Lyndal Collins, Research dietitian, Department of Gastroenterology, Monash University A happy accident Sourdough is a leavening (rising) method for baked products that dates back to at least ancient Egypt. Historians believe that this technique was likely discovered by accident by a baker leaving dough unattended for much longer than usual. By sitting for longer, the […]
How to improve my immunity, tips on what to do – and what to avoid
Theresa Rossouw, Professor, University of Pretoria – 8 February 2023 The human immune system is arguably the most complex system in the human body. But scientists have made a lot of progress in understanding how it functions. That’s important for understanding illnesses and how to manage them. For instance, it’s important to understand that an […]
Lab-grown blood used in transfusion, other promising innovations
Adam Taylor, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre, Lancaster University – 12 December 2022 Human volunteers have received the first-ever transfusion of lab grown red blood cells in a groundbreaking scientific first. Volunteers received about 5ml-10ml of blood (around 1-2 teaspoons), which contained around 15 billion red blood cells. So far, volunteers […]
Experimental Alzheimer’s drug shows promise, but many hurdles remain
“For the first time, we have a potential treatment that has a demonstrated effect on both the symptoms and underlying pathology of Alzheimer’s disease.” Ritchie Williamson, Director of research, Associate Professor in Therapeutics, University of Bradford and Stuart Dickens, Post Doctoral Research Assistant, University of Bradford – 1 December 2022 The first drug that can […]
Eat a rainbow of fruit and vegetables, this is what each colour does in your body
Evangeline Mantzioris, Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of South Australia – 25 November 2022 Nutritionists will tell you to eat a rainbow of fruit and vegetables. This isn’t just because it looks nice on the plate. Each colour signifies different nutrients our body needs. The nutrients found in plant […]
Decadent Chocolate Delights
World Chocolate Day is celebrated annually on 7 July Mocha truffles with candied hazelnuts 1/3 cup caster sugar 1/4 cup skinless hazelnuts 200g milk chocolate, chopped 2 tablespoons thickened cream 2 teaspoons coffee powder 200g dark chocolate, chopped Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Place sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan […]
Nine vegetables that are healthier for you when cooked
Laura Brown, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition, Food, and Health Sciences, Teesside University – 10 June 2022 Raw food diets are a fairly recent trend, including raw veganism. The belief being that the less processed food is, the better. However, not all food is more nutritious when eaten raw. Indeed, some vegetables are actually more nutritious […]
Tasty Warm Comfort Food
Thai green curry and broccoli soup 1 large head broccoli 2 tablespoons Thai green curry paste 2 1/2 cups chicken stock 2 potatoes, peeled, chopped 400ml can coconut milk 150g dried rice stick noodles 2 tablespoons lime juice Fresh coriander leaves and sliced green onion, to serve Remove stems from broccoli and thinly slice. Cut […]
Tick Bite Fever in South Africa
Tick bite fever (rickettsia) is a bacterial infection transmitted in the saliva of an infected tick either when it bites or enters through an abrasion in the human skin. Symptoms usually appear within two weeks and often include fever, headache, muscle soreness and a rash. Treatment in South Africa remains doxycycline or tetracycline. What causes tick […]
Your immune system is as unique as your fingerprint – new study
Albert J.R. Heck, Professor of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University 22 September 2021 Every person appears to have a unique immune system. My colleagues and I discovered this immune diversity after charting antibodies in the blood from healthy and sick people. The discovery could help explain why, for example, COVID vaccines appear to be […]