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

Archive for April, 2010

Isn’t it wonderful to get out in the fresh air again? We are all eager to hike or garden and set off in short sleeves and shorts to engage in all sorts of out-of-doors activities. Later in the day after you get home, you notice a red bump and the fact that it itches. These are the first signs that you have probably been exposed to poison ivy somewhere during the day. It’s the oils from the plant that are irritating, so if you are quick, you can mitigate the spread and save yourself several days of misery.

Burt's Bees Poison Ivy Soap and other products are available at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana.

Burt’s Bees makes a 99.82% natural Poison Ivy Soap. According to the reviews on their website, the product works and is a mainstay in kitchens and bathrooms around the nation!

According to Burt’s Bees:

This mild, cleansing soap contains Jewelweed to help relieve itching and irritation. You’ll also reap the antiseptic benefits of Pine Tar and Tea Tree oil, so you can enjoy the outdoors comfortably.

About Pine Tar, they say:

Pine Tar – Produced by distillation and applied externally, pine tar is used extensively in the treatment of skin afflictions because it is soothing and antiseptic.

Jewelweed sounds like an oxymoron to a gardener like me, so I couldn’t resist finding out more. I’m glad I did because it is much more than I ever would have expected!

According to Steve Brill, author of Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and not so wild) Places,

Impatiens species, delicate jewelweed

it’s a great herb to know about. He says,

Although this isn’t one of my favorite wild foods, it’s one of our most important herbs. I call jewelweed the forageris American Express, because I never leave home without it…It’s common, widespread, easy to recognize and invaluable to anyone venturing out-of-doors, because it’s a virtual panacea for skin irritation.

I was interested to know the plant is actually part of the Impatiens species and to learn where the common name, jewelweed, comes from:

The delicate, long-oval, long-stalked leaves are 1/4 to 1/2 inches long, with a few rounded teeth. The upper leaves are alternate, the lower ones opposite. They’re water-repellent, so they look like they’re covered with tiny jewels (raindrops) after it rains, accounting for the name jewelweed.

Jewelweed is combined with pine tar  in the poison ivy soap. One reviewer said it smelled a little weird, but many said it really worked. I tend to think many things smell a little weird, so that doesn’t matter much to me. The part about it working, now that’s important. You know if you have every been exposed to poison ivy and had that itchy rash to contend with! All you have to do is wash the affected areas with the soap. Easy relief!

You can find Burt’s Bees Poison Ivy soap, as well as other Burt’s Bees products at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana.

Don’t be fooled into thinking Natural Choices is only stocked with food, although it has a great selection of organic produce and one of the largest selections of gluten-free products in Indiana, if not the nation! Natural Choices stocks cleaning products for your home, your body and your pets. They even have garden seeds and mineral make-up.

So, before you head to the great out-of-doors stop by and pick up some Poison Ivy Soap and some lip balm and some natural sun screen and some antiseptic as well as some snacks and bottled water. Geez! Maybe you should get a cart and a bigger backpack!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural Choices for Healthful Living – a one-stop-shop featuring local, natural, organic foods and products. Just a stop or phone call away!

After writing about how flaxseed oil is good for dogs in a previous post, I knew I would have to find out why flaxseed was good for people, too.

Indianapolis nutritionist and chef, Wendell Fowler, provided a little history in a recent article in the Southside Times. He said,

Since the dawn of civilization, humans have employed shiny brown flax seeds to weave fibers for clothing and bolster health. Before 5,000 BC, Egyptians carried flaxseed in their medical bags. The father of medecine, Hippocrates, documented flaxseed for the relief of abdominal pains. During the eighth century King Charlemagne passed laws requiring the consumption of faxseed by his subjects to ensure good health.

That’s all interesting, but I was more interested in what he had to say about how it promoted healthy living:

Flaxseeds are rich in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an Omega-3 fat; a precursor to the form of Omega-3 found in fish oils called

Flaxseed is good for the mind and body!

