Nature's Fare Markets

Prairie Naturals Day is February 23rd!

Chantelle — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:13 +0000

Feeling Tired or Tense? Have a Drink … of Water!

Chantelle — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

by Ellen Niemer (alive magazine 17/02/2012)

Some experts recommend drinking 10 glasses of water a day. Others recommend drinking only when you feel thirsty. But a new study shows that even mild dehydration can affect our mood, lower our energy level, and cloud our thinking.

The University of Connecticut’s Human Performance Laboratory conducted two studies of young men and women. The subjects weren’t couch potatoes or high performance athletes. They were healthy and physically active with most getting 30 to 60 minutes of exercise each day.

Participants were properly

hydrated the evening before being tested. The next day they walked on a treadmill to induce dehydration. Then they underwent cognitive testing for vigilance, concentration, reaction time, learning, memory, and reasoning. The r

esults were compared to test scores obtained when they were fully hydrated.

Whether participants walked for 40 minutes on a treadmill or sat around relaxing, all experienced mild dehydration. (Mild dehydration is a 1.5 percent loss in the body’s normal water volume.)

“Dehydration affects all people, and staying properly hydrated is just as important for those who work all day at a computer as it is for marathon runners, who can lose up to 8 percent of their body weight as water when they compete,” stated Lawrence E. Armstrong, one of the studies’ lead researchers and professor of physiology.

“Our thirst sensation doesn’t really appear until we are 1 or 2 percent dehydrated. By then dehydration is already setting in and starting to impact how our mind and body perform.”

Effects of dehydration on women

Women appeared to be substantially more sensitive to the effects of low-level dehydration than men, whether at rest or during exercise. The women experienced

headaches
fatigue
difficulty concentrating
a perception that tasks were more difficult to perform

Effects of dehydration on men

The men experienced milder symptoms, including

fatigue
tension
anxiety

Stay hydrated

Avoid the side effects of mild dehydration by drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, or approximately 2 litres of water daily.

Quick check for dehydration

Wondering if you could be suffering from dehydration? Check the colour of your urine. It should be a very pale yellow. The darker the colour, the greater the body is dehydrated. (Note that vitamins or medications can change the colour of urine.)

More research is required to determine why women are more sensitive to the effects of dehydration than men. In the meantime, don’t stay thirsty, my friends!

Find more health blogs here http://www.alive.com/posts/view/274/feeling_tired_or_tense_have_a_drink_of_water?cpage=1

Large Natural Retailer Abandons GMO Fight?

Chantelle — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:00:07 +0000

After many years of fighting against genetically engineered (GE) seeds and crops created and championed by Monsanto, national proponents of natural and organic agriculture, like Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farms, have given up their struggle. In exchange for bringing their opposition to a standstill, Whole Foods has asked for some form of compensation to be paid to those farmers who experience losses due to the contamination of their crops by Monsanto GE seeds.

An article found in the Organic & Non GMO Report details projections made by Jeremy Rifkin, founder and president of The Foundation on Economic Trends and noted critic of biotechnology, predicting that without the regulation of genetically engineered crops the organic industry will suffer serious contamination. According to Rifkin, biotechnology has created two separate scientific paths.

The hard path manipulates nature with recombinant DNA technologies, while the soft path uses genomics to gain a higher understanding of genes. Rifkin believes that the soft path will lead to better stewardship for sustainable agriculture, while following the hard path will result in the death of the organic industry and environmentally responsible farming.

Unlike Organic Inc., the group consisting of Whole Foods, Stonyfield and Organic Valley, Rifkin does not believe that coexistence can be achieved between biotech and organic farming. Currently there is no requirement for GMO products to be labeled in natural or conventional foods. The only certainty is that organic products will be free of GMOs, as organic compliance strictly prohibits GMO presence in any certified organic products.

Nature’s Fare is fundamentally against genetically engineered substances and their impact on the sovereignty of individual farmers and the negative side effects they impose on the environment. Whenever possible, Nature’s Fare’s purchasing department sources organic alternatives to everyday products. All produce at Nature’s Fare stores is 100% certified organic and has not been contaminated by conventional items in either the shipping or the stocking process. Nature’s Fare believes very strongly in maintaining the integrity of the organic industry and continues to take steps to ensure its survival.

