Jazz Up the way you look at your wellbeing with Dr Funk

Entering 2023 armed with plans to make this your best year yet on the 'health is wealth' front? 

The good news is that help is here! How? With the arrival of Dr Funk a fabulous new range of funky drinks specially designed to make it easier to keep on top of your wellness aspirations. 

Combining sparkling water and a unique blend of refreshing fruit and botanical infusions, including a vitamin twist, Dr Funk's new adult soft drinks range brings a whole new grown-up vibe to any occasion.

Created to deliver a satisfyingly sophisticated thirst-quenching solution, Dr Funk's sugar-free drinks enable you to tick off three essential steps to a healthier you – the need to consume more water, reduce your sugar intake and cut your calories. 

And at the same time as ensuring your body has a better balance of vitamins and minerals to boost immunity, increase vitality and generally promote improved wellbeing. Plus, this is matched with a delicious and revitalising taste, just the right amount of bubbles and a choice of appetising flavour combinations to please the most discerning of palates. Making it super simple to stick to any plans to take better care of yourself!

Dr Funk's provides an original alternative to bland seltzers, with the extra benefits associated with up to seven added vitamins and minerals. Dr Funk is the ultimate go-to everyday drink not only for the health-conscious but also for anyone who is seeking a sublime alcohol-free drink substitute during Dry January and beyond, so ideal for those choosing to adopt a more mindful approach to drinking.

Currently available in two flavours, the Lemon & Elderflower (Immune Edition) and Violet & Mango (Vital Edition) flavours, Dr Funk tackles the frequently cited health targets of improving your immune system and kickstarting the efficient functioning of your body's vital systems, to get you feeling great in 2023.

DR FUNK Immune Edition

Filled with zingy lemon & fresh floral elderflower with added Zinc and vitamins C, D3, B6, B12, Niacin and Biotin, Dr Funk Immune Edition has been specially created to boost your body's natural defences. Mixed with gently sparkling, natural spring water for a beautifully refreshing drink.

• Zero sugar

• Zero calories

• Suitable for vegetarians and vegans

DR FUNK Vital Edition

Includes tropical mango and sweet violet with added Magnesium and vitamins D3 (the sunshine vitamin), B6, B12, Niacin and Biotin, Dr Funk Vital Edition is designed to increase balance and overall wellbeing. Mixed with gently sparkling, natural spring water for a truly invigorating drink.

• Zero sugar

• Zero calories

Dr Funk gently sparkling water contains no artificial flavourings or colourants, zero sugar and no added preservatives. Available in a pack of six x 330ml recyclable cans, rrp £9.99. Buy online at www.drfunk.co.uk or from a growing number of independent retailers, or via Amazon.

*As someone who is diabetic sugar free drinks are always a welcome addition to what is available to drink.)

Bio -Synergy Immune booster

Bio -Synergy Immune booster is a wonderful product from the Bio-Synergy company.

All you need do is take three capsules a day with a drink of water.

Why should you take them? Because it's the cold and flu season and everyone needs to make sure that they are capable of working at maximum efficiency. They are high strength and contain a special immune stimulating blend of nifty and highly useful antiviral botanicals, plus some Zinc and Vitamin C.

What's in them? Elderberry, echinacea purpurea root, liquorice root, astragalus root, HPMC (vegan capsule shell) ascorbic acid, zinc oxide and magnesium stearate. 

And with a nod toward Veganuary this product is guaranteed to be suitable for vegans. Which my wife was, obviously, very pleased with.

There's also a whole host of other products that are available. Just check them out here https://www.bio-synergy.uk/product-category/bio-synergy

Precision Fuel and Hydration

Precision Fuel provides you with Precision fuel (and hydration) precisely when and precisely where you need it.

Their range of fuel makes it easy to get the carbs you require when and where you need it.

The all-natural PF 30 Gel can be used on its own during shorter durations, or combined with other Precision Fuels and Hydration fuelling products or real foods when you are going longer. 

Precision Fuel and Hydration comes in the form of an easy to use gel or in the form of soft chews. Flavours include original and also mint and lemon. (Yum!)

