Valley Naturals

Plant Your Way to Health

Are you planting a tree for Arbor Day?  Why not consider planting a tree that not only benefits the environment, but also promotes healthy living?  Patio, or dwarf trees such as Meyer lemon or Satsuma mandarin are cold-hardy, easy to plant, and can be grown indoors or out making them perfect for all types of climates, year-round. Both provide a number of vitamins and supplements along with pleasant aromas and can be used in a variety of recipes, drinks or eaten right off the tree!

Meyer Lemons are a hybrid of a lemon and mandarin and provide health benefits including Vitamin C for immunity health & antioxidants which are believed to protect against the aging process, heart disease & cancer. Lemons are also known to be a source for relieving stress and anxiety by promoting calmness. In all, Meyer lemons contain 1 g of dietary fiber, 1 g of protein, 19% of the daily recommended Vitamin C, as well as, 1% of the daily recommended Calcium.

Satsuma mandarins are low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium and are an excellent source of   Vitamin C and dietary fiber. In addition, they contain 2% of the daily recommended Vitamin A, 6% Thiamin (Vitamin B1),  8% Folate, 2% Pantothenic Acid, as well as many other vitamins and nutrients.

Well?  What are you waiting for!  Dig in and start planting your way to healthier living today. Happy Arbor Day from your friends at Valley Naturals!

**Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Goodie Box from Schwabe Winner Announced!

AND THE WINNER IS…Connie B. from the great state of Idaho! Congratulations to Connie. She is going to be enjoying some super products from Enzymatic Therapy and Nature’s Way. It’s coming just in time for cold season, where she might need some of those Garlinase Garlic Tabs or the Sambucus Black Elderberry Syrup!

Connie posted regarding her favorite product, “Love the coconut shampoo and conditioner, mmmmm!” I love her enthusiasm. It seems two of the favorites on the posts were the Alive Vitamins and the Coconut Oil. I see we have a lot of our horse customers using Valley Naturals, too. Awesome!

Thanks to all who participated and tried for a chance to win these great products from Valley Naturals! Ellen

Goodie Box from Schwabe

From free samples to full-size items, you’ll get a cool Enzymatic Therapy oversized mug to go with your eleven goodies. Plus, it comes in a wooden box that can recycle into a great flower box as well! This $100 value includes:

Men’s, Women’s and Children’s Alive! Whole food vitamin samples
Enzymatic’s Garlinase Garlic Tabs
Nature’s Way Coconut Oil
Nature’s Way Fisol – Targeted Release
Enzymatic’s Pearls IC - The Smarter Probiotic
Nature’s Way Sambucus Black Elderberry Syrup
And other samples – Nature’s Way Curica for natural pain relief, Nature’s Way Umcka Cold plus Flu, and Sambucus Flu Relief

TO ENTER:
1. Answer the following question in the comments section of this post:

What is your favorite Valley Naturals product?

and

2. Tweet, Like or Share the post.

THE RULES
One entry per person, please. (Note: if you don't see your entry right away, please don't enter a second time. It will show up shortly!)

No entries after 8:00 a.m. Central Time Wednesday August 22, 2012.

One winner will be selected at random and announced Wednesday August 22, 2012.

Good Luck! Ellen

 

Safe Sunscreen Choices for Proactive Parents

I remember years ago when I had three kids in swim team, that the news began to build about the many (up to thirteen!) chemicals that were present in sunscreens. One article I read explained how toxic some of these chemicals were, even to the point of causing blindness if they got into the eyes. I shuddered to think of smearing the lotion purposefully on my child's face and around their eyes. I couldn't bring myself to do it. So, I didn't force the sunscreen issue. I did my best to make sure they never got a burn and limited their time in the sun...but you moms know how possible that is!

Then there was the problem with everyone else who sent their kids to the pool lathered with the chemicals before jumping in. Again, I shuddered...my kids would be swimming in chlorine AND more toxic chemicals. I begged them, that if they wanted to do swim team, not to open their eyes under the water. (Yeah, right!)

Of course, ten years later, the issue continues and has only heightened. Just how dangerous are all these chemicals? Some surprising answers have come about, one being from the National Geographic Society. They documented that the chemicals in sunscreen appear to be destroying our barrier reefs in the ocean.  www.mercola.com reports that "Four ingredients commonly found in popular brands of sunscreen – paraben, cinnamate, benzophenone, and a camphor derivative – are suspected of awakening dormant viruses in a certain algae that live inside coral reefs." The effect is that the virus replicates itself so quickly that a reef can die within four days. (Dr. Mercola is an advocate of natural sunscreen and sensible time in the sun for its vitamin D benefits.)

