Message from Marge- May 2012

  May 4^th and 5^th we will be celebrating you, Schlarman’s extended family, for our Customer Appreciation Days. These are exciting times as society changes focus on consuming an abundance of food to that of food nourishing the body, mind, and emotions. As our farmers are busy tilling, planting and caring for livestock; we hold them in our thoughts and prayers.

  This month’s Healthy Living features an article with Health Crusader Dr. Patricia Bragg. She is a worldwide health educator, author, lecturer, president and CEO of Bragg Live Foods. Bragg Live Foods celebrates their 100^th anniversary this year and Dr. Patricia Bragg is as passionate as ever about spreading the word of health, fitness and living a happy, fulfilled life. Her father was a founding pioneer of America’s health food movement and originated the first health food store in 1912. The Bragg Live Foods abides by the principle that a simple, healthy diet offers solutions to many of life’s perplexing health challenges. The Bragg family motto: “You are what you eat, drink, breathe, think, say and do” is evident in their business, products, and lives. You will find the Bragg Live Foods products stocked on our shelves here at Schlarman’s. Look for the following Bragg Live Foods as you browse the aisles: salad dressings, apple cider vinegar (with the mother), liquid amino acids, extra virgin olive oil, organic sprinkle ( 24 herbs and spices seasoning), and sea kelp delight seasoning. I plan on using some of the Bragg Live Foods products in our food celebration for Customer Appreciation Day.

  I have looked long and hard for a modern, fresh, new line of make-up for our store. I am excited to introduce and announce Gabriel Cosmetics. The following information highlights the Gabriel line:

The secret to mistake-proof beauty is 100% natural ingredients along with 100% vegan + gluten free products

Classic color palette with earth tone shades for all ages

Full spectrum sun protection as every product ranges from 8 – 18 SPF

All products are free of Parabens, mineral oil, lanolin, talc, propylene glycol, lead, coal tar derivatives, and FD&C coloring agents

  As promised Burt Goulding will return this May 21^st for a workshop entitled; Learn a Holistic Approach to... New Hearing, Vision, and Teeth. We will learn how mineral imbalances hinder the body’s self-repair, the role circulation plays keeping the body healthy, and steps that can maintain and rebuild the body. We will learn effective techniques to take control of our health and correct imbalances. We are honored to have Burt teaching this workshop as he teaches this very material to medical students and doctors across the United States as well as internationally. For a $10 savings be sure to sign up in advance!! See page 2 for more details.

  It often has been said the “hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,” and so it is as we thank our mothers for the dedication, commitment, and sacrifice they have given. Mothers instill beliefs, provide unconditional love, and prepare us to stand on our own. As the Bragg family motto states we are what we eat, drink, breathe, think, say and do; our mothers lay the foundation of our health and lives. With gratitude, we celebrate mothers everywhere!

Blessings,

Marge

Hypertension--- The "Silent Killer"

Hypertension often has no symptoms, hence it is described as the “silent killer,” one that raises risk for heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. This trio of natural remedies is particularly effective, with complimentary benefits.

1. Magnesium Calms

Magnesium, the fourth-most abundant mineral in the body, is indispensable to good health and needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions. Only 1 percent of your body’s magnesium is in your blood, but it is critical that blood levels of magnesium are kept constant.
Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady and promotes normal blood pressure. One 10-year study of women over age 45 found a direct connection between magnesium and lower blood pressure. Another study determined that a diet moderately deficient in magnesium increases hypertension risk.

2. Hawthorn Improves Circulation

Several studies have shown that hawthorn extracts help lower blood pressure and improve circulation. For example, a British study found that hawthorn was successful at reducing blood pressure in diabetics. In other research, hawthorn lowered blood pressure, relieved heart palpitations and improved overall heart function.
Consider hawthorn long-term therapy, rather than an overnight cure. You may have to wait two to four weeks before the herb takes effect and its effectiveness may continue to increase after one to two months.

3. Garlic Reduces Plaque Deposits

Garlic reduces plaque and supports overall heart health. According to published research, garlic appears to reduce blood pressure levels by about 5-10 percent. This may not seem like much, but it is enough to significantly reduce the total chronic damage from hypertension. Clinical herbalists using garlic usually see larger reductions with higher doses.