Abbotsford Cancer Prevention Forum

Chantelle — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:35:40 +0000

Cancer continues to affect numerous people and it has become the number one cause of death in North America, so it is time that we change our attitude of one that raises money to “fight the war on cancer”, to one that prevents cancer before it happens.

Learn to Prevent Cancer, Come to the Fraser Valley’s Cancer Prevention Forum:

Saturday, March 31^st 2012, 9:30-5:30,

Garden Park Tower, 2825 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford.

Speakers: Jackie Harvey, Christine Awram, Dr. Balcaen ND, Susan Agostino,
Suede Hills Organic Farm. Tina Palmer, Dr. Serenity Aberdour ND, Susan Fiedler and Marinella Nicolosi.

Exhibitors and Door Prizes; proceeds to “Inspire Health, Integrated Cancer Care”.

Advance tickets save $2 www.healthbrights.com $10 at the door.

For more info contact Anne: healthbrights@gmail.com 604-832-4289

Join us for a day of learning how to Prevent Cancer:

Cancer Prevention Forum

March 31st, 2012, 9:30 – 5:30

2825 Clearbrook Road

Garden Park Tower

Abbotsford, BC

http://healthbrights.com/tickets.htm

Organic Ambrosia – A Gift From Nature!

Chantelle — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:00:15 +0000

Savour the honeyed sweetness, juicy crunch and heavenly aroma of an organic Ambrosia apple. Originally discovered on an organic farm in BC, Ambrosia apples are an international favourite, now produced world-wide.

Sally and Wilfrid Mennell, the organic farmers who discovered Ambrosia. They live in Cawston, BC.

Ambrosia’s Made in BC story

New apple varieties are typically developed at agriculture research centers by scientists using traditional breeding methods. Not so the amazing Ambrosia. It was discovered as a chance seedling in the Mennell’s organic orchard in the Similkameen Valley of British Columbia. In the early 1990’s, Sally and Wilfrid Mennell found a rogue seedling in their newly replanted orchard, and, instead of pulling it out as most farmers would have done, they let the seedling grow. Their natural curiousity and closely held philosophy of working in harmony with nature compelled them to nurture the sapling which bore fruit a few years later. And what a fruit it was: a beautiful bi-coloured apple — pinky-red over a creamy background — juicy and sweet, with a hint of honey, and a resonating crunch. Wilfrid aptly named it “Ambrosia” – Food of the Gods!

Believed to be an offspring of Red and Golden Delicious parents, the Ambrosia was propagated and patented as a new variety by Sally and Wilfrid. The new apple variety was first produced

by organic growers and sold into the organic marketplace. The response was overwhelming – consumers loved this new apple created by Mother Nature.

Today, Ambrosias are grown in BC and in other apple growing regions throughout the world by organic and conventional producers. Ambrosia apples are particularly cherished by the organic growers of the Similkameen Valley, home of the Mother Tree.

Choose BC Organic Ambrosias and support producers who minimize their environmental footprint, and build healthy soil and healthy plants, following rigorous government approved organic production standards. Organic orchardists use biological controls to fight pests, composted manures to nurture the soil, and a lot of hard work to control weeds.

Organic Ambrosias are available from late October through to March and April. Ambrosia is a low acid apple that is slow to brown when sliced, and is ideal for snacks, salads and desserts.

Learn more about Organic Ambrosias at www.organicambrosiaapple.ca

Langley! Come celebrate our 2nd year anniversary!

Chantelle — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:23:39 +0000

How Clean Are Your Lettuce Leaves?

