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Product review: Macro rigatoni with hemp
Macro rigatoni with hemp is a version of this short tubular pasta made with rice and hemp flour, making it higher in protein and gluten-free. Macro rigatoni with hemp This is part of the pasta range made by Macro, Woolworths’ brand of organic products. The pasta is vegan and gluten-free and comes in 200g packages with 2 serves per pack. Rigatoni are small tubes larger in diameter but shorter in length than penne. They have ridges and straight edges. This type of pasta works well with chunky sauces as the bits and pieces can stick to the ridges and get into the tubes. It is also good for cheesy baked…
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What are synbiotics?
If the word “synbiotics” rings a bell is probably because it sounds like prebiotics and probiotics. All these terms relate to the gut microbiome in ways we will explore to answer the question: what are synbiotics? The microorganisms that populate our gastrointestinal system, or gut microbiome, has been the focus of much research in the past several decades. It is now known that the gut microbiome is involved in immune function, digestion, gut integrity and production of vitamins, among other important functions (1, 2). Probiotics Probiotics are live non-pathogenic microorganisms that can confer health benefits when taken in appropriate doses (1, 3, 4). Probiotics can act on the gut microbiome…
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Recipe: Budin de pan (Peruvian bread and butter pudding)
Budin de pan is the Peruvian version of bread and butter pudding. It’s an economical dessert commonly made in bakeries with leftover bread. This is not a light dessert by any stretch of imagination. It’s energy dense and hearty and falls in the “comfort food” category for many people, including me. I used natural sweetener (stevia) instead of sugar to make it a little lighter and less sweet than the original version. I used Woolworths Free From gluten-free sliced white bread but any bread (stale or not) will do. You can use bread rolls but be mindful that there will be more crust-to-crumb ratio in the final product. To soak…
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Can magnesium improve exercise performance?
Last week we talked about magnesium and health. This week we answer the next logical question: Can magnesium improve exercise performance? What is magnesium? As a reminder, magnesium is an essential mineral present mainly in bone and other tissues in the body. Magnesium and exercise As seen in the previous article, magnesium is involved in many functions in the body, including energy metabolism, bone development, muscle contraction and relaxation. Magnesium can bind to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy currency in the body (1). It can also bind enzymes that act on RNA and DNA (2). In addition, magnesium is involved in the balance of other essential elements in…
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Product review: Uncle Toby’s Super Blends
Uncle Toby’s Super Blends are a tasty upgrade to plain breakfast porridge. They are a convenient and fibre-rich way of starting your day. Uncle Toby’s Super Blends The current flavours are Prebiotic Fibre, Protein Almond and Protein Cranberry. They come in boxes containing 8 individual serve pouches. They can be made by simply mixing with 2/3 cup milk (don’t worry if you don’t have a measuring cup, you can fill the empty sachet up to a line) and microwaving for a couple of minutes. You can also use them in a variety of recipes that you can get on the website. They recommend using skim milk but any milk (or…
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Magnesium and health
The relationship between magnesium and health is widely studied because of the importance of this essential nutrient in many body functions and the prevention of chronic diseases. What is magnesium? Magnesium is a mineral involved as a cofactor in many processes within the body, including metabolic functions (energy production, glucose breakdown, protein synthesis, RNA and DNA synthesis), bone development, immune and neuromuscular function (1, 2, 3). It’s also involved in the balance of calcium, sodium, potassium and antioxidants (1, 2, 4). The total amount of magnesium in an adult is about 25 grams, of which 50-60% is located in the bones (1, 3) and about 0.3% in serum (2). This…
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Recipe: Spiced lamb
This spiced lamb is a Middle-Eastern inspired protein source that pairs well with cauliflower hummus or regular hummus. If hummus is not your thing, you can eat this lamb with vegetables and/or rice, quinoa or other grains. This recipe is gluten-free, high in protein and low-carb. If you don’t like lamb, you can use beef mince instead. You can use a plant-based substitute but check ingredients as some of them are highly processed. You can also use lentils or other legumes instead of the mince with the same aromatics and spices.
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Recipe: Cauliflower hummus
Cauliflower is popular in paleo, gluten-free, keto and low-carb circles thanks to its ability to substitute starchier or gluten-containing foods. Besides rice, mash and pizza you can also use this cruciferous vegetable to make cauliflower hummus. This recipe is gluten-free, vegan and low-carb. Unfortunately, it’s high in FODMAPs so if you avoid legumes to prevent bloating this recipe might not be much of an improvement. You can eat enjoy cauliflower hummus as a dip but in the Middle East is eaten as a meal with optional toppings (there’s a list of suggestions below). This recipe is lower in protein than the traditional chickpea-based version, so make sure you are eating…
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Product review: Mojo gut shots
Mojo gut shots are a new non-dairy probiotic product by one of the most popular Australian kombucha makers. Like other fermented foods, these shots may help improve gut health. Mojo gut shots Think of these shots as a mini-version of kombucha (fermented tea) enriched with probiotics (beneficial bacteria). They are dairy-free and low in sugar. Mojo gut shots can be taken on their own or added to smoothies, etc. Ingredients Ginger Spice: Organic kombucha (walter, sugar, tea, kombucha culture), ginger juice (14%), probiotic (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086) Berrytown: Organic kombucha (walter, sugar, tea, kombucha culture), berry puree (raspberry, blueberry, strawberry) (7.4%), probiotic (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086) The packaging indicates the…
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Nutrient reference values vs nutrient intake in Australia
We all know we should be eating vitamins and minerals but not many know how much. Is there a gap between nutrient reference values vs nutrient intake in Australia? What are nutrient reference values? Nutrient reference values (NRV) are the recommended levels of intake of different nutrients, based on scientific evidence about food intake and health. The NRVs for Australia and New Zealand are expressed as a recommended daily intake (RDI) of each nutrient, which is the average amount of the nutrient that is required for the majority of healthy individuals. For some nutrients where the RDI could not be determined, the recommendation is based on the adequate intake (AI)…
