Natural Choices — Health Food, Organic Produce, Gluten Free, Vitamins, Supplements — Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana

Archive for the ‘Featured products’ Category

Celebrating 150 years of soapmaking heritage, Dr. Bronner's Soaps are USDA Certfied Organic!

As usual, I discovered something new to me when I went into Natural Choices recently. There on the shelf was a big selection of Dr. Bronner’s Classic Castile Soaps. Some were liquid in bottles and others were bars. What caught my eye were the colorful labels.

My mom used to talk about using castile soap. She said it left your skin really smooth and soft. Boy, was mom right (again). It smells good, too.

Castile soap, according to Wikipedia, is a name used in English-speaking countries for soap made with olive oil originating from the Castile region of Spain. Take a look at the ingredients on any of the Dr. Bronner bottles and yessir, there it is, olive oil, along with other natural ingredients like jojoba and coconut oil and other essential oils.

But that’s not all.  Every soap carries the USDA certified organic seal, and they are Fair Trade Certified as well!

Natural Choices offers a wide choice of castile soaps.

I just discovered that the current Dr. Bronner’s company is celebrating their 60th anniversary, but their heritage of formulating and selling castile soaps  allows them to also celebrate 150 years of soapmaking. Now that’s a great business plan, isn’t it?

The heritage, the staying power, the testimonial from my mom, it all points to one thing. This is a great product. Pretty colorful, too.

Stop by Natural Choices as you’re driving around Columbus, Indiana and check out the selection. I think I will start with one and work my way through all of them. It’ll be a pleasure, I’m sure!

Of course, if you can’t get to Natural Choices, you can place an order by phone and have the product shipped right to your doorstep. However you do it, try some castile soap.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Give your pets a cleansing without chemicals!

I talk a lot on the blog about eliminating preservatives and chemicals from your diet and treating health issues naturally. But I haven’t said much about doing the same for your pets. Rover and Felix both could benefit from the same treatment.

In a recent trip to that Columbus natural foods store, Natural Choices, I discovered a book I wish I’d known about a long, long time ago.

A treasure trove of information for treating your pets naturally throughout their lives.

Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats is written by husband and wife vets, Richard and Susan Hubble Pitcairn. Both are celebrated veterinarian specialists. The book is an amazing resource for anyone with a pet in their home. There are natural, holistic solutions to everything from handling fleas to recipes for healthy treats that contain none of the sugars commercially produced treats. Of course, it is full of ways to treat a sick animal without relying on chemicals.

Relieve the itching - naturally!

If you are like me, your pet is simply one of the family. Taking care of the animals like you take care of your children and family makes a lot of sense and this book will be a wonderful resource to help you do just that.

While I was at Natural Choices last week I found all sorts of products like shampoos that do not contain chemicals. I even found products to help get rid of fleas and ticks without exposing your animal to toxic chemicals. 

Take some time to peruse the labels of the products on the shelves and put a few in your shopping cart. You’ll feel better as you drive out of Columbus on the way home and your pet will feel better after you get home. There will be healthful living for every living thing in your house!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Find healthy products for your family and your pets at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana. You can even call to order by phone and have products shipped to your door!

The other day I was in Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana. I have said it before and I will say it again, I love going in there because I always find something new or learn something. I have to allow at least an hour because I wander the aisles, perusing products on the shelves.

Using unsalted butter means you can add salt to your own tastes.

I was checking out the literature that Carolyn Behrman always has available and I found a brochure from Frontier Natural Products. It was in the Spice Savvy series and it was titled, Flavored Butters & Oils. 

This particular topic caught my eye, because for starters, I love butter and secondly, I have decided I would find new ways to season my food so I could eliminate as much salt in my diet as possible - because of blood pressure issues.

Anyway, inside was all sorts of information I could use, but there was also a recipe for Lemony pasta butter, which, when I took it home and tried it, was fabulous! I didn’t need any more salt – AND, I didn’t add the tomato-based sauce that always leaves me with indigestion.

Lemony Pasta Butter

• 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
• 1 teaspoon chervil leaf
• 1 teaspoon marjoram leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon peel
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in a small glass jar in the refrigerator, or freeze for use as needed.

