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.

A Message from Marge- April 2012

This April’s Customer Appreciation Day falls on Good Friday. We all are busy this week participating in Holy Week activities and preparations for Easter services and family gatherings. Because of this, in place of the traditional Customer Appreciation Days that entails 2 days of store specials and snacks I will be running only store specials the entire week Monday – Saturday, April 2 – 7. I hope you find this more convenient in planning for the week and it allows you to focus on priorities, fellowship, and relationships.

I am excited to announce two up-coming seminars so you can schedule them in your calendars: The first is on Monday, May 21, from 3:30 – 7:30PM with Burt Goulding. Many of you have heard Burt speak on balancing the pH of the body and how we can reach our health goals. He is Managing Director of Positive Nutrition Institute, lectures in medical schools, has training seminars (that we have been privileged to participate in on site), and holds radio interviews. This time he will be instructing on Improvements in Vision, Hearing, and Teeth.

The second seminar will be Monday, July 23 at 6:30 pm. The speaker is Terry Lemerond, from Green Bay, Wisconsin. We are honored to have him here in our community. He is passionate about health and nutrition. In addition to being knowledgeable he is an informative and inspirational speaker. I for one, can sit under his instruction for hours and it seems like only minutes. He formulated Curamin which allows the body to balance its natural inflammatory response and is the number one selling product in our industry.

A new end cap display has been brought in where you will find a greater assortment of LEANIN’ TREE greeting cards. Leanin’ Tree has been ranked the Best-Selling Cards— Six Years in a Row!! There are a lot of greeting card companies to select from; some expensive, some not so, but Leanin’ Tree offers a great variety at an exceptional value. For you, our extended family, none of this computer generated assortment for our store. I hand pick each card selection with you in mind as to what you would want to say to another. I realize in this age of e-mail, instant messaging, tweeting, and Face Book, we can communicate instantly but there is nothing like getting a beautiful hand written addressed envelope in the mail. I send a card once a month to each of my grandchildren. Each anticipates a card arriving and are excited to open the envelope. Shut-ins also immensely enjoy that someone thought enough of them to send a card their way. An unexpected card in the mail for no reason at all is an extraordinary gift and a pick-me-up for the soul.

As we prepare for Holy Week and the activities associated with Easter celebration let us take time to find that quiet place in our homes to reflect and focus where we have been and where we are going. Seldom does anything happen if it has not been planned. I hope our week of specials aid you in planning for the holiday. Plan to let another know by a hand written note or a card that you appreciate and thought of them this Easter Season.

Blessings,

Marge

Homeopathic Cell Salts For Superior Health From the Inside Out

History of Cell Salts: Dr. Wilhelm Schuessler, a German doctor, established the theory of Biochemic medicine in 1873. Dr. Schuessler combined the principles of biochemistry with homeopathy to give us the 12 safe & natural Cell Salts – each derived from one of the 12 inorganic mineral compounds most important to our cellular health.
The Importance of Cell Salts: Cell Salts stimulate the body’s natural healing mechanisms to satisfy mineral deficiencies and imbalances. In his biochemic theory, Dr. Schuessler states that deficiencies in theses minerals are the source of most common health problems and that the Cell Salts derived from these minerals give the body what it needs to prevent and treat illness.
With today’s reliance on highly processed foods, keeping a healthy balance of minerals in the body is a major challenge. Cell Salts can be part of a healthy daily regimen.
Ideal for Self-Care and Safe for the Whole Family: Cell Salts give families the flexibility and assurance of safety to treat minor health issues quickly and effectively. As they will not react with other medications, Cell Salts complement any health plan. More and more healthcare practitioners are embracing Cell Salts for natural, self-care options for their patients.
Parents can rely on Cell Salts to help solve their children’s minor health issues before they may become serious. They are perfect for children because they taste good, are easy to use, work very well with children’s very responsive health systems, and are perfectly safe by themselves or in combination with other therapies.
Effective in stimulating fast healing responses, Cell Salts relieve and speed recovery to resolve common problems such as colds, flu, earaches, and other ailments. Kids love their faintly sweet taste and how quickly the tablets dissolve on the tongue as well. Try them with your children and you will agree!

Cell Salts:

#1 CALC FLUOR: Restores flexibility and supports bone strength. Symptoms include lower backache, muscle strain and weakness, arthritic or injured joints, hemorrhoid symptoms.

#2 CALC PHOS: Aids proper growth and development of bones & teeth formation. Symptoms include iron deficiency, afflictions of the bones, issues with teeth, growing pains.

#3 CALC SULPH: Skin Conditions. Symptoms include wounds, acne(puberty), eczema

#4 FERRUM PHOS: Oxygen Carrier, Anti-Inflammatory. Symptoms includefecer, colds, congestion, fatigue, ear pain, sinus headaches.

