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Kidney Beans are a tasty and protein-rich store cupboard staple which can provide a depth of flavour, splendid nutrition and fill a hungry belly all at the same time.

Here are ten of our favourite ways to use this brilliant wonder-bean:

The Health Benefits of Pecan Nuts

Pecan Nuts are a fantastically tasty way to improve your health! Normally things that taste this good aren’t very good for you, but pecans are full of excellent nutrients. Behind their rich, buttery flavour lies a wealth of beneficial things your body needs to maintain health and effective biological functions.

Pecan trees grow up to 40 metres tall, and 120,000 tons of nuts are harvested commercially every year. The pecan tree is actualy a species of hickory, and is native to Mexico and the United States. Pecans are often found as the main ingredient in pecan pie, a dish traditionally enjoyed in the southermost states of the US.

So what exactly are the health benefits of pecan nuts? Can they improve your health as well as delighting your taste buds, and if so, how? Let’s have a look…

An Introduction to Freeze-Dried Fruit

When fruit undergoes a process of freeze-drying (also known as ‘lyophilisation’) it’s a way of removing its moisture, while preserving its nutritional value. Conventional drying of fruit, especially when done at higher temperatures, can lead to a degradation of vitamins and reduce the benefits the body gets from consuming it.

Freeze-drying is also far better at preserving the shape and colour of fruit, which can make it look far better in a finished dish, or if you choose to rehydrate it. It also increases its shelf life massively, meaning it can be stored for years instead of just a few days.

Freeze-dried fruit also has a wonderful crispiness, and doesn’t suffer from the claggy chewiness of a lot of conventionally-dried fruit.

TEN WAYS TO USE BRAZIL NUTS

Brazil Nuts are a brilliant store cupboard ingredient, but also equally at home in the snack jar! They’re packed full of beneficial minerals and healthy fats, and can be used for both sweet and savoury dishes. They’ll add a delightful texture to dishes, but can also be processed very simply to make vegan milk and mayonnaise.

Here are ten ways you can use this fantastic ingredient:

HEALTH BENEFITS OF KIDNEY BEANS

Why we should all be eating more kidney beans:
Kidney beans are one of the best sources of plant protein available. As well as being extremely tasty, they’re also extraordinarily versatile, and can be used in stews, salads, rice dishes or even in sweet dishes! What’s more, they’re packed with minerals, vitamins and all kinds of compounds beneficial to the health of your body and mind.

Here are 5 big health benefits of eating kidney beans:

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BRAZIL NUTS

Nutritionists and doctors agree that Brazil nuts are fantastic nutritional powerhouses, containing a multitude of compounds that are excellent for health and happiness.

Brazils are an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. We all know that most of the snacks available in the supermarkets are stuffed with sugar, salt and saturated fat, but Brazil nuts will certainly keep you going if you find yourself peckish between meals. Not only will they fill a hole, they’ll also provide you with an amazing array of beneficial nutrients, and have a very positive effect on your health.

What are the health benefits of Brazil nuts?

TOP VEGAN SOURCES OF OMEGA

How can vegans include omega in their diet?
Omega-3 and omega-6 fats are essential for humans. The essential omega-3 fat is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and the essential omega-6 fat is linoleic acid (LA). As our bodies cannot make them, we need to source them from our diet. Some people take them in the form of supplements, but they can be sourced naturally from a variety of healthy, tasty wholefoods.

Here are some of the best:

The Health Benefits of Collagen

Smoking, stress, poor diet, the sun’s rays and atmospheric pollution can all damage our skin, causing it to lose its elasticity, causing wrinkles. Skin can also be damaged by common conditions such as acne and rosacea. In the last few decades, a lot of buzz has emerged around collagen, which is structural protein found in connective tissues. The main claims for it centre around its ability to bring youth, glow and suppleness back to ageing skin.

Collagen is the most abundant tissue in our bodies, and can be found in our skin, tendons, muscles and ligaments. It’s often referred to as the body’s scaffolding. By the age of 50, though, it’s estimated that we’ve lost 50% of the collagen made by our bodies naturally.

The main sources of collagen for health products is currently fish, although it is sourced from animals used in the meat industry too. There are some ‘vegan collagen’ options being trialled too. Collagen used to be administered in injections, but is now mainly taken in supplement form as pills or a powder. But what are the health benefits of collagen, and how well does it work?

Tigernuts – how to include them as part of your daily diet!

Tigernuts are a tasty and exciting ingredient which can be eaten in a number of different ways and provide a challenge which pays handsome rewards to chefs and foodies with enquiring minds and the willingness to experiment.

Not really nuts at all but tubers, tigernuts have a taste that’s been likened to coconut, and are wonderful to cook with and incorporate into dishes. Here are some of our favourite uses for tigernuts:

Boost Your Immune System

Everyone wants to be healthy – sometimes though, it’s tricky to eat accordingly. How many of us have stuffed ourselves with processed foods full of empty calories and high in fat, salt and sugar, and then wondered why we’re feeling a bit ‘off’, or sluggish and prone to colds and infections?

People who have done their homework are aware that while most of us know people who torture themselves chugging pints of disturbingly-coloured, foul-tasting gloop every day, it’s actually perfectly possible to use food that actually looks and tastes fantastic to boost our immunity.

So what are the best ways to strengthen your immune system? Here are a few brilliant ideas that everyone should try…