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

Archive for January, 2010

No two ways about it, I’m a chocoholic. On my recent visit to Natural Choices, I made certain to check out the chocolate section. Actually, I went beyond just checking and asked founder and owner Carolyn Behrman what her recommendations were.

She introduced me to Righteously Raw chocolate bars by Earth Source Organics. I bought two of the “Caramel” bars, and I have since wished I had bought more, as I have not found them anywhere in Indy.

This stuff is incredible! You can taste the “rawness” in the chocolate right away: it’s rich and just plain powerful in a way I have not experienced from other dark chocolate. The name “caramel” is basically a misnomer: it’s stuffed with delicious dates and lucuma fruit. But that’s okay, because the flavor is divine!

Earth Source Organics says that all of its bars are…

• Certified Organic
• Certified Kosher
• Certified Vegan
• Certified Gluten Free
• Soy Free and Non GMO
• No Refined Sugars
• Made in a Nut Free Facility

Also, the company says this about itself:

High frequency food, also known as high vibration foods, are naturally sourced foods – unblemished by processing and chemicals. They are ingredients from the earth as presented to us naturally.

All the ingredients found in Earth Source Organics foods are high frequency. All ingredients are obtained from only the highest integrity suppliers who have visited the sources of each ingredient and therefore know how they are grown, harvested and shipped.

Our main ingredients, Acai, Goji, Lucuma, and Maca, are all high integrity ingredients which come from native origins all over the world.

Earth Source Organics is one woman’s mission to help heal the world, connect everyone in spirit and raise the vibrations of those who eat her foods so that they might go on to heal others.

That reminds me of another woman who helps others heal–our own Carolyn!

We hope you stop in soon and check out our chocolate collection!

–Matt

As you know, one of our focuses here at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana, is providing gluten-free products. In fact, we have what we believe to be the best selection of gluten-free foods in the US.

People need these foods because they have either a wheat allergy or celiac disease. About celiac disease, Wikipedia says the following,

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that occurs in genetically predisposed people of all ages from middle infancy onward. Symptoms include chronic diarrhoea, failure to thrive (in children), and fatigue, but these may be absent, and symptoms in other organ systems have been described. A growing portion of diagnoses are being made in asymptomatic persons as a result of increased screening. Celiac disease is caused by a reaction to gliadin, a prolamin (gluten protein) found in wheat, and similar proteins found in the crops of the tribe Triticeae (which includes other cultivars such as barley and rye). Upon exposure to gliadin, and certain other prolamins, the enzyme tissue transglutaminase modifies the protein, and the immune system cross-reacts with the small-bowel tissue, causing an inflammatory reaction. That leads to a truncating of the villi lining the small intestine (called villous atrophy). This interferes with the absorption of nutrients, because the intestinal villi are responsible for absorption. The only known effective treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet.While the disease is caused by a reaction to wheat proteins, it is not the same as wheat allergy.

As the above paragraph indicates, some people with celiac disease show no symptoms. At the other end of the spectrum, some people have horrendous symptoms and are in big trouble with just a small taste of gluten-containing food.

In the middle is everyone else. Some people can feel pretty bad after eating gluten-containing food, but they might not put 2 + 2 together and notice that eating wheat/rye/barley is the cause.

The upshot is that there are a lot of people out there who have celiac disease but are undiagnosed. I ran across this interesting article by Irene Berman-Levine dealing with this issue. Says Dr. Berman-Levine,

Imagine a life with chronic diarrhea, gas and/or abdominal pain. Another person may have chronic anemia, irritability or depression. Another just can’t seem to gain weight or get rid of a rash. All of these individuals may suffer from the same problem: celiac disease.

Many people have celiac disease that is not diagnosed. In fact, the average time between symptoms and diagnosis is 10 years! One reason is that many people (including doctors) assume celiac disease is relatively rare.It is NOT rare and is considerably under-diagnosed, according to an independent consensus panel report just released by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The panel confirms evidence that celiac disease is present in 0.5% to 1% of the U.S. population, ten times higher than previous estimates. This means it may affect 3 million Americans.