Back ten years ago, natural sunscreen wasn't an "in thing." Now that enough evidence has confirmed that many of those chemicals also cause free radical damage to the skin and body they are supposed to protect, there are much safer options finally available.

Valley Naturals carries Sunbrellas Chemical Free Sun Block at an SPF 30+ level. If a sunscreen isn't at least a 15 SPF, there is no guarantee that it will even protect you from overexposure to the sun. The FDA is making labeling more transparent in sunscreen labeling, so hopefully we consumers can make better choices on the ingredients and strength of the block. The two minerals in Sunbrellas, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, have a long history of being safe minerals to the skin.

My personal favorite choice from Valley Naturals is the product called Sunsafe RX by Bioscience, an oral pill that won't wash or sweat off. It won't add anything to the pool or the ocean, and can be swallowed and forgotten. My oldest son grew up out of swim team to love the beach and the ocean. One of his most favorite jobs was being employed as a lifeguard. We both were pretty excited to find a new product that is an incredible plus for people who work in the sun all day. I think of construction workers and agricultural producers too, who can now easily protect themselves with 2 caps a day. The manufacturer says that it is not to replace sunscreen, but evidence has shown that the skin, when given the right free radical scavengers, will protect itself. It's been clinically shown to block UVA and UVB rays without blocking Vitamin D production.

Statistics show that more and more moms are now searching for chemical free choices to protect their kids and families from toxic sunscreens. If you are one of those kind of proactive parents, do check out these great alternatives! Ellen

 

Outstanding Designer Protein with no Whey or Soy! RAW Organic Protein

When I see a “Best of Supplements Award Winner” from Better Nutrition, I want to know why. With a whole slew of body building proteins out there, what makes the RAW Organic Protein from Garden of Life take the award? This protein is like none other. Let me count the ways!

1. The protein is NOT whey-based, it’s plant-based from seeds and grains.
2. They make it from the sprouted seeds and grains when the food is at its highest peak of nutrition and enzyme activity. Sprouted foods are better absorbed by the body, too.
3. It’s organic. This is PURE protein.
4. It includes the high quality “Vitamin Code” raw whole food vitamins A, D, E, & K.
5. No sugars and no fillers
6. No gluten, soy, or animal protein
7. Includes protein-digesting enzymes and live probiotics for digestive health

Those are the differences - What are the similarities to other protein products?

1. It mixes easily
2. It is neutral tasting, like some other sugar-free proteins, so it can be added to shakes or breakfast cereal, in cottage cheese or even in a casserole
3. It is high level complete protein, (33% Daily Value) per serving -- a whole 17 grams! Contains all the essential amino acids

With three bodybuilders in my house, I've seen a lot of whey come and go at our house. When fate dealt the men in our house physiques like Popeye (without the "big mus-kles"), rather than the solid looks of Brutus, I have had lots of opportunity to read plenty of protein labels. I've studied how much sugar and fillers are added to the protein, and just what the calorie count might be. This is a standout product with more health-giving ingredients than ANY protein I have ever seen.

When you see protein supplements, you often think of young athletes who need more protein in their diet. But they aren't the only ones who need extra protein. After 40 years of age, the body slows in the ability to process protein, and muscle strength can diminish. (Vella and Kravitz, Sarcopenia: The Mystery of Muscle Loss.) My husband and I often play tennis in the city tournaments, and if we are going to play against kids half our age, we have to keep our muscles in shape. That extra protein goes far beyond just muscle restoration. Ronni Chernoff, Ph.D., R.D., says "The importance of dietary protein cannot be underestimated in the diets of older adults; inadequate protein intake contributes to...increased skin fragility, decreased immune function, poorer healing and longer recuperation from illness." 1 When my kids and husband get their extra protein, they might be thinking "more muscles"...but I'm thinking "better immune system." Especially with Garden of Life’s RAW Organic Protein.

If you pay for designer whey, it may be time to switch to RAW - the mother of all designer proteins! While it may not have the designer taste of an oreo cookie loaded with sugar, it will have the nutrition design your body craves. Ellen

1 Chernoff, R., "Protein and Older Adults." Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 23(6), 2004, pages 627S-630S. http://www.jacn.org/content/23/suppl_6/627S.abstract?ijkey=94073964cac136994ac5cd712a60a

Naturtint - Hair Color Not to Die For!

