MY WORLD OF TRUTH

Saturday 13 October 2018

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF EGGS

Soft boiled eggs with marmite toast soldiers

An introduction to eggs...

Both the white and yolk of an egg are rich in nutrients - proteins, vitamins and minerals with the yolk also containing cholesterol, fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids. Eggs are also an important and versatile ingredient for cooking, as their particular chemical make up is literally the glue of many important baking reactions.

Since the domestication of the chicken, people have been enjoying and nourishing themselves with eggs. As a long time symbol of fertility and rebirth, the egg has taken its place in religious as well as culinary history. In Christianity, the symbol of the decorated egg has become synonymous with Easter. There are lots of different types of egg available, the most commonly raised are chicken eggs while more gourmet choices include duck, goose and quail eggs.

Nutritional highlights

Eggs are a very good source of inexpensive, high quality protein. More than half the protein of an egg is found in the egg white along with vitamin B2 and lower amounts of fat than the yolk. Eggs are rich sources of selenium, vitamin D, B6, B12 and minerals such as zinc, iron and copper. Egg yolks contain more calories and fat than the whites. They are a source of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and lecithin - the compound that enables emulsification in recipes such as hollandaise or mayonnaise.

Some brands of egg now contain omega-3 fatty acids, depending on what the chickens have been fed (always check the box). Eggs are regarded a 'complete' source of protein as they contain all nine essential amino acids; the ones we cannot synthesise in our bodies and must obtain from our diet.

One medium egg (boiled) contains:
84 calories	8.3g protein	5.7g fat	1.6g sat fat

Did you know...

A study published in Paediatrics magazine has suggested that giving young children just one egg a day for six months, alongside a diet with reduced sugar-sweetened foods, may help them achieve a healthy height and prevent stunting.

A poached egg on a piece of toast topped with avocado with tomatoes on the side

The cholesterol question

For years eggs were considered more of a health risk than a healthy food. This is because they were considered a high cholesterol food, so those with high cholesterol levels were advised to avoid them. We now know that the cholesterol found in food has much less of an effect on our blood cholesterol than the amount of saturated fat we eat. If you’ve been advised by your GP to change your diet in an attempt to reduce your blood cholesterol levels, the best thing to do is to keep to daily guideline intakes for saturated fat (20g for the average woman and 30g for the average man) opting instead for mono-unsaturated fats found in olive and rapeseed oils. It's also a good idea to increase your intake of fruit, vegetables and fibre whilst minimising sugars and refined carbs.
If you are concerned about your cholesterol or are unsure whether it is safe for you to consume eggs please consult your GP.

Eggs for health

Eggs are rich in several nutrients that promote heart health such as betaine and choline. A recent study of nearly half a million people in China suggests that eating one egg a day may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, although experts stress that eggs need to be consumed as part of a healthy lifestyle in order to be beneficial.

During pregnancy and breast feeding, an adequate supply of choline is particularly important, since choline is essential for normal brain development.

Eggs are a useful source of Vitamin D which helps to protect bones, preventing osteoporosis and rickets. Shop wisely because the method of production – free range, organic or indoor raised can make a difference to vitamin D content. Eggs should be included as part of a varied and balanced diet. They are filling and when enjoyed for breakfast may help with weight management as part of a weight loss programme, as the high protein content helps us to feel fuller for longer.

Quail eggs...

Quail eggs have a similar flavour to chicken eggs, but their petite size (five quail eggs are usually equal to one large chicken egg) and pretty, speckled shell have made them popular in gourmet cooking. The shells range in colour from dark brown to blue or white. Quail eggs are often hard-boiled and served with sea salt.

Duck eggs...

Duck eggs look like chicken eggs but are larger. As with chicken eggs, they are sold in sizes ranging from small to large. Duck eggs have more protein and are richer than chicken eggs, but they also have a higher fat content. When boiled, the white turns bluish and the yolk turns red-orange.

A basil omelette in a pan topped with mushrooms

How to select and store

Choose eggs from free-range or organically raised chickens. Eggs should always be visually inspected before buying. It is best to check for cracks or liquid in the box to ensure there are no broken ones. Eggs are best stored in the refrigerator where they may remain for up to one month (check the best-before-date on the box). Eggs with higher omega-3 fatty acid content are best eaten as early as possible to keep these oils fresh.

