Two nutrition experts have advised eating simple, single-ingredient meals following revelations that His Majesty King Charles favours a half an avocado for lunch in his healthydiet regimen amidst his cancer fight.
Gunter Kuhnle, Professor of Nutrition at the University of Reading, told the Telegraph that while single-ingredient meals might sound odd, they’re actually quite sensible and offered other one-item lunch ideas like blueberries, nuts, edamame beans, and broccoli.
He flagged up blueberries as a top pick due to their high “polyphenols” concentration, known to potentially slash the risk of heart trouble and dementia. In addition, he pointed out how consuming nuts can rev up energy levels without packing on the pounds. This point was supported by nutritional therapist Rhian Stephenson, who remarked: “People think that nuts are hugely calorific. While that’s true on paper, the amount of fibre they contain means that our bodies don’t absorb a good proportion of those calories.”
Edamame beans got a thumbs-up for being rich in both fibre and protein, which are beneficial to digestive health.
Rhian also vouched for broccoli, highlighting its bounty of sulphur-rich compounds that combat inflammation and noting it’s quite packed with protein for a vegetable, serving up 2g of protein for every 100g consumed.
Rhian and Professor Kuhlne have speculated on why the King might favour avocados, suggesting it could be due to the health benefits of the fruit and the fact that appetites often decrease with age. Rhian emphasised the importance of a balanced diet in older age, stating “it’s even more important to be mindful of getting enough protein, fibre, and micronutrients, as maintaining muscle mass becomes more difficult,” reports Gloucestershire Live.
The comments about the King’s diet come after a year of increased focus on his health following a cancer diagnosis. This has led to speculation about how he is maintaining his health while balancing royal duties.
Earlier this week, Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles revealed that the King had not only added avocados to his diet but also eliminated red meat. He told Saga that the King was “looking again at what, and when, he eats”, adding: “I’m no nutritionist, but I know that food is part of a body’s ‘medicine’. It knows when it’s having the right stuff.”
While some nutritionists warn that red meat can increase cancer risk, a doctor on TikTok suggested there may be a way to enjoy it without necessarily increasing the risk, according to SurreyLive.
On the social media front, Dr Idz offered a health tip to his followers: “Processed red meats further increase that risk by around 20%. However, if you enjoy meats such as beef, lamb, or pork, there may be a way you can reduce this risk while still being able to eat some of your favourite foods.”
He also shared insights from a dietary study, adding: “This study tested what happens if you consume lots of fibrous foods from fruits and veggies with your red meat. They found that consuming 20g of fibre a day through grains, fruits and veggies actually negates the increased risk of cancer from red meat.
“So if you want to minimise your risk of lots of different cancers, you should eat plenty of fruits and veggies and keep your red meat consumption to under 500g per week.”