Nature’s Path, the organic cereal brand is here to help you have a healthy and tasty breakfast for all the family. Anything that makes the morning routine easier is a win in my opinion.
Nature’s Path cereals are made with healthy grains, nuts, seeds and fruit – with no artificial additives. Each box is created with care for both people and the planet, with sustainability at the heart of everything the brand does. From recyclable packaging and Fairtrade partnerships to reducing food waste and donating to community causes, Nature’s Path is committed to making breakfast better in every way and for everyone.
Here are our favourites.
Nice & Nobbly Granola
The latest addition to the line-up, these golden-baked clusters, seeds and fruits are perfectly paired with fresh berries and creamy yoghurt. Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Maple Sunrise
Made with corn, quinoa, amaranth and flaxseeds, lightly toasted and drizzled with caramelly sweet maple syrup, Maple Sunrise is high in fibre with no artificial additives – making for a perfectly crunchy breakfast bowl! Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Mesa Sunrise
Mesa Sunrise is a delicate blend of corn, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth and flaxseed, brought together and lightly toasted to create crisp, wholegrain flakes packed with feel-good flavour. Rich in omega 3, it is crisp and satisfying! Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Millet Rice
A combination of whole millet with oat bran, oat flour, and brown rice flour, Millet Rice is baked into perfectly crunchy flakes. This is a nuttily wholesome cereal that’ll show you just how good organic food can be. Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Choco Chimps
Featuring a delightful mascot, this nutritious and chocolatey cereal is formed from crunchy wholegrain corn balls, coated in flavourful Fairtrade cocoa. Part of the ‘Envirokidz’ duo, Nature’s Path donates a percentage of Choco Chimps sales to animal conservation efforts and global educational programmes – so far raising more than £3.7million! . Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Gorilla Munch
Gorilla Munch joins Choco Chimps to make up the ‘Envirokidz’ duo. This crunchy, wholegrain, corn puff cereal is moreish and nutrient-packed, with sales contributing to supporting gorillas and other vulnerable species. Available in all major UK supermarkets at RSP: £3.45
Wecasa teams up with Ollie Locke for World Mental Health Day to champion the power of me-time with tips that has helped him cope with the mental struggle
With the code OLLIE20 Wecasa and Ollie are giving all new customers 20% off all cleaning services, valid for a month
The partnership with Ollie Locke aims to remind everyone that investing in a calm home and personal downtime isn’t indulgent, it’s essential and yes, it is OK!
To mark World Mental Health Day (10th October), Wecasa – the at-home mobile cleaning, wellness, beauty and home services app – is joining forces with TV personality, actor and father to twins, Ollie Locke, to highlight the importance of protecting “me-time” as a cornerstone of good mental health.
In a world where busy schedules, long to-do lists and constant juggling of work and home life dominate, carving out time for yourself is no longer a luxury – it’s essential. Wecasa is on a mission to make me-time more accessible by delivering professional wellness, beauty, and home services straight to your door. Whether it’s a massage after a long work week, a cleaner to lift the load, or a haircut that boosts confidence, Wecasa empowers people to reclaim moments for themselves – guilt-free.
Ollie is a man who truly knows the juggle trying to balance a busy home life with young children and a hectic work schedule adding to the mental load that follows us all around – making him the perfect ambassador for Wecasa. Speaking on the partnership, Ollie said: “Life can feel like a juggling act, especially as a parent. We often underestimate how much the little things, like cleaning or folding laundry, weigh on us. Giving yourself permission to hand those tasks over, and carving out time just for you, can make all the difference to your mental wellbeing.”
Ollie’s Top Tips to Support Mental Health
Wecasa as a company truly believes that mental wellbeing starts with making space for yourself – and that includes outsourcing what you can. Whether it’s getting a massage, booking a cleaner, or finally treating yourself to a beauty appointment at home, it’s not indulgent – it’s essential for mental health. With the code OLLIE20 Wecasa and Ollie are giving all new customers 20% off all cleaning services, valid for a month.
It can be difficult to know where to start when trying to balance the daily juggle and mental load however, Ollie has learned from his own experience and these are the coping mechanisms that work for him:
Outsource to lighten your mental load: Sometimes the smallest things, like cleaning the kitchen or folding laundry, can weigh the heaviest on our minds. Don’t feel guilty about outsourcing these tasks. By letting someone else take care of the housework, you free up space for rest, connection, or just a breather.
Create small rituals of self-care: You don’t need a whole spa weekend to feel better. Even a 30-minute massage, a haircut at home, or simply taking the time to slow down with a treatment can reset your mood. Build these rituals into your week so you never feel like you’re running on empty.
Schedule ‘you-time’ like any other priority: We’re quick to put meetings, errands, and everyone else in our diaries, but we forget to put ourselves in there too. Book yourself into your own calendar. Whether that’s a facial at home, or even just an hour with your phone off, protecting that time is vital for your mental wellbeing.
Pierre André, co-founder at Wecasa adds: “Me-time is not selfish – it’s a form of self-preservation. When we pause to prioritise ourselves – even for an hour – we recharge, reset, and show up better in all areas of life. At Wecasa, we’re proud to have Ollie on board to help spread the word of our mission for World Mental Health Day. It’s important to remember that our homes often mirror our state of mind. A tidy, calm environment makes it easier to relax and focus on the things that really matter. By outsourcing cleaning and home tasks, you’re not just freeing up your time—you’re also protecting your headspace.”
With Wecasa’s flexible services – ranging from home cleaning and laundry support to massages, hairdressing, and beauty treatments at home – the partnership with Ollie Locke aims to remind everyone that investing in a calm home and personal downtime isn’t indulgent, it’s essential.
The Wecasa Club Makes Wellness More Affordable
Wecasa always strives to give customers easy access to what they need, seven days a week, whenever it suits you. The Wecasa Club launched late last year offering up discounted services and benefits from a monthly subscription.
Now offers on the Wecasa Club continues to expand with customers who book in for regular cleans with Wecasa professionals getting the benefits for free without paying the £9.90 monthly subscription – the benefits include:
25% off on all wellness services all year around, all funds go to the professional with Wecasa taking no margins on these services
Money back from your first wellness order
Priority access to Wecasa’s customer service
Throughout the year, Wecasa will offer you exclusive content, offers with other brands and invitations to events
Wecasa is your go-to online booking platform for mobile at-home cleaning, wellness, beauty and home services, seven days a week. Visit www.wecasa.co.uk for further information and to book now.
The Cotswolds Distillery, producers of the world’s best-selling English whisky Cotswolds Signature Single Malt, today launches an exclusive limited edition of 1,500 bottles.
Cotswolds Wychwood Harvest Single Malt Whisky is the latest in a series of whiskies released by the Distillery to celebrate the English harvest and is named after the ancient Wychwood Forest, near Witney in Oxfordshire.
Cotswolds Distillery was the first English Whisky Distillery to sell 100,000 bottles of English Single Malt Whiskyglobally and is available in more than 30 markets, including the US, Japan and Europe. “With the world spotlight on the Cotswolds region and many people relocating here from the US in particular, we feel the time is right to continue our global expansion, not only with our best-selling Signature English whisky but also introducing exciting new limited editions,” says Cotswolds Distillery Founder, Dan Szor.
Alice at 25 years old, is one of the youngest female distillers in the UK and has been personally involved in the Port cask selection which makes this whisky such a distinctive expression, with its deep red colour and depth of flavour. Alice has crafted this release from a rare parcel of Port and selected Bourbon casks, laid down nearly 10 years ago.
Under Dan’s guidance, Alice has been given free rein to innovate and experiment with different cask finishes and maturation lengths. It is Cotswolds Distillery’s most accomplished tribute to Port cask maturation to date and shines a spotlight on Alice’s innovative and creative mindset.
