Arye and I have chatted about proteins, fat and carbohydrates which make up our food from a nutrient perspective. We have not spent much time talking about water and other drinks and so in this episode we’re talking drinks.

We all know that we need to drink water, but how do you know if you’ve had enough water today? Do tea and coffee count? What about alcohol?

Take a listen to 17 minutes of drinking 101.

Arye and I have been chatting about the three main “macro’s” or major nutrients: protein, fats and in this episode: carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are not in fashion at the moment with lentils and lollipops unfortunately being thrown into the same basket. This is a huge topic to cover in a short space of time so as always, you are welcome to drop me a line and ask for more insight.

In short, not all carbohydrates are the same. When we do eat starchy foods, we should choose that are high in fiber and limit those that are high in sugars to make sure that we have stable blood sugar. If in doubt, you most probably do not eat enough fiber – most South Africans do not!

Sugar is not the devil but it is also not a saint. Avoid adding sugar to your drinks and limit eating sugary foods. If in doubt, visit a dietitian in your area!

In this episode of the Informed Appetite, Arye and I talk the basics about fat: what are fats, are they bad for you and should Arye really be afraid of them?

Short answer: no!

Fats are an essential part of our diet. Some are better for us than others, especially from a heart perspective. Fats have numerous roles in the body and they do help to make food tasty (and food preparation easy). If you have 12 minutes free, take a listen to see if there are things about fat you did or did not know. There’s even some stuff on everyone’s favourite:  coconut oil.

This is the first media interview that I’m sharing on the Informed Appetite page. Earlier this year I was interviewed by Tamara LePine-Williams on ClassicFM to talk about starting the year afresh. Many people talk about a detox after over-indulging and Tamara had some great questions about what this actually means from a health perspective.

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While public speaking is considered scary by many people, it is something I really enjoy. Unlike written media, you have to give a full answer there and then and you cannot use your usual resources for help.

If you think I have left out any really important points on overindulgence or detoxing, please feel free to leave a comment at the end of the post.