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  • 10 Supplements to Stock Up On from this Month’s Sale

    10 Supplements to Stock Up On from this Month’s Sale

    This month’s sale is on Boiron and Europharma: 25% Off! Perfect time to stock up!

    Boiron Supplements

    1. Oscillococcinum

    This is one of our go-to remedies for fighting off flu-symptoms. It is safe, natural and easy to take. It has been shown in clinical studies to help reduce both the duration and the severity of flu-like symptoms (www.oscilli.com). We recommend always having a box on-hand at home so that you are prepared for when these dreaded symptoms hit! Oscillococcinum is best taken at the FIRST sign of symptoms.

    1. Sabadil

    Allergies are the worst! With Spring around the corner, we all need to be prepared. Itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, runny noses, and itchy noses are all part of the nuisance that this homeopathic supplement can address. Keep a box on hand at work, in your purse, and at home.

    1. Arnicare Gel

    For muscle pain, stiffness, swelling from injuries and bruising, this stuff is a life-saver. Simply apply the gel onto your skin in the affected areas. The gel absorbs so nicely and provides wonderful relief from the discomfort of pain. It is unscented, non-greasy and gentle on skin.

    1. Kali Phosphoricum 30c

    Too many hours spent working – especially staring at your computer and smart phone? We’ve all been there. This homeopathic remedy is one of the most popular for good reason. It is used to alleviate discomfort from tension headaches associated with intellectual fatigue. The tube of pellets is easily stored in your purse or workbag so you can reach for it as soon as your headache hits you.

    1. Hypericum Perforatum 30c

    Many of us suffer from nerve pain at some point in our lives: sciatica, fibromyalgia, shingles and more. These conditions can be incredibly painful to manage. With more folks preferring to opt for natural, non-prescription pain relief, this is a great option to manage nerve pain.  As a homeopathic remedy, Hypericum Peforatum is safe to take in conjunction with other medications and supplements.

    Europharma’s Terry Naturally

    1. CuraMed 350mg Effervescent Tablets

    Many chronic health conditions are inflammatory-based. Beyond swelling and stiffness, inflammation can cause pain, which can impact mobility and mood. Pain medications are often prescribed by healthcare practitioners to manage symptoms, but they do not address the root of the problem. Steroids are also often prescribed by healthcare practitioners to manage the swelling, but do not come without some major side effects.  Curcuma longa – the active concentrate of turmeric – provides powerful natural relief from inflammation. For folks who have trouble with swallowing pills or tablets, these dissolvable effervescent tablets are a great effective alternative.

    1. Curamin PM

    If chronic pain keeps you awake at night, this supplement is something to consider. Curcuma longa, in combination with 5mg of melatonin (our body’s own natural hormone that regulates our sleep cycles) will help alleviate occasional discomfort and sleeplessness.

    1. Vectomega Omega-3 Plus Phospholipids & Peptides

    Many of us choose to supplement with Omega-3 fatty acids to support healthy hearts and immune systems. In addition, these supplements help support healthy skin, hair, nails, joints, and eyes.  There are so many good options today, but this product is easily one of our favorites. Created from North Atlantic Salmon, it is the only omega-3 bound to phospholipids and peptides, the building blocks of healthy cell membranes.

    1. Traumaplant Comfrey Cream

    Comfrey Cream has been used for years to help heal bruises, pulled muscles, fractures, sprains, strains, and osteoarthritis. In more recent years, comfrey has gotten a bad reputation due to a toxic component within it called, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, that can damage the liver. However, Terry Naturally’s Traumaplant Comfrey Cream has been carefully formulated WITHOUT the inclusion of this component, so that we can enjoy all the benefits of comfrey without the dangerous side effects.

    1. CuraMed 750mg Superior Absorption Curcumin

    Like the effervescent tablets, CuraMed is an incredible product for managing discomfort associated with inflammation; however, this product is in capsule form and is formulated at the 750mg strength to provide maximum effectiveness to those coping with more intense symptoms. We talk with countless customers each week who rave about this product and how it’s helped given them quality of life back!