EPA. The  body gets essential fatty acids, stored in your brain, from the diet. Your best bet is to ingest ground flax seeds, a fish oil capsule and then eat a handful of walnuts daily. (Emphasis added.)

He says flaxseed contains naturally occurring plant estrogens called lignans, which prevent bone loss, reduces risk of colon and estrogen-related breast cancers and diminishes symptoms of menopause.

He also says sufficient intake of Omega-3 fats maintains a balanced production of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, which help regulate physiological functions including:

• blood pressure
• blood clotting
• nerve transmission
• allergic responses
• functions of the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract
• production of other hormones
• prevention of heart disease
• improving cognitive function
• tempering of inflammatory conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine headaches and osteoporosis.

He mentions that high doses of Omega-3s are used to treat and prevent mood disorders and lupus.

Well, flaxseed is not only good for dogs; apparently it is something all of us humans should be interested in, too!

One final bit of information from Fowler:

Gluten-free flax is durable. Upon ingestion, your body can not break it down and when excreted and planted, would grow. Please note the need to grind the fibrous seed in a coffee grinder in small batches then sprinkle it on virtually everything you eat. Two tablespoons a day is sufficient. Once ground, the seeds quickly lose their oomph, so process and store un-ground seeds in the refrigerator.

Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana is the place to find products like flaxseed, flaxseed oil and fish oil supplements that promote healthful living. Call (812) 375-1677 or stop in the store to check out the wide selection of gluten-free, organic and natural products.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Parsley right out of the garden - colorful and tasty!

Fresh herbs are a great way to add nutrients and flavor to meals and Natural Choices is providing the opportunity to start your own herb garden this week!

Can't you just taste the fresh oregano?

Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana is offering a special Make & Take Herbal Gardening Class on Wednesday, April 28. You’ll be able to put together a pot with a tasty combination of herbs and take them home, ready to grow and use in your home-cooked meals.

This beginner herb garden activity would be fun for parents and children to do together or for Dad and children to make as a gift for Mother’s Day. It’s a gift Mom would certainly appreciate – lovely to see and smell, healthful and tasty for the whole family.

So take advantage of this opportunity to create your own herb garden and add a little spice and flavor to salads and entrees from a fresh supply of herbs right at home.

Reservations are required as space is limited and there is a fee for supplies. Call Natural Choices at (812) 375-1677 or stop by the store to get more information and reserve your spot.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural Choices is your local, natural, community market in Columbus, Indiana.

Teensy is just a little sneeze of a dog - with dandruff!

My son just adopted a new dog. Her name, at least right now, is Teensy and she is a chi-weenie – that is a mix between a chihuahua and a miniature dachshund. She is just a little sneeze of a dog, but cute as a button. The thing about her, though, is that she has black fur and dandruff. It’s not very attractive. I was telling Carolyn at Natural Choices about her and the white flakes and how I had once heard that if you put vegetable oil on a dog’s food, it will help their coats.

Carolyn said I should probably use flax seed oil. Not knowing much about flax seed oil, I took to her book shelves and did a little reading. Well, it turns out she’s right (she knows her stuff!). Flax seed oil is great for humans and animals.

According to vetinfo.com:

Flax seed oil for dogs promotes a soft, glossy coat and healthy skin…look for raw, unprocessed oil…A dog flax seed supplement will provide Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. These nutrients are essential for skin and coat health. In addition, alpha-linoleic acid – a component of flax seed – offers immune system benefits and anti-inflammatory properties.

When talking about how much to give an animal, vetinfo.com says:

Flax seed oil is available at Natural Choices.

Flax seed oil can be poured right over your dog’s daily ration. For small dogs (under twenty pounds) add one to two tablespoons per day. For larger dogs, use two to three tablespoons daily. (Emphasis added.)

I’m thinking that might just be the ticket for little ol’ Teensy and her skin issues.

Carolyn walked me over to the refrigerated case where I could find the flax seed oil at Natural Choices. While I was reaching in, she told me that the oil should always remain refrigerated. I would never have expected that, either. It’s a really good thing I talked to Carolyn. I know she’ll always share what she knows to make my life – and now Teensy’s – a little healthier.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural Choices – the place in Columbus, Indiana to find healthy, organic products for humans AND pets!

