Whole Foods Market Haul: First Ever!

Hello!

If you live in the US, a Whole Foods Haul may be pretty usual for you - but for people like me, and possibly other countries in the world, the whole 'Whole Foods' thing is pretty new to us. But boy am I glad Whole Foods has come to Town - I say that but it's still pretty far for me, yet I'm definitely more likely to go!

"boy am I glad Whole Foods has come to Town" 

When you enter whole foods, you see fruits and vegetables, smiling faces and very healthy looking people! I love the vibe of the market and the idea that everyone has the same priorities as you!
Even going to the checkout, the lady there was greeting me with jokes and recommendations, telling me the Snapea Crisps are "dangerously good" and making me even more excited to try them!

I had known there was a Whole Foods in London but never thought of going until I passed it on the way back from China Town with our Bubble Teas on our last trip to London. We had a quick pop in and out of the store as one of my friends and I were literally jumping with joy at the sight of the 'Whole Foods' sign - yet too overwhelmed to actually purchasing anything...

"the Snapea Crisps are "dangerously good""

The second time we went was last week, this time ensuring we were going to buy at least one thing. So we went down to China Town to get ourselves some bubble tea (now becoming some sort of a ritual) and then went to Whole Foods in Piccadilly. As soon as we saw Snapea Crisps, which have been raved about on YouTube, we had to pick these up. If you've tried Sugar Snap Peas, you know how amazing they are - as I am a huge fan of them, I hope I will be of these too.

For your information, there are more than one flavour, I also spotted the 'Caesar' flavour and 'Tomato' - yet 'Lightly Salted' seemed the safest option.

"Chia Seeds are the superfood of the moment"

These two items were no brainers when it came to Whole Foods. Chia Seeds are the superfood of the moment. Superfoods are the foods with a lot of nutritional value per calorie unit. There are so many great things you can do with those tiny seeds: put them on your cereal, in your smoothies or make Chia Seed Pudding.

Cacao Powder is basically chocolate - but the raw, good-for-you kind. I was in search of this but had only found cocoa power thus far, which is great for making healthier hot chocolates, yet cacao powder seems like one step up, and I am excited to give it a go!

"let's hope these babies are satisfying"

I have been loving dates. Having a big box of medjool dates at home meant that I'd freely have a couple when I want something sweet and super yummy! Running out of those, I was left feeling empty - let's hope these babies are satisfying! I love dried fruit and seeing these mango and pineapple sachets in the store, I had to pick them up! These were actually near the checkout line, which is a very smart place to put them!

"Too many good things all in one place!"

A simple 5 item shop left me satisfied with my shopping trip in Whole Foods - still being overwhelmed with the amount of amazing things they have on sale there, I was unsure of what exactly to pick up! If you've been to whole foods for the first time, I'm sure you'll understand what I mean: Too many good things all in one place! 

What's your favourites from Whole Foods / Health Food Stores? 

Top Ten Benefits of Aloe Vera

Hello! 

Having seen Aloe Vera Water in many stores and even local newsagents now, I thought it would be really interesting to see the benefits of Aloe Vera. Thats when Kirsty came in contact with me.

 Kristy Jones lives in Liverpool and is an avid writer and blogger. Her areas of interest are food, reviews (Book/Movie), Travel, Fashion, Lifestyle and Fitness. She works as a guest blogger on her chosen areas of interest and currently writes on behalf of European Health Card. 

Right so here are the health benefits of Aloe Vera and why growing an Aloe Plant this year may not be a bad thing:

 The healing powers and restorative benefits of aloe Vera make it something of a jack-of-all-trades in the health community. The gel inside of the green spikey plant has powers that range from healing burns to supporting bodily functions. Here is a look at ten different uses you have with just one simple plant-

1. It soothes burns- One of aloes most revered qualities, just rub the gel on your sunburn and you'll instantly feel it cool down. It also helps in making it heal faster.

2. It gives you smooth skin, too- If you apply it to an area of your face with acne, the anti-inflammatory properties of aloe will reduce the redness and size of acne.

3. It even helps your skin during an allergic reaction- If you consumed something you are allergic to and are experiencing puffy, red skin, aloe Vera can be applied to reduce the swelling and treat the itchiness. You should still go to a hospital, but aloe Vera will at least reduce the physical symptoms.

4. It can do wonders to reverse the signs of aging- If your body is starting to show the signs of getting older and you want to reduce wrinkles or crow's feet, apply aloe Vera to the areas affected for minor relief. The plant's special ability is so magical that it can actually reduce some of the signs of the aging process.

 5. You can use it in the shower- Aloe Vera makes an excellent body scrub, as you will smell excellent and feel smoother after applying it to your skin. You can also use it in your hair, giving you a silk-like smoothness to it.

6. Give your immune system a boost- Aloe Vera provides a boost for your immune system. Just drink a small amount to give your body a natural enhancement that will keep colds away and also enhance your digestive system.

