HealthCareTips blog

As it starts to get a little bit colder and darker outside, we love to warm up with an almond milk hot chocolate and something delicious to munch on. Ever since Deliciously Ella launched their Caramel Cups last year, they’ve become a firm favourite with us. Made with three layers: a gooey vegan caramel at the bottom, a thick and creamy cacao ganache (or salted almond butter ganache) and a thin layer of Deliciously Ella vegan chocolate on top, these sit in a bite-sized oaty cup and make what we think is the perfect plant-based indulgence. Free from gluten and dairy, Deliciously Ella Caramel Cups go perfectly with this plant-based Hot Chocolate recipe from the Deliciously Ella app. Serves 1 250ml almond milk 2 tbsp date syrup 2 tsp cacao powder 1 tsp almond butter 1 tsp cinnamon (optional) 1. Place all the ingredients into a saucepan and heat gently. 2. Keep stirring as the hot chocolate heats to ensure all the ingredients mix together and the almond butter doesn’t stick to th...

Image: iStock Looking for natural ways to stave off the winter sniffles this season? We’ve put together a quick and easy guide to supporting your immune system without ever opening the medicine cabinet. And it involves eating garlic and power-napping – what more could you ask for? 1. Olive Leaf Extract You know how health gurus are always going on about the Mediterranean diet? Well, it turns out you can bottle its benefit in the form of olive leaf extract. The not-so-secret ingredient is oleuropein – a polyphenol known for being anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. Studies have shown it acts effectively against a range of microbes, like the ones that cause certain strains of flu. Comvita are such big fans that they’ve packed 20 times as many polyphenols into their olive leaf extract as you’ll find in extra virgin olive oil. Plus, they’ve decided to double-down on the immune support – well, triple-down, actually – with the addition of zinc and copper. 2. Exercise If you’re looki...

Image: iStock From the healthy snacks you love to your favourite supplements, clean beauty buys and more, the annual  healthy  awards – voted for by readers – are your chance to tell us the products you can’t live without. Here are your winners in the Beauty categories… To see your Health & Wellbeing winners click here , and for your Food & Drink winners click here . Best bodycare product WINNER Dr Organic Guava Body Wash Everyone needs a fresh, energising body wash on hand for slow mornings, and with its tropical scent and gentle formula, this was a clear winner for you. Sweet, fruity and distinctive, exotic guava awakens the senses, getting you ready for whatever the day ahead throws your way. Plus, this wash is packed with vitamins and antioxidants, making it a real treat for tired skin. Buy now EDITOR’S CHOICE Urban Veda Soothing Body Wash Like a hug in a bottle, this creamy wash calms skin without disturbing the moisture barrier. Sandalwood and ...

Image: iStock From the healthy snacks you love to your favourite supplements, clean beauty buys and more, the annual healthy awards – voted for by readers – are your chance to tell us the products you can’t live without. Here are your winners in the health and wellbeing categories… To see your Food & Drink winners click here , and for your Beauty winners click here . Brand of the year New Nordic Having witnessed first hand the effectiveness of various herbal remedies in improving people’s quality of life in different cultures around the world, Karl Kristian Bergman Jensen established his brand, New Nordic, back in 1990. Thirty years on, their impressive line of solution-focused herbal products has made them your Brand of the Year 2020. Built on the belief plants have the power to make you look and feel your best, New Nordic’s range of products target a wide range of health and wellbeing concerns. The one-a-day Wonder Legs tablets contain French pine tree bark to support...

Image: iStock From the healthy snacks you love to your favourite supplements, clean beauty buys and more, the annual healthy awards – voted for by readers – are your chance to tell us the products you can’t live without. Here are your winners in the food and drink categories… To see your Health & Wellbeing winners click here , and for your Beauty winners click here . Best confectionery WINNER Nakd Salted Caramel Fruit & Nut Bar Finding a snack that’s delicious yet good for you can be surprisingly tricky, even in health-conscious 2020. So no wonder you adore Nakd’s moreish Salted Caramel bars, made only from natural ingredients. This is your firm favourite, containing dates, raisins, cashews, peanuts, and a smidgeon of sea salt, plus it’s vegan, wheat- and gluten-free. Enjoy with a cuppa, or stash in your bag. Buy now EDITOR’S CHOICE  Ricola Lemon Mint Herbal Sweets These mouthwatering sweets are sugar-free, contain a blend of 13 Swiss herbs, and soothe scra...