The longer days and warmer temperatures here in central Indiana signal the arrival of spring. For those of you who are gardeners like me, you can hardly wait for the soil to warm enough to be able to turn it and start planting.

Organic seeds ready for your garden.

I learned something new from Carolyn Behrman the other day when I was in Natural Choices. She showed me a display of organic seeds to grow my own garden. At the time I figured all seeds available around town would be “natural” and therefore, organic, but then I did a little research.

From the Purdue Extension of Purdue University website, I read an article about organic seeds by John Navazio, Organic Seed Alliance and Washington State University. He explains why the seeds I considered “natural” are not organic. He says,

The most immediate effect of using organically grown seeds is the potential to minimize the amount of upstream pollution in the seed production process. Conventionally produced vegetable seed crops rely on petroleum based synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. These seed crops frequently receive heavier applications of insecticides and fungicides than the same crops when grown as vegetables. There are two prominent reasons for this. First, vegetable seed crops are produced over a much longer season than the same crop when it is grown to be harvested in the vegetative stage, hence the need for an increased number of applications of crop protection chemicals to continue to ward off insect and disease pests. Secondly, the regulations controlling the amount and types of pesticides that are allowed for seed crops is much more lenient, which often leads to a “more is better” approach with many growers.

That information was enough to make me decide to drive back to natural Choices in Columbus, for the seeds for my garden this year.

Now I know not everyone is a gardener, or has the time or space for a garden. If that is your situation, don’t fret. You will find a selection of fresh, organic produce in Columbus at Natural Choices ready for you to take home without getting any dirt under your nails!

Either way, just the thought of fresh onions, juicy cucumbers  and tomatoes, tasty green beans, carrots and herbs make my mouth water and I just can’t wait!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural Choices in Columbus is not a health food store, it is a real food store.

This is an event you won’t want to miss! So be sure to mark your calendar with a big red circle and RSVP to reserve your seat.

Terry Lemerond speaks on Thyroid Health

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Natural Choices

1825 Central Avenue

Columbus, Indiana

Space is limited and filling up, so RSVP by phone at (812) 375-1677 or stop by Natural Choices to reserve a seat.

Terry Lemerond

After several changes in schedule, Terry Lemerond is finally going to make it to Indiana on April 21. As Matt said in his January 21 post, Terry’s bio is incredible. Here’s a little bit more about him from his website:

Terry has 40 years experience in the health food industry as an owner of several 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.

Terry’s mission is to continue to introduce revolutionary natural products that will improve the health of America. In the past 40 years he has accumulated a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field of health and nutrition, which he shares with others through radio, podcasts, educational webinars and personal speaking engagements. Having experienced the life-changing effects of proper nutrition, exercise and effective natural medicines himself, he is eager to help others meet their personal and health goals, as well.

He will be speaking about thyroid health – both the overactive (hyperthyroidism) and the underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). It is an endocrine gland that has a tremendous impact on the body. When it is working well, everything goes along just fine. But when the thyroid is not working properly, it can wreak havoc on your daily life, just ask anyone who suffers with a thyroid problem! Terry will help take away the mystery of keeping this gland functioning properly.

He will share the role of supplements and other healthful choices when it comes to thyroid health. Natural Choices carries a wide selection of supplements to support thyroid health including the EuroPharma brand.

Carolyn is excited to be able to offer this seminar at Natural Choices for Columbus and the surrounding area. Remember to RSVP by phone at (812) 375-1677 or stop by Natural Choices to reserve your seat.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Dr. Jacon A. Teitelbaum created a 3-step process he calls “Vitality 101″ for people to learn about what impacts the energy, vim and vigor they have for life – and what saps it. He goes on to provide information about how  we can recover that energy. I covered Step No. 1 – Nutrition and Step No. 2 – Rest, in previous posts. The last step is No. 3 – Stress.

