Spinach, Avocado, and Ruby Grapefruit Salad with Blackberry Vinaigrette

Serves 4

2 small ruby grapefruits
2 Tbs. blackberry fruit spread or preserves
1/4 cup unrefined avocado oil
8 cups loosely packed baby spinach leaves*
1/2 cup blackberries
1 small avocado, peeled and cubed
1/3 cup toasted macadamia nuts

Peel grapefruits with sharp knife, completely removing white pith. Cut between membranes to release grapefruit segments, holding over medium bowl to catch juice. Set grapefruit sections aside. Squeeze membranes over bowl to extract remaining juice. Discard membranes.

Whisk jam into grapefruit juice until well blended. Slowly drizzle in avocado oil, and whisk until creamy and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

In medium bowl, combine spinach, grapefruit sections, blackberries, and avocado cubes. Drizzle with dressing, and toss gently to mix. Sprinkle with macadamia nuts, and serve.

per serving: 363 cal; 4g pro; 27g total fat (4g sat fat); 30g carb; 0mg chol; 80mg sod; 8g fiber; 14g sugars
via betternutrition.com

Asparagus Bundles with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette

Serves 4

1 small bunch green onions, divided
1 small lemon
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. minced fresh thyme leaves
1 lb. slender asparagus stalks, tough ends removed

Cut green tops from green onions, and set tops aside. Finely mince one scallion bulb. Reserve remaining
bulbs to use in another recipe.

Grate 1 tsp. zest from outside of lemon, and place in small jar with tight-fitting lid. Juice lemon, and add lemon juice to jar. Add minced green onion, olive oil, and thyme, and shake until well blended and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.

Arrange asparagus spears in vegetable steamer, and steam over boiling water 2–3 minutes, until bright green and crisp-tender. Add green onion tops to steamer on top of asparagus. Return lid to steamer, and let green onion tops wilt briefly, about 30 seconds.

Remove vegetables from steamer, cool until just easy to handle, and divide asparagus into four bundles. Tie one or two pieces of green onion around center of each bundle.

To serve, arrange bundles on platter or individual plates. Drizzle vinaigrette over each bundle, and serve with additional dressing on the side.

per serving: 147 cal; 2g pro; 14g total fat (2g sat fat); 5g carb; 0mg chol; 11mg sod; 2g fiber; 1g sugars
via betternutrition.com

Salmon en Papillote with Arugula Pesto

Serves 4

4 large squares parchment paper

1/2 cup olive oil
1 ½ cup packed arugula leaves
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
2 small garlic cloves, minced
2 lbs. wild Alaskan salmon, cut into 4 equal pieces

Preheat oven to 375°F. Fold one parchment square in half, and draw half heart shape on paper. Cut and unfold to make heart-shaped piece of parchment. Repeat with remaining parchment pieces.

Combine olive oil, arugula, basil, and garlic in food processor, and process into thick paste, adding water to thin if needed, 1 Tbs. at a time. Season with salt and pepper.

Wash salmon, and pat dry. Place one parchment heart on flat surface. Arrange one piece of fish on one half of parchment. Spread pesto evenly over fish. Fold parchment over fish. Starting at pointed end of parchment, crimp edges together, making 1/4-inch folds around fish to create a half-moon. Place on baking sheet, and repeat with remaining parchment, fish, and pesto.

Bake 10–15 minutes, depending on thickness, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Transfer packets to individual serving plates, and slit parchment open just before serving.

per serving: 574 cal; 49g pro; 41g total fat (7g sat fat); 1g carb; 102mg chol; 107mg sod; <1g fiber; <1g sugars

via betternutrition.com

Beauty Foods

By Lisa Turner

You can spend hundreds of dollars on pricey creams, lotions, and cosmetic procedures. But the fact is, good skin starts from within.

