Thai Curried Hokkaido Soup with Kale

We enjoy many various recipes for pumpkin (winter squash) soup,; but this is by far our favorite.

Serving Size: 4

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 medium onion or shallot
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, de-seded and chopped
• 2 tablespoons ginger, grated
• 1 stalk lemmon grass, chopped or 1 teaspoon powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 3 tablespoons vegan red curry paste
• 1 15 ounce can puree winter squash or pumpkin (Hokkaido, butternut), or 1 (14 oz.) can, rinsed and drained, or 3½ cups peeled,
• cubed, steamed and pureed
• 1 can coconut milk, not sweetened
• 2 cups vegetable bouillon
• 1-2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 cup kale, cleaned, de-stemed and chopped
• coriander and coconut pieces as garnish

Directions:

1. To make the pumpkin puree:
   1. Peel and cut into cubes the Hokkaido squash.
   2. Add 1½ cups water and bring to a boil
   3. Cook the squash until soft, drain off any extra water then puree.
2. Meanwhile, in a small frying pan, sauté the chopped red bell pepper and the onions.
3. Add ½ of the sautéed pepper and onions to the pumpkin and also puree. Reserve ½ to add to the soup later.
4. Add the vegetable bouillon.
5. Add the grated ginger, garlic, turmeric, curry paste and lemon grass and stir well.
6. Add the coconut milk and season with a pinch of salt.
7. Bring the heat to low and continue to warm the soup and blend flavors.
8. Shortly before serving add the prepared kale and the rest of the red bell pepper and onions.
9. Add a few coriander leaves and 2 tablespoons of lime juice.
10. Season to taste with additional salt, curry, or a few drops of chili sauce.
11. Garnish with a few of the red bell pepper pieces, some coriander leaves and or some coconut chips.

Related Posts:

• Thai Curried TVP Pieces with Asparagus and Peas
• Review: Curried Pumpkin and Chickpea Burgers
• Vegan Pea and Kale Patties
• Pasta with Kale and White Beans
• Salsify with Pearl Barley, Kale and Spicy Tofu Pieces

from Vegalicious https://ift.tt/2FARPZZ
via Why You Should Consider Buying Organic Food

Kombucha Health Benefits

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha tea (historically known as Manchuria) originated in Northeast China around 220 B.C. where it became known amongst local cultures as having medicinal purposes. Fast forward to the 90s in Europe and kombucha had made its way into the health foods market as a source of probiotics and aid to improving gut health. Raw kombucha was even suggested as a general immune booster among avid consumers and the fermented tea continued to grow in popularity. 

What are the ingredients in Kombucha?

There are a few simple ingredients in most kombucha drinks; tea leaves, sugar and a culture, which is called a SCOBY and stands for Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria and Yeast. The idea of drinking bacteria and yeast may not sound appealing, which leads to the question - what does kombucha taste like?

We liken the taste to a fizzy juice with a balance of tart and sweet, but we recommend experiencing some of the unique flavours for yourself. Considering the sparkling taste of kombucha, this fermented tea can make a great alternative to traditional fizzy drinks.

So is Kombucha sugar free?

Sugar is essential in kombucha tea recipes for the bacteria and yeasts to grow. Sugar is what the bacteria like to eat, so most of it is consumed during the fermentation process. The amount of sugar that remains in the finished drink just depends on how long it’s been fermented for: a longer fermentation time ensures the bacteria has more time to eat the sugar, which means less sugar in the resulting drink. The byproduct of this whole process is carbon dioxide - that’s where the kombucha drink fizz comes from.

What are kombucha benefits?

It’s what is in kombucha tea that makes this drink so unique. The cultures present within the tea, feed on the sugar, tannins, polyphenols and nitrogen and together they convert all of these things into vitamins, antioxidants, beneficial yeast and bacteria, which increases. kombucha health benefits.
 

What is (in) Kombucha tea.

You’ve probably heard of antioxidants before, as they are present in many products to minimise aging. A major benefit of organic kombucha is that it is a natural source of antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body against damage from free radicals, so consuming a diet rich in antioxidants helps to play an important role in keeping our bodies vibrant and healthy. Once again, we can thank the fermentation time needed to brew kombucha tea, as this increases the levels of antioxidants found inside the drink. Interested in other sources of antioxidants? We’ve got more Organic Antioxidant products here.

