Nature's Corner Natural Market

Can the Bs Help the Blues?

Kim — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:24:12 +0000

Did you know studies show lower levels of the B complex vitamins in individuals suffering from depression? It’s interesting to think about but it makes you wonder which came first, the depression or the deficiency. As anyone who’s struggled with depression can tell you, eating right is often pretty low on the list of priorities. It gets crowded out by a host of other concerns.

There are a number of factors that could prevent the body from properly utilizing the B vitamins it does get. Celiac and Crohn’s disease, for instance, often impair the absorption of vitamins and minerals. Many of the B vitamins are found in highest concentrations in animal products so vegans and vegetarians have to be careful to get their Bs from other places. And then there’s just plain old processed food replacing whole grains and the nutrients normally found there.

Does all this mean that taking a B complex vitamins supplement will magically cure depression? Of course not. Could eating a well-balanced diet tailored to your specific health needs help lift some of the symptoms? Quite possibly. Here’s the article from the Mayo Clinic. Take a look for yourself. When you’re ready, we’ve got some wonderful B vitamin-rich foods like our grass-fed Angus meats (See yesterday’s post) and wild caught fish, not to mention plenty of organic green and leafy goodness and a wide range of B in a bottle right here at Nature’s Corner. See you soon!

Grass-Fed Angus, Now THAT’S What’s For Dinner!

Kim — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:13:30 +0000

You carnivores out there know the feeling. Maybe you want to celebrate, maybe you’ve just got a craving but all you want is a steak. A thick, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth steak. Nothing else will do. When you look at what’s in a serving of steak you’ll see why.

A typical serving of steak contains about 60g of protein, which is 119 percent of the daily value and it doesn’t have any carbohydrates.

Beef steak contains 93 percent of the daily value for vitamin B12 per serving, 89 percent of zinc and 46 percent of the daily value for phosphorus. It also has 36 percent of the daily value for sodium, 41 percent of the daily value for niacin as well as high levels of vitamin B6, iron, potassium and riboflavin. That’s a pretty powerful punch. However what’s really special about our beef is what isn’t in it. Our beef is 100% grass-fed Angus from New Zealand. The cows are raised humanely and are never treated with antibiotics or growth hormones. It’s beef you can feel good about eating.

And it’s delicious. You can taste the difference. Try it for yourself.

Something Fishy in GMO news…

Kim — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:58:31 +0000

Dear conscientious consumers, here’s a little primer for vetting information you might come across. Read this article and then we’ll discuss. This article appeared as a result on a Google search on genetically modified goldfish. Note that while it mentions goldfish several times, it never really delves into what a genetically engineered goldfish is.

It does however subtly call into question the benefits of organic farming. Now I don’t think any of us who have made the choice to go organic are scared of a little healthy skepticism; odds are we’ve already had to explain our choices to friends, family, co-workers, any number of people still convinced healthy eating is some kind of radical fringe activity. So that part is fine.

Then it gets bad. Ready? The article identifies the main thrust of genetic engineering as the introduction of pest-resistant genes from one species to another as a way to avoid the need for detrimental chemical pesticides. If this were true, GMOs might still be a little wierd but not necessarily bad. The truth is that the latest GMOs introduced to the U.S. Department of Agriculture weren’t pest resistant, they were chemical resistant, meaning when acres upon acres of land gets sprayed with, say, Roundup, a chemical defoliant/pesticide, the only thing left standing will be the GMO crops. Genetic engineering doesn’t mean less toxic chemicals, it really means more!

Then the article talks about how Germany took steps to ban GMOs. The truth is, all of Europe (and pretty much the rest of the world) has taken steps to curb the flow of GMOs into its food supply. One of the few countries that hasn’t is the U.S. This article cites our rugged individualist spirit as the reason and it may well be the case (or it could be all the rugged individualist unregulated lobbying from chemical companies). The problem here is that no matter how patriotic that might have sounded, it’s still a lie. American consumers do not choose GMO foods. There is still absolutely no regulation to ensure the labeling of any product containing a GMO and we’ve been unwittingly consuming them for years!

