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In the last 20 years, the popularity and use of yacon root has exploded around the world. It’s available to buy in powdered form, in flakes and as a syrup, but what is yacon?

This perennial plant is actually from the same family as the daisy, and is a close relative of the sunflower and Jerusalem artichoke. It grows up to 2.5 metres and can have up to 20 tuberous ‘storage roots’, and it’s these for which this plant has long been prized.

Yacon is used widely as a sweetener and for its health-promoting effects. But what are the benefits of yacon root?

Foods that help you feel fuller!

Everyone trying to lose a few pounds will usually do everything they can to avoid a growling stomach and those terrible pangs of hunger that are the dieter’s worst enemy.

Foods that give short, sharp bursts of energy can leave you crashing a couple of hours later and ravenous once again, but there are many superfoods that can help you lose weight by keeping you feeling very satisfied until your next mealtime.

Much of what keeps us feeling full hinges on how the constituents of the food we eat act once consumed, and how quickly they pass through our digestive system. We’ve listed some of the best examples of foods which will give you not only excellent nutrition but also banish hunger in some very tasty ways!

Ten amazing facts about Teff

Teff is absolutely tiny, with a diameter of less than a millimetre, and the Ethiopian word teffa, which gives it its name, accordingly translates as ‘lost’!

It’s a staple food in the Horn of Africa, and has many culinary uses, sharing the versatility of cereals like millet and corn. Because it’s so small, however, it cooks much faster, which cuts down on cooking time and therefore saves valuable fuel.

But what is teff? And what are the health benefits of teff?

Ten surprising ways to use coconut oil

We all love coconut oil. It’s a very exciting ingredient, and a mainstay in vegan cooking. It also offers excellent nutrition as it’s full of healthy fats in the form of Omega oils.

Coconut oil is extracted from coconut flesh, and is at its best and most beneficial to human health when it’s the cold-pressed version. This means the oil is removed from the flesh by squeezing the freshly shredded coconut kernels without heating them. When the resulting liquid settles, it separates, leaving the pure oil on the surface which is then skimmed off and stored.

As well as being a superb choice for frying and baking, it’s also commonly used as a skin moisturiser and massage oil. But it’s so much more than that, and with so many different types available, isn’t it time you dived in and explored the possibilities offered by this awesome superfood?

Here’s a look at ten intriguing ways coconut oil can be used and enjoyed every day….

Ten ingenious ways to use cashews

Almost everyone loves cashew nuts! That satisfying crack as you bite into it, the wonderfully moreish taste and the fantastic nutrition all contribute to making the cashew one of our very favourites from the nut family.

Cashews aren’t just for snacking, however – they have a huge role to play in the kitchens of adventurous foodies. Not only do they provide a fantastic taste and texture for dishes, they also act as a very useful and effective alternative to milk, cheese and cream, making them essential for vegan cooks and anyone wanting to avoid dairy.

Something special happens to cashews when they are soaked in liquid for a few hours – they soften and swell, and can be whizzed up into a lovely smooth base for many wonderful things. It’s a delightful bit of kitchen alchemy which really opens doors to the clued-up cook! So let’s have a round-up of ten of our favourite, most creative ways to use this wonder-nut!

Our Top Ten Favourite Superfoods

While there is no specific scientific or regulatory definition of the word ‘superfood’, it has come to be accepted as referring to any food that has an exceptional array of properties that make it extremely beneficial to the human body when consumed.

There’s no one food which offers all the nutrition you’ll need to achieve peak health, and it’s always better to eat a wide range of different types of food – but the emphasis should be on whole foods instead of processed ones, and it’s preferable to include foods from the ‘superfood’ category in your daily diet if you can.

Here’s our superfoods list compiling ten of our very favourites:

An Introduction to Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are one of the most unusual foods in the ‘superfood’ category, and a store cupboard staple for vegans, foodies and everyone with an interest in ‘free from’ food preparation.

Many people don’t understand what they are or what to do with them, but once the benefits and uses of these fantastic little wonders are revealed, they convert many gourmets and cooks to their cause!

Ten Amazing Facts about Flaxseed

Flaxseeds (or Linseeds, as they’re sometimes called) are, quite simply, one of the most nutritionally beneficial whole foods you can consume.

It’s no surprise flax is thought of as a ‘superfood’ – there’s a list of benefits to eating these tiny, nutty seeds that’s longer than your arm, and consequently they’ve been growing in reputation and popularity year on year.

Not only do these little seeds fill you with good things, but they also have various unusual properties which make them essential for vegans or anyone following a ‘free from’ diet.

So what is Linseed/Flaxseed? And why should we be sitting up and taking notice of this wonderful ingredient?

Why is Seaweed so good for you?

Seaweed is a cover-all term describing many different types of marine algae. It grows wild in seas all over the world and is used for cooking, beauty and health purposes. In the kitchen it’s prepared as a dish on its own, an ingredient, a snack, a seasoning or even as a thickener.

Some of us use powdered algae such as Chlorella or Spirulina in smoothies or capsules. Many of us are familiar with nori seaweed, which is commonly wrapped around sushi. But there are hundreds of varieties of seaweed used for various purposes all over the world, and it’s growing in popularity all the time.

So what are some of the health benefits of seaweed?

Why you should incorporate Green Tea as part of your daily routine!

Green tea has exploded in popularity in the West in recent years as more types have become available and more people have started taking an interest in the health benefits and the spectrum of flavours and varieties on offer.

There are many reasons to get the pot and brew up some green tea – as well as the positive effects on physical health, having a cup of green tea also gives you a chance to sit down and relax and maybe have a chat, making it great for your mental health too. Also, because green tea is generally taken without milk, it’s a great option for those following a vegan diet.

So what are the other health benefits of green tea? here are some of the best: