Defining Food

This recent election has inspired me in many ways. In my 43 years I have spent 17 in a relatively conservative Missouri and 17 in a comparatively liberal Minnesota. Those 9 years in the middle I  visited every state except Hawaii. I also lived, worked and paid taxes in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, Kansas, Wisconsin, Arizona and Tennessee. The chance to know people across this country from all walks of life has given me the unique ability to witness both the anger and frustration as well as the joy and excitement brought on by this election. From this, all I see is a serious need to listen to one another.

So how does this relate to nutrition? Well, most of my anger and frustrations are tied up in the approach to food in this country. I am of the opinion that if we don't have access to healthy food, or don't utilize it if available-what do we have? A lot of my displeasure resides in the healthcare crisis we are currently facing, and how it directly relates to the food choices being made. So instead of loudly expounding on my anger, this election has inspired me to listen.

 A recent talk by Mark Bittman, author of How to Cook Everything, really forced me to question the definition of food in this country. He noted that quite a large percentage (I believe it was around 40%) of what we see on the market today as food, would not fit the definition of actual food. The word 'food' is defined as, "any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink in order to maintain life and growth." This means that the food you put in your mouth, to be defined as food, needs to contain nutrients. Nutrition means the promotion of health, or in other words, "the act or process of nourishing or of being nourished." A lot of what we consume in the U.S. today would not fit this description, and we are seeing the repercussions in the epidemic of chronic, preventable, conditions and illnesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention :

"Chronic diseases and conditions-such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, type-2 diabetes, obesity, and arthritis-are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems.....Health risk behaviors are unhealthy behaviors you can change. Four of these health risk behaviors-lack of exercise or physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and drinking too much alcohol-cause much of the illness, suffering and early death related to chronic diseases and conditions."

Although it makes us feel better to blame the government or the president, the reality is that a tremendous amount of healthcare costs are going to the treatment of conditions that are preventable.  I choose to eat healthy, nutrient-rich foods; preferably organic and locally grown, ideally from my own garden. I do this because it is important to me that my family and I are able to function optimally. This means healthy enough to accomplish physically demanding tasks, healthy enough to weather common illnesses without the need for antibiotics or progression into secondary conditions, and in enough of a healthy state to make good choices and decisions. When others choose not to do so it is directly affecting my family in many ways, but primarily via healthcare costs. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, healthcare costs now make up around 17% of our economy. In 2014 that was 2.9 trillion dollars. 2.9 trillion dollars!! The top two contributors to this sum: diabetes and heart disease.

I assume you all understand what a healthy diet looks like, so why would you/do you make unhealthy choices? 
My boss once said to me, "Food means different things to different people." What is food to you?

Alaffia: Peace, Health, and Wellbeing

Last year my primary goal, through my blog, was to shine a spotlight on businesses that are doing right for the world. I tend to be distrustful of traditional business practices as it seems that the focus is on profit above all else. Above fair work environments, above fair treatment of laborers, and most certainly over the health of the consumer. Which is why I choose to work in a business with a cooperative business structure. As an employee of a cooperative I am responsible to our owners (which are our  shoppers) to provide healthy products.  It is because of this, and the research involved, that my eyes have been opened to some businesses that are really trying to make the world a better place through profit.


This week I had the great privilege to attend the Alaffia Ladies of Togo Tour in Minneapolis. We

Olowo-n'djo and his mother

were pleasantly greeted by owner, Olowo-n'djo, Adide Awesso, Director of Community Support, Mawule Houmey, Manager of Traditional Oil Extraction, and Ahoumondom Bamassi, Manager of the Togo Artisan Center. In Africa, food is offered as an expression of love and kindness, and it was in this spirit that a traditional Tongolese meal was offered to us. Throughout the afternoon we learned of the tremendous work Alaffia is doing to help empower the people of Togo. Olowo-n'djo, with seven siblings, a 6th grade education, and sometimes living without enough food, was taught the importance of giving from

Abide Awesso

his mother. He realized early on that although monetary donations are needed, they are not sustainable. Alaffia, which translates to a state of peace, health, and well being, was founded on a need to empower the women of Togo by finding a way to use their skills and knowledge to help them rise out of poverty.  The benefits of the shea nut are many, the trees are prevalent in this part of western Africa, and the tradition of oil extraction has been passed down, through the women, for generations. It is through these traditions that the women's cooperatives of Alaffia were formed.

It was intense, listening to the ladies of Togo. Abide, a midwife by training, travels throughout Togo

Mawule Houmey

on her motorbike working to ensure proper pre- and post-natal care, as well as tirelessly attempting to eradicate female genital mutilation which is still practiced in this part of Africa and leads to both physical and mental weakness in its women. Mawule, an accountant by trade, learned the tradition of oil extraction from her mother, who learned it from her mother. She is now in charge of both shea and coconut oil extraction for Alaffia, which really speaks to the purity and tradition of their products. Ahoumondom manages Alaffia's new undertaking: Queen Alaffia. Queen Alaffia

Ahoumondom Bamassi

focuses on the sewing abilities of the women of Togo, producing the beautiful headbands we have in our store, as well as a line of purses and scarves. Her goal is to eliminate prostitution by employing these women at a fair wage.

Each woman deserves a blog post of her own to truly capture what it is she does for the women of Togo. I left feeling very lucky to reside in a country that supports my rights instead of ripping them away through poverty, lack of education, and mutilation, and humbled by the sometimes insurmountable fight these women face.



