Reasons to go organic! 

Organic food is on the rise, which sounds silly to say, because there was a time when organic food was just, well, food. Before the over use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, antibiotics and growth hormones, food was grown and farmed with the help of some well seasoned manure, good soil, a few tricks of the trade and little else. 

Thankfully, due to food movements like Clean Eating and Raw Foodism, initiatives from the Soil Association and tv shows highlighting exactly what is in our food, there is an increasing awareness and popularity of the benefits of farming, buying and eating organic. The benefits not only have a positive impact on your health, but are better for wildlife, the global environment and ecosystem, our local soils, the nutritional value of what we eat, and of course, the taste! 

Check out below all the reasons going organic can benefit you, your health and the planet! 

You are what you eat

• Choosing organic is an easy way to avoid pesticides, herbicides and many additives and preservatives

• Organic standards prohibit GM crops and GM animal feed 

• Organic, free range farming bans the routine use of antibiotics and drugs on animals

Pesticides

• Organic food and farming uses virtually no pesticides

• Pesticides can remain in the food we eat after cooking and washing

• Pesticides can pollute water, the environment and the human body

• Weed killers are banned on organic farms

Nutrition

• Organic farming affects the quality of the food we eat

• There is a higher level of Omega 3 in organic milk and meat due to grass fed animals

Animal Welfare

• Organic farming has the highest standard of animal welfare - including free range, living conditions, food quality, transport and slaughter

• Animals are raised without the routine use of antibiotics 

• Animals are raised in conditions that suit their natural behaviour and are fed a mainly organic diet

Wildlife

• Intensive farming practices are responsible for the decline and possible extinction of wildlife species

• Fungicides and herbicides are damaging to wildlife

• Organic farmland supports more wildlife than non organic by producing less CO2 and dangerous waste 

• Organic farms are havens for wildlife and provide homes for bees, birds and butterflies. On average, plant, insect and bird life is 50% more abundant on organic farms

Environment and climate change

• Organic means working more with nature, not against it, minimising disruption to the natural environment

• Organic farming takes account of local and regional balances and encourages the use of on-site resources

• Organic farming enhances soil life, natural soil fertility and water quality

• Organic farming can help combat climate change and reduce pollution through its ban on chemical pesticides which release harmful greenhouse gases. Instead there is a reliance on healthy fertile soil and crop diversity

• If all UK farmland was converted to organic farming, at least 1.3 million tonnes of carbon would be taken up by the soil each year – the equivalent of taking nearly 1 million cars off the road

• If half of all farming in the European Union converted to organic by 2030, we could cut almost a quarter (23%) of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions 

Soil

• Organic farms have healthier soils, building soil fertility naturally with the use of compost and clover

• Soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and all of the world’s plants and forests combined, which means that soil is one of our most important weapons in the fight against climate change

• It takes a hundred years for just one or two centimetres of topsoil to form, and soil that is lost to pollution or erosion will need hundreds or even thousands of years to recover on its own

• Over the last 40 years almost a third of the world’s arable soils have been lost to erosion or pollution

• Organic agriculture helps reduce our dependence on mined phosphate, a non-renewable resource that is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive

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.

Living Healthy on the Go

“Work to live, don’t live to work” is a saying I hear so much these days. And so often I meet people who are completely burnt out from working all hours, a lack of sleep, eating fast/convenient foods and not taking the time to rest or nurture themselves.

I completely support high achievers and admire career driven individuals who thrive on success. I do however hugely encourage everyone to create a healthy work/life balance. Making time and space to relax, give yourself a little TLC and feed yourself nourishing, live and vibrant foods is so important.

I also understand it’s not always easy to make this time when you have a career, children, a commute to or travel with work while also maintaining a social life. The pressures of balancing all these things can be hugely demanding.