Precision Fuel and Hydration has a very helpful and remarkably simple to use carb calculator that will help you to work out what your carb intake should be https://www.precisionhydration.com/products/pf-30-gel/#thecarbcalculator.

Precision Fuel and Hydration has a very good hydration offering to make sure that you don't get cramps when you are exercising. And believe me, cramps in the leg muscles or feet after exercise are no joke. So, why risk the excruciating agony of cramps if Precision Fuel and Hydration  can help you to prevent it?

https://www.precisionhydration.com.

Lift. Sometimes we do need a Lift

Yes, sometimes everyone needs a Lift. But in this case, it's a very special Lift provided by Lift.

There are Blueberry Burst Lift Fast Acting Glucose Chews. Each chewable tablet contains 3.7g of glucose, and only 15 calories per tablets.

How do you take them? Just chew one to three Lift tablets whenever you feel that you require a properly measured burst of quick acting glucose.

They are guaranteed to be gluten free and, unlike some glucose boost tablets, they do not have any added caffeine.

However, there's also the Lift Glucose Shot which gives you the benefit of a Lift Glucose boost in the form of a clear liquid shot but with a rather tasty Very Berry flavour. Also guaranteed to be caffeine and glucose free. (There's also lemon and lime flavour, too.)

Each bottle contains 15g of pure glucose with 57 calories per bottle. 

To learn more visit them at https://www.liftglucose.com/lift-juice-shots.

They are made by BBI Healthcare and is available on Amazon, Asda, Boots, Tesco, Superdrug, Chemist.co.uk.

Moju Vitamin D Shots

Moju Vitamin D Shots are powered by nature.

They are made using apple and orange (20%) lemon and ginger root (5%) Turmeric root, 2% and Vitamin D3 which is extracted from seaweed which it produces as it absorbs sunlight (0.001%) plus there's Ascorbic Acid as an antioxidant.

Each bottle is 420ml and contains seven shots. They need to be kept in the fridge and must be consumed within seven days.

They can be taken as a straight shot or can be added to water or added to a smoothie. In the opinion of my wife and I they are good as straight shots but do taste even better when mixed with water.

They are great as part of your morning breakfast ritual or are good as an afternoon lift. If you take each shot with a meal this will mean maximum absorption.

Other flavours and types of shot are available.

To learn more or to order visit https://mojudrinks.com/products.

Moju will deliver direct to your address.

Nutrigums

Nutrigums are declared to be "the softer side of nutrition" and we can definitely confirm that!

My wife tested the Premium Series Mind Rescue Bears Gummy Bears that have zero added sugar.

She felt that the pineapple flavour was "obviously natural and tasted nice."

What pleased her more was the fact that the Rescue Bears are guaranteed to be suitable to be suitable for vegetarians and vegans, as she doesn't like the fact that some gummy nutrition products can, sometimes, contain beef gelatine. Which Nutrigums are guaranteed to not contain. 

She is a health professional and felt confident enough in saying that she was sure that the Rescue Bears were really benefiting here.

What's in them? "Green Tea, Taurine, Glycine, Iodine, Chamomile and Lemon Balm with Vitamin B3, B6, B12, Folic Acid and Biotin which all contribute to normal psychological function.  In addition, we have added Vitamin B5 which contributes to our normal mental performance. Fibre & Fruit pectin based with no added sugars. Suitable for Halal and Kosher. Developed to support Mind & Mood. Suitable for Adults & Children Age 5+ Years."

To learn more or to order visit https://www.nutrigums.co.uk.

The normal price is £19.99 for a 60 tablet bottle, but the current price is £16.99.

Check out their other products on their website.

 

Mineralise your water with Wassen

You are living your life in the fast lane and perhaps trying to be vegan, especially during veganuary, and you really do need to make sure that you are being properly feed and that your nutrition is as good as it should be.

And you really need to make sure that you are properly hydrated, too. With Wassen you get all the hydration that you require and much, much more besides, too.

What does Wassen do? It enables you to boost up the mineral content of your own tap water. Each mineralise sachet is packed full of what ever minerals you need for your particular requirements.

