Happiness in February

I always love these calendars from Action for Happiness

Potassium in foods

Potassium is one of the electrolytes in the body and responsible for fluid balance and nervous impulses among other functions

Foods high in potassium

·       Fruits such as banana, avocado, dried fruit, grapes, plums 

potassium 

·       Vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, brussel sprouts, parsnips –if you cook them the potassium leeches into the cooking water

•    Potatoes and this can be reduced by cooking in plenty of water and draining off

      ·        Nuts and seeds.  

• ·       Coffee,  wine, beer, cider and stout 

• ·       Salt substitutes which contain potassium –check labels

DIET AND FERTILITY

I have just written a paper on diet and fertility and found the research absolutely fascinating.

I used to do quite a lot of work in this area and remember well a number of couples bringing me babies when dietary advice appeared to have been helpful.

Today with the increase in  the use of IVF and the cost of this not just the financial ones but also time and emotional stress it is an area where there are opportunities for Registered Dietitians and Nutritioniststo make an important contribution.

Various aspects of diet have an impact;

• being overweight
• being underweight
• Zinc  
• Antioxidants 
• Vitamin D
• Iodine
• Folic acid
• Omega 3 fatty acids
• Alcohol

VITAFOODS EUROPE

I have been going to Vitafoods for some years now and find it excellent for updated information on micronutrients from all over the world.

Each year it seems to get bigger and has numerous stands plus also presentations.

It covers groundbreaking research and items you see there one year will usually be seen on pharmacy shelves in a couple of years' time.


The palexpo is right next door to the airport  so easy to walk to after a plane journey.

GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE AND DIET

I regularly review scientific papers including ones on diet and the gastrointestinal tract and have seen various patients where the diet is an important factor.

The diets vary greatly from simple low residue ones to others which require very complex management when all or most of the small intestine has been removed.

I am looking forward to attending this conference. 

HAPPINESS

With yesterday being the saddest day of the year I thought it is interesting to see this calendar from  Action for Happiness 

SUSTAINABILITY FOOD AND FARMING

I have decided to widen my blog and include all sorts of other items --so this is one relating to my farming interests. We have always farmed our land without adding chemicals and encouraging wildlife.

It was good to go to a farmers conference yesterday and then later to hear announcements about future farming

• 
  
• In the future farmers will be paid for “public goods” such as protecting water and air quality, boosting wildlife and tackling climate change under new laws for agriculture.

The Government has introduced its Agriculture Bill which will govern farming in England after Brexit, with a shift away from the current EU subsidy system of paying farmers mostly for the amount of land they farm.

Instead, payments will reward farmers for measures to protect land, water, and air, support thriving plants and wildlife, tackle climate change, maintain beautiful landscapes, improve public access and boost animal health and welfare.

There is also this network which people may like to join --a fantastic presentation on it yesterday.