As the lockdown guidelines begin to ease here in England, our propensity to whip out the BBQ is on the rise. In fact, it’s actually National BBQ Week so what better time to explore some healthier options for our favourite weekend pastime.

Calling a sugar addiction a “sweet tooth” is an issue. When we familiarise, make a diminutive of, or give something a pet name, it has the instant effect of making whatever we’re talking about less threatening, cuter, and ultimately, more acceptable. 

Working at home rather than in your usual environment can make you feel less productive very quickly. It’s all too tempting to pop a wash on or bake a cake when usually during the hours of 9-5 you’d be somewhere where chores and kitchen experiments would have to wait. So we thought we’d put a post together on top tips for cultivating that focus during isolation...
 

It’s strange writing about Earth day at a time like this, when the whole world is gripped by fear, uncertainty and grief. Yet, surely one of the most positive things to come out of this worldwide pandemic is the beneficial impact that it’s having on our planet, its ecosystems, flora and fauna. Of course, any celebration of the positive climate change that’s already come into effect due to the covid-19 outbreak must be caveated, with the very real, very sad fact that as our natural world flourishes, man does not.

This palate pleasing recipe is chock-full of veggies to make your heart and health sing! It’s satisfying, fresh and filling, perfect to serve at a dinner party, or to keep to yourself. It’s high in fibre, full of vitamin C and contains numerous immune-boosting nutrients as well as bone-building manganese and vitamin K.
 

A smooth, creamy and gut health promoting soup, this cauliflower and cashew based recipe is also keto friendly. High in protein and fibre and low in carbs, this recipe provides optimal gut health through aiding digestion and supporting the elimination of toxins from the body. It also provides vitamin C, manganese and vitamin E which are potent antioxidants helping to keep our immune systems in tact.

A refreshing yet comforting cleansing green soup which is detoxing, anti-inflammatory and hydrating. This tasty soup packs a punch with its nutrient profile too including vitamins K, A and C. It is an excellent source of fibre, protein, magnesium and calcium. 

A delicious, healthy and tasty keto ramen recipe, perfect to stay on track for any season. This dish provides a simple and mouth-watering way of obtaining lots of key nutrients all in one meal. Making the swap from noodles to courgetti is smart as they are lower in calories, and loaded with important nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium.

A flavoursome stew, with tasty sweet potato and protein-packed beans, for those evenings that require ultimate comfort and warmth. This stew uses kidney beans as it's base which are a healthful choice, packed with fibre and protein, and containing several key nutrients including iron, magnesium, potassium, folate and manganese. 

Why is it that at times of crisis we’re all flocking to the supermarket to stock up on loo roll rather than raiding the aisles at the health food store for immune boosting foods? Luckily, the best defence against a virus that we all (already) own, is our potent and incredibly complex immune system. In addition, adhering to a few of the guidelines in this blog post on how to boost and support your immune system will certainly help! So here goes…

First off, we hope that all of our wonderful customers are keeping well, not going too crazy at home, and in good health. These are unprecedented times, in which it’s even more imperative than ever to look after our health, because ultimately it’s going to come down to the strength of each of our individual immune systems if we do succumb to a virus infection! So rather than let that be a scary thought, (there is quite enough fear around at the moment, you only have to turn on the news or social media), we thought that we’d focus this blog post on the positive actions that you can take today that will positively impact your gut health and, therefore, the health of your immune system.

Studies have demonstrated that organic cultivation techniques often lead to more densely nutritious produce, including more vitamins, more minerals and more secondary plant metabolites1.

This is particularly so for fruit and vegetables. Organic meat and dairy also have better fat profiles - healthier Omega 3 and fewer inflammatory fats.

The Science

The Ketogenic (Keto) diet is all the rage at the moment and with good reason. A recent article in the New Scientist reported that the Keto diet was scientifically shown to reduce migraines in less than a month . Another study attributed the reversal of Type 2 diabetes to a low carbohydrate diet . Another to a reduction in cardiovascular risk factors . And yet another study, suggested that the Keto diet improves gut health and enhances cognition . The therapeutic benefits of the Ketogenic diet were established in the 1920s as an effective treatment for childhood epilepsy, and there seems to be no end to the beneficial effects of the ketogenic diet with studies now being conducted on how the therapeutic ketogenic diet effects cancer and auto-immune diseases.