Pistachios Roasted & Salted

Almond & Peach Cake

Banana & Almond Muffins

Simple Vegan Oat Cookies

Vegan Nutella

Quinoa Tabbouleh

Banana & Strawberry Pancakes

The positive impact of nuts on our mental health Eating just a handful of organic nuts such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, pistachios, and hazelnuts daily may help you lower the risk of depression by 17%, new study results revealed. The research results were published in the journal Clinical Nutrition and suggest that consuming nuts have a positive impact on human mental health. Based on data from 13,000 adults Scientists involved in the research gathered data from Biobank, an online database of medical, lifestyle and food habits records of half a million people in the UK. The team analysed data from more than 13,000 people aged 37-73 between 2007 and 2020. One serving a day helps prevent depression The research results suggest that adults who declared consuming a 30 g serving of nuts every day were less likely to get diagnosed with depression compared to those who did not eat nuts at all. Health properties of nuts The study does not explain why this happens, but the scientists claim it is related to nuts' anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Nuts contain vital and high-quality nutrients like phenols or phytosterols, fibre, healthy protein, vitamins, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and essential micronutrients that play an important role in mental health. "Our findings highlight yet another benefit of consuming nuts, with a 17% decrease in depression associated with nut consumption. "This provides an even stronger rationale for people to become enthusiastic about consuming nuts," said Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni from the Health and Social Research Centre at the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain. Diet as a factor of mood disorders The scientists said this finding was regardless of other factors influencing mental health, such as medical conditions, body mass index and lifestyle of the participants. The team wrote: "Our results highlight the potential role of nut consumption as a healthy dietary behaviour to prevent depression in those free of other known risk factors for depression, such as obesity, unhealthy lifestyle behaviours (smoking, frequent alcohol consumption, low intake of fruits and vegetables, insufficiently active, and inadequate sleep duration), loneliness, and medical conditions such as cardiovascular, metabolic, or mental comorbidities." Commenting on the study, Dr Jenna Macciochi, senior lecturer in immunology at the University of Sussex, who was not involved in the research, said: "This study builds on the growing literature in nutritional psychology showing diet to be a factor in mood disorders. Specifically, they found a positive association between nut intake and a lower risk of depression compared to no nut intake. "This study shows association and does not prove a mechanistic effect, but the authors do suggest multiple feasible mechanisms through which nut consumption may be working. I think there is still a lot we need to learn regarding the potential mechanisms at play and a deeper understanding of this in the future will be useful when making dietary recommendations. "In the meantime, the best evidence for supporting good mental health through diet is probably from consuming a Mediterranean-style anti-inflammatory diet pattern of which nuts are considered to be a component of." Why are nuts good for improving your mood? The best nuts to improve your mood are those packed with healthy plant-based proteins, fibre, healthy fats, antioxidants, melatonin, magnesium, zinc and tryptophan, the amino acid responsible for producing serotonin which is a chemical known for mood-boosting. It plays an essential role in multiple body functions such as sleep, general mood, digestion, healing, bone and blood health. What are the best nuts for depression? Almonds Cashews Pistachios Peanuts Walnuts Hazelnuts Brazil nuts Pine nuts Coconut Chestnuts Pecans