Supporting and empowering the women of Togo is only a drop in the bucket of what Alaffia is doing for that region. More than Fair Trade, Alaffia is certified Fair for Life by the Institute for Marketecology, which is the most renowned international certifications for organic and social accountability. Here is a list of more ways in which Alaffia has helped Togo in the past
12 years:
*Reforestation Project: 53,125 Trees Planted
*Eyeglasses Project: 14,200 Eyeglasses Donated
*Education Projects: 10 Schools Built
23,700 School Supply Recipients
1,855 School Benches Built (so the children are allowed space to learn instead of crowded together on the ground)
7,100 Bicycles Donated (so children can make it to school)
*Maternal Health Project: 4,142 Births Funded

And they make lotion! And shampoo! And those lovely baskets!. It's crazy to think about, but when you buy Alaffia products you are directly helping the people of Togo. In regular distribution there are at least 5 middlemen between you and the farmer. With Alaffia it is nut gatherer to Alaffia Cooperative to you the consumer. This is why you are able to purchase a clean product at a very reasonable price and help the world in the process. Alaffia truly shines a little ray of hope on what the future can hold for sustainable business practices.

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow." -Mary Anne Radmacher

Happy Healthy New Year!

It's a new year, and with every new year comes the inevitable resolution to make it a healthier one. Working in a health food store I do notice more fruits and veggies in those grocery carts this time of year, and more people coming in to get some information on healthier options. I love it! I just feel there are too many misconceptions about what constitutes a healthy diet. With the release of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, I think it might be a good time to dispel some of these misconceptions so we can not only create a healthier 2016, but make all our years healthier ones. 

Misconception: I could shed these extra pounds and be healthy if I could only find the right diet.
Fact: Until recently, diet has been defined as habitual nourishment, or simply: "food and drink regularly provided or consumed". The current definition has evolved to describe a method of eating that involves restrictions. The reality is that when we begin to restrict ourselves the body retreats to those prehistoric days, when we were hunter-gatherers. It thinks you are in a state of famine, so then holds on to fat to protect itself. In the long run you not only put the weight back on, but more often than not put on more pounds than before you went on the "diet".
New Dietary Guidelines: The best recommendation to come out of the new guidelines was this: make healthy choices for the long-term with an emphasis on finding a healthy eating pattern that works for you. I really like this. "Diets", as we've come to define them, are a very short-term solution. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, "About half of all American adults have one or more preventable, diet-related chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity."  Over half! Looking far down the road to your health not only helps to make a great today, it will go a long way in helping prevent those chronic illnesses. 
Homework: Read "Smart People Don't Diet: How the Latest Science Can Help You Lose Weight Permanently" by Charlotte Markey.
What do I do now?: Slowly begin to incorporate healthy foods in to your diet. Our bodies prefer slow changes. If I had a dime for every time someone said to me, " I tried to eat healthy and I ended up sick!". If you make drastic changes, like say eat a diet of mostly processed foods, decide to eat healthy, then spend a few days eating a bunch of fruits and veggies, then yes, you may get sick. This is your body detoxifying. The fresh, nutritious foods are driving out the toxins. Your body needs time to adjust to the change. Pick one vegetable, find a recipe that includes that vegetable, and include it in your next meal. Go from there, slowly adding healthier options at a comfortable pace.

Misconception: I'll be fine if I stick to my proper calorie allotment.
Fact:  By this logic you could consume all the calories you need from a sugary beverages and cake and be all good. We know this is not true because calories are not created equal! A calorie from a fresh piece of salmon is a far cry from a calorie from a donut, yet we all still need to note the calories in any given product. I love (by which I mean I really don't love) when someone scoffs at the amount of calories in a tub of ice cream, an item that without a doubt contains an unhealthy quantity of sugar. In cultures where people eat naturally what grows around them, or what they grow themselves, the calorie count could be off the charts according to our governments requirements named in the Estimated Calorie Needs per Day, by Age, Sex, and Physical Activity Levels. Yet if these calories are from foods that nourish the body, you tend to see very little problems with heart disease, obesity, cancer and diabetes-all of which are debilitating illnesses prevalent under your typical American diet where the focus tends to be on calories.
New Dietary Guidelines: The new guidelines do not state anything too specific about calories, but it does reiterate continually the need to stay, "within calorie limits". I'm not going to tell anyone to throw out all thoughts of calories when choosing foods, but I do think that soon we'll see a shift in focus from calories to nutrient density.
Homework: Watch the documentary "Fed Up" and read the book "What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets" by Peter Menzel.
What do I do now?: As mentioned above, slowly begin to incorporate more nutritious foods in to your eating patterns. Also, begin the process of adding physical activity in to your life. The path to health is not just food, a healthy diet and physical activity go hand in hand. Again, go slow, find something you will enjoy.

Misconception: The government has my back, they wouldn't allow anything to market that would harm me.
Fact: A lot of the food we consume today is not really food. They are products produced to taste good so that you will buy more so that someone else can make a bunch of money. Very little is regulated. Our food is literally making us sick. Educated nutritionists, doctors and scientists all know  this, yet the general public is still oddly misinformed. We have one of the most educated populations, yet we are also one of the most obese, unhealthy populations to ever roam this Earth. Do you ever wonder why that is? We all know what it takes to eat healthy, so why don't we?
New Dietary Guidelines: The government guidelines released on Thursday state that sugar should account for no more than 10 percent of your daily calories. Which is great! Sugar should be limited. But do you know what 10 percent of your daily calories looks like? According to the governments list of estimated calorie intake, I can eat 200 calories of sugar per day, but what does 200 calories look like when the only indication of sugar in any given product is listed in grams? Do we need to bring a calculator with us to the grocery store?  The answer is yes! Because sugar is in EVERYTHING, even places you wouldn't expect, like salad dressing and pasta sauce. I have done the calculations and my allotted 200 calories of sugar equals 50 grams of sugar which means I can eat 12.5 teaspoons of sugar a day. Note: humans lived for centuries with a sugar intake equivalent to approximately two pieces of candy per year.
Homework: Watch the documentary "Hungry for Change" and "That Sugar Film"
What do I do now?: Sugar reduction is no doubt of paramount importance, but even more pressing is this: With incredible access to the best medical care, education, and resources such as clean drinking water and healthy food, why are Americans one of the most overweight, over-medicated and unhealthy populations?

