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Food Allergy and Intolerance Week 23rd – 29th January 2012

Alan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:07:27 +0000

Any of us could be suffering from food intolerance without knowing it, and a good time to find out either way is during the national Food Allergy and Intolerance Week. Foold intolerances and allergies are becoming increasingly more common all the time, but many don’t grasp the difference between intolerance and an allergy.

A proper food allergy affects only 2% of the population, and the symptoms can be both sudden and severe. Food intolerances are much more common and can occur when the IgG antibodies are triggered due to a reaction to a specific food.
Almost any food can cause a reaction but foods eaten most regularly are often the chief culprits – typically, wheat and dairy products, closely followed by other gluten grains, eggs and yeast. Symptoms may be delayed for hours or even days after eating the food, making it very difficult to pinpoint the culprit. Having several intolerances further confounds the situation! But, don’t worry, help is at hand!

The Food Intolerance Tests Kit* is available from Higher Nature

This simple home test kit can test for 40, 60 or 120 foods. We send a complete kit, full instructions, transport box and a pre-paid envelope to send it to the lab. The results will be sent directly to the customer in approximately 10 days.

Possible symptoms of a food intolerance include:

· Anxiety (acute or chronic)
· Attention Deficit Disorder
· Constipation
· Diarrhoea
· Headaches
· Insomnia
· Migraine
· Water retention
· Arthritis
· Fibromyalgia
· Asthma
· Bloating
· Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
· Depression
· Gastritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
· Itchy skin
· Weight control problems
· Hyperactivity disorder
· Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Higher Nature has a team of qualified Nutritionists who can give advice on managing food intolerance.

* Higher Nature intolerance testing is provided by Cambridge Nutritional Sciences, a Corporate Partner of Allergy UK, organisers of Food Allergy and Intolerance Week.

Tony Ferguson Weightloss brand new diet breakfast for the UK

Alan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:13:44 +0000

Tony Ferguson Weightloss brand new diet breakfast for the UK

New to the UK, Tony Ferguson Weightloss Programme brings a range of exciting new products that make losing weight more delicious than ever. Following his huge success in his native Australia, Tony Ferguson in the Antipodean diet guru who has recently launched two brilliant diet cereals on the UK market for 2012, which will be part of his self-titled and internationally famed diet range which has, so far, helped nearly 1m people to lose weight.

Now everybody in the UK can enjoy his new fat busting oat breakfast in the form of the Apricot or Tropical Fruit cereals as part of their healthy weight loss programme. These are delicious both hot and cols, and you can eat yourself towards your weight loss goal simply by adding water and giving yourself a nutritious and tasty start to every day.

Available at Boots.com and stores across the country and priced at just £1.99 these brand new cereals are the latest products to become available in the UK having been developed by Tony Ferguson in Australia where over three quarters of a million people are on his programme.

In addition to the new cereals, Tony Ferguson have also sexed up their shakes introducing the fruity Tropical Shake which contains 21 vitamins and minerals to give you a boost at any time of the day, the Asian Curry Soup which can be easily transformed into an authentic Thai-style curry for a hearty, savoury meal and the Peanut Munch Bar, the perfect on the run snack to keep you going should hunger strike.

The Tony Ferguson Weightloss Programme is 3 stage programme based on sound nutritional science and combines convenient meal replacements with a balanced low GI diet. To accompany the plan, Tony has devised dozens of simple recipes in his cook book - from low GI twists on traditional family favourites to exotic ‘Asian fusion’ dishes.¹

Tony Ferguson, founder of the successful weight loss programme says:

“All of our meal replacement options are great for eating on the go and our tempting new weight loss products help to keep dieting interesting and fun. We recommend combining them with my low GI recipe ideas for an easy and delicious way to lose weight. Variety is essential in any diet programme to help keep you motivated to reach your goals and these new products provide yet more tasty options to keep you going.”

More details about purchasing Tony Ferguson products by clicking here.

Taking Your Food intolerance Out To Eat This Christmas

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:38:52 +0000

So many food intolerance sufferers find the Christmas season tricky; after all ’tis the season to be merry and there isn’t much to be merry about when you are suffering from gut problems, headaches, migraines, skin symptoms, low energy or low mood. Over 70% of those who come to YorkTest for help with their symptoms have been suffering for more than 3 years; food intolerance causes many sufferers anxiety and frustration after visits to their GP’s that focus more on medicating the symptoms rather than looking at the cause. Here are a few tips for those of you (or those who you know) who think you may be suffering, and those of you who feel daunted by the thought of going out to eat Christmas while still maintaining the diet that you know is best for your own wellbeing.