I have lived in the London rat race and know first hand how easy it can be to slip in to an unbalanced lifestyle that in the long run is unsustainable. So here are a few suggestions I have learnt along the way for living healthy on the go…

Hydration Hydration Hydration

Keeping hydrated is absolutely fundamental to maintaining your health. Ideally we need to be drinking at least 2 liters of water each day. This will simultaneously help with the flow of key minerals in to your cells while aiding the elimination of toxins. Drinking this much water can help clear headaches, retain concentration and keep you awake. Trying having a pint of water instead of a coffee and see how you feel…

TIP: If you travel a lot, particularly on airplanes, it is especially important to keep the water up. Flying is one of the most dehydrating things we can do to our body so really bug those air stewards for regular water top ups.

Meals on the Move

Finding truly healthy foods when you’re grabbing a bite from a local supermarket, deli or train station can be really difficult. Often the options include poor quality ingredients on soggy white bread. Take a well-known supermarket (who shall not be named, but my Dad calls them Mordor) meal deal, a sandwich, a packet of crisps or choc bar and a fizzy drink for a few pounds… it hardly screams ‘healthy’ to me.

• I suggest preparing some wholesome snacks on a Sunday ready for your busy week ahead. A trail mix with dried fruit, nuts and seeds will fill you up, contains essential fats and vitamins and can be carried around easily. Or make oat and nut bars, store them in an airtight container and take one with you each day.
• One-cup smoothie makers are perfect for a morning mineral and fibre injection. Blend up fruit and nut milk with your favourite superfood powders or use it for making a portable chia pudding.
• Make a big batch of soup that can be divided in to portions and frozen. Then grab one each day to heat up in the office.
•  For me fruit is the ultimate snack, there’s nothing better than a juicy nectarine or box of blueberries to satisfy a hunger pang on the move.

Or if you are grabbing lunch out, these are a few of my fave healthy eateries around the UK...

-       Tanyas Café – Chelsea, London

-       Sweet Greens – Bournemouth, Dorset

-       Café Kino – Stokes Croft, Bristol

Yoga on the Train

Yes you heard me, I did say yoga on the train.

Last year I went to Colourfest Yoga Festival and met Eugene from AcroYoga Brighton. He taught us about his fantastic idea of fitting exercise in to your life even when you think you don’t have time.

Now, I’m not talking about headstands in the aisles or down dog on the seats, but you can often find space in the corridors or near doors to do some stretching, a few back bends or even a cheeky warrior pose. You might get a funny look or two but be brave, your body will feel the benefits far beyond the blush that your cheeks feel!

Sophia Harvey is one one of the owners of the successful online health food retailer DetoxTrading.co.uk and is currently studying to become a nutritional therapist with the nutritional healing foundation. Complementary therapy has been in the Harvey family for four generations, Sophia's great grandfather being one of the UK's first Osteopaths.

Kale Crisps

Kale crisps are a delicious savoury sprinkle or eat straight out of the bag. Adding the yeast flakes makes them yummy cheese flavoured. You will need a dehydrator (I use the Excalibur 5 tray version) and a good high speed blender. If you are into raw food prepping then it has to be a Vitamix Bender . . . simply the best ; ) . . . but at a price ; ( . . . and its well worth it :o)

Ingredients:
400 gms Organic Kale
1 cup cashew pieces nuts, soaked for up to 1 hour
2 tsp yeast flakes - (I use Engevita Yeast Flakes)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
1 tbsp tamari or 2 tbsp of soya sauce.
¼ tsp sea salt
Enough water to blend the mix into a cream in your blender

Preparation:
1. Strip and use the kale leafy bits from the hard stems - compost the stalks.
2. Then massage the salt into the kale leaves, squeezing and rubbing for a good 5 + minutes. Do this until they wilt and start to give off liquid and then set aside.
3. Blend all the rest of the ingredients till very creamy, in a high speed blender (Vitamix Blender) - add a little more water if needed for smooth result.
4. Mix creamy blend in with the kale - well coated.
5. Place the mix kale onto the mesh sheets that usually come with your dehydrator - don't pile it up, just make it even across the sheets.
6. Dehydrate for around 8 hours at 115 degrees until they’re proper crispy. I tend to do mine at night, and in my garage as the kale has a particular smell.

What are Prebiotics good for 

in your intestines?

What are Prebiotics good for in your intestines

Prebiotic's

Prebiotic's are fermentable  non-digestible food ingredients that feed and stimulate the growth of the friendly bacteria (probiotics) in your large intestines.  Probiotics are the good bacteria that help your body maintain health.

