In the current economic downturn, employers are more wary of sickness rates than ever and even school effectiveness is, in part, measured by the rates of absence amongst pupils.

With the current swine flu scare, which has been heightened by media reports that the disease cannot be treated with antibiotics, and with coughs, colds and winter bugs appearing more severe year on year, it seems increasingly important for us to take good care of our immune systems. We really need the natural defences necessary to avoid getting sick.

Research shows that a healthy diet helps maintain and boost the immune system. But even fruit and vegetables are not as good for us as they used to be! A revealing study by the University of Texas showed a marked decline in the nutrient content in fruit and vegetables over a period from 1950 to 1999.

Modern farming methods are thought to be to blame, with nutrient content being sacrificed for the faster growth rate of newer varieties of fruits and vegetables.

While the Government can claim the credit for investing in the “Five a Day” campaign to promote the consumption of five portions of fruit and vegetables daily for the associated health benefits, there is still the issue of the large list of artificial additives that are present in most of our everyday foodstuffs.

Many of these additives, known as E numbers, are present in the products we purchase from our local supermarkets as a matter of routine. Scientific research has shown artificial additives are allergens and toxins which can potentially weaken the immune system. As a result a great many of them are banned in other countries while they are still allowed in the UK.

Furthermore, we mustn’t forget about the real risk that officials will clamp down on the sales of natural remedies and supplements, perhaps forcing the public into a corner where choice is limited. Perhaps they think we will turn to the controversial solution of mass vaccination in an effort to safeguard our health.

If you look beyond the media hype, swine flu possibly poses less of a risk to the whole population than we’ve been led to believe. It could be more useful to turn our concerns to what’s in our food, where it comes from and who says it’s safe to eat.

It amounts to what sensible people have been saying for years: if we really want to keep ourselves out of the doctor’s surgery with minor ailments, there is a strong case for eating locally produced, seasonal, organic food, brushing up on our cooking skills rather than relying on pre-packed convenience foods, whatever the latest publicly-funded report has to say.

Have you considered the Nordic diet?

The wholesome and delicious Nordic Diet

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark have launched an expensive programme to identify and test products from northern climes that could be part of a new healthy, Nordic diet.

Research by Elling Bere of Agder University in Norway, has indicated that native berries, such as blueberries, cowberries and cloudberries contain as much unsaturated healthy fat as fish per unit of energy.

He also determined that they were rich in antioxidants, which reduce the levels of harmful free-radicals in cells. Free radicals are known to cause heart disease, stroke and cancer.

It’s believed foods from the north could soon be replacing the Mediterranean diet currently top of nutritionists’ list for a long, vigorous life.

Instead of olive oil, citrus fruit, tomatoes and pasta, we could soon be shopping for elk, rapeseed oil, cowberries and cloudberries.

It has to be said, though, that the Danish authorities are not exactly neutral in promoting their own products. Whether European and American consumers will abandon their pizzas and Nicoise salads for soused herring remains to be seen.

However, it has been said that although foods of the south are low in saturated fats, the Med diet produces a lot of plump and overweight people.

Traditional Nordic diets are high in in fish like, salmon, trout, cod and herring, all rich in unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. The leaner qualities of northern foods, such as elk and reindeer, promote leaner people over time.

Another pointer in favour of Nordic foods is that they are more convenient to produce in colder climates, like Britain, than alternatives from the Mediterranean.

Things are looking up for the northern lifestyle.

In a counter-intuitive article in the New York Times, which quotes researchers in Germany and Boston, exercise and antioxidants don’t mix. “If you exercise to improve your metabolism and prevent diabetes, you may want to avoid antioxidants like vitamins C and E.”

Dr. Michael Ristow, a nutritionist at the University of Jena in Germany, said, “If you exercise to promote health, you shouldn’t take large amounts of antioxidants. … antioxidants in general cause certain effects that inhibit otherwise positive effects of exercise, dieting and other interventions.”

It seems that exercise encourages muscle cells to metabolize glucose by combining carbon atoms with oxygen. In the process, highly reactive oxygen molecules are released which then attack various parts of the body damaging the tissues.

The Jena team found that in the group taking antioxidant vitamins, like vitamins C and E, there was no improvement in insulin sensitivity and almost no activation of the body’s natural defence mechanism against oxidative damage.

Once again, what we thought was done and dusted has been called into question by more research.

However, the advice does not apply to fruits and vegetables, Ristow said, even though they are high in antioxidants, it may be that other substances they contain outweigh any negative effect.

Andrew Shao of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade association of dietary supplement makers, said, “I wouldn’t change recommendations for anyone based on one study. This is one small piece of the puzzle.”

The amount of oxidative damage increases with age, and according to one theory of aging it is a major cause of the body’s decline.

The findings appear in this week’s issue of The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

John Evans

There’s a lot of knowing chit-chat about aphrodisiacs, as well as many urban myths. As food is nature’s pharmacy, what effect do some well-known foods have on bodily attraction?

The term “aphrodisiac” has its roots in Greek mythology when Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, rose from the sea on an oyster and gave birth to Eros. In ancient Greece, emphasis was placed upon fertility and sexual prowess rather than libido levels.

Foods which have traditionally been considered to have aphrodisiac qualities might not always seem that appetising – personally I find oysters a little hard to swallow – but using some imagination and creative presentation, why not tuck into some delicious aphrodisiac treats that are sure to start the blood flowing and set the hormones into a spin.

Strawberries are a perfect finger food — passionate red with sweet, sticky juice that is sure to tantalise your lover. They are also high in Vitamin C, which is needed for the growth and repair of body cells, keeping the skin, teeth and bones healthy. The amino acids in strawberries will help boost both libido and stamina.

Bananas are a fantastic source of energy, so feeding them to your lover will ensure they don’t run out of steam. They are rich in B vitamins which are essential in sexual hormone production and have been known to do wonders for the male libido.

Delicious asparagus is rich in Vitamin E, which is famed for its ability to stimulate increased sexual powers. Asparagus can be eaten as a finger food stem by stem. A bit of Hollandaise can really add to the sauce of this sexy starter.

Figs have always been considered an aphrodisiac food, partly due to their resemblance to sexual organs. They also contain the vital amino acids needed for a healthy sexual performance.

Basil is great for the circulation, and as we all know, sexual stamina is dependent upon blood flow. The sweet, green leaves are also said to boost fertility and our sense of safety, relaxation and well-being. The potent scent of Basil was traditionally said to attract the opposite sex.

Finally, nobody can argue that chocolate has to be the food of love. It contains a stimulant that creates a natural high, which feels similar to the effect of the release of endorphins in the brain. There are a million ways to have fun with chocolate, and containing more antioxidants than red wine, it should be great to stimulate those long lasting passionate encounters.

Rhian Gibbings