Chestnuts will explode in the oven unless you cut a slit into them prior to roasting. Some people recommend cutting a cross in the face (the lighter end) of the nut, but it's much easier to cut a slit in the flat side. It's softer and you're much less likely to cut yourself.
Chestnuts are a terrific snack food, simply roast them in a moderate oven for 20 minutes until they split. Wrap them in a tea towel until they are cool enough to handle and then peel off the outer shell and inner skin. Toss the peeled chestnuts in a pan with olive oil, sea salt and chili and serve them with pre dinner drinks. A much healthier and delicious alternative to potato chips. Read more...

Many people are intolerant to dairy or just prefer to minimise their intake by drinking non-dairy milk such as soy, oat, rice or almond milks. We can all benefit from reducing dairy in our diet, however, it's important to choose a product that will benefit your diet rather than add more harmful ingredients.

Soy milk, for example can contain a host of unnecessary ingredients designed to improve taste and texture, such as carageenan, sugar, colours and preservatives. Always read labels and check ingredients before you buy - if there's a chemical-sounding name you can't understand, leave the milk on the shelf and look for a calcium-enriched, whole grain milk substitute. Read more...

An October 2007 study in the medical journal Hypertension showed a link between lack of sleep and high blood pressure, especially in females. Women who routinely slept six hours a night had a 42 per cent higher chance of developing high blood pressure than those who received seven or more hours sleep.

So an easy way to help prevent hypertension is to get more sleep! Read more...