At one time in human development, stress played a very important role in our survival. In an emergency, our bodies react automatically. Hearts pump harder, lungs expand and muscles contract. The adrenal gland s pump out cortisol to help us face and solve immediate dangers. But the every day stresses we handle in the modern world have led us to a chronically stressed existence, which saps our energy. We have to learn to manage excess stress.

Walk with friends.

One of the best ways to manage stress is with exercise. Finding an activity, instead of just a workout routine, works for many people. Take a dance class, join a team sport or establish a walking group. Make it social and enjoyable and it’s more likely you’ll stick with it.

The whole cycle of fatigue leading to lack of exercise, which leads to lack of sleep, which leads to more fatigue can be broken.

Dr. Teitelbaum says:

Bitter orange is a nutritional supplement that can give you a boost of energy to break this cycle. Bitter orange extract contains a natural alkaloid, synephrine. Synephrine can suppress your appetite, boost your energy  and increase metabolism without serious negative side effects. It is important to look for a bitter orange supplement that also contains natural sources of caffeine, such as green tea and cola nut.

At Natural Choices you’ll find literature for healthful living including Dr. Teitelbaum’s Vitality 101. You’ll also find a large variety of natural herbal supplements to help regain the energy you want.

That’s the great thing about Natural Choices. There’s information you are looking for as well as the organic food and natural supplements to make living healthfully easy – in one single stop!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural Choices is the local natural community market in Columbus, Indiana.

In my last blog, we looked at the first in Dr. Jacob A. Teitelbaum’s 3-step process to re-gain vitality in life – nutrition. Now we move forward into step No. 2 – rest your body.

One of the biggest complaints Americans voice is feeling fatigued so much of the time. We do work hard, play hard, and accomplish a lot. But there is a great cost to our energy and health if we don’t give our bodies the rest it needs. Dr. Teitelbaum, along with many others, tells us that it is through rest that our body repairs itself and rebuilds the energy we need for daily functioning.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, determining the ‘right’ amount of sleep is not easy as each person is unique. The proper amount for a person depends on many things including age, health, gender, stress levels. There are so many factors to take into consideration that a person can only determine how much sleep they need based on when they feel their absolute best.

To further the mystery of the proper amount of sleep we need, the National Sleep Foundation explains:

Another reason there is “no magic number” for your sleep results from two different factors that researchers are learning about: a person’s basal sleep need — the amount of sleep our bodies need on a regular basis for optimal performance — and sleep debt, the accumulated sleep that is lost to poor sleep habits, sickness, awakenings due to environmental factors or other causes.

My solution is to begin with a recommended average and then add or subtract time to the point when I feel I am at my best. I know this will take a long time to determine. But once I get there, I think I would be able to adjust for changes. At least I will understand the relationship between the amount of sleep I get and how I feel and perform in my daily life.

Sometimes getting that sleep is a challenge. At some point everyone lies down in bed and stares into space because for some reason, sleep doesn’t come.

Dr. Teitelbaum says,

Because good quality sleep is how the body repairs and re-energizes itself, it may be helpful to use herbal products to promote good quality sleep. There are many natural supplements that are marketed as sleep formulas…Look for a supplement that has a blend of herbs that promote deep sleep, such as valarian, L-theanine, hops, passionflower, Jamaica dogwood and wild lettuce. This combination of herbs is important…taking only one or two of these herbs alone is much less likely to be effective. (Emphasis added.)

Taking care of our body means giving it the downtime it needs and making sure the sleep we get is of good quality. You can find a wide selection of supplements at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana to help with making sure your sleep is sound and restorative. There is also a good selection of herbal teas at Natural choices to add to your evening routine when preparing for slumber. And, as always, there will be a friendly staff person to guide you in finding the natural, healthy products you need.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural Choices is the place to find fresh, organic foods and produce in Columbus, Indiana. Outside Columbus, it is simply a phone call away.

Now is the time when everything outdoors seems to just ’spring’ forth. The buds are opening, the grass is greening, the sun shines brighter and the rain showers refresh the earth.

