This delicious recipe was passed along to us by Louise Rasmussen, the incredible cook at Wallowa Llamas in Eastern Oregon. Not only are these almonds incredibly addictive, but they provide a great, healthy energy boost whether you’re hiking the rocky slopes of Eastern Oregon or trekking through the snow to catch the T. We carry most of these ingredients at the store. If you’re avoiding sugar, you can substitute any great, local raw honey or maple sugar.
Antibiotic Resistance – and What to Do About It?
How do bacteria manage to overcome antibiotics? And, will herbs rather than pharmaceuticals ultimately help us more?
By Rosalind Michahelles
Penicillin famously killed off some staphylococcus aureus in a petri dish in the lab of Alexander Fleming in the late ‘20’s and by the time we entered WWII, it was available for treating our war wounded. Civilians soon followed and I happened to be an early beneficiary in May of 1947, hospitalized for earache as an infant. The first semi-synthetic antibiotic, methicillin, appeared in 1960. It took only four years for the first resistant bacteria to be identified: methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureas, or MRSA. MRSA and other antibiotic resistant bacteria, like clostridium difficile, have become a scourge not just in hospitals but also occasionally in the population at large.
DIY Sugar Lip Scrub
I’m not sure about you, but my lips have it rough in wintertime—pun intended. They crack, they peel, and no matter how much lip balm I use they still end up raw and chapped by the end of the day. Not the most attractive look, and it certainly doesn’t feel that great either. For dry skin in winter time, I always use a salt or sugar scrub in the shower—so I thought, why not for lips too? A little exfoliation goes a long way towards sloughing off that dry skin and keeping your lips soft and moisturized. This recipe is easy to make at home with a few ingredients, many of which we stock at Cambridge Naturals.
You’ll need:
¼ cup granulated raw cane sugar
2 tsp coconut oil
5-6 drops Jojoba or Argan oil
3 drops vitamin E Oil
2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil (I like lavender or peppermint)
Mix ingredients together in a small bowl until sugar is fully coated by the oil. There should be a little residual oil at the bottom of the bowl—add more sugar or oil as needed. Store in small airtight glass container; it should last at least 2 months.
To use:
2-3 times per week. wet lips with a little water. Take a pinch of the sugar scrub and massage onto lips with fingers for 30 seconds. Wipe off with a warm washcloth and apply your favorite lip balm.
Taking Care of Pets!
By Cailla, Customer Service Specialist and Mama of Rico
I became a Mom this summer, a proud Mama of an 80-pound stray Pit Bull mix whom my boyfriend and I affectionately named Rico. Estimated to be about 2-3 years of age, Rico is in his prime teenage years full of endless energy, a tinge of mischief, and so much LOVE.
Not having been a dog owner since I was a child, I spent last spring reading up on animal diets, healthy supplements, local obedience classes, and the newest exciting toys so I could be as prepared as possible. Of course, most of this went out the window as soon as we picked him up from the pound as he came with his own personality, wants, and needs (yes Cailla, it’s not all about you).
What I took away from all my research was the same philosophy I have adopted for myself: The importance of a balanced diet of clean, wholesome foods and a limit of chemicals and synthetic materials as much as possible.
Shaving Naturally for Healthy Skin (Part 1)
This post is the first in a series on men’s bodycare by our Customer Service Specialist, Zach.
For many people shaving is a frustrating chore that results in nicked cheeks and legs, irritated skin, and thinner wallets from all those expensive blades. Not to mention all of the chemical exposure from conventional creams, gels, and balms. An alternative shaving technique called wetshaving has been gaining a following in recent years and for good reason: most people have drastically better shaving experiences as well as results using wetshaving methods and products. What’s more, with double-edged razor blades costing on average under $1.00 each and properly cared for safety razors and shaving brushes lasting decades, the savings add up quick. And many people experience far less irritation simply by choosing shaving products free of harsh synthetics.
Book Review: Good Calories, Bad Calories & Why We Get Fat
Good Calories, Bad Calories & Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It
By Gary Taubes, Correspondent for Science magazine
Reviewed by Rosalind Michahelles
July 26, 2013
Gary Taubes, science writer for Science magazine and other publications, including the New York Times Magazine, has written two books that cover the same subject.
The first one, Good Calories, Bad Calories is more compendious and more technical in following the relevant scientific research into what makes people fat. After enough readers had asked Taubes for a simpler, more condensed version for equally motivated but less scientifically trained readers he wrote Why We Get Fat.
Health Article: Tart Cherries Relieve Osteoarthritis Pain
HIGHEST ANTI-INFLAMATORY CONTENT OF ANY FOOD
By Margie King, Health Coach
Tart Cherries Relieve Osteoarthritis Pain
If you are among the millions of Americans suffering from joint pain and arthritis, there’s good news about a favorite summer treat. According to research from Oregon Health & Science University, tart cherries help reduce the chronic inflammation that leads to pain.[1]
In fact, the Oregon researchers declared that tart cherries have the “highest anti-inflammatory content of any food” and can help osteoarthritis patients manage their condition.
Summer salt scrub
Ahhh, summer. Beach weekends and mid-day picnics at the park. Perfect time to catch the rays and get that mega-dose of vitamin D our bodies so desperately crave all winter. Too much sun, however, can come at a cost and lead to peeling skin and dry patches. While sunscreen or a big floppy hat should be your first line of defense, what to do once the damage is done?
Book Review: Wheat Belly
By William Davis, MD (Rodale, 2011)
Reviewed by Rosalind Michahelles, Certified Holistic Health Counselor
Dr Davis has it in for wheat. He claims it provokes more insulin and does that faster than even table sugar. He and others are reporting disturbing news about that important hormone, insulin. Insulin is like an army’s quartermaster, making sure that the supplies (blood sugar) get to the right destination to be used for energy now or stored as fat for later. So one problem with wheat – bread, crackers, cake, cookies, and pasta, too – lies in its high glycemic load, even when not sweetened with added sugars.
Health Article: The Rest and Digest State!
HOW YOU EAT IS AS POWERFUL AS WHAT YOU EAT!
By Brittany Wood Nickerson, Practicing Herbalist
Our digestive system takes in and breaks down food and experiences. It is through the process of digestion that bits of food are transformed into vital nutrients – complex chemical processes work to extract vitamins and minerals, break down fats into lipids, and proteins into amino acids. A well functioning digestive system has the wisdom to break down, absorb and utilize the nutrition it needs from the food we eat and let go of the parts and pieces that it does not.