     

  • A Lucky Shake for St. Patrick’s Day! (Hold the Polysorbate 80, Please!)

    A Lucky Shake for St. Patrick’s Day! (Hold the Polysorbate 80, Please!)

    It’s time for me to fess-up a bit here.

    I work in a health food store but haven’t always eaten healthy. When I was a kid, I used to look forward to seasonal holiday treats from fast food chains. My all-time favorite was when March would roll around. My mom would take my brother and I to our favorite fast food place for a St. Patrick’s Day-inspired shake we’d order off their seasonal menu. This was so cool because the shake was a lovely shade of bright green and tasted like sweet minty goodness.

    I carried this tradition into my teenage years with my friends and then into early adulthood. That is, until I woke up to how the food I was eating was effecting my health. Let me shed a little light on exactly what is in this green cup of “goodness”.  According to the nutritional facts for the shake listed on the company’s website, the shake includes the following ingredients:

    Phew… still with me? That is an awfully long list that leaves me with a few questions: Why is it called whipped “topping” and not whipped cream? And why does the cherry have a list of ingredients- isn’t it just a cherry? Also, do green sugar crystals grow out of the ground? Might I add that there isn’t actually any mint in this minty-tasting beverage?

    As if this wasn’t enough information to scare you away, check out the nutritional facts associated with a small and large shake:


    That’s why we created the Lucky Mint Chip Shake – available at both of our locations for a limited time. Our shake uses none of the above and is actually healthy and naturally energizing and detoxifying. Here’s OUR ingredients: At Basil Bandwagon, we think everyone should be able to enjoy a holiday treat without having to dowse themselves in artificial colorings, flavorings and 3 days-worth of sugar in one glass.

    Organic Banana

    Organic Spinach

    Spirulina

    Organic Mint Leaves/Extract

    Organic Coconut Milk

    Organic Cacao Nibs

     

    Come visit our café to enjoy this delicious shake today!

     

     

  • Zucchini, Corn & Black Bean Tacos

    Zucchini, Corn & Black Bean Tacos

    Zucchini is a superhero when it comes to healthy eating. You can do SO much with it. This week’s video shows our favorite ways to prep it for maximum flavor.

    https://vimeo.com/206063032

    Once you have your zucchini cleaned and chopped- you have a world of possibilities. Here’s one of our favorite meatless recipes that easy to throw together and packs a LOT of flavor!

    Zucchini, Corn & Black Bean Tacos

     

    Ingredients:

     

    • 3 Tablespoons Oil
    • 2 Cups Frozen Corn
    • 1 Yellow Onion
    • 3 Cloves Garlic
    • 2 Red Peppers
    • 1 Jalapeno
    • 3 Medium Zucchini
    • 1 can Black Bean, rinsed
    • 1 Tablespoon Cilantro
    • Juice 1 Lime
    • 3/4 Cup of Full Fat Greek Yogurt
    • 8 Tortilla

     

    1. Heat 1/2 of the oil in a pan.
    2. Cook/caramelize Onion for 5 minutes.
    3. Add Garlic, cook for 1 min
    4. Add Red Peppers, cook for 5 minutes
    5. Add Zucchini and Corn and cook for 5 minutes
    6. Add Black Beans and Cilantro and cook for 3 minutes.
    7. Mix Lime Juice with Yogurt
    8. Toast tortillas if desired
    9. Spoon Zucchini, Corn and Black Bean mixture onto tortillas. Top with Lime/Yogurt mixture and add salsa of your choice.

     

  • Introducing….the Lucky Shake!

    Introducing….the Lucky Shake!