Is kombucha a probiotic?

The good bacteria found inside kombucha tea is what makes this drink a source of probiotics. Probiotics help to maintain a healthy balanced gut, so kombucha probiotic helps to maintain digestive wellbeing and rebalancing your gut flora. We actually shared a blog all about gut health here if you want to read a little deeper. 

Other kombucha health facts is that it contains vitamins and minerals that are produced when the yeast breaks down the sugars. Modern lives are often busy and stressful, so it’s not always easy to get all of our essential nutrients just from the foods we eat. Store bought kombucha and homemade brews can offer an extra boost of beneficial nutrients, although kombucha tea alone does not contain enough vitamins and minerals to support the whole body’s needs. If you’re concerned you’re not getting enough vitamins and minerals in your nutrition, we offer a range of natural Vitamins and Minerals to help meet the daily requirements. 

When should I drink kombucha?

You can drink kombucha tea at whatever time you feel like, but ideally, we recommend the early mornings to late afternoons - remembering tea leaves contain caffeine. Raw kombucha that's prepared using tea leaves will contain around 30% of the original caffeine content - small in percentage, but it may still interrupt sleep if consumed late in the evening. We also like to recommend the earlier hours during the day so that you can get an enjoyable boost of energy and provide your gut with some support for digestion.

Organic kombucha tea has a considerable mix of potential health benefits and with the growing research surrounding the importance of gut health and specifically kombucha gut health; kombucha will be at the top of all of our grocery lists this week. Want to experience kombucha for yourself? Try one of our kombucha teas today to discover the range of tastes and flavours - available in-store and online. 


 

Discover Kombucha at Planet Organic

 
 

 

 

 

from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/2GIgNHv
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods

Kombucha Drinks

You’ve probably seen someone drinking kombucha, it’s basically a fermented tea –tea leaves, sugar and a culture, which is called a SCOBY and stands for Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria and Yeast.

The cultures present in kombucha tea feed on the sugar and the tannins, polyphenols and nitrogen within the kombucha drink and together they convert all of these things into vitamins, antioxidants, beneficial yeast and bacteria.

Why is Kombucha good for you?

The natural fermentation process that occurs when kombucha tea is made, significantly increases the kombucha health benefits for the gut. The scientific knowledge concerning the importance of gut microbiome highlights the various positive impacts of kombucha not only for digestion, but for wider health. This fermentation process provides vast variations in strains of kombucha bacteria and it’s the good type of bacteria that promotes gut health. Good bacterias can also be found in other types of naturally fermented foods such as organic yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut and pickles. If you’re not a fan of fermented foods, you can still fit good bacterias into your daily nutrition by supplementing them instead, and if you’re interested in the benefits of gut health, we put together a blog so you can learn more about keeping your gut bacteria in balance.

Now that you know what kombucha is made of, you may wonder, is store-bought kombucha as good as homemade? Exactly like home-brewed kombucha; we also stock raw, unpasteurised and unfiltered kombuchas that have all of the bacteria and yeast intact. Brewing your own kombucha takes time and patience; 7 to 30 days of patience depending on the recipe you follow. Our simple organic kombucha recipe is a 7-day brew, but if you don’t fancy waiting, we’ve got a selection of kombucha drinks available online and in store.

Green tea kombucha is a popular choice, with many of our brands using a blend of green and black tea. Green tea leaves are renowned for being extremely high in antioxidants which gives the green kombucha tea nutrition some added value. This doesn’t mean to say that the kombucha health benefits are lost in other kombucha tea tastes or flavours. The taste of green tea kombucha is considered softer than other flavours you see on the market, but of course, even the green tea leaves have different strengths and aromas.

Kombucha can be made in such a vast scope of flavours because once the tea has fermented - juices, herbs and spices can all be added to create unique flavour combinations. You’ll often see new flavour profiles introduced to the kombucha tea market, but some personal favourites of ours include – ginger, turmeric and elderflower.

