Produce

Labels are a major help in identifying what kind of produce you’re getting.  It’s all in the numbers.

All produce should have a label with a number on it.  Conventional produce, which has probably been sprayed with pesticides, begins with the number 4, Genetically modified produce usually begins with an 8, and organic begins with a 9.

Organic and Natural

The FDA allows products that are not 100% organic to be labeled as organic.  Check the ingredients, and look for products that specifically say “100% Organic.”

As for natural, the term has lost most of its meaning in today’s market.  Remember, mercury is natural but it’s certainly not something you want in your body.  Not all products labeled natural are deceptive, but some may contain synthetic ingredients.  Check the label, and if you can’t find the answer do some research online.

Environmentally friendly

There are no regulations for the terms “environmentally friendly” or “eco-safe.”  Check the company out to see what they actually mean by this.

Nontoxic

This does not mean “not toxic” or “toxin-free.”  It simply means that it’s a safer alternative.  This term also has no regulatory standards.

Made with…

Products that claim they are made with certain ingredients only have to have a very small amount of that ingredient.  Check the label to see what else is in it.

Use your head

If you are concerned about what you put in your body you need to put the time into learning about what you want there.  With so many loopholes and misnomers you may be including something in your diet that you don’t want, and this is just a small list.  Read, research, and always double check claims.

Genetically modified or engineered food, known as GM, GE and GMO (for genetically modified organisms), is a major hot topic for activists and consumers.  The original vision for these types of food was to provide a better growing, cheaper, more nutritious food supply.  Major GM manufacturers still claim this is what their foods do.  The fact is none of their foods have contributed to their promises: better taste, better nutrition, lower fats.

Many GM foods were created so that they would be resistant to herbicides.  The ability to spray chemicals on all of our crops without killing them has created “superweeds” that are very difficult to get rid of.  The runoff from all these herbicides and pesticides creates enormous dead zones in the ocean as well as polluting our air and bodies.

Many European countries require strict labeling on GMO foods, and for this reason they don’t sell very well there.  The US has no such laws, so unless it’s labeled organic it can be GM.  Andrew Kimbrell, founder and executive director of the Center for Food Safety, puts it this way:

“What we have in this country is a complete regulatory failure with GMOs. We have no mandatory labeling, no mandatory testing. The USDA to this day has never come up with an environmental impact statement on a single GMO plant, though they’ve promised it over and over again, and court after court has demanded they do so.”

Monsanto and other corporations have also modified their seeds to be sterile in the second generation.  While they don’t have 100% efficiency, they get closer every year.  The obvious result is farmers, unable to save and plant seed from last years crop, are forced to rely on the corporation to provide them with their seeds every season.  They have even gone so far as to claim they own the organic crops cross-pollinated by neighboring GM fields.

More and more countries in Europe have completely banned GMO crops.  Hungary has been in the news for the last few months for destroying a field of GM crops.

This is just a brief overview of some of the things going on in the anti-GMO world.  If you want to find out more the links below can be a good starting point.

Further reading

• The GMO reality
• GM crops damage wildlife
• Say no to GMOs
• Organic farms more productive than conventional farms
• An introduction to natural farming

A recent study by a professor at Texas A&M University revealed that the majority of products labeled as honey in many grocery stores and drugstores are not honey at all.

Three-fourths of honey on the market in America today has been ultra-filtered, a process where heated honey, sometimes watered down, is forced at high pressure through extremely small filters to remove all traces of pollen.  According to the FDA, if there’s no pollen it’s not honey.

Companies who participate in ultra-filtering claim customers want honey that has no impurities.  These “impurities” are the reason honey works as a health aide (for ailments like allergies).  Stripped of the local pollen, watered down with other liquids and even illegal antibiotics, honey goes from being a helpful part of a healthy, vital body to empty calories and sugar.

So why isn’t the FDA cracking down on mislabeled honey?  The reason given is they are simply understaffed.  Perhaps they need to pull some employees off of other projects.

According to the Food Safety News Study, 100% of the honey “at farmers markets, co-ops and ‘natural’ stores like PCC and Trader Joe’s had the full, anticipated, amount of pollen.