Want to be more beautiful? The formula for promoting smooth, glowing skin doesn’t have to be complicated, cost hundreds of dollars, or take months to work. It can be as simple as eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats; drinking plenty of filtered water; and avoiding excessive caffeine consumption, which dehydrates cells and makes fine lines more noticeable. Other skin-zapping foods: sugar, which damages collagen and elastin, the fibers in skin that keep it smooth and firm; refined and high-glycemic carbs, linked with an increase in acne breakouts; and alcohol, which dehydrates cells and causes dilated blood vessels and facial redness. In addition, a few foods top the list for skin beautifying. Some of the best:

1. Asparagus is high in antioxidants including glutathione, which helps protect skin from sun damage and minimizes the effects of aging. It’s also high in vitamin C, beta carotene, selenium, zinc, and other skin-beautifying nutrients, and works as a natural diuretic to reduce puffiness and swelling. Eat it very lightly cooked or raw to protect the glutathione content.

2. Salmon contains 2-dimethylaminoethanol, or DMAE, a compound found naturally in the brain. DMAE protects cell membrane integrity to keep skin smooth and firm, and helps inhibit the body’s production of arachidonic acid, a compound that encourages wrinkles, sagging, and signs of aging. Salmon also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce the risk of skin cancer. Choose wild Alaskan salmon instead of farmed. Sardines and other small fatty fish have similar benefits.

3. Almonds are rich in monounsaturated fats that keep cell membranes strong and flexible, encourage smooth skin, and prevent and treat eczema. Almonds are also high in vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that can not only protect against, but also reverse, skin damage from the sun’s UV rays. Other nuts have similar benefits.

4. Avocado contains the skin-healing vitamins A, D, and E, and is rich in antioxidant carotenoids that prevent free radical damage to skin cells. Studies have shown that some constituents of avocado offer protection against UV damage to skin cells. And like almonds and other nuts, avocados are high in monounsaturated
fats.

5. Spinach is rich in vitamin K, a fat- soluble vitamin that helps keep skin springy and firm and helps prevent wrinkles and fine lines. It’s also a good source of lutein, a type of carotenoid that helps protect the skin from sun damage. Plus, spinach contains zinc, which guards against blemishes and breakouts.

6. Ruby red grapefruit gets its pink hue from a potent antioxidant called lycopene (also found in tomatoes and guava) that fights free radical damage to the skin and protects against wrinkles, sagging, and skin discolorations. Several studies have shown that lycopene can also protect against burning from the sun’s UV rays.

7. Cauliflower, like other cruciferous vegetables, is rich in glucosinolates, cancer-preventive compounds that also protect the skin from free radical damage. Studies show that isothiocyanates, which are converted from glucosinolates, can prevent wrinkles and stimulate skin detoxification. In one study, an isothiocyanate extract increased firmness and smoothness of skin in people who worked outdoors in the winter and were exposed to cold weather and low humidity.

8. Arugula, like cauliflower, is rich in glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, cancer-fighting compounds that also protect the skin from free radicals and sun damage. Some studies show that isothiocyanates prevent inflammation in the skin and can protect against psoriasis. Arugula also stimulates the liver, and can promote skin detoxification.

9. Blackberries are good sources of skin-protective vitamins A, C, and K. They are also high in anthocyanins, the compounds responsible for their deep purple color and their ability to protect against cellular damage. Blackberries contain another antioxidant called ellagic acid, which helps shield the skin from damage by the sun’s UV rays and helps repair existing damage from excessive sun exposure. Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries have similar benefits.

via betternutrition.com 

Breathing Easy

Paying attention to how you respire can foster greater health and well-being.

by Beverly Burmeier

Drawing breath: It is the very definition of being alive. But as ordinary—and vital—as the act of respiration is, most people don’t do it in the most healthful manner.

“Correct breathing is a cost-free, drug-free path to better health,” says Gerilynn Connors, RRT, MAACVPR, FAARC, a respiratory therapist and pulmonary rehabilitation specialist in Falls Church, Virginia, and chair of the American Association for Respiratory Care’s Continuing Care and Rehabilitation Section. “We take breathing for granted because it’s automatic and natural from birth, but the benefits of proper breathing affect all systems of the body.”