One trial looked at 47 subjects with mild hypertension. For 12 weeks, half were given a placebo and the other half received a daily dose of 600 mg of garlic powder, standardized to 1.3 percent alliin. Garlic reduced systolic blood pressure (the top number, measuring pressure when the heart beats) by 6 percent and diastolic (the bottom number, representing pressure when the heart relaxes between beats) by 9 percent. A particular form of garlic—aged garlic extract—may be especially beneficial for cardiovascular health. Kyolic now has a special garlic formula called Blood Pressure Health.

Amazing Asparagus!

Lean, Green and Nutritionally Mean!!

Nothing quite captures the essence of spring like fresh asparagus! Asparagus is now one of the most popular of all vegetables, but it is also an extraordinary source of nourishment, especially for pregnant women.

Asparagus contains generous amounts of vitamin K, which assists with blood clotting and helps prevent cell damage; vitamin C which helps improve iron absorption and reduce cancer risk; and carotenoids, which are antioxidants that are converted to vitamin A, a natural antiviral.
But it’s the B-vitamin folate that’s the big star here, and the reason why asparagus is an indispensable part of a pregnant women’s diet. Folate has been shown to be essential for proper cellular division in the fetus; low levels of folate during pregnancy have been clearly linked to a multitude of birth defects. And folate is vital for a healthy cardiovascular system—it converts homocysteine to cysteine, thereby strengthening blood vessel walls and decreasing the risk of heart disease. It also helps prevent liver disease and ward off cervical cancer. And it doesn’t take much to provide these benefits—only one serving of asparagus provides 20 percent of your daily recommended intake of 800 mcg of folic acid.

Shop, Steam, Serve

When buying asparagus, choose stalks that are round, firm, and thin, with closed tips; of course, organic is always best. Occasionally you’ll find purple asparagus, it has the additional benefit of cancer-fighting anthocyanins.

When you get your asparagus home, rinse well, and trim off the woody bottom portion. If not using immediately, wrap a wet paper towel around the bottoms, seal in a plastic bag, and store in the back of the fridge—exposure to air, light, and heat destroys folate. Use within a day or two at the most.

Asparagus spears are wonderful steamed and served as a side dish. Slip them in pot pie, stir-fry them with lots of other colorful veggies, and heap them over organic brown rice. Or try this recipe to take advantage of the delicious, protective qualities of this tiny green nutritional plant.


Penne with Asparagus
and Sweet Onion
8 oz. organic penne pasta
3 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1-inch diagonal pieces
½ large sweet onion, sliced thin
¼ cup shredded farmers cheese
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
½ tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)

Cook pasta according to the package directions, drain, and place in large bowl. Meanwhile, heat oil in a wok or large skillet. Stir-frying asparagus and onion until just crisp, about 5 minutes. Toss pasta with asparagus - onion mix, cheese, vinegar, and red pepper flakes.

Cooking With Quinoa

Learn how to prepare and enjoy this versatile, delicious, and highly nutritious supergrain.
Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wa) has its place in a healthful diet. Though quinoa is a relatively new grain alternative in the United States, it has existed for centuries. The ancient Incas called it “the mother of grain,” and the pre-Columbian Andean Indians ate it often because quinoa provided nutritional qualities that another main food source, the potato lacked.
Today, nutritionists praise and recommend this ancient “supergrain” for its nutritional value. Unlike other grains, quinoa boasts a complete protein because it contains eight essential amino acids. It is also higher in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc than wheat, barley, or corn. Additionally, quinoa, is easily digested, a rich source of fiber, and gluten free, making it a wonderful grain alternative for people with celiac disease or gluten allergies.
Once cooked, this grain has a delicate, couscous-like texture and nutty flavor that creates a perfect canvas for both sweet and savory enhancements. Start the day with a bowl of quinoa mixed with dried fruit, milk or yogurt and a bit of cinnamon, or stir a cup of it in with your favorite soup to give the dish a subtle texture. An easy lunch can be had by tossing a cup of quinoa with a mixture of veggies and a tangy vinaigrette; for dinner, try a similar mixture as a filling for a healthy wrap.
Prepare this quick-cooking grain just as you would rice by boiling in water, However, know that unlike rice, quinoa will be ready to serve in less than 20 minutes—yet another trait that adds to its appeal. Also try our quinoa pasta, quinoa flakes and quinoa flour.