They suggested adding a little Parmesan cheese and coursely ground pepper (which I did) and using it on pasta for a main dish. As a side note, they said to try it on potatoes! Now doesn’t that sound yummy?!!

Fresh salad ingredients at Natural Choices!

In the same brochure they have a recipe for breakfast butter that sounds delicious on a warm biscuit or muffin. I know I will be trying that one soon.

Not only do you find all these little gems of information at Natural Choices, you will find the spices and other ingredients you need as well. Plus, fresh, organic produce for a companion dish. Pasta with a big garden salad is one of my favorite meals. Knowing that much of the produce is locally grown, tells me that it is not weeks old before I eat it. Being organic means that it is GMO (genetically modified organisms) free. Which I really appreciate!  I just love going there!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Terry Lemerond informs us that approximately 21 million Americans are effected by osteoarthritis. Lemerond says osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease and can be exceedingly painful and negatively impact daily routine and life. Lemerond shares that men typically develop symptoms of osteoarthritis before age 45 – often in the hips, knees and spine. Women, on the other hand, see onset after age 55 and it seems to effect hands and knees most commonly.

Osteoarthritis is when the cartilage between the bones in a joint deteriorate. Eventually, bones have nothing between them and they become sharp, the rubbing creates friction and the joint is damaged.

Turmeric dietary supplements are available at Natural Choices.

The pharmaceutical industry has long focused on arthritis as it creates pain and inflammation and can be debilitating. But the drugs prescribed come with a long list of side effects, many serious. Many people have found some relief using glucosamine sulfate (GS) over the last 15 years or so. But Lemerond says there are three herbal products that are far more effective than GS. They are curcumin, boswellia, and Indian Gooseberry.

The great thing about curcumin and boswellia is that while they do inhibit the Cox-2 enzyme, which provides relief of pain and inflammation, they do not completely block the enzyme. Some of the Cox-2 enzyme is needed for good health.

Curcumin comes from the turmeric root.

Curcumin comes from tumeric. Tumeric is a root in the ginger family and is a popular Indian spice. Curcumin is bright yellow and can be used as a food coloring. There have been many studies which show that curcumin is useful in the prevention of arthritis damage as well as for the inflammation and pain. So if you suspect you are developing arthritis or have recently been diagnosed, curcumin may be a natural supplement you should learn more about.

There are a variety of supplements including turmeric and arthritis combinations available at Natural Choices. If you can’t get to Columbus to shop, call (812) 375-1677. Orders can be shipped right to your door.

It’s worth some research to find out what natural herbs can do to help if you suffer with the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Just the words “free radicals” don’t sound like a good thing, but I wondered what they really were. I was surprised to find out what they were, but shocked to find out how bad they were for me. According to Wisegeek.com,

Pollution is a source of "free radicals" or oxidants.

Within the body, millions of processes are occurring at all times. These processes require oxygen. Unfortunately, that same life giving oxygen can create harmful side effects, or oxidant substances, which cause cell damage and lead to chronic disease. Oxidants, commonly known as “free radicals,” are also introduced through external sources such as exposure to the sun or pollution. Other mediums include stress, as well as things that people put into their bodies, such as alcoholic beverages, unhealthy foods, and cigarette smoke.

In much the same way as oxidation creates rust, causing a breakdown on the surface of inanimate objects, oxidation inside the body causes a breakdown of cells. Free radicals produced by this breakdown attack healthy cells, usually DNA as well as proteins and fats. This chain of events weakens immunological functions as well as speeding up the aging process, and is also linked to several diseases such as cataracts, various forms of cancer, and heart disease.

So after getting all that bad news, the question is, “what can you do to counter the effects of oxidants or free radicals?”

The answer is: Anti-oxidants!!

There are a lot of foods you can eat that are anti-oxidants, but one of the most surprising, and easiest to incorporate into your diet are spices! According to The Nibble, anti-oxidants are measured in “ORAC,” meaning “oxygen radical absorbance capacity.” It’s a test tube analysis. Using ORAC data from the USDA, compare one teaspoon of the spice with a half-cup serving of various fruits and vegetables to see how they stand up:

Now, I know that cinnamon buns are not what I should have for breakfast everyday, even if they are loaded with cinnamon. It’s all the fats, preservatives and sugar that makes them unhealthy. But I could add cinnamon to my cereal or oatmeal for a special taste that would be good for me! Likewise, cooking from scratch and adding the spices to chicken, beef, pork, sauces and pasta not only livens up entrees, it would be good for all of us – fighting off all those free radicals!

So the next time I am in Columbus, Indiana, I will stop by Natural Choices to pick up organic spices on this list to begin a new cooking adventure. One that will be tasty and healthy for me and my family.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

This book may just change your life.

I was standing in front of the book aisle at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana the other day and this book caught my eye. I must confess it was because of the big BREAD on the cover.

I have a love-hate relationship with bread. I would eat bread instead of any other food given the chance, but I have learned that breads, by and large, are high in carbohydrates and, therefore, not good for the blood sugar level and triglycerides. Plus, commercially produced breads are often high in fats, salts, etc.

So when I continued to read “Get Off Gluten And Reclaim Your Health,” well, with a sigh, I picked it up.It is written by Dr. Eydi Bauer, D.C., a doctor who actually lived the process of eliminating gluten from her diet because of health issues and what it meant for her.

At the website for the book, it says,  

Millions of Americans are affected by gluten-related illness and they don’t know it! One in a hundred people has celiac disease, and one out of three is gluten intolerant. When you remove gluten from your diet, you will:

• Reduce pain and inflammation;
• Relieve depression, anxiety, and mental problems;
• Improve digestion and bowel issues;
• Increase your strength and revitalize your energy;
• Restore balance to your biochemistry.

I know that when I reduce breads in my diet, I do feel better – even though bread tastes oh, so good, I am learning to control those desires. But gluten is not only in breads, it is in many, many of the other prepared foods we consume. Start checking labels to see if the foods you are eating and feeding your family contain gluten. I’ve written about gluten before and celiac disease, too. 

Natural Choices has a large selection of gluten-free foods.

Pick up ”Life After Bread” at Natural Choices and do some experiments for yourself. Reduce or eliminate breads and see if you feel differently, not to mention you might just lose some weight in the process!

While you are at Natural Choices you will discover one of the largest selections of gluten-free products in the state! No matter if you are looking for frozen, prepared or ingredients to cook from “scratch,” you will find what you need here! Even moms can find gluten-free products their kids will love at Natural Choices! If you aren’t in the Columbus, Indiana area, call to place an order and we will ship it to you. There’s no need to waste time and energy searching. 

Try something new to see if it makes a difference in how well you feel. You might just be pleasantly surprised in the result. It could change your life!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Did you know that the largest organ in the human body is the skin? It is also one of the first to feel the effects of aging and nutritional deficiencies. But, if you are like me, you don’t think of that when your skin itches. You grab some lotion and rub it in, treating the issue topically.

But, in reality, the beauty and health of skin begins in the body, beneath the skin. “Health Perspectives, ‘Practical Insights Into the World of Natural Healing’” are a series of literature pieces available in the Columbus, Indiana area at Natural Choices that provide information about health and natural products. In the piece titled, “Moisturizing Your Skin From Within,” it says,

Flaxseed oil helps you get healthy and youthful skin from within.

“… skin tissues must be nourished and moisturized by a judicious selection of wholesome foods and beverages. … Dry skin can only be healed from the interior, with proper cell nutrients in the diet – pure water, essential fatty acids, and appropriate amounts of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as zinc.”

Many people in America have diets high in fats, but not the correct fatty acids to promote skin health. Flaxseed is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, the ones that are great for healthy, young-looking skin. The literature says one tablespoon for every 100 pounds of body weight is a good rule of thumb to know how much to take daily. 

So, if you want healthy, youthful skin, that is soft and not itchy, you might want to try flaxseed oil. Previously, I have written about other benefits of flaxseed oil. A good tip is to substitute flaxseed oil in salad dressings. If you stop by Natural Choices for flaxseed oil (don’t forget it is in the refrigerated section), you can pick up one of the information sheets with a great Caesar Salad recipe on the back.

Get your skin in shape before the dry-skin season begins this fall and make it a scratch-free winter!!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural Choices is the place for healthful living information and products. If you don’t live in the Columbus, Indiana area, Natural Choices is just a phone call away! We will ship orders right to your door.