Test your own breathing style by placing one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. Take a normal breath and see which hand rises more. If the hand on your chest does, you’re taking short, shallow breaths instead of deep, relaxed and effortless breaths that come from using your diaphragm, the dome-shaped muscle between the chest and the abdomen, to move air in and out of your lungs.

A significant number of studies have shown that deep, meditative breathing helps to calm the nerves, relax muscular tension and reduce pain and stress. Deep breathing also boosts blood circulation while reducing blood pressure and heart rate; in addition, it promotes clearer thinking and increases energy levels. “Getting enough oxygen into your body allows muscles and organs to function more effectively,” Connors says.

Nutiva Organic Red Palm Oil

• Nutiva Organic Red Palm Oil is a versatile baking and cooking oil - the red palm adding a rich, earthy aroma and a great buttery taste. 
• The palm oil is high in antioxidants, Tocopherois/Tocotrienols (Vitamin E), and Beta-Carotene (Vitamin A).
• It offers zero trans fats, and is both Kosher and Vegan.
• It's cultivated in harmony with nature - rainforests and orangutan habitats are unharmed.
• The palm oil is organic and grown on small family farms in Ecuador.
• It can be used in rice, quinoa, muffins, smoothies, spreads, sauces, soups, stews, fish dishes, guacamole, popcorn and medium-heat sauteing.

For more information, visit nutiva.com, or come by the store!

Shower With a Friend!

Enviro Shower Filters

• Softer Skin 
• Healthier Hair 
• Chlorine Free Water

Provides a year of natural chlorine free water.

Contains KDF-55 and Crystal Quartz Elements.

Fits all showers. No plumbing required!

NEW WAVE ENVIRO: Informative Chlorine Articles

Water Bottle Pollution Facts

• Americans use 17 billion barrels of crude oil used annually for 1-time-use water bottle manufacturing - not including transportation resources.
• Over 80% of empty water bottles end up in landfills.
• Bottled water tested, contained contaminant levels that exceeded strict state health limits. "One study found that hormone-disrupting phthalates had leached into bottled water that had been stored for 10 weeks."

Chlorine Free Living (via Flyer):

• For intestinal health avoiding chlorine is crucial. Chlorinated water kills the good bacterial in the body.
• "Studies show- a strong link between chlorinated water supplies with elevated trihalomethane levels and cancers of the bladder, kidney, liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, colon and brain," - Jordan S. Rubin, N.M.D.
• Chlorinated water can contribute to dry skin. - 70% of the skin's blemish and wrinkle fighting hydration comes from the water we consume." Phd. Kat James
• "Drinking chlorinated water, causes scarring of the arteries." - Kevin Trudeau

Maté Factor- Yerba Maté

Read about the qualities of Yerba Mate, the amazing herb from South America
Information collected from matefactor.com

The yerba mate plant, which is really a tree, is an evergreen from the Holly family that grows in the subtropical forests of South America. The yerba mate tree, from the Aquifoliacae family, stands between 6 to 8 meters tall, being able to reach even 15 meters. There are many different species in the family, the Ilex gender having more than 550, the holly plant included, 280 species found in South America, 60 of which occur in southern Brazil. Only 3 species though are used in the mate industry (I. paraguariensis, I. angustifolia, I. amara), Ilex Paraguariensis being the most important. The mate plant, due to the widespread genetic variety of the Ilex family, may have white or light purple stems, and thick waxy leaves that may present dented or smooth edges.

The Flavor

The amount of xanthene alkaloids in the leaves of maté is believed to be directly related to the quality of the soil. This influences the flavor of the yerba mate giving it a milder taste. This flavor varies from region to region, the soil of southern Brazil presenting drastic variations in mineral content, texture, and organic mass. The tendency though, is for the cultivated maté to have a stronger bitterness, and probably higher xanthene content. The native trees, which grow in the nitrogen-rich topsoil of the Paraná Pine forests, tend to have a milder bitterness, characterized by a stronger leafy flavor. Obtaining the right balance of these is the secret to having a stable, fresh tasting yerba mate.

