Meaty matters

If, like me, you enjoy tucking in to things like  … beef Wellington, a juicy steak with Bearnaise sauce, leg of lamb roasted with garlic and thyme (you get my drift) … then you might have been dismayed by recent headlines suggesting that eating red meat could be more dangerous than smoking.

May I, then, introduce you to Behind the Headlines, set up in 2007 to provide an unbiased and evidence-based analysis of health stories that make the news.

Fortunately for meat-lovers like me, when the Behind the Headlines team examined the story they concluded: ‘We have decades of very good evidence that smoking kills and – fortunately for meat lovers – this latest unhelpful comparison with high protein diets largely appears to be a triumph of PR spin.’

So is red meat good or bad for us? The jury is still out. There is evidence that eating red meat, especially if it has been barbecued, or processed, can be linked to an increase risk of bowel cancer.

On the other hand, according to the Meat Advisory Panel, who carried out a survey into people’s red meat eating habits, most of us know little about the important nutrients – such as iron - that red meat contains, 

‘Almost half (49%) of those questioned wrongly believe that spinach is a better source of iron than red meat, whilst more than one in five (23%) thought they were equally good. Just one in six (15%) correctly rated red meat as a superior source of iron.’

Dietitian Carrie Ruxton said:  ‘Red meat is one of the best sources of easily absorbed iron and it is particularly important for women to understand the value of including beef, pork or lamb as a regular part of their diets.

‘Low iron levels can lead to a host of niggling health problems including tiredness, poor concentration, headaches, feeling short of breath, irritability and dizziness. Symptoms are easily overlooked, but other warning signs include pale skin, brittle nails, cracked lips, muscle pain and feeling the cold.’

So … let me now wholeheartedly recommend you to the Duke’s Head in Highgate Village.

Many years ago I used to play darts (badly) in this pub. It was then a bit of a dive. Now it has been transformed and sells a range of craft beers  - but best of all is the food: salt beef rye buns or bagels courtesy of The Bell & Brisket.

Food for the soul – iron for the body. Perfect.

Handbags in Amsterdam - my mini-break heaven

When we head off for a mini-break at this time of year M and I always have the same discussion. 

Should we go chasing the sun to celebrate my birthday and our wedding anniversary? 

Or should we head for a destination where there will be plenty to do even if it pours?

This year I won and we headed off to Amsterdam.  And it was a brilliant choice.

  

More by luck than judgement the hotel turned out to be in an area called De Negen Straatjes – the Nine Streets – full of designer boutiques and galleries. Shopping heaven.

It’s many years BC (before children) since I was last in Amsterdam – but some things haven’t changed. 

The cyclists still don’t wear helmets, ride sit-up-and beg bikes carrying dogs, children and everything else you can possibly imagine, and don’t mow down pedestrians or jump the lights.

I can’t comment on the red light district – or pot – because we didn’t check out either. But the revamped Rijksmuseum is stunning.

So what else can I tell you? It‘s easy to get around on foot or by tram but Schipol airport feels enormous and if you’ve pre-ordered an I.amsterdam city card or equivalent you may find it easier to pick this up from the visitor information centre opposite the Central Station rather than schlep around the airport with your bags looking for the one there (which is what we did).

And remember that if you decide to take the hotel shuttle bus service into the centre your hotel might be the last on their drop-off schedule – which is fine if you have a map and want to orientate yourself but not so good if you just want to check in and unpack. 

We did posh wining and dining at the wine bar Vyne and the restaurant Envy – both within walking distance of our hotel, both excellent. But we went twice to Bistro Bijons – even though I was convinced when I first saw it, that it would be simply a tourist trap.

It did feel a bit ‘Allo ‘Allo -  but the stampot (a Dutch stew) was tasty and filling and the women running it were a cabaret act in themselves.

But the highlight of the trip for me was high tea at this museum. Handbags, champagne and cakes. What better birthday treat could there be?

Stuff that may make your life better (and stuff that won't)

As a health and lifestyle journalist I get to write about many of the things I enjoy. 

Eating. Drinking. Going out. Staying in. Raising a family. Keeping fit and well.

I share much of this with my husband (who sometimes get used as a guinea pig) or with my grown-up children and their growing families.

PRs send me a lot of information about stuff in the hope that I’ll spread the word about how wonderful it all is.

And other stuff just happens....

This blog is where I’ll let you know what I really think.