Cacao long been used as a mood enhancer, currency, love drug and indulgent food. Our affinity to cacao and chocolate can be traced back thousands of years to the Olmec people in central America, the first cacao-loving civilisation. The word cacao is thought to come from the Zoque word ‘kawkaw’.  The Mayans followed in their appreciation and even used cacao as currency. When the Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico and encountered Emperor Montezuma from the Aztecs. According to legend, the emperor would consume up to 50 golden goblets of drinking chocolate a day! He claimed it “builds up resistance, fights fatigue” and can “permit a man to walk for a whole day without food.” The Mayans and Aztecs often mixed ground cacao beans with vanilla, cinnamon and chilli to make a bitter and spicy drink. It was used by Montezuma as sustenance for his soldiers and also in […]

Why is the liver important? The liver’s primary function is detoxification. A healthy liver deals with thousands of toxins each day, including airborne pollutants, caffeine, alcohol, food toxins (additives, preservatives, pesticides), and the chemicals from household and personal care products. The liver’s other functions include: Signs of a sluggish liver What causes liver damage? Ways to boost liver function? Herbs for liver health Herbs can be combined in a herbal formula and taken as a liquid tincture, capsule, tablet or tea. For best results, consult with a qualified herbalist or nutritional therapist. Improve liver function naturally Keeping your liver strong and healthy is key; when your detoxification pathways don’t work efficiently, your whole body will be negatively affected. Improve liver function naturally by limiting your exposure to toxins and increasing your nutrient intake. Eat sulphur-rich foods and avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugar. Support your liver with B vitamins, antioxidants and liver herbs […]

SERVES 4/5 INGREDIENTS:Crumble:150g Plain flour (or spelt or gluten-free) 50g Oats 100g Coconut butter (or vegan margarine)75g Coconut sugar pinch of salt For the fruit filling:4 medium apples150g blackberries1 tablespoon agave nectarPinch of cinnamon METHOD: Wash the fruit. Core the apples and chop into cubes, roughly 2cm. Take a third of the chopped apples and simmer in a little water with the agave nectar and cinnamon.Once they become soft and pulpy and can be lightly mashed with a wooden spoon to form a sauce, add the remaining apples and soften slightly for a couple of minutes.Remove from the heat and stir in the blackberries gently so as not to crush them.Pour the fruit mixture into an ovenproof dish and preheat your oven to 180ºC/350ºF/Gas Mark 4.Meanwhile, rub the coconut oil/ vegan margarine into the flour until it resembles fine breadcrumbs, then stir in the oats and sugar.Sprinkle the crumble topping […]