Health Food Shop Must Haves…

When you walk into a health food shop it either seems like a magical cove full of treats (if you already know your way around) or an alien place full of strange products which at first glance may seem over priced and a little confusing.  When you first start on the road to health/recovery or maintenance it can be overwhelming to know where to start.  If you are thinking of making some lifestyle changes for you and your family here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Herbal Tea:

Caffeine is an important part of many peoples mornings and some use it throughout the day to get a lift.  Herbal teas avoid the energy slumps that caffeine tends to bring so cutting back to 1 caffeinated drink a day and choosing herbal teas the rest of the day may be a good idea.  There are many to choose from and they all have different health benefits. Start with something simple like chamomile or peppermint and experiment as you build a collection.

2. Natural (free from) Shampoo and Conditioner:

Keeping things natural is a way of life and a good place to start is by choosing hair products without any added nasties (SLS, pthalates, parabens, synthetic fragrances). They are surprisingly good and it feels great to know that you are avoiding putting chemical products through your hair and over your body.  Many of these chemicals are known endocrine disruptors so are best avoided.

3. Nuts and Seeds:

By far the best range of nuts and seeds are found in your local health food shop. High in 'good' fats and a great source of protein, nuts and seeds make part of any balanced diet. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds are a great start and walnuts, brazils and almonds are also lovely nutritious nut choices.

4. Superfood Powders:

These may be particularly helpful for people who are always on the go. Alkalising green powders such as wheatgrass, barley grass and spirulina are easy to use and great to start the day with.

5. Chemical Free House Products:

It makes sense to try and keep our planet as clean as our body so choosing non-chemical house and laundry products are a great choice. Your local health food shop is the best place to source these products and they work much better than you might think!  It is not necessary to use harsh chemicals which enter our daily home environment and our bodies.