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

Posts Tagged ‘delivery’

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

The All About Agave website says agave nectar has been found to effectively treat Staph aureus on the skin and enteric (intestinal) bacteria. But I think its greatest health benefit might be its favorable glycemic profile. I am learning that understanding the relative impact foods have on blood sugar requires an understanding of the Glycemic Index.

According to The Glycemic Index website,

The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. Foods with a high GI are those which are rapidly digested and absorbed and result in marked fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Low-GI foods, by virture of their slow digestion and absorption, produce gradual rises in blood sugar and insulin levels, and have proven benefits for health. (Emphasis added.)

Nutrition Data serves up a little more information:

Potatoes have a higher GI than honey!

Pure glucose serves as a reference point and is given a Glycemic Index of 100. Nutritionists used to believe that all simple sugars digested quickly and caused a rapid rise in blood sugar, and that the opposite was true for “complex carbohydrates”. But that’s not always the case. While many sweet and sugary foods do have high GIs, some starchy foods like potatoes or white bread score even higher than honey or table sugar (sucrose)! (Emphasis added.)

At first, this all seemed confusing, but understanding that controlling glycemic response (blood sugar levels) can be achieved by restricting high GI foods makes me see identifying low GI foods and eating those in appropriate portions will get me on the right track.

Nutrition Data gives me a point of reference:

Apples are a healthy food with a low GI.

GIs of 55 or below are considered low, and 70 or above are considered high. Here are some examples:

• 1 cup lowfat yogurt – GI 33 (low)
• 1 medium apple – GI 38 (low)
• 1 Snickers Bar – GI 55 (low)
• 1 cup oatmeal – GI 58 (medium)
• 1 cup white rice – GI 64 (medium)
• 1 slice white bread – GI 70 (high)
• 1 small box raisins – GI 64 (medium)

Agave nectar is a natural and healthy food.

While the Glycemic Index is a good tool to have in your nutrition toolbox, it alone cannot guide all your food choices. The combination of different foods result in a variety of interactions and each human body’s functions are unique. That being said, the difference between the GI of a tablespoon of refined sugar (68) and two tablespoons of agave nectar (30) indicates to me that as a sweetener, agave nectar is better for me, and my health!

I can venture into Columbus, Indiana and go to Natural Choices for a good selection of agave nectar on the shelves. Finding organic, healthy food and natural supplements can be a challenge in some towns, but Natural Choices is available by phone from wherever you are located. Just call (812) 375-1677, place an order and they will ship it right to your door. Ding, dong! Health supplements and natural foods delivered from Natural Choices to your doorstep. Don’t forget to include agave nectar!

–Ellie of the Natural Choices Blog Team