Home-made coconut yoghurt

As coconut products continue to take over the world, coconut yoghurt has become an increasingly popular alternative to cows yoghurt, but delicious as it is it also leaves you with something of a hole in your pocket. 

Thankfully there is a simple solution so you can continue to get your fix of creamy coconut goodness without breaking the bank... make it yourself. It's actually really easy, tastes fantastic and gives you the opportunity to experiment with your own flavours. 

Ingredients (makes 1 medium Kilner jar)

2 x tins organic coconut cream
2 teaspoons agar agar powder

4 x capsule probiotic

Maple syrup, agave, date syrup or alternative for sweetening (optional)

Method

1. Empty the tins of coconut cream in to a pan and bring to the boil. 
2. Once boiled, reduce heat and whisk in 2 teaspoons of agar agar powder
3. Gently simmer for 10 minutes, whisking well every few minutes
4. Take off heat and leave to cool to blood temperature, use thermometer or finger to test
5. Break open and empty the contents of 4 x probiotic capsules in to the coconut mix, stir in well. 
6. Optional - add in a small amount of sweetener of your choice or flavour maker (e.g maple syrup, agave, blueberry powder, passionfruit powder, cacao powder...)
7. Pour the coconut mix in to a sterile kilner jar
8. Place in an oven, dehydrator or hot airing cupboard at 110*f/43*c for minimum 12 hours max 24 hours.  Note: leaving for 24 hours will give much thicker consistency. 
9. After 12 - 24 hours remove jar and set to cool. 
10. Once cool eat and enjoy :) Keep in fridge between eating. 

You can buy probiotics and agar agar for this recipe from our superfood shop, along with a wide range of natural sweeteners, fruit powders and dried berries to enjoy with your coconut yoghurt. All available here. 

Why Bentonite Clay Is the Next Big Miracle Ingredient

​Bentonite clay has become one of the new buzz ingredients on the block. In some cultures that use it extensively, it’s often referred to as 'healing' clay due to its miraculous properties. It’s popularity has grown significantly in the west over the last 10 years, and it is often recommended for its ability to promote better health thanks to its detoxifying properties.

What exactly is Bentonite clay?

Bentonite clay is formed from the ash of volcanoes. It has a long history as a traditional healing ingredient that could protect the body from disease and has been used for many years during fasting, cleansing and detoxing.

Adding water to Bentonite clay gives it a negative charge, meaning it can quite literally pull toxins from the body. It works both topically and when ingested, making it an extremely versatile product.

Bentonite clay can unclog your pores

External and internal toxins can clog up the pores in your skin, especially on your face. We use methods like exfoliation to help shrink the size of our pores and cleanse them, but you can also use a simple face mask made from Bentonite clay as a fantastic alternative to so many of the packs available in the shops. Thanks to it producing a negative electrical charge, it will quite literally clean out and absorb all of the dirt and grime on your face to make way for clearer, brighter skin. For softer, youthful-looking skin, there’s nothing better than Bentonite clay.

Provides you with nutrients

Bentonite clay is a useful everyday supplement in its own right. It’s a rich source of calcium, magnesium, sodium, copper, iron, silica and potassium. This makes Bentonite clay one of the most incredibly dense ingredients around and it can be added to all kinds of food and drink. Although it does have a somewhat 'muddy' taste so it's best taken with a little water in the morning. 

Works great as a hair mask

Mix 2-3 tablespoons of Bentonite clay powder with the same amount of water and it will create a smooth paste the consistency of mustard. Add this to your hair in the shower, leave in for a few minutes before washing out and you’ll find that it creates a beautiful hair mask with excellent conditioning properties that will leave your hair looking strong, shiny and nourished.

Buying Bentonite clay

Bentonite clay is relatively inexpensive and lasts for a long time. It’s easy to obtain and at Detox Trading we stock a wide range of clays for internal and external use, along with clay based deodorants and tooth powders. It has many wonderful uses and is perhaps the ultimate food and beauty product to invest in.

A word of warning

While Bentonite clay has many useful properties, there’s one major rule that you need to remember: do NOT mix Bentonite clay with metal, ever! It should never ever come in contact with metal or else it will lose much of its healing properties. Make sure you mix with a bamboo or wooden spoon and used ceramic or glass bowls.

Detox Trading's bentonite clay is a powerful, yet gentle detoxifier and is high in alkaline with a Ph of 8.5. It is ultra pure, clean, allergen free, laboratory tested and high in beneficial trace elements, making it the clay of choice for internal use. Visit our website for more information on the fantastic products that we supply.

8 Good Reasons Why You Need More Seaweed in Your Diet

When people think seaweed, they often think back to to summer days on the beach, the salty smell, squidgy feel underfoot and throwing it around to scare your friends. Either that or for fans of Japanese cuisine, fried crispy seaweed and sushi rolls mmmm.  

But if your not accustomed to the great taste and wonderful benefits of seaweed then you are about to learn to love it! So here are 8 good reasons why you should be consuming seaweed regularly. 

1. Naturally loaded with protein

Seaweed is an excellent choice of vegetarian protein. When added to soups, salads or even bread, 100 grams of seaweed can give you up to 6 grams of protein.

2. Contains easily-digestible fibre

Seaweed contains a fair amount of fibre (around 1.3 grams per 100 grams of kelp) and it's extremely soluble.

3. Filled with vitamins and minerals

Different types of seaweed offer different nutrients, but regardless of the variety, they’re always dense with vitamins and minerals. This includes vitamin A, vitamin C and folate. And most importantly seaweed is very high in iodine, sea vegetables are one of the richest sources of thyroid health enhancing iodine. 

4. Low in calories and fat

A single-cup serving of seaweed contains only 28 calories.One portion makes for a fantastic, guilt-free snack that still leaves room for other healthy treats. 

5. Full of flavour

Seaweed has what’s known as an umami flavour, also known as the fifth taste. It’s a savoury taste that you also find in mushrooms, miso and soya sauce, and has the characteristics of a well-made broth.

6. Easy to eat

Seaweed goes down incredibly easily thanks to the many ways it can be consumed. Do you want a crispy seaweed snack, or would you prefer some ocean salad seaweed mixed with your favourite raw veggies and dip?

7. Can be used in lots of different ways

Seaweed can be added to soups and stews, mixed into a salad, used in wraps, added to Asian broths, paired with pasta, cooked as a side dish and can even be incorporated in to home-made bread. With so many versatile uses, it can easily become a staple in your pantry.

8. Readily available now

You no longer need to visit Asian supermarkets to buy your seaweed! You can simply order one of our wonderful varieties straight to your door. And all our seaweed comes in dried form so you can rehydrate it whenever you need it without worrying about it spoiling.

Seaweed is incredibly easy to add to your diet and has a salty, rich flavour that everyone can enjoy. It’s easy to add to meals and comes in handy snack form for healthy eating on-the-go. This sea superfood is easy to prepare and lasts for a long time in the cupboard.


Detox Trading's organic range of seaweeds are bursting with nutrients, containing a rich supply of minerals like iodine, calcium, copper and iron.Seaweed is also rich in protein, fibre and vitamins, specifically vitamin K and folic acid while being low in calories and fat. Visit our website for more information on the fantastic products that we supply.