Further Reading

• Tests show most store honey isn’t honey.
• Fake honey in the US

Nature provides many sources of immune system boosters.  Some are found in teas, others in a stir fry.  Here’s a list of natural immune system supporters that are easy to find.  Any remedy you use should be from a clean, reliable source, otherwise they may not be as effective as they should be.

1. Black Elderberry

This natural flu remedy strengthens the immune system.  Often found in tea form.  With antiviral and antibacterial properties it is a good accompaniment to echinacea.

2. Echinacea

The well-known immune system booster is a powerful herb that should not be taken continuously for more than a few days.  There is evidence that it helps fight against coughs, sinus-related headaches, and congestion.  Should be taken at the first sign of flu or cold, usually as a tea.

3. Garlic

Garlic works to stimulate immunity and helps to fight bacteria and parasites.  Best taken completely raw, there are many supplements available if you don’t like the idea of chewing on raw garlic.

4. Magnesium

While not directly related to the immune system, magnesium helps to support the adrenal glands.  In high stress lifestyles and situations over taxed adrenals can often take a hit on the immune system.  Available in liquid and pills supplements.

5. Maitake Mushroom

This mushroom has a long history of increasing stamina and improving immunity.  Throw it in with a soup or a stir fry.

6. Rhodiola

Traditionally used to ease depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, and depression, rhodiola also helps to strengthen your body so the immune system does not become compromised.  Those with bipolar disorder should avoid.  Available in capsule supplements and Brain Toniq, a natural brain-boosting beverage.

Our body naturally produces enzymes to digest everything that goes into our stomach by breaking down fats, sugars, and proteins so our body can use them.  The problem is our enzyme production level decreases over time.

Around the age of 27 most people’s enzyme levels begin to decline due to the production of less stomach acids.  Many researchers believe that as we get older our decreasing enzyme level is a major cause of many ailments that we associate with getting old including lowered metabolism, decreased tissue and cell regeneration (how the body heals itself), reduction in our body’s ability to detoxify itself, decreased production in sex hormones, and decreased energy to name a few.

Many factors play a part in speeding up this process of enzyme loss.  High stress, poor diet, and lack of exercise are major contributors.  Addressing these issues should be the core foundation of many methods of healing, including enzyme production.

But the fact of the matter is enzyme production does decrease with age.  There are many things we can do to resupply our body with essential stomach acids, rebuilding our gut so it can do what we need it to do.  Fiber can play a role and probiotics can help create an excellent framework and supplemental enzymes are another important rung in the ladder.

Raw foods are an excellent source of enzymes including the popular drink Kombucha, Miso soup, sauerkraut, and even watermelon (see below for a full list of enzyme-rich foods).  There are many foods that can be incorporated into many diets, and it’s a good place to start.

Another option, especially helpful when just starting out repairing the gut or when eating a meal that might be taxing on the gut, is to take supplements.  There are many digestive supplements on the market and you should find one that works for you.  Enzymedica, Bluebonnet, and Solaray all make popular enzyme supplements that we get great feedback on.  These can be taken with each meal, or whenever you think you might need them.

People tend to reach for laxatives only when they are having problems or digestive issues, and even then it’s usually a chemical or stimulant laxative that will bring immediate results.  The root of the problem is digestion, and it’s something that many overlook.

Getting the gut balanced takes time for repair.  Probiotics are a good place to start, and enzymes will help too, but fiber is often overlooked in regard to digestion.  We usually think about fiber only benefiting our bowel system, but when you look at it holistically all these systems are interrelated.  Fiber doesn’t just help constipation, it helps support digestive regularity too.

The Dietary Reference Intake for fiber is 38 grams for males and 25 grams for females.  In America we get about half that.  Eating foods high in fiber is the best way to take it, but that’s not always possible for everyone.

Psyllium (or psyllium husk) is one of the most well known and used forms of fiber, but many nutritionists and doctors warn of the harshness of psyllium and say that it’s not for everyone, especially when taken by itself.  Some people have no problem with fiber mixtures containing psyllium, but others try to avoid it all together.

There are many fiber mixtures and supplements–it’s a matter of finding one that works the best for you.  Renew Life makes several high quality organic fiber products, including a flavor-free and grit-free clear mixture.  Adding this or another mixture to your tea, water, or juice each day can be an easy way to make sure you get enough fiber into your diet.