Hot flashes can be so extreme that it almost becomes funny because it is so relentless, and well, what else can you do? At one point, my husband and son were convinced I would wear out the switch on the fan because every three minutes it was going from off to full blast back to off.

The hot flashes have abated (after eight years!) and now I look back and say I should have found some natural way to tolerate them. I kept telling myself, “Oh, it won’t last long. I can tough it out.” Well, I suppose I am a very patient person to have tolerated it that long without relief. You don’t have to tolerate the uncomfortable feeling and flushed and sweaty appearance.

I just love the “Ask the Doctor” series of literature Carolyn Behrman keeps on the shelves at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana. It’s probably a good thing she doesn’t have an easy chair next to them because she’d think I moved in … anyway, back to what I discovered there. 

Marcus Laux, ND, answers questions in one piece called Menopause — Black Cohosh. He gave some information that surprised me (years ago women didn’t live long enough to experience menopause!!) and some that pleased me (there are safe and effective nutritional supplements that treat most menopause-related symptoms without HRT- (hormone replacement therapy) associated risks).

He provides a chart with menopausal symptoms, the nutritional supplement/herb that can be used to treat it and the clinical evidence found for its use. This is the information:

For hot flashes: Use black cohosh and ginseng to stop or reduce hot flashes

For lack of energy: Use ginseng to increase energy and reduce stress; and green tea to increase alertness

For mood variations: Use black cohosh, ginseng and kava to improve mood, increase energy and calm nerves

For lack of sleep quality: Use valerian to improve quality of sleep and to decrease time to fall asleep and night awakenings; and hops to improve sleep

For inability to relax: Use kava to calm nerves and ease anxiety

Black cohosh, lovely to look at, great for hot flashes!

About black cohosh, he does say,

Since very long-term studies have not been completed, there have been recommendations to limit the use of black cohosh to six months. However, black cohosh has been in continuous use in Germany since 1956 and no evidence of toxicity, side effects, or drug interactions ever has been reported.

About the other herbal supplements, he says,

The other herbal products have been studied long term. Again, no adverse effects have been identified with long-term use of these herbal supplements. However, kava, valerian, and hops may potentiate the use of alcohol and other sedating medications. Avoid alcohol and other sedating medications when using kava, valerian and hops.

There is a lot of great information in this series of literature. You should stop by Natural Choices to see the “Ask the Doctor” brochures that address a wide variety of health and medical issues. After reading them, you can check out the huge selection of nutritional supplements, pure and natural products and organic foods including the fresh organic produce!

There truly is something for everyone at Natural Choices!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

My experiment of drinking hot tea instead of coffee and iced tea instead of soda pop is coming along well. I have to say I feel better. I really notice that I don’t have that acid-y feeling in my throat and stomach so I think this was a good change to make.

But what I wanted to tell  you about today was something I learned while reading more about green tea. It was big news last summer that I didn’t hear about.

MedicalNewsToday.com gave this report in June, 2009:    

According to results of a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, men with prostate cancer who consumed the active compounds in green tea demonstrated a significant reduction in serum markers predictive of prostate cancer progression.

Green tea could improve men's health.

I was reading a brochure from the Ask the Doctor series of literature at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana. It was for senior men (my husband is close to qualifying and I am always looking for ways to make him healthier … ) and Decker Weiss, NMD, was the doctor giving information. He said,

Green tea is the most widely consumed liquid in the world, after water. Men in China and Japan have been drinking it for centuries. They also have very low rates of prostate cancer. Research has discovered that a potent plan substance in green tea called epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, can stop the growth of prostate cancer cells dead in their tracks.

That certainly concurs with the results of the study, doesn’t it? I would say that if I can get my husband to drink green tea more often, since he already drinks tea instead of coffee, it would be good for his health.

My husband does a lot of things for me all the time. He’s a gem and I’d like to keep him around as long as possible, so switching his tea off to green tea may help me do that – and make him feel good knowing I am doing it especially for him!

I know I will be able to find a great selection of green teas at Natural Choices. Plus, I will be able to pick up one of the “Ask the Doctor” pieces of literature to bring home with the tea. As he always tells me, “It’s the little things in life that make him the happiest.” It may be a little thing to him, but keeping him healthy is a big thing to me.

– Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team