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As you may have seen, the NHS has recently ramped up their Better Health campaign to help families make healthier food choices. The recent coronavirus pandemic has contributed to a large increase in child obesity rates. Latest studies show that 1 in 4 children at reception age in the UK, are now categorized as overweight .   Being trapped inside during the various lockdowns has led to a substantial decrease in children’s physical activity. School runs and playtime tag were swapped for hours locked away with their online classes and electronic devices. Evidence also shows that a lot of families were buying more food than usual whilst in lockdown , and purchasing more sugar laden and fatty snack than pre-pandemic.   The NHS is hoping to aid families in making better choices when it comes to the food they buy and consume. The campaign encourages them to make healthier food swaps by using their newly released, Food Scanner App. Parents can use the app by scanning a certain food they wish to purchase, and the app will suggest a selection of alternatives they can swap it for.     Making Better Choices   Here at Wholefood Earth, although we may not have a food scanning app, we are more than happy to recommend some healthier swaps.   Whilst exercise is of course important, what you put into your body and fuel it with is also paramount. Junk food and sugary treats may feel good in the moment, but they can contribute to a wide range of health problems later down the line. So why not try swapping some of these out for some lower calorie and more nutritionally dense alternatives, and reap the benefits?   Whether you are looking to lose weight or just be...

  What is Citric Acid?   Citric acid, as the name suggests, is an acid that is naturally found in all citrus fruits, but most predominantly the juice of lemons and limes. There are also high amounts found in oranges, grapefruit, and berries. The Citric acid is what gives these fruits their tart and sour taste. It’s not just found in fruits though; most animals and plants carry a small trace of Citric acid.   However, the Citric acid found in packaged food and non-food items is usually artificial and manmade. This is due to the high costs of extracting natural citric acid, plus the demand far outweighs the supplies available. Most synthetic Citric acid that you find in everyday products actually comes from a type of fungus that has been put through a fermentation process.   For more information on how Citric Acid is produced, look no further than our article What is Citric Acid: How is Citric Acid Made?   Citric Acid Bath Bombs   As we know, self-care is so important for our mental health and general well-being. So, what better way to unwind and release all your stresses and tension from the day than by taking a nice, long soak in the tub with a beautiful bath bomb. And the star ingredient to any good bath bomb is, you guessed it – Citric acid!   Check out our ready-made Bath Bomb Kit which includes both Citric acid and Sodium Bicarbonate so you can create your very own bath bombs at home. The quantities are readily measured out so you can use every last drop. Just mix 2-parts Sodium Bicarbonate to 1-part Citric acid in a bowl and you’re good to go.   You can customise them by adding your own choice of liquid food colouring to achieve your desired col...

  We all know fresh fruits are generally good for you and absolutely delicious - they are natures candy after all! However, what about their dried counterparts, are they still healthy for you?   Read on to find out if adding dried fruits to your diet would be fruitful, or fruitless ?   What is Dried Fruit?   Dried fruits have been around a long time, they’ve been a staple of Mediterranean diets for thousands of years. In fact, the earliest recorded reference of dried fruits dates all the way back to the Mesopotamian Era which is approx. 1500 BC   Today dried fruits are produced and eaten all over the world, the most common variety being raisins. Other popular varieties include dates, prunes, figs, apricots, peaches, apples, and pears. However, most fruits can be turned into dried fruits. So, whatever your favourite fruit is, there’s bound to be a dried version to suit your fancy.   The process of making dried fruits is quite simple, it requires removing the majority of water content from fresh fruit. The water is extracted either naturally, through sun drying, or by special dryers and dehydrators. Fruits can be dried either as a whole, in halves or as slices. They usually shrink down during this process leaving a tasty, energy filled food source!   Fresh Fruit vs Dried Fruit   You may think that when it comes down to it that fresh fruit is always better, and it some cases that may be correct. Dried fruits are higher in sugar than fresh fruits and the calorie content is also higher due to the loss of water. So, if you are watching you sugar intake or looking to lose weight, it is suggested to keep an eye on the portion size.   Despite this, dried fruits still retain most of the nutritional value of fresh fruits. As dried fruit contains a reduction in water it is therefore a much mor...

What is Linseed? What is Flaxseed?   Linseed (which also goes by the name Flaxseed) is the small seed which comes from the flax plant, also known as  Linum usitatissimum . It usually comes in two varieties, Brown Linseed and Golden Linseed , which as you might’ve guessed is due to their colour. People may claim that one is better for you than the other, but there is very little nutritional difference between the two.   Linseed is generally sold either as whole seeds or ground into a coarse powder, it also comes in the form of an oil. Whilst you can consume them either way, most experts recommend the ground form as it is much easier for the body to digest. Whole Linseed may pass through your intestine undigested, which means you might not receive all the nutritional benefits.   A long time before Linseed was the super food we know it as today, its primary use was actually to make textiles, such as clothing. Linseed oil is still used today for a variation of other things such as wood finish, linoleum, oil paint and even moisturiser.   For even more background on Linseed, please take a look at our previous article What is Linseed .   But we’re here today to talk to you about the good stuff - Food!   Adding Linseed to Your Diet   There is a wide variety of ways you can include Linseed in your diet. It can be added to food or taken as a daily supplement. It’s an easy food to include as neither Whole nor Ground Linseeds need to be cooked before being eaten.   Linseed is mild in taste, in fact a lot of ...