Finally there’s the argument that only genetically engineered farming will save us, globally, from starvation in the future. Think of that what you will but read up just a bit on how local agriculture preserves the land, enhances the biodiversity of our food and helps build and maintain strong socioeconomic community.

The point is, there’s a lot of information out there. Sometimes you come across information like this that sounds pro-organic but is either terribly misguided or a blatant smear campaign. It’s hard to know what information you can trust.

At Nature’s Corner we do our very best to vet ALL of our information. It’s easy to believe what you read on Google or watch on TV but being a conscientious consumer means questioning. It means taking the time to educate yourself on the issues [...]

Introducing Mango-Mint Guacamole!

Kim — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:49:31 +0000

Hey y’all, if you haven’t been in this week then you might not have noticed that our Organic Mangoes are on sale! That’s right, they’re only $1.99 each right now. That’s all the excuse I need to whip up a batch of Mango-Mint Guacamole!

This is a great accompaniment to any dish, especially something you’re looking to lighten up. It perks up fish, enlivens chicken and brings a little flair to a mid-winter meal. Surprise your family with this easy to prepare, tropical side salad. The hardest part is just cutting up the produce and we’ve even included a step by step guide to that. Now you’ve got no excuses either.

Mango-Mint Guacamole

1 ripe mango

2 avocados

2 limes (more or less depending on how ripe they are)

1 shallot

1 bunch fresh mint

1 bunch fresh cilantro

Peel and dice the mango (use a vegetable peeler to remove skin and then just slice around the oblong pit-watch your fingers!)

Seed and dice the avocados (cut it in half, skin on, then twist until the two halves come apart. One side will have the seed. To remove, tap seed with the blade of a sharp knife. The knife will stick. Use it to twist out the seed. Then scoop out flesh with a spoon and dice.)

Mince all the rest of the ingredients except limes and mix together in a large bowl. Squeeze lime juice over all and season with salt and pepper to taste.

That’s it. See? Easy. Try it tonight!

More Organic Options? Coming Soon!

Kim — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:11:12 +0000

In a move sure to promote better trade and healthier food options, the U.S. and Europe have agreed to acknowledge each others organic certifications. In the past there was some disagreement as to exactly what constituted an organic product. Now the rules have been examined and standardized to a point that if the E.U. call it organic they can sell it here as such and vice versa. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to certify something as organic, you’re not alone. The rigorous checks and regulations are daunting and, until now, just different enough in other countries to keep farmers from even trying to export their products. Take olive oil, for instance. In most non-organic grocery stores there’s typically a huge selection of imported oil. In any health food store or organic grocery, most olive oil is domestic. It’s not that Italy or anywhere else for that matter doesn’t grow, press and package organic olive oil, it’s just that they do it under E.U. regulations that the American market doesn’t recognize. Until now. Beginning in June the U.S. and E.U. will accept each others certifications on most products (with the exception of some European milk/meat when antibiotics have been involved). This means more options for farmers, larger markets for distributors, more money generated within the organic movement and, best of all, more options for us, the consumer. Check out the whole story from NPR HERE to learn more about a very promising trade agreement.

BEET Poetry

Kim — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:57:52 +0000

Yesterday the New York Times ran a piece on beets. It seems this ruddy veggie’s been enjoying a meteoric rise to the top in some of the finest restaurants around the world. Is it its color? Its sweet earthy flavor? Its tender but toothsome bite? It’s easy to wax poetic about beets but we’ll let Tom Robbins do it for us for just a moment:

“The beet is the ancient ancestor of the autumn moon, bearded, buried, all but fossilized: the dark green sails of the grounded moon-boat stitched with veins of primordial plasma, the kite string that once connected the moon to earth now a muddy whisker drilling desperately for rubies.”

He literally goes on for a page and a half; that’s just an excerpt. Though I will admit, the first time I tried our local beets here at Corner, I was ready to give him a run for his money.

Really though, why do beets spark such creativity? How can a vegetable move you so? Check out a few of these recipes that really show off the assertive, hardy and yet delicate beet and you might start writing some beet poetry yourself!

Small Town… Feel Good.

