Food

Beating cold and flu with lemons from your local greengrocer

local greengrocer

It’s getting to that time of year where all of us at some point will have the dreaded stuffy noses and scratchy throats that don’t seem to leave us be! That’s why your local greengrocer is on a mission to get rid of those colds and keep them at bay with the power of lemons!

This month, we look at why lemons are so good at making us feel better and how, if we continue to keep them in our diets, we may be able to keep those colds at bay!

Get rid of that sore throat with the perfect lemon

There is no doubt that lemons have a certain beauty and quality about them, standing them apart from all other fruits. With bold colours and zesty tastes, it’s no wonder that they are not just a culinary delight but support our health and wellbeing as well. If you are looking to detox, why not combine the zest and juice in warm water? Lemon water drunk early in the morning encourages the healthy function of the liver and kidneys. Once your lemon drink reaches your system, lemons can help balance your pH levels, helping to regulate your cholesterol and support your digestion.

Lemons are full of Vitamin C, and this vitamin plays a crucial part in supporting your body and immune system. One lemon holds about half the daily intake requirement of vitamin C (pretty impressive for the little yellow citrus fruit). Lemons also contain potassium, vitamin B6, magnesium and phosphorous – all contributing to our health.

With our zesty yellow friend being the feature in many over the counter medicines for cold and flu symptoms, why not try a natural remedy that will not only soothe your symptoms but help you to build a resistance to those annoying cold symptoms coming back in the future.

Lemons – the natural way to beat that cold

The results are in, and the experts have agreed – nanna was right to tell you to drink hot lemon drinks to beat that cold. A study completed by Cardiff University’s common cold Centre has revealed that a warming hot lemon drink will indeed give you relief from those horrible cold symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and tiredness.

If you are looking for a natural cold and flu reliever, we recommend stocking up on some of our lemons today! Simply add to hot water or check out some of these fabulous recipes to bring your cold reliever to life:

Hot Lemonade

Honey Lemon Tea

Honey Lemon Ginger Jar

Buying large lemons from your local greengrocer

We know you can go to your local supermarket and pick up your lemons, but we are here to tell you there are several benefits to choosing your local greengrocer instead. When you shop local, you are supporting often small businesses and your local community. You can also be guaranteed the freshest produce available. Your fruit, therefore, won’t have been sitting in a cool room or the supermarket for days at a time! Your greengrocer is no doubt picking up your lemons at the crack of dawn, ready for you to visit.

Conscious of your impact on the environment? You’ll be happy to know that produce from your local greengrocer has often done fewer miles than large chain shops. Your local greengrocer will usually buy direct from buyers, so your product doesn’t have to fly halfway across the country! Shopping with your local greengrocer gives you value for money. This, combined with beautiful tasting produce, is a winner for us.

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Worlds Best Fruit – your local greengrocer is beating colds naturally!

Worlds Best Fruit are your local greengrocer based at the Dobbies Centre in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. Our beautiful array of fruit and vegetables are replenished daily. Our new location inside means our customers (and team) can keep a little warmer when choosing their favourite produce. We also now have more room to stock your favourite items. If you’re pressed for time, why not order through our website and pick it up from our Wendover store. We can also offer deliveries within a 15-mile radius of the shop for orders over £30. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Nuts of Christmas past from Worlds Best Fruit

Worlds best fruit

There is no denying it, Christmas is well and truly on its way! With the snow already coming down and temperatures often settling at below freezing, we will soon be seeing the Christmas decorations up and the pantry begins to fill with our favourite festive treats. Don’t forget that staple snacking choice this year – nuts are well and truly ready to be collected. From chestnuts to walnuts, brazil nuts to hazelnuts, your table will be full of those little round goodies and Worlds Best Fruit is the greengrocer to buy from.

Chestnuts and walnuts roasting on an open fire with Worlds Best Fruit

These are a great winter snack, packed full of nutrients including iron, magnesium and copper. Chestnuts have been used as a traditional remedy for coughs and colds since ancient times. They contain high levels of antioxidants such as quercetin, which may help reduce inflammation. Quercetin can also help prevent cancer cell growth. It’s also a good source of folate, which is needed for making DNA and red blood cells.

These little guys may look innocent enough but believe us, they are anything but! Walnuts have a strong flavour that works particularly well in salads or as a garnish for soup. Roasted or chopped, walnuts have an incredibly distinctive taste and go well with healthy dishes or sweet treats. Stock up on your walnuts with Worlds Best Fruit today.

Brazil nuts and hazelnuts to keep your guests snacking between meals

Brazil nuts are a type of tree nut that grows in South America, and they’re one of the most popular nuts on the planet. They have an earthy flavour with a slight hint of sweetness, but they also have some health benefits. The nuts contain selenium which is good for your thyroid gland and can help prevent cancer. The most underrated nut in any mixed jar is the Brazil nut, a bigger, tougher nut that somehow manages to be almost creamy when you eat them. A handful of good salty Brazil nuts are a great snack particularly after a sweet dessert or two.

Hazelnuts are delicious, especially when you roast them. The problem is that they are also really oily, so you can’t just pop them into your mouth. You need to either soak them or dry them out before you can eat them. A little more expensive than other nuts and sometimes difficult to come by, Hazelnuts are worth keeping on the lookout for. Great as a snack or to use as part of a praline dessert, these nuts are incredibly versatile.

The surprising health benefits of nuts

Nuts are an excellent source of unsaturated fats which help to lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease. They also contain vitamin E, folate, manganese, copper and zinc. Nuts are one of the best sources of plant protein. Nuts are full of nutrients and contain a lot of antioxidants. They make up a big part of the Mediterranean diet and could help you lose any extra weight (perfect for after the filling Christmas holidays!)

Nuts have strong anti-inflammatory properties, meaning they could be beneficial to those with chronic and long term illnesses that leave parts of the body inflamed and damaged.

If you’re planning on taking your Christmas nuts to the next level this year, why not consider spicing things up a little? Sweet spicy Christmas nuts are a favourite worldwide and are incredibly easy to make if you are looking for something a little different. The best part is, you can use any nut you like from walnuts to macadamia. Using just a little egg white and mixing vigorously with water, coat the nuts and your favourite spice blends for 20 minutes in the oven to really give your nuts an amazing new taste!

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Worlds Best Fruit stock all your favourite Christmas nuts this year

Nuts are full of so much flavour and texture. It’s no wonder that festive nuts are the staple of most kitchens in the UK throughout the year and particularly at Christmas. At Worlds Best Fruits, we have a huge range of nuts to choose from so whether you want to come and visit us at our local Wendover store or shop online, we are sure to meet your nutty needs.

For more information or to start shopping with us, simply visit our online store or take a trip down to Dobbies in Wendover where you will find us in the warm enclosed building to the far right – we look forward to seeing you soon!