There are 3 types of prebiotics. . . preshort-chain, long-chain, and full-spectrum.

1. Short-chain” prebiotic's, e.g. oligofructose, contain 2 to 8 links per saccharide molecule and are typically fermented more quickly in the right side of the colon providing nourishment to the friendly bacteria in that area.

2. Longer-chain prebiotic's  e.g. inulin, contain 9 to 64 links per saccharide molecule, and tend to be fermented more slowly, nourishing bacteria predominantly in the left side of the colon.

3. Full spectrum preiotics provide the full range of molecular link-lengths from 2 to 64 links per molecule, and nourish bacteria throughout the colon, e.g. Oligofructose-Enriched Inulin (OEI).

There is evidence to suggest that prebiotics can play a part in reducing irritable bowel symptoms, improve regularity, boost your immune system as well as impart positive changes on many other stomach related problems.

Prebiotic's also helps with calcium absorption into the bones, helping to reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis.

Where do we find prebiotics in food?

Bananas, onions, chicory root, garlic, asparagus, barley, wheat, and leeks.

Where do we find prebiotics in Superfoods?

Baobab Fruit Powder & Coconut Palm Sugar

Amazing Raw Chocolate and Coconut Cheesecake

This amazing recipe was designed and made by my daughter Sophia who is a Raw Food Chef in training. I am the lucky one at the moment as its in my fridge disappearing into happy tummy. Its cake without the cream sin!!!

Ingredients

Nutty Base
1 cup nuts of your choice – e.g. hazelnuts / brazil nuts / almonds
1 cup dates
1 tablespoon melted coconut oil

‘Cheese’ Cake Filling
3 cups raw soaked cashews (soak overnight and drain)
1 cup melted coconut oil
1 cup water or coconut water for extra coconuttyness
1 cup coconut palm sugar
3/4 cup organic nut butter of your choice (we went for hazelnut)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder
5 tablespoon raw cacao powder

Directions
Base: Put the nuts, dates and melted coconut oil in to a blender and wizz until mixture is thick and sticky. Push the mixture in to a cake tin, ensuring it is spread evenly and refrigerate until set.

Filling: Add the cashew nuts, water (or coconut water) and coconut oil in to a blender and mix until smooth. Continue to add agave, vanilla powder, raw cacao powder and nut butter - the mixture should form a consistent and gooey paste. Pour this on top of the nutty base and again refrigerate until set. Yummy!

www.detoxtrading.co.uk

Coffee is not a Super Food

WARNING - Coffee Drinkers Please Don’t Read This

 

Coffee is not a Super Food

Coffee Drinkers Please Don’t Read Thi

Sorry about this post – I used to love Coffee – I was addicted to it and yet giving it up these past 7 years has been one of the best caring for my health decision I have made.

Coffee stimulates the production of adrenaline, one of the hormones secreted by the adrenal glands to help us in extreme emergency situations. Our adrenals evolved to give our early ancestors the extra strength and alertness needed to escape a saber tooth tiger attack, but we don’t often need that much adrenaline these days. Coffee constantly stimulates the production of adrenaline, putting excessive wear and tear on the adrenal glands.

The caffeine in coffee increases the stimulating neurohormone, noradrenaline, and reduces the calming neurotransmitter, serotonin.

 

 

Caffeine does not provide energy – only chemical stimulation. The perceived energy comes from the body’s struggle to adapt to increased blood levels of stress hormones… Using coffee for mood enhancement is a short-term blessing and a long-term curse. While the initial adrenal stimulation may provide a transient anti-fatigue ‘lift,’ caffeine’s ultimate mood effect is a letdown, either subtle or profound.

Coffee is not a food, it is not a drink – it’s a poison. It’s a “mild” drug containing a whole array of toxic substances. In addition to caffeine, coffee contains hundreds of volatile substances including more than 200 acids. These the body must reject by a great expense of energy, which is the strange stimulation perceived as “energy.” “Caffeine is a biological poison used by plants as a pesticide. The caffeine gives seeds and leaves a bitter taste, which discourages their consumption by insects and animals. If predators persist in eating a caffeine-containing plant, the caffeine can cause central nervous system disruptions and even lethal side effects. Most pests soon learn to leave the plant alone.”

