Brighten Up Your Summer Barbecue With Spice-Roasted Vegetables
A colorful selection of zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, and onions takes on the smoke and char from the grill, while lemony couscous soaks up their juices. It's endlessly adaptable; swap in other vegetables based on what's in season or in your fridge. Serve it warm as a hearty vegetarian main dish or chilled as an al fresco salad.
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Scroll.in
an hour ago
- Scroll.in
‘Mind diet': Eating right can protect cognitive health as you age
There's long been evidence that what we eat can affect our risk of dementia, Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline as we age. But can any one diet actually keep the brain strong and lower dementia risk? Evidence suggests the so-called 'Mind diet' might. The Mind diet (which stands for the Mediterranean-Dash intervention for neurocognitive delay) combines the well-established Mediterranean diet with the 'Dash' diet (dietary approaches to stop hypertension). However, it also includes some specific dietary modifications based on their benefits to cognitive health. Both the Mediterranean diet and Dash diet are based on traditional eating patterns from countries which border the Mediterranean sea. Both emphasise eating plenty of plant-based foods (such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds), low-fat dairy products (such as milk and yoghurts) and lean proteins including fish and chicken. Both diets include very little red and processed meats. The Dash diet, however, places greater emphasis on consuming low-sodium foods, less added sugar and fewer saturated and trans-fats to reduce blood pressure. Both diets are well-researched and shown to be effective in preventing lifestyle-related diseases – including cardiovascular disease and hypertension. They're also shown to help protect the brain's neurons from damage and benefit cognitive health. The Mind diet follows many of the core tenets of both diets but places greater emphasis on consuming more foods that contain nutrients which promote brain health and prevent cognitive decline, including: flavonoids and polyphenols found in fruit, vegetables, tea and dark chocolate folate found in leafy greens and legumes N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in oily fish, nuts and seeds. Numerous studies have been conducted on the Mind diet, and the evidence for this dietary approach's brain health benefit is pretty convincing. For instance, one study asked 906 older adults about their usual diet – giving them a 'Mind score' based on the number of foods and nutrients they regularly consumed that are linked with lower dementia risk. The researchers found a link between people who had a higher Mind diet score and slower cognitive decline when followed up almost five years later. Another study of 581 participants found that people who had closely followed either the Mind diet or the Mediterranean diet for at least a decade had fewer signs of amyloid plaques in their brain when examined post-mortem. Amyloid plaques are a key hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Higher intake of leafy greens appeared to the most important dietary component. A systematic review of 13 studies on the Mind diet has also found a positive association between adherence to the Mind diet and cognitive performance and function in older people. One paper included in the review even demonstrated a 53% reduction in Alzheimer's disease risk in those that adhered to the diet. It's important to note that most of this research is based on observational studies and food frequency questionnaires, which have their limitations in research due to reliability and participant bias. Only one randomised control trial was included in the review. It found that women who were randomly assigned to follow the Mind diet over a control diet for a short period of time showed a slight improvement in memory and attention. Research in this field is ongoing, so hopefully we'll soon have a better understanding of the diet's benefits – and know exactly why it's so beneficial. Mind your diet UK public health guidance recommends people follow a balanced diet to maintain good overall health. But the Mind diet offers a more targeted approach for those hoping to look after their cognitive health. While public health guidance encourages people to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables daily, the Mind diet would recommend choosing leafy green vegetables (such as spinach and kale) and berries for their cognitive benefits. Similarly, while UK guidance says to choose unsaturated fats over saturated ones, the Mind diet explicitly recommends that these fats come from olive oil. This is due to the potential neuroprotective effects of the fats found in olive oil. If you want to protect your cognitive function as you age, here are some other small, simple swaps you can make each day to more closely follow the Mind diet: upgrade your meals by sprinkling nuts and seeds on cereals, salads or yoghurts to increase fibre and healthy fats eat the rainbow of fruit and vegetables, aiming to fill half your plate with these foods canned and frozen foods are just as nutrient-rich as fresh fruits and vegetables bake or airfry vegetables and meats instead of frying to reduce fat intake opt for poly-unsaturated fats and oils in salads and dressings – such as olive oil bulk out meat or meat alternatives with pulses, legumes chickpeas or beans. These can easily be added into dishes such as spaghetti bolognese, chilli, shepherd's pie or curry use tinned salmon, mackerel or sardines in salads or as protein sources for meal planning. These small changes can have a meaningful impact on your overall health – including your brain's health. With growing evidence linking diet to cognitive function, even little changes to your eating habits may help protect your mind as you age.
Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Scotsman
Glorious sunshine as Scotland set for 'hottest day of the year'
Scotland is on course to bake in the warmest day of the year as temperatures surge. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Conditions in Edinburgh have reached 25c today, with blazing sunshine set to continue for the rest of the day. People across the city are making the most of the glorious conditions, flocking to parks and beaches to enjoy the Mediterranean conditions. And the scorching conditions are set to continue tomorrow, too, with the Met Office expecting conditions to reach 23c in the Capital tomorrow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But come Monday forecasters have warned rain is set to fall, putting a dampener on the return work. While temperatures in Edinburgh do not look likely to top the high of 28.4c recorded in the city last month, Scotland looks expected to bask in the warmest day of 2025 so far with forecasters keeping an eye on thermometers across the country. People enjoying the warm weather in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens | PA Greg Dewhurst, Met Office meteorologist, said the warmest day of the year in Scotland was just shy of 30c and temperatures could reach 'slightly higher' than that. He said: 'It's quite, quite possible to see the highest temperatures of the year so far for parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland and Wales too, but England unlikely.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad High temperatures come as around 70,000 spectators arrived for the Genesis Scottish Open golf tournament at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. Meanwhile sun worshippers have flocked to beauty spots in and around Edinburgh, including Holyrood Park, the Meadows and Leith Links. But those taking a dip in the sea at places like Portobello have been warned of the dangers, and urged to stay safe. Ross Macleod, water safety manager from the RNLI, said: 'Even in hot weather, the seas around our coasts are cold enough year-round to trigger cold water shock, while waves and rip currents can overpower even the most experienced water users.' Amid the boiling temperatures and blazing sunshine, firefighters have warned there is an extreme risk of wildfires. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Raymond King, of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'We are asking the public to exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame. Many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant damage.' In Glasgow, where around 150,000 music fans are flocking to TRNSMT including many from Edinburgh, temperatures are set to climb to 29 degrees and 27 degrees on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Health bosses there have issued warnings to people to stay safe and protect themselves from the sun. Dr Emilia Crichton said: 'This weekend is looking like a great time to get outside for warmer weather. No matter what you're doing, please enjoy the good weather safely by protecting yourself when in the sun, staying hydrated, and having common medicines to hand.' The UK's third heatwave of the year hit towards the middle of this week, with temperatures having climbed across Britain over Thursday and Friday.
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- The Guardian
Provence laid bare: ‘I shed my clothes and found freedom on a beautiful French island'
The trail hugs every curve of the cliffside. On my left, the Mediterranean Sea swirls beside craggy rocks, while flowering plants unfurl on my right. A quarter of France's coast is lined with similar sentiers des douaniers (customs officers' paths), which were once used to patrol the sea. The difference on this trail is that I'm wearing nothing but my backpack. Off the coast of the southern French resort town of Hyères, Île du Levant is home to the only naturist community of its kind, the Domaine Naturiste d'Héliopolis. For 93 years, this rustic Eden has lured free-spirited lovers of nature and authenticity, as unabashedly naked as Adam and Eve before they ate the forbidden fruit. On every visit, I've found that when people shed their clothes, they shed their pretence. Unlike traditional naturist retreats where nudity is de rigueur, Héliopolis is peppered with clothing-optional spots. This makes it the ideal place for travellers to dip their toes into the naturist way of life. I first came to Île du Levant with my twin sister when I was 20. We had grown up in a home that was comfortable with nudity, yet a clothes-free island was unfamiliar territory. Disrobing on the hiking trail, it seemed as if we were breaking the rules. And when a pleasure boat came close to us, we felt as exposed as the rocks below. The sun soon melted our inhibitions, however. It was exhilarating to be nude in nature, each sense amplified as if our clothing had been stifling them. We instantly befriended a British couple, the awkwardness of chatting to strangers cast away with our clothes. When I returned to Héliopolis 26 years later, after moving to nearby Marseille, I was just as enchanted by its bare-it-all bonhomie, and felt worry-free as a solo female. I have returned every year since. The Fédération Française de Naturisme defines naturism as: 'A manner of living in harmony with nature, characterised by the practice of communal nudity, which consequently fosters respect for oneself, others and the environment.' The seeds were planted in late 19th‑century Germany as a social-health movement in response to dehumanising industrialisation. While certain aspects such as alfresco gymnastics and abstention from alcohol have disappeared, the crux of the philosophy – that gathering au naturel in sun-kissed nature does the body and mind good – is still its raison d'etre. One of the more unusual side‑effects of the back-to-nature trend that took hold during the Covid pandemic has been a surge in popularity of naturism in the UK, with an Ipsos poll in 2022 showing that one in seven Britons (6.75 million people) had practised it, up from 3.7 million in 2011. There is also an increased interest