NEM,Natural Eggshell Membrane,is an example of something that’s been around…forever…and has recently made it’s way under the microscope and into your supplements with good results.
NEM helps to support the body’s production of type II collagen and increases production of chondroitin sulfate- both important components of cartilage. Studies have shown NEM to be beneficial in supporting joints and improving flexibility.
Natural Factors has developed a NEM formula that also includes glucosamine sulfate,which increases sulfates in our blood which,in turn,supports joint health in many ways- including helping to bind water in the cartilage to help it’s shock-absorbing properties.
On the shelf in the Wellness Department,60 tablets for $33.99.
Summer Fruits are heading in this week. Some of our favorites,Nectarines,White Nectarines,Peaches and White Peaches are all ready to be devoured. Donut peaches are making their first appearance too. Get your napkins ready!!
We are gearing up for a great sampling this weekend. John from Living Rain Farm will be here to cook up and sample some of their Rhubarb. Join John and Produce Manager Ben,Saturday the 25th at noon. Rhubarb is on a super great deal at $1.19Lbs. Here is a recipe for a Gluten Free Rhubarb Ginger Crisp. Read more The Produce Report:May 20th –May 26th 2013 …
Did I mention that I was not eating grains? Did I mention that I love toast? Did I mention that on Mothers Day I should be able to have toast? I am not celiac,but I am on an elimination diet to try and find the cause of my tummy troubles. That being said when I was told I needed to give up wheat,I certainly never thought about my beloved toast. This weekend I bought a loaf of bread (nothing we carry at the coop) especially made for the Paleo Diet. This loaf costs me 8 bucks!!! AND IT WAS HORRIBLE!!! For the price I paid for this brick of yuck,I will add it to my food processor and some herbs and make bread crumbs.
The Stronger Together Team has been busy putting together videos to help you in your quest for delicious meals! To see more recipes and helpful kitchen tips ,visit their website:strongertogether.coop.
Morels are finally in!!! Delicate and elusive,morels are a gourmet prize that were once limited to those willing to muck around in the forest in search of these goodies of spring. They are fragile,highly perishable,and resist cultivation,so they tend to be pricey. Morels are particularly delicious when paired with those fellow harbingers of spring,asparagus. Local asparagus is also on now for $4.99lb from Canales and Living Rain farms.
Asparagus with Morels and Tarragon
2 pound green asparagus,trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter,cut into tablespoon pieces
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots (2 large)
1/4 pound fresh morels,cleaned and halved lengthwise if large
You know it’s heading into the warm months,when you cut a Cantaloupe into funny half-moon shapes and awkwardly dribble the juice down your chin. There is no art to picking out the perfect cantaloupe,just a trip down the olfactory highway,should lead you to a great melon. The melon should smell sweet and floral,this is the sign you have been looking for. A whole cantaloupe will keep on the counter for a few days,and cut cantaloupe will keep refrigerated for a week. There are many recipes out there for using cantaloupe besides just over the sink dribbling down my chin. Here is one of my favorites
A recent study is highlighting the importance of Omega-3 oils for breast cancer prevention- claiming that a lifelong diet which includes Omega-3 could reduce the risk of cancer up to 30% (University of Guelph. “Omega-3s inhibit breast cancer tumor growth,study finds.”ScienceDaily,31 Dec. 1969. Web. 5 May 2013).
“It’s a significant finding,”said David Ma,a professor in Guelph’s Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences,and one of the study’s authors.
“We show that lifelong exposure to omega-3s has a beneficial role in disease prevention —in this case,breast cancer prevention. What’s important is that we have proven that omega-3s are the driving force and not something else.”
There are many sources of Omega-3 oils,including fish and flax seed oil. And you can take these in many different supplemental forms from liquids to chewables or softgels. Typically liquids are the best value and you’d be surprised how good some of them taste,like Barlean’s Key Lime Omega Swirl. Never tried it? Come into the Wellness Department and ask for a sample!
The Stronger Together Team has been busy putting together videos to help you in your quest for delicious meals! This video covers the basics of demonstrating two of the most common ways to Blanch and Freeze Fresh Vegetables. Blanching is a great way to preserve peak color,flavor and nutrition in vegetables. Hilah Johnson takes us through the simple steps for blanching your fresh veggies. Once blanched,they can be added to salads or cooked dishes,or frozen for long-term storage. To see more,visit their website:strongertogether.coop.
Often my Mother will call me and say things like “tonight I made French Roasted Chicken…”and I think to myself “Mon Dieu,I fail!! ”Granted,my Mother worked so incredible hard her whole life,and now that she is retired and has this amazing kitchen (and I do mean amazing) I actually wait for the calls to covet her culinary experiments. So,this weekend I had some free time watching it rain,so I thought…. might as well make French Chicken.