Caffeine is a poison for the liver. But caffeine is not the only toxic substance in coffee. “Remember that coffee contains a host of chemicals, not just caffeine, among them a group of extremely toxic compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). You might remember them as the cancer-causing agents isolated from barbecued meat.”

Cherniske explains your body’s “perspective” of this constant state: “Imagine you lived in a country that was always under threat of attack. No matter where you went, there was a perpetual state of alert. Not only that, but your defenses were constantly being depleted and weakened. Does that sound stressful? Caffeine produces the same effect on your body, like fighting a war on multiple fronts at the same time.” Cherniske calls your body’s constant state of alert “caffeinism,” which is characterized by fatigue, anxiety, mood swings, sleep disturbance, irritability and depression.

 

READ: Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske

The caffeine in coffee increases the stimulating neurohormone, noradrenaline, and reduces the calming neurotransmitter, serotonin.

Caffeine does not provide energy – only chemical stimulation. The perceived energy comes from the body’s struggle to adapt to increased blood levels of stress hormones… Using coffee for mood enhancement is a short-term blessing and a long-term curse. While the initial adrenal stimulation may provide a transient anti-fatigue ‘lift,’ caffeine’s ultimate mood effect is a letdown, either subtle or profound.

Coffee is not a food, it is not a drink – it’s a poison. It’s a “mild” drug containing a whole array of toxic substances. In addition to caffeine, coffee contains hundreds of volatile substances including more than 200 acids. These the body must reject by a great expense of energy, which is the strange stimulation perceived as “energy.” “Caffeine is a biological poison used by plants as a pesticide. The caffeine gives seeds and leaves a bitter taste, which discourages their consumption by insects and animals. If predators persist in eating a caffeine-containing plant, the caffeine can cause central nervous system disruptions and even lethal side effects. Most pests soon learn to leave the plant alone.”

Caffeine is a poison for the liver. But caffeine is not the only toxic substance in coffee. “Remember that coffee contains a host of chemicals, not just caffeine, among them a group of extremely toxic compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). You might remember them as the cancer-causing agents isolated from barbecued meat.”

Cherniske explains your body’s “perspective” of this constant state: “Imagine you lived in a country that was always under threat of attack. No matter where you went, there was a perpetual state of alert. Not only that, but your defenses were constantly being depleted and weakened. Does that sound stressful? Caffeine produces the same effect on your body, like fighting a war on multiple fronts at the same time.” Cherniske calls your body’s constant state of alert “caffeinism,” which is characterized by fatigue, anxiety, mood swings, sleep disturbance, irritability and depression.

READ: Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske.

New Blog on Superfoods

I love the world of Super Foods, and being a passionate health freak, keen to share this passion through knowledge and ultimately supplying the wonderful world of foods that enhance and heal. . . I have been dragged and pulled through the Goji Berry bush to get my business of selling superfoods  up into the hip cyber speed by starting this blog, doing the facebook thing and getting active in twitter.

Truth be told I am a bit of a geek and yet the speed of change in this cyber world is hard to keep up with, as a sole trader, running a self fulfilling ethical life within the online world. So I have my 25 year old daughter to manage the twitter/facebook side of things – their elastic brains are much better suited for this game.

About Me

Detox Trading is run by me, Amida Harvey, as a sole trader. I started this business in 2007, because I noted that the superfoods I was recommending to our clients of Sura Detox (Co-run week long fasting business – see below), were very expensive on the web and also some products were difficult to get hold of.

My first product was the humble hemp seeds, which I use to make hemp milk for a morning smoothie & I have expanded my range slowly over the past 6 years. I am committed to sourcing good products & maintaining our Soil Association Certification for organic quality. My personal belief is that I can only sell what I am passionate about, so I’ll try not to sell just anything because it’s says its good on the tin. So when you order, you get me, I source, process orders, pack boxes, ship and I am on the end of the phone for questions.