It is also the time for us to get outdoors and, after a long winter, get more active.

Are you being robbed of energy?

But for many, fatigue is a chronic problem. Do you find you just don’t have the energy to do everything you would like to do?

It is possible to recapture the vitality you want. Dr. Jacob a Teitelbaum is a world-renowned medical expert on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. He has spent over 25 years researching, creating and teaching effective therapies for these conditions. He suggests there are three basic steps everyone can take to feel great and have the life they want. Let’s look at the first one.

Step No. 1 is nutrition. Everyone needs to eat well. Nutritionists tell us to limit fats and sugars. Some say it simply: eat mostly plants. It would make sense that the best plants to ingest are those that are fresh and organically grown.

Another part of good nutrition is a good multi-vitamin to ensure you are getting all the minerals, vitamins and amino acids to provide good energy. Dr. Teitelbaum suggests:

…a foundation product to support energy levels (is) a powdered drink mix. In addition to the powdered energy drink mix, it is important to take a high-potency vitamin B-complex supplement. This should include niacinamide, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid and choline.

Set a goal and sip your way to it.

He also says most Americans are chronically dehydrated and that it is critical to get enough water. So, drink up! Start tracking how much you drink and determine how much more you think you should drink. Add a little every day until you reach that level.

I love the saying, ‘You are what you eat.’ In younger days, it was more of a joke to say I must be really sweet. But now, well, let’s just say I understand the implications of being so sweet! This time of year I am now mostly asparagus!

When I go into Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana, I know I will find the fresh, organic produce my body likes and needs to be healthy. The shelves are lined with options for energy drink mixes, vitamins and supplements that will make me feel energetic and vital. It’s all there – a true one-stop-shop for healthy living. Stop in and maybe I’ll see you there!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Don’t forget if you aren’t in the Columbus, Indiana area, healthy produce, food and natural supplements are available for shipping. Call (812) 375-1677 for all your needs.

Spring blooms fill the air with pollen.

It is such a wonderful time – spring. The air warms, the sun shines a little brighter, the days get longer and the plants begin to pop out of the soil and buds appear on trees and bushes. Don’t you just love spring?

As the weeks move forward, so does the plant development and all of a sudden one day everything seems to be blooming and it is a lovely sight. What we don’t usually see are the tiny grains of pollen plants emit. For people with hay fever and seasonal allergies, breathing in pollen sends the immune system into overdrive producing antibodies in an attempt to attack the allergens. The resulting histamines produce runny noses, watery and itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, even dark circles under the eyes. Misery.

Pollen counts vary from place to place and day to day. The pollen count is often included in the daily weather forecast beginning this time of year. However, if you want that information immediately, visit the National Allergy Bureau (NAB): Pollen & Mold Counts page on the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s website.

Living with allergies is no fun. But it is possible to get relief.

In his article, Allergies and Hay Fever, Dr. Michael Murray said, “Keep in mind that popular antihistamine drugs whether they are prescription of over-the-counter offer only symptomatic relief – they do not solve the problem.” (Emphasis added.)

Further, in an article on WebMD by Colette Bouchez, natural remedies for seasonal allergies are discussed:

Using nature-based products can be a very useful way to handle mild allergies and a useful adjunct for more significant allergies, and there are many types of treatments  you can safely try,” says Mary Hardy, MD, director of integrative medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. (Emphasis added.)

Some of the natural products Hardy suggests include:immune system

• Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)
• Freeze-dried nettles
• Goldenseal
• Saline nasal spray/wash
• Grape seed extract

Knowing what to use and how to use it can be a challenge. Some products are tablets, but others need to be prepared as tonics, or mixed into a wash.

At Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana, you can find the supplements and get the information you need to use the products to help your immune system meet the challenges presented by seasonal allergies in a nature-based manner and get relief. If you aren’t in the Columbus area, call (812) 375-1677 for information and to order what you need.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Pure and natural products to promote healthful living is what you’ll find every day at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana.