Foodie Friday | Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce review

Calling all my fellow hot sauce fans, this post is especially for you! Add lots of flavour and that all-important HEAT to your favourite dishes with these tasty offerings from Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce.

Hot sauce is one of those essentials that you'll always find in my fridge. In fact, you'll always find a mighty fine selection to choose from; I believe at last count, I had at least nine or ten different bottles opened! #sorrynotsorry

If hot sauce also equals life in your household, keep on scrolling to read more about Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce - my latest condiment obsession.

With its bright and colourful packaging and neat small glass bottles, Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce has got their branding on point. Needless to say, these award-winning hot sauces have gone from strength to strength since starting out back in 2013. Handmade with the utmost attention to flavour and that delicious heat, this small brand is based in Berlin and has been a firm favourite at the USA World Hot Sauce Awards and Britain's very own Great Taste Awards.

What sets Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce apart from the competition is the team's passion and dedication to bringing interesting flavour combinations to life, and their mission is to set your tastebuds on fire, one hot sauce at a time! 

With only the best high-quality ingredients and no additives, preservatives or sugar in their sauces, it's easy to see why Crazy Bastard Hot Sauce has grown so much in popularity over the past few years. 

Let's take a closer look at some of their bestselling flavours!

Like all well-rounded hot sauce brands, there is a wide range of flavours and different levels of heat to suit everyone; from those who just like a little kick of the hot stuff on their chips, to the serious chilli connoisseurs, you'll find something that's right for you.

Jalapeño & Date gets the party started with the lowest level of heat and the perfect balance of Jalapeños and Dates to give it a little sweetness. This is the kind of sauce that you can use on pretty much anything and everything. Scoville rating 3,000 SHU

Scotch Bonnet & Caribbean Spices offers a medium heat level with a zesty blend of Scotch Bonnets, Caribbean Spices, Garlic and Ginger. Usually, I'm not the biggest fan of Scotch Bonnets but this sauce is something different and very special from others that I've tried with no bitterness at all. Scoville rating 7,000 SHU

Chipotle & Pineapple is a really unique hot sauce with lots of smoky flavours, ideal for drizzling over grilled meats and veggies. Again, the Pineapple provides just enough sweetness to make it incredibly addictive! Scoville rating 10,000 SHU 

Habanero & Tomatillo is perhaps my personal favourite. This hot sauce is just utterly moreish with a bold flavour profile thanks to Habernero Chillies and ultra tangy Tomatillos. Scoville rating 25,000 SHU

Ghost Pepper & Mango leads the way to the hotter end of the chilli spectrum. Made with Bhut Jolokia Ghost Chillies and juicy Mangoes, it will add some serious heat to your favourite dishes and truly packs a punch! Scoville rating 30,000 SHU

Trinidad Scorpion & Clementine is one of the most unusual hot sauces that I have ever tried. Crafted with fiery Trinidad Scorpion Chillies and sweet Clementines, it's another great example of how to make a hot sauce that's tasty and complex, but without any bitterness or weird aftertaste. Scoville rating 50,000 SHU

Carolina Reaper & Blueberry is described as a 'flavour bomb' and well, that sums it up perfectly! Made with the world's hottest Carolina Reaper chilli peppers, the touch of Blueberries helps to balance out the flavour and surprisingly, it works beautifully. Scoville rating 65,000 SHU

Superhot Naga, not recommended for the faint of heart, this fermented creation is one of three different 'superhot' flavours which represent the brand's 'hottest ever sauces'. They're certainly not joking either. Made with a hell of a lot of Naga Bhut Jolokia Chillies, you'll also find White Wine Vinegar, Ginger, Garlic, Onion Powder, Madras Curry Powder and a touch of Salt in this complex but tasty blend. Add a little to your homemade curries/stir-fries/stews when you want to feel the burn! Scoville rating 250,000 SHU

Discover the full range at crazybsauce.co.uk

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Health & Lifestyle | Optibac Every Day, Adult Gummies & Intimate Flora For Women Probiotics review

There's not a day that seems to go past without someone mentioning how they are improving their Gut Health on social media, and this post is yet another reminder of how important it is to look after your gut. In addition to eating a wide variety of different foods, taking probiotic supplements can also help to boost the number of friendly bacteria that live in your gut, thus helping to revitalise your overall health in the process.

What Are Probiotics?

