Small scale producer, West Sussex, England, by car.

The lovely Claire at Flaxfarm in West Sussex cold presses arguably the worlds best flax oil. This oil has so many health benefits we donʼt have the space to list... The very best in linseed oil: exceptional quality, a sweet and mild flavour. Delicious. Fresh, raw, unprocessed, straight from the farm.
This incredible stuff is the reason for our founders Lisa and Ellieʼs energy ...and get-up and go! SUPER isnʼt the word! Ground Linseed Meal is an amazing way to get the all-important andand often lacking Omega-3 into the diet, has lots of fibre and is awesome for health and beauty. Omega-3 helps lower cholesterol, correcting blood pressure, mood and mental well being, boosting the immune system. The anti-inflammatory action helps keep joints supple ... eat linseed for shining hair, clear smooth skin, strong nails, helps weight loss, the development of lean muscles and helps burn off excess weight and prevents cravings.... WOW!

www.flaxfarm.co.uk

Organic, Fairtrade, Ecuador, by boat

Many people consider eating chocolate a “guilty pleasure.” But the reputation of chocolate as a junk food should more accurately be attributed to the harmful effects of commercial processing and refining techniques, and the other ingredients commonly added, most notably white sugar. All chocolate is made from the cacao (cocoa) bean, and cacao beans in their natural, unprocessed, unadulterated state are rich in nutrients and beneficial to health.

Why Unprocessed Chocolate is Good for You

-Antioxidants: Cacao has more antioxidant flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas. In fact, it has up to four times the quantity of antioxidants found in green tea. Health benefits of these antioxidants include:
-Promote cardiovascular health - Help dilate bloods vessels, reduce blood clotting, improve circulation, help regulate heartbeat and blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
- Protect from environmental and metabolic toxins - Help repair and resist damage caused by free radicals, and may reduce risk of certain cancers.

-Neurotransmitters: By increasing the levels of specific neurotransmitters in our brains, cacao promotes positive outlook, facilitates rejuvenation and simply helps us feel good.
- Serotonin - Cacao raises the level of serotonin in the brain; thus acts as an anti-depressant, helps reduce PMS systems, and promotes a sense of well-being.
-Endorphins - Cacao stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar to the “runnerʼs high” a jogger feels after running several miles.
-Phenylethylamine - Found in chocolate, phenylethylamine is also created within the brain and released when we are in love. Acts as mild mood elevator and anti-depressant, and helps increase focus and alertness.
-Anandamide - Anandamide is known as the “bliss chemical” because it is released by the brain when we are feeling great. Cacao contains both N-acylethanolamines, believed to temporarily increase the levels of anandamide in the brain, and enzyme inhibitors that slow its breakdown. Promotes relaxation, and helps us feel good longer.
-Essential Minerals: Cacao beans are rich in a number of essential minerals, including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese.
-Magnesium - Cacao seems to be the #1 source of magnesium of any food. Magnesium balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, and helps regulate heartbeat and blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency is linked with PMT, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and joint problems.
-Sulfur - Cacao is high in the beauty mineral sulfur. Sulfur builds strong nails and hair, promotes beautiful skin,
detoxifies the liver, and supports healthy pancreas functioning.
-Essential fats: There is a misperception that chocolate is fattening. In truth, the fats in cocoa butter are healthy fats.
Cacao contains oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, also found in olive oil, that may raise good cholesterol.
Also, substances found in cacao are known to help reduce appetite.

Text credit: www.livesuperfoods.com

Organic, Fairtrade, Philippines, by boat

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc. Coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.

Text credit: www.organicfacts.net

Dorset, England, by lorry.

ʻGood oilʼ cold press our hemp seed oil on Collabear Farm, in North Devon. Hemp is a super crop that has super health benefits. It is packed full of Omega 3 and 6, plus GLA which has rejuvenating properties, increasing cell resilience and moistening the fatty layer beneath the skin. This can help deliver a multitude of beautifying benefits such as radiant skin and healthy hair. Hemp is also hugely beneficial to the environment.
* Higher content of Omega 3, 6, and 9 than any other oil
* Half the saturated fat of olive oil
* Contains ZERO trans-fats
* 10ml of Good Oil contains as much GLA as 6 Evening Primrose capsules
* Effective in treating many health problems such as cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis...
* Contributes to the health of hair and skin, and helps cholesterol, immune system and joints...
www.goodoil.co.uk

Organic, England, by lorry.

