Munchy Seeds

Now, if our science lessons had begun with the kind of information and all around yumminess The Munchy Team provide, there is an enormous chance that we at The Amazing Blog wouldn’t have doodled quite so much and actually learned something. We’re fans of Munchy Seeds and in the dim and distant past, have written about some of their other products here. What we particularly like about ‘seeds’ is that they’re both nutritious and delicious. Whilst we don’t want to get preachy about the benefits of zinc and magnesium, we all know that the benefits of ‘munching’ on seeds compared to the equally beguiling pear-drop are manifold and preferable.

The rich nutrient content of these nuggets of nature is why they are an effortless source of all those vitamins our bodies need to boost our levels, especially as we get older. More energy, higher brain function and an effective metabolism all go to keeping every part of us performing. In this day and age, when many of the essentials are stripped out of a processed diet, we need to be keeping up the levels … and what better way than through the consumption of these delicious alternatives?

The Choccy Ginger seeds had to be tried - although we’re particularly fond of dark chocolate and ginger, so it was already a win-win situation. The revelation, therefore, came in the form of how good the Omega Sprinkles tasted - and the knowledge that we were topping up those fatty acids, essential in keeping arteries clear and the heart pumping.

The Salted Caramel and Choccy Apricot offerings need little marketing here, suffice to say they didn’t disappoint and were consumed in an indecently fast period. But of course, each little bag of goodness leads us directly to researching and tasting more and more. This, of course, can be done through the easily accessible website of The Munchy Seeds, run by Mrs Munchy (Lucinda) and her husband Crispin who we are presuming is known as Mr Munchy.

If you prefer to work the cardiovascular system a little more effectively, with a higher intensity trolley dash, then why not hit the supermarket aisles where the whole range is widely available. They come in handy packed lunch size bags, or larger sized tubs when the need requires a bigger scratch! Pricewise you are looking at around £6 for a Snack Pack of 12, or around £5 for a 475ml tub from the Munchy Seeds Website, with similar prices for the relevant sizes through supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado.

Ancient + Brave with their True Collagen and Cacao + Collagen

It's rare to find a brand with such a passion for inspiring healthy living. Ancient + Brave have captured our attention at The Amazing Blog, encouraging us to take control of our lifestyle choices, no matter the amount of time we have to do so. We're in no doubt that their ethos has had a similar impact on others - by combining naturopathy and cutting-edge innovation, the company's ambition of creating delicious and nutritious products certainly will inspire others to look into their lifestyle choices more deeply. We were also fascinated by the Brave Method, combining intermittent fasting and Ancient + Brave products, to create a simple lifestyle strategy that draws back to the eating patterns of our ancestors.

Conceptualising the Brave Method, founders Annelie Whitfield and Kate Prince used their combined knowledge of naturopathy and entrepreneurial techniques to redefine the fasting regime. No longer must we only drink water to avoid calorific beverages, as Ancient + Brave's products are suitable to consume during the fasting period, providing optimal fat burning, while ensuring that we ourselves, do not burn out. Annelie's story is particularly interesting, as a former stunt woman, who suffered a life-threating injury, she began her nature quest after receiving healing treatment from bone mending monks in Sri Lanka. She chose to develop her newfound knowledge, by spending five years in a back-to-nature barefoot existence, studying indigenous medicine in Costa Rica. It is here that she unearthed the medicinal benefits of coffee and cacao - hence the introductions into her product lines. Upon her return, she teamed up with Kate Prince, who used her entrepreneurial nouse to help innovate a new lifestyle brand, to fuel health and performance simultaneously.

As you can imagine, we were excited to try their products, especially those of us who were collagen novices. The True Collagen powder proved to be a simple way of easing us into the collagen world, a product packed with 100% hydrolysed grass-fed bovine collagen (a welcome addition in comparison with many other products), and high in crucial nutrients to replace proteins. Like all of the Ancient + Brave products, True Collagen is also suitable for those following a paleo diet. True Collagen is both odourless and tasteless, meaning that we can boost our level of amino acids by drinking it on its own, or within a beverage of our choice. Ancient + Brave recommend using 2-4 teaspoons for a potent amount of collagen and suggest adding it to a smoothie of your choice.

Secondly, we tried their Cacao+ Collagen product, a delicious hot chocolate alternative that is antioxidant rich thanks to the use of organic Peruvian cacao. Other ingredients include cocoa, grass-fed bovine collagen, beetroot, cinnamon, carob, Siberian ginseng and baobab (all of which are organic), and a touch of pink Himalayan salt. Together, these ingredients act as a potent delivery system of collagen, that still tastes delicious. In one serving, you can expect 2000mg of nourishing True Collagen for a fat burning and energising hot drink. We recommend mixing it with hot plant-based milk, or it can be made using hot water too. What more could we ask for on a cold Autumn morning?

If you too would like to give collagen a go, purchase Ancient + Brave’s True Collagen 200g for £27 here and the Cacao + Collagen 250g for £22 here.

