October 2009 Buzz Newsletter
For our annual celebration of Organic Harvest we have been introducing a few new organic products including some locally produced.
GHEE (Clarified Butter)
Happy Belly Foods' Ghee is made from cultured organic cream from milk produced just a few miles from Sevenoaks by herds at Commonwork Organic Dairy Farm, Bore Place, Kent. These herds feed on clover rich organic pastures almost all year round producing nutrient rich, creamy milk yielding a rich, aromatic golden ghee.
Ghee or clarified butter is a healthy cooking oil as it is a rich source of essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and has antioxidant properties. Its high smoke point means that no damaging free radicals are produced cooking with it. Ghee forms the base of Indian cooking. Ghee can be used for sautéing, stir frying, deep frying, baking, roasting, seasoning or as a topping. As a stable saturated fat, ghee can be stored without spoiling for several months in a cool and dry place.
Ghee is highly revered in the Ayurvedic health tradition as a satvic food that promotes overall good health, vitality and longevity in people of all doshas (constitution). It is described as having a purifying and balancing influence on the body, mind and spirit.
Enjoy our Ghee to add aromatic flavour to your food and health and vitality to your life!
This month we have a great recipe for Split Pea Dhal using Ghee. Ask for a free copy in store when you buy your yellow split peas, on offer this month at 99p for 500g. They are a rich source of protein and can also be used to make a warming pea soup and pease pudding.
We are keen to increase our range of organically produced foods and are NOW selling Infinity's Organic Wheat Free Muesli with Goji berries, 500g £2.29. Try it and let us know what you think.
This month we have Organic Beans on promotion. Please check out the bean shelves and take advantage of our offers on Red Kidney, Haricot and Pinto Beans. Not good choices for sprouting but cooked they make good satisfying salads, soups and stews. We have some free recipes in store for these and other beans, why not take a look and let us have your own favourite vegan bean recipes. Remember cooking them with a piece of seaweed and certain herbs helps to make beans easier to digest.
If you like buying locally make sure you try these products
We are now pleased to offer you a delicious KEFIR and a BUTTERMILK, from the milk produced at Commonwork Organic Dairy Farm, Bore Place. Which is just a few miles away from Sevenoaks. Top class Kefir assists in building a healthy intestinal flora, and can often be tolerated by people with lactose intolerance, please ask for a leaflet.
Another local product is FREE RANGE EGGS from John & Olive Pilfold at Wrotham. These are truly free range chickens and they are fed generous amounts of linseed ensuring higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids. At this time of the year eggs make a quick and easy protein dish for any meal, requiring only simple cooking. If you have never tried these eggs I encourage you to do so, their quality has made them favourites with a number of customers for over 20 years.
As well as doing our best to stock local organic foods, we like to support our local environmental group FRIENDS OF THE EARTH. They have expressed their thanks to us and to you our customers for your generous contribution to their local funds through the collection boxes on our counters.
Remember Cider vinegar and a good quality Olive oil is an easy dressing for bean salads as well as green salads. Water and cider vinegar sipped during meals may also assist digestion.
Apple Slim (containing cider vinegar) is a good choice to boost the metabolism and reduce weight if summer holiday indulgences have caused you to put on a few pounds.
Kuzu (a type of mountain grown arrowroot) is a very useful mineral rich root starch, ideal for thickening sauces. It is tasteless so does not interfere with flavour of a fruit sauce, making it ideal for use on fruit flans and other fruit desserts as well as savoury sauces.
Also on offer this month we have Biona Acerola Cherry Juice, great for adding colour and tang to those harvest jellies and fruit desserts.
We also have a few packets of Chestnut Stuffing, which reach their best before date a bit before Christmas. Try adding some pine nuts cooked rice and tofu for a speedy and delicious nutty bake.
New Megafood Products
We have recently added to our range of Food state and super food supplements some alkalising Organic Greens powders.
Also 4 delicious Hemp protein smoothie mixes. We have these in 30 serving tubs and a one dose trial or travelling sizes for £1.32.
We have also added 4 vegan 'glandular' formulas. Immune Strength, containing Beta Glucan which research has shown to have great benefits for Immune system health. Adrenal Strength, Thyroid Strength & Cardio Strength. Please ask for more information.
Always read the label!
From time to time Nutritional supplements get bad media reports. Unbiased research and reporting is a rarity these days, because with today's sophistication it costs a lot and needs funding. Which usually comes from someone with a strong desire to strengthen their sale or their market image. Beware.
With the increasing awareness of how supplementing your diet may support your health, you can now buy vitamins & minerals almost anywhere - from supermarkets and pharmacies to hundreds of mail order and online retailers. But with so many different options available, it's hard to decide what's right for you and always too easy to choose the cheaper option.
But that age old saying "you get what you pay for" applies to supplements too. Supplements differ so much in their strength and quality. Make sure you choose a supplement that is appropriate for your diet and lifestyle. If possible take professional advice and if not read labels very carefully. We have plenty of books and leaflets explaining the basics of choosing. We know that nutrients in food do not come in isolation but are part of a complex food matrix which is why we recommend food state and food based nutrients. However, sometimes the tablet size, and price are prohibitive. If that is the case we also offer ranges that have been formulated by leading nutrition experts such as Patrick Holford and Marilyn Glenville, where quality and strength have been thought out and have not been compromised for mass sales.
