Aqua Perfecta PerfectAir Sense

 

I've had problems with the sinus pressure for as long as I remember. I have tried almost every remedy you can name, from saline wash to steam, elevation and hydration, humidifier in the bedrooom and medication etc. I know my triggers but it's impossible to avoid them altogether, as some as seasonal.

 Our house is also on the street with a high level of traffic, and suffers from pollutants and toxic air. The local authorities have done the monitoring tests which shown that nitrogen dioxide pollution levels within the AQMA are above national health standards. Traffic is the overwhelming source of pollution.

This is quite worrying, and unless we decide to move, we need to do something about trying to improve the air in the house.

I recently received a PerfectAir Sense Air Purifier for testing at home and reviewing. 

PerfectAir Sense promises to deliver an impressive clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 77 cubic metres per minute. It works great in average sized rooms of around 25m2, but can purify the room of up to double that size. 

This is a freestanding unit, which can be moved around your home, to where it's needed most.

It is well designed and is pretty easy to set up. After you remove all the packaging, you need to open the front panel, and remove the film over the filter, then insert the activated carbon filter, the HEPA filter, pre-filter, fasten the panel shut.

Now remove the water tank and fill it up with water, ready to start. Once the installation is completed, plug it in and press the on/off button to purify the air.

You can choose whether to press the switch button on the air purifier itself or using the remote control. It has a Sleep Mode, a Timer and a Child Lock Function.

The control allows you to change the purifier settings. There is even a lock button which prevents anyone accidentally changing the settings (or children playing with it).

For manual purification press the "Auto" button to enter the auto purification mode. This will allow the intelligent system to automatically purify the air.

If the air quality is excellent, the indicator light will be green, and the fan will operate at a low speed. The good quality of air will be indicated by the blue light and middle speed, the normal air is shown by the yellow light and high speed. Finally, if the air quality is poor, the indicator light will be red, and the fan will work at the highest speed.

Some technical information:

Pre-Filter is composed of an aluminium frame, aluminium plate net and initial cotton effect filter cotton. This filter removes large particles such as dander, hair and dust, and can be washed and reused.

Hepa Filter effectively filters particulate matter in the air, for the purification of PM2.5. (I had to google to find out what exactly PM2.5 mean - basically they are particles composed of solid particles and liquid droplets - dust, dirt, soot, smoke etc, they can be so small, that they are not visible to the naked eye. They are dangerous to the human health).

Activated Carbon Filter absorbs odour, deodorizes, dehumidifies and sterilises the air.

Molecular Sieve Adsorption Layer purifies gases in the air.

Photocatalyst Filter Layer kills bacteria with the UV light and decomposes toxins in the air.

UV Light destroys the molecular chain structure of microorganisms to kill harmful pathogens in the air.

Negative Ion Filter Layer releases negative ions to neutralise positively charged particulates, such as soot and dust, to purify the air.

Natural Humidification Method: humidifies the air.

That's probably enough of the technical information. 

What did we think of it?

We've used it for over three weeks now. 

And these are my thoughts: While my sinus pressure issues have not completely disappeared, I noticed that I find it easier to breathe at night with the air purifier in the room. It clearly does the job of improving the air quality indoors. 

It filters the air as you sleep. Conveniently, it has the sleep function, which means when this setting is activated, the display lights are turned off, so nothing disturbs your sleep.

We have tried it in two different bedrooms so far. Our younger son's bedroom is quite small, and though I air it every day, opening the window into the garden in the morning, we keep the windows shut for the night, and the room gets quite stuffy overnight. My son has also commented that he finds it different after the air purifier stays in the room.

It is an excellent product. My only bone of contention is that it is quite bulky (size 706x410x230mm) and heavy (its weight is 10.5kg), and takes space. I suppose, it's not a problem if it stays put in one place, but if you alternate rooms from one night to another, it is quite heavy to move around. 

Since we only tried it in November and early December, I'm looking forward to using it during the grass pollen season, as our older son suffers with the hay fever. If this unit helps, it will be brilliant.

Overall rating on the job done: 10/10. 

Disclosure: as mentioned above, we received this product for free for testing and reviewing. All opinions are our own.

