2010 January/February Newsletter
Welcome!
Happy New Year, everyone! 2010 is here and already flying by. This newsletter was emailed in late January. The email included a welcome message, “teasers” for articles, and information about upcoming events. The articles are on this page in their entirety. (Click titles to jump to articles.)
Slimming Supplements
Save a Bag, Save the World
Winterize Your Health
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Slimming Supplements: Yes, there is help!
By Cristyn Peters
Most of us are already familiar with the dangers of being over weight. We know that over eating and inactivity fuel weight gain. But isn’t there something out there that can give us an “edge”? Many popular diet products offer quick fixes, but fail to provide promised results leaving us disappointed and with feelings of failure.
While no supplement can take the place of physical activity and supportive eating, understanding a little bit about how our bodies function with the use of natural supplements can be helpful. Get this first: No supplement melts fat! Fat burning requires fat mobilization and then delivery into muscle cells where they can be burned as fuel. Supplements will only “supplement” the efforts you are already putting towards healthy lifestyle.
The body must be in the right hormonal and chemical balance in order to burn fat. There are several catalysts that can create this balance. Starting with a good WHOLE FOOD MULTI VITAMIN & MINERAL complex is a major player as they serve as “helpers” to the cell machinery that makes possible the processes by which other nutrients are digested, absorbed, metabolized, or built into body structures. They liberate energy (the calories you get in carbohydrates, proteins and fats). Along with making it possible for your body to burn fat and structure muscle, vitamins and minerals boost endorphin levels making you feel more energetic. (Remember they need to be whole food complexes, so look for choices from NEW CHAPTER, MEGAFOOD, and GARDEN OF LIFE’S VITAMIN CODE.)
PROBIOTICS are a nice little secret for losing weight. Other than producing the B vitamins involved in energy production, probiotics aid in digestion and nutrient absorption. If you want to lose weight you MUST nourish your body to support the process. The beneficial bacteria in a good probiotic like NEW CHAPTER’S ALL FLORA, UDO’S CHOICE PROBIOTICS, MEGAFLORA and many others that you will find in our refrigerated section, can help you stabilize the fat burning process. Ensuring better nutrient absorption causes you to be less hungry and every one of the body’s function will be enhanced.
Now this may sound a little odd to you at first, but we need fat in order to lose fat! ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS (EFA’s) from sources such as fish oil and flaxseed oil exert a lipid (cholesterol) lowering effect. EFA’s, which include Omega-3 oils, have the ability to boost thermogenesis by increasing metabolic rate. They are also associated with reduced fat storage and enhanced insulin sensitivity. Healthy fats also provide a sense of fullness or satiation after eating. When feeling satisfied it is easier to make healthy choices rather than when your stomach is growling! EFA’s also help dieting by providing a more sustained release of energy and slower rise in blood sugar. My “ultimate” favorite is ULTIMATE OMEGA from NORDIC NATURALS. There are also many high quality choices you will find on our shelves.
A great kick off to any weight loss program is a DETOX. We offer several detoxification kits that are convenient and easy to use. Toxins like to hide out in our fat cells. If a fat cell is full of toxins there is not enough space for oxygen to enter and oxygen is necessary for fat metabolism. Although we carry many quality detoxes my first choice tends to be RENEW LIFE. Their philosophies resonate with what I have learned in college and beyond. RAPID CLEANSE is the most effective of their line, with several other gentle choices. (PS: Doing a quality cleanse should not cause, what I call “emergency bathroom situations”. Always a big question from customers!)
One of my favorite, tried and true “weight-loss” products is NEW CHAPTER’S DIET & ENERGY. It fabulously supports all processes of diet and exercise. It contains GREEN & WHITE TEA which is a thermogenic (increases metabolism and fat burning). It suppresses appetite, balances cortisol levels and aids in accessing and releasing fat.
DIET & ENERGY also contains CAYENNE extract which, again, is a powerful thermogenic, as is another of it’s ingredients: GINGER. Ginger has hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory effects as well as antioxidants to help the body when ridding of toxins. It produces fat-digesting bile and starch-digesting saliva.
MACA and RHODIOLA are the adaptogenic herbs in this product, enhancing glandular hormonal balance and increases in energy and stamina. Rhodiola reduces the stress that can impair weight loss. It increases ATP production via the mitochondria. It broadens creatine and ATP action and activates the enzyme lipase to burn fat.
This product also includes CINNAMON which reduces blood sugar levels and promotes insulin sensitivity therefore diminishing insulin resistance. It increases insulin levels three times over, helping sugar get into the cells to be used as energy instead of being stored as fat.
DIET & ENERGY adds the component of GTF CHROMIUM which is an influential antioxidant involved in blood sugar control. It enhances glucose transport into cells to maintain normal blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels run awry, your body cannot efficiently produce the hormone glucagon which is your “fat-burning” hormone. We need this! (There are many other worthy supplements in the nutritional aisle such as GAIA’s DIET SUPPORT and various products by NOW.)
So, are you one of the millions “dieting” and not losing weight? Does your weight remain stagnant even though you exercise on a regular basis? Might you even be putting on weight despite your best efforts?
Understand that our body has two sources for fuel: fat and carbohydrates. We want to burn more fat! The above supplements can be a start in giving your program that extra “edge” it needs to shift into an enhanced fat utilization. Along with supportive eating and regular activity we can turn your body into a fat burning machine! Now, how great is that?!
Cristyn Peters is a Certified Personal Trainer and LifeStyle & Weight Management Consultant who has successfully helped hundreds of people get healthy and fit. She has limited openings for new clients and can be reached at: www.CristynPeters.com. Questions and comments are always welcome.
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By May Grose
Hello fellow health-conscious peoples, open-hearted kin & earth-friendly power-houses!
Are you aware? Are you aware of your strength? Are we as a global race in tune with the ‘progress’ we have made…plastically speaking? Here’s the scoop…
In 1862, a man by the name of Alexander Parkes publically demonstrated the first man made plastic, an organic material derived from cellulose that, after heating and cooling, could be molded to any desirable shape (http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/plastics.htm). A hundred years or so later, the common home takes in GLAD plastic garbage bags, yet ditches the organic material it was once made with. Now, the un-biodegradable sacks have been deemed the title of ‘National Flower’ by South Africa. There are so many plastic bags in said country, some cultures even make their houses out of them!
It is estimated that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year (www.seattle.com/national/182949_bags21.html). The one billion dollar industry makes about 90 billion bags annually in the United States alone! (www.usatoday.com) The materials used DO NOT BREAK DOWN into earth friendly products. The big piece of polyethylene will, for lack of a better word, ‘decompose’ into smaller pieces, yet never actually return to mother earth like the rest of us. Big pieces just get smaller and wildlife mistake it for food, get sick and die, and we are to blame. Not to mention the noxious gases which go into production of the bags, averaging 12 million barrels of oil, which could have been used to produce 240 million gallons of gas for your car…yes, now, I know we can all say the words ‘fuel crisis,’ how about wildlife depletion and greenhouse gases?
Ponder this- Some 50 or 60 years ago, in the Northern Pacific Gyre, a great vortex of water ways and currents were clean and free of man-made pollution. Now, there’s a swirling mass of plastic, and I’m sure many dead sea creatures that once thought it was food (sorry whales, sorry fish, I did not mean to leave that plastic bag blowing on the sidewalk!!). Check out Algalita Marine Research Foundation for more information. Oh, and did you know that there are 46,000 pieces of plastic floating per square mile of ocean??? Unbelievable!!!
You can guess by now that I’m trying to point out a problem we have, actually, more like a crisis! We all need to wake up!
Americans throw away some 100 billion plastic bags after use, which is the equivalent to dumping almost 12 million barrels of oil (www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/08/plastic_bags/)! What is it going to take for us to stop killing ourselves and the world around us? Do we need to follow Ireland’s idea with taxing ourselves? In March of 2002, Ireland created the ‘Plas Tax’ which is a tax of about 20 cents per plastic bag used. I like the idea, personally. It might give our kids a chance, and our grandkids! I mean really, I’m 25 years old sans children but question the idea of even having them. Why would I bring innocence into a polluted world? It’s like setting them up to fail. The question becomes do we have to tax ourselves to STOP using these pollutants, or can we put on our big kids’ pants and go retailing with the reusable?
I realize I have thrown many questions to you, my reader, but this is serious. We need to care more, for ourselves, our neighbors, and future generations. Any plastic bag you’ve ever used is STILL OUT THERE. When you throw something away, it doesn’t just disappear. Yes, recycling them is a step in the right direction, and so is the invention of the corn based, biodegradable bag. Yet, think…all that land that is used for growing the corn, which could be used to grow other foods for ourselves, and our livestock, maybe the needy, phew!, I’m starting to have a hot flash and I’m not menopausal! Corn growth for biodegradable bags…there’s still an issue here.
Why not spend the six bucks and buy a reusable bag or convert that old purse, knapsack, grain pouch? You get the point, I hope!
I’m asking you to make some conscious choices. If you must take the plastic out of the store, please re-use them for things like doggie walking time, a lunch tote, or bring them back to your local market and recycle them. Please note that this does not reduce our overall massive problem. Once made, plastic bags cannot be un-made! Speaking as an employee of the Herbal Path, and a representative for a healthy world, get a reusable bag. They are not hard to come by and we have a great selection at the store of Chico Bags (love them!). Very sturdy and all sorts of fun colors, even ones with creative themes. Honestly, they make me excited to go out shopping!
Let’s not turn our back on each other and Mother Earth, all of this matters, TO ALL OF US! We are all connected, whether we like it or not. Having an ego does not help, but a smile and some conscientious actions certainly does.
Thanks for reading and let’s continue to enjoy our future!
For information about reducing your waste and state recycling info, you can call 1-800-CLEANUP.
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By Barbara King
The stillness of winter brings cold and long days. You may see glimpses of sunlight without ever feeling it’s warmth. You have jumped into the winter season fully prepared. Your car, home and snow blower are fully winterized and ready for bitter temperatures and heavy snow fall. But wait, there’s just one more thing you may have forgotten. You. Have you winterized your body?
The three months of winter are when we come back to quietness. It is a time to be still and listen. Wintertime allows us to restore and replenish our energy reserves. According to Chinese medicine, the winter season is linked to kidneys, the adrenal glands and the bladder. When these systems are out of balance, it depletes energy and may lead to illness. During the cold long dark days of winter, people are more prone to colds, flu, poor circulation, dry skin, low vitality, fatigue, and seasonal mood disorders.
Nettle tea is the wintertime herbal tea. It is a rich source of alkalizing minerals especially for kidney cleansing and adrenal support. Herbal Energetics makes a kidney and lymph cleansing tea that is ideal. Drinking warm tea helps to keep your vitality fired up. Another good choice is to steep 1 teaspoon of any of the following in 1 cup of water: ginger, cinnamon, or clove.
Gaia’s Adrenal Support or Megafood’s Adrenal Strength are excellent products to consider during the winter months. Both of these products consist of herbal blends that will help enormously if you have adrenal glands that are overworked due to ongoing daily stress.
Chamomile has sedative properties and has been used for centuries to treat insomnia and anxiety. It is soothing and relaxing. Wyndmere essential oils such as roman chamomile, lavender, rose, and a touch of bergamot make a calming bath after a long hard stressful wintry day. Your skin can become very dry during these cold months, chamomile oil is also excellent for hydrating.
While I’m on the topic of keeping your skin moist, remember your lips need hydrating too. Chapped lips can be caused by a variety of reasons, including a Vitamin B deficiency, exposure to windy weather, and eating very salty foods. To avoid painful cracks and chapping apply Dessert Essence’s shea butter lip rescue, olive oil or Nutiva’s coconut oil to your lips. These oils sink into your lips and immediately soothe some of the roughness. Many lip balms already include shea butter in their ingredients such as, Jenness Farm. Shea butter has a 15% SPF for extra sun protection. This season stay away from salty and spicy foods when your lips are chapped. These will aggravate the problem. Reduce outdoor exposure to your lips. You might even want to try honey. Before bed, apply a thin layer of honey on your lips. They will feel much softer when you wake up. Stay away from lip products that contain alcohol. Alcohol sometimes shows up as an ingredient in lip gels and lipstick, but alcohol will dry out your lips even more.
Your diet needs winterizing too. Root vegetables such as carrots, beets, and turnips are rich in vitamins and minerals and are a good way to replenish your body in the winter when it may be lacking some essential elements. Try making a soup for your whole family to enjoy. A soup made with these healthy ingredients will warm your soul.
The shorter days give us less time outdoors to get a healthy dose of sunshine which means we get less vitamin D. Vitamin D can not only boost your immune system it may also boost your moods. If you are like many of our customers already including Hemp Hearts into you daily diet, you are getting 1200 units of vitamin D in each serving. Consider Megafood’s Vitamin D or New Chapter’s Bone Strength as additional sources.
Lastly, as you know, the winter months increase our susceptibility to colds and flu: respiratory infections such as bronchitis may linger on for weeks. Diffusing essential oils in the home is beneficial, especially since many essential oils have antibacterial properties to keep germs at bay. Using powerful antiseptic oils such as blending eucalyptus, thyme, and lemon to disinfect your home and strengthen the body’s resistance to disease can be worth your while. Our best defense is to keep the immune system strong with plenty of rest along with a healthy diet, nourishing herbs and a good probiotic. The Herbal Path has a variety of immune supportive remedies to choose from. Ask any of our professional staff to help you decide which one is just right for you.
Two more wintry months are upon us until we see the blossoming of springtime. Savor this time and nourish yourself each day. Remembering that the more we winterize the more we energize.
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2 Responses
Hi,
I stopped getting your newsletter for some reason some months ago. Would you put me back on the mailing list? Thanks!
Hi Lisabeth,
Thanks for your note — when I checked our email list, your name and address were on there and looked correct. I sent you a copy of the January/February 2010 newsletter, and you should be receiving it in the next day or so. If not, please let us know!
Marci
Hi,
I stopped getting your newsletter for some reason some months ago. Would you put me back on the mailing list? Thanks!
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