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

Archive for June, 2010

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

I am well into my month of no soda pop, drinking only tea and water. I have to admit, I do feel better.

But all this talk about tea has made me realize, even though I have been a tea-drinker for many years, I don’t really know what “tea” is. I mean, coffee comes from the coffee bean. There are so many varieties of tea, so where does it come from?

According to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, tea is:

1 a: a shrub (Camellia sinensis of the family Theaceae, the tea family) cultivated esp. in China, Japan and the East Indies, 1 b: the leaves, leaf buds, and internodes of the tea plant prepared and cured for the market, classed according to method of manufacture (as green tea, black tea or oolong) and graded according to leaf size (as congou, orange pekoe, pekoe or souchong)

But then, you might ask, what about all the flavored and herbal teas? Well, Webster refers to them, too:

3: any of various plants somewhat resembling tea in properties; also: an infusion of their leaves used medicinally or as a beverage

Alvita is just one of the brands of teas you'll find at Natural Choices.

The idea I take hold of from that is the “medicinal” comment about teas since that has always been the bent when offered a cup of black tea, green tea or an herbal tea. The powerful anti-oxidants in green and white teas can do so many things like lowering the rate of heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s. Not to mention the calming effect and stress reduction that comes from holding a hot cup of tea in your hands and just smelling the aroma – no matter what the type, flavor or brand is, it’s like a little cozy hug.

An added important note about teas: many teas have caffeine. Many herbal teas are caffeine-free and others may be decaffeinated. But you have to read the labels closely. If you monitor or eliminate caffeine in your diet, pay attention to the teas you purchase. The shelves are lined with a tremendous selection of decaffeinated and tasty teas at Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana. You might have trouble just picking one, or two, or even three!

Healthy for you, tasty, and calming. Sounds like time for a cup for me!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Summer produce is so yummy.

This is a great time of year to get fresh, local produce. I truly enjoy buying a boat-load of green beans and strawberries and adding them to every meal. They just taste so much better. I like to buy locally grown produce because I know it hasn’t been picked green and ripened during a multi-day trip to my area. That’s the first step to healthier living. The next is to find local organically-grown produce, which is a bit more difficult.

What makes it easier in Columbus, Indiana is that Natural Choices stocks locally grown, organic produce every day of the week. Fresh from the fields, delivered right away and replenished as the supply runs low. Great for the farmers, for Natural Choices and especially for us, the consumer.

Let Natural Choices know if you have a special request.

Carolyn Behrman, the owner, has a sign up at the store that asks for requests. She means if you want a particular vegetable or fruit, ask her and she will do her best to find it and stock it. All her produce is fresh and organically grown. At Natural Choices it’s an ever-changing, colorful display that you will feel good about putting on the table for your family.

Olive oil is healthy for you and tasty, too!

Now is the time to stock up on the fresh vegetables and fruits. As you purchase too many to eat in the course of regular meals, do a little planning for the rest of the year. Prepare the excess produce for the freezer or can them so you can have a tasty supply through fall and over the winter. There’s nothing better than a little taste of summer when the winter winds and snow begins to fly. Just the thought makes me take the time to fill my freezer. Don’t delay and miss the window of opportunity.

While you’re at it, check out the selection of organic olive oils at Natural Choices to go with the fresh produce. Healthy for you and good to eat, too.

Isn’t summer just grand?

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

According to Dr. Michael Murphy, high blood pressure kills over 50,000 people in the United States every year. He says it also contributes to the death of many, many more. Controlling high blood pressure is obviously a major concern to the population. Presccription drugs used to do that often have side effects and make patients feel worse.

Fish peptides come from the muscle of the bonito fish.

Dr. Murphy suggests an alternative. He suggests lowering your blood pressure naturally through a new approach using fish peptides. He explains fish peptides:

Fish peptides are composed of a purified mixture of nine small peptides (proteins) derived from muscle of the fish bonito (a member of the tuna family). Fish peptides work to lower blood pressure by inhibiting ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme). This enzyme converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II – a compound that increases both the fluid volume and the degree of constriction of the blood vessels. If  we use a garden hose model to illustrate the pressure in your arteries, the formation of angiotensen II would be similar to pinching off the hose while turning up the faucet full blast. By inhibiting the formation of this compound, Fish peptides relax the arterial walls and reduce fluid volume and exert the strongest inhibition of ACE reported for any naturally occurring substance available.

You will find Fish peptides available in Columbus, Indiana at Natural Choices. If you do not live near Columbus, you can call at (812) 375-1677, place an order and have it shipped directly to your house.

I suppose you could call and have products shipped even if you do live near Columbus! It would save time, but you would miss out on the experience of walking through the aisles. That’s what I love to do because I always find something new and interesting.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

I like the drive from Indianapolis to Columbus and when I get there, I am rewarded with a visit to Natural Choices, the healthy living store. Without even trying, I always learn something new or find something to make my life healthier when I walk through the door of Natural Choices.

Essential oils come in small, potent quantities.