Somnex - The Sleep Event, 12th-14th October 2018

There really is nothing better than feeling well-rested. However, while discussing the topic, we at The Amazing Blog found it quite unsettling to find out that the sleep we actually deserve isn’t what we get. And we’re not the only ones, a total of ‘30% of the UK population suffer from poor sleep most nights,’ according to Sleep Advisor, Lisa Artis from The Sleep Council. So, what can we do to get our desired rest?

Luckily for us, this autumn, the world’s first dedicated sleep show SOMNEX launches at the Old Truman Brewery in London. Bringing the sleep industry and sleep deprived population together for a three day event, from the 12th (for corporate and press attendees only) until the 14th of October 2018 (all welcome on the 13th and 14th). It features expert advice, new products that improve our sleep, and interactive experiences that enhance our daily encounters with our beds. There are also different workshops dedicated to help even the most troubled sleepers, with meditation classes, yoga and napping to name but a few.

With the help of professional sleep experts, families and individuals will get guidance through different sleep stages, offering information about the importance of sleep for everyone. Furthermore, the links between sleep and performance on the field, or in the workplace, are drawn in order to underline how it influences our daily lives.

This all sounds really fascinating and who doesn’t want to get in-depth information about how to get the ultimate sleep? The real highlight of the show for us, is the knowledge about how to reduce snoring! These are just a few of the reasons everybody should wander through the gates of pillow heaven to experience the ultimate 3-day relaxation paradise.

In addition to wonderful cures for a relentlessly snoring partner; they also offer pre-bookable one-to-one sessions in order to discuss sleeping issues further. For the beauty sleep seekers, the event offers mindfulness, a beauty bar, skincare solutions and professional massages. With over 100 different companies that all tackle the same issue: giving people the sleep they deserve, the range of products and tips they offer are endless. If you’re interested in spending a once-in-a-lifetime experience surrounded by well rested people, head to the SOMNEX website to get further information about workshops and schedules. You can hold your golden ticket for a reasonable price of only £15, making it a dreamlike investment.

Therapie by Roques O'Neil - Inner Light Sleep Drops

If you are keeping up on The Amazing Blog you will know how much we rate Michelle Roques-O’Neil’s Therapie aromatherapy products. We were lucky to have used their Restore Aura Spray as well as their Himalayan Detox Bath Salts and Cherish Skin Repair Body Serum in the past. Always being busy and on-the-go we know how important it is to relax at the end of the day – but we also know it can be hard to unwind sometimes. That’s why we wanted to review the Therapie Inner Light Sleep Drops today, which have helped us get a much deeper and more blissful sleep.

The Sleep Drops contain a fantastic mix of oils for example passionflower, frankincense, sandalwood, lavender and many more.  All those ingredients work to calm and soothe your mind as well as effectively strike overextended nerves so you can fall into a deep and nourishing slumber. Overnight your body and mind can restore and rebuild thanks to these Sleep Drops. What we love about the Inner Light Sleep Drops is how versatile they are. You can put 30 drops in a hot bath and soak for 20 minutes, have a foot bath or use them on a cotton wool pad under your pillow. We enjoyed soaking a cloth with warm water that was infused with the drops and then putting it on our face for 30 seconds breathing deeply.

The small bottle is great for travelling and perfect for taking on those stressful business trips. It’s also a go-to product when you feel the need to unwind and slow down your hectic pace of life. You can buy the Inner Light Sleep Drops on their own for £48 here or you can purchase them with a The Colourful Dot Rose-Quartz for £58 here.

Absolute Collagen - Protein Rich Marine Collagen Supplement For Men

Superfoods and supplements have become more and more popular over the past years and we at The Amazing Blog are always on the lookout for new and beneficial supplements to include in our diet. There is still a big trend for ingestible beauty supplements (which means beauty products you swallow rather than apply to your skin) particularly those that are collagen or hyaluronic acid based. We were very interested to hear that the award-winning British brand Absolute Collagen had launched the first-ever men’s ingestible beauty supplement, their Protein Rich Marine Collagen Supplement. We applaud this brand for recognising the need for specific male skincare supplements.

The Protein Rich Marine Collagen has numerous benefits. Fish collagen has superior bioavailability, which means it’s quickly absorbed into the body when digested. Once in the bloodstream, it starts working its magic. The Absolute Collagen supplement encourages the fibroblasts responsible for collagen reproduction to kick-start and therefore helps to fight signs of ageing.

One sachet of 10ml makes a daily dose of the marine collagen. The Supplement is as ‘absolute’ as possible, containing vitamin C for absorption and lemon and sucralose for taste. You can take the marine collagen direct from the sachet or mix it with hot and cold drinks or even add it to yoghurt – the possibilities are endless. We only had a two week supply, and I would like to add that probably I need a lot longer time than just a few weeks, to see significant results. However, I have to say that my joints felt more fluid and my fine lines did start to look slightly more plumped-out. The supplement does actually boast that the skin will look smoother, plumper and more hydrated, so perhaps this is just the start. They also state that the collagen benefits nails, joints, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons as well. I'm very tempted to keep going and order more! You too can order a 14-day supply of the Protein Rich Marine Collagen Supplement for Men here for £29.99.