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We all probably know turmeric as a powdered ingredient that gives many curries their deep yellow hue. Anyone who’s managed to get any on their clothes knows it’s a nightmare to try and wash out, which would explain why it’s also widely used as a fabric dye. But what is turmeric?

Turmeric is a flowering plant in the same family as ginger. The roots are used widely, for both cooking and health purposes. It’s common in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisine, and its many health benefits have been harnessed by Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.

So what exactly are the health benefits of turmeric?

TEN WAYS TO USE MACADAMIA NUTS

Macadamia Nuts are luxurious, wonderfully crunchy and can be used in a wide array of dishes. They can also be roasted for an extra deep flavour. They’re low in carbohydrates and can improve heart health by lowering your ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol level. They provide us with monounsaturated fat, which is very beneficial to the human body. They’re also high in manganese, thiamin and antioxidants.

Here are ten of our favourite ways to use this wonder nut:

Why Acai Berries are so good for you, and why you should eat more of them!

Acai berries are a relatively new addition to the list of superfoods, and are gaining in popularity all the time as people warm to them and get to grips with their unique nutritional profile. But what are acai berries?

Acai palms grow in Brazil and produce tiny purple berries which look like grapes, but smaller. The powder made from this superfood can be used in smoothies, desserts, chocolate, muffins or simply sprinkled over porridge and granola. Nutritionsits recommend 1-5 teaspoons of the powder daily to harness the maximum benefit.

But why exactly should we be eating these little purple wonder-fruits? Let us walk you through some of the main health benefits of acai berries….

Amazing facts you may not have known about Goji Berries

Many claims have been made about the health benefits of goji berries, with many nutritionists shouting loudly about their positive effects on many different aspects of human health. But what are goji berries, and why should we be sitting up and taking notice?

Goji berries come from Asia and have been eaten for thousands of years. They’re actually members of the nightshade family of plants, which also includes tomatoes and aubergines.

They do indeed have an extremely positive effect on human health when eaten, as explained below…

An Introduction to Pink Salt

Himalayan pink salt has exploded onto the scene in recent years. It’s said that the army of Alexander the Great first discovered the rich salt deposits in the Himalayas.

Since then, pink salt has been used for many thousands of years as a preservative, a valuable spice and a trading commodity. It’s now exported in bulk all over the world.

But what is pink salt? Is it just a pretty version of our usual white table salt, or is there something else to it?

Health Benefits of Cashew Nuts

The cashew is one of the most popular nuts we offer, and its wonderful taste and delightful texture have seduced foodies all over the world.

Cashews are fantastically versatile, and can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes, including stir-fries, nut roasts, biscuits, snack bars and even sauces. They’re also pivotal in many vegan diets, due in large part to their wonderful ability to replicate dairy staples such as milk, cheese and ice cream once soaked and processed.

But are these little crescent-shaped nuts actually good for you? What nutrition can you find in a cashew nut? Well, it turns out this is one of the most nutritious nuts you can possibly consume, as we illustrate below…

An introduction to Yacon Root

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….