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Real Foods Blog: Food Ingredients And Benefits

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Seasonal eating for spring a guide

Seasonal eating is beneficial for our health as well as the health of the planet. Fresh produce that has recently been harvested, and hasn’t had to travel for thousands of miles, is typically fresher, tastier and much more nutritionally dense.

Although fruits do not begin to ripen until the summer in the UK, spring brings with it an abundance of fresh vegetables. By integrating these fresh veggies into daily meals, we are embracing the natural rhythm of the seasons whilst supporting local agriculture and nourishing our bodies.

Inulin health benefits and dietary sources

Inulin is a form of soluble fibre which is found naturally in over 36,000 species of plants. It is a prebiotic, which means that it feeds our good gut bacteria. Inulin cannot be digested by the stomach and small intestine. Instead, it is fermented in the large intestine where it’s converted into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). SCFA have many health benefits, from supporting gut health to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Fresh ideas for fresh produce

Fresh vegetables are the cornerstone of a healthy diet and the spring and summer seasons are a time when they are in abundance. From asparagus to kohlrabi and runner beans to tomatoes, there's a huge variety to choose from. Make sure you eat the rainbow by including plenty of these delicious seasonal fresh vegetables in your diet. And if you need some recipe inspiration, Real Foods has that too!

Organic Wines

Organic wines are delicious, but have other important qualities too. Read on to discover the difference between biodynamic, vegetarian, vegan and low/no sulphur organic wines.

Who's Who of Wholefoods Almonds

Did you know almonds have one of the highest levels of protein content of any nut? If you want to know more about this very popular relative of the peach and true who of the who's in the wholefoods world, read on!

Who's Who of Wholefoods Sunflower Seed Kernels

All the flavour without the shells, sunflower seed kernels are a powerhouse of nutrition and you're much mistaken if you thought they were just the preserve of parrots. Read on and find out why this little seed earns it's big place in the who's who of wholefoods.

Who's Who of Wholefoods Chickpeas

Chickpeas are a creamy-colored, buttery legume also known by several other names, including Bengal gram, garbanzo bean and Egyptian pea. Find out why this humble pale-coloured pulse makes it into our who's who of wholefoods.

Who's Who of Wholefoods Dried Apricots

There's a Turkish proverb "bundan iyisi Sam'da kayisi" which translates roughly as "the only thing better than this is an apricot from Damascus", meaning, it doesn't get any better than this. If you'd like to know why there's nothing better than an apricot, read on to find out why this wholefood makes our who's who.

Who's Who of Wholefoods Chia Seeds

Have you ever wondered what all the fuss is about where chia seeds are concerned? As one of the most nutrient dense and versatile wholefoods, chia seeds are definitely a who's who in the world of wholefoods. Read on to find out more.

Who's Who of Wholefoods Pumpkin Seeds

A very rich supply of manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper, as well as a good source of iron, zinc, and copper, pumpkin seeds are certainly a good wholefood to include in your diet. Read on to find out more about this wholesome who's who of the wholefood world.

Get Your Oats

“A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland appears to support the people.” Samuel Johnson.

An oft quoted remark from a 1755 dictionary which invariably gets the response “that’s why England has good horses, and Scotland - good people!”.

Jokes aside, oats are highly nutritious, survive in hardy conditions (that’s why many of ours are locally grown) and can be used in a huge array of recipes. Here’s our guide to what the different oats are and answers to commonly asked questions, “are they Raw?”, “are they Gluten Free?” and “what’s a bannock?”…

Turmeric and Curcumin

We've been asked quite frequently about turmeric. What's the curcumin content of the turmeric we sell, what is fresh turmeric used for and whether curcumin supplements have the same benefits as turmeric ones are just a few of the regularly asked questions. Here's all of our answers rounded up in a handy guide to the spice known in India as 'holy powder'. We've also a guide to making your own turmeric and castor oil pack to cleanse and rebalance the liver and gallbladder areas, popular with followers of Ayurvedic medicine.

Cacao and Cocoa your questions answered

What’s the difference between cacao and cocoa? What's a single origin bar? What is dutched cocoa? All our commonly asked questions answered about chocolate and cacao are answered...

Coconuts

Coconuts, what’s all the fuss about? In spite of 'nut' being in the name, coconuts are in fact the fruit of the coconut tree

All About Apples

Apples originated in Central Asia but have been cultivated through Europe for thousands of years. Helping to balance blood sugar levels, strengthen your bones and lower cholesterol, they're also used in desserts and baking.

I Am Bergamot

An introduction to Bergamot from Real Foods

All about the citrus family

The citrus family is also known as the rue family, it's official name is Rutaceae, buy them here. Find out all about these fruits amazing properties and some tips on how to use them...

The Benefits of Coconut Water

An article highlighting the benefits of taking coconut water

All About the Cabbage

All About the Cabbage (brassica) from Real Foods

All About Fibre

While the hype for keto diets is in full flow and more people are looking to protein as a primary nutrient, there is one major area of nutrition that is continually overlooked: fibre. The team at Real Foods, Scotland’s largest independent retailer, shares the importance of fibre, and why fibre rich foods are the magic component in your diet.

Teff

Wheat free, gluten free and organic, Teff Flour is in stock and being snatched up by customers - here's why...

All About the Pomegranate

Introducing Pomegranate...

All about Dates

A brief history of the Date and an infographic we've created to help you see just how amazing they truly are...

All About the Passionfruit

All about the Passionfruit. Where I'm from, what I do and how to spot a good one.

All About Apricots

All the nutritional information you need to know about apricots and how to get the most out of them...

Beremeal is back in stock

A quick guide to the ancient grain, a recipe for bannocks and a link to where to buy it...

All About the Seville Orange

All about the Seville Orange from Real Foods

All About the Aubergine

All about the aubergine from Real Foods

The Real Foods guide to ripening bananas

Are your bananas a bit green and you want them to ripen and turn yellow? Or are you desperate to turn them black to make banana bread? A fully ripened banana should be yellow with the odd brown or black spot. Read on...