First things first though, what exactly are probiotics? Probiotics are the name for the numerous strains of live bacteria and yeasts that live in your body. They can be found in lots of different foods that are mainly fermented or cultured in some way such as sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, kombucha, miso, tempeh, and certain types of yogurts. If you eat a healthy plant-based diet, you're probably already consuming a lot of these! 

Why Do We Need Probiotics?

Probiotics are essential to supporting a healthy digestive system; one easy way to remember them is to think of them as the 'good guys' as they are the friendly bacteria that we need to keep our gut nice and balanced. Unfortunately, many of us don't eat a varied diet in the Western world, and things like alcohol and junk/ultra-processed foods can upset the delicate balance of the good versus bad bacteria in the gut. This imbalance can lead to digestive problems such as IBS and 'leaky gut' (where your body finds it difficult to retain essential vitamins and minerals), as well as issues with your immunity. 

On top of this, stress and antibiotics also cause gut imbalances, so much so, that countries such as Germany and Sweden often provide a course of probiotics when you're given a prescription of antibiotics to counterbalance the side effects on your gut. It's also a useful reminder to only take antibiotics when you absolutely have to. 

How Do Supplements Help?

Probiotic supplements can be a very useful way to top up the friendly good bacteria that your body needs but not all supplements are created equally, so make sure you read the label before purchasing. Brands such as Optibac offer expert advice online to help you to choose the formula that's right for your individual needs, and with a good range to choose from, there's something to suit everyone. Here are just three examples of what they have to offer your gut health, all of which are packaged in glass jars or compostable pouches. And for everyone who has a vagina, there's a specialist supplement just for you at the end of this post!

Optibac Every Day* (£12.99, 30 capsules, one month supply, link)

For a good all-rounder that will suit most people, Optibac Every Day is an excellent choice. This daily supplement contains six highly researched strains of friendly bacteria which have been proven to survive the acidity of the stomach so that you can properly reap the health rewards. These strains are Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11®, Lactobacillus acidophilus/helveticus Rosell-52, Bifidobacterium longum Rosell-175, Lactococcus lactis Rosell-1058, Bifidobacterium breve Rosell-70, and Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell-71. Optibac has also added FOS fibres which are scientifically proven to increase your natural gut bacteria. 

With five billion live cultures in each capsule, this supplement is vegetarian-friendly, yeast and gluten-free, contains no added sugars, is free from artificial colours, and is safe to consume during pregnancy. I've tried many probiotic supplements over the years from various brands and you really can't beat the price point vs quality from Optibac, making them the most affordable in the market.  

How to use: take one capsule per day in the morning, ideally with breakfast. Can be increased to two capsules a day if professionally recommended and is suitable for ongoing use.

 

Optibac Adult Gummies* (£12.99, 30 gummies, one month supply, link)

If you're not keen on taking capsules or have difficulty swallowing them, the Optibac Adult Gummies are a brilliant alternative. These gummies have a delicious mixed berry flavour, are gluten-free, contain no added sugar and have no artificial sweeteners, colours or preservatives. They are also Vegan approved so there's no nasty gelatine. This formula contains the scientifically proven strain Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2 and is combined with FOS fibres, Vitamin D, Zinc, and Calcium to provide a gut and immune health supplement all in one. Each gummy has five billion live cultures of the good stuff.

How to use: take one gummy per day, with or without food, do not exceed this recommended daily dosage. Can be used on an ongoing basis, but please consult with your GP/medical professional if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a serious medical condition before consuming.

Optibac Intimate Flora For Women* (£19.99, 30 capsules, one month supply, link)

Lastly, I wanted to feature the Optibac Intimate Flora For Women because I have personally found these so useful for helping me to lessen the number of UTIs (and to recover more quickly from) that I used to experience. If you have a vagina, you need to try these! This is a very specific and specially formulated supplement that contains friendly bacteria strains which are naturally found in the vagina and urinary tract; all of which have been scientifically researched and proven to reach the vagina, with over 30 years of research to back up this all-important formula to support the delicate balance of the vaginal microbiome. So to recap, this isn't one for your gut!

Each capsule boasts three strains; Lactobacillus paracasei F-19®, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®, and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® with 2.5 billion live cultures. As the bacteria in the vagina is different from the gut, it makes sense to support it with a specialist supplement, so you can take this alongside one of the other gut formulas above. These are vegan-friendly, gluten & yeast free, and suitable to take during pregnancy.