Image: Lizzie Mayson We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy the comfort of a creamy, cheesy pasta dish, which is why we love this vegan mac and cheese recipe! The sauce swaps dairy milk for an unsweetened almond substitute mixed with blended cashew nuts , which provide a dose of dietary fibre and heart-healthy fats. Traditional cheese is replaced with a vegan alternative in the recipe, plus a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast for an extra hit of savoury flavour and a plant-based source of vitamin B12 . Topped with crispy breadcrumbs, it’s the ultimate comfort meal for cosy nights in. Serves 4-6 300g macaroni 750ml unsweetened almond milk 50g cashew nuts 40ml olive oil 1 garlic clove 40g flour 100g vegan cheese 3 tbsp nutritional yeast 2 tsp Dijon mustard 50g fresh breadcrumbs 2 tbsp olive oil Salt and black pepper 1 Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the macaroni and cook for 1 minute less than stated on the packet instructions. Drain th...

Image: iStock FACE The colder months can leave even the hardiest of skin sensitive and crying out for moisture.  THE FIX: Support your moisturiser with a gentle balm cleanser – cleansing is an important step that can help maintain the integrity of the skin barrier. ‘Try something with vitamin C , so plant extracts and phenols, which includes essential oils like orange and lemon,’ says aesthetics and dermatology nurse Emma Coleman . They have high detoxifying properties and give pores a deep cleanse. Pair with anti-inflammatories such as amaranth or arnica to relieve puffiness. Dark berries like cranberry and blackcurrant are a good option as they’re rich in antioxidant vitamins C and E.’ TRY: Green People Age Defy+ Ultimate Wonder Balm (£32, 50ml) . Loaded with orange peel, cranberry seed oil and vitamin E, this multi-purpose beauty balm melts away make-up while replenishing skin.  HANDS Gloved or not, hands are likely to be plagued by peeling cuticles and persisten...

Image: iStock Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been around since the 1970s, and it’s the talking therapy you’re most likely to be referred for if you go to the GP with a mental health issue like depression or anxiety . The chances are you know someone who’s been helped by it – perhaps that includes you. While the older, psychoanalytic forms of psychotherapy are rooted in delving into your past, exploring your deepest fears and examining childhood damage, CBT works mainly in the here and now. Rather than taking time to burrow into the deep-seated childhood causes of mental health issues, it addresses the way you think, feel and behave, encouraging you to challenge unhelpful beliefs so you feel more positive and in control, and make different decisions.  ‘Whereas someone could be in psychotherapy in the long-term, CBT can often make a difference quickly, meaning it’s cheap, which is one of the reasons the NHS loves it – after all, it has to offer cost-effective treatments,...

Image: iStock Xylitol, aspartame, sucralose – their names are suited to lifeforms found on Uranus. But sweeteners aren’t as bad as they sound. ‘Often having no or low calories and/or being metabolised significantly slower than sugars, they may help to stabilise blood glucose levels while contributing zilch to energy intake,’ explains Dr Warren Bradley, sports nutrition specialist .  In fact, speak to many health experts and they’ll argue that sugar alternatives are at least part of the antidote for our sugar-ridden culture . Public Health England advises that we should not consume more than 5% of our daily dietary energy from sugar – but we’re currently consuming 12-15%. ‘This is where the use of low-calorie sweeteners comes in,’ suggests Dr Bradley.  GP Dr Dawn Harper says that low- or no-calorie sweeteners can be the simple solution to managing sugar levels while helping to maintain taste. ‘Some of my patients worry that using sweeteners might increase their cravings ...

Image: iStock In the UK, an estimated 4.5 million of us have diabetes , and the vast majority have type 2. Type 1 diabetes, which is less common, occurs when your pancreas can’t produce any insulin – the hormone that helps your cells use the glucose for energy – due to an autoimmune response. It’s most common in childhood, but can develop at any age. There are a range of other types of diabetes, including maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), which is caused by a gene mutation. These types are rare but all can lead to very serious health complications if you don’t manage them.  Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is linked to lifestyle and usually starts in adulthood. In this form, your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or it doesn’t work properly, leaving high levels of glucose in your bloodstream. Worryingly, an estimated 1 million of those with type 2 diabetes don’t realise that they’re affected. It’s possible to have had it for a decade by the time it is diagnosed. U...

Image: Deliciously Ella Inspired by their favourite breakfast bowls from their app, deli and cookbooks, Deliciously Ella have created a delicious range of eight naturally plant-based cereals, ranging from Granola and Muesli to Porridge and Multigrain Flakes. Original Granola is made to the same recipe used at the Deliciously Ella Deli, for you to enjoy at home. It’s all about the perfect crunch! This sweet and crunchy, tasty morning treat combines gluten-free oats with crushed almonds, which are then tossed with cinnamon, orange juice, maple syrup, coconut chips and seeds. Once baked, raisins are stirred through for a touch of natural sweetness, giving the most delicious breakfast that uses only the simplest natural ingredients. Deliciously Ella Bircher Muesli is a most versatile breakfast that you can enjoy both as warming porridge in the winter or as chilled overnight oats in the summer. It’s high in fibre, a source of protein and vegan friendly. It’s made using gluten-free oa...