December 2018 Newsletter
Happy Holidays to All Our Friends & Loved Ones
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“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour. ”
– John Boswell
“Nature chose for a tool, not the earthquake or lightning to rend and split asunder, not the stormy torrent or eroding rain, but the tender snow-flowers noiselessly falling through unnumbered centuries.”
– John Muir
“Antisthenes says that in a certain faraway land the cold is so intense that words freeze as soon as they are uttered, and after some time then thaw and become audible, so that words spoken in winter go unheard until the next summer.”
– Plutarch, Moralia
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5 Health Benefits of Organic Cauliflower
Keeps Your Bones Healthy
Cauliflower contains vitamin C, which helps with collagen production, and vitamin K, which may help prevent bone loss.
Helps the Liver to Detoxify
Cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables contain a phytonutrient that has been shown to aid the liver in its detox functions.
Aids in Reducing High Blood Pressure
Eating cauliflower can help boost HDL cholesterol (the good kind) levels and lower blood pressure.
Strengthens Your Immune System
Choline, a nutrient found in cauliflower and other vegetables, helps with gastrointestinal health. Also, glutathione is an antioxidant that helps fight off infection.
Helps Reduce the Risk of Cancer
Some studies have shown that Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane in cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables have anti-inflammatory properties, help protect cells from DNA damage and may also help inactivate carcinogens.
pallensmith.com/2017/09/13/health-benefits-cauliflower/
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Cauliflower Au Gratin
Quick and delicious! Really delicious!
This dish is great as a side, or make it the main course by a adding a little sautéed spicy ground sausage!
Ingredients:
Consider using organic ingredients whenever possible.
1 head cauliflower cut into florets
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
6 (or more) ounces Cheddar cheese,
1 pinch black pepper
1 pinch nutmeg
Directions
1. Steam cauliflower until tender, 5 to 7 minutes
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9X9 baking dish
3. Heat butter in saucepan; cook onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Add flour; cook, stirring constantly until mixture just starts to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Gradually pour milk into mixture, whisking into a smooth sauce. Cook until just simmering.
4. Remove sauce from heat and stir in half the Cheddar cheese until melted, sprinkle with pepper and nutmeg
5. Place cauliflower in baking dish, pour cheese sauce over cauliflower. Sprinkle with remaining Cheddar cheese.
6. Bake in oven until cheese is melted and browned, about 25 minutes.
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Hearty Hummus
Ever make your own hummus?
It’s simple, and you can add those extra ingredients that you and your family love the most.
For me, it garlic and cilantro! You can never have too much of either.
Ingredients:
Consider using organic ingredients whenever possible.
• 2 Cups / 16oz cooked Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans (reserve liquid)
• 3-5 cloves of garlic (as a garlic lover, I use 5)
• Juice of 1 Large Lemon
• 1 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of Pepper
• 3 Tbsp of Tahini
• 1/4-1/2 cup Olive oil
• (Optional Ingredients for toppings: Olive oil, garlic, paprika, za’atar (middle eastern herb mixture), parsley, additional Salt & Pepper to taste, and of course cilantro!)
Prep:
You can remove the thin shell of the garbanzo bean, it does add a softer consistency. The skins should slide off quite easily when you gently “pinch” each bean. Discard the Chickpea “skins” once finished. Leaving them on is just fine, but your puree will be slightly grainy.
Add all ingredients into a food processor. Blend until smooth. If your puree is on the dry side you can add either the additional 1/4 cup of olive oil or the reserved water. Keep the puree running for 3-5 minutes to ensure proper consistency.
Serving:
Serve up the puree with suggested toppings. A drizzle of olive oil goes a long way, so does freshly chopped parsley. But as a personal favorite I like to add a sprinkle of smoked paprika along with the olive oil and parsley.
Serve with chopped carrots, celery, bell pepper, cucumber, tomato and pita!
Hummus variations:
• Add 1 to 3 teaspoons of spices for more flavor, like cumin, sumac, harissa, or smoked paprika.
• Drizzle a little pomegranate molasses or sprinkle a pinch of sumac on top.
• For a roasted vegetable hummus, blend in 1 cup of roasted vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, or garlic.
