Perhaps best not to talk about the C-19 virus right now - quite enough has been said and continues to be said (for some time yet I am afraid) BUT so very many people (globally) are suffering from way more than the usual day-to-day anxiety and whilst there are a great many ‘practices’ that may help us to cope a little better, my remit has always been where diet may help. Yet again, I have to sing the praises of Omega-3s.

Researchers took data from 19 clinical trials including a total of 1,203 participants. Their findings were published in the JAMA Network Open journal. After analysis, their findings supported their initial theory. Although the studies varied significantly in the type of participants that were involved and the ways that anxiety was measured, they saw a significant reduction in anxiety in the groups treated with omega-3s compared with the placebo groups.

Most of the studies demonstrated a positive effect of omega-3 PUFAs on anxiety, even though not all effect sizes were significant. However, when the data were pooled, the combined effect was statistically significant.

There are so many suggestions in my recipe collection on this site that are rich in Omega-3s but I am particularly championing my combinations that you can put on the humble crisp bread or stuff into a half an avocado - breakfast, lunch or as a snack. I am more than a little over-zealous about including some sort of Omega-3 foods in as many of your meals and snacks as you can but if you suspect that you are not getting enough (which few people do) I encourage you to take a supplement… 2 of my favourites are Eskimo-3 Extra by Nutri and Dr Mercola’s Krill Oil .

If you are prone to bleeding or take anticoagulant drugs, consult your doctor.

Print off the toppings and fillings for crisp breads and the avocados and ensure that you keep it handy.

Watermelon & Tomato Gazpacho

I was in Manhattan last week for a mind-blowingly-fabulous wedding in Brooklyn! The weather was blisteringly hot and The Liberty Warehouse on Pier 41 in the historic shipping yards of Red Hook, Brooklyn where the wedding, the feasting and the dancing took place was something else with the Statue of Liberty looking on and Manhattan in the background - very, very special indeed!

Of course, there was a fair amount of eating and drinking throughout the week with great friends - plus lots of new friends!

Two that I should mention: ABC Kitchen - everything our server, George suggested was superb (there was a lot of oohing and aahing going on). And yes, the salted caramel ice cream, chocolate sauce and popcorn was everything that past reviewers of the restaurant have raved about!

The Empire Diner at 210 10th Ave (corner of 22nd Street) where ‘he and me’ had a late brunch (pastrami on rye for himself, avocado toast and a really-spicy Bloody Mary for me). But it’s really more about the place which apparently has closed and opened over the years but locals keep coming back! It is a beautiful and fabulously-art deco space where you just kind of want to sit around and enjoy for hours!

However… you might be wondering where the soup in the intro pic came from? Well, as I mentioned, it was blisteringly hot and somehow or other the conversation moved onto chilled soups one lunchtime and I was reliably-informed by a number of NYC residents that there are a number of restaurants and diners that do a brilliant Watermelon & Tomato Gazpacho when the weather is unbearably hot and it is said that there is nothing like it to cool you down. I didn’t get a chance to partake but blow-me-down, when we arrived back in Glasgow, the weather was magnificent so I gave it a try and it was a bit of a triumph! Thanks to Mark Bittman, the widely respected food writer for the bones of this recipe in one of his very many New York Times columns. Here’s it is…

Now… the way I see it is … if grilled flat, fresh mushrooms, just-ripe avocados, smoked salmon from fish so fresh even through the smoking you can detect it and a runny, free-range organic egg are your thing - you have just happened upon the very best combination - ever!

I played around with this recipe for some considerable time and my premis was to have ‘no bread of any sort ’ to pile the other delightful ingredients upon (I suppose I must have been appealing the the ‘paleo lot’ or the ‘intermittent fasting lot’ or the ‘gluten intolerant lot’ - or dear alone knows who else!) But I certainly was not appealing to those that somehow or other believe that those foods that are rich in Omega fats (particularly Omega 3 fats) are ‘fattening’ and should be limited! Honestly, you can almost feel your nails growing, your bone mass intensifying, your heart strengthening, your hair taking on a beautiful shine and your power and energy spilling over as you savour every bite!

It has to be said - I am rather pleased with this wonderfully-filling and really health-giving dish and I would love you to try it and let me know if you have any further variations on my theme. Sometime I substitute smoked ham for the smoked salmon AND balance two poached eggs on top! - risk-taker or what??