I can't help but go into As Nature Intended en route to my yoga class and stock up on healthy…read moregoodies. I was going to describe it as a health food shop, but that gives the impression that it's one of the many typically small ones dotted about London, but this place is more like a super healthy supermarket. It has a fantastic range of organic fruit and veg, meat and chilled items, but what's most surprising is the quality of their frozen food. You'll never have to feel guilty about eating microwave meals again as the ones here such as 'Halibut and Sweet Potato' are delicious (they have see-through covers so you know exactly what you're getting) and they're nutritionally balanced too. Perfect for after yoga when I'm too relaxed to bother cooking. They also have a great range of organic beauty products including fantastically fruity smelling Jason shower gels. You can even take in your old Ecover containers to fill up to save on nasty throwaway plastic. The staff are always smiling and often come over to offer help, but not in an annoying way where you feel like they're only doing it because they have to. These guys really are interested in nutrition! This comes in helpful in the natural remedies area where they're happy to go through all the products until you feel assured that you can find what you're looking for when you don't really know yourself. It's very shopper friendly, showing that eating well and respecting the environment doesn't have to be a specialist or difficult way of life and I really admire such a great attitude.

This is a great health food supermarket in Balham. In London, most health food nuts seem to shop in…read moretrendy shop Fresh & Wild. Although I love Fresh & Wild, there's nothing wrong with seeking an alternative and As Nature Intended is a great alternative to small chains like Fresh & Wild. I love their selection of fresh fruit, vegetables and juices. I bought some fresh fruit and veg from this place before and you can really taste the difference - tasty, fresh and organic. Yum! There are all the usual things here too - organic snacks and meats as well as little brands you can't get in the big chain supermarkets. I'm all up for supporting stores like this, plus you know what you're getting is fresh and *really* organic without a marketing campaign or Jamie Oliver's big face branded all over the products!

It's pretty hard to find a great selection of truly healthy foods in London. Fortunately, this…read morehealth food supermarket makes up for that with its sizable quantity of high quality foods and beverages, as well as vitamins, protein powders, teas, premium organic coffees, and then some. The prices are quite hefty as is to be expected with these sorts of products, but if you play your cards right and get a few healthy products here and there and incorporate them into your diet a little bit at a time, you can get the most for your money and not have to spend a fortune every week. They also have a cool little juice bar that sells fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, and pretty good coffee...which you can add to said juices and smoothies if you're a caffeine addict, like me.

Planet Organic isn't just a coffee shop/cafe but also a health eating and well being store…read more The products and vitamins they sell are all organic (just as the name says!) and considered to be as healthy as possible in order to live and eat well. Although their products are all fresh and organic they do come with a hefty price at times... But it's worth it. If you don't want to shop for drinks and food to take home then consider going to the deli bar and grabbing a bite to eat and a coffee or juice. Their juice are superb and made right in front of you so you can see it is all fresh and not just pre produced. The coffees are amazing when going for their weirder ones made some of the health products in store.

£7,00 for a loaf of bread…read more I don't care if it's gold leafed - no. It's a shame. I love a Whole Foods-type shop, although they all look the same. The prices they wanted for a lot of these products was just too much. Their displays were not even that fresh looking, so paying £4.99 for a small punnet of strawberries is a bit of a push.

The Lavender Hill location of Whole Foods Market has been upgraded. It used to be cramped and with…read morelimited food selection (but a giant health/bodycare section). I hadn't been in for about 2 years until a couple stops in recently. It's been reorganized, more refrigerated sections added, an expanded deli (with a sign saying said deli will be undergoing upgrades this summer), and generally feeling more like a small local Whole Foods than a sad little bastard stepchild. Not too shabby!