Have a Healthy, Happy New Year!
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Gaia Herbs: Meet Your Herbs!

I have always been a bit skeptical of encapsulated herbs. Most herbal supplements I knew of in the past, were either dried and ground herb, standardized, or extracts. The dried and ground just didn't seem potent enough, standardized herbs involve toxic solvents for extraction-so I stuck with liquid extracts. Then I was introduced to Gaia Herbs.  Based out of Brevard, North Carolina, Gaia Herbs produces extracts, but also a line of quality encapsulated herb supplements. What makes them so unique is that their herbal supplements are basically extracts in a capsule, incredibly potent, with herbs grown sustainably. Their mission is, "to create and nurture healthy connections between plants and people. We do that through finding and maintaining strong global relationships in addition to championing personal and environmental sustainability here at home, on our own organic farm".

What really sets them apart is their Meet Your Herbs program. On the back of every product you purchase from Gaia is an ID number. When you enter this number in to their website, it will take you right to the field where that herb is grown. It is there that you can view a certificate of purity, integrity and potency, up-to-date information on your herb purchase, as well as its history and how it works in the body. Detailed information on seed source, the farm, parts used, you name it. Full transparency.

 In addition to this unique traceability program, Gaia Herbs is an amazing example of a business that uses their success to help the world. Globally, they help in almost every country in which their herbs are grown. In Kenya, they help Masai girls get the support they need, be it school or a rescue shelter. When the island of Vanuatu, in Indonesia, was hit by a large cyclone, Gaia Herbs was there to provide tools and supplies to help the residents of this island rebuild their homes and farms. They are part of the growing need to reduce carbon emissions by purchasing renewable energy credits and supporting the wind power industry. Organic farming is essential to Gaia Herbs, they support these practices all over the world. Locally, their tractors and trucks in Brevard, North Carolina are fueled with cooking oil waste from local restaurants. Every year they donate thousands of pounds of organic produce, from their large farm, to their local food bank. Gaia is there to help save the Everglades, they were there to support those in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, they are working to support preservation of remote Costa Rican coastlines. Really, the list goes on and on. When you purchase a supplement from  Gaia Herbs, you are not only getting an excellent product (that actually works!), you are helping support a wealth of programs focused on making this world a better place.

My favorite product: Adrenal Health

Runner-Up: Turmeric Supreme Extra Strength

Goddess Garden Organics

Goddess Gardens is a small company rooted in Boulder City, Colorado. Owners Nova Covington and Paul Halter have always had a great appreciation for the outdoors and taking care of our environment. When their first child developed allergies to the chemicals in most bath and cosmetic products they put their backgrounds in herbalism and nutrition to use by developing a line of natural sunscreens. Their mission: "We believe in the power of nature-how it can move us, inspire us, and protect us as people."

A good natural sunscreen is very hard to find. Most sunscreens on the market today are full of chemicals that can do more harm than good. Have you ever wondered why you are told to apply sunscreen 15-20 minutes before heading out into the sun? It's because chemical sunscreens need time to soak into the layers of your skin to become active. This means dangerous chemicals such as oxybenzone and avobenzone, chemicals that can work as allergens, endocrine disruptors and possible carcinogens, are being absorbed into your body. Natural sunscreens use titanium dioxide and zinc oxides which are minerals that sit on top of the skin, which means immediate protection on application.

Goddess Gardens believes that you should be able to understand the ingredients listed on the products you purchase. Which is why you will see clean, natural ingredients on their sunscreens such as coconut oil, aloe vera, green tea and shea butter.

I have tried A LOT of natural sunscreens and I have to say, hands down, this is the best one I have found for children. You can tell this was a line of products founded by parents because their continuous spray sunscreens are perfect for squirmy kids who do not want to stand still to have sunscreen applied properly.

My favorite product: Kid's Continuous Spray SPF30
I will never rub sunscreen creams on my children ever again because of this product,. it is so easy to spray on.

"We believe that the more time you spend outside, the happier you will be, and that concerns over sun protection shouldn't spoil the fun."-Goddess Gardens

Business Spotlight: Nordic Naturals

A couple times a year, the media tends to drag out the supplementation debate. The primary question: are supplements effective, or are they simply a waste of money? There is no easy answer to this question as supplements vary in use and effectiveness. One thing we do know without a doubt is that our bodies require Omega-3's, otherwise known as essential fatty acids. The word essential is in the name because your body requires these fatty acids to function optimally yet we do not produce them on our own. Every cell in your body need these fat molecules, yet the only way to acquire them is through food. According to the American Heart Association, a healthy person should consume fish twice a week for a good dose of Omega-3's. If you are unable to eat that much, supplementation is an easy way to get the essential fatty acids your body requires.
Quality is a huge factor when choosing the right fish oil supplement (or the fish you eat, for that matter). Not all Omega-3 supplements are created equal, this is why it is very important to know the company, fish supply and manufacturing of the fish oil supplement you choose.  Nordic Naturals is one of the best fish oil companies on the market today, here is why:

SUSTAINABILITY
"Since our founding, we have always been deeply committed to the health of the oceans. Our firm policy has always been to harvest our fish only from abundant waters and to utilize fish species that are flourishing. 100% of our fish-both the Arctic cod harvested in Arctic Norway, as well as the sardines and anchovies harvested from the South Pacific ocean-is sourced in compliance with the Norwegian fisheries management system, which has been a model of sustainability for over 30 years."