The last trip I learned about essential oils. I knew people who purchased essential oils, but I had no idea what they did with them. The first thing I learned is that, for the most part, essential oils are not for ingestion. That’s a big one for me because I thought they were used in cooking which is not usually true.

Essential oils are the “essence” of a plant, the scent and vitality of a plant distilled into a very potent, useful bit of oil. The oils are used in aromatherapy for one thing. But for novices like me, I have to learn a little bit at a time.

Pure and natural oils are the best. Consumers have to be aware that there are synthetic products out there. Pay attention to ingredients (you don’t want to see the word ‘fragrance’ as an ingredient) and buy oils from “people who know” rather than from the big box store manned by workers trained in emptying boxes onto shelves despite the contents.

Lavender oil smells wonderful and is healthful, too.

For summer, one of the big finds is that specific essential oils like citronella, peppermint and lavender can be used as a natural bug repellent. Simply sprinkle a few drops onto a cotton ball and place it near doorways and windows! Keep the bugs out and freshen the air at the same time! What a great idea.

Another important bit of information gleaned was that because the oils are so potent, care must be exercised in using them around pets and children. You know how they like to put things in their mouths – and ingested full-strength essential oil would not be a good thing.

What started this whole new adventure in essential oils was a huge display of them at Natural Choices. You can trust that they will be pure and healthful if they are on the shelves there and the staff can help you explore the scents and choose those that will benefit you.

Go on in, explore, learn and take home an essential oil to freshen your home and boost your health at the same time!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Natural Choices is nearby no matter where you live. Call, place an order and it will be shipped directly to you.

I spent most of yesterday and all day today creating a new flower bed- in the clay the builder left me for a yard. It was hard work but I know in a few weeks and for years to come I will enjoy the flowers, ground covers and plants. When I have worked really hard and am very thirsty, I want water, or better yet, tea to drink. For some reason, ice cold brewed tea is what seems to revive me.

So after a hard two days in the yard, a glass of tea in hand, I started surfing to find out if I am the only one who thinks tea is the perfect cold drink in summer as well as hot drink in the fall and winter.

Natural Choices has a wide selection of teas for good health.

I found the Tea Association of the United States online. There is a section on tea and health that I found very interesting about tea and cardiovascular health – cholesterol in particular:

Researchers from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) studied the effect of tea on 15 mildly hypercholesterolemic adult participants following a “Step I” type diet moderately low in fat and cholesterol, as described by the American Heart Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program. After three weeks, researchers found that five servings of Black Tea per day reduced LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 11.1 percent and total cholesterol (TC) by 6.5 percent compared to placebo beverages.

Woo-hoo! That is terrific news for me and everyone else who has to think about cholesterol levels. I think I will eliminate drinking soda pop for a month and replace it with tea. That means I will have to probably make it myself and carry it with me in a mug. But that’s okay because I can go to Natural Choices in Columbus, Indiana. The owner, Carolyn, has a tremendous variety of teas there. Many list organic ingredients.

Sometimes it just happens that the things you really like and enjoy can be the things that can be really good for your body, mood and overall health. Tea, apparently, is one of them!!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

Check out the selection of Alvita, TAZO, Yogi, Good Earth and other teas on the shelves at Natural Choices.

Baby strollers are everywhere!

Have you seen the strollers made today? They rival my first car in comfort, roominess and safety features! But that isn’t what I want to talk about. It’s just that strollers were what lead me to today’s topic.

There are so many moms and dads out and about with them and for long stretches of time. The babies and toddlers get hungry and, sometimes whiny. So what is whipped out? The ever-so-friendly finger foods! Which IS the topic I want to talk about.

I see all sorts of things going into the mouths of children. When I ask about fruit, I get replies like, “Oh, fruit is just so messy!” Hmm. Fresh fruit vs. preservative-laden, mechanically produced, pre-formed biscuits? Let me think about this. I could easily carry a washcloth and wipe away a mess. AND it would probably be a nice cooling swipe for baby in the heat, too. But, not wanting to create a stir or go to battle, I relent.

Organic, convenient and not messy finger food at Natural Choices.

Curious, I stopped in Natural Choices when I was in Columbus, Indiana the other day and guess what I found? Organic Puffs made with half the sugar and whole grains from HappyBaby. Obviously since they carry the USDA Certified Organic label, we know there are no GMOs, either. Little flower-shaped O’s that melt in baby’s mouth. When I checked out their website later, I discovered even the packaging is made with recycled products, is BPA free and can be recycled again.

I like the “No Junk” promise they make:

HAPPYBABY has made a “No Junk” promise to ourselves and you. We work hard every day to ensure that our foods are safe, of the highest quality, so you do not need to think about it! You can count on us to offer items without added sugar, trans fats, anything artificial, and always in the safest packaging.

So I say, “Ha!” to the processed biscuits and finger foods found riding around in so many of those strollers! Stop by Natural Choices and pick up a couple of the packages to add to the diaper bag and the storage locker on the stroller.

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team

If Columbus is not in your area, call Natural Choices at (812) 375-1677 with your shopping list. The products will be packaged up and mailed directly to you.