We make our own milk from filtered water and 100% English organic porridge oats. Oat milk acts as a magic natural preservative in our foods - handy when thereʼs a lack of sugar and not much salt. Also high in fibre, lowers cholesterol and contains vitamin E, folic acid, and other trace elements and minerals. Oats are rich in phytochemicals, naturally occurring chemicals in plants that help fight diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke. So, yes, you can ʻmilkʼ an oat. Sounds strange. But itʼs true.

Age old, raw, Himalayan mountains, Fairtrade, by boat.

“Himalayan pink crystal salt originates from the primal seas of millions of years ago, where life began. Dried by the sun at a time where pollution did not exist, Himalayan pink salt is totally pure and contains every mineral and trace element found in the human body.

Despite what we have been led to believe, salt is equally as important to the human body as water. As long as you are drinking enough water, salt is absolutely essential for the body to generate hydroelectric energy, maintain good blood chemistry, balance the correct amount of water in our blood and cells, aid digestion and allow our nervous system and muscles to function normally. Without salt you would not be able to think nor act. Obviously, we are not talking about refined table salt which is a toxic substance.

The mineral particles in pink salt are totally natural and so tiny that they are easily metabolised for the bio-chemical functioning of human cells. Because of this, Himalayan pink salt is one of natureʼs most effective natural balancers. The best way to experience the profound cleansing properties of salt is to drink sole (solay). Sole is a 1% water/salt solution (the same as our blood, tears and the ocean). In addition pink salt can also be sprinkled over food or directly added to water to aid rehydration.
Pink crystal salt helps to restore and balance the bodies energy, rebalance acid-alkaline levels, dissolve and releases crystallised deposits, helps breakdown heavy metals such as meveryday pollution.”

Text credit: www.detoxyourworld.com

Organic, Fairtrade, Mananara, by boat.

Straight from the Steenburgs website: www.steenbergs.co.uk

“Mananara vanilla was featured in The Daily Telegraph magazine by Rose Prince - a true fan of this producer. Vanilla is one of the truly awesome spices. It has real history (not always good), a really complex flavour and there can be no substitute. Also, like all great things, it really is a case of letting these organic vanilla beans grow slowly in their own time; rushing the process and getting the vanilla beans cured too early just gives you a drab vanilla. Mananara was brought to our attention by Rose Prince, who has visited these organic vanilla farmers in the Mananara-North Biosphere, which is a Slow Food Presidia project, as well as being organic under EC and USDA NOP, and certified Fairtrade by FLO Max Havelaar (we are still getting our product certified by The Fairtrade Foundation). In the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Mananara-North in the extreme northeast of Madagascar, organic vanilla growers still use basic methods on small plots of 20 to 40 vines. The region can only be reached by car 3 - 4 months of the year, as the rainy season makes the road impassable. In Mananara, the organic vanilla blossoms are pollinated by hand using a fine stick or spine. After pollination, the flowers form seeds pods that look a bit like green beans. To cure the organic vanilla, these fresh green
pods are blanched in hot water, then covered and kept in a warm location for 2 - 3 weeks. Afterwards, the pods turn soft and black, acquiring an intense aroma. The Mananaran producers wrap the blanched beans in woollen blankets, storing the packets on elevated floors in their houses to keep them warm and dry. During this period, the organic vanilla beans sweat extra moisture and enzymes in the pods free up the vanillin. During this curing and fermentation phase, the women of Mananara rub each organic vanilla bean daily with their fingers, cleaning them and rendering them supple and smooth. The result of this Slow Food process is a sultry, intensely rich aroma, creating a depth of organic vanilla flavours."

Organic, England, Lorry.

Rare breed heritage varieties of wheat and spelt. All our flour is milled from unique organic cereals grown exclusively on Gilchesters Organic Farm. They only mill what they grow themselves, guaranteeing the traceability of their grain. The cereals are stone ground at a 250-year-old local (off grid!) watermill, the oldest registered traditional organic mill in the North of England. This ensures our flour is of the highest nutritional value from a completely sustainable energy source. Low GI. Full of fibre.

www.gilchesters.com/about.htm