Seasonal eating: does it matter?

A BBC poll has revealed that fewer than one in 10 Brits know when some of the UK's most well-known fruit and vegetables are in season, and supermarkets do little to help. But would a strawberry at the Christmas table really be so out of place?

The rise and rise of sourdough bread

As evidence grows that slow-fermented bread may be easier to digest, nutrition historian Barbara Griggs looks back at its history and health benefits - and tries baking it

Why we should be concerned about the return of Victorian diseases

Official figures showing a rise in diseases linked to poverty, such as gout, TB, measles, malnutrition and whooping cough are a barometer of failure and neglect, says John Middleton

Herbal remedies? Now take healthier lessons from the land

Good health needs more than a bottle of lavender oil, argues the founder of Neal’s Yard Remedies, whose farm is designed to make bigger connections, as Barbara Griggs discovers

Make do and mend? Tips from the first world war

Butter from mashed potato to coal briquettes, the now revived culture of save and repair was grounded in the 1914-18 conflict, reveals Sarah Lonsdale

Beyond quinoa: five European grains to add to a healthy diet

While we're obsessed with trendy grains and life-changing superfoods from abroad, we often forget to look closer to home

Taste test: the best and worst non-alcoholic beers

Did any non-boozy pints prove a hit on the Guardian's newsdesk – or were they judged a poor substitute by our panel of beer aficionados? And how did the sneaky real beer fare?

The war on fat is over – and I won

Jay Rayner: The killjoys can eat humble pie. Dairy and red meat fats aren't bad for you – and now there are hard figures to back up the case I've been making for years

Why packaging can spoil the flavour of food – and how to avoid it

Amy Fleming: When your bottled water tastes like plastic, it may not mean you are swallowing toxic chemicals, but it's far from refreshing. Find out what jars, tins and bottles do to your food

Will eating organic food make you healthier?

A major new study has found that organic foods contain higher levels of antioxidants and less harmful chemicals. But does that mean they are better for you? With your help, Karl Mathiesen investigates.

OurChemist

Our Chemist – Health