Kombucha tea tastes differentiate widely and we think it’s a matter of trying a few different brands and flavours until you find your own personal favourite. If you’re wondering where to buy kombucha in the UK, our kombucha range is definitely a great place to start. You can buy our kombucha online and we have a dynamic range to pick from. We also always make sure to select natural and authentic kombuchas from reputable sources, so you can get the most out of the kombucha tea nutrition. If you haven’t already heard of the health benefits of kombucha tea then head over to our blog here to find out more.
 

Shop Kombucha at Planet Organic

 

 

 

 

from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/33QnY9b
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods

Collagen For Skin

Collagen For Skin

We’ve talked about collagen before and the role it plays in the human body to support bones, teeth, skin, nails and ligaments. The most abundant protein in the human body, collagen is essential to our health. Collagen products are on the increase and collagen beauty can be found everywhere in modern skincare. That’s because the benefits of collagen for our skin are plentiful, as collagen and elastin (another protein found inside the body) are in charge of keeping fine lines and wrinkles at bay.

Our body’s natural collagen production levels decrease as we age and the collagen we do produce when we get older is of a lesser quality. To combat this drop in production and to keep our skin looking youthful and radiant, we can supplement collagen with collagen powders, collagen creams and other forms of collagen products for the skin.

Collagen Benefits For The Skin

Consider collagen the building blocks of your skin’s health - without it our skin would age at a rapid speed. As our natural collagen production decreases, our skin becomes more susceptible to sagging, wrinkling and loss of firmness. Studies have shown that taking collagen for the skin increases the collagen levels within our bodies and can thereby improve wrinkle depth and skin elasticity. People who supplement collagen or use collagen skin care, also report a general improvement in youthfulness and radiance in their skin's health. Studies are leaning towards marine collagen supplements as having the most beneficial impact on our skin health. Collagen derived from fish contains smaller pieces of peptides (protein pieces), making the collagen nearly twice as easy to be digested and absorbed throughout the body.

Collagen Supplements For Skin

You can supplement collagen for your skin through the use of collagen powders, collagen tablets, collagen oils and even collagen coffees. The possibilities are wide and varied, so we recommend finding the best collagen supplement for your skin through some trial and testing.

We touched on the benefits of marine collagen for the skin, so it’s at the top of our list as a forerunner in collagen skincare.


 

 

Vital Proteins Marine Collagen is our marine collagen of choice. Made from the scales of fresh, non-GM, wild-caught white fish - this is an ethically produced collagen product that we love. The taste is neutral, so this collagen protein is perfect for mixing into any smoothie, soup, or drink recipe of your choice.



 

 

You & Oil 100% Collagen is the perfect way to fit collagen oil benefits into your skincare routine. This collagen face serum contains red algae extract which is known for its ultra-moisturising and skin protective properties. All you need to do is add a drop of this collagen oil into your favourite daily moisturiser and use as required. This is a plant based collagen so any vegetarians or vegans interested in collagen beauty can enjoy this vegan collagen source freely.



 

 

CHOBS Collagen Sheet Mask is another vegan collagen made using a blend of organic collagen extract, organic rosemary leaf and organic chamomile water. These special ingredients all work together to bring your skin's elasticity and plumpness back to life. Created in Korea, the country renowned for its advancements in skin and beauty science, this facemask is a great choice in collagen skincare. Suitable for all skin types and an excellent aid for dry skin. Taking collagen for skin is a great way to uplevel your skincare routine and help improve your skin's appearance. We provide a range of the best collagen supplements for you to choose from so you can be sure to find the best collagen for both you and your skin.

 

Shop all Collagen Skincare Products at Planet Organic

from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/310ajdE
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods

What is Collagen?

What is Collagen?
 

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body - a major component in the structures of skin, teeth, bones, nails, ligaments and tendons. The word collagen comes from the Greek word “kolla” which translates to “glue” in English. Quite literally, collagen is the glue that holds these human body parts together.

What are the Benefits of Collagen?

There are 16 types of collagen - four of which hold particularly important roles in human function.

Type 1 Collagen makes up around 90% of the collagen production inside our bodies. It acts as the building blocks for skin, bones, tendons, connective tissue and teeth.
Type 2 Collagen is found in cartilage and it provides support for our joints.
Type 3 Collagen supports the structure of organs, muscles and arteries.
Type 4 Collagen helps keep our skin youthful and healthy.

