Latest news with #Mediterranean-style
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Top spots for al fresco dining this summer in Bexley
Let's face it, when the weathers on our side, there's no better way to enjoy a meal than outside with a bit of sunshine and a proper plate in front of you. Around Bexley, there are some cracking places where you can tuck into a delicious meal outdoors. Here are five local favourites serving hearty food with space to sit outside: Delicio, Bexleyheath 157 Broadway, Bexleyheath DA6 7EY Google rating: 4.6 stars Delicio is known for its Mediterranean-style cooking with a broad menu that includes pizzas, pastas, kebabs and salads. It's a family-run place with over 25 years' experience in the business, and they've got outdoor tables where you can enjoy it all with a glass of wine or two. At weekends, they even bring in a bellydancer for a bit of added atmosphere. A Google review said: 'Popped in Tues evening with the girls after months of hubby telling me to try here – absolutely not disappointed. 'Staff were super friendly and looked after us well with recommendations. The food was absolutely wonderful and great atmosphere. 'Highly recommended and would definitely use this as a chinwag and munch spot with the girls again. Best BBQ ribs I've had in years and no skimping on portions.' Robin Hood & Little John, Bexleyheath 78 Lion Rd, Bexleyheath DA6 8PFGoogle rating: 4.6 stars A proper local pub with a long history and a good-sized beer garden out back. The menu focuses on solid pub favourites made from local ingredients. It reopened in July 2024 after a refurbishment and has already become a favourite for outdoor meals. A Google review said: 'The atmosphere of this fine pub was captivating from the first moment. 'I was lucky to have a nice meal consisting of Rigatoni Bolognese and Garlic Bread as a side. 'Very tasty and made with love from 'mama'. Thanks for extending your hospitality to a guy from Allemagna.' Chinchins, Bexleyheath 171 Broadway, Bexleyheath DA6 7ES Google rating: 4.7 stars Chinchins takes pride in doing everything fresh — no frozen shortcuts, and even their coffee is specially roasted. The outdoor seating is a good option for a full meal in the fresh air, and the food covers a range of hot dishes that go well beyond café snacks. A Google review said: 'Been here a couple of times now over the years and every time it's perfect! I would love to visit this place more, as the food is superb! 'The price is slightly more than your average cafe but it's totally worth it! 'Drinks are great too! And even have homemade goods at the bar which I had to try! Overall for quality, price and service it's a 10/10!' Thai Spicy at The Kings Head, Bexley 65 Bexley High St, Bexley DA5 1AA Google rating: 4.8 stars This one's inside The Kings Head pub in Bexley Village, offering proper Thai food in a traditional pub setting. You can eat outdoors in the beer garden while enjoying dishes like Tom Yum soup, papaya salad and Thai curries. It's popular with locals looking for something different. A Google review said: 'A great little restaurant called Thai spicy in a traditional pub in Bexley. Pub was lively and friendly. 'The food was delicious and we tried as many dishes as we could. Everything we had was really good! 'We found out about this place after a friend recommended it and we'll be coming back to try the rest of the menu! 'The ladies who work there are amazing and super friendly. The papaya salad and Tom yum soup was my favourite!' Pascal Bistro, Sidcup Google rating: 4.7 stars Pascal Bistro focuses on French cuisine with ingredients that follow the seasons and some brought in from the south of France. It's run by chefs with over 20 years of experience and has outdoor tables available when the weather's right. A Google review said: 'Whether you're a Sidcup local or visiting, Pascal Bistro is a must-try for anyone craving authentic French cuisine in a friendly, unpretentious setting. 'Its combination of quality food, personal service, and value makes it a standout choice. Grazie.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Reservoir plans fast-tracked as we could run out of water 'in next decade'
The Environment Agency has predicted a shortfall of almost five billion litres a day by 2050 as drier summers caused by the climate crisis has put the country at risk Without any new reservoirs parts of the UK would have been forced to experience extreme rationing to ensure there was enough drinking water, the government has warned. Emma Hardy, the minister for water and flooding, said that without the action the government is taking, the South East and East Anglia would have been under serious risk of water scarcity by 'the middle of the next decade', requiring Mediterranean-style rationing to ensure people had enough drinking water. The lack of reservoir capacity, combined with a rising population and drier summers caused by climate breakdown, has put the country at risk of water shortages. She added that years of underinvestment had left the country at risk of seasonal shortages, hosepipe bans and an inadequate supply of clean drinking water. The minister has announced the fast track construction of two new reservoirs, with another seven to come before 2050, after a three-decade period in which none were built. Work has already started on Havant Thicket reservoir in Hampshire, which is expected to be completed in the early 2030s. She said: 'The alternative is, you know, carry on as we have in the last 14 years. Do nothing. Let nothing happen. No reservoirs being built... And what do we end up with? A situation of rationing, more hosepipe bans, the situation that we see happening in different countries in the Mediterranean… I'm not prepared to let that happen under my watch.' Persistent drought in Sicily last summer meant the water supply was turned on only once a week. Residents were told not to wash their clothes and to flush their toilets only infrequently. Experts warned in recent weeks of an impending UK drought this summer if there was not significant rainfall soon, with some reservoirs in the north of the country at worryingly low levels. The environment minister, Steve Reed, confirmed he has awarded the status of 'nationally significant' to two new reservoir projects in East Anglia and Lincolnshire and ordered they go ahead. These will be the first to be built since 1992. The government said this would shore up water resources for more than 750,000 homes in