Is this the answer to dodging superfoods’ rising price tags?

Growing your own: is this the answer to dodging superfoods’ rising price tags? The past few years has seen the phenomenal rise of the superfoods. Products such as kale, spinach, blueberries and flax seed have become incredibly popular. There is evidence to suggest that some of these superfoods, such as flax seed and wheat grass, can reduce risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Aloe Vera is also very popular as it offers unique benefits such as reducing liver damage and providing protection against dental cavities.

Fuelled by health bloggers such as Deliciously Ella and celebrities such as Miranda Kerr, Jessica Alba and Millie Mackintosh, the sale of superfoods has rocketed. Unfortunately for us, as the popularity of these superfoods has grown, so have the price tags. Craig Corbett, marketing manager at Alfresia.co.uk, says, ‘As a nation, we are becoming obsessed with discovering new and innovative ways to stay healthy, and also save money. Juicing has become a trend across the world, but the ingredients can often be expensive and once bought, can go out of date quickly.’

Growing trend

In an attempt to try this trend on a budget, a growing number of people have been donning their gardening gloves and growing their own superfoods. A survey by garden and conservatory furniture retailer, Alfresia.co.uk, has found that 26 per cent of British adults have grown superfoods such as flax seed, aloe vera and blueberries themselves in their garden, on their balcony or on windowsills.

There are so many benefits to growing your own produce, and smaller plants such as superfoods are a great place to start. The pros of growing plants such as kale and beetroot are endless. You have a great supply of fresh, healthy produce that you have nurtured yourself for a fraction of the price that supermarkets charge for them. Those who surveyed believed they saved around £250 per year (more than £20 per month) by growing their own superfoods in the garden. The beauty of these plants is that the majority of them are small enough to be grown even in the tiniest of gardens or on balconies and even in window boxes.

Flex your green fingers

‘By growing your own superfoods at home, you’re not only going to save heaps of cash but also you’ll have a fresh batch of superfood goodness at your fingertips almost all year round,’ says Craig. The survey also revealed the most popular superfoods to grow at home: kale came in top, with sweet potatoes and spinach standing at silver and bronze. Alfresia sells a wide range of garden and conservatory furniture at Alfresia.com, including the necessary equipment needed to get your superfood garden growing.