One surprising source of fiber is chia seeds, which are usually touted for their rich omega-3 content and anti-inflammatory properties.  This source of high fiber enables you to get two necessary elements in your diet with one source.  Chia seeds are also sold as water-soluble mixtures.

Further reading

• Vanderbilt University fiber study
• Mayo Clinic list of high fiber foods

From child to adult, everyone gets an earache sometime, some more than others.  These earaches are usually a sign of infection, from mild to severe.  Generally the more severe it is the more it hurts.  In such cases medical attention should be sought.  But for more minor earaches there are some easy, natural ways to find relief.

Flushing

Standing in the shower and gently flushing out the ear canal with warm (not hot!) water can alleviate many earaches.  Don’t let a jet of water spray directly in your ear though–instead simply stand at an angle to the showerhead and let the water gently flow into and out of your ear.  Set the showerhead at a lower pressure if possible.  If you feel pain you should stop.

Ear drops

Olive oil is a cheap, handy way to relieve pain quickly, and other oils like garlic oil can help reduce infection.  Several brands carry ear drop mixtures with natural ingredients, one of our favorite being Gaia.  These drops can stop an infection in its tracks.

To administer, get a dropper-full of the mixture and hold it in your hand for a minute to warm the solution, then put a few drops in your ear.  Many will feel instant relief.

Ear candles

There are a lot of debates about ear candling.  Some swear by it, and some swear it’s a scam.  Made from beeswax and cotton cloth an ear candle is really a hollow cone.  The smaller tip is inserted into the ear and the other end it lit on fire, sometimes with the patient lying with her head sides or sitting up and the cone extending to the side slightly angled up.  A plate or other protective barrier is usually placed between the ear and flame.

Proponents claim that the candle creates a suction that pulls ear wax out of the ear.  Others say that while this may not be accurate, the warmth can be soothing for the ear.

If you are interested in ear candling do more reading on it and decide for yourself if it’s something you’d like to try.  You may be more comfortable trying it when your ears are healthy, not when you have an earache.  If you are uncomfortable doing this by yourself or with an inexperienced person, many alternative medicine practitioners offer the service.

Getting in there yourself

Inserting anything into your ear canal can be dangerous and should be approached with extreme caution.  However there are reasons that this may be the best method to use since an earache can sometimes be simply cause by wax buildup.  This often appears in a person whose body is more oily than average, so wax buildup is something they’ll probably have the rest of their life.  A doctor can show you how to clean wax from your ear safely.

A short video on buying local:

We have been a part of Fredericksburg’s local economy for several decades.  While you can find Hill Country products on our shelves from locally sourced eggs and beef to locally produced energy bars, some of our customers may not know about the year-round farmer’s market they can access through our doors.

Bountiful Sprout, member-owned and operated, lets members order everything from produce to jellies and from crafts to pet food from local businesses and farms.  With a pickup style similar to CSAs, twice a month you can pick up your pre-ordered goods from inside our store, where the Fredericksburg Bountiful Sprout office is located as well.  Check out their site or come in and talk to John Watson for details.

For the first time Fredericksburg also has a short Fall farmer’s market right across the street from us at the Pioneer Museum.  Come check it out!

I woke up this weekend with aches all over my body and generally feeling like garbage.  I don’t get sick too often, and when I do it tends to be either allergy related or this flu-like sickness.  I usually get this after a stressful week (or month) and it feels like a bunch of gross stuff that has been building up is finally released.

A few years ago when I got sick it usually lasted for days.  Then I started working in a health food store and my boss helped me to figure out what works for me and what to take when I get sick.  I now have a round of supplements and herbs that I can take that will knock it out in a day (plus of course a regular lifestyle of healthy, clean food and regular exercise).  I’m not posting this as a list for readers to copy exactly–this is just what works for me, and maybe you’ll find something on here that you haven’t tried yet.

1. A bath

If I could only choose from one thing on this list it would be a bath.  Sweating it out is a time honored method removing toxins from the body.  Beforehand I make sure to drink lots of water–at least a day of liquid intake.  If you can get vitamins in you it’s a plus, and a little celtic sea salt under the tongue before, during and after the bath will help your body restore nutrients and minerals.

In my bath I add about a cup or two of epsom salts and/or himalayan sea salt and a couple of tablespoons of Dr. Singha’s mustard bath.  The mustard bath is my secret weapon–I love the stuff.  I’ll also add a couple of drops of an essential oil or a mixture of oils–whatever I feel is right for me at the moment.

I turn the hot water on all the way and fill it up.  This is extremely intense and shouldn’t be attempted without testing it at lower temperatures.  I’ve been told to simply do it as hot as I can stand it.  I only stay in for 15 minutes, then I take a shower.

2. Virastop

Some say this works, some don’t.  It works for me.  Enzymedica’s Virastop is a blend of enzymes that support the immune system.  I usually start off with 2 capsules three times a day.  The second day I gauge how I feel and cut the dosage by half or more.

3.  Bio K Acidophilus

I take half of a container in the morning and half in the afternoon.  This doesn’t taste like honey but if my stomach is not feeling great this helps to get it back into working order.  If I am out of this some other acidophilus or probiotic is my alternate–this just works faster and usually better.

4. Tea

Liquids are important to keep drinking, and tea makes a nice break between plain water.  My two mainstays are Echinacea Plus (any variation of echinacea is good) and what is called SARS Tea.  This is a Chinese tea created to help combat SARS back when the outbreak occurred in China by boosting and supporting your immune system.  I was referred to it by Rosemary’s Herb Shop in Ruidoso, NM.  I’ve never looked for it anywhere else, but I always buy mine from them–they ship too.

I often put a little pinch of cayenne pepper in too.

5. Gaia Herbs Quick Defense

My body loves this blend of herbs–if I start taking it at the onset of anything it often wipes it out quickly.

6. Sunshine

Lying indoors all day watching movies and episodes of The Office can help keep my mind off how I feel, but a few minutes with fresh air and sunshine  several times a day can be a great break.

That’s pretty much it.  Sometimes I’ll add something here or there based on the specific problem I’m having, but this has become my staple for a quick recovery.  Remember, this isn’t a comprehensive list of what might help you, and some of these things won’t be perfect for everyone.  Listen to your own body and find what it needs.

What is Pau D’arco?

Pau D’arco comes from the inner bark of of a tree native to South America, which can now also be found in Florida.  It comes in the form of tea, tincture, and tablet and has been used by the indigenous population of South America for thousands of years.

Pau D’arco benefits

As with many herbs the list of possible benefits of the bark of this tree is long.  Lately it has become popular for its link to curing cancer, but its has also been used to treat herpes, fungal infections, flu (influenza) and other viral infections, parasitic diseases, bacterial infections, and yeast infections.

I first drank pau d’arco tea on the recommendation of a friend one winter when the flu was going around.  As soon as I started experiencing symptoms I began to drink it, and within a couple of days (along with other healthy eating practices and getting enough rest) I hadn’t experienced much discomfort and was feeling back to normal.  Since then this has happened a few times, and while those around me get sick I have managed to stay feeling well.

A family member recently had what looked like ringworm on her ankle.  After trying several natural remedies to no avail she decided to try a moistened tea bag of pau d’arco tea and applying it to the area for a few minutes each night.  After the first night the area was less red and swollen and after a couple of weeks it was gone.  This might not have been ringworm, but it did look like some kind of viral or parasitic infection.

Criticisms of pau d’arco

Some argue that experiences like mine and those I know may not have been due to pau d’arco, and that the amount of the supplement needed to kill viruses would be toxic to humans.

I am not a scientist but I have seen benefits come from this natural remedy too many times to think it is chance.  From looking at criticisms as in the above link it seems that scientists are approaching pau d’arco the same way they approach pharmaceuticals, whereas natural remedies, as I have discussed before, require a holistic approach.

When I take and recommend this remedy it is not for it to seek out all offending cells and killing them, rather I think of it as a way to support my body to heal while it may simply have too much to fight against.  Again this is just my opinion, and you might come to a different conclusion on your own.  Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Drug interactions and cautions

• Pau d’arco can intensify blood thinners like ibuprofen (Advil).
• High doses should be avoided as it can result in vomiting.  Dizziness, diarrhea, anemia, and nausea are signs to reduce dosage or stop treatment.
• Is often taken with food as minor stomach aches can be experienced on an empty stomach.
• Do not continuously for more than a week.
• Pau d’arco is a potent herb.  As such you should approach it with understanding and respect.  Contact your healthcare provider if you have further concerns or questions.