Safety

The main safety concern used to be salmonella food poisoning, but the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have recently changed their guidelines on eating runny eggs. They now say that infants, children, pregnant women and elderly people can safely eat raw or lightly cooked eggs that are produced under the British Lion Code of Practice.

posted by Davidblogger50 at 10:22 0 comments

Monday 8 October 2018

IS PEANUT BUTTER HEALTHY

What is peanut butter?

Peanut butter is a spread that is made from ground, dry roasted peanuts. Commercially it is made by roasting the peanuts, blanching them in heat or water to remove their skins and then grinding them into a paste. At this point other flavours, oils or ingredients can be added to change its taste and texture. You can buy smooth or crunchy peanut butter.

Nutritional profile of peanut butter

Peanut butter is high in fat and calories, with one tablespoon containing around 115 calories. However, peanuts contain mostly unsaturated fats, which are the healthy kind. It does contain a little saturated fat, but one tablespoon contains only around 5% of an adult's recommended daily saturated fat intake. Peanuts are also a good source of vegetarian protein.

Peanuts contain an array of minerals including magnesium, iron and zinc, as well as the B vitamins and vitamin E.

What is a healthy portion size?

Around 2 tbsp a day is a good portion size, when eaten as part of a balanced and varied diet. Because peanut butter is high in calories, beneficial fats and protein, it can help keep you full for longer. There is no nutritional difference between smooth and crunchy peanut butter, so take your pick!

Some easy ways to add it to your diet include:

Stirring it into porridge
Adding it to a smoothie
Spreading on wholemeal toast and topping with banana
Dipping apple slices into peanut butter as a snack

A jar of peanut butter and jam overnight oats

How to buy the healthiest peanut butter

The best peanut butter varieties to buy are those that are as close to 100% peanuts as possible, so check the ingredients label before you buy. Many brands add extra ingredients such as oil, sugar and salt to enhance the flavour, but these also change the nutritional profile of the product. In particular, products which are marketed as 'reduced fat' may have added sugar to help them taste good.

With peanut butters growing in popularity in recent years, there are some different blends such as coconut and peanut butter, or blends that include pumpkin and sunflower seeds. These can be a tasty variation to try, but again, check the labels to make sure that they don't contain extra salts, sugars or preservatives in order to make the healthiest choice

posted by Davidblogger50 at 15:20 0 comments

THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF #FOODPORN

The red carpet is out and hundreds of smartphone camera bulbs go off. But the centre of this photographic melee isn’t a famous singer or reality TV personality. It’s a pizza.

Pizza is the most tagged food on Instagram, with around 35 million hashtag mentions. That’s more than Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian combined. And this insatiable appetite for taking pictures of food is influencing the entire restaurant industry. From decor to drinks menus, everything must be Instagram-ready.

The Mac Daddy burger (Credit:Dirty Bones)

Social media food bloggers suggest snapping zoomed in close-ups and layers (Credit: Dirty Bones)

Frances Cottrell-Duffield, owner of PR and marketing agency Tonic, designs events to look their best on social media. On a menu launch night for UK-based upscale restaurant chain Polpo, she arrives early to make sure everything is just so.

Pizza is the most tagged food on Instagram, with around 35 million hashtag mentions.

“We’ve partnered with a gin brand because although Polpo does beautifully-tasting food it doesn’t always photograph well and using pretty cocktails brings a bit of colour to the photos,” says Cottrell-Duffield.

Near the bar, a whole wall of foliage has been erected. This, like everything, is designed with Instagram in mind.

“We know people will hold up their cocktail and take a picture with the foliage in the background and then put it straight on social media,” she adds.

Georgia's Cakes (Credit: Elizabeth Hotson)

Georgia Green is a baker who designs cakes that feature pink ganache drips, macarons, meringue kisses, white chocolate popcorn and swirly lollipops (Credit: Elizabeth Hotson)

Around half a dozen Instagram “influencers” have been invited to the launch. Among them is Alex Fletcher, a sandwich blogger with 20,000 followers who gets 2,000 likes on his most popular photos. So what’s the money-shot when it comes to bread and fillings?

“Sandwiches that are composed very well,” says Fletcher. “If you have a Japanese katsu sando with lush pickled cabbage, tenderloin and white milky bread, of course that’s going to photograph well.”

