepper. Cook in the oven for about 8 mins, or until the fish turns opaque and flakes easily.
Chop a handful of fresh parsley and once the potatoes are tender, add most of it to the stew along with a large knob of butter stir well and allow the liquid to thicken a bit.
Serve the cod on the stew and sprinkle with the remaining parsley.
Another of the Just One Thing episodes concerns itself with happiness and all the ways being happy is so beneficial. So as if there haven’t been enough helpings of good health in this newsletter already, here’s another. Because if happiness is contagious then this sensationally happy man is surely spreading it far and wide.
WHAT’S MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK
FRIDAY FUNNY
To wrap up this health filled bulletin, a word of self-care advice from the ever-laconic Bill Murray
I hope you have an upstanding, happy and kind week.
See you next time.