Winter skincare #BlogOnEpaderm

 

Last week's weather definitely feels wintery - in the mornings when we open up the curtains and peek at the world outside, the tiles on the kitchen roof below our windows look silvery and sparkly. The plants in the garden are covered with a thin layer of ice crystals, as if dipped in sugar icing. All very pretty to look at, but it also means the heating is on most time of the day to keep the damp away.

Frosty, cold weather with blustery winds + heating and dry air indoors = a recipe for dry skin. My boys have always had delicate skin, which is affected by the cold in late autumn and winter. On top of that, with all the extra washing of hands and chemicals from hand sanitisers during the current pandemic, the hands appear dry, chapped and red.

Many people believe in the power of humidifiers. In the past I had a digital humidifier, but haven't noticed any difference after using it for a while. Perhaps we needed one in each room to see any effects?!

Drinking plenty of water to keep skin more supple is a good idea, and thankfully, my guys drink water without any issues. Some people need to be persuaded to drink more water (looking at you, Mum!). If you find it hard to drink plain water, adding a lemon slice or grated ginger and a few berries might entice you to increase your water intake.

Most crucial though is to use a good moisturiser on a regular basis. Keep a good hand cream or moisturiser by the front door, so that you won't forget to apply it before you go out. Every morning, just before the school run, I offer a cream to my sons. A quick rub over the hands, and we're ready to brave the elements.

And when a simple moisturiser doesn't quite do the job, then send in the cavalry.

Epaderm range is suitable for kids of all ages. It is fragrance, colouring and SLS free and provides moisturisation for eczema, psorias and dry skin. It comes in different sizes - 50g, 150g and 500g pump bottles. I prefer to buy smaller bottles, and keep two in the house, one by the front door and one in the bathroom, for the evening application. 

Our bedtime routine - brush teeth, wash and dry hands, apply the moisturiser and then read in bed before switching off the lights.

Epaderm is recommended by doctors, and is the no.1 prescribed ointment in the UK (not in our clinic, we have never had it on prescription, but it is available in Boots, where we buy it).

Epaderm Cream could be applied in the morning and used throughout the day, as it is a lighter cream. Use it as a skin moisturiser and even skin cleanser. It is light and quickly absorbed, leaving the skin softer and smoother. 

For the night you might use the heavier ointment. If your child tolerates gloves, apply the ointment liberally and leave the gloves on overnight. You can also add it to a bath instead of soap and bath bubbles. The ointment is ideally suited for more affected areas of skin, prone to eczema. 

A few years ago, when my son's eczema has flared up after the school swimming lessons, and the skin on his body, especially legs and arms, was looking inflamed red, we used the ointment rather than the cream. We have been to the GP a few times, but the prescription medication didn't quite do the job. 

This year, the eczema is thankfully kept at bay. But as mentioned earlier on in the post the winter cold and frequent washing of hands at home and in school have stripped the delicate skin of the protective layers, and they began to look pretty sore. After a couple of weeks of applying the cream twice daily, we can notice the difference, the skin on my son's hands looks much better. This emollient is effective. You only need a small amount of cream each time. 

Have you tried Epaderm range? Did you see the difference it makes on your child's skin?

Disclosure:

This post is written as part of the Epaderm Blogger Ambassador Competition. 

Oat peanut butter cookies

Have you seen jars of peanut butter powder in health shops as well as some supermarkets? Were you tempted to buy them? I picked the jars a few times from the shelves, but put them back thinking I would have liked to try it, if it were sold in small trial portions rather than big jars.
I have read about this product in the vegetarian/vegan food articles, and it seems to be all the rage among the fitness-obsessed influencers.

The latest Degustabox food box provided its subscribers with the chance of trying the powdered peanut butter.
There were two PBfit peanut butter powder sachets (24g each) in the box.
They call it "peanut butter without love handles", as it contains up to 90% less fat than traditional peanut butter, and about 1/3 calories.

I confess that I'm not a fan of healthy protein shakes and smoothies. I have tried many versions, and decided they are not for me. Fruit and ice cream smoothies are in a different league altogether; it's the protein smoothie bowls that I find unappetising - no matter how healthy they are supposed to be, sorry.
You can add one hundred hashtags like #fitnessmotivation, #girlswhoworkout, #fitandfab, #generationfightflab #leansquad #fitness4ever etc etc, I look at those images, and reach for the cookie jar. I'm not a fitness person, though I do walk miles and miles every day.