You need to hydrate and replenish? Then Wassen can help you to do exactly this. Their Hydrate and Replenish product will help you to give you morning a great start. It has magnesium, zinc and chromium to work with your electrolytic balance and your metabolism and selenium and vitamin C to boost your immune system. Ideal with the cold and flu season that is upon us! It also has spirulina and extract of green tea.

Or perhaps you need some help with your energy and cognition? Then Wassen has exactly what you need. For energy release there is magnesium and vitamin C, for boosted cognitive functions there is Zinc and Iodine and to help with your blood sugar levels there is Chromium. Plus there's Maca Powder and Green Tea Extract. All together these will banish your afternoon slump.

At night after a hard day of working (the factory, the office, housework, children, etc) you might require something to help you relax and unwind.

Help your nervous system with iodine and copper, to help with your psychological function there is magnesium and to help boost your relaxation there is lemon balm.

There's a nifty black cherry and chamomile and lemon balm powder, plus a premium nutrients blend.

The great thing is that they'll be ideal for vegans and vegetarians as they contain no dairy and no lactose, plus people who are coeliacs because they are guaranteed to be gluten free and vegan friendly.  

There are no artificial colours, no preservatives and no artificial flavours, no bulking agents such as talc, iron oxides or titanium dioxide. Also all nutrients are premium sourced.

Learn more here https://www.wassen.com.

Ginsters serve up slices of meat-free pastry tastiness for Veganuary

Two iconic British flavours, new Cauliflower Cheese and, back by popular demand, Creamy Garlic Mushroom

With 7.2m million of us Brits now following meat-free diets, and 620 million taking part in Veganuary 2022 around the world, Ginsters is bringing two new flavour-packed plant-based slices to supermarket shelves: Ginsters Cauliflower Cheese Slice and Ginsters Vegan Creamy Garlic Mushroom Slice, both just £1.65 RRP each.

Lovingly created by Ginsters chefs to provide a satisfying and convenient meat-free lunch, both slices have been launched to help Brits who have made meat-free new year’s resolutions, or who are simply fans of a warming pastry packed full of flavour.

Perfect for cheese-lovers, the brand new winter classic Cauliflower Cheese, combines cauliflower florets with a creamy West-Country Cheddar cheese and onion sauce, with a hint of nutmeg, wrapped in golden flaky puff pastry and topped with a mature cheddar and black onion seed crumb. 

What’s more, the Creamy Garlic Mushroom slice was a vegan sensation when it launched last year as a Limited Edition flavour and is now returning to shelves due to popular demand. Featuring golden, light puff pastry and a filling of sliced white and chestnut mushrooms in a creamy coconut milk and white wine sauce, including roasted garlic, potato, onion, herbs, and a hint of lemon zest.

Costing under £2 each, both slices also make a wallet-friendly lunch, and are best enjoyed hot.

Sarah Babb from Ginsters said: “January can be a tough month with post-festive blues settling in and wallets feeling even tighter than usual, so we wanted to launch a couple of delicious slices which are warming, satisfying, and made with British ingredients. Both the Cauliflower Cheese and Creamy Garlic Mushroom slices make a tasty, quick and fulfilling lunch – especially once warmed in the oven or air fryer on those nippy winter days”.

Meat-free doesn’t need to equal ‘taste-less' or ‘cost-more' this January. Both the Ginsters Cauliflower Cheese Slice and Creamy Garlic Mushroom Slice will be available to purchase from supermarkets nationwide from 2nd January 2023.

 The Ginsters Cauliflower Cheese slice will be available to purchase from Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Sainsburys from 2nd January 2023. The Ginsters Vegan Creamy Garlic Mushroom Slice will be available at Tesco from 2nd January 2023.

Heinz introduce new plant-based varieties for Veganuary

Heinz has launched its first plant-based versions of its iconic Cream of Tomato Soup and Beanz and Sausages, just in time for Veganuary!

Foodie favourites for well over 100 years, the brand-new Heinz Creamy Tomato Soup and Heinz Beanz and Vegan Sausages offer the iconic Heinz taste, but they are now also plant based, too!

The new varieties are already available to buy from Ocado, followed by Sainsbury’s from 8th January.