Fellow Instagrammer Rebecca Milford, who edits website Bar Chick, says a great snap can directly result in a boost in sales for restaurants.

“I have friends who go on a restaurant’s Instagram account and choose what to eat based on what they see,” she says. “They don’t bother looking at the menu. Photos have to have hashtag food porn appeal and there’s also #cheeseporn, #yolkporn; it’s all about the ooze.”

The kits contain among other things a mini lighting rig, power source, fish-eye lens and a selfie-stick.

Natalie Seldon, a food stylist and writer, says the composition of the image is also key.

“The more zoomed in, the better; people love to see big food on screen. And layers are great too, especially with burgers.”

Seldon had planned to take a phone-full of photos but the low lighting at the event made it more challenging.

Using colourful cocktails alongside the dishes can help bring more colour to the photos for social media (Credit: Dirty Bones)

“Thankfully there are good editing tools. The other trick is to use something like an iPad or another phone as an extra light,” Seldon adds.

To make sure customers take great photos and generate good publicity, Dirty Bones, a five-strong restaurant chain in the UK, even hires out free Instagram photography kits at their Soho branch. The kits contain among other things a mini lighting rig, power source, fish-eye lens and a selfie-stick.

And while the food is the main star, social media endorsement from a human celebrity can be a gamechanger. Georgia Green is a baker and cake decorator who runs Georgia’s Cakes in North London. She had an early commission to make a cake for model Cara Delevingne.

“Cara had about five million followers and at the time I had 100. When she tagged me on Instagram, my following went up to 6,000 in a day,” says Green.

One of her latest designs is typical of the eye-catching requests she gets.

“It’s pink and blue with a Barbie rock star feel… textured buttercream, pink ganache drips, macarons, meringue kisses, white chocolate popcorn, chocolate shards, swirly lollipops and piped buttercream detail, and I’m going to finish it off with some edible glitter.”

She admits she does feel pressure to recreate cake designs that are trending on Instagram that she doesn’t necessarily like the look of.

Experimental psychologists at Oxford University say the brain 'imagines' what your food is going to taste like which anchors the tasting experience (Credit: Natalie Seldon)

“There was a trend for sleeping unicorn cakes (a round cake with sleepy eyes and unicorn horn and ears at the top), and I just refused to do it. I thought: ‘That’s not me, it doesn’t reflect me as a person and as a brand’.”

The focus on image may seem superficial but Professor Charles Spence, an experimental psychologist at Oxford University, says that presentation really matters.

“The way a food looks and [is] arranged on the plate has a big impact because that sets expectations. Our brain imagines what it’s going to taste like and that anchors the tasting experience,” he says.

Spence conducts both lab-based and practical experiments in Oxbridge colleges.

“We give everyone the same food but for half of the diners, it’s just thrown on the plate. The others get the same elements but arranged artistically to look like one of Kandinsky’s paintings. The ones given the nicer-looking food rate it as tasting better and are willing to pay more for it.”

I don’t understand why the only reaction people can have to beauty is to take a photo of it. Just chill out, eat your food, drink your coffee, talk to your friends and have a good time

But although beautiful presentation is important to Amanda Bechara, owner of Brooklyn cafe Carthage Must Be Destroyed, she discourages overt displays of photographic enthusiasm.

“We ask you to just take a few photos from your seat. Some people then go and sit in every seat and take a camera with them. That’s not what we mean. We also ask you not to film because it’s really intense, especially when other people are having a private conversation.”

The irony is that when Bechara describes the interior of Carthage Must be Destroyed, it sounds like one of the most picture-worthy destinations imaginable.

“It’s a sort of modern fairy-tale fantasy in a pink setting with very high ceilings and a lot of pink tiles and plates.”

With an interior that seems to scream “please take photos”, why does she object to this very modern form of appreciation?

“I don’t understand why the only reaction people can have to beauty is to take a photo of it. Just chill out, eat your food, drink your coffee, talk to your friends and have a good time!”

