Health and Food

Health & Food Articles

Passionfruit: Small fruit, big benefits

27 Feb 26

Wrinkled on the outside, vibrant and jewel-like inside, passionfruit is one of New Zealand’s most distinctive summer fruits. Beyond its distinctive aroma and tangy sweetness, passionfruit offers impressive nutritional benefits, as Paula Sharp elaborates.

Soil & Health Auckland – Meeting Announcement

07 Feb 26

Come and hear Savannah Carter-Green talk to the Auckland branch of Soil & Health

Summer’s juiciest hydrator

30 Jan 26

Few foods say ‘New Zealand summer’ quite like watermelon. Crisp, refreshing and naturally sweet, the watermelon is more than a picnic staple: it’s a nutritional ally for hydration, heart health and skin vitality. Eat it by the slice or in these recipes Paula Sharp shares: in a salad with and feta, or in a slushie.

Small, sweet, and mighty

18 Dec 25

Nutritional therapist Paula Sharp enthuses about the nutrition and flavour of the humble potato when in its seasonal ‘new’ incarnation, and shares a delicious potato salad recipe.

Sopa de Tortilla – Tortilla Soup

28 Nov 25

This tortilla soup is from the book Provecho: Real Mexican Food and Home. The recipe is simple but delicious, combining the different textures of crispy tortilla strips, soft avocado, chewy cheese and a dollop of cream, with a rich and flavourful tomato base.

Cherries on top

28 Nov 25

Cherries – a small but mighty gift from the orchard, and one of the most nutrient-dense fruits of the season! Nutritional therapist Paula Sharp shares her nutritional knowledge and two delicious recipes: fresh cherry, rocket and almond salad; and warm spiced cherry compote.

Strawberries: Sweet, sustainable, and full of summer joy

30 Oct 25

Few fruits capture the feeling of summer like strawberries. Their vibrant red colour, delicate fragrance, and juicy sweetness make them one of our favourite seasonal fruits. Beyond their taste and beauty, strawberries have a rich history, impressive nutrition profile, and are easy to grow, as nutritional therapist Paula Sharp writes.

Asparagus in season: From garden to table

24 Sep 25

Few vegetables announce spring quite like asparagus. With its tender green spears and delicate flavour, asparagus is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated seasonal treasures. Paula Sharp introduces this spring star, including gardening tips, recipes and nutritional benefits.

Broccoli: A Winter Hero

27 Aug 25

Nutritional therapist Paula Sharp introduces broccoli, a winter hero, including gardening tips, recipes and nutritional benefits.

When Green Cleaning Turns Toxic

27 Aug 25

‘Chemical poisoning’ is how a long-time cleaner describes her severe reactions to using workplace cleaning products she thought would be safe. J Simons talks with Emma (name changed for privacy) to find out more.

Love leeks!

29 Jul 25

Nutritional therapist Paula Sharp loves leeks. Here she introduces this often unsung hero, including gardening tips, recipes and nutritional benefits.

The Gut Microbiome

10 Jul 25

One of the most complex systems supporting your health isn’t your brain, heart, or even your immune system – it’s your gut microbiome. Paula Sharp, nutritional therapist, finds out why this internal ecosystem is hailed by scientists as key to health research.