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
"At Nordic Naturals, Corporate Social Responsibility is guided by our mission and core values to encourage community growth and development and voluntarily eliminate harmful practices-beginning with the sustainable sourcing of our raw materials and continuing through manufacturing, employment practices, philanthropic interactions, and donation programs."

FRESHNESS
"Because of their experience with other brands, some people might be turned off to fish oils because of the all-too-common complaints about taste and smell. Our oils taste great because they're fresh. Research shows that fish oils only smell unpleasant when oxidation has started to degrade the oils' lipids, causing rancidity. Rancid lipids also contain free radicals that can damage proteins, DNA, and cells. Our patented nitrogen-based processing technology protects the oils from oxidation."

PURITY

"Our oxygen-free and low-heat processing maintains the integrity of delicate oils while also eliminating potentially harmful environmental toxins such as mercury. The result is that you consume only pure, health-promoting omega-3 your body needs and none of the toxins or oxidation you don't.
Nordic Naturals fish oils are documented to be completely pure. Every batch is third-party tested for environmental toxins, including heavy metals, dioxins, and PCB's."

ABSORPTION 
"The vast majority of fish oil concentrates on the market are in the ethyl ester form, a 'new to nature' fat with only 20 years of history in the human diet.
In a recent study, the triglyceride form of concentrated fish oil was 70% better absorbed by the body than the ethyl ester form. 100% of Nordic Naturals products are in the triglyceride form."

TRANSPARENCY
"A certificate of analysis is an authenticated summary of test results completed by an independent laboratory. We offer transparent access to our certificates of analysis. Every batch of Nordic Naturals oil is third-party tested, and we have never found a competitor's product able to match our purity and freshness levels."

Nordic Naturals goes far beyond quality fish oil production. They stand out as a business not just producing a quality product, but truly exemplifying integrity on all levels.
My favorite Nordic product: Ultimate Omega Mini's
Runner Up: Vitamin D Gummies

Business Spotlight-Fair Trade edition: Alaffia

I'm not really sure how most businesses begin. Maybe a spark of insight, a great idea? Someone sees a need and creates something that satisfies that need? Or maybe businesses simply begin as a way to make money? With Alaffia, a business was born to empower a people.

Togo, Africa is a place very acquainted with poverty. They see 160,000 women die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Children don't receive adequate education because they can't make the distance to school. Farming, the primary source of employment, is challenged due to deforestation. Alaffia, founded in 2004, began as a way to use the resources these people had at hand, to produce products that could alleviate some of these struggles.

Alaffia, now a thriving business, has put a serious dent in the battles these people face everyday. They now have three cooperatives producing Fair Trade Shea Butter and Coconut, along with other products that form the base to this line of lotions, shampoo & conditioners, body washes and facial care. The proceeds from the sale of Alaffia products go directly back to the people of Togo, Africa to support their Community Empowerment Projects. Here is an example of some of the great things this amazing company has done to support a people:

*Bicycles for Education: 6,300 bicycles have been provided to the children of Togo so they can get to and from school.

*Maternal Health Project: 3,558 births have been fully funded, pre- and post-delivery and any special or urgent care needs, for the Tongalese women of rural Togo. They have also started the Alaffia Women's Clinic Project as a way for local health clinics to provide training and information on everything from nutrition to preventing female genital mutilation practices.

*Reforestation Project: Since 2004, Alaffia has funded the planting of 42,625 trees to help control erosion.

*School Supply Drive: 11,700 children have received much needed school supplies through the sale of Alaffia products. They have also provided desks, installed new roofs, and built 1,250 school benches. They have also built 5 schools.

*Eyeglass Drive: 5,800 pairs of eyeglasses have been provided for those in need.

The next time you wash your face with Alaffia's wonderful face wash, or coat your body with their luxurious lotions, remember all that little product is doing to help pull the people of Togo, West Africa out of poverty.

My favorite Alaffia product: the Shea Butter. Perfect for the dry, winter months. I slather my face and
hands with this product every night.
Runner up: the EveryDay Coconut Body Lotion. I love it because it is so moisturizing, and the coconut scent is very pleasant.

Business Spotlight: MegaFood

Supplements are a tricky business. Since they are not regulated by our government, really anything goes, which has become very apparent with the recent news surrounding the quality of certain supplements sold in our mass markets. The purity of product and transparency of some of these companies have been called in to question. This is why it is so important to know how your supplements are made. One company getting it right: MegaFood.

MegaFood began production on their supplements in 1973 in Derry, New Hampshire.Their mission,"...to produce superior whole food supplements for those who care about their health and well-being". They are one of the first companies to create a supplement whose base is whole foods. Translation: these supplements are produced using real food! Actual carrots are used to produce the Vitamin A, broccoli for Folate, oranges for Vitamin C. What does this mean to you? Your body recognizes it as real food. The result? A more absorbable and digestible supplement. 

When first introduced to this line of supplements, I was told that when you enter most supplement facilities, they are full of powders and liquids-the "base" of most supplements. At MegaFood, when you enter their facility it is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Organic or sustainably grown gets first priority. In fact, their partners are farmers. The vitamin C in their Complex C is sourced from Uncle Matt's, the organic orange juice company out of Florida. They get fruits and vegetables from Stahlbush Island Farms, a business devoted to innovation in sustainable agriculture in Oregon's Willamette Valley. The cranberries used in their cranberry supplement are sourced from James Lake Farms, a 64 acre organic cranberry farm in northern Wisconsin.

