Chickpeas, aka garbanzo beans, belong to the legume family and are among the most easily digested thanks to their thin shell. You probably know that your beloved hummus (or houmous) is made from chickpeas, but did you know that they were used as an alternative to coffee in the 18th century? They've ...

The kola nut is a seed from a tree of the Sterculiaceae family, with the most prominent species being Cola Vera, Cola acuminata and Cola nitida. This tree is believed to be the first tree on Earth by certain Nigerian tribes. If you feel as though you've never heard of this valuable seed, you may be ...

Basil seeds, also known as 'sabja seeds' or 'sweet basil seeds', come from the well-known basil plant. Originating in India, the many health benefits and uses of these small black seeds has spread across to other countries in Asia. High in vitamins and minerals, they have been used for centuries to ...

Most of you will have done yoga but only a few of you will have turned the intensity up a notch and given Bikram yoga a go. Bikram refers to the founder of the practice 'Bikram Choudhury' a yoga guru from India and involves 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises in a room heated to 42 degrees with ...

Native to the Mediterranean region and one of the most commonly found herbs on the spice rack, Rosemary is probably one of the most popular herbs on the planet. It has a welcoming, homely aroma and provides a lovely, subtle taste to almost any dish. But, did you know that it can also be used to ...

Pilates is a form of exercise that was originally developed in the early 1900's by Joseph Hubertus Pilates (born: 9th December, 1883 in Mönchengladbach, Germany), with the aim of helping the body to gain strength and flexibility. Joseph was a self-defence instructor during World War I, and he ...

Okra, sometimes referred to as ochro, ("ladies' fingers" in the UK and other English-speaking countries , "bhindi" in India etc) is a flowering plant found in warm and balmy climates across the globe. The plant produces long green pods covered in a fine fuzz, these pods contain small edible seeds, ...

For centuries, magnesium has been used to heal health problems through mineral and mud baths, steam therapy and compresses. Today, transdermal use is becoming VERY popular as magnesium is not absorbed as well by your body when taken orally. Magnesium deficiency is widespread due to lifestyle ...

Bitter melon, bitter gourd, karela, caraille, Momordica charantia; whatever you call this prickly-looking fruit, it’s useful to know about what it can do for you. A native to tropical and subtropical climates, it has been utilised for years as a remedy for a variety of ailments. You can use all ...

Used by Hippocrates in ancient Greece and introduced to the UK in the late Bronze Age, Coriander has become one of the bestselling herbs however, while they are regarded as one of the most popular, not many people know what this fantastic herb can really do for them. Curious? Then read on to ...