    Creamy, Minty and full of protein and nutrient rich Spirulina, our newest smoothie is a better choice!  With no added sugar and ZERO preservatives, you can pass up the drive thru and crush the milkshake craving.

    https://youtu.be/PfOc-sk8U_k

     

     

  • Vietnamese Chicken Thighs with Papaya Salsa

    Vietnamese Chicken Thighs with Papaya Salsa

    Soft, sweet Papaya…we love them in smoothies, we love them in salads- but we REALLY love them mixed in with savory flavors. Vietnamese Chicken Thighs blend sweet and savory and are elevated with our favorite, simple Papaya Salsa. Check out this video to see how we like to prepare this fruit for one of our favorite recipes.

    https://vimeo.com/205087514

     

    Papaya Salsa

    Our salsa can be adjusted depending on the crowd you’re serving. The ingredients are simple and fragrant and you’ll find yourself sampling after each step as the flavors build!

    https://vimeo.com/205095005

     

     

    Vietnamese Chicken Thighs

     

    Free Bird Organic Chicken Thighs (Bone-in, with Skin)

    1 Lime- zest and Juice

    1 Jalapeno- seeded & minced

    3 Cloves of Garlic-minced

    2 Tablespoons Braggs Aminos

    1 Tablespoons Fish Sauce

    1 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

     

    Combine ingredients in a plastic bag. Add chicken thighs, press air out and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.

    Grill, pan sear or roast- your choice. Cook until thighs reach 165 degrees.

    Top with Papaya Salsa and enjoy!

     

     

     

  • How to Make your own Immune Boosting Tonic

    How to Make your own Immune Boosting Tonic

    Jenna shows you how to throw together your own Immune Boosting Tonic full of virus-busting goodness!

    Here’s what you’ll need:

    • 1 medium onion, peeled and rough chopped
    • 1 head of garlic, peeled and rough chopped
    • 3 inch piece of fresh ginger, grated
    • 1 tablespoon dried echinacea root
    • Apple cider vinegar (organic with “the mother”)
    • Raw organic honey
    • 2 teaspoons ground cayenne pepper
    • cheese cloth (enough to cover the top of the jar with a couple layers)
    • A large glass container of some sort. We used a quart-sized mason jar.

     

    Step by Step Instructions

       

    1. Place onion, garlic, ginger and echinacea root in a mason jar.
    2. Add apple cider vinegar to cover the herbs.
    3. Cover with cheese cloth and screw on the band to hold it tight. (don’t use the lid portion- your tonic needs air!)
    4. Leave in the jar for 2-3 weeks, preferably in a sunny or slightly warm place.
    5. Strain and discard the herbs.
    6. Mix with equal parts raw honey and add cayenne powder.
    7. Store in the fridge and take 1 teaspoon as needed daily or whenever you start to feel run down.

     
    There is more you can do with this tonic: 

    • Immune Boosting Tonic is amazing alone- BUT there are some fun ways to use it:

    • Use it to make a quick Bloody Mary: add to a mixture of tomato juice spirit of you choice

    • It’s a super FLAVOR boost for soups and sauces. It’s the not-so-secret ingredient in my chicken soup and a fix-it for spaghetti sauce that needs a little kick.

    • Bone Broth to the MAX: add this to your bone broth!

     

  • Make Love GROW

    Make Love GROW

    Make Love Grow: in your HEART, in your HOME, in your community, in the WORLD. 

     

    This starts with YOU:

     

    This means taking care of yourself so that you can take care of others.

    Self Care Products

    Take time for yourself so you can care for others. Replenish yourself with nourishing bath products and supplements that bring balance and rest.

     

    Make Love Grow in YOUR HOME:

     

    Take care of the ones you love, even four-legged beings! The love you show them makes them grow.

    Animals are family to us- just like they are to you! Feed them the best. We carry only the cleanest, high quality food we can find.

     

    Make Love Grow in YOUR COMMUNITY:

     

    Spend your Money Locally, and Volunteer your time.

    • For every $100 spent at a local business, $68 stays IN the community. Spending $100 at a local chain only brings $43 back.

    • If everyone spent an extra $10 at a locally-owned business rather than a national chain, over 9.3 BILLION dollars would be directly returned into our economy.

    For more info on why spending locally is important, check out these links below:

     

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com

     

    http://grasshopper.com/resources/articles/small-business-saturday-statistics/

     

    Contribute your time!

    There are opportunities to give back EVERYWHERE. Find out where you can lend a hand in our county by visiting our county website:

    Hunterdon County, New Jersey Volunteer Opportunities.