We learned that fruits and vegetables were good for us when we were kids. Our parents tried to encourage us to eat spinach, broccoli and lettuce in many ways - sometimes by using force. Remember that? Our mums used to buy unpacked foods and fresh veggies in local stores and prepare homemade meals.  These days, it’s hard to find any fruits and vegetables in a corner shop. Over the years, our lifestyles and food culture have changed significantly. Unhealthy processed foods. Today, fast-food ads are everywhere, and the supermarkets’ shelves are stocked with ready-to-eat processed foods, which are more convenient for our busy lifestyle. We buy and consume these products without thinking about what they contain and how they were made.  And sadly, the truth is that these products are often made with poor ingredients, contain a lot of salt, sugar and chemical substances that are not good for us. Following our busy schedules and looking for an easy and more convenient lifestyle, we tend to forget what real food is.  While ready meals are easy to warm up and consume, we shouldn’t rely our diet on these products when we want to be healthy and look good. Perhaps, these products will satisfy us for a while, but having them every day will have severe consequences for our bodies.  A growing number of studies suggest that eating highly processed foods increases the risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, high pressure and heart diseases.  What are the foods that help us maintain good health? Whole foods plant-based diet is the best for you. </spa...

  Let’s get things straight, as much as we enjoy them, nuts can be a pretty puzzling food group. They are not always exactly what they say they are. In fact, botanically speaking, most of the ‘nuts’ that we generally refer to as such, aren't even nuts at all!    Here at Wholefood Earth, we want to set the record straight, and bring you all the answers. So, continue reading to discover if your favourite nut is actually a nut, or just a delicious imposter!   What Is Considered a True Nut?   Well firstly, it seems to depend on who you’re asking. If you want to get really technical, the botanical definition of a nut is the singular seed belonging to a dry fruit, contained in a hard shell that doesn’t open to release the seed naturally once it reaches maturity.   Chestnuts, hazelnuts, and acorns are some examples of true nuts that fit this definition.   On the other hand, almonds, pistachios, pecans and even cashews — they’re all just masquerading as nuts! These would in fact, be referred to as ‘drupes.’ A drupe is a seed with a hard, protective shell on the inside, with a fleshy fruit surrounding it on the outside. Although not all drupes have an edible seed. A peach or plum for example, which is also a type of drupe, we just eat for the fruity outer part.   Another lot of fraudsters are peanuts, which are something else altogether! They are actually classed as a legume . This is due to the fact they are an edible seed that grows inside a pod, like beans or peas (that’s where the ‘pea’ part of their name comes from!) Peanuts also grow underground instead of above ground, like true nuts do.   At this point you may be wondering, so why do we still generally refer to all of these as nuts if they are not? Well, as we mentioned earlier, it depends o...

  Here at Wholefood Earth, we’re absolutely nuts about Nuts! They are one of our favourite healthy snack alternatives and make a tasty addition to a healthy, balanced diet.   But have you ever wondered, what exactly is a nut? And where do nuts come from? Well, we’re here to help answer all your nut related questions and help you find out more about the health benefits of this small but mighty food source.   What is a Nut?   Nuts are found all over the world, usually in warmer climates and are grown on shrubs and trees.   But did you know that nuts are actually a type of fruit? In botanical terms, nuts are a particular kind of dry fruit that has a single seed, a hard shell, and a protective husk. However, from a culinary perspective, the term ‘nuts’ is much more relaxed and generally in line with what most people think are nuts — large, oily kernels found within a shell.   The exception to this is peanuts, which aren’t technically nuts at all - they’re actually part of the legume family. One reason for this is the fact that peanuts grow underground instead of above ground. Nevertheless, most people still generally view them as nuts due to their similar characteristics and nutrition profile.   What Are the Different Types of Nuts   There are many different kinds of nuts, all of them come with unique nutritional benefits, and all are delicious in their own right.   In general, the macronutrients of most nuts are very similar, but the micronutrients in the different types may slightly differ. Due to this, it’s best to consume a varied mixture of nuts in order to optimize the individual benefits of each different type - you can’t go wrong with a <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/ask-the-expert/nuts-as-a-healthy-snack#:~:text=A%20portion%20of%20nuts%20is,so%20you%20...

Discount Code:"BlackFriday2021" We know. Black Friday sales are a strange cultural phenomenon. The US celebration of the first Friday after Thanksgiving seems like an odd cultural import to the UK; a county which doesn’t celebrate Thanks Giving at all! Since the inception of this informal calendar day, it’s been used by brands a springboard into the Christmas sales. To be fair, what better time is there?  While we here in Great Britain might shun such a card-company-holiday as a cynical attempt to get people down to the shops, we here at Wholefood Earth think there are a few redeeming features. Firstly, sales. Who doesn’t like a bargain? Secondly, the chance for us to say  thank you  to our customers.  As an extension of our gratitude for entrusting us to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet through the tribulations of the last two years, we're giving you 15% off anything you need to stock up a  healthy pantry  for a wholesome 2022. For us, 2021 has been a year of change, but our commitments to you remain the same: - Affordable healthy wholefood - Friendly personal customer services - Sustainably sourced products - No toxic pesticides/chemicals That's a promise from everyone at Wholefood Earth, to you. To use the discount, simply type in " BlackFriday2021 " when prompted at checkout. All good things must come to an end, for our 2020 Black Friday Sale, the end is the 29th of November, so there’s no hurry*. *Unless you’re reading this on the 29/11/21 23:50, in which case,...

Are Cashew Nuts Good For You?    There’s no doubt about it; cashew nuts  are one of the most popular nuts, and for good reason. Their sweet buttery taste is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, making them a great healthy food choice. Cashews are low in sugar and high in fibre, heart-healthy fats, and plant protein. One of the reasons for their popularity is how easily they can be added to your diet. Either as a snack, used in recipes and even turned into cashew cheese or butter.   But did you know the cashew nut isn’t actually a nut at all?!  They are, in fact, a seed from the flowering Cashew tree. They originated in Brazil, but today, cashew nuts grow all over the world.     Read on to see some more of the health benefits of Cashew nuts.    Cashew Nuts Are Rich in Nutrients    Although cashews may be small, they are packed full of nutrients. They’re a good source of copper, phosphorus, magnesium, and manganese — nutrients important for energy production, brain health, immunity, bone, and teeth health.    Cashews are also high in protein; plain cashew nuts contain 15.7g of protein per 100g, approximately the same as a<a href="https://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/calories/calorie_coun...

This refreshing salad dressing is made in a snap - delicious, simple and nutritious!

Moist, fluffy and a tiny bit spicy. This easy vegan muffin recipe packs a healthful punch!

Small but mighty, bursting with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, fibre and protein, Chia Seeds are hard to beat! Try adding them to your granola bars with this recipe. 

Easy to prepare, tastier than any store bought jam, filled with healthy chia seeds and blueberries. Yum yum in the tum.

Start the day off right with a delicious strawberry chia seed smoothie. Packed with antioxidants, fibre, and great flavour! What could be better?

Fancy having pudding for breakfast? Then look no further! This simple Chia pudding recipe takes just 10 minutes to make and is a delicious start to the day.

The fall season equals pumpkin season and pumpkin season equals pumpkin carving—quick and simple maths. The fall season has rolled in, and dare we say, so have all the multicoloured squash and gourds of the winter seasons.  Pumpkin carving is a tradition that has been around since the 19th century, originating from Irish folklore, the story of ‘Stingy Jack’. Pumpkin carving looked a little bit different back then; the beautiful orange gourds we have all come to know and love so well had not yet been introduced to the UK. Until the classic pumpkin was introduced, people made use of the rutabaga turnip for all carving ventures. How bizarre to think, as they are so very different. Pumpkin carving is riotous fun, yet the annual problem of our generation is finding a good way to use and dispose of the guts and gourd carnage aftermath. Worry not, for here are five things you can do with the innards of a pumpkin. Add to the Vegetable Broth Stockpile As it turns out, pumpkin guts are deeply flavourful and can be used flexibly in any recipe that calls for chicken or vegetable broth.  Quick veg broth recipe: Sauté pumpkin pulp with other leftover veg, onions, celery, carrot, etc. Add water and let the mixture simmer for about 30minutes to an hour before straining. Et voila! Fresh veg stock. Harvest the pumpkin seeds for roasting!  Make the classic roasted seeds everyone knows and loves or try your hand at making its <a href="https://64...

Stingy Jack &amp; the True Origin of the Jack-O-Lantern Legend has it that seven centuries ago; there lived a drunkard in Ireland known as ‘Stingy Jack’. Jack was well known for being a deceiver and a manipulator. One night Satan, overheard the many tales of Jack’s evil doing. Intrigued and a little envious, the devil went to find out for himself whether or not Jack lived up to his reputation. One night a drunken Jack was wandering the countryside whereupon he came across Satan. Fearing his end was imminent, Jack bargained with the devil to allow him a last request before departing this world. He asked the devil to allow him a drink of ale before departing to hell. Seeing no reason not to oblige, the devil accepted Jacks request. Satan took Jack to the local pub where Jack had his fill of ale. Upon quenching his thirst, Jack had the cheek to ask Satan to pay for the ale. Unbelievable! As it happened, Satan did not carry any money either. Jack convinced Satan to turn into a silver coin with which to pay the bartender and then change back when he wasn’t looking. Satan, impressed by Jacks cunning, did as asked. Jack was clever though, as soon as the devil transformed into a silver coin, he grabbed it and put it into his pocket, which also had a crucifix. The presence of the cross would not permit the devil from escaping his coin form. Jack coerced the devil into sparing his life for the next ten years, Satan complied, releasing the devil. Ten years past and Jack found himself in the devil’s presence once more though this time Jack appeared willing to depart. As Satan was getting readied to take Jack to hell, he asked the devil if he could have an apple. Unbeknownst to Satan, this was another of Jacks tricks. Once again, the devil accepted Jacks request; Satan climbed up the branches of a nearby apple tree. As the devil climbed, Jack surrounded the base of the tree with crucifixes, trapping the devil once more. Frustrated at being entrapped once more,...

With autumn well underway, most of us will have noticed the tell signs of the season. What with all different shaped pumpkins and gourds filling up the market stalls, to the colourful change of leaves flooding the streets and the return of the ever-famous pumpkin spice latte. October is here, and we intend to deliver the same ambience it provides us all. That being said, read on for the five benefits pumpkin seeds can provide you this spooky season. May Help Improve Sleep A lesser-known benefit of Pumpkin Seeds is their ability to aid with sleep! Pumpkin Seeds are a natural source of tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid that may help boost sleep. The mineral zinc also present in Pumpkin Seeds helps convert the tryptophan into serotonin, which is then changed into melatonin, the sleep hormone. Further, pumpkin seeds are a great source of the mineral magnesium. Proper magnesium levels are known to be associated with better sleep quality as well.   Small studies have found taking a magnesium supplement boosted sleep quality and total sleep time in people with low magnesium levels. Pumpkin Seeds Boost Hormone Levels Pumpkin Seeds are used in Seed Cycling ; an alternative medicine practice believed to aid in regulating reproductive hormones. As mentioned above, Pumpkin Seeds provide a high content of the nutrient zinc. Zinc has an impact on several different areas of your body.  This includes the reproductive system and pituitary glands. Zinc is essential in the production of progesterone; it increases the production of FSH (Follicle Stimulating...

If you’re carving a Jack-O-Lantern this year, take advantage of all the goodness inside!  Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of antioxidants. They help rid the body of ‘free radicals’ which cause damage to cells. Pumpkin Seeds contain antioxidants vitamin E, zinc, copper, manganese and carotenoids. Antioxidants may aid in the reduction of inflammation, consuming antioxidant-rich foods can help protect against many diseases.  Vitamin E enhances the body's immune response and helps protect against infectious diseases. While zinc protects our bodies from inflammation, invading pathogens, and allergies. Thereby helping prevent infections and boosting overall immunity.  Follow these super easy step-by-step instructions, and you’ll be rewarded with a special and delicious treat, no trickery involved. How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds Whether you’re carving spooky pumpkin faces for Halloween or making homemade  pumpkin puree  from scratch, don’t forget to save the edible seeds inside! This healthy snack recipe is easy to make at home and a fun little project to get the kids involved. Step 1: Remove &amp; Rinse Using a large spoon remove the entangled raw seeds, inside pulp, and stringy fibres, from the pumpkin. The seeds from carving pumpkins and pie pumpkins are edible. You'll get different amounts of seeds depending on the size of your pumpkin. Place all your seeds in a sieve and rinse out any extra gunk or stringy bits from your seeds.   Step 2: Dry Ensure your seeds are thoroughly dried up. Use a kitchen towel or roll. This will help your seeds become nice and crispy when being roasted in the oven. If they aren't dried thoroughly the excess moisture will build up in the ...

The BEST homemade bread ever. Perfect for making all your favourite toast variations, sandwiches, and more.

This bread is Spooktacular! The combination of pure pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, and pumpkin seeds add to its moist texture, making it a flavourful season favourite.

Get ahead of the carve, with this Pumpkin Puree recipe. Perfect for repurposing all those pumpkin bits and guts, perfect for home freezing, use to make soups, pies, even pumpkin bread! #Squashgoals

Flavourful and super easy to make. Just roasting the butternut squash and onion and toss it in a blender and BOO- yah!

Forget not, waste not… turn leftover pumpkin seeds into a delicious treat! Lets give 'em pumpkin to talk about.