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A new revelation about coffee
27th April 2007
As you've probably guessed, I'm a voracious reader.
I read pretty much anything.
If someone leaves a leaflet on a park bench. I'll pick it up and take a look.
If a gibbering man on the street is giving away books about Scientology, the End of the World or reincarnation, I take THREE copies.
And… you might find this weird... but I deliberately subscribe to as many mail-order catalogues as possible.
Not only is it a good way of finding out what's new in the health world, but I just love reading this stuff!
My wife, on the other hand, despairs of seeing the junk mail (as she calls it), books and brochures pile up.
'You're an information addict', she yelled at me the other day. 'I'd rather be a bloody golf widow'.
'Shhh... I'm reading, love!' I said.
I also like to read a different newspaper every single day. One day it's The Independent, the next day it's The Sun, the next it's The Telegraph...
This way, I get a pinko, rightwing, socialist, libertarian, white van man, conservative, sceptical overview of things.
For instance, the health section of The Times on Monday April 2nd was a revelation....
Mainstream scientists are backing up organic food claims
We've known this for ages, you and I... but according to new evidence, organic food really is better for you.
German researchers have found organic tomatoes and apples, to be nutritionally superior to conventionally grown varieties... while a French team found that organic peaches contained more beneficial compounds and nutrients than those grown with the use of pesticides.
Organic milk has been shown to contain 68% more heart friendly omega3 fatty acids than ordinary milk, according to researchers at the University of Liverpool.
And American researchers have found that organic kiwi fruit has 14% more vitamin C and 17% more polyphenols than nonorganic versions.
If you don't know what they are, Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds that have been shown to lower cholesterol and ward off cancer.
So the more of them, the merrier, I say!
The problem seems to be the high price. Organic vegetables are hugely expensive. And, as I pointed out in the Good Life Letter before, you have to be careful of scams.
A lot of supermarkets and even independent traders - are stretching the term 'organic', a little too far.
But if you can get some organic food into your diet, however little, my position is that you should make every effort to.
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Why coffee is good for you
I'm saying mainstream journalists have the finger on the pulse these days... but... in ANOTHER issue of The Times last week, I spotted a great little piece on coffee.
As you know, my philosophy is that 'a little bit of what you fancy does you good.'
Even if, technically, it's bad for you.
A couple of pints at the end of a hard day... a few glasses of wine at night... a slab of mature cheddar... a cheeky tub of ice cream... a luxurious bar of chocolate... a big red juicy steak... a rich morning coffee… even the occasional cigar...
They're treats that we deserve. They can help us relax. They can make the treadmill of life worth it.
But the more I've looked into stuff like wine, cheese and red meat, the more I've realised that they can also be good for you.
For instance, according to Dr Thomas Stuttaford, chocolate has many benefits. It is rich in flavanols; the antioxidants that help your blood vessels work properly.
Remember I was talking about dementia on Sunday?
Well, it seems that a few squares of dark chocolate a day may help to keep dementia at bay by improving the blood supply to the brain two to three hours.
And it can protect you from cognitive decline, (namely, the ability to remember where you put your car keys last night).
Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine (PEA). Apparently PEA releases the same feel good hormones circulated after lovemaking.
Please note the word 'after'... it is not, as Lara claims, a replacement for the real thing.
Yes, coffee contains caffeine. But Dr Stuttaford says:
Whether that is addictive or induces psychological independence is a matter of the debate. What is certain is that all the fury from the detox brigade is a load of nonsense. Drinking coffee in moderation is not only harmless but may even have health benefits.
Talking of dementia...
All hail the Sniff Machine!
I also spotted this piece about research at Cincinnati University. They're developing something called a Sniff Magnitude Test Machine.
It sounds bizarre, like something out of Austin Powers, but it's true.
According to Professor Robert Frank, rancid cheese and meat may provide an early warning test to tell if you were at risk of developing brain diseases such as Parkinson's.
Apparently, people with the first stages of a brain disorder take twice as long as those of healthy brains to detect a bad smell. This is because our sense of smell is the first to go when we have brain damage.
'It's like the Canary in the mineshaft' he says.
I'm not sure what this says about my university days...
After a couple of weeks in my shared flat… I lost the ability to detect the putrid stench that came from our shared fridge... shared mouldy bread and our shared mouldy sock pile.
But then maybe my brain had been dulled by beer.
Anyway, I'll keep an eye on the progress of the brilliantly named Sniff Magnitude Test Machine, and keep you informed.
Yours, as ever
Ray Collins
The Good Life Letter
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