Marjoram is one of those herbs which isn’t talked about much, but we all eat it. I promise we do! If you have a pot of dried ‘Mixed herbs’ from any of the supermarkets, it will almost certainly contain marjoram- great for circulation, warming up and energising during dark days.

Parsley is well-known for its ability to bring on menses, so is good for those who are peri-menopausal and experiencing long waits for their periods. Talking of menopause, parsley is extremely good at helping the body absorb manganese. This helps the body to build bone- something that famously declines after menopause. So, eating parsley regularly is something those with aging bones may want to consider ;)

The sourness is important in stimulating the digestive system. It lubricates and dislodges stagnant food in the gut, reducing heaviness. The sweetness moisturises and revives, quenching thirst and grounding mood.

Pears are particularly good for PMT and related physical aches and pains, post-partum constipation, as well as peri-menopause and menopausal irritability and ‘heat’.

If your children are snotty, try celery. If you have kidney stones, try celery. If you want to lose a bit of weight around the middle, try celery. If you’re pre-diabetic, try celery. If you have high blood pressure or other cardiovascular issues, try celery.

Understanding that their taste (guna) is sweet and sour leads us to see that whilst cherries are beneficial for Vata and Kapha types, Pitta types may want to stay away.

Chives animate the appetite and promote digestion, something really important during the Spring as our bodies prepare themselves for the heat of the Summer whilst trying to rid ourselves of the last of the Winter.

Amaranth is great as it’s extremely high in protein as well as being gluten-free. It has a nutty, smoky, quinoa-ish taste to it and a natural sweetness. It has that little crunch I’m always looking for, but is also soft and easy for the body to digest.

A nutty, smoky flavour and a grain which is easily digested, what’s not to love? There’s nothing freaky about freekeh!

Had a cold since Christmas? Cloves may show you some love where it’s most needed.

Put simply, when spinach travels through the digestive tract, it picks up things that have been hanging around there for a while causing a nusiance, and carries them with it, bulking up the stool but simultaneously making it easier to pass.

So simple, so beautiful, so GOOD FOR WOMEN!

As with most nuts, chestnuts are warming. They are also (as the name suggests!) sweet and extremely nourishing. This essentially means that they are a kind of tonic- they help to strengthen, build, rebuild and nourish the body. Our bodies are best at responding to tonics during the Winter months, and so once again we have another example of nature providing exactly what we need at exactly the right time of year.

I’d argue that it isn’t just the children who get a little bit weird when the wind whips up. We all do! Lots of talking, lots of fast walking, lots of forgetfulness, lots of hurrying, lots of wishing we were somewhere else. That’s where cooking root vegetables come in.

Personally, I love the whole romance and tradition around figs. The forbidden fruitness of them- the figleaves covering up naughty bits on statues, the fact that they feature in both the Bible and the Qu’ran. There is an air of sacredness around them that I just adore. They are said to be ‘good for men’ and ‘good for women’ in many traditions around the world, not just in Ayurveda…

A detoxifying, cleansing treat, great for the liver and blood as well as reducing gas, bloating and being deeply nourishing, these are FREE and available for a LIMITED PERIOD ONLY! Get blackberrying!

Easily hit ten of your ‘thirty a week’ (the new ‘5 a day) with this veggie and coconut white rice dish. Alternatively, use a wholegrain and tick yet another one off the plant food list!

Detoxifying yet nourishing, a stripper-awayer but a builder-upper. Fennel is great for this weird weather and change in the seasons. It’s also a secret crowd pleaser too!

Cleansing yet nourishing. It reduces the ‘heat’ of the Summer whilst grounding us in readiness for Autumn. What’s not to love?

Anjali mudra, prayer position, Namaste greeting, salutation to friends and the sun. Why is this so soothing, and why have so many of us stopped doing it?