• For an olive hummus, fold in 3/4 cup of chopped green or black olives.
• For a nutty hummus, blend in some lightly toasted walnuts, almonds, or pine nuts.
• For a more lemony hummus, add 1/4 cup of chopped preserved lemons.
Fun tip: for a hot pink flare to your hummus add 1 fresh red beet. It accentuates flavor and adds a beautiful color!
For those days when you don’t have time make your own hummus, don’t forget the that the Harvest Moon carries of wide array of quality hummus options as well as other grab & go food items.
Refrigerate leftovers – hummus will keep in fridge for 7 days.
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5 Healthy Ways to Start Your Day
Take good care of yourself each and every day. A little lov’in goes a long way.
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Benzocaine and Methemoglobinemia
What’s in Your Child’s Teething Aid?
What is Your Oral Pain Relievers?
Huh? Benzo who? Methem what?
Benzocaine is a drug commonly used in numerous over-the-counter teething and tooth pain products. It has been linked to a blood disorder called, Methemoglobinemia (pronounced “met-hemoglobin”). (1)(2)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers that over-the-counter (OTC) teething products containing benzocaine pose a serious risk to infants and children. The agency (May 23, 2018) announced that OTC oral health products containing the pain reliever benzocaine for the temporary relief of sore gums due to teething in infants or children should no longer be marketed and is asking companies to stop selling these products for such use.
If companies do not comply, the FDA will initiate a regulatory action to remove these products from the market. Also, the agency is requesting that companies add new warnings to all other benzocaine oral health products to describe certain serious risks. (1)
Per the FDA, …. ‘due to the accumulating evidence regarding benzocaine’s association with methemoglobinemia, we are taking necessary action to work with the industry to discontinue the distribution and sale of over-the-counter benzocaine oral health products intended for teething pain, and add warning information about methemoglobinemia and a contraindication against use for teething pain and against use in children under two years of age to the remaining oral health care drug products containing benzocaine’.(1)
Methemoglobinemia (MetHb) is a blood disorder in which an abnormal amount of methemoglobin is produced. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells (RBCs) that carries and distributes oxygen to the body. Methemoglobin is a form of hemoglobin. (3)
With methemoglobinemia, the hemoglobin can carry oxygen, but is not able to release it effectively to body tissues.
MetHb condition can be:
• Passed down through families (inherited or congenital)
• Caused by exposure to certain medicines, chemicals, or foods (acquired)
Acquired MetHb is more common than the inherited forms. It occurs in some people after they are exposed to certain chemicals and medicines, including (3):
• Anesthetics such as benzocaine
• Nitrobenzene
• Certain antibiotics (including dapsone and chloroquine)
• Nitrites (used as additives to prevent meat from spoiling)
Methemoglobin cannot bind oxygen, which means it cannot carry oxygen to tissues. It is bluish chocolate-brown in color. In human blood a trace amount of methemoglobin is normally produced spontaneously, but when present in excess the blood becomes abnormally dark bluish brown. (2)
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So after you have removed any products in your home that contain Benzocaine, what can you do to help your child through the discomfort of teething pain?
Following are some natural remedies that may prove helpful. (4)
APPLY COLD
Applying something cold to help numb the gums is very effective and soothing for teething pain. There are several easy and virtually free ways to do this with things you probably already have in your home.
• Partially freeze a clean, wet cloth. Let your child chew on the cold cloth to help numb the area and reduce swelling.
• Some children experience a lack of appetite when they are teething. It may help to offer soft, cool foods such as homemade applesauce, chilled pieces of fruit (for older babies already eating solids), and homemade yogurt.
• Offer your baby an ice cube, breastmilk ice cube, frozen fruit cube placed in a securely tied small muslin bag or handkerchief.
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PRESSURE
It is often easy to tell when a baby starts teething because they really begin to chew everything, quite similar to a puppy. The counter-pressure seems to help soothe the pain. They chew on fingers, toys, furniture, and even siblings!
There is no shortage of options for colorful, soft baby teething toys, but the most convenient teething tool out there is your own clean hand. If you can stand the gnawing, offer your baby your clean knuckle and he will happily chew away.
