News bites: tastiest morsels of the week

Pineapples were already pretty special in our book – they come with their own crown, after all. But one variety has now gone the extra mile, helping to raise funds for a very important cause. In other news of equally vital importance, this week we found out that our wine and cheese habit might not be so bad for us after all. Which obviously required an immediate celebration involving a very large wedge of camembert and a generous glass of cab sav.

For those of you who are trying to steer clear of the booze after a hectic festive season, there’s also some good news. We’ve found a one-stop online shop that sells the very best alcohol-free drinks on the market. And for those who love a good mystery, science explains why you can never find a teaspoon in the office kitchen.

Great fruit for a great cause

Enjoying the Aussie summer means long lazy days of watching the cricket. It’s also about making the most of our plentiful supply of sweet and juicy tropical fruits. And tropical fruits don’t get any sweeter or juicier than the king of them all – pineapple. This summer, Pure Gold Pineapple growers are encouraging Australians to pick up a pineapple to snack on while watching the cricket safely at home on telly. Or if you hate cricket, which many do (we won’t judge), why not buy two pineapples? One to snack on, the other to throw at the TV.

Pineapples aren’t just packed with antioxidants and nutrients that can help you to stay hydrated and full of energy, this year they can also help to support a great cause. Pure Gold Pineapples will be selling special pines this summer with a percentage of sales going to the McGrath Foundation, to help ensure that the support of McGrath Breast Care Nurses continues to be available for Aussie families experiencing breast cancer. The McGrath Foundation is also encouraging people to buy virtual tickets to the Pink Test, to raise funds that would ordinarily come from bums on seats.

Pure Gold Pineapples supporting the McGrath Foundation are available at all major supermarkets and Harris Farm Markets.

New research causes a stir

Trying to find a clean coffee mug in the office kitchen might be hard, but if you’re also after a teaspoon to stir your sugar in, you could be out of luck. A study by a group of researchers from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital that looked at cutlery disappearances in the hospital tearoom found that teaspoons were the most likely item to go missing.

The research scored second prize in the Medical Journal of Australia’s annual Christmas Competition, which awards the best quirky news stories or research. First place was taken out by a group of NSW researchers who found that working from home in their PJs didn’t affect their productivity. Pffft, we could have told them that.

More wine and cheese? Yes, please

The foods we eat may have a direct impact on our mental sharpness as we age, according to new research in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Eating for better cognitive function isn’t all about greens and fish oil, either. It can actually be a lot more enjoyable than that.

The study found that cheese is, by far, the most protective food against age-related cognitive decline, even late in life. But the good news doesn’t end there. Daily consumption of alcohol (in moderation), particularly red wine, is linked to improved cognitive function. We don’t know about you, but we reckon we’re all set to be freaking geniuses come 2050.

On the wagon in 2021?

If you overindulged a little too much over Christmas and New Years, you might be trying to cut back on the booze this year. Well, you’re in luck. A new website has launched to help teetotallers source the best non-alcoholic drinks on the market. Killjoy Drinks sources top-quality alcohol-free beverages from the most exciting indie makers and distilleries around the globe – and delivers them straight to your door.

From non-alcoholic Melbourne gin and zero-proof wine from London to regret-free rum from Sweden, you can drink your way around the world and avoid a hangover while you’re at it. The Killjoy Drinks online store is arranged in three parts: drinks for the wine glass; drinks for the bar cart; and drinks to hold in your hand, featuring a mix of top-shelf international heroes and a strong focus on local producers using native ingredients.

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