Diagnosis is usually a two-step process. A blood test can measure levels of antibodies to gluten. IgA tissue transglutaminase (tTG) and IgA anti-endomysial (EMA) antibodies are the most specific and sensitive for celiac disease but other antibody tests may also be needed. If the blood test is positive, a biopsy of the small intestine will help determine if it is celiac disease.

The writer cautions that the reader should not diagnose him- or herself. We don’t encourage that either. Also, the symptoms of celiac disease can be quite complex (please see the Wikipedia article for details). If, however, you have doubts, it’s better to gain the proper understanding of your condition and deal with it effectively.

The good news is that, once you get the knack of avoiding gluten (and make it a habit to do so), celiac disease is not so horrible. There is a gluten-free substitute for just about any food you can imagine.

We are here to help with all of your gluten-free needs. Stop in, take a look, and chat with us about our products!

–Matt

In my last post, I asked the question, What is mineral makeup? In this post, I’d like to introduce a special brand of mineral makeup we carry–Larenim.

The FAQ page of the Larenim website is a very good introduction to their philosophy. One key passage:

Many people believe that all mineral makeups are the same, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s all about the formulation, attention to detail, and the quality of ingredients. Note these features about Larenim mineral makeup:

• No bismuth oxychloride which is responsible for the greasy, big pored look and the rashes that dissuade many people from continuing using other mineral makeups.
• Glowy finish. Some companies use dull, matte minerals which give skin a lifeless, mask-like appearance. You’ll never encounter that with Larenim.
• Eye colors and blushes suitable for all age ranges. Most of our colors avoid the sometimes obnoxious “glitter effect” that emphasize fine lines. Instead, Larenim offers a refined luster which refracts light and appears to “de-age” eyes and cheeks

Also, Larenim makeup is not tested on animals, contains no animal ingredients, and is cruelty-free.

Here is our Larenim counter (click for a larger image).

OK, I’m not the world’s greatest photographer, but, as you can see, we’ve got just about every color you could want. The prices are good, too!

Obviously, I’m a guy and don’t wear foundation, etc.! But our female customers do in fact rave about Larenim, so we highly recommend you give it a try!

–Matt

In my next post, I’m going to be talking about a brand of mineral makeup we carry at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana. In the current post, I’d like to point you in the direction of some information that can help you decide for yourself if this type of makeup is right for you.

Since cosmetics are something we put on our skin, as a general rule we should be concerned what’s in them. Clearly, we should avoid ingredients that are known to be harmful. At the same time, everyone’s skin is different, and what feels right and looks right on one person might not be appropriate for another.

Wikipedia provides some general information on mineral makeup:

Mineral makeup most commonly refers to a foundation in loose powder format. The most common minerals used as the base are bismuth oxychloride, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. However, talc is also a mineral, so a talc-based powder could be considered a “mineral makeup” — although most mineral make-up sold makes a point of being talc-free. Although the market has recently been flooded with this type of foundation, it is important for the consumer to be aware that there are no standards or guidelines for labeling this product. A “mineral make-up” may be all mineral, part mineral — or contain less than 1% mineral as part of the finished formula. Using this logic, practically all make-up could be considered mineral. Additionally, mineral make-up may or may not be USDA organic; the label must specifically mention this, as it is possible to make a mineral product that does not meet USDA guidelines.

For the record, the brand I’ll be discussing in my next post is genuine all-mineral makeup and does not contain talc or bismuth oxychloride.

The above information is a good starting point. The question remains, however, whether “mineral makeup” is better for you. This article from www.webmd.com–The Lowdown on Mineral Makeup–is really good and considers both sides of the issue. Here are a few snippets:

“Quite frankly, I think mineral makeup is just a genius marketing plan — a  new way of selling women the same ingredients that technically have been in makeup for years,” says dermatologic and pharmaceutical chemist Ben Kaminsky, author of the new book Beyond Botox: 7 Secrets for Sexy, Ageless Skin.

The main ingredients (minerals such as mica, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide), says Kaminsky, have been the basis of most makeup foundations for decades. And he says mineral makeup has no special health or beauty properties.

“Mineral makeup can cause problems the same as any other preparations can cause problems. It’s not purer; there’s no scientific proof of that,” he says.

But other experts see it a bit differently. Many dermatologists report that because mineral makeup frequently eliminates classic “irritants” – like fragrances, binders, synthetic dyes, and preservatives — it is considered “purer” and can be kinder to the skin.

“Makeup sensitivity is often the result of synthetic dyes, fragrances, and preservatives, so any makeup that eliminates these is going to eliminate some of the related problems,” says Frew.

Moreover, she adds that because titanium dioxide [and zinc oxide] have anti-inflammatory properties, certain mineral makeups can also have a calming effect on the skin, particularly important if you suffer from inflammatory problems such as rosacea or acne.

Dermatologist Francesca Fusco, MD, agrees. “It’s non-comedongenic, so it won’t clog pores, and it’s not going to aggravate an acne condition or cause a flare-up as easily as some traditional makeups can,” says Fusco, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Please take a look at the entire article!

Of course, even if we conclude that “mineral makeup” is not necessarily better than “regular makeup,” the fact still remains that certain brands of makeup must be better for your skin than others (again, this will vary by individual). We believe the brand I’ll be talking about in my next post is indeed just great makeup overall and has a very good chance of matching the average person’s skin. Stay tuned to this blog for more information!

–Matt

We’ll be talking about gluten allergies in upcoming posts. I’m glad I don’t suffer from this condition because it can be a real inconvenience to find gluten-free substitutes for everyday foods. Like most of our readers here, however, I do have friends who suffer from an allergy to gluten-containing wheat, barley, and rye and thus sometimes must provide gluten-free foods to them.

That inconvenience of finding gluten-free foods ends, however, when you visit Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana. According to our research, we offer more gluten-free choices than any other single retail store in the United States.

Please take a look at this photo:

This is our huge gluten-free aisle, and I could not fit it all in the photo. Did you know that there are gluten-free ice cream cones? I had had no idea! Just to name a few types of other products: pastas, breads, cookies, flours, crackers, pretzels, cakes, pizzas, bagels, pie shells, rolls.

That’s not all, however. Here is another photo for you:

If you peer through the doors here, you can see donuts, pies, bagels–again, I had had no idea these things could be made without wheat! Admittedly, not all of these foods are “health foods” per se, but people allergic to gluten should be able to indulge a bit now and then, right?

We have many customers who drive a good distance to access this amazing selection. I have not even gotten into some of the gluten-free goodies in our deli, but let’s save that for a future post!

–Matt

We are tentatively planning our “Thyroid Seminar” for March 31, 2010. We’ll have more on the exact time in the coming weeks.

Terry Lemerond will be giving this seminar. According to Terry’s website, www.europharmausa.com,

Terry has 40 years experience in the health food industry having owned several health food stores and nutritional manufacturing companies. He has researched and developed over 300 nutritional and botanical formulations that continue to be top selling products on the market today. He is credited to be the first to introduce to the U.S. health food market glucosamine sulfate, IP6, black cohosh for menopause, the concept of botanical standardization and the introduction of complex formulations for specific health indications.He is the author of two books, Seven Keys to Vibrant Health and Seven Keys to Unlimited Personal Achievement, and for 4 years he hosted a nationwide radio show, “Prescription for Health”. He currently resides in Green Bay Wisconsin and is the President and owner of EuroPharma. Terry’s mission is to introduce revolutionary natural products that will improve the health of America. He continues to lecture on personal and spiritual growth and conducts educational seminars on the benefits of natural medicines.

Check out the link above for the complete bio–it’s amazing. In any case, this giant in the field of natural remedies will be visiting Columbus!

In my meeting with our president Carolyn Behrman last week, we discussed thyroid issues, which affect a very large number of people. As you may know, the thyroid is a big gland in the neck. According to Wikipedia,

The thyroid is one of the largest endocrine glands in the body. This gland is found in the neck inferior to (below) the thyroid cartilage (also known as the Adam’s apple in men) and at approximately the same level as the cricoid cartilage. The thyroid controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body should be to other hormones. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) are the most common problems of the thyroid gland.

Please read the “hyperthyroidism” and “hypothyroidism” link above for the types of symptoms one may encounter if the thyroid is too active or not active enough.