among young adults. A symbol of body positivity and eco-consciousness, naturism is also 'a break from the noise of the news, consumerism and other concerns that weigh on our generation', says Naomi Gergaud, a 30-year-old fourth-generation Levantine, whose grandparents used to say: 'We weren't born in knickers.' The UK's cool climate is not ideal for being in your birthday suit, however, so many Britons join northern Europeans in sunny southern France. The country is the world's leading naturist destination, welcoming 2.6 million visitors a year at naturist clubs, beaches or campsites. Or on an island, as in Héliopolis's case – though not an entire one, as 90% of Île du Levant is occupied by the French military. Over the centuries, everyone from Barbary pirates to Benedictine monks settled on the isle for its strategic, remote location. The French natural medicine doctors Gaston and André Durville put down roots on Île du Levant in 1932, fresh from founding a naturist camp called Physiopolis on Platais island in the Seine. The brothers named their Mediterranean settlement Héliopolis, after the ancient Greeks' belief in the therapeutic properties of the sun (helios). Almost a century later, Héliopolis is a trip back to those simpler times, despite being just five nautical miles from the shore. I board a passenger boat – fittingly called Amour des Îles (love of the islands) – in Hyères. As waves splash me in a salt-water mist, the 90-minute journey across the Mediterranean sets the scene for a great escape, especially when the captain takes a detour to an out-of-this-world rock formation, Cap des Mèdes, because 'the light is too beautiful'. There is no rush since Île du Levant moves at its own pace. That is partly because no cars are allowed on the island, save for a taxi to ferry people from the port to their accommodation. Héliopolis has a small footprint of just 65 hectares (160 acres) and about 90 year-round residents. Besides, walking aids wellbeing, especially since it is on such a steep slope. A local tells me it takes three days for your legs to adjust. So pack lightly, which is easy when you will mostly be sporting a sarong. But don't forget a torch – though electricity arrived in 1989, there aren't any streetlights – which adds to the yesteryear charm. After dropping my bag at Soléa Lodges, a trio of lovely studios overlooking the sea, I head off on an amble along eucalyptus-scented roads that weave past phone-booth libraries and dreamily named homes like La Recluserie (secluded hideaway). I find it easy to navigate using the wooden street signs, which have adages in French such as 'Être nu rendre heureux' (being naked makes you happy). That is surely the case when a leathery woman clad in just a lavender bumbag and matching flip-flops greets me with an ebullient 'Bonjour'. Saying hello is one of the isle's rules – reminders are posted on graphic signs about town. Others are to conserve water, a precious resource here, and to sit on a sarong in restaurants. Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion All roads lead to the Place Durville that tops Héliopolis. The cafe/restaurant La Pomme d'Adam has been the resort's social hub since 1932. 'I came to holiday here and never left,' says my waiter. Holidaymakers pick up nude-themed collectibles at L'Érotique Traversée des Siècles and hefty slices of quiche for picnics at Boulangerie Pâtisserie la Grigne. Full nudity is forbidden in shops (Levantines don thong-like minimums to skirt this rule). This is because Hyères's town council has a presence in Héliopolis, helming the itty-bitty town hall, post office and police station. The full-time islanders manage everything else with their local union. Hence, the quirk of Héliopolis being a 'private domain that is open to the public'. Nudism keeps tourism at bay compared with the busier Îles d'Or (Golden Isles) such as Île de Porquerolles, which attracts four times as many visitors as Île du Levant in high season. I have only visited in spring and autumn, which are the best times to savour the silence with the locals. A third of Héliopolis is covered by the Domaine des Arbousiers, a nature reserve that sprawls between a dense maquis and the wind-battered coastline. The strawberry-tree-lined Sentier du Point du Jour leads to the highest point, where I'm rewarded with a panorama of the surprisingly pretty military base (early birds should come for sunrise). Heading back to the Mediterranean, the precipitous Sentier des Moines path zigzags through a fragrant pine forest to the Sentier du Bord de Mer. This seaside trail is best traversed in the buff. With my skin deliciously warmed by the sun and refreshed by the breeze, I feel as free as the squawking seagulls gliding the thermals above me. Each step affirms the 'naturism is liberty' axiom that Levantines preach. A dip beckons at Bain de Diane, where concrete platforms scattered between rocks are topped with sunbathers. Their naked bodies are as much a part of the landscape as the lizards that scurry beside them, recalling writer Sophie Fontanel's poetic novel La Capitale de la Douceur: 'It's hard to believe that we look so much alike when we're undressed. We're all the same ideogram.' Past the port, Plage des Grottes is Héliopolis's only sandy beach. The gorgeous turquoise cove has always been adamantly nude. 'Locals once used mirrors to deflect sunbeams into the eyes of textiles [clothed people] to steer them away,' says septuagenarian Frédéric Capoulade, the island's historian. People can often be less social at traditional nude beaches. 'As a naturist community, we don't have the same barriers here,' says Fred Godeau, who owns the hip HéliOtel with his partner, Julie (their restaurant serves up a stellar panorama). Fred's words echo the Durville brothers' belief that clothes represent the social class to which an individual belongs. Everyone is on an equal footing wearing just a smile. The ferry goes from Hyères (90 mins, €29 return, and Lavandou (35-60 mins, €34 return, Accommodation at Soléa Lodges (open year-round, starts at €80 a night for a studio sleeping three. HéliOtel (open May-September, has doubles from €150 BB