Not only are they warming, delicious and comforting, they are also vegan, too! 

The new Heinz Creamy Tomato Soup and Heinz Beanz and Vegan Sausages are ideal for all flexitarian and plant-based eaters as the winter nights draw in, and of course, for all those taking on the challenge of Veganuary 2023.

Packed with the taste of Heinz that we all admire, know and love, the plant-based take on two much loved classics comes after numerous Heinz fans called for Heinz to make vegan versions of its favourites over the last several years.

Announcing the launch, Manel Jordao, who is the Brand Manager at Heinz, said: “Since 1869, Heinz have been at the heart of food innovation and our founder, Henry J. Heinz, was truly one of the first plant-based food pioneers. Not only did he develop some of his first products from ingredients grown in his mother’s own garden, iconic products like Heinz Tomato Ketchup and Heinz Beanz have always been plant-based from the very beginning.

“And now, over 150 years later, we’re continuing to honour Henry’s legacy by finding new ways to bring some of our most loved classic varieties, including Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup and Heinz Beanz and Sausages, to the table. 

“Our incredibly exciting (and also incredibly delicious) Heinz plant-based innovations have been several years in the making to provide giving the iconic taste of Heinz, but now plant-based! We’re sorry it’s been such a long time coming but trust us when we say they’ve been well worth the wait. And just in time for Veganuary too!”

Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Toni Vernelli, International Head of Communications and Marketing at the charity Veganuary, said: “This is SUCH exciting news! These products are British staples and our participants have consistently told us they would love vegan versions so it’s wonderful to see Heinz responding to this growing demand for plant-based options. 

“Veganuary’s role is to help people choose plant-based foods, whether their motivation is health, planet, people or animals. And our job is made much easier when people can simply choose vegan versions of their favourite foods. Thank you, Heinz!”

Both recipes make up one of your five a day, have no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives and are suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

NEW Heinz Creamy Tomato Soup (RRP £1.70) and Heinz Beanz and Vegan Sausages (RRP £2) are available to buy from Ocado from 28th December 2022 and Sainsbury’s from 8th January 2023.

Thatchers 2023 Community Orchard Project Is Open for Applications for trees

Somerset cider maker Thatchers is opening applications for its 2023 Community Orchard project today, 4th January 2023.

In the third  year of the project, the fourth-generation cider maker has increased the number of apple trees it has to give away, with 500 available to community groups up and down the country.

The project aims to encourage tree planting in both inner city and rural communities by community groups and charities.

Groups can apply to be considered for a bundle of 5 apple trees each by visiting www.thatcherscider.co.uk/thatchers-community-orchard.

Applicants will be asked to fill in a simple form, with details of their community group, describing how the trees will be of benefit to them. Applications close on 3rd February 2023.

“Planting trees means so much to us as cider makers, and we want to spread our passion far and wide,” says fourth generation cider maker Martin Thatcher, who planted his first apple tree aged five.

“We all know planting trees helps the environment and supports biodiversity, but being out in nature is so good for our wellbeing, too. Over the last two years our project has been able to help residential groups rewild their local communities; provide schools with trees for their pupils to learn from; and help care homes create peaceful havens for their residents.

“We're looking forward to hearing from community groups again this year, 2023 and help spread our love of apple trees far and wide.”

In 2022, Thatchers were able to give away 350 apple trees, to over 50 organisations from all across the UK, doubling the number it was able to support in the project's first year.

Thatchers is once again looking for groups, large or small, schools, care homes, communities, who believe they would benefit from growing apple trees, to take part in this project.

Thatchers orchard manager, Chris Muntz-Torres has chosen the varieties of apple trees to be donated to the groups very carefully.

Explains Chris: “We've carefully chosen varieties suited to easy growing and which require the minimum of upkeep in whatever parts of the country the recipients live.” explains Chris.

He added: “Varieties will include Bramley, Scrumptious, Dabinett and Katy, that could be pressed into juice, or of course enjoyed as eating or cooking apples, too. We'll provide stakes, guards and ties to assist in planting, plus detailed instructions on how to plant a tree.”