Commenting on this launch, Alice Pearson says: “I am really excited to introduce this latest Harvest expression both to UK and international consumers. We wanted to create a whisky that celebrates the traditions of the farming community which is bold and expressive.”
A new Harvest Series expression is released once a year and celebrates the Cotswolds scenery through the art of painting and whisky selection. The region attracts artists and craftsmen from around the world who are drawn to the area by the beauty of the Cotswolds. The design for the presentation tube for this fourth release was produced by Oxfordshire-based artist Andrea Bates. Taking inspiration from the Cotswolds landscape and a nod to the farmland that produces the harvest, it depicts a stunning farming landscape set against a cloudy sky.
Tasting Notes
The liquid offers deep crimson hues from being aged in the Port casks and delivers a concentrated dark fruit character with structure and depth, featuring notes of stewed berries, blackcurrant, and dark fruit compote. These layers are complemented by soft vanilla from carefully selected bourbon barrels, with a gentle wisp of peat.
ABV: 50.0% | RRP: £100 for 70cl bottle. Available from the Cotswolds Distillery and other fine retailers around the world.
The Nappy Gurus, an eco-friendly independent brand making reusable products.
The Portable Changing Mat (£15.99) is useful for so much more than nappy changing. New parents can use it as a playmat, perfect for tummy time or nappy-free time, a bath or swimming towel, a picnic blanket, or under high chairs to catch spills. This mat is double-sided and made with a waterproof layer sandwiched between absorbent bamboo towelling on one side and a super soft plush pattern on the other side, preventing any moisture leakage.
Plush Bamboo Reusable Face And Hand Wipes (£26.49) are super strong and gloriously soft on the skin. They’re absorbent and naturally antibacterial, making them perfect for cleaning up little hands and faces while ditching single-use wipes.
SMARTMAX | My First Safari Animals | RRP: £19.99 | Stockist: SmartToys&Games
These were a huge hit with the children. This Christmas little ones 1-5 years will love mixing and matching with their very own first safari animals! Easily build and play with these delightful, zoological creatures to create the craziest combos! The safe and soft animals simply click together, meaning they are ideal for teeny tiny fingers.
Maped Paint by Numbers | RRP: £14.99 | Stockist: Amazon
A true classic the Maped Paint by Numbers Set allows little ones to create masterpieces using clear lines and numbers. Thoughtfully designed for beginners aged 7 and up, this set makes it easy and fun for children to take their first steps into the world of art.
The Infantino Rainbow Foldable Soft Foam Mat is compact, light, and has a fold & go design, making it ideal to take on-the-go or pop up in the living room when mum is trying to cook Christmas dinner. The soft texture mat gives a bit of cushion while creating a perfect spot for learning new skills like rolling, crawling and sitting. With unique pop-up sides, it stops toys from rolling away and the double-sided boho-inspired design helps keep it visually fun for baby. With its wipeable surface, it is ideal to shake off any crumbs or clean any spillages!
You can never go wrong with a book.
I’m Going To Eat a Polar Bear by Karl Newson and Nicola Kinnear.
“I’m hungry! Fish are boring! I want something new. Something soft… and fluffy!”
Meet a little penguin who is super hungry but totally bored of eating fish. An older penguin recalls hearing of a fluffy creature called a ‘bolar pear’, so the little penguin sets off on an adventurous mission to find and eat this ‘mystery’ creature.
On arrival at the North Pole, the penguin can’t see a polar bear anywhere and eventually turns back home, hungry as ever. Little does penguin know that an equally hungry polar bear is following right behind…
This story will have readers gleefully shouting ‘it’s behind you!’ as this hilarious story unfolds. The reader can follow oblivious penguin on every step of its journey as it narrowly escapes being gobbled up by the polar bear.
Discover your new favourite treat with 50 delicious recipes inspired by your adorable Squishmallows.
Squishmallows: The Official Baking Book is the only place you will find delights such as:
Cam’s three-colour dough cookies Hans’s chocolate truffles with sprinkles Lesedi’s cinnamon rolls Bethany’s Linzer love heart cookies Mac’s pumpkin spiced whoopie pies!
The ultimate recipes for buttercream, caramel and Squishmallows marshmallow are also included, alongside a selection of delicious and refreshing drink recipes for all seasons.
Each recipe includes a fabulous illustration of your favourite Squishmallows alongside colourful photos of each of the bakes.
Squishmallows: The Official Baking Book is suitable for bakers of all abilities and a perfect way to spend more time celebrating these loveable, super soft plush companions with family and friends.
A fantastic book full of delicious bakes. Available here.
The Story Orchestra Musical Puzzle: The Planets.
New from the best-selling Story Orchestra sound-book series: Musical Puzzles!
The Planets musical jigsaw puzzle: Featuring four 10-second sound clips of an orchestra playing from Holst”s original score, a perfect gift for music lovers.
Sturdy gift box contains: 48-piece puzzle (44 regular pieces, plus 4 shaped pieces with cut-outs that give access to the musical buttons on the included frame) and an educational poster; finished puzzle measures 11.7 × 8.3 in.
4 musical buttons to press: Complete the puzzle to see how the story ends and press the musical note inside the shaped pieces to hear the music.
Edutainment for ages 4–7: Includes a puzzle frame that gives a concise retelling of Holst”s The Planets and a double-sided poster with puzzle reference image plus information about the story, music, and the composer.
Take a musical journey through time and space with The Story Orchestra: The Planets: Musical Puzzle, an interactive adventure that turns Holst’s famous score into a creative hands-on experience for your little reader.
This is so clever and brilliant. I cannot recommend it more. The perfect educational toy which is also fun. A jigsaw that plays music. Adults love it as much as children. Available here.
Weirdosaurus: Prehistory’s Most Peculiar Dinosaurs by Philip Bunting
Welcome to the world of Weirdosaurus…
Meet a dinosaur with a built-in megaphone. Spot the one with metre-long, sword-like claws. Say hello to a flying carnivore as tall as a giraffe!
This book is bursting with the strangest, silliest and downright weirdest dinosaurs that ever stomped the Earth. From frilly heads to feathery tails, toothy grins to enormous claws, every creature inside is wonderfully odd in its own way.
Travel back in time and meet over 80 prehistoric peculiarities, each with its own vital stats, dino scale diagram, Latin name (and how to say it) and some seriously strange features. With Philip Bunting’s hilarious illustrations, cheeky jokes and eye-popping facts, every page is packed with surprises.
With well-known favourites and dinosaurs you’ve never heard of, Weirdosaurus is the perfect book for dino-mad kids who love the weird and wonderful. If you thought you knew dinosaurs… think again! An excellent book.
See 30 ocean animals in incredible 3D with Dive into the Ocean: Immersive 3D Viewer.
Incredible 3D ocean viewer: See 30 illustrated ocean creatures in magnificent 3D.
Screen-free fun for aquatic adventurers aged 3+.
Learn through play: Packed with fun facts and observation games.
3D viewer box contains: 3D lenses, cards featuring 30 animal illustrations and fun facts, instruction and games leaflet; box size is 18 × 6.5 × 6.5cm.
Choose a creature card and place it in the box, then look through the lenses to start your underwater adventure! See a great white shark’s rows of teeth, a clown fish nestled in an anemone, an orca leaping from the water, and many other aquatic favourites in three dimensions. Turn over the cards to discover fun facts about each wild and watery creature.
The immersive 3D viewer contains 3D lenses, 30 creature cards and an instructions and games leaflet.
We loved the Enter The World of Dinosaurs Immersive 3D viewer last year. This one is just as brilliant. Available here.
Royal Warrant awarded Skincare brand, Heaven Skincare. Known for natural, cruelty free and responsible skincare is a great Christmas present for the woman in your life.
Three years in the making, Prism Protection SPF 50+is more than just sun care — it’s a daily treatment for radiant, resilient skin. Clinically tested to deliver SPF 53.1 protection, this lightweight, non-greasy formula shields against UVA/UVB rays, blue light, and pollution while enhancing your complexion with every application.
Broad-spectrum UVB & UVA Factor SPF50+
Soothes irritation, supports barrier repair, and provides long-lasting hydration.
Reduces appearance of enlarged pores, balances oil, calms redness, and brightens hyperpigmentation
Molton Brown Fiery Pink Pepper Body Care Refill Collection.
Anything from Molton Brown is a great gift. This Fiery Pink Pepper Body Care Refill Collection is a great, eco-friendly, present. Smells gorgeous and is decadent. Molton Brown is always a high-end product. Comes with a bath and shower gel, along with a refill.
Molton Brown Baubles
In a selection of all-season-round bestsellers, these elegant hanging ornaments are the perfect little treats to delight on Christmas morning. These are gorgeous and elegant. You cannot go wrong.
Dr David Jack Your Daily Skin Heroes Discovery Set.
Dr David Jack – Discovery Set:
This is a fantastic gift. A luxury edit of his hero formulas in a curated routine—typically vitamin C for morning, broad-spectrum day cream, and retinoid night care—so readers can road-test the brand without committing to full sizes. Smart, travel-ready, and genuinely results-driven. Dr. Jack’s four award-winning essential formulas are now available in a beautiful gift set, just in time for the festive season. Designed as a handy travel-sized kit, it is the perfect way to gift yourself or loved ones the full experience of science-backed skincare – the best New Year’s resolution you could make for your skin.
This results-driven routine is designed to remove the guesswork and optimise skin health, addressing all key skin concerns and age-optimising the complexion over the long term. Your Daily Skin Heroes Set includes Dr. Jack’s coveted Three Step System along with the bestselling Supernova, an antioxidant cleansing gel perfect for pepping up party-weary complexions and melting away makeup, for a re-dewed New Year.
We absolutely adore the Cape Island Fragrance Candle and Diffuser from Arighi Bianchi
Cape Island Fragrance Candles & Fragrance Diffusers – from £30 atarighibianchi.co.uk
Chic, sustainable, and oh-so-scented – six luxurious fragrances hand-made in South Africa, perfect for elevating any space with style and atmosphere. They look stylish and elevate any room.
Subtletee
These are gorgeous minimalist T-shirts and they carry a hidden collar blessings. The Robin Tee (comfort & connection) and Mistletoe Blessings Tee (love & togetherness) are festive favourites under £50.
Robin’s Blessing T-Shirt | Hidden Mantra of Comfort & Hope
✨ Robin’s Blessing ✨
Carry comfort and quiet hope with the Robin Tee – a timeless piece from the Winged Blessings Collection. This minimalist design captures the gentle beauty of the robin, a bird long cherished as a messenger of love, renewal, and good fortune. Subtle yet meaningful, it’s a design that feels at home all year round, and especially at Christmas.
Inside the collar, a hidden blessing whispers: “The robin brings comfort and hope, a reminder you are never alone. In every season, and at Christmas, it carries renewal, luck, and cheer.”
This tee is more than clothing – it’s a gentle talisman of comfort, a symbol of closeness, and a quiet reminder of hope through life’s seasons. They both have a unisex fit and are 100% cotton.
Eucerin – Epigenetic Range: Epigenetic Serum
Great skin is always a fantastic Christmas present. A science-led serum that fits neatly into skin cycling: use on “treatment nights” to target multiple signs of ageing, then buffer with a rich moisturiser on “recovery nights.” Lightweight texture, layers well under SPF, and sits comfortably under makeup—great for readers who want visible results without a 10-step routine. Dermatologist-developed and trusted. Available here.
Now that children are back at school it is time to give them an edge. Good nutrition is vitally important (In 2023, 1 in 5 children in England had a probable mental disorder and many are struggling despite eating more calories than ever).
The missing piece? Nutrients that support brain health, emotional regulation, and focus.
Dr Rachel Gow, a nutritional neuroscientist, has spent over a decade exploring the links between omega-3, mood, and neurodiversity in children. Research shows that omega-3 (DHA and EPA) can:
Improve attention and cognition
Stabilise mood and behaviour
Support overstimulated or neurodiverse children
Studies also highlight its potential to ease ADHD symptoms, reduce aggression, and even improve reading and behaviour in school-aged children.
700mg omega-3 per 1ml drop (DHA-packed for brain growth)
Just 1 drop a day for children 6 months+
3-month supply for around £10
Omega-3 is one of the most important building blocks of a child’s brain and body. With 500mg of DHA per drop, this liquid fish oil for kids is the most powerful you’ll find. It’s certified sustainable, pure, and fresh. Lightly lemon-flavoured, kids do take it, plus it’s easy to hide in cold food and drinks.
Even picky kids can take it easily — no fishy fish oil battles required. This term, Action Heroes is a simple, low-stress way to help growing brains thrive and feel their best. Easy-to-use and even the children are fans? We approve.
We are always a sucker for good skincare. Add in the powerhouse that is vitamin C and Lavera caught our eye instantly. Great skincare with high-end ingredients. All for an affordable price. Count us in for glow-worthy skin.
lavera Natural Beauty – the certified natural and organic, award-winning skincare brand- have reformulated and relaunched the ‘Glow by Nature’ range, a skincare range specifically formulated to protect the skin from oxidative stress and reduce signs of fatigue.
Vitamin C 3in1 Cream – £19.95
Wakes up tired skin, reduces wrinkles, fights the first signs of ageing and works three times as well due to being formulated with vitamin C, 2% phyto-collagen and natural Q10. Vitamin C protects against oxidative damage and is known to promote the skin’s own collagen system, while phyto-collagen moisturises and forms a natural protective film on the skin.
Liquid Illuminating Refiner- £12.95
The Liquid Illuminating Refiner, formulated with natural AHA, BHA and glycerine, has a gentle exfoliating effect that removes dead skin cells. Improves the effect of subsequent care products and leaves the skin feeling smooth and looking radiant.
Vitamin C Boost Serum- £23.45
With a light texture and quadruple antioxidant power effect thanks to vitamin C and E, resveratrol and natural Q10. Provides reliable protection against free radicals and reduces existing pigmentation spots and pimple marks. After 7 days, fine lines are visibly reduced due to intense hydration.
Illuminating Eye Cream- £16.95
The Illuminating Eye Cream combines the highly effective, antioxidant effect of vitamin C with the revitalising, firming and decongestant effect of organic caffeine. Visibly reduces fine lines, dark circles and bags under the eyes.
About lavera –
Since the creation of Laverana and the lavera brand in 1987, the goal of Thomas Haase, owner and founder, has always been to make natural cosmetics accessible to everyone. lavera is now one of the most successful natural cosmetics brands in Germany and continues to strive to uncover the secret ingredients nature has to offer, letting them shine in innovative and natural products. Sustainability has always been close to the heart of lavera, and the brand is involved in various local and international environmental protection projects. The natural cosmetics product manufacturer is also switching to maximise the use of recycled materials in all its packaging and is continuously working to further reduce the amount of packaging used for its products. From concept to delivery, it is all done in one place in Hanover. Currently, around 250 lavera products are available in 40 countries. Certified natural cosmetics: lavera. Nature you can feel.
New Superfruit Launches – BOOMBITES™ Red Berry Grapes – Great For Taste And Health
We absolutely loved these Boombites at Frost HQ. Delicious and juicy, you feel like you ar being healthy while eating something that tastes amazing.
There’s a new addition to the fruit bowl and it’s anything but ordinary. These one-of-a-kind Red Berry Grapes – known as BOOMBITES™ – are a new superfruit that taste like the very best table grapes but once you bite into them, you’ll discover a deep, juicy red pulp, similar to that of a berry or a cherry.
