THE FEED

Food fraud is a growing concern in the global food industry. Food fraud occurs when food is deliberately adulterated, mislabeled, or misrepresented for financial gain. This can occur at any point in the supply chain, from the farm to the grocery store. The impact of food fraud can be devastating, causing harm to public health, economic damage, and damage to the reputation of food producers and suppliers.

It’s no secret that plastic pollution is a problem of pandemic proportion! An estimated 11 million tons of plastic enter our oceans each year from the environment via rivers - and the trend is rising.

Eating 3 meals a day used to be the norm, but as lifestyles have evolved over the years we have less and less time to eat such big meals across the day, so we turn to snacks to help keep us fuelled through the day. 

It’s no surprise to see your appetite spike when your nutrition isn’t consistent, but what if you feel you’re doing (and eating) all the right things, and you’re still ravenous? Our appetite is controlled by a variety of factors, and whilst cultivating consistent and healthful food habits is one of the most important ways to stabilise cravings, there are other non-food factors that come into play.

At TYME, we focus on keeping you fuelled, healthy and happy from 6 AM to 6 PM but what about from 6 PM onwards?  Here we share some research into plant-based evenings and the benefits of eating lighter at night, plus some exclusive plant-based dinner recipes from ARTAH’s founder and nutritional therapist Rhian Stephenson.

Water, the lifeblood of everything in our solar system, it makes up about 71% of the Earth and approximately 60% of the human body. Our relationship with water is essential to our existence yet in a busy world of double-shot macchiatos and work schedules, keeping hydrated is often the last thing on our minds. 

We are constantly on the hunt for innovative ways to enhance our health and well-being. We've already delved into the benefits of cold exposure, and now it's time to turn up the heat and discuss heat therapy through infrared saunas.

Have you ever been lured in by a food product's health claims or wellness-washed packaging, only to find out that it's not as healthy as it seems? You're not alone. The trend of wellness washing has taken over the food industry and it's becoming harder to decipher what's truly healthy and what's just marketing tactics.

Tackling food waste is an important step as we fight for a more sustainable future. Food waste contributes to world hunger, increased packaging, and pollution. But it doesn't have to be the case! We can make a real difference by focusing on eating mindfully, learning how to store food properly, making more meals at home and saving leftovers.

As London continues to grow and evolve, so too do our methods of producing fresh, healthy food. Enter vertical farming – the cutting-edge solution to feeding a bustling metropolis. By stacking layers upon layers of crops in a controlled environment, vertical farms are able to produce an abundance of fresh produce right in the heart of the city. Say goodbye to long transportation times and hello to fresh, locally grown greens. And the best part? It's all done with minimal impact on the environment. 

If you’ve not heard of cold-water swimming, you’ve likely been living under a rock for the past few years. Year-round thousands of people nationwide have taken to lakes, rivers and the sea for a quick dip in the ice-cold water. You might have also heard of the infamous Wim Hof - the man who summitted Everest in shorts and ran a half marathon above the Arctic Circle barefoot, otherwise known as ‘Iceman’.

For most people, the choice to adopt a vegan diet generally stems from one or a combination of 3 causes: their health, the environment and animal welfare. 

Soil plays a very important role in the long-term sustainability of any farm. It is, in essence, the foundation that holds everything together. You've heard it before — organic food is good for you. But what does organic mean, exactly? The movement has been instrumental in making society think more about the food we eat, the products we buy and the impact these have on our world. In ode to World Soil Day which was on Monday, let’s find out the implications of organic farming vs conventional farming, why it’s important and what you can do to help. 

Low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) are becoming more and more widely used by the food industry to create sweet food and drink products that clock in at much lower sugar and calories than their traditional counterparts. LCS can be artificial (e.g aspartame) or natural (e.g stevia) but their common feature is that they are hundreds of times sweeter than normal sugar and have a negligible caloric content. This makes them a good option for those who are looking to lose weight or manage diseases like diabetes as it means they can still enjoy sweet treats and consume less sugar. 

Note From the Founders

As I’m sure for most people that have chosen to stop eating meat have experienced, one of the most common responses is one of great concern of your protein intake. However, as many of us veg fanatics know, this isn’t quite such a challenge as it seems. 

Everyday more and more consumers want to know how their food choices impact the planet, and rightly so since food contributes 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions and is the biggest cause of biodiversity loss. Yet, it is still proving very difficult for them to access such information without falling into the trap of greenwashing or having to scan through very confusing and over-complicated information. 

As I’m sure you already know, sleep is a vital component of the interconnected biochemical system we call the human body. You may have felt that deep struggle to get out of bed after a bad night sleep or the need for a mid-afternoon coffee to see you through to the end of the day. But what you might not realize is the effect that a bad nights’ sleep (or 3 or 4) has on what and how much you eat.

Organic foods are tightly regulated in the UK by the Soil Association who set restrictions around what can and cannot be classed as an organic product. When it comes to fruit and vegetables, their organic nature is mostly certified by their use of only natural fertilisers and pesticides in their cultivation and also their regenerative farming methods. Whereas, with non-organic grown produce, farmers are permitted to use a much broader selection of fertilisers and pesticides. However, these are all only at levels that are deemed safe by various regulatory bodies.

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at TYME.  We have created a product that is not only good for your health, but good for the planet too. That is why we use 100% responsible sourced plant-based ingredients and 100% recyclable packaging.

The narrative, especially across social media and the fitness community, tells of simple weight loss via a calorie deficit, calories in versus calories out. Basic laws of thermodynamics. Although this is  fundamentally true, as science is increasingly showing, such a simple equation isn’t always so straight forward. 

What are Omegas?

“Regenerative Agriculture describes farming and grazing practices that, among other benefits, reverse climate change by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring degraded soil biodiversity – resulting in both carbon drawdown and improving the water Cycle.” - Regeneration International

Note From the Founders

Cities produce a lot of waste. From residents’ rubbish, to restaurant’s food, retailers’ packaging… the list goes on. So it’s no surprise that local authorities around the world are under a lot of pressure to best decide how to best get rid of waste. 

You’ve heard of Western medicine, and no doubt you’ve heard of Chinese medicine. But have you heard of Indian medicine, otherwise known as ayurvedic medicine? It’s actually one of the world's oldest holistic healing systems, and has been practised for more than 3,000 years.

TYME's Alfred Backhouse, who is currently studying Computer Science at Oxford University, shares his thoughts on diet culture and how to keep things simple. 

You’ve probably heard of meal replacement drinks  - but what are they? 

The team at TYME recently visited Groundswell, a gathering of the best minds in the business, where those working in food and farming could gain an insight into regenerative agriculture, and how it plays a role in improving the food we eat. 

Can a healthy diet equal a healthy mind?

Fibre might not be the sexiest word in the language of food – but it’s one of the most crucial.

What is urban farming?

It’s easy to assume that the journey the food in our fridge takes to get to us consists of a ten-minute drive from the supermarket. However, the foods we eat have more complex stories behind them.

What’s so special about mushrooms?

During the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more of us took to growing food in our own backyards, literally. Many believe there was also a renewed appreciation for our local communities, too, since many of us were unable to venture much further away for months on end.

Prebiotics are one of the many things we can make a conscious effort to include in our diets. There’s mounting research on their many health benefits – but what, exactly, are they, and how can they help us? 

The plant-based diet has gone from fringe to mainstream over the last decade. It used to be almost impossible to find a decent plant-based option on menus, but now, there are entire supermarket aisles, restaurants and even festivals dedicated to the meat-free diet. 

It’s safe to say we’re all pretty much running at an energy deficit – with long, demanding working weeks, and all the other responsibilities we have around that.

Colds and minor viruses are an unfortunate part of life, especially in winter. A lot of us will up our orange juice intake as the nights draw in, in the hope it helps our immune systems stay fighting fit to battle off any threatening germs.

Hydroponic farming is the process of growing inside in water rather than soil. It’s truly the definition of zero waste. We visited our suppliers: Harvest London to find out more about growing produce in a hydroponic farm and what that means for TYME products.

By definition this means that we meet the highest standards of social and environmental impact. Find out what this means and why we are so excited to join the B Corp club  

As you may have seen the IPCC released a report, summing up work from over 14,000 research papers on our changing climate, with one conclusion - we need to act now. On The Feed this week we unpack the key findings from the report and help you to reduce your personal emissions.

The UN Environment Programme has published a vital report: Preventing the next Pandemic, Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission. The findings outline seven major human-mediated factors that will be most likely to result in the next pandemic including: increasing demand for animal protein, unsustainable  agricultural intensification, exploitation of wildlife, travel and transport, accelerated urbanisation, changes in food supply chains and climate change. We take a closer look at four of these factors that are central to what we do here at TYME. 

Your monthly edit of everything food, science, nutrition and impact. Curated articles, films, podcasts and must-read books that the team at TYME are hungrily discussing. 