I would like you to avoid this company and I will not recommend to order from this company. I am…read morefirst time buyer but not new to organic vegetables home delivery. I ordered first time from Abel & Cole and I received 50% of my 1st & 4th order, however there was another offer for £10 off the first 3 orders. For some reason the first offer was accepted and suddenly became not available when came to final charge. Later on the day of delivery I left clear instructions for driver to deliver to main property corridor (inside) and leave it in front of Flat 1 door. The driver left my four boxes on the street without noticing me or letting me know as I am first time buyer. On top of it my fruit box was not ready, so driver Bart decided to pack it to someone's else box with different name on the box and left it open on top of the rest of the boxes on the public street. When I contacted Abel & Cole about the delivery and missing items (eggs) the customer service contacted driver and he confirmed that he left the eggs there and that someone might help themselves to take them... I just could not believe this explanation and delivery style. I regularly order from Riverford and Milk&More but I did not have this kind of experience at all. They refunded the money at the end after my phone call, but all this looks to me very tricky from the discount codes "promotion" up to the delivery style.

Abel and Cole are a very nice company. They sell organic food and deliver for free. They promote…read moreand support local farmers. They encourage recycling and conscious living. I order a vegetable box which arrives at my door each week. Unlike sanitised, washed and prepared, cold storage veg you find in supermarkets, the carrots still have the green bit on top, potatoes show evidence of being pulled from the ground. There's no excess packaging. The website, from where you order, is descriptive and easy to use. You can set your likes and dislikes, order extra items on an individual basis and view what's on special and the weekly boxes. They also sell fish, meat, cheese, wines and general other organic groceries. Best of all I don't have to stand in horrible shopping queues.

Health Zone is a good place to visit if you're a nutrition conscious individual or if you're…read morelooking for remedies for colds, skin problems, hair problems or you're generally feeling rough. They have good diet books as well as books for those interested in things like digestion, sports therapies and food. Downstairs they have a clinic offering various massages, such as aromatherapy using essential oils, Indian head massage, shiatsu, reiki, sports and deep tissue massage as well as pregnancy massage and Swedish massage. The staff here are really helpful and have some good advice if you're looking for something specific. Some of the items in here can be pretty expensive as they are specialised products.

This upmarket health food store is very well-stocked with renowned and more eclectic brands…read more There's plenty of choice in supplements, food, ingredients, skin care and books. Pretty much anything that the savvy health connoisseur might require. The layout is easy to browse. Staff are pleasant. When you want to treat yourself to a facial, or complementary health consultation, there's a fairly spacious clinic downstairs. They're open later than many of the other shops in the area.

Sometimes supermarket shopping is just utterly depressing. The Sainsbury's Local at the end of my…read moreroad is a complete joke. Every time I stroll in there to pick up an onion they're out of stock. It's uncanny. That's one reason why I choose to go to other local grocery shops like Paamir Super Market. They never run out of food and all of their stuff is quality. I don't know whether it's organic or not, but you can tell that the fruits and vegetables you pick up from here are way better quality than Sainsbury's; they're brighter and they simply look more edible. The prices are generally cheaper than at huge grocery chains as well. You can get four avocadoes for a pound here and a three tonne bag of rice for a fiver. I'll trade Sainsbury's shopping for this any day.

I ended up here by mistake after staying with my friend in Morden. It was early on a Saturday and I…read morehave to say that after the night I'd had I was rather reluctant to get out of bed. Well, it turns out it was worth it. This place is dedicated to local Farmers who are growing and raising the produce themselves. After reading 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' by Michael Pollan earlier this year (I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know how the food gets on your table) I have developed a keen interest in buying my food in this way, and it appears so have a lot of other people as these kind of farmer's markets are increasing substantially in popularity. This market is held weekly in the grounds of a local school and has a very good choice of organic vegetables & fish as well as free range meat (chicken, beef, lamb, pork, sausages, bacon). You can also find buffalo mozzarella, fruit juices, cold cuts and yoghurt. The stall holders are very keen to explain how it may have been grown, reared and caught and although it's a little more expensive than your local supermarket the pay-off is taste, quality and ultimately your health.