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The health benefits of cauliflower

The often overlooked white cauliflower is a haven of nutrients that are essential for our health, these beauties originate from the Mediterranean and date back to the 6th century B.C. As with many of our fruits and vegetables, China and India are now the largest producers of cauliflowers in the world.

Cauliflower belongs to a genus and species of plant known as 'Brassica Oleracea', which includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale and cabbage. The head is actually closely packed, undeveloped flower buds. The lack of colour is due to the large green leaves that shield the head from the sunlight.

Raw cauliflower ...

The health benefits of dates

These succulent, sweet fruits offer you a natural energy boost when you are flagging throughout the day, and by eating them they reward you with much needed vitamins and minerals.

The first archaeological evidence of date cultivation can be found in Western Pakistan around 7000 BC, as well as Eastern Arabia in 6000 BC. In those days dates were the most dominant source of nutrients, forming the basis of the traditional diet, even today their popularity has not waned; they are the most abundant crop in the United Arab Emirates.

Different varieties of dates have varying nutritional values however, collectively they are a rich source of energy due to their high natural sugars, in addition they are a great source of minerals including selenium, copper, potassium and magnesium.

When consumed dates are an excellent food source for promoting digestive health ...

The health benefits of mangoes.

Ripe mangoes are delicious and succulent, and appear to bring the sunshine to all those who consume them. They were originally cultivated by Buddhist monks in Southern Asia almost 4000 years ago, and it is said that Buddha himself meditated under a mango tree.
Mangoes are the national fruit of India and are greatly revered, they are said to symbolize life, so it comes as no surprise that almost half of the worlds mangoes are cultivated in India, with the second source being China.
Mangoes are a member of the drupe family, which also includes olives, dates and coconuts, the word drupe means stone fruit.
Mangoes have been given the title of 'King of fruits', a worthy title for such a delicious, health giving fruit, abundant in vitamins and minerals. The powerful anti-oxidants found within mangoes help to neutralize ...

Apricot Bars

Apricot bars are the sweetest treat to pick you up during these last days of winter. They will satisfy even the most hard core sweet tooth, while offering you a wealth of health benefits.

They ...

The health benefits of potatoes

Potatoes have long been a favourite dietary staple, whether mashed, fried, baked, roasted or boiled they are loved the world over and therefore deserve their title as the number one vegetable crop in the world.

Potatoes were originally cultivated thousands of years ago by the Indians living in South America. They were brought to Europe around the 16th century by the Spanish explorers. During the 19th century potatoes were a relied upon food source in Ireland owing to the country's poor economy however, during the the late 1840's a blight affected the potato crop leading to what is now known as the Irish potato famine, this devastation led ...

This was posted in the news, it highlights the increase in cancers, especially amongst women. The article pinpoints lifestyle as being ...

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The Health Benefits of Tomatoes.

Tomatoes are nutrient packed fruits and botanically speaking they are berries. The consumption of tomatoes and tomato extract offers a powerhouse of antioxidants including a good source of vitamin A, C, E flavones, flavonols, carotenoids and glycocides. These juicy fresh fruits are available all year round, although they are in season from July through to September.

Tomatoes originate from Mexico and is thought they were prized by the Aztec civilisations. Spanish explorers brought the seeds back to European shores around the 1500's, although not initially welcomed, they have now become a firm favourite.
The largest producing country of tomatoes is China, followed the the United States, Turkey and Italy.

Lycopene is the carotenoid pigment that is known for its bright red colour on tomatoes however, the colours can vary from red, yellow, orange, green, purple, black and brown. Interestingly small studies have shown that lycopene is more effectively absorbed by the body in the orange tomatoes, compared ...

The health benefits of pears.

Pears should not be overlooked as an everyday, affordable fruit, they are packed with phytonutrients, in fact along with apples they are ranked as the second highest source of flavonoids amongst all fruits and vegetables.

Pears are a member of the rose family, which of course includes roses, but also, apples, cherries, plums, raspberries and almonds to name but a few. There are more than 3000 varieties of pear world wide and they come in an array of colours including red, yellow, green and brown. The skin on the pear contain about half of the total fiber content , as well as three to four times as many phytonutrients as the ...

The health benefits of Probiotics.

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, digestive system and they help build a stronger immune system. They support your body's ability to absorb nutrients and fight infection. There are many types of bacteria which are classified as probiotic, all with differing benefits, most come from two genus groups; Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

Lactobacillus is the most common type, and is often found in small quantities in live yogurt and fermented foods. Different strains of the two genus groups offer different benefits, which we will look at more closely.

Probiotic foods are thought to be safe for most people. Although in some cases mild side effects have been noted, such as upset stomach, diarrhoea, flatulence and bloating.

If you don't ...

The Health Benefits of Spinach.

Spinach is believed to be of Persian origin, and arrived on European shores around the 11th Century. The chlorophyll packed leaf belongs to the chenopodiaceae family which includes nutritional powerhouses including beets, Swiss chard and Quinoa.

Spinach is available all year round, but in season during spring. The leaf is known to help restore energy, increase vitality and improve the quality of blood.

The rich dark green leaves indicate that the spinach is rich in chlorophyll, which has been linked to natural cancer prevention by blocking carcinogenic effects within the body, whilst protecting DNA from damage.

Spinach is rich in glycoglycerolipid molecules which have been found to be beneficial in protecting the lining ...

Plastic Containers and Your Health.

Plastic containers became the housewives favourite in the 1960's and 1970's, and is now a staple of any home. With the increase of bottled water and convenience foods, plastic is playing an increasing role in our lives. But does it deserve its place in our homes? Well, research is divided, with industry claims that state that harmful affects have not been irrefutably proven.

What we do know is that plastic releases chemicals into the food and liquids ...

The health Benefits of Chia.

Chia seeds were first cultivated over 4,000 years ago in South and Central America. The seed was grown as a food crop for energy, endurance and wellbeing.
Highly prized by the Aztec Emperors, chia was used as currency, and given as religious offerings and used at burial ceremonies.

Ancient civilisations believed that chia seeds provided supernatural powers, and in Mayan the word 'chia' means strength. For a while this ancient grain disappeared from general use, but resurfaced in Argentina as a result of cultivation. Today Australia is fast becoming the main producer of chia.

More recently chia is acknowledged for an array of vitamins, minerals and amino acids but, what sets this little beauty apart from other foods is that it packs a whopping 20% protein.
Considered a modern day superfood, chia can help with weight control, improve digestion, benefit heart health and provide energy.


Digestion
Chia seeds absorb up to twelve times their weight in water, forming a gel capsule ...

This is a very informative video that is about 33 minutes long. Brief and to the point, this video is a good basis to ...

The Health Benefits of Carrots.

The name carrot stems from the Greek work 'Karotan' and the word carotene was given with the carrot in mind. These beautifully simple orange roots were originally only available in purple and white around the 10th Century, with the addition of yellow and red colours around the 15th Century. However, in modern times, they are most widely found in the well recognised colour of orange.

Originally cultivated in central Asia and the Middle East, the largest producer of carrots is now China with a share estimated to be one third of the worlds production, followed by Russia, although many other countries produce substantial amounts.

Carrots are most commonly linked to high levels of antioxidants, this is ...

The Health Benefits of Lemons

Lemons were thought to have originated some 2,500 years ago in China or India, but it wasn't until the Crusaders introduced them to Europe that we got to fully appreciate the refreshing, astringent fruit. It was Christopher Columbus that brought lemons to the Americas in 1493, where they have remained a firm favourite to this day.
Whilst a well known antioxidant, lemons were once famous for the prevention of Scurvy amongst sailors. Although today, we are more likely to celebrate the immune boosting benefits of lemons.

The major producers of lemons around the world are the United States, Spain, ...

The health Benefits of eating broccoli.

This amazing health giving vegetable is part of the cabbage family, and was once considered uniquely valuable by the Italians around the time of the Roman Empire. In fact the most common variety of broccoli is called Calabrese, named after Calabria in Italy.

Broccoli is the go-to vegetable for all round health benefits including, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and detox support, with an additional serving of anti-cancer nutrients, what's not to love?


Anti-inflammatory
The glucosinolates found in broccoli can help to suppress the inflammatory response, which is promoted by the NF-KappaB signalling system, thus leading to an overall reduction in harmful chronic inflammation.
The vitamins, minerals, flavonoids ...

This 90 minute hard hitting documentary looks at our relationship to sugar and the effects it is having on weight control.

Obesity is associated ...

The Micro-beads in Our Environment

There are tonnes of plastic dumped into our beautiful oceans, in fact an estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic enters our oceans every year. This human waste ends up in the stomach of seabirds and all marine life. Ultimately, leading back into the food chain.

Micro-beads are found in numerous household and personal care products, from face washes, toothpastes, abrasive cleaners and body washes.

They are usually 5 millimetres or smaller and can pass through the water filtration systems. A single plastic particle can absorb a huge amount ...

The Benefits of Eating Bananas

The banana has become a favourite the world over, and the most popular consumed fruit in America, beating apples and oranges combined.
Once native to South East Asia, but now grown in more that 107 countries this creamy sweet fruit packs an antioxidant punch. Despite popular belief bananas are classed as a berry and are grown on an arborescent (tree like) perennial herb, not a tree; there is some suggestion that the humble banana maybe one of the worlds oldest fruits, dating back to 8000 B.C.

The banana industry is worth a staggering $44.1 billion annually, which includes $8.9 billion a year in export and is considered the fourth most valuable global crop. Nearly nine-tenths of the worlds ...

Depression

Depression is the number one psychological disorder in the western world, with the greatest growth being seen most amongst teenagers. With one in twenty people reporting to have had an episode of depression within the last twelve months and with an increased rise of 450% since 1987 you have to wonder what is going on?

It seems the answer is not entirely clear or straight forward. However, there is a general consensus that the cause is multi-factorial. These factors include, spending less time with people, an increase in poor quality food, getting less exercise and sunlight, altered sleep patterns and an increase in pharmaceutical use.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that 'Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.' This statement is ...

Depression

Depression affects an estimated 350 million people around the world, and is the number one psychological disorder in the Western world. The incidence ...

Toxic oil
David Gillespie discusses the relationship between processed oils and our health. Despite the suggestion that oils are healthy ...

Natural foods that help tighten skin.

Getting older, poor nutrition and dieting can lead to skin that just doesn't ping back into shape like it use to. Despite the miracle claims from some companies; skin tightening creams do not always deliver the results we are looking for. However, that doesn't stop us layering on costly, chemical laden creams in the hope that our body will resume the shape of our younger selves.

Organically Pure firmly believes that skin health and beauty comes from within, and that the foods we eat is mirrored in the condition of our skin. Natural foods have a wealth of benefits in helping the skin to repair, renew and improve, this article will take a closer look at some of the foods you can incorporate into your daily diet to help restore your skin to it's former glory.


Vitamin C

Vitamin C is widely used in most skin care creams for brightening, tightening and for radiant complexions, and this is food good reason. This vitamin is a potent antioxidant that helps mop up free radicals, but if this is not enough to get you heading for the fruit and veg aisles ...

The beauty of Red Cabbage

Cabbage is one of the oldest known vegetables, dating back some 4000 years, this beautiful and versatile vegetable is thought to stem from wild cabbage, a more open leaved variety than the head of cabbage we see more commonly now. Once, highly regarded by the Greek and Romans for treating many ailments, it has since lost its placing in more modern times.

However, a closer look may restore its popularity. Red cabbage is rich in antioxidants, glucosinolates and has strong anti-inflammatory properties. The high antioxidants include anthocyanins and a phytochemical called indole, science has shown a link between Indoles and a reduction in cancer, in particular, breast cancer.

Another benefit in eating red cabbage is from the glutamine content. ...

That gut feeling - digestion

It has been said many times, 'We are what we eat', our digestion determines how well our body and brain functions. Digestive problems seem to plague most people in the western world, which goes some way to explain the increasing array of over the counter medications ...

The Chemicals in Our Lives



An interesting documentary raising awareness of the amount of chemicals we are exposed to in our everyday lives.
These chemicals have a huge negative impact on our health with long term consequences. This documentary highlights the importance ...

Incredible Benefits of Eating Watermelon.

It is believed that watermelon originated in Africa some several thousand years ago and became a firm favourite, spreading across to Asia and then Europe. Surprisingly, China is now the worlds top supplier of this juicy, refreshing fruit.
It may be interesting to note that it is part of the cucumber family, is 92% water and all of the watermelon is edible, including the rind!

Watermelon has come under greater scrutiny lately, with interest being given to the nutrient quality of the fruit. Watermelon is high in lycopene, which is part of the caroteniod family. This phytonutrient is the pigment which gives the watermelon a rich red colour and is bursting with antioxidants, it has been shown to be effective in ...

The Benefits of Eating Ginger.



Who knew this little rhizome had such powers? Add a little ginger into your daily diet to reap the health benefits. Fresh ginger can be found in the fresh produce aisle, and ginger powder can be found ...