Category: Healthy Living

Brand Story: Olive Branch

Olive Branch is a Greek company that produce a range of products using classic Greek ingredients with a unique touch. Their olive oil is made on their family farm located in South East Crete. Not only that, they also make chunky olive tapenade, Greek mezze dips and a big range of marinated olives and antipasti.

Olive Branch was founded by Maria Koinaki. Born and raised in Crete, Maria’s family owned olive trees and as a child Maria would help with the annual olive harvest which involved hand picking fresh olives and helping her father take them to the local olive mill.

Growing up surrounded by olives, Maria decided to turn her father’s olive oil into a brand. She knew that everyone used olive oil out of the knowledge that it is good for you, but no one knows why; Maria wanted to change that.

Continue reading Brand Story: Olive Branch

Here’s to a Happy and Healthy New Year

The new year is a time for new beginnings, a great time to start fresh. Over Christmas we all indulge – sometimes we overindulge – but as soon as January comes around it’s time to reset. Personally I have the same goals every new year – to eat healthier and exercise more, and they are the same goals because I’m terrible at sticking to them.

Continue reading Here’s to a Happy and Healthy New Year

MADE SAFE by Natracare

Back in February, Natracare became the first Brand with MADE SAFE™ certified pads, tampons, maternity pads and nursing pads. This is a new certification to show which products are made with ingredients that are safe for you, and when you look at what’s in a regular pad or tampon you realise just why the MADE SAFE™ certification is important. Continue reading MADE SAFE by Natracare

What Should I Put in my NutriBullet?

It’s the start of a New Year, almost a week after we’ve gorged ourselves on roast dinners, cheeseboards, mountains of chocolate, and – for many of us – too many glasses of Prosecco. It’s likely you’ve dusted off that Nutribullet or smoothie maker that’s been in the back of the cupboard since last January, and you’re wondering what exactly should you put in it? Well, this describes me perfectly at least! Continue reading What Should I Put in my NutriBullet?

Baobab – the natural hangover cure?

Packed with energy-boosting essential nutrients, just a couple of teaspoons of our favourite Aduna Baobab superfruit powder in your breakfast smoothie, juice, yoghurt or porridge can help with that Christmas overindulgence. It’s a great source of antioxidants, vitamins & minerals too, great for your skin (New Year’s Eve party anyone?), immune system and general health. Continue reading Baobab – the natural hangover cure?

Summer Smoothie Bowl Recipe by Aduna Baobab

Have you heard about amazing baobab?

Baobab is a 100% natural, nutrient-dense raw wholefood, which is a rich source of vitamin C, calcium, potassium and thiamin. It’s also almost 50% fibre and has one of the highest antioxidant capacities of any fruit in the world! Aduna bring us this fantastic fruit in powder form, easy to add to almost any recipe (and their superleaf moringa is also worth a try; more on that later!)

So why do we need its health benefits? Maintaining a healthy immune system is important because it helps your body defend against infections and illnesses.

  • Thiamin, calcium, vitamin C and B6 contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
  • Vitamin C and B6 contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
  • Thiamin contributes to the normal function of the heart.
  • Potassium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood pressure and muscle function.
  • Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity.
  • Vitamin B6, vitamin C and thiamin contribute to normal psychological function.
  • Vitamin C and calcium contribute to an increase in iron absorption.
  • It’s also high in fibre, which helps you feel fuller for longer.

In spring and summer we love refreshing smoothies for breakfast but sometimes sipping through a straw doesn’t feel quite as satisfying as eating with a spoon. Enjoy the new trend for ‘smoothie bowls’ – and it’s fun to decorate them with toppings too. This simple, summery recipe has just a few ingredients, so it’s quick to make and you can get out and enjoy the summer. With its light, citrus flavour you’ll love the baobab superfruit powder and find yourself adding it to everything.

Ingredients:
2 tsp Aduna Baobab Superfruit powder
1 frozen banana
6 frozen strawberries
1/2 tsp vanilla extract or powder
1/2 cup of your milk of choice
A handful of fresh fruit of your choice: blueberries, strawberries, banana, and 1 tsp of your choice of milk (for topping)

Method:
Combine your milk, vanilla, the baobab powder, frozen strawberries and banana in a blender and process until smooth. Top with your choice of fruit and drizzle with the milk. You can also enjoy this as a traditional smoothie with a straw if you’re on the go. Just be sure to relax and enjoy the health benefits!

Protect yourself with natural sun care

It’s finally reached that time of year in the UK when we all dash outside for a couple of days of sun, optimistically proclaiming that “this is probably all the summer we’ll get”…and the amount of sunburn I see from people who should know better by now amazes me every year!

I’m fair skinned and blonde, and learned many years ago I burn very quickly (10 minutes in the South African sun gave me a glowing pink scalp) even aside from the obvious skin cancer and premature ageing risks to my skin, so a good sunscreen is my best friend! I started looking for a more natural alternative as all ‘mainstream’ suncreams, even the very expensive ones, give me painful heat rash wherever my skin touches – inner elbow, back of the knees etc – even when it’s not that warm. My mother suggested I try a natural suncream after she had the same issues, and we were thrilled to find it worked without any skin irritation!

Natural sun care you’ll love:

We have several great natural, cruelty-free, preservative-free brands here at Natural Collection, so you’re sure to find the suncare to suit you:

For kids:

Don’t forget the travel sizes:
Perfectly sized for the 100ml liquids carry-on restriction if you’re flying, or just handy for keeping in a handbag, Green People travel sizes mean you can be protected wherever you go.

We’d love to hear what your favourite natural suncare is – let us know your favourites and your tips for this summer!