My favorite product from MegaFood is the Women's Over 40 One Daily Multivitamin.
Runner up: all their other products!

Check out their website, www.megafood.com, they actually have live web cams in their facility! With all the recent speculation over the true ingredients in the  supplements you purchase, MegaFood has remained a bastion of transparency, quality and purity.

Business Spotlight: W.S. Badger Co.

I don't think it is a surprise to people out there that most businesses do not have their best interests at heart. Money rules the day. So if there is money to be made, it will be made, even if it is at the expense of your health and safety. But not all businesses operate in this way.

As the Wellness Coordinator of a health food store, and specifically one that is a cooperative, being mindful of quality is very important. Be that the quality of ingredients, or how the product is made, or the standards a business holds itself to. This year, instead of focusing on what is wrong about current business operations, I thought I'd highlight some businesses that are getting it right. Let's start with one of the best: the W.S. Badger Company.

This small company out of Gilsum, New Hampshire began back in 1995 when owner Bill Whyte began looking for a solution for his dry, cracked hands due to the cold winters of New Hampshire. Badger Balm was born, and with it a company founded on sound principles and devoted to quality products. Their mission is, "to create fabulously pure and effective products of the highest natural quality, based on simplicity and thoughtful preparation, with the intention to soothe and heal. To run a business that is fun, fair and profitable; where money is fuel, not a goal; and where their vision for a healthier world finds expression through the way they work and through the way they treat each other and the people they serve."

Their Core Principles:
1. Individual responsibility in a team concept
2. Personal and caring approach in communications
3. Supporting organic, sustainable agriculture through their purchasing practices
4. A business environment that is respectful and supportive of all employees, and of the people they serve
5. Personal and social healing through their charitable giving
6. Environmental responsibility
7. Honesty and integrity
8. Fun is good
9. Generosity

The W.S Badger Co. shares its financial information with all of its employees. They provide free, home-cooked meals to all employees every day. Employees receive a living wage, 6+ weeks paid maternity leave and a "Babies at Work" program. They donate considerably, most of their products are 100% organic, and they support suppliers that have third party social and environmental certifications, as well suppliers that support sustainable practices. And they are a B Corporation!  A B Corporation is a certification given to businesses that meet rigorous standards for social and environmental performance as well as accountability and transparency. So it's no wonder that Badger has won the 2013 Best for the World Award given to outstanding B Corporations, as well as numerous other awards and recognitions. And I haven't even mentioned their fabulous products!

Their products are amazing! All their balms are made with organic olive oil produced on a 200 year-old estate in Spain. Most beauty products that contain olive oil are made with very low quality stuff, I've tried the olive oil they use in their products and it is seriously one of the best olive oils I've ever tasted. Up until recently, if you asked me my favorite product from Badger I would have told you it was their Foot Balm. But they have just come out with a new line of skin care, and their Cleansing Oils are now my new favorite. It just makes sense. We are all washing our face with cleansers that are basically removing that top protective layer of skin on our face. These Cleansing Oils gently cleanse while protecting the integrity of your skin. What a concept! It's actually nothing new, people cleansed with oils for centuries, but I'm happy to see it coming back in style.

W.S. Badger Co.: quality business, quality products! It's great to see a business getting it right.

More Support for Your Immune System: Colloidal Silver

There has been a lot of hype over colloidal silver with the recent outbreak of Ebola. I was curious, I've known of colloidal silver as a great support for our immune system via it's antibiotic-like actions, but I've also heard it can turn you blue. So is this a viable supplement, or just another fad?

Colloidal Silver has been around for centuries. Many cultures have used silver as a means to optimal health. Ancient cultures used silver vessels as a way of keeping liquids fresh. Pioneers making their way West in the 1800s placed silver coins in their milk and water supplies for preservation. And to this day silver air purifiers are used by airlines. But how does it support our immune system?

The answer is in the particles. The atoms of silver work on viruses by halting further mutation, hence its popularity for potentially curbing the Ebola virus. Colloidal silver also works on bacterial and fungal infections by starving the bacteria or fungus from overgrowth. With this in mind, colloidal silver has been known to be effective for the common cold, compromised immune systems, yeast and fungal infections (both internally and externally), E. Coli and Staph infections, shingles, flu, parasites, Lyme's Disease, the list goes on and on.

When shopping for a colloidal silver, look for one in the atomic form versus the ionic form. In its atomic form the colloidal silver can exist safely in higher concentrations (250-500 parts per million)

without causing clumping of the silver particles which could possibly lodge in tissue. This difference is rarely listed on the label, you can tell if it is atomic by its color. An atomic colloidal silver will have an amber color, where an ionic will be clear.

If suffering with skin specific issues, consider one of the topical formulas for external use only. Natural Path/Silver Wings produces both a Colloidal Silver Aloe Gel with tea tree oil and a Colloidal Silver Herbal Ointment. The aloe gel ointment is formulated for use with bacterial or fungal infections of the skin that need to dry out such as cold sores and nail fungus. The Herbal Ointment is excellent for skin issues that need some moisturizing. These would include burns, eczema, warts, and anything that cracks.

With any supplement, testing is of utmost importance, but even more so with colloidal silver. Remember all those stories of people turning blue? This was primarily an issue of poor quality. Natural Path/Silver Wings colloidal silver is tested both internally and by third-party independent laboratories to ensure the highest standards and quality. So you won't turn blue!