All my guys love home-baked cookies, so I knew what I was going to make with the powdered peanut butter.

Oat peanut butter cookies
Ingredients:
1 pack (24g) peanut butter powder
60g caster sugar
80g (Stork) margarine
1 small egg
1tbsp golden syrup
1tsp vanilla essence
140g self-raising flour
1tsp baking powder
100g oats

Cream the margarine with sugar and peanut butter powder in a mixing bowl. Add the oats, flour, golden syrup, vanilla and beat in the egg, mix well, forming the dough.
Pinch a big walnut-sized piece of dough and roll it into a ball, then flatten and place them on trays lined with parchment paper, foil or silicone baking sheet and bake for about 12 minutes until golden at 180C.
Don't overcook, they are still very soft when you take them out. If you keep them longer, they'll get crispy.

Golden syrup is optional, it's more of a binding ingredient, and could be swapped with a spoonful of any nut butter, or even add a bit more margarine.
I prefer to use margarine when baking cookies, as it allows them to keep their shape better. Butter makes the cookies more splattery, if that's the word. But if you are set against margarine, by all means use butter.

These are lovely cookies, and they didn't last long here. I think I might even buy a big jar of powdered peanut butter, as it's great for baking.

So, if you receive the Degustabox, and were not sure what to do with the powdered peanut butter, try these cookies. You're welcome! (singing in Maui's voice)

Adding my cookie recipe post to #KitchenClearout linky hosted by Cheryl at Madhouse Family Reviews.

Winter skin tips: #MyAquaphor Challenge

When I was a child, winter used to be my favourite season, with deep snow, skating rinks, Christmas tree and twinkling lights, lovely treats and gifts, TV all night until the early hours of the morning on the New Year's eve. Winter could be great fun.

On the other hand, cold weather with blustery winds could be hard on your skin, leaving it at dull, flaky and dry.
Last month has been relatively mild. My Mum stayed with us for a month, but a week ago she returned home to a proper cold and snow.
While we were lucky not to have any snow yet (though there was a small scattering of snowflakes once last week), the heating is on in the house, as it gets too damp and cold.
This combination of the damp air and harsh winds outside as well as the heating inside could do a lot of damage to a delicate skin.
A contrast between cold outdoors and warm indoors could leave your skin stressed.

One of the solutions is not to keep the heating maxed up to the hilt. I know many people swear by the humidifiers, but I haven't noticed any difference, having bought a digital humidifier a few years ago. We tried it for a while, and since then it just sits in the box in the attic.
My mother-in-law uses the ceramic humidifiers which are hanging on the radiators in all rooms. They look like long-ish narrow rectangular containers, which she tops up with water. They seem to work quite well, and they are more environmentally-friendly.

Another way of dealing with the problem of dry skin is to up your intake of liquids. You need to drink plenty of water. Alas, my favourite latte or hot chocolate is not considered to be a great contribution to hydrating. If you find it hard to drink plain water, add a bit of lemon juice, fresh mashed berries or grated ginger. Tea is also fine.

And finally: moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.
My personal tip is to keep a hand cream or any good moisturiser by the front door, so you don't forget to use it as you go out.
This way it reminds me to apply the cream to my sons' hands as well as my own.

My boys are 16 and 8, but both have a skin prone to dryness and eczema.
In the cold weather the skin on the cheeks and hands might get dry and rough. Gloves would help, but of course, the cool guys don't wear gloves. Every time I go to collect Eddie from school, most kids run out without any coats, hats or gloves (while parents are all fully-dressed in warm clothes).

We've been battling with eczema bouts for years with our elder son, we have tried many creams, lotions and ointments. Most of the prescribed medication in big tubs (like Diprobase, Aqueous cream and such like) didn't help at all, if anything, the skin was getting more and more irritated and inflamed.

Recently BritMums  asked bloggers if we'd like to try Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm.
The range is suitable for all ages including babies.
Eucerin is a well-known family skin care brand. It was first introduced in the States in 1925, and has since become popular around the world.

Formulated with only seven ingredients, Aquaphor is considered to be gentle enough for such skin issues as a highly irritated skin and sensitive baby skin including the nappy area.
I think that was the main reason we first came across Eucerin all those years ago, when my elder son was a baby and we lived in the States. A friend who had a baby a bit older than our Sash recommended it.

You can use it on dry, cracked skin, cracked heels and feet (my winter problem), dry hands and cuticles and baby sensitive skin. After several applications, the skin appears to be soothed and better protected.

It is fragrance, colouring and preservative free.

It could be applied in the morning and used during the day, as it is a lighter cream.
It can be used as a skin moisturiser and also as a skin balm for hands, nails, body, face and even lips. It is not greasy, and works well, leaving skin softer and smoother.

To sum it up, it's great to have a product that is multi-tasking, i.e. it treats so many skin irritations and is also suitable for grown-ups, babies and older children.

It is scent-free. It soothes rough patches. I tried a little bit on my lips. It is similar in consistency to some of the nipple creams that I used in the past, especially after Eddie was born and my breasts were really sore, it is less sticky than those creams, and is of a less dense consistency, making it easier to spread on the skin if you are using it as a barrier cream when going outdoors with your child.
It lasts quite a long time, as you only need a very small amount to apply.

Have you tried Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm?

This post is an entry for the BritMums #MyAquaphor Challenge, sponsored by Eucerin. Discover the benefits of Eucerin https://www.eucerin.co.uk/products/aquaphor/soothing-skin-balm-45ml

Disclosure: I received an Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are my own.

I Sea Pasta Tagliatelle from Seamore

If you watched the latest episode of Outlander season 3 on Amazon yesterday, you might remember the scene where Jamie asks the prison governor if he would allow prisoners to go on the moors to catch rabbits and collect seaweed from the shores. The governor seems to be taken aback, until Jamie explains that the seaweed is a food source and a known cure for scurvy.
Years ago, I remember reading The Camerons by Robert Crichton, and the famous scene with the kelp soup prepared by the poor Highlander Gillon.

These days of healthier food trends as well as challenges towards a more sustainable future, seaweed is becoming in vogue as an alternative to everyday foods.
Seamore is a brand on a quest to change the way we eat with their healthy seaweed range.
Seamores founder Willem Sodderland is on a mission to replace half the world's pasta with seaweed alternatives. While I think it's not going to happen very soon (and we are not ready to give up on pasta; it would cause a revolution and chaos in Italy), I'm happy to explore the healthy food niche and discover new foods, especially that I do enjoy seaweed products.
I often buy seaweed thins (I find them very addictive) and sea salt with seaweed.

Infographics credit: Seamore

I Sea Pasta Tagliatelle from Seamore is a low carb alternative to pasta. It is full of natural goodness, with 50% of your daily vegetables, 80% fewer calories and packed full of iodine, iron and Omega 3.
I Sea Pasta is available from Planet Organic for £5.99 and several London stores (check out My Organic Hunter).

I was very curious to try this alternative to pasta.
As I was cooking seaweed tagliatelle, our house started smelling like a beach on a hot day, with the salty seaweed baking in the sun. It's quite a pungent smell, not unpleasant but strong nevertheless.
It reminded me of our holiday to Agropoli in Italy, where the local beach was covered with big cushions of seaweed after every high tide.

I Sea Pasta Tagliatelle look like something you would kick with a foot on a beach.

What does it taste like? Definitely not like pasta, so you won't be able to deceive anyone. Not even like a squid ink black pasta. It tastes, well, like seaweed, which is not a criticism, just an observation.
I served it with a few prawns and tomatoes (fresh and sun-dried) scattered over seaweed, with a bit of chopped basil and mozzarella (I wasn't cooking this for vegetarians or vegans).
I think I will be also trying to add a little bit of this seaweed pasta to a fish-based soup.

One 100g pack of I Sea Pasta provides 4 servings when cooked. This is 100% wild, handpicked seaweed from Connemara, Ireland and Brittany, France.
Nutritional information: 178kcal per 100g uncooked pasta. It is a great source if fibre, protein, potassium, calcium, iodine and vitamin C.

It is non GMO, seastainable, vegan, gluten free, organic, low cal - all great credentials.
Once you cook it, the levels of potassium, sodium and iodine go down. If you fancy it super healthy, then soak it in cold water for 45 minutes rather than cook.
I confess I haven't tried it raw, I will leave this foodie discovery to you, please do share what you think with me if you have tried it uncooked.

Disclosure: I received a pack of I Sea Pasta for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are my own.

Epaderm Junior Range

Being able to swim is a great skill to have. Our elder son has been going to the swimming pool for many years, and is a reasonably skilled swimmer, albeit a not enthusiastic one.
When our younger son was little, we took him to the local swimming pool a few times, but had to stop, as his skin was badly affected.
Regular swimming sessions bring their own problems, mainly related to skin conditions like eczema. Both of my sons have sensitive skin.
Last year Eddie's school started taking Year 2 children to the pool for the swimming lessons. I was one of the volunteers who accompanied children to and from the pool. I have noticed that they were not advised to have a shower after the lesson. When I queried that, I was told they had no time. Imagine going back to school with the chlorine still on your skin.

Needless to say, Eddie's skin has immediately started to show the signs of eczema. His arms and legs looked sore and red, with patches of rough skin.
As we've been battling with eczema bouts for years for our elder son, we have tried many creams, lotions and ointments. Most of the prescribed medication in big tubs (like Diprobase, Aqueous cream and such like) didn't help at all, if anything, the skin was getting more and more irritated and inflamed.

Recently Epaderm got in touch with me, asking if we'd like to try their Junior Range for two weeks.
We received an Epaderm Junior cream and ointment. The range is suitable for kids of all ages including babies.
It is fragrance, colouring and SLS free. It provides moisturisation for eczema, psorias and dry skin.

Epaderm is recommended by doctors (though not in our clinic, they prescribe different moisturisers) and is the no.1 prescribed ointment in the UK.

Epaderm Cream could be applied in the morning and used during the day, as it is a lighter cream.
It can be used as a skin moisturiser and also as a skin cleanser. It is light and quickly absorbed, eaving skin softer and smoother.
For the night use the heavier ointment. You can add it to a bath too instead of soap/bath bubbles.

We have used it for over two weeks, and Eddie's skin has improved considerably. All redness is gone and the skin looks smooth. You can hardly notice any traces of eczema.
Saying that, he also hasn't used the swimming pool during summer holidays.

I think it's the combination of the Epaderm, lack of swimming pool's chlorine and the salty sea water (we spent a week in Cornwall) which helped Eddie's skin.

The real test will be when he is back at school and re-starts his swimming lessons.

Have you tried the new Epaderm Junior range? Did it have a positive impact on your child's eczema?

Disclosure: We received two Epaderm products for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are our own.

Naturelly Jelly Juice (review + giveaway E: 18 July 2017)

Jelly!!! Who doesn't love it?! I'm well over 40, and still enjoy an occasional wobbly treat. You can make it with fruit or berries, a grown-up version with some booze or a sin-free low-cal version.
My Mum used to make a lemon jelly in teacups. I remember I couldn't wait for it to set, checking it out every few minutes in the fridge, which probably didn't help.
Our son Eddie is a big jelly fan. Thankfully, there is a new trend among big and smaller brands to produce healthier versions of this delicious treat, so that it's not full of sugar or any artificial additives.

Naturelly Jelly Juice is a healthy snack, made from natural ingredients, including real fruit juice and jelly.
We have first discovered Naturelly, when we found a pouch in one of Degustabox deliveries. Eddie was quick to gobble it up and pronounced it tasty.

What has inspired Naturelly founders to come up with an idea of this product?
"Trying to find healthy snacks was always challenging for us; especially when on days out or picking the girls up from school and nursery. Tears and tantrums would often follow. We needed an on the go refreshment that would fill them up just a little, until dinner time. So, we put all of our crazy brains together to find out the stuff our kids and their friends loved and this led us to the idea of creating Naturelly Jelly Juice".
That probably sounds very familiar to many parents who come to collect their kids from school or nursery. Eddie has always been peckish after school, and I tend to carry a snack or two in my handbag for the school pick up, usually a fruit string or rolls.
Though it will never be enough to last until dinner time.
I'm afraid we are a family of grazers, and we almost never have a three-course dinner (unless we have guests).

Naturelly is a mix of juice with a special gelatine free jelly made from Lily plants called Gellan Gum. It provides a natural dietary fibre, and by mixing it with fruit juice it helps stop cravings for sugary snacks.

Naturelly jelly juice comes in three fruity flavours: Summer Fruits, Totally Tropical and Apple & Blackcurrant. The pouches are easy to squeeze and slurp from, they are just right for little hands.

Parents will appreciate that Naturelly snacks are made without added sugar, sweeteners, artificial colours or flavours and preservatives. Only natural goodness for our little ones.
Each pouch provides 36kcal and 7g of naturally occurring fruit sugar.
These light pouches are great for carrying around in a lunch box, or consumed on the go, when your kids are feeling peckish.

We kept the last pouch for yesterday's Sports Day at Eddie's school, as they were supposed to have a picnic outdoors. Alas, the Sports event was cancelled due to the inclement weather. But Eddie enjoyed his Naturelly jelly juice, having a picnic in the school hall.

If you like the sound of Naturelly jelly snacks, you can try a pouch for free. Buy any flavour from Boots and claim your money back online. There's 5000 to give away this summer. Offer ends on 31 August 2017. Only 1 free Naturelly product per person.

Lovely people from Naturelly have also offered a giveaway prize for my blog readers.
One lucky blog reader will win a month's supply of Naturelly - that's 36 pouches of deliciousness.

To be in with a chance of winning, please enter via Rafflecopter form.

T&Cs:
The giveaway is open to the UK residents only.
Once the Rafflecopter picks the winner, I will contact them regarding address details, if they do not reply within 28 day, the prize will be allocated to another person.
Please don't forget to leave a comment, as it is the only mandatory step, I will make sure the winner selected by Rafflecopter has complied with T&Cs.
The prize will be posted by Naturelly.
Giveaway ends on 18 July 2017 (midnight).


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Odds and ends flapjacks

I've been rummaging through my kitchen cupboards, checking what needs to be eaten, what has to be thrown. I had the remains of peanut butter in a jar and coconut oil, literally a few tablespoons left over, then the end of the ground almonds packet and the remains of brown sugar with stevia. I also had an overripe banana - not enough for a banana cake, but might do for flapjacks.
There was a box of MOMA bircher muesli (raspberry & coconut) in the latest Degustabox, which I thought would be a great base for flapjacks. These are quick gluten free oats with fruit and seeds including raisins, dried apple pieces, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut flakes and dessicated coconut, raspberries and blackcurrants.

Odds and ends flapjacks
Ingredients:
1 ripe banana, mashed
70g brown sugar (with Stevia)
3tbsp maple syrup
3tbsp peanut butter
4tbsp coconut oil
20g ground almonds
200g oats (bircher muesli)
50g strong white bread flour
50g walnuts, chopped

Preheat the oven to 180C.
Mash a ripe banana with a fork in a medium mixing bowl. Add sugar, maple syrup, peanut butter, coconut oil, ground almonds, oats, flour and chopped walnuts and mix well, until you get a sticky ball. Slightly oil the brownie 20x20 tin and put the mix into the tin, flattening it with a fork, and evening it. Make sure the ends are filled in evenly. Place the tin in the oven and bake for 25 minutes until golden on top.
Make the indentation marks with a knife on the flapjacks while the mass is still warm Once cooled a bit, cut with a knife into rectangular or square slices.

Despite the fact it was all bits and bobs, it is a very tasty flapjack. You don't need a lot of butter to bind the oats, as you use a banana. I've seen some recipes online for flapjacks where they use 250g of butter, that's way too much.

I think any flavour bircher muesli will work in this recipe. Or plain oats, with a handful of dried fruit or coconut flakes. Ground almonds could be swapped for dessicated coconut, maple syrup substituted by golden syrup or healthier date or carob syrup. The possibilities and combinations of flavours are endless.

Adding this recipe to #KitchenClearout linky hosted by Cheryl from Madhouse Family Reviews.

Oral-B Pro 2500 Electric Toothbrush

Do you love travelling? Are you a pro when it comes to packing suitcases?
When you're travelling with a family, luggage space is at a premium. So many things to take with you: clothes, medication, toys, books, gadgets etc. Having a child with special needs means we also have to carry food that our son would eat, so one of our suitcases has a couple of spacious insulated freezer bags which  food.
Typically I take regular manual toothbrushes and toothpaste with us, as I just don't have any extra space for an electric toothbrush and also worry that it might get broken during the trip.
The Oral-B Pro 2500 electric toothbrush, however, comes with a free travel case for compact storage which helps keep it safe. The travel case is sleek enough to be slipped inside the suitcase.

Inside the box you will find a brush, a brush head, a sturdy plastic travel case, a stand with a 2-pin charging cable and an instructions leaflet.
Oral-B Pro 2500 comes in either black or pink.

Most of the electric toothbrushes do a better job of cleaning teeth than a manual one.

What makes Oral-B 2500 different? It's the professionally inspired design of the CrossAction toothbrush. Its bristles are angled at 16 degrees, so it surrounds each tooth you work on, by giving it a thorough 3d cleaning action. It reaches deep between teeth, it rotates, oscillates and pulsates.
If you press your toothbrush too hard, the visible pressure sensor lights up.
It works in two modes - daily clean (comprehensive everyday cleaning) and gum care (it gently stimulates gums).
It also has an in-built timer which would help you to brush your teeth for the recommended 2 minutes. The timer buzzes every 30 seconds to alert you to move to another part of the mouth.

The toothbrush is easy to use. As Oral-B offers a good choice of replacement heads, the Oral-B Pro 2500 is compatible with a wide range of toothbrush heads. To maintain a high level of hygiene and cleanliness, it is recommended to change the toothbrush heads every 3-4 months.

A fully charged Oral-B Pro 2500 electric toothbrush lasts for up to 7 days with regular use. That's again a bonus when you travel.

You might consider buying a 2 to 3-pin/prong adaptor plug. Since we travel quite often, we have plenty of these adaptors, but you might need to get one in case your bathroom doesn't have a 2 pin plug port.

I have already been using an Oral-B electric toothbrush in the past, a different model, and was interested to compare the results. Oral-B Pro 2500 works very effectively. My teeth feel cleaner.
If you compare the electric toothbrush to a manual one, the effect is almost immediate, as the quality of cleaning is superior.

For useful tips and advice on oral care visit Pure Smiles.

Disclosure: I received the toothbrush for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are my own.

Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz

"Heinz beans made their UK debut in 1886. Little wonder that, 130 years later, its baked beans remain the nation's favourite.
The recipe has evolved over time (pork was dropped during WWII), but Heinz still sells 1.5 tins of beans a day in the UK, and domninates 65-70% of the British market" (The Guardian, 27 April 2016)

That's a whole sea of beans. Difficult to imagine such a huge number of tins. Baked beans is not a food I was familiar with, growing up as a child in the Soviet Union. I most likely first tried it in my 20s, when I arrived to the UK as a student. One of the girls with whom I shared the house, used to have beans on toast for dinner almost daily.
I can't say I often buy them, but I do enjoy beans as part of the full English breakfast. I sometimes fancy a little bit of beans, and would have them for lunch with a side dish of roast tomatoes and mushrooms. Add sausages or a bacon rasher, and it's a proper feast.

Full English breakfast, minus bacon and fried bread

This January Heinz has launched No Added Sugar Beanz, a brand new variety of beans, which is available in supermarkets from February.

The new variety will sit alongside standard Heinz Beanz.

"With 34% of the UK households cutting back on eating sugary foods too often and, of those, 92% trying to actively reduce the amount of sugar in the foods they buy, it is clear that Brits are becoming increasingly concerned with overall sugar consumption".
The new recipe from Heinz will replace the 50% Less Sugar variety.

The amount of hidden sugar in many products is quite scary. As a consumer I am all in favour of famous brands working on the issue and introducing products with less or no sugar.

Heinz Beanz are naturally high in protein and fibre and low in fat, gluten free and vegetarian friendly. They also contribute to one of five a day.
Another plus - No Added Sugar Beanz is produced with 25% less salt than standard Heinz Beanz.

Francesca Mattiussi from Heinz Beans comments: "With health concerns high in consumers' minds, we are delighted to launch a No Added Sugar variety to meet the needs of families across the country that are looking for even lower sugar options. We have dedicated years of expertise to carefully crafting the new and delicious Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz without compromising on the much loved great taste of Heinz".

Where does the sweet note in No Added Sugar beans come from? These beans are naturally sweetened with stevia plant extracts.

Heinz No Added Sugar Beanz are available in different sizes, cans, multipacks and snap pots.

I received several tins of new beans to try. As I'm not a big expert on baked beans, I shared tins with my friends and asked them to give me feedback, which was all very positive.

I probably should have done a blind test, and compared the new variety with the original one, but it does taste very similar.

How often do you eat baked beans?

Disclosure: I received several tins of No Added Sugar Beanz for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are our own.

Itsu Crispy Seaweed Thins and Miso

Dry January, Veganuary, any other new year's resolution, you name it, I haven't joined in.
While it makes sense for many people to begin a new year with a series of resolutions, I'm in the grumpy old women's club, thinking January is miserable enough without giving up nice food and drink.
I looked today at a row of healthy kale and chia seeds smoothies at Waitrose, and found them very depressing. For me that would be like a punishment.
I'm all for healthy food, but it has to taste good.
When you are feeling peckish, it is not easy to resist temptation, and reach for the tin of biscuits or a box of chocolates, open a bag of crisps or salted nuts.

Itsu Crispy Seaweed Thins are my latest addiction. I have first come across them last July, when there were a couple of seaweed thins in Degustabox food box. Since then, I've been buying them regularly (found in Waitrose, Sainbury's, Tesco etc) .
They are tasty, and they are healthy. Hallelujah! I'm happy to eat them any time of the year, not just January when people are encouraged to eat healthy meals and snacks.

Itsu Crispy Seaweed Thins which come in three flavours - sea salt, sweet soy & sea salt and wasabi - are new vegetable crisps. One pack provides 22-24 kcal which makes it an ideal snack for anyone on a diet.

Seaweed is set to be the superfood of 2017. As Jamie Oliver says, seaweed is "like dynamite - fibre, nutrients, all the minerals, aids digestion - unbelievable!"
While I'm not sure about the dynamite reference, I'm a big fan of seaweed. When I was a child, my Mum used to buy tinned seaweed salad, and I loved it. I have never been able to find anything like that in the UK.

Seaweed, the green superfood is naturally packed with nutrients, zinc, iron and B vitamins. It's a great source of iodine. The seaweed for this snack is harvested from the crystal clear seas around South Korea.
The thins melt on the tongue, leaving a flavour of the sea in your mouth.
These snacks are low calorie (22-24), so basically guilt-free. And they are highly addictive. I can easily eat the whole packet of 3 mini boxes in one go, so have to limit my intake at one 5g packet per day.

I have tried all three flavours, and sea salt is my top favourite.

Nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed helped to create an Eat Beautiful Report for itsu. According to the report, 31% of the UK's new year's resolutions in 2017 will be eat healthier.
"Japanese life expectancy is currently one of the longest in the world and their dietary habits are often heralded as part of the reaso for this long lifespan", says Charlotte.
The traditional Japanese diet features plenty of nutrient-dense foods particularly seaweed and miso.

Itsu miso soup is an instant miso made from soya paste with seaweed and soy sauce. It contains 42-44 calories per serving.

Miso soup is a great lunch option. Itsu miso soups come in convenient pouches. All you need is squeeze the paste in a mug and pour boiling hot water, stir it and the soup is ready.
Miso soup is a fermented food and a great boost of protein (especially important for people on vegetarian and vegan diets).
 Charlotte says: "Many people are unaware that although low in calories and fat, miso soup is also high in protein, which is important for muscle and bone health. As well as containing protein, soya beans are a good source of fibre, vitamins and minerals".

I do enjoy miso in a mug, though I am not going to swap a cup of coffee for miso. When I want a coffee, I want a coffee, and miso soup is not a substitute. As a lunch meal, it's perfectly fine.

Itsu miso is a paste rather than powder (like some other brands of miso soup), which gives it a much fuller flavour and lovely texture. I love the seaweed pieces floating in the soup. Add a little bit of shrimps which are naturally low in calories, some shredded Chinese leaf or Savoy cabbage, and you get quite a substantial meal.

Two years ago, when I was on a 5:2 diet, I often had miso soup for lunch, with shredded cabbage and chopped quorn sausages and a sprinkling of chopped spring onions. Add a rice cake (28kcal), and the total lunch would be less than 150kcal.

Miso soup with shredded Chinese leaf

You can also use these pouches of miso soup as ingredients for cooking.
Cheryl from Madhouse Family Reviews has recently cooked a stir-fried miso turkey breast with bok choi. It is a healthy and tasty recipe. Inspired by Cheryl, I am going to cook chicken stir fry with miso tonight.

Miso chicken stir fry with Chinese leaf and rice noodles

To learn more about the itsu range, visit Itsugrocery.

Disclosure: I received a selection of itsu products for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are my own.