Ah, Beanfreaks. This…read moreis the kind of shop that I think you have to grow into. Like mushrooms, coffee and red wine. It's an acquired taste, to be sure. After all, what kind of kid is going to get excited about beans and health food products? A scary kid, that's who. But now I find myself wandering in and perusing the shelves to have a gander at what they have on offer and feeling quite embarrassingly inspired to start up my new health regime. This shop is a treasure trove of all things healthy for adults. Because when you're an adult and finally understand that although green vegetables may not taste as nice as ice cream, they make you feel good in a very different way; different mainly because it is guilt free. Unless you stole the vegetables, of course. Then you might be an Extreme Beanfreak, and should distance yourself from allotments and groceries at all costs.

With a name like Beanfreaks, it's fairly obvious this is a health food shop. It's been in the same…read moreplace doing the same thing for years and years. If you're after vitamin pills, exercise supplements, natural skin care, herbal remedies, baby products, cosmetics or aromatherapy products, you can pick them up here. The rest of the shelves are full of all sorts of health foods including herbs, savoury foods such as pasta and sauces, noodles, vegetarian pate, spreads and honey, biscuits, dairy produce, pulses, nuts, dried fruits and bread. If you are vegan or have special dietary requirements, this is also your place. Personally if I go into this shop the one thing I can't come out without is some Mrs Crimble's Chocolate Macaroons - they may be far from the healthiest of products I could choose, but I'm pretty sure they're one of the most delicious!

Healthy eating seems to be all the rage these days (which is hardly a bad thing), but Whitchurch…read moreHealth Foods has been around long before we had celebrities declaring that they fit into that size zero dress purely through healthy eating (as if). As someone who is desperately trying to convert to a healthy diet, Whitchurch Health Foods makes the process far less daunting. The shop is full of yummy yet healthy treats (I still can't quite believe that healthy choc ices actually exist). Whilst the focus is unquestionably on food, it must be mentioned that they have a selection of toiletries made from natural sources (the Aloe Vera lip balm, is a personal fave of mine). The staff can appear slightly quiet, however the lady serving me recently, went out of her way to tell me that they had a very similar product to the one I was buying, on sale at a reduced price (very kind).

I called in yesterday to purchase a couple of different spices ended up walking out with about 20…read moredifferent packets of spices. When I started speaking with Gareth the owner I very soon realized I was in the right store for me, friendly and knowledgeable and a delight to chat with. The prices of the spices are extremely fare and I have now found my go to store for all of my spice needs. Thank You. Terry.

I'm glad the Spice of Life is in my neck of the woods. I've been coming here on and off for quite…read morea few years now. It's always interesting to have a browse around and see what's new. If you get there early enough you can pick up some organic bread too but that goes pretty quickly. The staff are really friendly and will always check to see if they've got stock in the back you might want. For me the only frustration really is it looks and feels the same as it has done for many years now. It feels as if it hasn't really developed in the same way Pulse has over the other side of town. Often the shelves are empty and it has a faint air of muddle and neglect. The couple who run it are lovely but don't seem to be interested in developing it. It feels like it's stuck in a bit of a time-warp. To be honest I would visit more often if this aspect improved.

Imagine Holland & Barrett without the glory of the food section. This is Health With Herbs…read more They have a great range of supplements and vitamins, and if you ask nicely they might even sell some of them to you. I advise that you go into the store knowing what it is that you want, however, as I always find it a little daunting otherwise. Fortunately they have a good, structured website that can help you out. They have particularly good sporting sections, with all those powered drinks and the like - which I don't fully understand, despite knowing a ton (probably literally) of body builders. They also have a good aromatherapy section, but they don't let you smell things before you buy, and that, to me, is the most important thing. How do you know what you want your baths smelling of otherwise? Health With Herbs is a store which specialises in the medically orientated side of health foods and nutrients. The prices are pretty much the same as other places of this ilk, but you won't be tempted to buy gluten-free jaffa cakes (this can be both good and bad).

Oh dear. A friend…read moreand I discovered the true majesty of this shop for the first time yesterday, and now I think we're both going to be poor. But healthy! The range of food in this store is much better than I had imagined it would me. For some reason I had it in my mind that they mainly dealt in vitamins and supplements. And, of course, they have these in abundance. But they also have a glorious amount of yummy food, tempting treats and nibbles, excellent value muesli, tofu, vegetarian yummies, diabetic-friendly products, and more besides. There was also a table of reduced items which was certainly worth a look through, as I found some excellent deals that way! My friend and I both came out with an armful of goodies. Then we sat in the sun and sipped our little cartoons of chocolate soy milk, and sighed with contentment. Ahhhh.

This is a small health food store in Penarth, selling a range of products from lentils to lip…read moregloss. They have a good range of food, including preserves, nuts and pulses. They also have fruit and nut bars, protein bars and supplements. I went in looking for diabetic sugar alternatives, and was pleased to discover that they not only stocked it, but charged the same decent price as Holland & Barretts. There is a wide range of natural and organic cosmetics, shampoos, lotions and the like. They have a great range of sea salt scrubs in a number of enchantingly tempting flavours. This shop is not all fancy and hippy like you might think. Instead it's a sensible and well laid out store that does exactly what it says it does; provides health and beauty products. And a good range at a good price.