#5 KALI MUR: Aids digestion, Reduces congestion. Symptoms include colds, sinus issues, ear congestion, slow digestion.

#6 KALI PHOS: Nerve Nutrient. Symptoms include nervous or stress headaches, backaches, neuralgic pain, sciatica.

#7 KALI SULPH: Supports perspiration & respiration balance, Maintains healthy hair. Symptoms include skin and scalp conditions, stiffness in joints.

#8 MAG PHOS: Relaxes spasms of the nerves & muscles, Relieves radiating neuralgic pains. Symptoms include muscles spasms, backache, headache, menstrual cramps.

#9 NAT MUR: Maintains a proper degree of moisture throughout the system, Aids nutrition. Symptoms include water distribution problems, dry skin, chafing, headaches, constipation.

#10 NAT PHOS: Acid neutralizer, Aids in the proper functioning of the digestive organs, Reduces uric acid build-up in the joints. Symptoms include stuff muscles and joints, colic, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, heartburn, diarrhea.

#11 NAT SULPH: Aids in water distribution/elimination, Supports liver and kidney function, Supports respiratory system. Symptoms include sluggish digestion, nausea, gas, diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, influenza, shortness of breath.

#12 SILICA: Skin cleanser, Perspiration balancer. Chronic skin conditions, scars, acne, weak nails, excessive perspiration.

BIOPLASMA: Brings balance to muscle tissue and overall cell function. Thia formula combines all 12 Cell Salts and gives the proper daily supply of each. This formula can be taken daily to support cell health.

Energize, Alkalize and Cleanse with Green Superfoods!

Did you eat your vegetables today? Everyone agrees that they’re vital to good health, especially the dark green, leafy ones. They provide antioxidants, folate, potassium, fiber, lutein, flavonoids, and other important nutrients. The darker the leaves, the more nutritious these veggies are.
But it takes time and effort to prepare and consume large amounts of these greens each day. That’s one reason a growing number of supplements contain alfalfa, barley grass, chlorella, green tea, kelp, spirulina, or wheat grass - all of which are considered green superfoods because they contain nutrient-dense, energizing, nourishing, and pH-balancing substances.

A Variety of Greens: Alfalfa contains calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus along with vitamin A, C, B-1, B-2 and niacin. Green tea is a powerful antioxidant that contains catechins, which may help prevent cancer and tumors. Like other sea vegetables, kelp is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, including iodine, which helps correct an underactive thyroid. Spirulina is high in protein and may help improve immunity, lower cholesterol, and stabilize blood sugar levels. Chlorella, another nutritional powerhouse, nourishes the body and helps protect it from damaging chemicals. Wheat grass and barley grass have similar properties. Dr. Ted Morter teaches that barley green is the most alkalizing food on earth. And remember that cancer cells cannot grow in an alkaline environment.

What Makes Greens Super: Enzymes, the biological catalysts essential to life, and chlorophyll, the pigment that makes plants green, may be the heroes in green superfoods. Chlorophyll appears to help the growth and repair of tissues, mitigate the effects of pollution, deliver magnesium, oxygenate the blood, neutralize free radicals, deodorize the breath and body, interfere with the action of carcinogens, and treat infected wounds.

In Prescription for Natural Cures, James F. Balch, MD, recommends green superfoods for antiaging, cancer prevention, detoxification, muscle aches and cramps, hemorrhoids, and psoriasis.

Consider chlorella, the unicellular green algae that has been a popular food supplement in Japan for decades. Rich in protein, chlorophyll, and carotenoids, chlorella extracts have been found to protect against gamma radiation as well as the adverse effects of several drugs and toxic chemicals. In a recent clinical trial, some patients with moderately severe symptoms of fibromyalgia improved significantly on 10g daily of chlorella tablets.

Additional research suggests that chlorella reduces dioxin levels in breast milk, improves overall health, supports detoxification, improves digestion, and helps treat hypertension. In another, Korean researchers suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin (best known for their vision benefits) in chlorella have a powerful antitumor effect, particularly in colon cancer.

Ever since the late Ann Wigmore made wheat grass a household name, enthusiasts around the world have been taking powdered wheat grass supplements. Thanks to Wigmore’s prolific writing and teaching, many consider wheat grass useful for cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome as well as a treatment for detoxifying the liver, purifying the blood, neutralizing pollutants, improving energy and circulation, and slowing aging.

Most of us simply don’t get enough raw green foods in our daily diet. Green superfoods are an important part of my daily regimen. I believe they work from the inside out. They are the fuel that energizes me and keeps me on the run. They also contribute to younger-looking skin and sharper eyesight.