Bad Studies Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

~Jack Challem

In our 24‐hour news cycle, headlines are written to shock and scare, and most reporters don’t have the grasp of medicine needed to critically evaluate whether a study is valid or not and publication in a medical journal is no assurance of research quality.

That’s something to consider when you see negative reports on dietary supplements. For example, a recent article in the Archives of Internal Medicine claimed that older women who took a variety of supplements‐including multivitamins‐ had a greater risk of death from disease. But the conclusions drawn from this article were suspect, at best.

For one thing, the Archives study had serious flaws. The subjects were asked to remember, on three different occasions over a span of almost 20 years, which supplements they had taken. This type of data collection is notoriously inaccurate. After all, do you remember exactly what you took years ago? And would something you took 20 years ago actually cause your death today? It’s doubtful.

The researchers also ignored the fact that older people have a higher risk of death simply because of their age, their greater likelihood of having serious age‐related diseases, and their likely use of multiple prescription drugs with attendant side effects.

How Sweet It Is

GET THE FACTS ON SUGAR AND ITS KISSING COUSINS

Who among us is resolute enough to get through the holiday season without enjoying—or, for that matter, baking—sweets?  While a few extra calories in natural sweeteners and syrups won't hurt most of us, the new breed of sugar substitutes might.  Alarmingly, sugar's kissing cousins may be even more harmful to your health than sugar itself.

DID YOU KNOW?
When you overindulge in salty foods, your body craves sweets more than usual.  Experiment with herbs and spices that increase flavor without salt or sugar.

SUGAR FREE DOESN'T=HEALTHY
The perception of sugar free is not unlike that of fat free in the 1980s and early '90s.  Ever since we started slashing fat, we've gotten fatter.  With all the new sweeteners on the market today (like high-fructose corn syrup and Splenda), refined sugar consumption has declined, but that doesn't mean people are consuming fewer calories.  In fact, when Jelly Belly added Splenda (aka sucralose) to its sugar-fee jelly beans, this artificially sweetened candy had only one calorie less than the original!  But the real problem is that Splenda has been linked to a variety of unwanted symptoms from bloating and stomach cramps to headaches.  Even the company Web site has warned against giving sugar-free jelly beans to children under three years of age.  Another popular artificial sweetener, NutraSweet (aka aspartame or Equal) appears to deplete the body's supplies of chromium—a trace mineral critical in sugar metabolism—and may increase cravings for sweets.  Aspartame has recently been linked to migraines, particularly in children and teens, possibly as a reaction to its metabolite formaldehyde.  The Center for Science in the Public Interest has concluded that Sunette (aka acesulfame potassium, or Sweet & Safe and Sweet One) may cause cancer, so avoid these sugar substitutes.  Even older artificial sweeteners, like Sweet'N Low (aka saccharin), a petroleum derivative, can cause problems in sensitive individuals.

ChagaMax

ChagaMax is the most potent chaga capsule formula available. It is the only wild chaga capsule formula fortified with wild birch bark and oregano. Other chaga formulas are made with artificially-produced chaga grown in vats. The difference is beyond comprehension. Real chaga, the type used inChagaMax, grows wild on birch trees. The fake kind, the type used in most imitation chaga capsules, is grown indoors from live chaga mycelia. The growth medium is starch, which may be genetically engineered. According to an Asian biomedicine study by Koyama, the sterol content of the fake kind is 1000% lower than the wild kind. Thus, never accept cheap chaga capsules made from such fabricated sources.