Mid-January can make us feel all a bit lost, but it’s time to get back to routine! Now the festive period is done and dusted, it’s time to get back into the flow of things. Which might mean focusing on healthy eating, keeping active, reducing alcohol intake, embarking on your New Year’s Resolutions! All this in mind, we thought we would recommend our January Detox Range! Featuring: Clipper Teas – Detox/Nettle/Dandelion These Herbal Teas can be great for Bloating, Indigestion, Water Retention, Soothing for your tummy after an indulgent Christmas. 3 cups a day in between meals.https://wholefoodearth.com/pages/search-results-page?q=tea&page=2 Together Vitamin D –This Sunshine Vitamin is harder to come by at this time of year, so supplementing in the wintery months is vital. Vitamin D is amazing for your energy levels, bone health, low mood, teeth, hair, skin and nails. Overall Vitality and certainly puts a spring into your step! This product is Vegan Friendly too! (Please consult with your GP/Health Care Professional if unsure or on any Medication) https://wholefoodearth.com/products/together-health-vegan-vitamin-d3-food-supplement-30-capsules Willy’s Kombucha Kombucha is fabulous for your digestion. The Apple Cider Vinegar version is a power packed Detox Drink, rich in natural probiotics. Customers say they feel energised and invigorated with improved digestion. Also great for Colds, Sore Throats, Hair Skin and Nails, Tummy Upset and so much more! The Apple Cider Vinegar Edition comes in three flavours: Apple, Blackcurrant and Raspberry and Introducing Willy’s Ginger Beer – Alcohol Free! Ginger is great for Nausea, Sickness, Stomach Discomfort and Indigestion. (Please consult with your GP/Health Care Professional if unsure or suffer with any Medical Conditions)|https://wholefoodearth.com/products/willys-ginger-kombucha-beer-250ml Donat Water Donat is back in stock! High in demand, this Magnesium Water is magical. Not only great for Indigestion, Heart Burn, Constipation you name it! It is also great for those suffering with Muscle Cramps, Restless Leg Syndrome, Stiffness, Muscle Spasms, Aches and Pains, Low Mood & Stress, Energy levels and may even help you sleep! Magnesium is an adaptogen and adapts to what your body needs. Drink daily for optimum efficiency. https://wholefoodearth.com/products/donat-mg-magnesium-water Wholefood Earth Soya Mince/Chunks A lot of us look to reduce processed and rich foods in the New Year. By swapping meat for plant-based meat alternatives, you will be reducing your fat and cholesterol intake and increasing protein and fibre. Two nutrients vital for helping you feel full, energised, for muscle recovery and overall health. Why not try our Soya Mince in your Bolognese, Cottage Pies, Chilli etc and the Chunks in Stir Fries, Casseroles, Curries, Salads and more! Simply rehydrate in boiled water for 15 mins to an hour depending on the texture you like and mix into your cooking! Super healthy, Versatile, Low Fat, High Protein…Yay! https://wholefoodearth.com/pages/search-results-page?q=soya+mince Pop into our Ramsgate store to see the full range or shop online!

Introducing Wholefood Earth's new product listing - Vital Wheat Gluten.Famous for the creation of Seitan - the vegan meat alternative!Vital wheat gluten is a natural protein source found in wheat. It is a powerful flour that is almost pure gluten. It is made from wheat flour that has had the gluten activated during a dehydrating process, removing all other ingredients except the gluten. Wheat gluten has very little starch content and a fantastic way of making dough elasticated. Vital wheat gluten is great for bread making as it helps to increase the gluten content of the bake. It is equally as great used in muffins, cakes and other bakes such as tarts and pastries where you are working with yeast ingredients. A small amount added to yeast bread recipes improves the texture and elasticity of the dough. When combined with water it becomes highly elastic and has a sticky like texture. Vital Wheat Gluten is a natural and very effective raising agent, helping your bread fill out perfectly and evenly, giving it more volume. It can be especially helpful for baking bread made with whole grain flours and coarse cereals. Vital Wheat Gluten can ensure recipes that require fruit, nuts and seeds, chocolate chips etc stay firmly held together and a good binder too! Brilliant for binding Vegan Meatballs, Burgers, Tofu etc. To make Seitan: Mix Vital Wheat Gluten with spices and add water to make a dough. When the gluten dough is cooked either by steaming, baked or boiled it becomes chewy with a meat style texture! See the range of sizes online and in store today! We sell in bulk so perfect for cafes, restaurants and keen cooks alike!

Happy Halloween! Welcome to October,The air is slowly cooling, leaves are falling from the trees, the outdoors become covered in deep colours of orange, red and brown, the distinct aroma of bonfires tickle our nostrils, our favourite fruits and vegetables come into season and probably the most well known event October is known for...Halloween!Halloween has been a favourite annual event for decades, beginning from Celtic Harvest Festivals.Today we celebrate Halloween in various ways, the most common would be a big party, dressing up in comedic and spooky costumes, carving pumpkins, knocking on your neighbours door for candy, the traditional 'Trick or Treat'With this in mind we thought we would share Healthy Hints & Tips for an alternative Halloween. Maybe you want to reduce added sugar from your or your families diet? Or simply to try some new exciting foods?1. Seeds - Pumpkin,Sunflower,Black Sesame seedsSeeds are easy to nibble, savoury to taste and black sesame seeds give a spooky look to compliment the theme. You could roast seeds with a splash of Soy or Tamari sauce, Salt and Pepper, spices like Paprika, Chilli flakesRich in fibre, essential fats, minerals for overall health.2. Fruit - Dried Dates, Apricots, Banana, Figs, Cranberries, RaisinsDried fruit contains sweet natural sugars, great for a natural energy boost and appealing to all ages! No added sugar, rich in fibre, Iron and Vitamin C!3. Nuts - Peanuts, Brazil, Macadamia, Pecans, Cashews We understand that Nuts may be a NO GO when it comes to children's snacks. However for those who may choose to eat Nuts, they are power packed with protein, essential fats, minerals, help you feel satisfied without feeling the need to eat more. Rich and creamy to taste, also Nut Butters e.g. Peanut butter, Almond Butter, Cashew butter are lovely to dip carrot sticks in or spread on a cracker, bread sticks etc.4. Dairy Free Chocolate/SweetsFor a tasty treat, brands like Moo Free cater for those who are allergic or choose to avoid Dairy, Soya, Gluten. We sell Mini Moo Bars, perfect for a little snack for the sweet tooths out there!Gelatine Free Gummy Sweets - Sour fruits or Cola we sell packets of Vegan sweets that can be shared5. Fruit and Nut BarsBrands such as 'Nakd, Beond Organic,Trek, Cliff, Meridian'Make healthy snack bars that give you on the go energy, they may be small but they pack a punch of slow release energy! 6. Dips and ChipsWe stock a wide range of Gluten free, Vegan Crisps and Dips. So many yummy flavours of crisps made from Lentils, Quinoa, Hummus, Corn instead of the considered unhealthier high fat potato chips.No added sugar dips and relishes to tantalise your taste buds!We hope this helps and have a happy and safe Halloween!All products listed are available online and in our NEW Ramsgate Store!WholeFood Earth22, Leigh RoadHaine Industrial Estate4032277001622RamsgateCT12 5EU

Nuts are one of the most nutritious foods you can eat, but they are rarely cheap. Weigh a handful of almonds or Brazil nuts against a bag of crisps and the price gap is obvious. There are good reasons for it, and none of them is simply greed. From slow-growing trees to thirsty crops and difficult harvests, here is an evidence-based look at why nuts cost what they do. Nut trees take years to pay off Unlike a field of wheat that is sown and harvested within a year, most nuts grow on trees that take several years to mature before they produce a worthwhile crop. That long lead time makes supply slow to respond to demand. If prices rise, a grower cannot simply plant more and cash in next season, they face years of waiting and investment first. This lag keeps supply tight and prices firm, especially when demand for nuts is growing as more people eat them for their health. Some nuts are extremely thirsty Water is a major hidden cost. Almonds are the classic example: they are grown heavily in California, a region repeatedly hit by drought, and they need a lot of water to produce each kernel. When water is scarce or expensive, the cost of growing feeds straight through into the price. Concentrating so much of the world's supply of a nut in one climate-vulnerable region also means a single bad season can move global prices. Harvesting and shelling can be hard, manual work Getting the edible kernel out is often far more involved than it looks. Cashews are a striking case. They grow attached to the cashew apple, and their shells contain a caustic irritant, so shelling is delicate, often manual work that has to be done carefully. That labour is a big part of why cashews cost what they do. Across many nuts, harvesting, sorting, drying and grading all add cost before the nut ever reaches a shelf. Some nuts cannot really be farmed at all Brazil nuts are perhaps the best example of why nuts can be expensive. They come almost entirely from wild trees in the Amazon rainforest, not from plantations. The trees rely on specific pollinators and on rainforest wildlife to spread their seeds, which means they resist being grown in neat, farmed rows. Brazil nuts are therefore gathered from the wild, by hand, across vast areas of forest. Their price reflects that genuinely limited, labour-intensive supply, and it is tied to the health of the rainforest itself. If you would like to try some, our Organic Brazil Nuts are wild-harvested in Bolivia and sold in a 1kg bag, which works out far better value per kilo than small snack packs. Storage, transport and waste all add up Nuts are rich in natural oils, which makes them prone to going rancid if they are not stored and transported carefully. Keeping them fresh means careful handling, good packaging and sometimes temperature control, all of which cost money. Add in the long distances most nuts travel from where they grow to where they are eaten, and the price climbs further. How to get better value from nuts Because nuts keep reasonably well when stored properly, buying them in larger quantities is usually the single best way to save. A big bag almost always works out cheaper per kilo than repeated small packs, and you can decant what you need and keep the rest sealed in a cool, dark place, or even in the freezer to extend its life. Choosing broken or pieces rather than perfect whole kernels is another easy saving when you are baking or chopping them anyway. Honest reasons to be expensive Nuts are expensive for honest reasons: slow-growing trees, thirsty crops, labour-heavy harvesting and, in the case of Brazil nuts, a supply that comes straight from the wild. Understanding that makes the price easier to accept, and buying in bulk from a transparent source is the simplest way to enjoy them for less.