This week on The Feed we are highlighting five key environmental thinkers, doers and changemakers. Our list showcases some of the most influential people within the climate movement whose missions have inspired many around the globe. These leaders have voices that demand to be heard and stories that need to be followed, see our list below to find out more: 

Hedgerows are one of our most easily encountered wildlife habitats and are a vital part of our landscape. We are witnessing a dramatic reduction of healthy hedgerows in the UK and we want to share why these hidden habitats need urgent protection.

Beans, beans, good for your heart, the more you eat the more…likely you are to live a long and healthy life? This week on The Feed we are delving deeper into this common store cupboard ingredient and uncovering the incredible nutritional properties that may just help you to live for longer.

Your monthly edit of everything food, science, nutrition and impact. Curated articles, films, podcasts and must-read books that the team at TYME are hungrily discussing. 

Peatlands are a type of wetlands which are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth: they are critical for preserving global biodiversity, provide safe drinking water, minimise flood risk and actively help address climate change. Peat bogs are suffering from a severe lack of awareness, we are here to give you insight into why protecting peatlands could be key to the future of the planet: 

Ever wondered why breakfast is referred to as the most important meal of the day? The clue is in its name: we’re advised to eat it to break our overnight fast and it’s this process that boosts our energy levels and restores our glycogen levels to keep our metabolism healthy. Find out how a substantial breakfast can help you to make smart food choices and fuel your body:

Introducing: Foodsteps, a platform revolutionising the food industry with environmental impact assessments and sustainability solutions for food businesses like TYME. We sat down with Anya Doherty, Founder & CEO of Foodsteps to find out more:

The word ‘flexitarian’ was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2014 and according to YouGov analysis, 14 per cent of Brits identify as flexitarian. This is twice the number of people who say they follow a plant-based, vegetarian or pescatarian diet. However choosing to swap a few meals a week and eating more plants can have a significant impact, find out how:

Your monthly edit of everything food, science, nutrition and impact. Curated articles, films, podcasts and must-read books that the team at TYME are hungrily discussing.

Your brain is always on, it works hard 24/7, even while you’re asleep. This means your brain requires a constant supply of fuel. That fuel comes from the foods you eat and the types of food you eat directly affects the structure and function of your brain. Find out the five science-backed ingredients that will support your brain health.

Avocados have gained immense popularity over recent years, linked to a healthy lifestyle and fuelled by food trends, worldwide demand has grown at an average annual rate of 14% since 1990. But the story of how these much-loved fruits end up on your plate is often overlooked, we delve deeper into the truth and share how to source responsibly.

Your monthly edit of everything food, science, nutrition and impact. Curated articles, films, podcasts and must-read books that the team at TYME are hungrily discussing.

In support of Earth Day 2021, we are discussing the soil crisis, the importance of understanding carbon and the part it plays in the future of food systems. When it comes to the role of carbon on Earth, there’s often a lot of confusion. We breathe the gas out, and plants breathe it in. We also make carbon by burning fossil fuels. But carbon isn’t bad, it is in fact the basis for all life on Earth and desperately needs protecting.

Today, 60% of the plant-derived calories that we eat come from rice, maize and wheat, which means it is time to diversify. Farmers in the UK are diversifying their crops away from processed or refined grains into what we know as ‘ancient grains.’ These grains have not undergone any selective breeding for centuries and have an incredible range of health benefits. 

If you are confused about calories, you’re definitely not alone. What we choose to put on our plates may have the biggest impact, but there are other factors that play a part in your keeping your body healthy. Low, high or empty, your body needs energy to function but it is important to know that not all calories are created equally. In this need-to-know summary we debunk all the myths.

Your monthly edit of everything food, science, nutrition and impact. Curated articles, films, podcasts and must-read books that the team at TYME are hungrily discussing.

Your body is made up of around ten trillion cells, but you harbour a hundred trillion bacteria. For every gene in your genome, there are 100 bacterial ones. This is your ‘microbiome’ and it has a huge impact on your health, your ability to digest food and more.

Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. But in fact 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water. It is scientifically proven that if you switch to a mainly plant-based diet you will actively counter this. That’s why we are outlining the link between food systems and water scarcity in support of World Water Day 2021.

Nearly one in five farmers are women, with the number rising all the time. From all walks of life and involved in sectors across the farming industry, there are thousands of women in the UK who are using their skills to educate and inform people about agriculture. In support of International Women's Day we are highlighting five female farmers who are growing real change within the industry.

We all want to eat better. But it’s tough. We don’t have the time, we don’t know where to start and, frankly, healthy food can feel a little bland. That’s why we created TYME.

It’s clear that we all need to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. We are running out of time, but there is still hope. One answer to the climate crisis is what we put on our plates...

We're on a mission, or maybe two...To make it easy for you to eat well. And to save the planet with plants.