Friday, March 27, 2009

A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY...

My maternal grandmother was a very wise woman - no that's not her in the photo. Many of the sayings she taught me when I was a child hold true today. One truism was “A little of what you fancy does you good.” Hence I tend to totally ignore all the health warnings associated with food and drink and follow her missive: “All things in moderation.”

I write these words because the British Medical Journal has just published research by Iranian scientists that suggests that if you drink very hot tea you can provoke throat cancer.

Well let me tell the BMJ something for nothing – if you drink very hot tea you can also burn your mouth, tongue and throat – all of these are much more likely - and I’m not even a scientist!

For Britons tea has a very strong place in our national identity. My grandmother’s and parents’ generations survived the blitz of the Second World War by knowing the calming values of a good cup of tea. With a doodle bug hovering over your head you sipped your Rosy Lee slowly in the certain knowledge that it would pass you by. You certainly didn’t expect to get zapped by throat cancer – and nor were you!

You can be certain that for every food or drink warning issued – they’ll be conflicting data in a year or so time.

I will drink my red wine, enjoy a plate of egg and bacon, even a mug of tea – knowing as my grandmother taught me – a little of what you fancy does you good and all things in moderation!

3 comments:

Cybernest said...

Wise words as always Sancho... I'm with you all the way on this one.

I would also add, that when we speak about "what we fancy", then we must surely not forget to add the other all important 'spice' in most heterosexual red blooded male's lives... and that is a drop of the 'weaker sex'... (a phrase of which in my experience is a complete misnomer). Much to be recommended here, not least in cardiovascular exercise... but as your Grandma also used to wisely say... to be enjoyed in moderation and preferably at 'arms length'... if one follows my gist! ;)

Saludos!

Anonymous said...

I gave up listening to the food health 'experts' when they said we should give up all bacon and ham.

Um, how to you enjoy 'the weaker sex' at arms length?

Cybernest said...

Um, how to you enjoy 'the weaker sex' at arms length?

ha ha Good question... we can't live with 'em and we can't live without 'em! It's a constant dilemma. But it's easy really. The point I'm getting at is the same philosophy as "why buy a book... when you can join the library?"! Saves a lot of aggravation in the long run... on both sides! :)