What will we be eating in 20 years' time?

[RenewableCandy]

Shellfish are loaded with goodies but you have to be careful they're fresh, and to cook them properly...and that presupposes that they haven't been anywhere near heavy metals, which I think they happily accumulate.

[emordnilap]

The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although Americans’ life expectancy and health have improved over the past century, these gains have lagged behind those in other high-income countries. This health disadvantage prevails even though the United States spends far more per person on health care than any other nation.

[...]

The U.S. health disadvantage spans many types of illness and injury. When compared with the average of peer countries, Americans as a group fare worse in at least nine health areas:

infant mortality and low birth weight
injuries and homicides
adolescent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections
HIV and AIDS
drug-related deaths
obesity and diabetes
heart disease
chronic lung disease
disability

Many of these conditions have a particularly profound effect on young people, reducing the odds that Americans will live to age 50. And for those who reach age 50, these conditions contribute to poorer health and greater illness later in life.

The United States does enjoy a few health advantages when compared with peer countries, including lower cancer death rates and greater control of blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Americans who reach age 75 can expect to live longer than people in the peer countries. With these exceptions, however, other high-income countries outrank the United States on most measures of health.

More here.

[RenewableCandy]

Great British Beans!

Before Christmas I got my hands on my first box of Hodmedod’s Great British Beans and fantastic they are too. I wondered if you could just tell me a little bit about where they’ve come from – what’s going on, what are you up to?

I suppose the simple answer is they come from somewhere in the fertile crescent 10,000 years ago, the dawn of agriculture. They’re the first and only bean we had in Europe until the Middle Ages when we discovered a whole new group of beans on the other side of the world in the Americas.

[emordnilap]

Great British Beans!

Before Christmas I got my hands on my first box of Hodmedod’s Great British Beans and fantastic they are too. I wondered if you could just tell me a little bit about where they’ve come from – what’s going on, what are you up to?

I suppose the simple answer is they come from somewhere in the fertile crescent 10,000 years ago, the dawn of agriculture. They’re the first and only bean we had in Europe until the Middle Ages when we discovered a whole new group of beans on the other side of the world in the Americas.

Cracking article, RC, thanks. It's great to read of others' enthusiasm for beans/pulses/legumes etc. We're still dipping into our frozen peas and broad beans from 2012 and we have a dozen jars or so of dried 'uns. As a nutritious and tasty protein source, they can't be beaten.

The farting aspect is interesting - if the beans are cooked correctly and you're used to eating beans fairly often there's no noticeable effect. Maybe I just stink all the time anyway.

[RenewableCandy]

"They do say" that rinsing pulses between soaking and cooking makes them a lot easier on the guts.

I'm a bit of a beanfiend, but I can't seem to grow peas to save my life. For some reason the base of the stem becomes weak and then snaps or decays. I have no idea why. This has happened 5 years running, in three different gardens.

Actually, this bothers me because I could eat peas til...erm...

[emordnilap]

"They do say" that rinsing pulses between soaking and cooking makes them a lot easier on the guts.

Right. I do this anyway, so maybe that's why I have no 'trouble' with 'em. Also, I throw in a few cumin seeds when cooking - I think it helps, though don't ask my why. I read it somewhere and it became a habit. Can't do any harm.

[Catweazle]

That article on beans is good, they are a neglected product here, probably because our tastes have become increasingly exotic and beans can be a bit plain.

I see that they make good hummous, that will sell well ( well, I like it and so does Mrs C ) so maybe that's a good way to get them on the supermarket shelves.

I quite fancy a go at home-made hummous with home-grown chili, with a thick slice of home-baked bread.

[featherstick]

"They do say" that rinsing pulses between soaking and cooking makes them a lot easier on the guts.

I'm a bit of a beanfiend, but I can't seem to grow peas to save my life. For some reason the base of the stem becomes weak and then snaps or decays. I have no idea why. This has happened 5 years running, in three different gardens.

Actually, this bothers me because I could eat peas til...erm...

They may be getting away too quickly and becoming leggy. How/when are you sowing them?

Edit to add: I think my Lawrence Hills mentions this, I'll try and look it up.

[RenewableCandy]

I sow them directly in the ground outside, in a sunny place. I don't try and move them or transplant them. I put things nearby for them to climb, but they don't climb, they grow to about 4" high and then fall over. Then if I try putting them onto the things-to-climb, the stems just snap.

[vtsnowedin]

I can't say as I've ever had a British broad bean or fava bean but I do like Maine solder beans baked up with salt pork, maple syrup , onion and some dry mustard. Slow cooked in the wood stove oven they are great winter food when your working out in the cold. I can't get the ladies to eat more then a bite or two as that would be socially unacceptable. That's OK with though as it's all the more for me.

[kenneal - lagger]

I sow them directly in the ground outside, in a sunny place. I don't try and move them or transplant them. I put things nearby for them to climb, but they don't climb, they grow to about 4" high and then fall over. Then if I try putting them onto the things-to-climb, the stems just snap.

Broad beans don't need anything to climb up although the tall varieties do need a bit of support when they get well grown. I usually put a stake in each corner of the bed and tie baling twine between the stakes.

Candy it sounds as if you're getting some sort of rot or bug in at ground level which is weakening the plants at that point. I've never had that sort of problem except with an occasional one planted in loo roll centres inside and probably over watered.

[Tarrel]

I love beans. I think it's the texture I enjoy most, but you name it, I'll eat it. Broad beans, butter beans, borlotti beans, chick peas (are they a bean?)... Very versatile food, and great for making hearty, warming dishes in a cold Scottish winter!

Never tried growing any, but will be putting that to rights this year.

[featherstick]

I sow them directly in the ground outside, in a sunny place. I don't try and move them or transplant them. I put things nearby for them to climb, but they don't climb, they grow to about 4" high and then fall over. Then if I try putting them onto the things-to-climb, the stems just snap.

Sounds very odd. Are they getting enough fertility? Although they fix nitrogen, they also need quite a bit of feeding. My worst peas have been (geddit?) when I didn't give enough manure, and the best when I manured liberally. This year I've done "horizontal composting" - trenches with kitchen waste straight in from the compost bucket i.e. no prior composting. We'll see how that works. They also need help to climb things - bamboo is too smooth for them, twine and pea twigs are better. Gentle tying-on can help.

[emordnilap]

I love beans. I think it's the texture I enjoy most, but you name it, I'll eat it. Broad beans, butter beans, borlotti beans, chick peas (are they a bean?)... Very versatile food

Agree entirely. Every type of bean/pea/legume/pulse (I think chick peas are legumes) is subtly different, be it taste, texture or appropriateness. You have to learn to appreciate the particular traits.

Many varieties of bean, hot from the pressure cooker and frugally splashed with tamari, are sublime.

[JavaScriptDonkey]

I sow them directly in the ground outside, in a sunny place. I don't try and move them or transplant them. I put things nearby for them to climb, but they don't climb, they grow to about 4" high and then fall over. Then if I try putting them onto the things-to-climb, the stems just snap.

Do you suffer from damp soil? There's a fungal infection that can weaken stems.