These days, hair color "to die for" can be literal. The chemical phenylenediamine has been found to cause cancer in animal subjects, and after a recent study, there is proof that regular use of hair dyes with that particular chemical raises bladder cancer by three times. 1

But that's not all. The synthetic colors found in most over-the-counter dyes are from coal tar.  Listed as the FD&C or D&C colors, They are considered by the World Health Organization as possible carcinogens but are still allowed on the store shelves. Hairdressers who work around dye have been found to have higher incidences of several different types of cancer. 2 To find a safe hair coloring really can be a matter of life or death.

If you're like me, you don't want to add deadly toxins to your body when you dye your hair. But you would like a hair color that will last and condition the hair at the same time. Naturtint is a great permanent hair dye that uses soy and plant extracts instead of ammonia and cancer causing agents. I have used this product, and really like it. It has plenty of colors to choose from, and it met my expectations for length of color, not drying out my hair, and giving me a natural color. However, just like any dye, permanent hair color can be tricky. Here's a few ideas to help you get your best experience from this hair color.

A good rule of thumb is not to go darker, but a shade lighter than your natural color. Always follow the timetable provided. You can go shorter on the time limit, but never exceed it. If you do, you might end up with dull-looking hair and no pretty highlights because each hair is just literally one solid color.

Perms affect dyes too. If you have had a recent perm, it can tend to "grab" the color and color darker and faster than expected. I didn't know this little tidbit when trying a different product, and my perm grabbed my dark brown color and it came out deep black with no highlights. With my fair skin, the contrast was shocking. I got called "Snow White" by my teenagers longer than I want to remember. But of course, I felt more like I resembled the wicked witch!

If you dye your own hair, you are bound to have a few stories like mine. The most important story is to be healthy from the color you use! Ellen

1 Gago-Dominguez M, et al. "Use of permanent hair dyes and bladder-cancer
risk." International Journal of Cancer. 2001;91:575-579.

2 Zhang Y, et al. "Hair-coloring product use and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a population-based case-control study in Connecticut."

 

Natural Henna Hair Color - So Safe!

Henna can possibly be considered the most natural of all hair dyes. It’s a great alternative if you want to dye your hair, but avoid the extra copper and the dangerous chemicals found in many of the permanent dyes. Henna is made from the Lawsonia shrub grown in desert areas. Its leaves are dried and powdered to make the dye.  It has been used for thousands of years to dye the hair and more recently has been developed to include more of the darker colors than just the reddish hues.

The downside of henna is that users need to be aware that previous perms or coloring can make the henna color react in unpredictable ways. The hair should not be processed with other coloring or perms in order to achieve the best color. Henna is not considered a permanent hair color, meaning it will not last through several months like some dyes. It is usually labeled to last through so many washes.

Valley Naturals carries the Natural Henna Hair Color by Surya Brasil. It comes in eleven colors, and I thought it was an outstanding product when I tried it. It’s made of all sorts of rare herbs and fruits from Brazil and India, and yes, henna. There’s no peroxide, ammonia or heavy metals like so many hair dyes contain. The color looked very natural and did not dry out my hair. It even came with a conditioner that could be used after dying process. Of course, this product is not labeled as permanent color, but it lasted longer than I expected. If a person doesn't wash their hair daily, it will last even longer. It lasted about two and a half to three weeks for me, and I wash my hair about every other day.

The upside is that its ingredients are so safe, you can use it often! The ingredient list reads like something you could eat - fruit and plant extracts. Even the colors they use are not the typical ones that have been listed as carcinogenic by the World Health Organization. The toxic colors start with an “F.” These colors do not. Just remember, since the main ingredient is henna, the hair will have more reddish overtones than gold overtones.

If you want a safe, conditioning hair color that you can use often and look great, I would recommend Natural Henna Hair Color by Surya Brasil. Ellen

 

Building Muscle and Weight? Here's a Whey to Benefit Everyone!

With three bodybuilders in my house, I've seen a lot of whey come and go at our house. When fate dealt the men in our house physiques like Popeye (without the "big mus-kles"), rather than the solid looks of Brutus, I have had lots of opportunity to read plenty of protein labels. I've studied how much sugar and fillers are added to the protein, and just what the calorie count might be. Not only did my men want protein, but they wanted extra calories, too. So when I found a healthy (read NO added sugars), favorite whey, there was a very good reason.