Chantelle — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:00:14 +0000

The purpose of most prepackaged salad mixes is to save time for the consumer. Creating a fresh salad for lunch or dinner is as easy as opening the bag, dumping it into a bowl and adding dressing. Gone is the need for salad spinners, as most mixes claim to be prewashed; however the chemicals used during the washing cycle to ensure that the leaves are not contaminated with listeria or e-coli may surprise you. Until recently, the choice for most producers was a triple wash chlorine bath, which effectively kills all possible bacteria, but also remains as a residual film on the leaves of the salad mix. Because all salad greens are washed together and then bagged, bacteria on just a few leaves of lettuce could contaminate the entire production run. With this in mind, food production company Taylor Fresh Foods, has developed a new SmartWash, with the active ingredient T-128, which is proposed to be more effective than the chlorine washes. Although this new formulation could help to reduce the number of bacteria in salad mixes, it is not exactly clear what is in the formula, or what the short and long term effects are of its consumption. Sarah Moshin of Taylor Fresh Foods released a statement saying that SmartWash is made from GRAS ingredients – GRAS meaning “Generally Recognized as Safe, according to the FDA. If so many large conventional food packing companies are coming up with cutting edge food wash formulas, where does that leave the organic producers? Earthbound Farms spokesperson Will Daniels says that the company is looking at citrus based sanitizers and has been experimenting with the use of high powered ultrasound in an effort to reduce bacteria numbers.

In the meantime, what is the best option for consumers who appreciate the ease of bagged salad mixes? According to Robert Gravani, professor of food science at Cornell University, using a combination of good agricultural practices and mitigation strategies is the best place to start. Until a food wash has been created that doesn’t use harmful chemicals, it may be best for consumers to give their bagged salad mix one extra rinse at home.

West Kelowna: Live demo with Ross Short from Body-Wize

Chantelle — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:00:18 +0000

Be Mine, Vegetarian Valentine Healthy recipes say “I love you”

Chantelle — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:00:18 +0000

by Lawren Moneta

Put romance on the menu this Valentine’s Day by preparing a romantic vegetarian dinner for two. The bright, lively flavours of these Moroccan-inspired recipes are healthy ways to satisfy all appetites.

These dishes are so hearty you won’t miss the meat, and so tasty you might almost forget that a diet rich in whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables provides protection against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

Both delicious and nutritious, this menu is sure to win hearts. After all, nothing is more romantic than showing the one you love just how much you care.

Moroccan Stuffed Red Peppers

All bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, but red bell peppers are chock full of them.

2 red bell peppers
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp (20 mL) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 tsp (10 mL) ras el hanout, divided (recipe follows)
1/2 small eggplant, cut into 1/2 in (1.25 cm) cubes
1 shallot, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tomato, diced
1/2 cup (125 mL) cooked chickpeas
1 tsp (5 mL) lemon zest, finely grated
2 Tbsp (30 mL) parsley, chopped
2 Tbsp (30 mL) pine nuts
Pinch salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C).

Trim off and reserve tops of peppers. Scoop out seeds. Place peppers on parchment-lined baking sheet and bake, until they just start to soften, about 10 minutes. Set aside until cool.

In medium bowl, stir together 1 Tbsp (15 mL) olive oil and 1 tsp (5 mL) ras el hanout.

Toss eggplant in spice mixture until well coated.

Place eggplant on parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake until soft and fragrant, about 20 minutes. Set aside to cool.

In medium saucepan, heat 1 tsp (5 mL) olive oil over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic and sauté until shallot is soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in tomato and remaining 1 tsp (5 mL) ras el hanout. Cook until tomato starts to break down, about 4 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in eggplant, chickpeas, lemon zest, parsley, pine nuts, salt, and black pepper.

Stuff peppers and arrange in baking dish along with reserved pepper tops. Bake until filling is warmed through, about 25 minutes. Place pepper top over filling and serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 2.

Each serving contains: 292 calories; 11 g protein; 11 g total fat (1 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 42 g carbohydrates; 14 g fibre; 309 mg sodium

Make ahead

Beet and Walnut Dip can be made three days in advance and kept in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature while serving an aperitif.
The peppers can be stuffed the day before and kept in the refrigerator. Allow for a little extra time in the oven to warm through.
Herbed Quinoa can be made two days ahead, as well as the dressing for Cucumber and Poppy Seed Salad.
Date and Pistachio Cigars can be made the day before and stored at room temperature in an airtight container.

It takes two

Take some of the pressure off and spice things up by cooking this menu together with your Valentine.

Recipes

About the Author

Lawren Moneta is a chef, food stylist, and recipe developer who can’t wait to see what her Valentine is cooking up this year. foodbylmcm.com

http://www.alive.com/articles/view/23394/be_mine_vegetarian_valentine

Kamloops: Don’t Just Survive THRIVE! with Omar Cruz

Chantelle — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:23:50 +0000