Pro Health and Nutrition is like a mini-Beanfreaks (for those of you familiar with the Cardiff city…read morecentre health food store), offering a wide range of products from pills to protein shakes. The store interior is a bit dated and the carpet could use replacing, but the stock here more than makes up for it. I even found Tom's of Maine deodorant, which I've only seen back home in the States, priced at £3.80 (it's aluminium free, which is apparently better for you. Whether that's true or not remains to be seen). Pro Health also carries a wide range of beauty products, many of them natural and organic (I was pleased to see an extensive selection of items made using tea tree oil), as well as protein supplements, nuts, and vitamins. Pro Health also sell poncy teas like Clipper, which I fail to find at competing stores, so major points for that.

This is the arcade foodies should seek out before all others - home to the Organic Juice Company as…read morewell as the wonderful Madame Fromage deli and cute Cafe Minuet, amongst several other gourmet delights. The Organic Juice Company is bursting with healthiness and just stepping through the door into their fruit-filled cavern makes you feel fitter before you've even tasted a glass. They offer some classic and more innovative combinations, packing in fruit and veggies and helping you get your five-a-day without a struggle. I've never had a juice or smoothie from here that's been less than delicious, and some of the smoothies are like a meal in themselves. By far the best place to get a healthy drink in the city centre. If you want to juice at home, they also sell a comprehensive range of equipment including juicers, distillers, sprouting kits, and other related products

The Organic Juice Co. is by far and away the best juice bar I've ever had the good fortune to find…read morein Cardiff... and I've tried a few! Sadly, there really isn't great competition where healthy fruit juices are concerned here in the capital. Lilo on City Road do a limited number of good juices, but they aren't organic like the ones here. What makes The Organic Juice Co so good is a combination of things. Their set-up is amazing for a start, making the production of fruit juices and smoothies a walk in the park. Secondly, they manage to make even the most healthful drinks taste good... which is no mean feat! I reckon that this is because they use all organic produce, making the veggies as well as the fruit taste both sweeter and more tasty. The most important factor is however, that they know precisely what they are doing. This is ultimately what sets them apart from the rest, and easily wins my vote of confidence. Highly recommended!

This is a wonderful little shop on Llandaff Road, very near to Chapter Arts Centre, and not too far…read moreaway from the main Cowbridge Road which heads straight through Canton. It's an easy place to find, but sadly can be easily missed if you don't know that it's there. This shop sells a great range of Fairtrade and worldly items. From incense to clothes, bags to gift items. If you've ever been to a folk festival and wandered longingly around the stalls wanting buy everything, then this is the place to come. The busy displays and bright colours capture something of the market stall atmosphere, even when it's raining outside. They even manage to have the right smell: far away places mixed with a slight musky aroma. For yourself or for gifts, this is a truly charming shop where you'll not be likely to go too far wrong. It's a very friendly space, and a joy to pop into regularly, or at least stare longingly through the window. Unique. Ish.

Fair Do's is probably my favourite shop in Canton for buying gifts for my friends or even my own…read morehome. It's a lovely shop, well stocked with environmentally sound products that have all been sourced from fair trade companies. I set up projects in India, when I was in my twenties, for Trade Not Aid, the non exploitive trading arm of The Body Shop International, and so I am keenly supportive of all who operate with the same ethos. But, even if I wasn't, I would still shop here. They have a great kids section as well as plenty of affordable high quality gifts for adults. The cards are pretty good too. The people who run the shop are lovely too. It's always really peaceful, and you are allowed to browse for as long as you like without interference, but help is on hand if you need it.

As far as I'm aware, there are two Health With Herbs outlets in Cardiff, this one on Cowbridge Road…read moreEast, and another in The Royal Arcade in the centre of town, (off St Mary Street, and The Hayes). It's reassuring to know that they have opted to set up shop on a road that seems to be flooded with cholesterol and big fat meals comprised of empty calories, and a lot of them! Health With Herbs gives me hope that the people of Canton will live to see their fortieth birthdays! I love this place. It's a no-nonsense health shop, that doesn't circumb to all the gimmicks that more 'upmarket' shops trade on in order to optimise profits. I come here for things like Agnus Castus, and therapeutic doses of Vit C when I'm fighting infection. It's a really well stocked shop, with eminently affordable prices. It's brilliant!

They have a great range of supplements and vitamins, and if you ask nicely they might even sell…read moresome of them to you. I advise that you go into the store knowing what it is that you want, however, as I always find it a little daunting otherwise. Fortunately they have a good, structured website that can help you out. They have particularly good sporting sections, with all those powered drinks and the like - which I don't fully understand, despite knowing a ton (probably literally) of body builders. They also have a good aromatherapy section, but they don't let you smell things before you buy, and that, to me, is the most important thing. How do you know what you want your baths smelling of otherwise? Health With Herbs is a store which specialises in the medically orientated side of health foods and nutrients. The prices are pretty much the same as other places of this ilk, but you won't be tempted to buy gluten-free jaffa cakes (this can be both good and bad).