Identify your undetected food intolerances. For many, underlying and undetected food intolerances may be the cause of symptoms such as digestive problems, headaches, skin problems and joint pain. According to the leading charity Allergy UK, 45% of the population suffers from symptoms of food intolerance. You can try and guess which foods are causing your symptoms. However, the average number of different foods, that people with symptoms react to, is six and it is virtually impossible to determine the exact combination of foods that you may be reacting to, based on guesswork alone. Recent survey data has shown that 72% of consumers are unaware that they can test for intolerances by taking a simple home-to-laboratory blood test that is easily accessible and can be ordered from home. Visit www.yorktest.com or call 0800 074 6185; the YorkTest Nutritionist will call you as part of the YorkTest programme and help you manage your way through the Christmas festivities!

Don’t be afraid to ask if your “do” is in a restaurant. Many restaurants are all too willing to adapt menus to suit those with food allergies and food intolerances. If in doubt give the restaurant a call in advance, contact the organisers to let them know and/or check out the menu in advance so that you feel prepared.

Stock up with “Free-From” snacks. Make sure you don’t get caught out with nothing suitable to eat. Have some emergency supplies readily available. I really like 9Bars, these are really healthy nutritious snacks that are wheat, gluten, egg, yeast, dairy and lactose free.

Check the ingredients in alcoholic drinks. Many alcoholic drinks contain ingredients that can contribute to food intolerance symptoms. Check out the labels, particularly with the ‘ready to drink’, cocktails and beers and stick to those that you know don’t contain any of the ingredients that you react to. If in doubt then ask, or avoid.

Don’t panic. When faced with an array of scotch eggs, cheese sarnies, pork pies, vol-au-vent and bread sticks at a Christmas event, rather than being tempted, try and look for something available that you can eat. There may be a bowl of fruit available, some salad on the side, maybe a salsa dip, or some crisps or corn chips that you can eat. If not then reach in your bag for your emergency supplies, relax, enjoy the evening and then later treat yourself to something that you know won’t cause you grief!

Remember the consequences. It’s all too easy, especially after a few drinks, to throw caution to the wind and scoff down whatever is put in front of you. You may have felt a lot better recently on your “Free-From” diet and are prepared to take the risk. STOP and remember that Christmas and New Year really aren’t the best times to be reintroducing foods that you know cause you problems. You want to be at your best over this period – enjoy yourself to the full!

Dr. Gillian Hart is a Scientific Director for YorkTest Laboratories who specialise in food intolerance testing as well as allergy testing which can help those suffering from food intolerance symptoms such as wheat intolerance. Why not try a liver function test? For more information visit YorkTest.com or call 0800 074 6185.

Wild Manuka Honey from New Zealand

admin — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:31:08 +0000

Manuka honey is renowned for its natural antibacterial, antioxidant, healing and immune-boosting properties. The purer the honey, the more potent its health benefits so it’s worth seeking out a genuine, certified organic, raw, unpasteurised manuka honey that is taken directly from the beekeeper’s own hives. The best quality manuka honeys, with proven bioactive properties, can deliver the health benefits (see below) for which manuka honey is renowned.

Pure Source

Wild Honey Organic from New Zealand is one such honey. Its hives are located in the stunning and remote Coromandel Peninsular. This single region, single source is about as pure a manuka source as you can get. The hives are never moved or put into pollinating orchards and the beelines have been left undisturbed since the honey bee was introduced to the Coromandel Peninsular in the mid to late 1800s.

Pure Honey

Wild Honey Organic is extracted warm from the hive, in its naturally raw, unpasteurised state, within hours of its collection. It is then packed fresh to order on site. The entire operation from hive to plate is certified organic.

Unique Bioactivity – explained

All honeys have naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide, an active enzyme introduced to the hive by the bee. Wild Honey Organic also has the special unique antibacterial bioactivity contained in the nectar of the manuka flower which is carried by the bee to the hive. This special bioactivity, known as NON-peroxide (or unique) activity, is a natural compound called methylglyoxal. Only manuka honeys that contain this special methylglyoxal component can trigger the unique bioactivity that consumers are expecting in their manuka purchase. Every batch of Wild Honey Organic has the Methylglyoxal test that confirms the presence of this unique non-peroxide bioactivity.

Winter Wellbeing Benefits

Wild Honey Organic can help your body during times of stress and boost your immune system. It is especially recommended to take the honey at the change of the seasons and throughout the winter to help offset any illness. If you’re feeling under the weather or under stress, two to three teaspoons daily are recommended. To maintain a sense of well-being, a teaspoon a day will suffice. The following health benefits are widely accepted for pure, raw NON-peroxide Manuka honey:

Digestive care
Winter wellbeing
Support for natural healing processes
Support for the immune system
Support in recovery after illness/operations
Oral wellness
Wound care (ulcers, burns, scratches, cuts) when applied topically

‘Nectar from the Gods’

The ancients described pure honey as ‘nectar from the Gods’. A pure, amber manuka honey not only looks and tastes glorious but, because it’s in its raw natural state, it is filled with nature’s own enzymes, pollens, antibacterial secrets and antioxidants.