These Red Berry Grapes are not only juicy, tasty and utterly moreish, but the unique red pulp on the inside means they are packed with antioxidants known as anthocyanins[1] — the powerhouse polyphenols that account for the superfood status of Goji berries, blueberries and cranberries. In fact, the new Red Berry Grapes have comparable antioxidant levels to blueberries, well known for their superfruit status.[2]
Red Berry Grapes are set to be an incredibly versatile new superfruit. Just like table grapes, they are perfect as a tasty, healthy snack. The high antioxidant content means that they will also be great for pre, or post workout or just the perfect way to start your morning. And the beautiful red pulp on the inside means they are a great showpiece to serve as a premium after dinner treat at your next gathering.
Red Berry Grapes — BOOMBITES™—are a completely natural cross between some of the world’s best table grapes which traditionally all have white flesh on the inside with old grape varieties that have red flesh fruit and were traditionally only used for wine production. It took thousands of different combinations of small and soft, red-fleshed wine grapes with large, sweet, and crunchy seedless table grapes to come up with the new Red Berry Grapes. The end result? A new category that has the beautiful, sweet taste of grapes, the premium feel of a high-end food and beverage category, and the health credentials of a superfruit like blueberries.
Superfruit benefits
Anthocyanins are polyphenols, a naturally occurring plant compound. They are associated with health-enhancing mechanisms including improvements in cholesterol levels, vascular function[3] and the gut microbiome.[4] Public Health Nutritionist Dr Emma Derbyshire, a member of a new research and education information group called the Red Berry Grape Advisory Board, had this to say: “Dark fruits have soared in popularity over recent years as people become familiar with their high antioxidant content. The vibrant colour of the Red Berry Grapes is down to high concentrations of anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant that’s been linked to a wide range of health and wellness benefits.”
Emerging new research confirms that the new Red Berry Grapes not only deliver much higher levels of antioxidant polyphenols than traditional grape varieties, but also their natural sugars are absorbed more slowly.[12] And it’s the impact on blood sugar levels that has generated even more excitement around their superfruit credentials.
Research from the technology center AINIA in Valencia, Spain, suggests that despite having similar amounts of fructose, the new Red Berry Grape varieties showed significantly lower glucose uptakes than standard varieties. This is thanks to the Red Berry Grape being rich in polyphenols, as well as having fibre, and together this unique food matrix[13],[14] seem to have a role in slowing glucose absorption compared to other fruits.
Dietitian, Nichola Ludlam-Raine and member of the Red Berry Grape Advisory Board notes: “In simple terms, this means that while new Red Berry Grapes are sweet to the taste, the combination of phenols they contain alters the way these sugars are transported and absorbed in the gut.
“This has major implications for weight control, insulin response and dietary advice around fruit consumption, because we know that many consumers restrict intakes of these fruits rich in antioxidants because of concerns about the amount of sugar in fruit.”
Research facts: Population studies show that a diet rich in polyphenols can potentially help to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 46% and this is driven by multiple mechanisms including reduced oxidative stress and inflammation and improvements in blood cholesterol, clotting and endothelial function, the term used to describe the integrity and elasticity of blood vessels.[15],[16]
An observational study in 3,420 older adults at high risk of cardiovascular disease — which also put them in the danger zone for diabetes — showed a 28% reduction in new-onset diabetes among those with the highest intakes of polyphenols.[17] Other research studies have shown that polyphenols moderate insulin resistance via several mechanisms and also work synergistically with diabetes medicines to increase their efficacy.[18]
Dr Emma Derbyshire in summary adds: “The Red Berry Grape breaks the rules. Not only is it packed with potential health benefits, but it’s unique in its appearance and offers a juicy, hydrating, rewarding taste. You’ll have to bite it to believe it!”
TASTE THE REDVOLUTION
The new BOOMBITES™ Red Berry Grapes – are on sale in Marks and Spencer nationwide for a punnet for a limited period time.www.boombites.com
