Staff Pick of the Month

Omega for a Good Cause 

-Susan, General Manager 

Back to school is almost upon us and one of the things I look forward to are not only the fun healthy snack options we have for kids lunches, but for the feel good causes the brands we love support.

This month, Nordic Naturals is supporting Kids in Need Foundation.The organization "provides students affected by natural disasters with the supplies needed to get them back to a world they know: the classroom."Buy Nordic Naturals products this month and help get kids back to school.

Mineral Fusion Nail Polish 

-CJ, Supervisor

Galaxy, amethyst, and blossom, oh my! And that is just to name a few of the forty-five Mineral Fusion nail polishes. This brand is top notch when it comes to Organic, mineral based nail polishes. Not only does the polish last and have outrageously amazing colors, it nourishes your nails while you wear it. I have to say personally this is one nail polish I love to wear because of its nourishing properties. Theses great polishes are formaldehyde free, toluene free, hypoallergenic, gluten free, talc free, and much more! For someone like me with skin sensitivities it is very important that I use only top of the line products that are free of harmful chemicals. In addition to being great for your nails and free of all these major chemicals, they are never tested on animals! For an avid animal lover, this is a HUGE bonus! Try any one of the colors, or you could use my personal favorite, Galaxy. 

Gardein Golden Fishless Fillets 

-Claudia, Head Buyer
I have recently discovered Gardein’s vegan meat substitutes and though this company is  the new kid on the block, it seems to be a real winner.  Gardein make wonderful burgers for vegans and people who are just trying to avoid cholesterol in their diet.  And now this innovative company has come up with something completely new for the vegan menu, fishless fillets!  These fillets cook up just like their ocean-dwelling counterparts. When baked in the oven, the coating crisps up, and the center is moist and tasty.   The white center is nice a flaky.  They even contain algae oil, a plant source of omega 3 DHA and EPA.  And best of all they’re 100% cruelty-free and kind to our ocean friends!

Paint Happily!

Mosquito Bite Remedies

Mosquitoes have been around for 170 million years with more than 3,500 known species in the U.S. Mosquitoes can smell dinner from a distance up to 30 meters. Bites are caused by female mosquitoes searching for isoleucine, an amino acid that makes up protein found in blood.  Female mosquitoes have feeding stylets to pierce skin and siphon blood because they need human blood to develop fertile eggs. Male mosquitoes lack this blood-sucking ability because they don't produce eggs.

Everyone attracts mosquitoes, because all humans breathe and omit carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes search and fly in the direction of higher carbon dioxide concentration, leading then to a warm body. A female mosquito usually finds a blood vessel in our skin in less than a minute, fills up with up to four times her weight in blood, and injects saliva, an anticoagulant, to keep our blood from clotting. The mosquito saliva causes a histamine response, creating itching around the bite area from a mild allergic reaction.

The differences in our appeal to mosquitoes is affected by bodily odors and elements of our body chemistry. People are covered in hundreds of species of bacteria which is responsible for personal odor. Concentrations of steroids, uric acid, and cholesterol on skin surface can attract mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are attracted to movement, heavy breathing, lactic acid from sweat, and heat.

The signs of a mosquito bite are puffy, white bumps on the skin that appear right after the bite or a hard, itchy, reddish-brown bump, appearing a day or so after the bite. In people with immune system disorders, mosquito bites can also trigger a large area of swelling and redness, low-grade fever, hives, and swollen lymph nodes. If mosquito bites seem to trigger fever, headache, and body aches, contact a doctor. Scratching the itch aggravates the bite, making it itch more and can lead to infection. Most mosquito bites stop itching and heal on their own without medical treatment.

To help with itching you can topically apply an anti itch cream, calamine lotion, Quantum Sting Soothe, Ssssting Stop homeopathic gel, lavender essential oil, peppermint essential oil, tea tree essential oil, apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, and aloe vera gel to bites. Taking an oral homeopathic antihistamine may ease your body's response.

Source: wikipedia, control-mosquitoes.com

Here are two natural remedies to help reduce itching:

Baking soda paste

1 tbs baking soda 

1 pint warm water

Directions: Mix ingredients together and gently apply to the affected area using a cotton swab. Allow to dry for a few minutes and wash off with warm water.

Hot bath 

2 tbs apple cider vinegar

2 cups ground oatmeal

Directions: Prepare hot water in bath tub and add all ingredients.  Soak for 15-20 minutes and rinse.

Mona Claypoole, Director of Marketing & Wellness Support

Have “Beach Feet” Whether You Go to the Beach or Not

After a week at the shore don’t your feet feel fantastic? It’s like magic, but it’s not. The sand exfoliates and the salt water cleanses, while lotion nourishes your skin.

Summer’s not over yet and whether you will be hitting the beach or staying in Central PA this August, there are natural ways to get that sandal-worthy “beach feet” look and feel.

At the Beach Scrub

3 Tbsp beach sand

3 Tbsp Sea Salt (I prefer fine, but coarse is more effective on rougher skin)

6 Tbsp Coconut Oil

3 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

1 drop Tea Tree Oil

Combine all ingredients. Wet your feet and rub the mixture over each foot, taking particular care on extra dry areas. Wash off and pat dry, or even better, soak in freshly-brewed Peppermint tea for 10-15 minutes before rinsing and drying.

NOT at the Beach Scrub

Simply exchange the 3 Tbsp of beach sand for 3 Tbsp of Sugar (try Raw Turbinado) and follow the instructions above.

I finish my fabulous “Beach Feet” look with nail polish from Mineral Fusion. They’re formaldehyde-free and come in plenty of colors. Rock Candy is my personal favorite. 

-Nancy Mayne, Director of Wellness