Not all almonds are equal. The ones we source come from Spain, and that is a deliberate choice rather than a happy accident. Spanish almonds have a reputation among bakers, chocolatiers and chefs for a reason: more flavour, more oil, and a depth you simply do not get from the big, uniform, heavily irrigated nuts that dominate the global market. Here is where they grow, how they grow, and why the Spanish way produces such a good almond. Where they grow Spain is one of the oldest almond-growing countries in the world, and its orchards stretch across a sun-drenched belt down the eastern and southern side of the country. The classic regions are the Levante in the southeast, around Alicante and Murcia, along with Catalonia, Valencia, Aragon and Andalusia. Each area has its own microclimate and soil, which is why Spain grows such a rich mix of traditional varieties rather than a single commercial one. Two of those varieties stand out. Marcona is the famous one: round, plump and buttery, with a sweet, delicate flavour that makes it the almond behind classic turron and marzipan. It is a pure native Spanish variety, not a graft or a hybrid, and is thought to have originated around Alicante. Largueta is the other great Spanish almond, longer and flatter with a firmer bite, traditionally grown across Catalonia, Valencia, Aragon and Murcia. Between them they show off exactly what Spanish terroir can do. How they grow: the dry-farming difference This is the heart of why Spanish almonds taste the way they do. Most of Spain's almond trees, around 83 percent of the planted area, are grown rainfed, or dry-farmed. That means the trees are not irrigated on demand. Instead they live on winter rainfall held deep in the soil, and they have to work for it through the long, hot Mediterranean summer. That mild-winter, hot-summer climate is ideal for almonds, but the lack of irrigation is the clever part. A tree under gentle water stress produces fewer, smaller nuts, but it concentrates everything into them. Spanish almonds end up with a higher oil content, which is what gives them that soft, juicy texture and intense flavour. Research on rainfed Spanish orchards has even found that this kind of water stress can raise the almonds' polyphenol and antioxidant levels, so the nuts are not just tastier but nutritionally richer too. Soil and weather, working together Spain's almond belt sits on a varied patchwork of soils, from clay to sandy to limestone, and different varieties are matched to the ground that suits them best. Combine those soils with hot, dry, sunny summers and cool winters, and you get slow, natural ripening with no shortcuts. The weather does the work that irrigation does elsewhere, and the result shows up in the cup, or in this case, the kernel. Why we choose organic, from there Dry-farmed Spanish orchards are a natural fit for organic growing. Because the trees are already adapted to a low-input, low-water way of life, organic methods suit them rather than fight them. Good growers use legume cover crops between the trees, which restore soil fertility, hold moisture, prevent erosion and keep the ground alive without synthetic inputs. Organic rainfed farming does come at a cost: yields are a little lower, by roughly ten percent, which is part of why these almonds command a higher price. But studies of these marginal, low-input growing areas consistently find the nuts come out with higher nutritional quality. For us that trade-off is worth it. We would rather have fewer, better almonds, grown in a way that looks after the soil, than a cheaper nut grown intensively. The harvest Almonds are harvested at the end of the long summer, usually from late August into autumn, once the green outer hull has split to reveal the shell inside. Timing is everything, because harvest date has a real effect on the almond's chemical make-up and flavour, so the nuts are picked when they are properly ripe rather than to suit a schedule. Traditionally the trees are shaken and the fallen nuts gathered, then hulled, dried and sorted. It is a rhythm that has barely changed in centuries, and it still produces a better nut. Spanish almonds are not the biggest or the cheapest, and that is exactly the point. Grown on old varieties, dry-farmed under the Mediterranean sun, ripened slowly in varied soils and harvested when they are ready, they offer more oil, more flavour and more goodness per nut. Choosing organic from Spain means choosing the way of growing almonds that puts quality and the land ahead of sheer volume, and you can taste the difference. Variety availability and growing practices vary by season and supplier. Check the product information for details on each almond we stock.