• Organic agriculture Europe certification guarantees
• Climate and environment protection
• Conservation of soil fertility
• Preservation of biodiversity
• Respect of natural cycles and animal welfare
• Absence of use of chemical and synthetic products,
• Absence of GMO
• Transparent labelling for consumers

LACON GmbH, having locations in Germany, Austria, Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa, offers a wide variety of certifications in the fields of farming and food processing. The entire food-chain, from seeds and feed up to the final product reaching the consumer, is put to test.

For more than 30 years, LACON has been serving clients using competent food and agricultural specialists as qualified auditors. We help certified companies to demonstrate and document their competence thereby enabling them to sustain their position and strengthen their customers’ confidence in a market geared towards product safety.

LACON certifies companies operating globally as well as small producers and farmers. Distinguished references and national and international accreditations are proof of LACON’s competence.

www.lacon-institut.com

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is a system used by food businesses to ensure the safety of food.

Before implementing HACCP, good hygiene practices (GHP) must be in place. These are known as prerequisite programmes and are mostly specified in corresponding legislation. Examples include personnel hygiene and training; cleaning and sanitation; maintenance and services; pest control; plant and equipment; premises and structure; storage, distribution and transport and waste management. More extensive hygiene requirements apply for primary producers (e.g. farmers).

www.urs-holdings.com/iso-certification/ghp-haccp 

A-CERT SA is an authorised Certification Body for Organic Products from:

The Ministry of Rural Development and Food with authorization code GR-BIO-05. 

The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food with approval code BG-BIO-05.

www.acert.gr

What are the health benefits of carob powder? 

As carob powder enjoys its popularity boom, it has attracted attention from many health and nutrition researchers. Here are some of the exciting health benefits of carob powder that have been discovered in recent scientific studies:  

Carob can improve insulin resistance and regulate glycemia levels in prediabetic people. This can reduce the risk of prediabetes escalating into diabetes. 

Carob contains significant amounts of condensed tannins. These water-soluble polyphenols have anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic properties that can help fight cancer and other serious diseases.

Unlike cacao, carob powder contains no caffeine. Caffeine can cause side effects like anxiety, dehydration, insomnia, and restlessness. 

Carob promotes metabolic health and may reduce the risk of obesity. 

Carob may help treat gastrointestinal issues. One study, for example, found that carob helped alleviate acute-onset diarrhoea in infants.

What vitamins does carob powder have? 

Carob powder contains significant amounts of these essential vitamins: 

• Folic Acid: This synthetic vitamin helps prevent anaemia, cancer, folate deficiency, and miscarriage. 
• Niacin: This vitamin helps the body maintain healthy fats and regulates the functions of fats and sugars. It treats high cholesterol, migraine headaches, and Vitamin B3 deficiency. 
• Vitamin B6: The human body needs this vitamin for development, growth, and the function of fats, proteins, and sugars.  
• Vitamin C: The immune system requires vitamin C to function properly, treating the common cold and other infections. 
• Vitamin D: This vitamin helps maintain healthy bone structure by regulating calcium and phosphorus. 
• Vitamin E: The body uses vitamin E to keep organs functioning smoothly. This vitamin also has antioxidant properties, which means it reduces cell damage.

Health benefits of eating grapes

Don’t let the sweet taste of grapes fool you: They are nutrient-dense and chock-full of health benefits that protect the body’s cells. In addition to making a delicious and quick snack option, grapes contain several essential nutrients and antioxidants that play crucial roles in our immune systems. 

Here are some of the other potential health benefits of grapes: 