There are many natural products to support thyroid health, and Natural Choices offers a full range. Of course, it’s not just about supplements–there are many other do’s and don’t’s when it comes to thyroid health. Terry will be discussing these, too.

Natural Choices is proud to carry many EuroPharma products–both for thyroid health and other purposes, too. Please stop by, and we’ll be happy to introduce you to them!

–Matt

Carolyn Behrman, founder and owner of Natural Choices

I live in Indy but travel regularly to Columbus–a great town with excellent shopping and lots of things to do. Of course, whenever I’m in town, I stop at Natural Choices to load up on all the great products I need. They have lots of stuff that’s quite hard to find elsewhere!

I also love to talk to Carolyn Behrman, the owner of Natural Choices. She has so many insights into healthful living, including supplements, food–you name it!

This time, I asked Carolyn for her winter health tips. Her response made me laugh: “Mom’s chicken soup, exercise, vitamins, healthful eating….”

In other words, the same things that are good for one year-round are good for one in winter. I think Carolyn’s response summarizes what I like so much about her perspective on health: it’s simple and essential. No guff, no gimmicks, no gadgetry!

Although Carolyn’s perspective on health is simple overall, it’s her knowledge about what is good for the particular person that sets her and Natural Choices apart. It may be the case that one should do in winter as one does in summer, but no two people are exactly alike. So if, for example, you have trouble sleeping, there are supplements that can help regardless of the season.

Good food, good supplements, good health practices. That’s what Natural Choices is all about. Plus chocolate! I got some pretty spectacular chocolate (that I had not seen anywhere else!) that I’ll be talking about in upcoming posts.

Stop in at Natural Choices soon and get some fresh new ideas on achieving and maintaining great health–in winter and beyond!

The documentary film Food, Inc. is about how food is produced in America today. Critics have been highly positive about the film.

On the whole, the news isn’t good! The film shows you the reality behind factory farms and how animals are treated. It deals with Monsanto, which has a virtual monopoly on corn and soybean seed. And it looks at the world food supply issues with a sharp, nuanced eye.

Our food supply system got the way it is today because of multiple factors, and it’s not just about big companies being “bad.” There are 6 billion people to feed on the planet, and governments have encouraged various policies–some good, some bad–to feed people efficiently. Food, Inc. takes these factors into consideration, too.

Here in Columbus, Indiana, Carolyn and the other people at Natural Choices work hard to select products that are “real food”–good for you and good for the environment, too. We welcome you to come in and ask questions about anything and everything!

–Matt

Here's a product we highly recommend: Thursday Plantation 100% pure tea tree oil. According to the official website,

Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil 100% Pure is a naturally sourced broad spectrum antiseptic. Apply to minor cuts, burns, sunburn, abrasions, pimples, bites and stings. 100% pure and natural for essential care. Your first aid kit in a bottle.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• Contains Tea Tree Oil, a natural broad spectrum antiseptic
• High terpinen-4-ol content, the primary germicidal active
• Low para-cymene content to minimise skin irritation
• Testing to ensure pesticide free oil
• Protective harvesting, handling and storage to ensure product potency and efficacy

Please see the link above for contraindications and further information.

If you're looking for essential oils for a wide variety of uses, Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana, is your hometown source! We'll be happy to provide advice on how to use them when you stop in for a visit!

–Matt

Thank you very much for visiting our new blog! Here we'll be presenting the following:

• The latest news about Natural Choices.
• News and information about our products.
• News about upcoming events and information about event presenters.
• Information about establishing and maintaining a healthful lifestyle.

We know that many of you have made New Year's resolutions about losing weight, getting in shape, and being healthier overall. Our own resolution is to help you in your goals as much as we possibly can!

First, we offer an incredible array of foods, supplements, and other products–all right here at your fingertips in Columbus, Indiana! Just as important as our products, however, is the information we can provide to you in your quest for health! We are always here for you, so please stop in and tell us what you're thinking about!

If you live in Columbus, Indiana, and are interested in healthful food and health, please RSS this blog. We will be detailing upcoming events here–information you won't want to miss. We'll also be talking about a lot of great products, so please stay tuned!

Wishing you the best in 2010!

–Matt