UMA Global Foods

Phytopedia

A database for the botanically curious

Fiber: A Gut Health Essential

The journey of our gut begins in our mouths through our stomach and intestines, and also involves organs like the pancreas and liver. Through it all, there are more than 100 trillions living microorganisms, and more than 500 different strains of bacterial

Food Feature: Broccoli

Love it or hate it, the broccoli is a nutrient superhero that has been highly prized across civilisations! Essentially a large edible flower, this cruciferous wonder can be found in most grocery aisles and in many cuisines around the world. We look at so

Fiber: An unsung hero, our gut bacteria loves!

Dietary Fiber is actually a complex carbohydrate and can be thought of as a macronutrient along with carbohydrates, protein, fat and water. The only big difference is, it is not absorbed by the body. Typically, our body converts 100% of the carbs from the

Know your Fats!

Fat is an essential nutrient because it is the building block of all cell membranes, muscle movement and the protective shield around the nerves and helps us absorb vitamins in our food.

Fasting and its health benefits

You’ve probably heard the hype; fasting is the new secret to weight loss. While there is credible science, it’s not a quick fix nor guarantee. Neither is there one sure-fire method to doing it right. However, the benefits are plenty; delayed onset of Type

Maximising the goodness of fruit juices

There’s no doubt that fruits are essential for overall wellness, so wouldn’t it naturally mean that drinking them would be just as beneficial? And the anecdotal evidence of juice cleanses sounds compelling; glowing skin, weight loss, lowered inflammation,

Sodium & Potassium – Fraternal twins, alike yet different

Sodium and Potassium form an electrolyte partnership that regulates blood & fluid volume in our body. Where potassium helps maintain fluid content inside cell walls, sodium is necessary for fluid regulation outside cell walls. This difference in pressure

Vitamin K and its health benefits

Named after the German word ‘Koagulation’ (or coagulation), Vitamin K refers to a group of three basic types of vitamins; K1, K2 and K3. Vitamin K1 is easily found in most plant foods, especially green vegetables, along with K3 which is found in most food

Vitamin D and its health benefits

Best known as the ‘sunshine’ vitamin, Vitamin D is important for bone health. This vitamin helps to increase our ability to absorb and retain calcium from our diets, contributing to stronger bones. Insufficient levels of Vitamin D has been shown to lead