• Great source of vitamins: Vitamins and compounds like resveratrol found in green, red, and purple grapes may help support strong bones, healthy tissues, skin, and heart health. Grapes are a good source of vitamin C, which may aid in restoring tissues, iron absorption, boost healing and immune functions. Eating one cup of grapes can provide you with over 20% of your daily recommended intake. 
• Contain high amounts of dietary fibre: Achieve your fibre goal by incorporating more grapes into your everyday meals. Grapes contain approximately 1.4 grams of dietary fibre and, when consumed in adequate amounts, may boost bowel function and digestion and help you maintain a healthy weight. Between 21 and 38 grams of fibre is recommended for adults per day. You can reach 5% of your recommended daily intake by eating a cup of grapes. 
• Boost cardiovascular health: Eating grapes can boost cardiovascular health in several ways. They may help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels can protect your vascular system.  
• May promote smooth skin and anti-aging: The phytonutrients found in colourful fruits like grapes may improve skin elasticity, promote glowing skin and keep it looking healthy. Consuming grapes may prevent signs of ageing by protecting skin cells from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Antioxidants found in grapes can improve the appearance of dark spots and fine lines.
• Packed with powerful antioxidants: Resveratrol is a phytonutrient in grapes and is well-known for its antioxidant properties. Resveratrol may improve immune functions, prevent certain cancers, and delay or reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The production of the antioxidant anthocyanin can protect your body against inflammation. A mutation in green grapes prevents the production of anthocyanin, though, which decreases the levels of antioxidants in green grapes, which is why red and purple grapes are often considered healthier. 
• May help you maintain a healthy weight: Low in fat and calories, grapes can help with weight management or loss. Compounds with antioxidant properties like resveratrol may boost your metabolism. Consider adding this nutrient-dense and healthy snack to your diet, and feel free to switch between red, green, and purple grapes, as they all contain a similar number of calories. 
• Increase brain function: Protect your brain and improve memory and cognition by adding grapes to your diet. Eating grapes may increase your attention span and even help your mood. Antioxidants in grapes may play a role in reducing oxidative stress, which is often linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline. Grapes may also play a role in boosting your vascular health.
• Aid in diabetes management: Grapes may seem like an unlikely choice for decreasing the risk of diabetes because they are high in sugar, and being mindful of the number of grapes you consume if you are diabetic is essential. On the plus side, the immune-boosting antioxidant resveratrol is connected to blood sugar regulation. Additionally, grapes are low on the glycemic index, which measures how quickly a food raises an individual’s blood sugar levels.  
• May lower your cancer risk: Many properties of grapes can protect against certain kinds of cancer, including lung, colon, and breast cancer. A grape’s skin is full of antioxidants. 

Health Benefits of Pomegranates

Pomegranates are nutritious and can be eaten for a variety of health benefits. Some of these advantages include: 

• Improved exercise performance, endurance, and recovery: Pomegranates contain polyphenols. Polyphenols may enhance heart performance, increase exercise endurance during physical activity, and quicken recovery.
• Supporting urinary health: Pomegranates may support urinary health by reducing the formation of kidney stones in your body.Pomegranate extract may also regulate the concentration of phosphates, oxalates, and calcium in the blood, major components of kidney stones.
• Preventing dental plaque: Pomegranate extracts may help manage dental plaque. A pomegranate dental rinse is as good as a mouthwash. Pomegranate juice also inhibits the growth of the germs linked to periodontitis. 
• Improving heart health: Pomegranate juice may regulate blood pressure and manage the involved risk factors. Pomegranate juice is more effective than the seeds at lowering cholesterol and inflammation, which are both risk factors for heart disease.
• Pomegranates have antimicrobial properties: Pomegranates contain antimicrobial compounds that may help fight certain harmful microorganisms. These antimicrobial compounds may improve dental health by targeting problematic oral germs that cause bad breath and encourage tooth decay. Pomegranate antibacterial compounds are also effective against Listeria monocytogenes, deadly bacteria that breed in moist areas.
• Protecting your brain: Ellagitannins, compounds found in pomegranates, act as antioxidants and contain anti-inflammatory properties. They protect the brain from risk factors brought by inflammation and oxidative stress. Ellagitannins may also protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease by decreasing oxidative damage, thus increasing the survival rate of brain cells.
• Supporting digestive health: Pomegranates increase levels of good gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. This suggests that pomegranates may have prebiotic and metabolic properties. Pomegranates are also rich in fibre, which is vital for digestive health.
• Pomegranates are packed with nutrients: Pomegranates are low-calorie healthy fruits rich in vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C. Their seeds are rich in fibre and should be eaten directly rather than in juice form to reap full benefits. 
• Reducing markers of inflammation: If left unmanaged, chronic inflammation can cause severe chronic conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer. Pomegranates actively reduce chronic inflammation linked with chronic illnesses. Punicalagins, compounds found in pomegranates, possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 
• Lowering the risk of infections: Pomegranate juice is a potent antiviral rich in vitamin C and other immune-supporting vitamins. It is an effective antibacterial and antiviral treat, perfect for preventing and fighting off illnesses and infections. 
• Cancer prevention: Pomegranates inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells, suggesting that they may prevent cancer or reduce the risk. While the results are still preliminary, studies of the effect of pomegranate juice on prostate cancer cells are encouraging.
• Good for the immune system: Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, compounds that protect the cells from destruction by free radicals that cause chronic diseases. Antioxidants like punicalagin, hydrolyzable tannins, and anthocyanins found in pomegranates support overall health and boost the immune system.