With ChagaMax, all the raw materials are from remote sources and are completely wild. There could be no purer or more powerful supplement known. In fact, it is so powerful that for many people only one
capsule daily is necessary. Wild chaga is a dense source of a wide range of nutrients, including B vitamins, minerals, sterols, and enzymes. Regarding the enzymes chaga is exceedingly high in SOD (superoxide dismutase); in fact, it is the highest source of this substance known. Regarding sterols, it is also exceedingly dense. So is birch bark and wild oregano. These sterols are hormone-like, and they help the body make its own hormones. The body needs all the hormone support it can get. In this regard ChagaMax is essential.

 There are also the glucans, which boost the immune system or, in fact, normalize it. Plus, there are the wild oregano flavonoids, such as quercitin, which also help regulate immunity.

Additionally, wild oregano is a dense source of phenolic compounds, like carvacrol, which are natural antiseptics. Wild oregano, birch bark, and chaga are all top sources of natural minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, copper, and magnesium, all of which are needed for healthy tissues.

Now is the time to get the most potent natural complex known, containing the King of All Herbs—wild chaga, and the Delight/Joy of the Mountains—wild, raw oregano. Get the joy of ideal health throughthe powers of wild nature. Get only the original wild, raw chaga capsules plus wild birch bark and oregano, ChagaMax, and experience the real power of wild nature.

Natural Beauty Tips

Beyond The Label

—Myra Michelle Eby

Body care and cosmetic products are not regulated like foods, so many products actually contain toxic chemicals that aren't listed on the label. While this provides a challenge to consumers, there are things you can do even if the label doesn't tell the whole story. Here are a few suggestions:

YOUR NOSE KNOWS. Trust your senses to help you determine if something is pure. Seek out products that smell and look fresh. Products that have heavy scents and unnatural-looking colors probably contain artificial ingredients and toxic fragrances.

Chaga Knowledge

The Wild Chaga Mushroom ... The Secret of the Forest

Chaga is a wild growth of immense powers. Everyone needs more power, so everyone benefits from chaga. Real chaga is truly wild. It grows in the far northern forests, where the ecosystem is intact. This is crucial, because there is a vast difference between wild plants which grow in pure nature and farm-raised plants. Chaga thrives in the remote wilderness, growing on wild birch trees. It consumes and then concentrates the natural power of these trees. A polypore fungus taking up to twenty years to mature, chaga is a true force of wild nature. There is now man-made chaga grown in vats and labs. Do not accept cheap imitations.

The “Gift from God”

Rather than soft like a mushroom, chaga is hard, almost as hard as wood. It is unique, nothing like common mushrooms. In fact, chaga is the most nutritionally dense of all tree growths. Known by the Siberians as the “Gift from God” and the “Mushroom of Immortality,” this vibrant growth has been used by humans to support health for thousands of years. The Japanese call it “The Diamond of the Forest,” while the Chinese deem it “King of Plants.” For the Chinese that is saying a lot, since they have an immense history with countless plants. Now, you can get the great powerful secret of the Orient through North American Herb & Spice’s wild chaga supplements. Despite this exceptional status, most Americans are unaware of it.
         
To survive in harsh climates, chaga concentrates natural compounds for its protection, and that is why it is so powerful. To strengthen the tree, as well as heal, it makes potent phytochemicals, including sterols, phenols, and enzymes. Researchers have inoculated sick trees with chaga to strengthen them. People benefit by consuming these forest-source phytochemicals and nutrients.

Green Housekeeping

Spring cleaning is here and it’s a great time to think about switching from conventional cleaning products to the more environmentally friendly versions.

It’s a well-known fact that conventional cleaners contain hundreds of chemicals that unleash harmful toxins and contaminate our waterways once discarded. What you may not know is just how harmful these chemicals can be. They can act as respiratory irritants, potential carcinogens, neurotoxins, mutagens, teratogens, and endocrine and hormone disrupters. Certain ingredients call Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are added to most cleaners to enhance their performance, but can impair neurological functions. Manufacturers of conventional cleaning products are not held to any labeling requirements, making it difficult for even the savviest consumer to tell what they are being exposed to.

The good news is that some of the most
environmentally friendly cleaning products can be found right in your own home or store.

Spring cleaning the natural way:

Soap, water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and a coarse scrubbing sponge can take care of most household cleaning needs
To Clean glass, use a mixture of half white vinegar and half water
Baking soda and cornstarch are both good carpet deodorizers
To clean mold and mildew, use a mixture of lemon juice and white vinegar and salt.
A paste of baking soda, salt and hot water makes a good oven cleaner


Taken from Green Housekeeping by Lisa Madsen.

Joel Salatin: Life Lessons from a Farmer

Joel Salatin: Life Lessons from a Farmer (via Organic Connections Magazine)

by Bruce Boyers Joel Salatin—farmer, author, featured speaker, and the subject of several documentaries—has spent his life learning from nature how a food system is supposed to function, and putting it into practice at his Polyface Farm. Then, raising…

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New Studies Shed Light on the Surprising Benefits of Chewing Gum

A little snack just hit headlines with a smack, as new research revealed the unexpected advantages of chewing gum. Already known to freshen breath and provide a low-calorie treat between meals, new studies in the US and the UK have uncovered gum’s uncanny ability to help boost students’ test scores, counter fatigue and even lower stress levels.

Chia Ice Pops

Serves 4—6

Nutritious and refreshing, these ice pops get their natural sweetness from fruit.

Chia Gel

Makes 20 1-Tbs. Servings

 Use chia gel to thicken sauces, soups, dips, dressings, and other recipes without altering their taste

Super Seeds

Want more stamina? Try chia, a gluten-free seed rich in omega-3s and fiber.

Chia seeds have been called the world’s healthiest whole food for good reason. “Chia contains the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids of any plant known, and also contains significant amounts of protein, fiber, and antioxidants,” says Wayne Coates, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Arizona, chia researcher, and author of Chia: The Complete Guide to the Ultimate Superfood.

“Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber have been shown to have positive health benefits in terms of heart health and diabetes,” he says, “And omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants have also been shown to help reduce inflammation and boost immunity.” Plus, chia is gluten-free.

Tropical Treats

Get baking with coconut products

If you eat gluten free and also avoid milk products, refined sugar, and maybe even honey, agave syrup, or all grains, do you sometimes wonder how can you make tasty, good-for-you baked goods? The solution is simple: coconut!

Coconuts are the fruit of the coconut palm and have an amazing number of food uses. Luckily for people with gluten sensitivity and other food allergies, each of the following coconut products can substitute nicely for common ingredients used in gluten-free baking.

Grain-Free Morning Glory Muffins

Makes 6 Muffins

A great combination of fruit, vegetable, nut, and coconut ingredients, this muffin is a healthy, fiber-rich addition to any breakfast or brunch.

10 Eco-Friendly Tips

Here are some easy ways to "green" up your kitchen.

Grain of Truth

Stay healthy and trim, the wheat-free way

By Vera Tweed

Wheat is the world’s most popular grain but it’s also the most dangerous, triggering overeating and obesity, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and many other ills, according to cardiologist William Davis, MD, author of the best-selling Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health. What about whole or sprouted wheat? They’re just as bad, he says. Here’s why:

Safe Shopping: How to Avoid GMOs

By Melissa Diane Smith, Illustration by Dave Klug

More and more consumers are looking for ways to avoid genetically modified foods (GMOs).

Here's why — and how you can join them

What’s the quickest, easiest way to avoid buying foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs)? Look for the Non-GMO Project Verified seal and the USDA Organic seal on the label.

Increasing numbers of consumers are doing just that. The Non-GMO Project Verified label is the fastest growing label claim in the natural foods industry, and sales of organic food products in the United States continue to grow each year. The Non GMO Project is North America’s only independent verification program for products made according to the best practices for GMO avoidance, and USDA certified organic products cannot intentionally include any GMO ingredients.

So, why the growing trend to seek out and buy non-GMO foods?