7. Aloe Vera helps fight mouth problems- If you have gum disease or even something as small as a cut in your mouth, aloe Vera will help in healing those problems and preventing continuous bleeding. It also fights bacteria, giving you a cleaner feel after brushing your teeth.

8. It can help those with diabetes- Aloe Vera or supplements containing aloe Vera are an all-natural alternative to fighting high blood sugar levels in diabetics. After a few months of use, you will notice a significant improvement and will feel excellent.

9. Help fight asthma- If you are feeling short of breath, just boil some aloe Vera leaves in hot water and breathe in the steam. It creates an excellent, all natural smell, and will open up your airways.

10. Fight ear and eye infections- Aloe Vera works great as a general anti-inflammatory and as an anti-irritant. These powers even stretch into infections of the eye or ear, where some applied aloe Vera can reduce the pain and swelling.

A European Health Insurance Card will get you access too many things that can fight the above mentioned ailments, but a simple application of aloe Vera can do wonders as well.

_________________________________________________________________

So, I hope you enjoyed the post by Kirsty, have you used Aloe Vera in your beauty regimen or tried Aloe Vera Water? 

Health Benefits of Raisins

Hello!

I know raisins are a very controversial food - some love them and others hate them… I, for one, am definitely do not agree with the latter!
I LOVE raisins and having consuming it a lot recently, I was interested in the health benefits of it - and seeing as you're reading this, I guess you are too - so let's crack on!

Promotes Efficient Absorption of Vitamins, Proteins and Nutrients
This leads to a better immune system which helps fight off disease!

Aids Digestion
Due to the high fibre content of raisins, it helps maintain regular bowl movements (avoid constipation) and therefore toxins and waste materials can be easily passed out of your body. In addition, Raisins are naturally sweet, so the fruit sugars are easy to digest, unlike the processed sugars in many of our foods today! These natural sugars are said to help the spikes or plunges in insulin levels which can be dangerous for diabetes patients (medium Glycemic Index)

Protection against Cavities and Tooth Decay
Due to the 'oleanolic acid' in Raisins, growth of harmful bacteria is prevented. This also reduces risk of gum disease

Source of Calcium
Keep your bones and teeth strong! Due to content of micronutrient 'Boron', calcium absorption is helped, therefore more calcium for your body.

Source of Iron & Copper
Which is necessary for Red Blood Cell Formation

Reduce Body Acidity
Raising are a source of Potassium and Magnesium - this helps reduce body acidity. Potassium is also said to reduce Blood Pressure

Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Bacterial Properties

Source of Antioxidants
Prevents development of Tumours

Vitamins A, C, B6, F, K

Ways to Consume in your Diet...

I love to add raisins to my breakfast. In the picture above, I've topped wholewheat toast with Peanut Butter, Flaxseed (see their benefits here) and Raisins! So yummy, honestly! I love to have this with a bowl of fruit and a chai tea latte! You have to try it! 

Also, to a bowl of Shredded wheat, I like to add raisins - and if I feel like some peanut butter, I add that too, and occasionally some flaxseeds! Do you see a trend, here? haha!

Also, if you like raisins and shredded wheat, try raisin wheats as a snack or as breakfast - as shown in this post!

I hope you found out more about raisins, decide to maybe consume some and gain from their benefits! So, tell me, do you love/hate raisins?! 

source: 1 // 2 // 3  

Health Benefits of Flaxseed

Hello!

It's been a long time since I've done one of these, and since I had this on my peanut butter toast this morning, I was wandering why exactly these little Flaxseeds were actually meant to be so good for you, and to my surprise, there are more health benefits than I had thought! 

If you don't know what Flaxseeds are, they are basically seed like sunflower seeds, chia seeds etc. They are also called Linseeds, which is what they're called in England.

Flaxseeds are getting more and more well known recently and many people add them to many different meals and snacks… but what is the big deal about these teeny tiny seeds?

- Very High Fibre Content, hence lowering bad cholesterol, stabilise blood sugar, help proper functioning of intestines.

- Source of Antioxidants, these are also very good and also helps to balance female hormones

- Has healthy Omega-3 Fatty Acids, this reducing inflammation, prevents heart disease, arthritis, asthma, diabetes and some cancers - by blocking enzymes that are involved in hormone metabolism and interfering with the growth and spread of tumour cells

- Also a source of B Vitamins, Magnesium and Manganese

Some call it the 'most powerful plant foods on the planet', and clearly these benefits are the reason why!  However, be aware that Flaxseed Oil doesn't contain the fibre nor phytochemicals (antioxidants) of the whole flax seed. In addition the benefits of the flax is easily damaged by heat and oxidations, so be aware to store in a dark, dry place.

You can eat them sprinkled on yogurt, on cereal, porridge, shakes, cereal bars, juice, baking (flaxseed muffins), pb toast like I did or even find them in seeded bread!

Have you tried Flaxseed? If so, what do you eat them with/on? 

sources: image, info, info