But my young athletes aren't the only ones who need whey. After 40 years, the body slows in the ability to process protein, and muscle strength can diminish (see Sarcopenia: The Mystery of Muscle Loss by Vella and Kravitz.) My husband and I often play tennis in the city tournaments, and if we are going to play against kids half our age, we have to keep our muscles in shape. It's been estimated that us "older folk" need an extra serving of protein more than the younger set needs. Of course, athletes of any age need extra protein. The California Dairy Council says that " Generally about 20-25 grams per day of whey protein is adequate to reap the benefits for body composition, weight management and immunity benefits. Athletes in training or competition may need more, 40-50 grams per day, to replace the proteins burned in exercise and to help repair and build new muscle tissue. In fact, the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that an extra 20 grams of whey protein a day plus resistance training can prevent muscle loss caused by normal aging. 2 That added protein needed each day is easier to get if it is added to a shake or breakfast cereal, in cottage cheese or even in a casserole.

Whey, one of the most easily absorbed proteins, is also great because protein is needed for every process of the body - even thinking! Ronni Chernoff, Ph.D., R.D., says "The importance of dietary protein cannot be underestimated in the diets of older adults; inadequate protein intake contributes to...increased skin fragility, decreased immune function, poorer healing and longer recuperation from illness." 3 When my kids and husband drink whey, they might be thinking "more muscles"...but I'm thinking "better immune system."

So what is my favorite whey? It's Naturade Weight Gain Whey. No added sugars, no fillers or fake stuff. It's vanilla flavored and mixes nicely into shakes, soups, puddings, cakes... you name it. With nearly ten grams of protein per serving, and 240 calories, two servings a day in milk can give you over 20 grams of protein and 1500 calories a day. If you don’t want that many calories, you can cut out the milk.

Naturade Weight Gain is also a great value. Designer wheys can break the family budget when everyone needs to dip in the pot. This product is quality whey at an exceptional price. If you can use some extra calories and protein, it's the “whey” to benefit everyone in the family! Ellen

P.S. The document Whey Protein: Nutritional Powerhouse from the California Dairy Council has a couple of neat whey recipes to try out!

1 Expert’s conclusions were taken from the article: Recommended Whey Protein Serving for Seniors, Sep 13, 2011. |Authored by Andrea Cespedes. http://www.livestrong.com/article/543089-recommended-daily-servings-of-whey-protein-for-seniors/#ixzz1tqhPQwKy

2 May 2011 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21367943

3 Chernoff, R., "Protein and Older Adults." Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 23(6), 2004, pages 627S-630S. http://www.jacn.org/content/23/suppl_6/627S.abstract?ijkey=94073964cac136994ac5cd712a60ad40f1e43190

Best-selling Synthovial Seven Hyaluronic Acid

Interested in one of Valley Naturals best-sellers for both joint health and beauty? Synthovial Seven is one of those products that is helpful for many different reasons. The main ingredient, Hyaluronic Acid (or HA,) is a collagen builder. The fluid in the eyes have strong concentrations of HA in them and the body's joints need HA to create the cushion between the bones.

The size of the HA molecule is crucial to the success of its use. It has to be small enough to get into the bloodstream through the cells. The size of Synthovial Seven's pure pharmaceutical-grade HA is the size of dalton required to be delivered straight to where it’s needed.

This HA comes in a unique liquid that is suspended in a 0.9% saline solution. Each dropperful holds 3 mg of the product. It comes in a 30 ml bottle, so each bottle is going to last 30 days.

I've been asked many times what is the best way to take this product. The manufacturer says, "Recent findings have found that administering directly into mouth and holding for at least ten seconds, then swallowing may improve absorption and benefits. Use care to avoid touching dropper tip to mouth area. Should NOT be taken with hot liquids. It is recommended to take Synthovial Seven first thing in the morning. (This is a good way of getting in the habit of taking it every day.) It is VERY IMPORTANT that it is taken EVERY DAY, especially the first bottle."

I had one customer concerned about the source of the HA since rooster comb has had some issues. The company has assured us that it is from a bacterial fermentation process that has been shown to be safe. They also said that freezing does not affect the product, but excess heat would change its effectiveness. I have had many of my customers testify to me that they wouldn't do without this important product. People who have had surgeries and live in pain really like this product. Others use it just to keep young looking and help their eyes, skin and joints have the moisture they need. If you would like to try Synovial Seven, I would recommend to be sure to get two bottles, as there is a great discount when you buy two! Ellen

What Makes Prosta-Response the Go To Product for Prostate Health?

We all know what happens when the garden hose gets crimped when we're trying to water the lawn or garden. It's irritating to have to go back to the source of the kink and get the force and flow going again. Well, BPH (or benign prostate hyperplasia,) is much more irritating to the man who needs his plumbing to work properly. The walnut-sized prostate gland gets enlarged due to inflammation and pinches the "hose."  Men who suffer from this problem want a way to ease that inflammation and reduce the gland to its normal size. The ingredient, saw palmetto, has practically become synonymous to prostate health. Yet, there are so many products containing saw palmetto, it's hard to know what product is best.

Dr. Oz can give us a clue here. He says, "The supplement saw palmetto has been shown to alleviate the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy, which causes men to get up several times a night to urinate. Just make sure you use a saw palmetto supplement that contains the ingredient beta sitosterol-the substance correlated with decreased prostate swelling. Half of the saw palmetto products on the market don't contain any. Take 160 mg twice a day."

Valley Naturals carries the outstanding product called Prosta-Response by Source Naturals. It not only has 711 mg of saw palmetto, (providing 320 mg fatty acids), but also clinically researched amounts of beta sitosterol. Add in hormone modulating co-factors that have a key role in prostate function, plus immune factors and bladder/urinary health compounds, and you have an outstanding prostate formula. The company has a Bio-Aligned Chart from their website, where you can see how all the ingredients work together to align the body. It's quite impressive!

But what if your symptoms are just mild ones right now? Dr. Murray says, "Even if symptoms of BPH are quite mild, it is still important to treat them. Early treatment, especially with natural approaches, will produce better results. If left untreated, BPH can eventually obstruct the bladder outlet, resulting in urine retention and, eventually, kidney damage. As this situation is potentially life threatening, proper treatment is crucial."

If you or someone you love is having symptoms, try Prostra-Response. Dr. Murray says, "90 percent of men who have mild to moderate BPH experience some improvement in symptoms during the first four to six weeks of therapy. All major symptoms of BPH have been relieved, especially nighttime urinary frequency." In order to get four weeks of therapy from Prosta-Response, you would need two bottles. Let BPH be a past irritant and danger! Ellen

 

This is Not Your Mother's Flax Oil! Omega Swirl is Big Hit at Our House

If you have followed the news in health and nutrition, you know how important the "good fats" are to your health. You've heard about the heart and hormone modulating properties and the joint and bone density enhancements. You know it makes great skin, nails, and hair. You know that the good fats give you energy and endurance for your day. You even know that the good fats can help you with your weight goals. But if you're like me and my family, you have had a hard time LIKING to take your flax or fish oil.

Until Barlean's Omega Swirl, that is! When I buy a bottle of Swirl, it's like a war in our refrigerator. My teens, who never would take a spoonful of regular flax oil, no matter how much I begged, are suddenly vying for the bottle. I don't have to remind them to take it, and if someone "happens" to take a larger spoonful than their allotted share, I will hear a complaint about it from the other one. Now the old gripe, "everything healthy tastes bad," is no longer true in our house.

Obviously, we aren’t the only family or group thrilled with a good-tasting Omega/fish oil product. Barlean's has garnered a host of awards for its efforts. Vitamin Retailer and Better Nutrition magazine both voted it Best Product of the Year; American Masters of Taste Awards made it the Gold Medal Winner; and ShapeYou.com gave it its Top Gear Award.  I would give it the "Happy to Use the Biggest Tasting Spoon in the Drawer" Award.

As for what makes it worth the price (besides being able to get it inside your body without a fight), is the fact that the Omega Swirl process allows it to be better assimilated by the body - 9 times better than the same type and dose of fish or flax oil. That's a real deal. I've tried most all the amazing flavors for the flax and fish oils: Lemon Zest, Mango Peach, Pina Colada, Strawberry, Banana Blackberry, Pomegranate, Blueberry, Orange Cream, Raspberry, and get this --- Chocolate!!! Did a woman design these flavors? They are genius!  

Anyway, if you are ready to improve your health with the very first essentials every body needs with Omega-3 EPA/DHA's , then do it with a Swirl -- but watch the size of that spoon!  Ellen