A Cure for Ebola

Okay, so I don't really have a cure for Ebola, but I do know that if you are exposed to Ebola, or any other illness, a healthy immune system will be your strongest defense. As we move into this winter season, illness is inevitable, germs are unavoidable. The hope is when you do get a minor illness that it does not turn into a secondary or lingering affliction. We can do this by following these protocols:

1) Get enough rest! The body needs to re-set. When we don't get enough sleep we are putting extra stress on the body. Without the reserves of stamina and vitality that sleep can provide the body starts a viscous cycle of depletion. When it's time for your immune system to go to work, it has very little to draw from.

2)Exercise! When you get sick your immune system calls out, "Foreign Invader! Foreign Invader!". The lymph system is responsible for removing these foreign cells. Lymph nodes are storage sites for cells within the lymphatic system, which is why you can feel your lymph nodes swell close to the site of infection. The issue with our lymph system is that is has no way of moving these cells along, there is no muscle activity associated with the lymph system. Simple bouncing can remedy this. Jogging, skiing, moving your body helps your lymph system work those foreign invaders out into the blood where they can be processed and eliminated.

3) Eat Good Food! It doesn't matter what kind of food issues you may have, if you are dairy, gluten or meat free- just eat clean food that you can recognize. This means devoid of too many ingredients. Cook fresh (Organic!) fish or meat of your choice with lots of veggies, or if you are a vegetarian or vegan, stick to lots of veggies and healthy grains such as quinoa. Basically, be mindful of anything from a box, and severely limit your sugar intake!

4)Reishi! Of course I have to mention at least one supplement, and the one making the biggest impression on me right now is Reishi. It is a shelf mushroom that grows on hemlocks, and it is superb for boosting the immune system. Reishi mushrooms have been used in Eastern medicine for over 2,000 years for their anti-aging properties. It works as an immunostimulant and has been helpful for anyone suffering from allergies, chemical sensitivities and auto-immune disorders. It has been used experimentally to treat HIV/AIDS, and has shown some anti-tumor properties. I take it in an Immune Tonic full of other immune enhancing herbs by Urban Moonshine.

 Good Luck! I hope we all make it through Ebola-free!

Stress, Anxiety and Insomnia-Free: Naturally

We all deal with stress everyday, but that long-term, accumulative stress builds on itself over time resulting in several nervous system problems such as depression, anger and exhaustion, not to mention the wear and tear on your organ systems. Help is here in the form of PharmaGABA! GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid, naturally occurs in the brain as a calming agent and as a regulator of proper function and neurotransmission. It works very effectively as a natural solution for stress, anxiety and insomnia by inhibiting nerve transmission therefore calming nervous activity.

Previously, GABA was shown to have little movement across the blood-brain barrier and considered ineffective as a supplement, but the synthetic form of GABA was being tested. Research has shown that the natural form of GABA, called PharmaGABA, has demonstrated effectiveness in increasing alpha brain waves, which promote relaxation with mental focus and alertness. It also helps improve sleep quality by inducing deeper levels of sleep, and it works fast, effects are usually felt within the first 5 minutes and can last 4-6 hours.

Common drugs used to treat anxiety tend to have numerous side effects and can be highly addictive. Popular sleep aids inhibit those deeper levels of sleep which result in disruption of normal sleep patterns. PharmaGABA is an effective, natural option for these issues.

The Bug Spray Experiment

In my last post I noted that I was going to conduct a study of all the bug sprays we currently carry at the Co-op as well as my own personal homemade formula. Although not completely scientific, I did choose days that were partly cloudy with little wind to ensure optimal bug levels. I did not participate in this study as I refuse to purposely expose myself to long periods of bug exposure, but my two young boys were perfect candidates for this as they were willing to stay outside as long as possible and they love experiments. I tested these sprays for application (ease of applying the bug spray), exposure (how long they could be outside with only one application), and overall impression of the spray.  Here are the results:

Purple Prairie Bug Spray (Made in Minnesota)
Application: Easy to apply, needed to rub it in for optimal coverage.
Exposure: 50 minutes
Overall Impression: Both boys liked the light scent.

Simply B Natural "Bug Off" Juice (Made in Minnesota)
Application: Easy to spray on, needed to rub in for optimal coverage.
Exposure: 35 minutes (note: this was the buggiest of all four days)
Overall Impression: This is a a different spray in that it is vanilla-based instead of your traditional citronella or lemon eucalyptus-based sprays. I believe one child stated, "It smells like cookies".





My Homemade Bug Spray
Application: I used the mist bottles that we sell here at the store, they provide a good even mist.
Exposure: 30 minutes for one child, 1 hour and 15 minutes for the other.
Overall Impression: Pleasant smell as I add some floral scents to my formula to cut the strong citronella smell. Bugs started to bite through non-sprayed clothes.

Badger Anti-Bug Shake & Spray (Made in Vermont)
Application: Easy to spray, but like the others it needs to be rubbed in a bit to coat.
Exposure: 1 hour and 45 minutes (they would have stayed longer, but had to come in for lunch).
Overall Impression: This spray definitely has the strongest smell of the four. Both boys noted this with one okay with it and the other not a fan.

So there you have it. This has turned out to be a very bad bug year, but for natural bug sprays I think these fair very well. Chemical-free bug sprays will never hold a candle to those with chemicals. For one, re-application is minimal and their effectiveness is much more apparent, but they contain chemicals that can be harmful to you and to the environment. You will have to carry these natural bug sprays with you and re-apply often, but can rest easy knowing that warding off those awful bugs didn't expose you, your family, or the world to some potentially harmful chemicals. Here's to hoping bug season will be over soon!

Bugs, Bugs, and More Bugs!

The bugs are out in full force here in northern Minnesota which poses a problem. After a very long and very cold winter all I want to do is be outside when the sun is shining and this bug thing is making it very difficult.  Bug spray is what I need, and lots of it! But what kinds of bug sprays are effective, natural, safe?

Most of us are used to DEET-laden bug sprays, we know them to be very effective against those nasty bugs. But are they safe? DEET is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, but it is also noted, by this same agency, to have caused 18 different cases of neurological damage in children and 2 adult deaths. It is also a known to cause eye irritation, rashes, and blistering. Research has shown brain cell death and behavioral changes in rats and it is toxic to the environment. DEET is now in 75% of all US water sources and incredibly dangerous for all aquatic and bird life.

So I'm not going to be using DEET.  This summer I am trying out several different types of natural bug

sprays. The one I turn to most often is Badger's Anti-Bug Spray. Badger products come from Vermont where they know bugs and they are very effective and very safe. They contains citronella, geranium and cedar essential oils all in a water and soybean oil base. In addition to the spray they have some Anti-Bug Balms containing the same set of  essential oils in an organic olive oil and beeswax base.

I have also started making my own bug spray this year. I start with a 4 ounce mist bottle and add two ounces of water and two ounces of witch hazel. I then mix and match different essential oils that are known to have active constituents that help repel bugs. My favorite essential oil right now is Lemon Eucalyptus. This isn't just lemon essential oil and eucalyptus essential mixed together, it is an actual variety of eucalyptus tree that originates in Brazil. I mix it with other essential oils in that water/witch hazel base, shake and spray before heading outside. I like making my own because I can make it as strong or as light as I wish. Other essential oils that are great at repelling bugs are: citronella, cedarwood, geranium, rosemary, grapefruit and tea tree.

We have a couple new bug sprays at the Co-op that are actually made here in Minnesota: Purple Prairie and Simply B Natural.  I am going to try them out and compare them to my homemade one and Badger to see which is the most effective, so keep your eyes out for that!

If you live here in Cook County, join me for my Make-Your-Own Bug Spray Class Friday, July 11 at 5pm.

In the Sun

Up here in northern Minnesota it doesn't feel anywhere near the kind of weather you feel the need to apply a good helping of sunscreen. Fortunately, I was able to get away to a part of this country where a cloudy day is rare: northern Arizona and southern Utah. Sunscreen was important even riding in the car, that sun is powerful over there in the desert!

I brought along several varieties to test as I knew I would be applying it to myself and my family several times a day. DISCLAIMER: I only use natural, chemical-free sunscreens. This means the primary active ingredient is zinc oxide and they usually apply white. I have reached an age where I care more for the health of my skin than looking like a geisha. Here are my favorites:

 #1 Purple Prairie Botanicals Sunstuff SPF30:
I would say that this was everyone's favorite. It had a light consistency and was slightly less white than the others. Made in Minnesota!

 #2 Elemental Herbs Coconut Sunstick SPF30:
This is the perfect sunscreen if you are an avid hiker.
We did a lot of hiking on our vacation and this was very
portable. It fit easily in a back pocket for easy reapplication throughout the day.








#3 Badger Unscented Sunscreen Cream SPF30:
By far the whitest of the three, I like to call it my geisha makeup. This is the one we used most to cover arms and legs. We managed to make it through without any serious burns thanks to this sunscreen. Of the three, this sunscreen is the only that follows FDA standards for UVA and UVB protection (Broad Spectrum) or water resistance. Badger is one of those awesome companies voted "Best for the World 2014" by the B Corporation organization which rates businesses based on their environmental, worker and community impact.

Honorable Mention: Elemental Herbs Lip Balm SPF12
The three sunscreens mentioned above are all great but not
what you would apply to your lips for protection, and those
lips need protecting! This lip balm is my favorite, so great
that I would use it as my everyday lip moisturizer.

Cabin Fever!

I've held it together all winter.  Usually I start complaining the day the temperature hits below zero and I don't stop until spring. But not this winter, I've been embracing the cold and the snow like a champ. Until March 1st....

I just couldn't take it anymore. All the endless snow and more days when the temperature fell far below zero (-28 degrees F at my house!)- I began to wonder if I was completely insane for living in such a place. So needless to say I have a serious case of Cabin Fever!  

In the past, I mostly just suffer through.  I take my multivitamin, try to get enough Vitamin D and sleep.  Exercise has always been a great help. But this winter, since it seemed to hit me so hard, I decided to look in to some different solutions for lifting my mood and alleviating some my symptoms of Seasonal Effective Disorder.

Typically I use Passionflower tincture for mood support, but the old tried and true St. John's Wort seems to

be winning out after a winter such as this one. After further research I found these other products that may help with symptoms of Seasonal Effective Disorder:

*Melatonin. This natural hormone helps regulate mood yet seasonal changes may reduce natural levels.

*Omega-3. Another name for Omega-3's is essential fatty acids. Note the word essential. We require these essential fatty acids for optimal functioning of our bodies. For mood, they help transmission of nerve impulses.

*5 HTP. This amino acid helps increase the body's natural production of serotonin.

*Florida. I here it's sunny and warm there, sun and warm weather will eliminate all of your symptoms.

Early Winter Favorites

It's that time of year where it seems as if EVERYONE! is coughing. Maybe not everyone, but it feels like that when your child is waking up in the middle of the night with a cough.  To remedy that persistent cough I've been favoring Herb Pharm's Herbal Respiratory Relief. I like it because it not only helps support you through a nasty cold by promoting a productive cough, reducing irritation and enhancing immunity, it can also offer relief for that otherwise healthy person who has a lingering cough. I like making my own cough syrup out of it by mixing 1 TBLS. of honey with the recommended dosage.  For children simply divide their weight by 4 to get the proper dose.

This winter I'm also liking the Sambucol Black Elderberry Original Formula.  I've been using ALOT of this product this winter and so far (I'm knocking on wood) I haven't even had a minor cold. Elderberry is known for it's support of the immune system, so I'm using it mostly as a preventative, but I'm also giving it to the kids when they are sick just to help strengthen their immune systems to better fight the colds and coughs.

Chicken Soup for the Common Cold

The winter season is upon us, and with that: the common cold.  We know we need to wash our hands, try to keep our immune systems functioning properly, but it is destined to befall all of us as we spend most of our time in enclosed places during these cold months.

Reputable sources discount the effectiveness of everything from antibiotics to over-the-counter  medicines as a cure for the common cold.  Alternative medicine is full of natural remedies, everything from zinc and vitamin C to echinacea and other herbal remedies.  But the answer to relief from the common cold may have been stewing on our kitchen stove all along: chicken soup!

In a recent study out of the University of Nebraska, Dr. Stephen Rennard showed that chicken soup actually has medicinal value.  Using his wife's recipe, passed down from her Lithuanian grandmother, Rennard's study demonstrated the soup's ability to slow down the movement of neutrophils.  Neutrophils are immune system cells that help the body's response to inflammation.  It was also shown to, "temporarily speed up the movement of mucus through the nose, helping relieve congestion and limiting the time viruses are in contact with the nasal lining," according to the Mayo Clinic. 

Results are out as to what exactly in the soup produces these reactions.  They believe it may be the workings of both the vegetables and the chicken together.  Yet more proof that our food can actually cure.

Here is the actual chicken soup used in the study:

Grandma's Recipe:
1 5-to 6-pound Stewing hen or baking chicken
1 package of chicken wings
3 large onions
1 large sweet potato
3 parsnips
2 turnips
11-12 large carrots
5-6 celery stems
1 bunch of parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Clean the chicken, put it in a large pot and cover it with cold water.  Bring the

 water to a boil.  Add chicken wings, onions, sweet potato, parsnips, turnips and 

carrots.  Boil about 1 1/2 hours.  Remove fat from the surface as it accumulates. 

Add the parsley and celery.  Cook the mixture about 45 minutes longer.  Remove the

 chicken.  The chicken is not used further for the soup.  (The meat makes excellent

 chicken parmesan.)  Put the vegetables in a food processor until they are chopped 

fine or pass through a strainer.  Both were performed in the present study.  Add

 salt and pepper to taste.

Las Vegas Essentials

I recently returned from a fabulous getaway to Las Vegas.  Whenever I return from a trip I like to ponder what item from our Wellness Department helped me the most.  I didn't have to think long on this one because without a doubt the product that saved me was the Urban Moonshine Digestive Bitters. 

Digestive Bitters are great for so many things, not just digestion.  These are mentioned by Urban Moonshine as aided by Digestive Bitters:        
*Soothes gas and bloating
*Relieves occasional heartburn

*Strengthens digestive health
*Maintains healthy blood sugar levels
*Balances appetite
*Supports liver and healthy skin

But the "ailment" I needed it for was overindulgence.  Las Vegas is all about overindulgence, so it was so nice to have something to help while I ate too much, stayed up way past my bedtime, and imbibed a drink or two (or three).

Speaking of drinks, this is the one that saved me from excess and helped keep my digestion in shape. This may be an actual drink but today I'm going to call it Kim's Las Vegas Tonic:
             1 ounce whiskey (optional)
             ginger ale
             1tsp. Urban Moonshine Bitters
             slice of lemon or lime
Start with a small glass of ice.  Pour in whiskey if using, top with ginger ale and bitters.  Garnish with slice of lemon, lime, or both.  I prefer the Citrus Bitters, but the Maple Bitters are just as nice-especially for the holidays.

And speaking of the holidays, Digestive Bitters are a great accompaniment to your holiday table.  Because, like Las Vegas, we all know we are going to overindulge.  All it takes is a little bitters in some sparkling water before or after a meal to get those digestive juices flowing! 

 

Children's Health: Head Lice

I know no one wants to think about this, but we all know it's coming: that letter from school informing us head lice abounds.  Or, if we are one of the unfortunate: your child begins to itch their scalp furiously.  Not to worry!  The Co-op has the solution for both prevention and extermination in our Wellness aisle!

Ladibugs Inc. is a Minnesota-based company formed by two registered nurses/ Moms who were concerned when their children contracted head lice.  They found that most over-the-counter head lice remedies were full of dangerous chemicals that burned their kids eyes and smelled awful.  They decided to change this, and Ladibugs, Inc. was formed.

For years, the common treatment for head lice had been a chemical-laden brew of chemical derivatives, pesticides and petroleum.  These kinds of ingredients can be very toxic to a young child because they are still growing and developing.  Ladibugs Inc. products are an all-natural mix of yeast-based enzymes, olive oil and peppermint (a natural lice repellent), to help rid the hair of lice safely.

At the Co-op we currently carry Ladibugs products for both prevention and elimination.  For prevention we have the shampoo, conditioner and mint spray.  The mint spray is great because you can spray it on their backpacks, the back of their neck, anywhere to keep the lice away.  For elimination we have the Elimination Kit that contains a mint serum, mousse and metal microgrooved comb.  I'm sorry if you ever have to buy one,  but at least through all the turmoil of dealing with head lice you can breath easy that your child is safe from harsh chemical exposure.

I just wish I lived in the Twin Cities because Ladibugs Inc. not only has a 24-hour hotline, they actually make house calls!