I’m always on the lookout for new and amazing health and wellness products for life in the kitchen, the gym and at home. Here are my current faves; a combination of some of the latest sample products (gifted) that have come across my desk for me to try out, and the products I’ve found myself that I can’t get enough of right now!
Pics Boysenberry Jelly
If you’ve been with me for a while you’ll know how much I love my peanut butter, and Pics is usually my staple go-to (when they say their products are ‘really good’ they’re not kidding). I was sent a few jars of their new Boysenberry Jelly to check out, and PB & J has been on our toast most mornings ever since!
Made with boysenberries grown within five kilometres of the Pic’s Nelson factory, it contains 55% fruit with the sugar levels in the jelly being too low for it to be labelled as a jam. Available nationwide in New World supermarkets (340g jar/RRP $5.49).
Ethique beauty bars
I was ridiculously excited when these samples turned up on my doorstep! Ethique is a Kiwi company that started in the home kitchen of founder, Brianne. Natural beauty bars are a great alternative to a range of beauty products including shampoo, conditioner, scrubs, moisturisers and cleansers. With no plastic bottles used, these bars are a more environmentally friendly option.
All packaging is compostable, and the products are plant-based, cruelty free and sustainable. Plus each bar lasts longer than bottled beauty products as they’re concentrated. A gorgeous option for Christmas gifts this year!
For more information, check out ethiquebeauty.co.nz.
Dr. Feelgood – Frozen Pops (Jellytop)
I went with my family to the Arataki Visitor Centre recently to do a bush walk, and afterwards we stopped off for a treat in the sunshine; THIS IS CRAZY GOOD!
With no refined sugars, no gluten, organic milk, real raspberry juice and organic raw cacao, this part chocolate icecream/part raspberry jelly stick of deliciousness is amazeballs. Seek it out for your next chocolatey treat.
Alexandra’s Fine Foods Ready to Cook gourmet meals
Sometimes if you’ve had a long and busy day, cooking from scratch can feel like the too-hard basket. Rather than nipping out for takeaways, I’m loving these options – samples I was sent from Alexandra’s Fine Foods. These are ready-to-cook meals full of flavour from unique spice blends and quite different from typical easy packet meals.
There are eight meal options in the range with Moroccan Bean Tajine (not pictured) and New Mexican Chilli being the latest additions. Full of plant-based protein, you can either serve them up as-is or add extras and use them as a base. Perfect quick, easy and healthy meal option for taking away camping this summer.
There are 3-4 serves in each pack, available at the deli section of New World, Pak n’ Save, Farro Fresh, Moore Wilson’s and all major delis.
Cathedral Cove Naturals Breakfast Cereals
Now that we’re heading into warmer weather, I’ve set aside warm porridge and other hot breakfasts, opting for smoothies and mueslis with yoghurt instead. I usually make my own muesli from scratch, but there’s something luxurious about eating a cereal with really decadent ingredients.
Low in sugar, made with natural ingredients, and free from refined sugars, dairy, artificial flavours, colour or preservatives. All cereals contain superfoods for boosted health properties and a great start to your day.
There are four breakfast options in the Cathedral Cove Naturals range; Raw Activated Super Cereal (400g; RRP $15.49), Raw Paleo Super Cereal with Goji and Vanilla Bean (350g; RRP $15.49), Raw Paleo Super Cereal with Cherry and Cacao Bean (350g; RRP $15.49), and Lightly Toasted Organic Muesli (400g; RRP $12.49).
Confitex Absorbent Underwear
Now I have to admit when samples of these undies turned up on my doorstep I had a bit of a giggle. But let’s face it; I’ve had two babies in three years, I’m no stranger to bladder leakage!
And I know I’m not alone. There are an estimated 540 million people around the world – both men and women – experiencing bladder issues, but there’s still a huge stigma when it comes to talking about it.
These high-tech garments are leak-proof, pad-free, washable, discreet, and a more environmentally friendly alternative (as you’re not throwing away disposable single use pads); plus they look like normal undies which is a huge bonus!
For more information, visit www.confitex.nz.
HempFarm NZ – Pure Hemp Seed Oil
Get ready to see more hemp seed products around since new legislation was passed last month making it legal to sell hemp seed products in Aotearoa as food. I’ve never tried hemp seed oil before, so when I was sent a bottle of HempFarm NZ’s product to try, I don’t know what I was expecting but I was surprised that it’s quite nutty tasting!
Hemp seeds are safe to eat, have no psychoactive effect, and are nutritious (rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9, full of fibre and plant-based protein). Use as a dressing on salads, in baking, marinating, seasoning roasted veges; basically any way you would an olive oil!
HempFarm NZ Hemp Seed Oil comes in 250ml (RRP $21.99) and 500ml (RRP $38.99) bottles. Available at selected specialty food stores or online at my.hempfarm.co.nz.
Living Balance Prebiotic Roll-on deodorant
I was sent a sample of this earlier this year and as I already had a few natural deodorants on the go I didn’t get around to road testing it at the time. When hubby had his shoulder surgery recently, he took interest in natural deodorants as his arm was in a sling for six weeks which meant he wasn’t getting ‘aired out’ like he usually would. His normal deodorant wasn’t doing the job – so he claimed this for himself.
He’s so happy with it he’s keen to get more once it runs out. Body odour comes from sweat decomposition as well as the substances in your sweat which could be influenced by things like food or medicines. The idea behind prebiotic deodorant, is that it encourages the growth of your own natural microbiome to tackle the ‘bad’ bacteria under your arms, rather than using chemicals to kill all bacteria there or blocking the pores to prevent sweat altogether.
Available in Zen, Harmony and Sensitive/Fragrance free for $24.95 from www.immunecare.co.nz.
1Above – Reboot Effervescent Tablets
I don’t normally advocate supplementation unless it’s either professionally prescribed for a specific health condition, or has a mainstream need with proven science, and these fit the latter as a general vitamin/electrolyte supplement if you’ve been busy and are feeling run down. Just pop one of these effervescent tablets in 500ml of water for rapid hydration and recovery from travel, hard work – or as 1Above says – hard partying! Each tablet contains 8 vitamins, 6 electrolytes and Pycnogenol (a pine bark extract which acts as an antioxidant to help the body cope with fatigue and boosting recovery).
These new effervescent tablets are $26 for a pack of 10. Available from leading pharmacies, Torpedo 7, Countdown and online at live1above.com.
Proper Crisps – Onion With Green Chives
Hubby and I love to have a movie/date night at home once a week and always have some treats on hand to go with it. I was sent a few bags of this new flavour from Proper Crisps recently, so these have been our movie snacks lately. Yes, they are chips and this is a health blog – shock, horror!, but I’m an everything-in-moderation girl so if I’m going to have chippies I love it that these ones are gluten free, GMO free, and made with quality natural flavours. Plus they’re lower in fat and salt than many other chips on the market.
Proper Crisps Onion With Green Chives (150g/RRP $4.19) are available from supermarkets, specialty and convenience stores nationwide.
OGX Detoxifying + Pomegranate & Ginger collection
Since chopping off my long locks earlier this year and trading them in for a shorter, more manageable style, I’ve been making more of an effort to look after my hair (rather than just chucking it up into a token mum bun all day every day!). OGX sent me through the shampoo and conditioner from their latest collection which smells AMAZING and leaves my hair feeling soft and looking shiny. Love it that the range uses sulfate-free surfactants – sulfates are detergents that are known skin irritants and I have sensitive skin so that’s a big plus!
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Images / NZ Real Health