Wild Honey Organic has a delicious deep, rich and rustic flavour and a raw, granulated texture. Enjoy it on toast, dissolved in warm water with lemon juice, drizzled over fruit, whizzed into smoothies – or straight off a spoon from the jar!

Where to buy

Leading ethical wholefood cooperative, Essential Trading, distributes and sells Wild Honey’s Bioactive Raw Organic Manuka Honey in 5+, 10+ and 15+ strengths. Find it in good health food shops and online at www.ethicallyessential.coop. Prices are £11.25, £13.50 and £15.95 for a 340g jar.

To see more about Wild Honey Organic, visit www.wildhoney.co.nz or www.facebook.com/wildhoneyorganic

Honey’s natural healing and beauty benefits

Go ‘MMMMMMM’ with RYVITA

Alan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:49:10 +0000

Go ‘MMMMMMM’ with RYVITA

There are significant amounts of umami boosting and naturally occurring glutamate in every Ryvita Crispbread, which makes it the perfect base for any of the umami rich foods that include cured hams and ripe, strong cheeses. Putting together the correct topping combination can transform your tasty lunch into a gastronomic explosion of umami delights.

Nigel Barden, BBC Radio’s resident food expert, has been commissioned by Ryvita to develop new recipes that will maximise the ‘mmmmmm’ factor synonymous with Ryvita. With umami being the key ingredient to any well-balanced savoury recipe, taking a Dark Rye Ryvita Crispbread and topping it with acidic gherkins, peppery rocket and umami-rich mackerel, means that you get the maximum dose of delicious tastiness.

Nigel comments, “I hadn’t realised how easy it is to bring Umami into every day eating – give my topping a try with Dark Rye, Pumpkin Seeds & Oats or Fruit Crunch Ryvita Crispbreads, for the ultimate ‘mmmm’ experience. This recipe combines some of my favourite foods that are delicious on a Ryvita crispbread.”

Nigel’s Umami Ryvita

On the Dark Rye Ryvita Crispbread goes:

A thin layer of cream cheese

Thin slices of dill pickled cucumber (sliced gherkin is a tasty alternative)

Peppered mackerel

Garnish with torn rocket

Nigel comments: ‘Dark brown in colour with a pleasant crisp snap that heralds a delicately toasted rye mouthful, the Dark Rye Ryvita Crispbread is pleasantly moist. This is a straightforward uncomplicated taste, which can work with the simplest to the fanciest of toppings. The combination of Umami-rich mackerel, pickled cucumber and rocket really give this Ryvita a true taste explosion.’

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The Salt World is shaken up by The Garlic Farm

Alan — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:46:21 +0000

Garlic Seasoning Range offers both a tasty and healthy alternative to other salts

garliceSalt is one of the most common and simplest forms of enhancing the flavour of foods, whether it be fish and chips, a leg of lamb on Sunday or to liven up your scrambled eggs. The problem is that we keep being told that salt is bad for us, and with this is mind the Garlic Farm have revealed a new and exciting range of seasonings that are better for you than common salt, and which also, obviously, feature garlic.

The new seasoning range from the Garlic Farm contains reduced sodium salts in such products as Sea Salt with Garlic, Sea Salt with Garlic and Tuscan Herbs and Sea Salt and Garlic and Black Pepper. The low sodium salts in these products have 66.7% less sodium than your common rock or sea salts.

While a reduction is sodium can often result is a loss of flavour in the salt, the Garlic Farm is proud of the fact that it retains the distinctive salty flavour that we all love. When you combine this salt with garlic, herbs and black pepper, it creates a unique and delicious taste sensation that works well with a whole range of dishes.

Usually, when such a large quantity of sodium is removed, salt needs to be reduced to granular form. However, by replacing some of the sodium with potassium chloride, The Garlic Farm’s salt is kept in crystal form, making it something a little special. The salt has been purposefully developed to be used in a salt mill and the packaging features an integrated grinder,so it can be used straight away.

Tom Honeyman-Brown, Farm Manager at The Garlic Farm said: “Both garlic and salt are true institutions in the culinary world. We’re constantly trying to create new and tasty ways of enjoying garlic, which is why we’re so excited by our Garlic Salt Range. Hopefully our customers will be as pleased with the results as we are.”

Try it:

- on boiled potatoes

- on roast chicken

- in soups & casseroles

- in spaghetti bolognese

… or anything else that tickles your fancy!

The Garlic Farm’s seasoning range is available from

www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk for £3.95 each.

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