Kim — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:00:42 +0000

It is our great pleasure to service our local community. We’d like to thank Cara Pescatore, a customer of Nature’s Corner, for taking the time to write this wonderful article about us and for sharing it with the world.

Click here to read her article.

Greens, Probiotics and Great Taste? Where Have You Been All My Life?!?

Kim — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:17:33 +0000

It’s no secret anymore that probiotics are good for you. Think healthy internal flora. Food and drinks containing live probiotics are reported to help with everything from better digestion to high cholesterol. Drinks like kombucha and kefir are made using cultures of bacteria and yeast in a medium, usually tea and milk, respectively. Like any fermented product, these drinks typically have a pleasant, mildly sour flavor and often a touch of effervescence.

The product on the right is a chia infused kombucha by Synergy and there will be time to talk about that one later. The product we’re really excited about is the KeVita Living Greens. KeVita is the company best known for putting kefir grains in coconut water. This product is another kefir beverage made from green tea and an algae blend. It’s milder by far than kombucha and just a touch sweet. We just tried it in the store the other day and since then it’s already become one of the most popular employee picks. Why not try it yourself?

We Interrupt This Blog For An Important Message…

Kim — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:24:41 +0000

Hi there, everyone. I’d like to take just a little time out of this week of romance and/or cynicism to talk about love. Now I don’t mean falling in love or loving your new socks or even that odd tingling feeling you get when you secretly watch Grey’s Anatomy. I’m not talking about other people and how they can give you butterflies or migraines.

For just a minute, forget about the chocolates and roses, forget about the people who hold your heart and those who have broken it. Look in the mirror and take the time to fall in love with the person looking back. Find a way to honor that person for all he or she is and for all he or she may become. Love that person with all your heart. Because that person deserves it. You deserve it. You deserve all the love in the world.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Nature’s Corner Natural Market.

And the Greatest Aphrodesiac of All… Chocolate

Kim — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:08:33 +0000

Chocolate is the official gift of Valentine’s Day. It’s more than just a case of “sweets for the sweet” though. Throughout history, chocolate has been regarded as one of the most potent aphrodisiacs known to man (and maybe even more so to woman). From it’s beginnings in Central America where cacao beans were ground, roasted and made into an energizing beverage to the French royal palaces where it first became a confection, chocolate has become a ubiquitous and delicious part of life. Some people claim chocolate is even better than love but does it really make us more, uh, romantic?Several components in chocolate have been linked to mood and potential “aphrodisiac” effects. First on the list of “love drugs” is phenyl-ethylamine (PEA), which also occurs naturally in the brain. Administering PEA increases dopamine levels, stimulating the pleasure centers. PEA is chemically similar to amphetamine (leading to its nickname “chocolate amphetamine”), and has been shown to have similar effects: feelings of attraction, excitement, and giddiness. As a possible aphrodisiac, PEA is seen as a strong candidate by neurologists and dieticians.

Second on the list of love-drugs in chocolate is tryptophan. You may be familiar with tryptophan as the reason you fall asleep after Thanksgiving dinner. Your brain uses tryptophan to make serotonin. In addition to sleepiness, serotonin can produce feelings of elation. The street drug Ecstasy works by increasing serotonin levels. Tryptophan in chocolate may induce similar feelings, albeit at a lower intensity.

Third on the list is anandamide (which means “internal bliss”). Anandamide binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, mimicking the effects of cannabinoid drugs, such as heightened sensitivity, euphoria and a sense of well-being. Cacao also contains two N-acyl-ethanolamines (NAEs) which slow the breakdown of anandamide, prolonging it’s effect. Some researchers have decried the small amounts of Andandamine in chocolate as insufficient to cause any effect. However, PEA and Andandamine may interact with each other, and the stimulants caffeine and theobromine found in chocolate. The overall effect may be romantically stimulating.

We carry a full line of organic chocolate. Whether you’re looking for an ultra-pure, fair-trade dark, something intriguing inside like sea salt or currents, something vegan or even raw, we’ve got the relationship enhancer, er, chocolate for you. It’s a tried and true method of showing someone you care. And just remember, it’s not a cliche if it works!