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TEETHING JEWELRY
Wear a silicone teething necklace. It is handy, doesn’t fall on the ground, and it distracts the baby from pulling on other items like mommy’s earrings.
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AMBER TEETHING NECKLACE
Amber necklaces (and bracelets) have gained a lot of popularity in recent years. The theory is that the warmth of the baby’s body releases the succinic acid found in Baltic amber. Succinic acid can have analgesic properties which help relieve pain in the body.
It goes without saying that extreme care should be taken when anything is placed around a baby’s neck and they should be removed for sleeping.
The Harvest Moon carries both amber teething necklaces and bracelets.
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CHAMOMILE
Chamomile is naturally calming and helps relax nerves and soothe pain. There are several ways you can use chamomile to soothe teething pain.
• Tea – make a weak tea and freeze it in ice cube trays. Place a frozen tea cube in a muslin bag or handkerchief and secure it tightly. Now your baby can gnaw on the bag and benefit from the chamomile as the cube melts.
• Tincture –place a drop or two on your finger and rub it onto your baby’s gums to soothe teething pain.
• Essential Oil – Mix 1 drop of chamomile essential oil into 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil (such as coconut or olive). Rub a small amount on baby’s gums to help relieve pain.
Cutting teeth can be a rough time for both mom (and dad!) and baby, but with a few natural teething remedies like these, it can be much easier and less painful to get through.
CHILDREN’S SECTION AT THE HARVEST MOON
Check out the Children’s Supplement and Care Section at the Harvest Moon. We have a number of teething aids that are 100% benzocaine free.
(1) www.fda.gov/newsevents/ newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm608325.htm
(2) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobin
(3) medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000562.htm
(4) wellnessmama.com/127126/teething-remedies/
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10 Things That Happen To Your Body If You Walk Every Day
You’ll be shocked to learn what happens to your body just from walking daily.
The real question is, do you have an extra 15 to 30 minutes free every day? Within a 24 hour period, anyone has a half an hour to spare. What should you do with that time? Walk of course. There are too many benefits and good things that come with that 30-minute walk. It is the cheapest and one of the most effective ways to do your whole body good.
Brain changes for the better
There has been a study done showing the effects of walking on the brain. According to this study, endorphins increase and stress levels become significantly lowered. Lower impact exercises like walking also aid in the overall brain health and even reduce the percentage of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Enhanced vision
It may sound fishy, but apparently walking every day can benefit the eyes as well. Walking improves some eye pressure thus reducing glaucoma in some cases.
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Keeping the heart strong
Walking is just as useful as running according to the American Heart Association. It can help in avoiding heart related issues like strokes or other heart related issues. It improves circulation, reduction in cholesterol and can stabilize blood pressure.
Larger lungs
Besides eliminating toxins in the body, walking improves the lungs by coaching them to have more oxygen flowing throughout the body. This can greatly impact lung function for the prevention in lung diseases.
Improving the pancreas
A study was done that showed people who only walked had better glucose levels than those who ran 6 times as much. This means that people can practically walk their way to preventing Type II diabetes.
Aiding in digestion
Balancing the gut for better gut health is vital to prevent colon cancers and other problems like flatulence and constipation. Walking can help normalize the colon by keeping the colon literally moving.
Leaner muscles
When a person loses fat in their body the muscles become more prominent and they become leaner. This can be achieved by taking 10,000 steps a day. Going uphill or adding an interval throughout the walk can increase muscle tones to different parts of the body as well. All of that can be marked as you working out at the gym for the day. Walking is much easier on the body so there is less soreness and no healing time which means more continuous walking.
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Firm joints and bones
Feeling stiff and in pain can be hampered by walking 30 minutes everyday. Stronger joints, warding off injuries and even ruling out bone loss are great ways to keep your body healthy.
Relieve back pain
Much higher impact sports or exercises can damage the back. However, lower impact exercises like walking can relieve back pain and aches by circulating the blood within the spinal area. This along with strengthening flexibility and posture can minimize back discomfort.
Balanced mind
Walking by yourself or with others can improve mood, lower stress and anxiety. It has even been known to help reduce depression in people.
Grab a friend, and go take a walk!
Source: brightside.me/
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New, Back in Stock, and Seasonal Items at the Harvest Moon During November!
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