Here are a few reasons:

Hang on to Your Hair

By Vera Tweed

Genes, toxins, hormones, and age all affect our hair, but nutrition also plays a key role. In fact, hair is especially likely to suffer from nutritional shortfalls.

To survive, the human body naturally assigns a pecking order to how nutrients are used, says Alan Christianson, NMD, medical director of Integrative Health Care in Scottsdale, Ariz. and author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease. Essential internal organs such as the heart and brain get first priority, followed by muscles, bones, and connective tissue, and then skin and nails. “Hair is at the very bottom,” says Christianson.

Those priorities make good survival sense. Hair loss isn’t deadly or debilitating, but it isn’t usually desirable, either. To get a handle on what you can do to keep a healthy head of hair, it helps to understand what influences its growth.

Historic Vote Coming on GMO Labeling

On November 6th, California will hold an historic public vote on the issue of mandatory labeling of foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

If passed, the California measure (Proposition 37) would be the first law of its kind in the United States. It could start a wave of GMO labeling laws and might even automatically leads to labeling throughout the country, experts say, because it's unlikely that companies selling products nationwide will develop two separate labels - one for California, which has the eighth largest economy in the world, and one for the rest of the country.

Labeling is important not just because it gives consumers the information they need to make informed choices, but also because labeling is a critical tool to help health professionals track the effects of eating genetically modified (GM) foods. It will also make it easier to hold corporations that make GM foods accountable for any ill effects, says Andrew Kimbrell, a lawyer and author of Your Right to Know.

For more information about the California Right to Know campaign, see www.CARighttoKnow.org 

via Better Nutrition

Allergy and Sinus SOS

By Issac Eliaz, MD, LAC

Get to the real cause of allergies and sinus infections. Find lasting relief with a combination of therapies, including herbs, supplements, and homeopathic remedies.

Chronic sinusitis is a common health condition that affects 14 out of every 100 people in the United States. While these problems may not seem serious, they can be an expression of imbalances within the immune or digestive systems. In addition to the typical sneezing and runny nose, sinus infections may cause headaches, abdominal pain, and even menstrual problems. Because there is only a thin plate of bone between the sinuses and brain, sinus infections can cause mental fogginess and a lack of concentration.

About NOW Foods

Founded in 1968 by Elwood Richard, NOW Foods’ values and mission are very much aligned with those of its main customers, the independent health food retailer. Although the company, founded in 1968 by Elwood Richard, has grown to become one of the industry’s largest manufacturers, NOW is still owned and run by the Richard family. They ensure the company fulfills its original mission: to provide value in products and services that empower people to lead healthier lives.

Elwood Richard’s core belief that high-quality health products should not be a luxury available only to the wealthy still shapes the company’s policies today. People often ask how NOW can produce quality products at such reasonable prices, and the answer is surprisingly simple: commitment. GMP certified since 2000, every phase of the manufacturing process, from the purchase and delivery of raw materials, to the packaging and shipping of products, follows strict procedures overseen by an educated, experienced team of Quality Control & Quality Assurance experts. NOW’s modern, 250,000-sq ft facility, one of the industry’s most admired, houses six fully-functional laboratories running the most current and advanced testing equipment. Thorough testing and meticulous quality assurance ensures that NOW products are screened for contaminants, labeled accurately and of the highest possible quality.

NOW’s dedication to the customers who have made their success possible is illustrated by the company’s stellar customer service and enduring commitment to the health food channel.

via Whole Foods Magazine

Weighing in on Childhood Obesity

There are many ideas about good nutrition for parents helping children combat obesity—supplementing their diets is also recommended.

By Janet Poveromo

According to the Institute of Medicine, over the past three decades, the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged two to five years and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged six to 11 years. When the institute released its most recent fact sheet dated September of 2004, approximately nine million children over age six were considered obese.

The rate of childhood obesity has increased at such an alarming rate that last year the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) concluded there was enough indirect evidence to suggest that starting pharmacological treatment early makes sense in children with very high levels of cholesterol.