How to use: take one capsule per day in the morning, preferably with breakfast. You can take these on an ongoing basis or intensively to help rebalance your vaginal health if you have a UTI (if the latter, I would recommend increasing to two capsules per day which is what I have done in the past - and it worked really well for me!).

Shop the full range of Optibac supplements and take advantage of 15% discounts when you subscribe and save: optibacprobiotics.com/uk/

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Summer Beauty | Naturisimo - The Clean Beauty Travels Discovery Box - 2023 review

Clean beauty fans! The latest Naturisimo discovery box edit is an absolute steal and packed full of summer-friendly skincare that is simply perfect for your next holiday or weekend trip away. Worth £103, this Limited Edition selection features cruelty-free brand favourites such as REN and Indie Lee, and retails for just £24, whilst stocks last.

The Naturisimo Discovery Boxes are released as a one-off purchase (no subscription necessary) every month and each one has a different theme.  The last one that I bought was the Go Love Yourself Box which was a gorgeous pampering treat for Valentine's Day, and I'm a huge fan of their hugely popular Makeup Discovery Boxes which always sells out so fast!

Don't just take my word for it though; here's a rundown of everything that's inside the Clean Beauty Travels Discovery Box so that you can judge it for yourselves!

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser (travel size)

First up, you should always start off your skincare routine with a cleanser, and what better one to opt for than Indie Lee's bestselling Brightening Cleanser? This lush gel cleanser is packed full of antioxidants to brighten your complexion and it's perfect for the hot and sticky summer months. It also has a gorgeous texture that simply melts away all traces of makeup and impurities.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream (travel size)

I've used Balance Me's Wonder Eye Cream on and off for years and I'd have to rank it as one of my top 3 favourite eye creams of all time. Brilliant for gently brightening up the delicate undereye area, it goes on smoothly so concealer applies like a dream on top. And for my fellow hayfever sufferers, it's fantastic for de-puffing puffy eyes.

REN Global Protection Day Cream (full size)

Worth £42 on its own, this full-size of REN's Global Protection Day Cream is the undisputed star of the box and like the Balance Me Eye Cream above, it's another product that I have enjoyed using over the years. It's incredibly rare to find a face cream that works for all skin types, but somehow REN has managed to create an amazing 'fits all' formula here that keeps everyone's skin healthy and hydrated.

Everyday Humans Resting Beach Face SPF 30 Serum (travel size)

A new-to-me brand, Everyday Humans have been getting a lot of hype online recently for their Resting Beach Face SPF 30 Serum and here you can try it for yourselves! Sunscreen serums are a fab alternative for those who hate the feeling of thick or sticky SPFs as it feels almost weightless and sinks into the skin quickly without any greasy feeling. 

Madara Age-Defying Face Sunscreen SPF 30 (travel size)

Tinted sunscreens have come on leaps and bounds in the clean beauty world, so if you're the kind of person who loves that fresh 'no-makeup makeup' look, Madara's Age-Defying Face Sunscreen SPF 30 is the one for you. This mineral SPF protects against UVA and UVB rays and the tinted shade ensures that you don't have any problems with the common white cast that's associated with most sunscreens, making it ideal for all your holiday selfies.

Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30 (travel size)

OK, so we all know the importance of reapplying sunscreen every two hours whilst we're out and about, but in all honesty, how many of us actually do this? Fret not though because Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30 has your back! This ultra-handy handbag-sized spray allows you to top up throughout the day to make sure that your skin is fully protected without you having to reapply your makeup.

Aromatherapy Associates Revive Bath & Shower Oil (travel size)

Treat yourself to some serious luxury pampering whilst you're away with this mini Aromatherapy Associates Revive Bath & Shower Oil. Regular readers will know that I'm a huge fan of these bath oils and have been using them since forever so I was thrilled to have another travel-size bottle to add to my stash. No bath in your hotel room? Don't worry, you can use this in the shower; just apply it directly to your body, breathe in that beautiful natural scent, and rinse off.

Rahua Enchanted Island Shampoo & Conditioner (travel size)

Last, but not least, there's a travel-size duo of Rahua Enchanted Island Shampoo & Conditioner to complete your beauty carry-on bag. I love Rahua haircare and I haven't tried out this new Enchanted Island range yet so I'm looking forward to giving these a go on my next weekend away. Formulated without any nasties such as silicones or sulfates, they promise to leave your hair luxuriously soft and shiny.

Naturisimo Clean Beauty Travels Discovery Box retails for £24 whilst stocks last - grab yours today at naturisimo.com

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