health foods

Sharing a cuppa with family and friends has some amazing hidden health benefits. From improving your heart health to supporting the immune system, tea delivers much more than a warming cup of cheer. So why not put the kettle on, make a brew and enjoy the science behind the world’s second favourite drink.

We always like to bring you balanced and accurate information about the healthy food that we have in our stores and online. So, when we were asked by a reader what the difference was between the humble raisin and the super tasty sultana, we decided we would take a closer look.

New research from an international team has shown that a diet rich in whole grains, fibre, fruit, and vegetables can affect immune health. Scientists from Germany, the Netherlands and Tanzania report that urban and rural populations can have differing immune systems as a result of their dietary choices.

Good nutrition can help your body perform better and recover faster after you exercise. By getting the right nutrients even before you lace up your trainers or put on your swimwear, you can put in place the building blocks for success and get ready to help your muscles repair after your workout. But did you know that you can make your diet work harder for you before AND after your workout routine?

These walnut power balls will ensure that your body gets the essential nutrients you need following a workout. Taking only ten minutes to make and easily stored, these will pack a little power punch just when you need it.

The mighty baobab tree isn’t just a magnificent specimen reaching up to 30 metres (almost 100ft) tall. It is also a giant in nutritional terms. This exotic dried fruit could be a powerful ally in the fight for fitness due to it’s high fibre content and ability to convey the feeling of being full up, which Oxford Brooks University researchers say can in turn help maintain a healthy bodyweight

Seeds can provide the kind of slow energy release that is vital for keeping us feeling fuelled for longer. Chia, flax, pumpkin and hemp seeds have been shown to be high in plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.

Our bodies are able to detect and protect against illness and disease, but there are simple changes we can make to boost our chances of remaining well. Starting with what we eat is essential. Here is a quick guide to the bodyguard foods packed with the nutrients vital for our immune system:

One in five of us is now suffering from symptoms of depression. That is twice as many as before the gloom of the Covid 19 pandemic closed over us.

Global studies show there is a reduced risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes and cancer by the adoption of a plant-based diet.

The joys and health benefits of eating raisins, currants, and sultanas were almost certainly discovered when someone stumbled across unpicked grapes that had simply dried in the sun. That may have been around 2000 BC.