Improve your love life with sandwich science 08:33am 5th October 2004 Choosing the right sandwich can help you get ahead in the office, recover from a hangover or even improve your love life, according to new research. Dr John Stanley, a lecturer at Oxford University, applied science to sandwiches to help provide the body with nutrients for different situations.
For example, he suggests eating a chicken tikka and mango salsa sandwich before a business meeting to stay alert.
Look here too...Skip gossip links to more articles News: High street sandwiches 'loaded with fat' Report: Health warnings over salty sandwiches Article: School lunches packed with fat and sugar Advice: Ask our nutritionist Newsletter: Sign up for your weekly health updates The protein in the chicken encourages the brain to produce neurotransmitters which help a person stay awake and alert, while the sandwich also contains several vitamins and minerals which combat tiredness and fatigue. 'Love potion'
Another of the five sandwiches designed by Dr Stanley, a lecturer in biochemistry at Trinity College, has an apple and peanut butter filling which is ideal before a gym workout.
He says the sandwich has a low glycaemic index which provides a slow, steady stream of energy to sustain the body during exercise.
The ancient Greeks believed figs increased fertility and sexual stamina while honey was a key ingredient in love potions during the Middle Ages, explains Dr Stanley.
The result is an aphrodisiac sandwich containing both ingredients along with ricotta cheese and orange.
Dr Stanley's suggestion for a hangover cure is a toasted chocolate and banana sandwich because it provides a quick release of sugars and minerals to help restore blood sugar levels.
The final sandwich - smoked turkey with cream cheese - can apparently help guarantee a good night's sleep.
Dr Stanley says the turkey contains the amino acid tryptophan which encourages the brain to produce the feel-good hormone serotonin, while the cheese has calcium and vitamin B12 which is essential for the production of neurotransmitters that control sleep patterns.
Dr Stanley said: "Mealtimes are becoming increasingly shorter, but a quick and easy sandwich can still give you a good dose of vitamins and minerals to help see you through the day, whatever you have to deal with."
John White, director of the Federation of Bakers, which commissioned the research for British Bread Month, said: "We have long been saying that bread really is the best thing, and these sandwiches prove that bread is not only good for you, but still relevant to today's busy lifestyle."