England's most water-stressed areas. Without more capacity, the UK will be at risk of running out of water in the medium term. The Environment Agency has predicted a shortfall of almost five billion litres a day by 2050. Water Minister Emma Hardy said: 'We are backing the builders not the blockers, intervening in the national interest and slashing red tape to make the planning process faster to unblock nine new reservoirs... This Government will secure our water supply for future generations and unlock the building of thousands of homes as part of the Plan for Change." Anglian Water is proposing to build the Lincolnshire Reservoir to the south of Sleaford, aiming to be operational by 2040. The firm has also partnered with Cambridge Water to propose the Fens Reservoir, located between the towns of Chatteris and March, set to be completed in 2036. The Lincolnshire Reservoir would provide up to 166 million litres of water per day for up to 500,000 homes – that is the equivalent of more than 664 million cups of tea per day. The Fens would supply a much needed 87 million litres to 250,000 homes in the driest region of the UK. Both projects will now progress to the consultation phase, where developers gather views from communities and stakeholders. Water companies have committed to bring nine new reservoirs online by 2050, in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suffolk, Kent, East Sussex and the West Midlands and Somerset. These reservoirs alone have the potential to provide 670 million litres of extra water per day. The water industry has also welcomed the announcement. "It's absolutely critical that we build these reservoirs now," David Henderson, chief executive of Water UK. "If we don't build them now, we wait another 10 years, it's going to cost even more, so we can't keep kicking the can down the road any longer." Some experts warn that managing how we use water needs to take greater precedence in a warming climate. "We need a complete overhaul of the way we use water, to plug leaks, cut down on waste and store water where it falls as rain," said Prof Hannah Cloke of the University of Reading. "It would be better to make more difficult decisions around regulation of new building, as well as retrofitting older homes and businesses, to cut waste and recycle water where it is used, rather than pumping water across huge distances."
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Mixed Dietary Patterns Among Patients With Psoriasis
A recent study found that patients with psoriasis showed better adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet but a higher consumption of processed foods than participants without psoriasis. However, patients with more severe psoriasis and with comorbidities were more likely to have a lower overall diet quality, suggesting opportunities for targeted dietary interventions. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analysed 2613 patients with psoriasis (mean age, 56.5 years) identified through self-report and/or linked health records at baseline using data from the UK Biobank and compared them with 120,555 participants without psoriasis (mean age, 56.2 years). Dietary intake was assessed through online 24-hour recalls conducted every 3-4 months over 1 year through the Oxford WebQ questionnaire. Researchers estimated participants' adherence to national food-based dietary guidelines (Eatwell Guide) and a Mediterranean-style diet by nutrient and food group intakes determined from 24-hour dietary recalls. Associations among the severity of psoriasis, presence of major comorbidities, and diet quality were evaluated using regression models with covariate adjustments. TAKEAWAY: Both groups had the same Eatwell Guide score (mean ± SD, 3.9 ± 1.7), but the psoriasis group had a higher Alternative Mediterranean Diet score than the non-psoriasis group (mean ± SD, 4.4 ± 1.8 vs 3.8 ± 1.7; P < .0001). < .0001). Patients with psoriasis reported a significantly higher intake of red and processed meat, sodium, free sugars, and alcohol than participants without the condition (all P < .05). < .05). Patients with psoriasis who had one or more comorbidities had significantly lower Eatwell Guide and Alternative Mediterranean Diet scores (beta coefficient [β], −0.184; 95% CI, −0.354 to −0.014; P = .034 and β, −0.266; 95% CI, −0.442 to −0.089; P = .003, respectively). = .034 and β, −0.266; 95% CI, −0.442 to −0.089; = .003, respectively). The proportion of patients with psoriasis who had at least five portions of fruits and vegetables per day was significantly lower for those on systemic treatment than for those with no reported treatment (odds ratio, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.48-0.98; P = .040). IN PRACTICE: "Participants with psoriasis showed slightly better adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet (assessed between 0 and 6 years after recruitment) compared to those without psoriasis, which may indicate an active interest in dietary changes for symptom management in this population. However, their diets were also higher in processed meat, sodium, free sugars, and alcohol," the authors wrote. "These findings underscore the role of dietary management in preventative care for psoriasis," they concluded. SOURCE: This study was led by Yifan Xu, PhD, Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, England. It was published online on May 21, 2025, in Clinical Nutrition . LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional study design limited the establishment of causal inference, as dietary changes may have occurred both before and after diagnosis. Self-reported 24-hour recall data may have been subjected to misreporting and recall bias. The assessment of psoriasis severity on the basis of self-reported medication use lacked the reliability offered by clinical measurements like the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index or Dermatology Life Quality Index. The study population's restricted age range at enrolment (40-69 years) and tendency towards health consciousness limited the study's generalisability. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by a grant from the British Skin Foundation. One author declared receiving honoraria and/or research grants from AbbVie, Almirall, Anaptysbio, Artax, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boots UK, Bristol Meyers Squibb, Evelo Bioscience, GSK, Inmagene, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Novartis, Sun Pharma, and UCB.