Many beauty brands market their collagen products by highlighting the benefits of collagen and the importance of what collagen does for our skin. Marine collagen in particular, has been hailed for its reparation in skin elasticity and hydration, with users supplementing this protein reporting a decrease in fine lines and wrinkles.

As we get older our collagen production starts to drop. Not only does the amount of collagen being produced decline, the quality of the collagen protein decreases as well. Luckily we can support the production of collagen through our choice of nutrition and supplementation. Generally speaking, a balanced diet rich in vitamins, nutrients and minerals is a great way to keep our collagen production perpetuated.
 

Collagen Supplements

We believe the best collagen supplements are the supplements that fit easily into your daily routine. Collagen tablets, collagen powders and collagen oils are some of the few ways you can supplement this protein and it’s a matter of choosing which you are most likely to use. We’re taking a closer look at three of our favourites below to help you weigh up the options.

 

 

 Vital Proteins Marine Collagen is made from the scales of fresh, non-GM, wild-caught white fish. The taste is completely neutral and it’s soluble in water, so this collagen protein is perfect for mixing into smoothies, soup s and drinks.
 

 

Planet Paleo’s Keto Collagen Coffee mixes organic coffee with healthy MCT fats and clean protein from pasture raised cows. This is a great option for anyone following a ketogenic lifestyle who wants to enjoy the benefits of collagen, without altering ketosis. Even if you don’t follow keto, this collagen keto coffee will give you an energy boost to power you through the day. If you’re a regular coffee drinker, this makes fitting collagen into your routine easy.
 

 

You & Oil 100% Collagen is an easy addition to your skincare routine; simply add a drop to your daily moisturiser. This collagen face serum contains red algae extract, known for its ultra-moisturising and skin protective properties.
 

Plant-Based Collagen

Most collagens are made from marine or grass-fed animals, but there are also vegan collagen sources, which come from beans, nuts, seeds and soy.

We provide a range of vegan collagen supplements to help boost collagen production. Sunwarrior Plant Based Collagen contains strengthening and supporting nutrients such as vitamin C, trace minerals, leafy greens, silica, and biotin. There are also hydrating compounds such as hyaluronic acid and tremella mushroom extract to help attract and retain skin moisture. Soluble in water and neutral in taste, this vegan collagen powder can be added to any of your favourite drinks and shakes, or if you want some added taste, we also stock this collagen vegan substitute in vanilla and chocolate fudge flavours.

 

 

If you are interested in vegan collagen for skin , CHOBS Collagen Sheet Mask is a blend of organic collagen extract, organic rosemary leaf and organic chamomile water - all working together to bring your skin's elasticity and plumpness to life. Collagen beauty couldn’t be simpler with this easy-to-use face mask, created in Korea, a country renowned for its advancements in the science of skin and beauty. CHOBS Collagen Sheet Mask is suitable for all skin types and it’s possible to be kept in the fridge, if you want to create a cooling sensation for the skin during use. Check out our full collagen range at Planet Organic to find the collagen supplement perfect to fit your lifestyle. 

 

from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/33NT3KG
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods

What is a Keto Diet?

What is a Keto Diet?

Keto meaning ketogenic, is a low carbohydrate, high fat and moderate protein diet that has been compared to the Atkins diet.

If you consume a high carbohydrate diet, your digestive system breaks down the carbohydrates into glucose. This glucose is absorbed into your bloodstream. As your blood glucose level rises, your pancreas releases the hormone insulin into the blood. Insulin is needed to transport glucose from your blood into your body’s cells, to be used as an energy source. On a high carbohydrate diet, glucose will be used as your body’s primary fuel source. If you consume a low carbohydrate diet, such as the keto diet, your body will burn fat for energy instead. The term keto or ketogenic, is derived from this process - known as ketosis.

If you eat high-fat food your digestive system will break down the fat into fatty acids. These fatty acids are then absorbed into the bloodstream and straight into your cells. This means they do not require insulin to enter your body's cells, as glucose does. Fatty acids can also be transported to the liver where they are converted into ketones - the essential fuel our brain cells need. Keto diets can help to reduce blood sugar (glucose) and insulin levels.
 

What’s a keto diet?

