health

He's only 18, but Fraser Doherty has hit upon a winning idea: healthier jam. Fraser's SuperJams, sweetened with natural fruit juice rather than sugar and packed with superfruits such as blueberries and cranberries, are a big hit. They are so successful that the teenager has already won two young entrepreneur-of-the-year awards, just four years after he started making jam to his grandmother's recipe in an Edinburgh suburb.

Now selling around 40,000 jars a week after arriving in Tesco, Fraser says, 'The speed of growth has taken me totally by surprise. Selling in Tesco means more people will be able to try my jams – hopefully leading to me taking on staff for the first time.' Jam and preserves buyer Danielle Peirce says, 'Some younger people associate traditional jams and preserves with something they'd find in their granny's kitchen but, by using superfruit, Fraser has tapped into a new audience.' Fraser's Super Jams come in Blueberry and Blackcurrant, Rhubarb and Ginger, and Cranberry and Raspberry, £1·43 for a 212g jar.

I’ve heard that green juices are really good for you but might taste a little unpalatable. Can you recommend a mild green juice to start with?

When first trying green juices, always dilute them with mild, watery vegetables such as celery and cucumber, which is a great source of fluid to keep the skin hydrated. Here is a zingy combination to try.

handful of spinach
whole cucumber
4 sticks of celery
2 Granny Smith apples, sliced
¼ lemon

Wash all ingredients thoroughly. Juice the spinach first followed by the cucumber, celery and apples. Then hand twist the lemon into the green juice for that little extra zest

New research in the UK and US* indicates that skimmed milk may be twice as good at rehydrating after exercise as water or isotonic drinks.

Top athletes who already drink milk to replenish lost nutrients include decathlete Dean Macey, while Olympic gold medallist Marlon Devonish said, ‘After hearing that milk aids recovery, I will certainly incorporate it in my training.’

Loughbourgh University researcher Dr Susan Shirreffs says, 'It's essential to rehydrate in order to help maximise one's abilities.' Visit www.milk.co.uk


Many adults in the UK eat over 30 per cent more saturated fat than the guideline daily amount**. Reducing the amount by choosing more unsaturated fats – found in oily fish, olive oil and spreads made with unsaturated fats, such as Flora – can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Creamy avocados contain these fats and, at only 140 calories per average half, add flavour and interest to salads and sandwiches.


	St Patrick's Day If you're not near a local festival parade, or partial to Guinness, celebrate with some Irish soda bread, champ (mashed potatoes and spring onions) or colcannon (mashed potato with cabbage).	Easter Beer Festival, Main Hall, Margate Winter Gardens, Margate, Kent. Organised by Camra (Campaign for Real Ale), with cider, perry and soft drinks also available – go to www.camra.org.uk and click on events.	What is the World's Biggest Curry Lunch? Host a curry lunch/dinner on 24th or any time in April and raise funds for the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF), helping soldiers and families in need. Visit www.armybenfund.org to get a free fundraising pack.
Study by Loughborough University published in the British Journal of Nutrition; second study published in the American Journal of clinical Nutrition in November 2007 *The National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2003

Health – keeping healthy – ideas for eating and living healthily

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