Skagit Valley Food Co-op named a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Business by the League of American Bicyclists
Pedal Power in Downtown Mount Vernon
Washington,D.C. – April 22,2013 – As businesses race to retrofit their buildings,streamline waste policies,and purchase more and more recycling bins,some companies have already targeted a free and easy way to be more environmentally conscious:bicycling.
On this Earth Day,the League of American Bicyclists recognized Skagit Valley Food Co-op with a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) award for leading America toward a greener future.
“Moderation” is a word that you hear often in the “diet” world.Often it seems shaming and condescending,and as I write this I remember my Grandmother saying “Remember the key is moderation” and shamefully putting the second helping of what ever I had back. My Grandmother meant no harm,but the words tasted sour. As I grew into an adult and was able to make culinary decision on my own,I realized that I had given up on moderation and it was an all or nothing world of eat or no eat. No sugar,no white foods,no fat,full fat,no carb,high carb,no meat,all meat…it was an endless fight.
As I have grown more accustomed to this body I live in,I am painfully aware of how unkind I was to myself,both in gluttony and deprivation.So here is the irony,due to having some “tummy trouble” I have been put on an elimination diet. It seems to be trending of late with a lot of the women that I know.Is it sad that I had just hoped for an ulcer?At least then I wouldn’t have to delve once again into the food battle that I was so sure I won.But the reins are once again tight and I will have to be diligent on the edibles I consume.
Sometimes this Valley is so bursting-with-loveliness that I find myself taking haphazard photos out my car window. My drive in to work,from La Conner to Mount Vernon along McLean Rd,has been a consistent delight. All winter the snow geese and trumpeter swans held court in the clodden soggy fields. All spring the fields have been peeking, then popping with color. The farm workers are out there in the morning fields,reminding me that no dream of color and light and harvest in particular, can happen without the labor and effort of many hands. Thanks be to all of you who are tending the soil in this magnificent place. And remember show up to support the various Farmworker Solidarity marches that happen on May 5th. Also –send in your favorite tulip photos and we’ll keep sharing them…jodie(at)skagitfoodcoop.com Read more Photos from the Morning Commute …
Now is a great time to stock up on your favorite supplements from Natural Factors- everything is 20% off. Protein powders,probiotics,sleep aids,digestive aids,and more.
Some of the top sellers include their Co-Q 10,Women’s Ultimate Probiotic- which includes Cranberry extract to help with urinary tract health,Wild Alaska Salmon Fish Oil,Vitamin C Fruit Chews and various PG-X products.
Sale goes through the end of April,limited to stock on hand.
Paleo and Plant Based,these two kinds of diet have been gaining traction lately,thanks to movies like Forks Over Knives and books like Practical Paleo and Eat to Live.
What is the Paleo Diet?
It’s essentially all about eating the foods that have been available to humans for most of our evolutionary history:meats raised on their natural forage,seafood,eggs,fibrous vegetables and greens,nuts and seeds,healthy fats and some fruit — all things that would have been recognizable as food to our most primitive ancestors. It’s about “focusing your choices on real,whole foods that are more nutritionally dense and less detrimental to your health,” -Cain Credicott.
Challenges
ñ Locating sources of high-quality and sustainably raised meat,fish and vegetables takes legwork. ñ Real food comes with a price tag:Grass-fed,wild and organic foods can be more expensive,though you can learn to become a savvy shopper. ñ Paleo or vegetarian:pick one. It’s nearly impossible to be both. ñ Time commitment:You have to be willing to cook — and plan ahead. It’s hard to grab something on the go or pop open a can when you’re avoiding grains and beans,and restaurant dining can be restrictive. Read more Paleo and Plant Based recipes …
Here’s the thing about the natural beauty care market –everyone wants a piece of it. At the Co-op we are continually being courted by companies that want some of our shelf space. Our goal is to find a product that we can feel good about recommending to you,and you can feel good about using.
Some people feel financially good when they get an awesome deal. Some people feel physically good when a product nourishes or heals. Some people feel spiritually good when they know that when they buy a fair trade product more of their money is going to support a community.
And then there’s the rare moment when you get all three:check,check,check. A triple gold star kind of a product. Here it is:
Often my Mother will call me and say things like “tonight I made French Roasted Chicken…”and I think to myself “Mon Dieu,I fail!! ”Granted,my Mother worked so incredible hard her whole life,and now that she is retired and has this amazing kitchen (and I do mean amazing) I actually wait for the calls to covet her culinary experiments. So,this weekend I had some free time watching it rain,so I thought…. might as well make French Chicken.