There are many variations of the ketogenic diet, although only the standard and high-protein ketogenic diets have been validated with substantial research. A standard or high-protein keto plan would use these macro percentages:

Standard ketogenic diet: 75% fat, 20% protein and 5% carbs.
High-protein ketogenic diet: 60% fat, 35% protein and 5% carbs.

What can you eat on a keto diet?

What to eat on a keto diet depends on your individual taste and preferences. A keto diet will require more planning, especially if you’re vegan or vegetarian. Our keto-friendly food range keeps growing - we now stock over 180 keto-specific products including ketchup, doughnuts and bagels - so you won’t miss out on your favourite meals or snacks. Looking for some inspiration? Try our keto bagel recipe or read our keto must-haves.

How does the keto diet work?

If you eat less than 50 grams of carbohydrates each day, it should take around 2-5 days to enter ketosis. You are in ketosis when your blood ketone range is between 0.5–3.0 mmol/L, which you can test via a finger pinprick test. You can also find out if you’re in ketosis with a breath analyser or urine strip. You may also be able to tell you’re in ketosis due to a number of changes in your body, including increased focus and energy, weight loss and a reduced appetite. You may also experience fruity breath due to increased ketone production.

Is keto healthy and does keto work?

There are a number of potential benefits of the keto diet. Keto may work well for you in the short term or in the long term, depending on your objectives. Eating high fat and low carbohydrate food may help protect against cardiovascular disease, as your insulin and blood glucose (sugar) levels will be reduced. A keto diet may also increase ketone production (essential fuel for our brain cells) and increase fat breakdown, leading to weight loss. Fatty acids in high-fat food don’t need insulin to enter our body’s cells, so this kind of food source or supplement can provide an instant energy boost, for example, a MCT oil. MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil is great if you want to enhance your morning coffee, or your pre-workout drink. MCT is medium-length chains of fats named triglycerides. As they’re shorter in length, they’re easily digested and processed by your body.
 

Other keto supplements

Keto supplements will help you reach your nutritional objectives easily, especially if you’re vegan or vegetarian.

Keto protein powders such as Sunwarrior Clean Keto Chocolate will help you increase your protein intake, while Lipolife Liposomal Algae Omega V3 SF is a plant-based alternative to fish oil, providing both EPA and DHA omega 3. Following a Vegan or Vegetarian Keto Diet Keto vegetarian meals Vegetarians will find it easier than vegans to increase protein in their diet. Our favourite sources of vegetarian protein are organic eggs, greek yoghurt and nut butter.

They’re versatile ingredients and can be incorporated into most vegetarian keto meals. Hemp seeds, tofu, tempeh and cottage cheese are also great to include in a keto diet for a vegetarian.

Vegan keto meals

If you’re following a vegan keto diet, you’ll love our exciting range of vegan keto foods. We stock everyday meal essentials such as CauliRice With Broccoli and Better Than Noodles, plus vegan keto breakfast options including Ketogenic – The Keto Rye and Raw Gorilla Keto Friendly Granola Chocolate. Try tempting desserts such as the Cru8 Keto Raw Brownie or the Benjamissimo No Added Sugar Praline Chocolate Bar.

 

Shop our whole keto product range at Planet organic

 

 

 

from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/3iQjm76
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods

Ossa's Bone Broth Recipe

Ossa, who make some of our favourite organic bone broths, share their ramen recipe using chicken bone broth for the ultimate nourishing supper.

 

Bone Broth Ramen Ingredients:

500ml Ossa Chicken Bone Broth
150g of shiitake mushrooms
100g of wakame seaweed
100g of kimchi
1 tablespoon of Ossa ghee
100g of dried egg noodle
1 organic egg, soft-boiled
Pink Himalayan salt to season

Method:
In a saucepan, heat the bone broth and bring to a simmer. Add the noodles and the wakame seaweed once the broth is simmering and cook the noodles to the packet instructions, usually for around 3-6 minutes. Season to taste.

In a frying pan on a medium heat, fry shiitake mushrooms in the ghee until golden brown. Carefully pour the broth and noodles into a bowl, then top with the shitake mushrooms, a spoonful of kimchi and a soft boiled egg cut in half. Serve and enjoy! 

 

Shop Ossa online at Planet Organic

 

 

 

from Planet Organic Blog https://ift.tt/33HAnwd
via How to Save Money When Buying Organic Foods