     

    Make Love Grow in THE WORLD:

     

     Love grows in the WORLD when you choose to let it!

  • This Week’s Featured Products

    This Week’s Featured Products

    Here’s what we featured on this week’s New Product Wednesday Facebook Live Broadcast, in case you missed it. A lot of these products are not only amazing, but they are companies we feel good buy from!

    Just the Goods Face and Body Products:

    We are LOVING this super clean product line, and we thing you will too. Check out their score on EWG.

    Kuli Kuli Moringa Superfood Bars:

    Chewy, nutrient-rich bars with a good serving of GREENS on every bite.

    New Alaffia Hair and Bath products:

    We LOVE Alaffia for what they do for the world, and what they do for our skin and hair. These products are as ethical as they are effective and that means a lot to us.

    Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Organic Protein:

    Sunwarrior was born from the idea that protein shouldn’t contain JUNK. When you are trying to get healthy, don’t let additives get in the way of results- Warrior Blend protein only contains what you need to get moving and get fueled.

    Forager Cashewgurt:

    You wont miss dairy with this creamy cashew yogurt. It’s got a smooth texture and just the right amount of sweetness and of course, no fillers or additives.

     

     

     

     

  • How to Slice an Ataulfo Mango

    Make the most of our Fresh Deals on Organic Produce by knowing how to use them!

     

     

     

  • Heart Health Favorites

    Heart Health Favorites

    February is Heart Health month! It’s a good idea to take care of your ticker, and there’s plenty of easy and tasty ways to do so.

    Oats

    That bowl of oatmeal you had for breakfast might be more powerful than you think. Oats contain beta-glucan, a potent soluble fiber with blood sugar regulating benefits. Oats are also high in Vitamin E, which has long been found to be a protective vitamin for the heart.

    Lentils

    Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart, the more you eat them, well….. you know the rest. There is actually much science behind this popular rhyme. Lentils are an excellent source of soluble fiber, which helps keep your arteries clean, reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke. Lentils are also excellent sources of magnesium and folate – two big promoters of heart health. Magnesium in particular improves blood flow, oxygen and nutrient distribution within your body.

     

    Dark Chocolate

    Cocoa beans – from which dark chocolate is created – are rich in a class of plant nutrients called flavonoids. Flavonoids help protect the body from environmental toxins and damage. Flavanols are the main type of flavonoids found in cocoa. Research has shown flavanols to promote healthy blood pressure, improve blood flow and manage healthy blood clotting function.

    Garlic

    Garlic possesses a myriad of health benefits, but one of the most significant is its positive effects on heart health. It serves as a preventative agent against many different conditions: hypertension, diabetes, thrombosis, etc. For heart health, garlic consumption helps reverse plaque build up in arteries. Sure, you may need some gum afterwards, but loading up on this powerhouse is SMART!

     

    Avocado


    Avocados are not only an excellent source of protein and fat, but a heart-healthy superfood. Cholesterol, trans fat and sodium free, avocados are one of the few whole foods that are an excellent source of monounsaturated fat. For this reason, they may help lower your blood cholesterol level when consumed in place of saturated fat.

    Berries

    Blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries are not just delicious snacks or toppings on your favorite cereal, oatmeal or yogurt. They are an excellent source of polyphenols, which are associated with improved heart health. Polyphenols protect cells and body chemicals against damage caused by free radicals.

     

    Pomegranate

    These beautiful fruits contain juicy seeds that are as nutrient-dense as they are delicious. The juice is a rich source of polyphenols, which double as antioxidants, protecting our cells from damage and lowering inflammation in our bodies. The juice is also believed to protect LDL (bad) cholesterol from damaging our arterial walls.

     

    Sardines

    These little guys are PACKED with heart-happy fats and nutrients. Sardine are full the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which have been found to lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels.

    Flaxseed


    These tiny seeds pack a ton of punch when it comes to heart health. A mere teaspoon of the seeds contains nearly 2 grams of heart-healthy Omega-3 essential fatty acids. Flax seeds are also one of the best sources of plant-based foods for lignan’s, which have strong antioxidant qualities, helping support heart health.