UPI
2 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Study: Weight loss in middle age might add years to your life
Losing just 6.5% of body weight in midlife may lower later risk of disease and premature death, new research shows. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News Losing just 6.5% of body weight in midlife may lower later risk of disease and premature death, new research shows. Researchers found that people who lost about 6.5% of their body weight -- without using weight loss drugs or surgery -- reaped big health benefits later in life, CNN reported. For someone who weighs 180 pounds, that's just shy of a 12-pound weight loss. "Although correcting midlife overweight without surgical or pharmacological treatment is challenging, our results suggest that it is feasible and may be associated with decreased long-term risk of cardiovascular diseases, other chronic conditions, and mortality outcomes associated with overweight," the study, led by Dr. Timo Strandberg, a professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Helsinki in Finland, concluded. Published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open, it looked at data from nearly 23,000 adults across three time periods, going back to the 1960s. Researchers grouped folks based on their body mass index (BMI) at the start and whether they gained, lost or maintained weight. (BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.) Then, they checked hospital and death records. People who lost weight were less likely to suffer from heart attacks, strokes, cancer, asthma and lung diseases like COPD, the study found. They were also less likely to die from any cause over the next 35 years. It's worth noting that this weight loss happened before popular weight loss medications and surgeries were available. That means most of the health improvements likely came from diet and exercise changes. "The study is important because it provides evidence of the relationship between weight loss and both cardiovascular disease and mortality, which hasn't been studied enough," Dr. Aayush Visari, a clinical researcher at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey, told CNN. But both Visaria and Strandberg noted that BMI, used in the study to track people's weight, is an imperfect measure. BMI doesn't show where fat is stored or how much muscle someone has, which can affect health risks. Other research has shown that belly fat and fat around organs may matter more than overall weight. "There's so many variables that might play into how someone's body composition changes, even though maybe their weight might not change as much," Visaria said. While this study couldn't prove that weight loss alone caused the health benefits, the lifestyle changes that led to it -- like healthier eating and more exercise -- also likely played a big role. Experts recommend aiming for 150 minutes of moderate exercise (like walking or biking) each week, plus two days of muscle-strengthening activities. Eating a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fruits, veggies, nuts and olive oil can also help, CNN reported. Lifestyle is always important when it comes to good health, meaning that you should strive to eat nutritious foods and be active even if you are using weight loss medications, Visaria added. Strandberg said society also needs to make it easier for people to access healthy food and places to be active. More information The Mayo Clinic has more on the benefits of regular physical activity. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
The South African
4 days ago
- The South African
4 places in South Africa that channel the Italian countryside
South Africa might be thousands of kilometres from Italy, but you don't need a passport to feel like you've stepped into the Tuscan hills or the vineyards of Umbria. Across the country, a handful of places capture the look, feel, and slow-living vibe of the Italian countryside – with a South African twist. Take a look… Why it feels Italian: Hilltop stays and rustic romance South Africa's Magaliesberg mountain range – just an hour from Johannesburg – offers rolling green hills, quaint lodges, and old-world charm that mirrors northern Italy's Lake District. Properties like Mount Grace Hotel or De Hoek Country Hotel evoke villa-style getaways, where stone pathways, manicured gardens, and terracotta roofs set the mood. Hartbeespoort Dam and the Magaliesberg Mountains. Image: canva Why it feels Italian: Vineyards, mountains, and fine food Franschhoek may be French in name, but parts of this wine valley look and feel straight out of Tuscany. Think cypress-lined driveways, ochre-hued farmhouses, and terraces overlooking endless vineyards. The surrounding mountains echo the Apennines, and the Mediterranean-style climate seals the deal. Many wine estates here lean into an Italian countryside aesthetic – with terraced gardens, fountains, and even olive groves. Franschhoek, Western Cape. Image: canva Why it feels Italian: Olive farms, slow living, and sunbaked soil Less commercial than Stellenbosch or Franschhoek, Robertson feels like a secret corner of a rural Italian countryside. The town is surrounded by wine estates and olive farms, with dusty roads winding through sun-drenched vineyards. It's peaceful, pastoral, and perfect for long lunches and countryside picnics. Robertson Wine Valley. Image: canva Why it feels Italian: Mediterranean coast meets local fishing village This seaside village on the West Coast might be South African to its core, but its whitewashed buildings, cerulean sea, and simple coastal life scream southern Italian countryside. Paternoster feels like a cross between Sicily and the Amalfi coast – minus the crowds. The town's food scene, with its seafood pastas and oceanfront bistros, could pass for a small Italian beach town. Paternoster, Western Cape. Image: canva Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
