Yahoo News Queen Camilla's breakfast staple 'may slash cholesterol' and it's so simple
Thought the Royals only indulged in extravagant feasts for breakfast? Think again. Tom Parker Bowles has now unveiled the remarkably straightforward dish that his mother, Queen Camilla, generally eats every day in the winter months.
Although the meal is quite 'plain', Tom disclosed that Her Majesty adds a teaspoon of a unique ingredient she produces herself. The traditional breakfast has been classed an excellent choice for heart health by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) too, thanks to its high fibre content.
In his new book, 'Cooking & The Crown', Tom said: "In winter, my mother, Queen Camilla, eats porridge every day - plain, aside from a little of her own honey. The hives sit at the back of a field at Raymill, the house in which my sister and I spent the latter part of our youth."
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He later went on: "[The honey] is delicate and mild, as fine stirred into a good Darjeeling tea as it is mixed with porridge or yoghurt." As suggested, the BHF previously rated porridge as a superior breakfast choice for heart health over other cereals like granola, cornflakes, muesli, and bran flakes.
This is thanks to a component called 'beta-glucan' - referring to soluble fibre that's been linked to lower cholesterol levels if you consume 3g or more per day as part of a balanced diet. Despite this, it's worth noting that while Queen Camilla likes to make her porridge with full-fat milk and a sprinkle of salt on top, BHF recommends avoiding this if you want to maximise the benefits.
Instead, it's worth opting for water or low-fat milk, while adding fruits like banana for an extra sweetness. Its experts explained: "As well as beta-glucan, you’ll be getting the fibre from the whole grains, plus there is no added sugar or salt. Instead of adding sugar or salt to your porridge for flavour – instead, try adding a banana or other fruits for extra sweetness.
"For every 80g that you add it will be one of your five-a-day at the same time." On the other hand, scientific research has also found a connection between honey consumption and heart health.
In 2020, one study claimed that honey is a 'potential candidate to be explored further as a natural and dietary alternative to the management of cardiovascular disease'. Scientists reached this conclusion after reviewing evidence to suggest that honey can act as a 'cardioprotective agent', reducing damage in cases of heart problems.
But more research is required to better understand this link.
