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Wheatgrass – 8 reasons why you should include it as part of your diet

Wheatgrass is usually the number one go-to superfood for anyone setting out on a detox regime. It’s increasingly offered as a health tonic in juice bars, and you can buy it in powdered form too, either on its own or as part of a healthy blend.

The deep green colour of wheatgrass comes from the chlorophyll, a plant pigment which is made as a result of plants absorbing energy from the light of the sun. It supports the liver in removing toxins from the blood, and offers a wealth of other fantastic benefits for the human body, some of which we’ve outlined for you below…

Our top ten dips – and the best things to dip into them

Dips are the perfect food to share with friends – if someone drops by unexpectedly it’s always a good idea to have a jar of something tasty on standby in your kitchen cupboard to serve with a bowl of good-quality crackers or with a few slices of tasty, wholesome bread to dip into it. And it takes no time at all to throw a few well-chosen ingredients into your food processor and whip up a delightful treat in which to dip some crudités or some crunchy breadsticks.

Dips are also grand for a picnic, and most of these dips are extremely versatile and equally at home in a sandwich, or even added to a soufflé or quiche recipe!

Don’t forget that you can liven up nearly every dip with a good slosh of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and/or a sprinkling of spice such as Sumac or Za’atar, or some of our wonderful Freeze Dried Red Paprika Powder.

Ten ways you can lead a more eco-friendly life

Planet Earth is in crisis. Sea levels are rising as polar glaciers and ice sheets melt, while devastating floods are affecting more and more areas and extreme weather events increase in ferocity and regularity. We need to act quickly to prevent large parts of Earth becoming uninhabitable because of climate change.

One way we can make a change is by rejecting ‘fast fashion’ and buying only second-hand or sustainable clothing. It takes about 2,700 litres of water to make just one t-shirt , which is enough water for one person to drink for 900 days. Hermione Berendt of Extinction Rebellion says “Black, indigenous and people of colour living in the global south are already the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which are fuelled partly by fast fashion.”

We know many of the things we need to do to ensure the planet remains habitable for our species: fly less, drive less, plant trees and leave fossil fuels behind; insulate our homes and reduce energy usage; save water; aim for a zero waste existence. Here are some of our top tips for living in harmony with our planet…

What is Earth Day and why is it important?

The United Nations has stated that climate change is the defining crisis of our time and is happening even more quickly than was feared. Dire warnings are everywhere about the future (or lack of it) that awaits us if we don’t change our planet-wrecking ways soon. This Guardian article published in 2020 scared a lot of people with its horrifying look at a world in 2050 where climate warnings have not been heeded and time is up for the human race. Luckily there was a sister article describing the planet’s progress if we manage to tackle climate change and live in a more environmentally-friendly way.

No corner of the planet is immune from the devastating consequences of climate change – rising temperatures are fuelling environmental degradation, weather extremes, natural disasters, economic disruption, food and water insecurity, conflict and terrorism. But if we act quickly and cleverly, we can reverse these trends and work together towards a better future. So here’s what you need to know about Earth Day…

Sussex Wholefoods – an introduction to our range

Sussex Wholefoods is Healthy Supplies’ in-house line of natural, healthy, high-quality whole foods, packed in Sussex. We’re well-known for having one of the finest ranges of freeze-dried fruit anywhere in the world.

Sussex Wholefoods was born in 2009 after we became dissatisfied with the range of healthy food commonly sold in the UK, knowing there were a lot more fantastic-tasting, health-giving ingredients out there which weren’t on the shelves of our local supermarkets. We’re very discerning about what we sell under the banner of Sussex Wholefoods, and actually reject more products than we take on. Where possible, we like to offer organic versions, and have a no-nonsense approach where we keep an eye on medical research and try to reject any ‘faddy’ products for which there is no real evidence of health benefits.

It’s also very important to us to remember to choose products that are fun to eat. We believe healthy eating shouldn’t be a sacrifice – if you enjoy the food you eat, it’s much more likely you’ll continue to eat it!

Finally, we love our snacks! We feel that if you’re going to treat yourself to something special, it should be as minimally-processed as possible – that’s why our delectable range of snacks and treats is made where possible from natural and unrefined ingredients.

So come and explore what’s on offer….

Ten Ways To Eat More Buckwheat

Buckwheat is a wheat substitute. It comes from a flowering plant that is distantly related to knotweed and rhubarb. Despite its name, Buckwheat is not related to wheat and is completely gluten-free. It does however taste and behave quite similarly to wheat.

Buckwheat is very beneficial to our health and is thought to help lower cholesterol, fight diabetes and aid digestion! All of these are great reasons to eat more Buckwheat, but just in case you needed more tempting have a look at our ten ways to use buckwheat…

TOP HEALTH BENEFITS OF WHOLE FOODS

What’s all this about whole foods?
As Western diets move further into the realm of highly-processed foods full of empty calories, it’s more important than ever to incorporate whole foods into our meals. Whole foods are those which remain closest to the state they’re found in nature, with minimal processing – and no added sugars!

Here are 5 big health benefits of eating whole foods:

An Introduction to Green Tea

The phrase ‘Green Tea’ covers a wide range of different products, and can range from the mildest, daintiest cuppa to the most intense, knock-your-socks-off dynamite brew.

We stock a wide range of green teas from many different parts of the world. These have very different properties depending on where and how they were grown, when they were harvested and how they were processed.

So what is green tea? Have a look at our green tea primer:

An introduction to Hemp – why is it so good for you?

Hemp used to be one of the cornerstones of British agriculture and was grown extensively for its use in rope, clothing and textiles – it even gave the town Hemel Hempstead its name. So what is hemp, and are there health benefits of hemp we should be taking advantage of?

Hemp is a variety of the cannabis sativa plant, and along with bamboo, it’s one of the fastest-growing plants in existence. It also offers fantastic nutrition and taste when eaten.

Unfortunately, although sprouting hemp from seed produces wonderfully nutritious edible shoots, it’s illegal to do so in the UK without an expensive Home Office licence. Luckily we are allowed to consume the seeds, which offer the following benefits:

TOP HEALTH BENEFITS OF FLAXSEED

Flax seed, also known as linseed, originated in the Middle East thousands of years ago. These little nutritional powerhouses have been cultivated ever since for their taste, texture and wonderful health-giving properties. They come in brown and golden varieties, which are nutritionally very similar., although some people find the brown ones have a slightly stronger taste. The ground seeds can be nutritionally more advantageous than the whole ones, which often pass through the body undigested – but the whole seeds add an amazing toothsome texture to any dish they’re added to!

Here are the 5 biggest health benefits of eating Flaxseed: