WHAT'S ON PETS OF THE NATION RAILWAYS ... - Aspire Magazine

Specialist Diets
Aspire Magazine: sponsored by
www.annakennedyonline.com
Food
Glorious Food
Whilst most of us take for
granted being able to eat
what we want, when we
want, some foods can pose
a serious risk to the health
of others. Around one in five
people in the UK have an
allergy and can react badly
to eating peanuts, wheat,
gluten, shellfish, nuts and
many other foods, which can
make eating out a minefield.
The UK is home to three million vegetarians - that’s
5% of the adult population - and the numbers just
keep growing. In the last ten years alone, the number
of people choosing to cut meat from their diets has
more than doubled and there are many reasons why
choosing a vegetarian, or even a vegan diet, could suit
you. Whether it’s to avoid animal exploitation, to cut your
carbon footprint or to make your diet healthier, there’s a
lot you can gain from going veggie.
A vegetarian is someone who chooses to cut meat,
poultry, game and fish, as well as slaughter by-products
such as gelatine out of their diet, whilst vegans go a
step further, by cutting out all animal and dairy related
products, including milk, butter, eggs and honey.
It is said that opting for a vegetarian or vegan diet can
be of great benefit to your health. There is plenty of
scientific evidence to show that swapping a diet that
Food for Thought
contains largely meat and animal fat for one that consists
of whole grains, vegetables, nuts and fruit, can help to
lower blood cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure.
It can also help you to avoid obesity, which can cause
heart disease, stroke and diabetes (www.vegetariannutrition.info).
More and more people are now becoming aware of the
affect their diet has on the environment, and as a result
are changing their eating habits. According to the Vegan
Society, in the last 50 years world meat production has
quadrupled, meaning more grain is now being grown
for livestock than for people, resulting in an inefficient
use of energy and resources.
It’s not just for the health benefits that an individual
chooses to go veggie. A recent poll by the Vegetarian
Society found the main reason people choose to cut
meat from their diet is because they are opposed to
the cruelty involved and object to the way animals are
kept, treated and killed for food. Out of the 1,385 votes
cast, opposition to cruelty received 680 votes, followed
by objections for moral/spiritual reasons, health,
environment, other reasons and religion.
To find out more about the Vegetarian Society, go to
www.vegsoc.org
Although vegetarianism has become more popular than
ever, it can still be difficult to find somewhere to enjoy a
wide range of freshly prepared, healthy meat-free meals.
Whilst many eateries offer only one or two choices for
vegetarians, Tekels Park specialise in catering only for
vegetarians and vegans, so whether you’re looking for a
party venue or accommodation to suit your needs, this
guesthouse and restaurant is ideal. Head to
www.tekelspark.co.uk to discover more or call
01276 23159.
Despite generally being considered rare,
Coeliac disease – an autoimmune disease
– is triggered by the body’s reaction to
gluten. When gluten enters the stomach,
an immune reaction causes the body to
attack its own tissue, which then causes
damage to the gut. The knock on effect
means the body is unable to absorb the
vital vitamins, minerals and nutrients it
needs to stay healthy. Statistics compiled
by Coeliac UK show that around one
in 100 people in Britain suffer with
the disease and the number of people
diagnosed each year continues to rise.
The symptoms of Coeliac disease can
vary considerably and effect each
sufferer differently, they can also present
themselves as mild or severe. Possible
symptoms include bloating, abdominal
pain, nausea, diarrhoea, excessive wind,
heartburn, indigestion and constipation.
If the body is unable to get the nutrition
it needs then sufferers are also at risk of
developing anaemia or osteoporosis.
Coeliac disease is still largely underdiagnosed,
with the average diagnosis
taking up to 13 years, but new sufferers
are most likely to be between 40 and 60
years old.
Although many people with allergies may
avoid eating out because of the risk, the
Dietary Card can make life much easier
and allow you to enjoy dining out with
friends and family without having to worry
about your meal. This specially designed
Aspire’s Top Recommendation
card holds all of the details of your allergy
and can be passed straight to the chef
to ensure all the information is passed
on correctly. As well as being suitable for
Coeliacs, they can also be used by people
with allergies and intolerances.
For those with health problems, making
significant changes to your diet may help
to reduce your symptoms. From ADHD to
diabetes, IBS to asthma, watching what
you eat can ease symptoms and side
effects, as well as give you more energy.
The easiest way to find out how different
foods affect you is to keep a food diary,
where you can monitor what you eat.
Choosing to eat organic foods or opting
for a vegetarian diet may be of benefit to
our health and some consider these diets
to be much healthier than non-organic
foods, having less or no additives, as well
as being GM free. Organic foods are also
grown or raised in harmony with nature,
with no pesticides or artificial fertilisers,
and therefore cause less damage to our
environment.
For those who made a vow to lose
weight or eat healthier as their New Year
Resolution, the Zip ‘n Steam can make
it much easier. As a faster method of
steaming, the Zip ‘n Steam can allow
you to cook healthy meals in minutes
and make it much easier to stick to your
healthy eating plan.
Make 2010
A Healthy Year With
Zip ‘n Steam®
Perfect for cooking a wide range of fresh
or frozen vegetables, fish and chicken, the
Zip ‘n Steam is a fast and healthy steam
cooking system that guarantees to lock in
the taste and natural goodness of your
food. It’s easy to cook delicious meals in
minutes that are nutritious and also low
in fat.
Here at Aspire, we believe that this product
will help to give you a healthy start to
2010 and have been so impressed with
the Zip ‘n Steam, we recently awarded
creators, Excelsior Technologies, with not
one, but two Certificates: a Certificate
of Recognition for Product of the Year
2010 and a Silver Annual Certificate of
Recognition.
Created in 2004, the Zip ‘n Steam has
revolutionised steam cooking within the UK
and it offers a healthier and faster way to
cook – perfect for when you have a hungry
family to feed. The Zip ‘n Steam bags,
which have been designed for microwave
use, allow the food to be cooked
thoroughly and evenly, without cold spots.
Marketing Executive, Lyn Edwards, explains:
“The Zip ‘n Steam acts as a mini pressure
cooker and has a valve which allows the
pressure to build up within the bag. This
method of cooking keeps all of the nutrients
in, instead of them being lost, making them
a healthy way to cook with no washing up.”
The bags themselves come in two different
sizes. The medium bags measure 8” by 10”,
are ideal for two to three servings and a
pack of ten are available for just £1.49.
The large bags are perfect for serving
larger families and measure 10” by 10”,
with a pack of ten available for £1.99.
Each pack also contains a recipe card,
to give you a few handy tips, as well as
instructions on how to use them. From corn
on the cob with parsley to garlic and lemon
cod, steak tacos to chocolate apples, you
can create inspiring meals to tempt even
the fussiest eaters. Value bundles, including
a mixture of medium and large bags, are
available in packs of 25 or 30.
Since the product’s launch five years ago,
the Zip ‘n Steam has become a regular
feature in many kitchens across Britain. Lyn
says: “We’ve received nothing but 100%
positive feedback, our website reviews
page is full of great comments and we
have letters coming in week after week
from customers saying how they found the
product so easy to use. Everyone who tries
them comes back for more.”
To order your Zip ‘n Steam bags or for
more delicious recipe ideas, log onto
www.zipnsteam.co.uk
For more information call 01244 280916
or email info@zipnsteam.co.uk
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