Bechara might keep social media at arm’s length, but a quick look at Instagram suggests she’s in the minority. Which is good news for fame-hungry slices of pizza.

posted by Davidblogger50 at 06:39 0 comments

Wednesday 3 October 2018

STUNNING IMAGES OF THE WORLD'S BEST WATERSIDE HOMES

Window on the world

Living by the waterside is a dream for many of us, and where there is water, there is also a great opportunity for bold, adventurous design. Yet whether it’s in an Arctic or tropical location, water can be a challenge for any architect. The relationship between land, water and home is the focus of a new book, Living on Water: Contemporary Houses Framed by Water (Phaidon). From an ocean-side timber cabin perched on a rock in northern Norway, to a Monterrey modernist dream home with a pool at its centre, here are some of the most beautifully designed waterside homes from around the globe.

The Domus Aurea (House of Gold), pictured, is a residence in a clean, modernist style. Situated in Monterrey, Mexico, the light-filled home was created by Alberto Campo Baeza and GLR Arquitectos. In the courtyard, the swimming pool is enclosed by a wall, with an aperture that affords views of the surrounding urban scene. (Credit: Javier Callejas/ javiercallejas.com)

Sky high

The aim of the Beach House is to make the most of the beautiful lakeside view at Victoria Beach, Canada, and it has been created by Cibinel Architecture to echo the area’s traditional stone-and-wood-frame cottages. The house has been clad in cedar, and is designed to transform in colour with time into a bright, silvery white. Positioned above the lake, the long deck offers stunning views of both the water and the sky. (Credit: Jerry Grajewski/ Grajewski Fotograph Inc)

Sleek and chic

Tulia House is situated between a mangrove and a coral cliff, and faces the Indian Ocean. The building, designed by Alberto Morrell, is located in Kilifi, Kenya, and has been created in concrete, coral stones and stucco. Because of its close proximity to the sea, the house remains well ventilated despite the humid climate. (Credit: Javier Callejas/ javiercallejas.com)

Step up

The central feature of Tulia House is a platform that leads to a 30ft (9m) wide staircase, descending to a secluded plunge pool. The sweeping, white steps create a sense of airiness and space, and the interior rooms are mostly situated on the upper floor, allowing ocean views. (Credit: Javier Callejas/ javiercallejas.com)

Go with the flow

Set high up on an escarpment and surrounded by a coconut plantation, the Cliff House is positioned to make the most of the views of the Arabian Sea. Located in Kerala, India, the home was designed by Khosla Associates and built using slate, Kota stone and timber. The infinity pool appears to pour over the edge of the cliff and has been created to reflect the building’s clean lines and angles. (Credit: Bharath Ramamrutham/ Khosla Associates)

Well rounded

A small-but-perfectly-formed floating residence, the Exbury Egg is an unorthodox design, and was inspired by how seabirds nest on the banks of the river. It offers a new way to live in a place of great natural beauty, and is situated on the Beaulieu River in the New Forest in the UK. Built by a local boat builder, it was created partly with reclaimed cedar, and features an oval-shaped skylight for the resident to look at the sky while lounging in the hammock. The designers are PAD Studio, SPUD Group and Stephen Turner. (Credit: Nigel Ridgen)

Ocean view

Built in pale timber and with huge windows facing the ocean, the Manshausen Island Resort is made up of four separate residences on the Steigen archipelago in northern Norway. Perched on a rock, each cabin is located to allow privacy while also maximising the stunning sea view. The design by Stinessen Arkitektur is clean and minimalist, and the interior is light and pared-back. (Credit: Siggen Stinessen)

On the rise

The Pole House is positioned on top of a 42ft (13m) column that protrudes from a hillside facing the beach, and is located in Fairhaven, Australia. Designed by F2 Architecture, the building has virtually no footprint, and so has hardly any impact on its surrounding environment. From its raised position, the house enjoys a panoramic view of the sea and coastline. (Credit: Tanja Milbourne)

High tide

Watershed Lodge is located in Big Timber, Montana, and the whole house is positioned on top of a raised plinth. The surrounding water flows from the nearby Yellowstone River, and the outdoor wooden decks lead down to the waterside that surrounds it. (Credit: Gibeon Photography)

Let there be light

A shallow pool on the roof of White Cave House mirrors the sky and creates a cool space for lounging. The house, located in Kanazawa, Japan, is all white, both inside and out, and the design by Takuro Yamamoto Architects is created in order to make the most of the refracted light that falls into the courtyard. Living on Water is published by Phaidon, £29.95. (Credit: Ken’ichi Suzuki)

posted by Davidblogger50 at 19:59 0 comments