For those who’ve visited the USA they will be aware of the Americans habit of having a green salad before their meal. Following a study in Arizona of people with type 2 diabetes or a precursor condition called insulin resistance, eating greens with vinaigrette before a starchy entrée may help control blood sugar levels. It seems that the people tested who had 2 tablespoons of vinegar just before a high-carb meal had lower sugar levels. Researchers say that vinegar contains acetic acid, which may inactivate certain starch-digesting enzymes, thereby slowing carbohydrate digestion. It seems that vinegar’s effect may be similar to those of the blood sugar-lowering medication acarbose, contained in a drug called Precose.

So before you eat that fettuccine have a salad with this dressing:

3 tablespoons of vinegar whisked with 2 tablespoons flax oil

1 crushed clove of garlic

¼ teaspoon of honey

3 tablespoons yoghurt with salt and ground black pepper to taste.

Makes 4 x 2 tablespoon servings.