Category: Health

  • Why We Love Hardy Nutritionals

    Why We Love Hardy Nutritionals

    Hardy Nutritionals Daily Essential Nutrients is a unique micronutrient formula that consists of 16 minerals, 13 vitamins, 4 amino acids, and 4 antioxidants/botanicals. One unique factor of the Daily Essential Nutrients is that organic molecules and micronized minerals are combined to maximize mineral absorption and delivery to cells. It is also clinically proven to help improve mood, focus, mental clarity, emotional stability, and sleep quality.

    Their products are readily available at all Basil Bandwagon Natural Market locations, in both clinical strength and regular strength –

    • Clinical Strength: (Daily Essential Nutrients with Added Vitamers) A broad-spectrum micronutrient formulation. It is specifically formulated for individuals with certain genetic variations of Vitamin B6 and Folate metabolism.
    • Regular Strength: (Optimal Balance for Women or Men) An excellent daily micronutrient formulation for adults and children who don’t need the clinical levels found in the Daily Essential Nutrients.

    If you wish to learn more about Hardy Nutritionals and their supplements, we recommend visiting their website https://www.hardynutritionals.com/ .

    Resources:
    https://www.hardynutritionals.com/products/optimal-balance-for-women
    https://www.hardynutritionals.com/products/optimal-balance-for-men
    https://www.hardynutritionals.com/products/daily-essential-nutrients-with-added-vitamers-120
    https://www.hardynutritionals.com/article/clinical-reference/about-hardy-nutritionals

  • Oranges, Strawberries and Raisins, OH MY!

    Oranges, Strawberries and Raisins, OH MY!

    Oranges, Strawberries and Raisins, OH MY!

    Please note: ALL produce available at Basil Bandwagon Natural Market is ORGANIC.

    The following information was provided by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and pertains only to NON-ORGANIC produce.


    Raisins didn’t qualify for the Dirty Dozen™, since we don’t include processed foods in the list, but if they did, they would top the list by a mile. Ninety-nine percent of conventional raisins tested positive for at least two pesticides, including some that can harm kids’ developing brains!

    Click the image to learn more!

    Strawberries are once again at the top of this year’s Dirty Dozen™ list, taking first place for produce with the highest levels of pesticide residues. Ninety-nine percent of strawberries have pesticide residues, and up to 22 different pesticides were found on a single strawberry!

    Click the image to learn more!

    Many Americans enjoy starting their day with a healthy serving of citrus fruits, but they may be unknowingly getting a side of cancer-linked chemical. EWG scientists discovered cancer-linked imazalil on nearly 90 percent of non-organic citrus samples!

    Even after the fruit is peeled, the average concentration of imazalil was about 20 times higher than EWG’s recommended limit to protect children’s health! See the full results HERE.

    Click the image to sign the EWG’s petition to BAN imazalil!

    Resources:

    https://www.ewg.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwo-aCBhC-ARIsAAkNQisjbwcNiZlHOZAOGL3qCYkyK6KmBK0AScpklOZ-30BY2Qp9Ovi2vJQaAmCPEALw_wcB

    https://act.ewg.org/UOUNqQZubEqMFeX_xZjwTg2?sourceid=1020179&emci=bcf878fc-b488-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&emdi=f49bef02-b588-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&ceid=2820348

    https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/citrus.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=202103FoodNewsLaunch&utm_medium=email&utm_content=pesticides&emci=bcf878fc-b488-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&emdi=f49bef02-b588-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&ceid=2820348

    https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/raisins.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=202103FoodNewsLaunch&utm_medium=email&utm_content=pesticides&emci=bcf878fc-b488-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&emdi=f49bef02-b588-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&ceid=2820348

    https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/strawberries.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=202103FoodNewsLaunch&utm_medium=email&utm_content=pesticides&emci=bcf878fc-b488-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&emdi=f49bef02-b588-eb11-85aa-00155d43c992&ceid=2820348

  • Christine Waltermyer’s Gut-Boosting Homemade Pickles – 3 Ways!

    Christine Waltermyer’s Gut-Boosting Homemade Pickles – 3 Ways!

    Gut-Boosting Homemade Pickles

    with Christine Waltermyer

    Christine Waltermyer is a local and renowned Wellness Chef, private chef to celebrities, published cookbook author and founder of the Natural Kitchen Cooking School, which offers an online Plant-Based Cooking Program. She also loves shopping at Basil Bandwagon! Visit naturalkitchenschool.com to subscribe to her email newsletter for new recipes, tips, and FREE access to the Power of Veggies mini-course!


    Did you know that gut health is essential for a strong immune system? Some of the best gut health boosting foods are those that are fermented and pickled! There are many health benefits of pickling, but the most talked about benefit is the fact that they are probiotic – and you can pickle so many different vegetables to change up your flavor profiles. Check out (& print!) these three simple homemade pickle recipes thanks to Christine Waltermyer!

    24-Hour Mixed Vegetable Tamari Pickles

    Course Snack
    Keyword gut health, pickles
    Servings 1 cup of pickles

    Equipment

    • Wide-mouth 16 oz glass canning jar with a lid (Make sure it’s really clean. You can even boil it for a minute to sterilize it.)
    • 8 oz glass canning jar that fits inside the 16-ounce glass jar
    • Cheesecloth
    • Small pot

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup water
    • 2 ½ tablespoons tamari
    • 2 tablespoons brown rice vinegar
    • ½ cup broccoli stems (peeled) sliced into thin rounds
    • ½ cup carrot slices (thin)
    • ½ cup thinly sliced celery
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

    Instructions

    • Place the water in a small pot. Bring to a boil briefly, then shut off the heat and remove from the stove. Set aside to cool.
    • Once the water is cool, place it in the glass canning har. To make the pickling brine, add the tamari and brown rice vinegar. Place the lid on the har and shake well. Pour the pickling brine into a bowl.
    • Layer the vegetables in the glass jar. Pour the pickling brine over them. Place the smaller jar on top of the vegetables, inside the jar. The weight of the har will press the vegetables under the surface of the brine.
    • Cover the jar with a square of cheesecloth and secure it in place with a piece of kitchen twine or a rubber band.
    • Let the jar sit at room temperature for 24 hours. The room should be between 65 to 80 degrees F.
    • After 24 hours have passed, add the maple syrup. Place a lid on the jar and gently shake to mix the maple syrup into the brine. Refrigerate the pickles at this point. Enjoy a teaspoon or so at a time with a meal. Pickles will keep up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

    24-Hour Pink Fennel Pickles

    Course Snack
    Keyword gut health, pickles
    Servings 3 /4 cup of pickles

    Equipment

    • 16 oz glass canning jar with a lid (Make sure it’s really clean. You can even boil it for a minute to sterilize it.)
    • 8 oz glass canning jar
    • Cheesecloth
    • Small pot

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup water
    • ¾ cup fennel thinly sliced
    • ¼ beet thinly sliced
    • ¼ cup ume ("umeboshi") vinegar

    Instructions

    • Place the water in a small pot. Bring to a boil briefly, then shut off the heat and remove from the stove. Set aside to cool.
    • Once the water is cool, place it in the glass canning jar. To make the pickling brine, add the ume vinegar. Place the lid on the jar and shake well. Pour the pickling brine into a bowl.
    • Layer the vegetables in the glass jar. Pour the pickling brine over them. Place the smaller jar on top of the vegetables, inside the har. The weight of the har will press the vegetables under the surface of the brine. If the liquid is too high in the har, you can remove it as long as all of the vegetables are submerged under the brine liquid.
    • Cover the har with a square of cheesecloth and secure it in place with a piece of kitchen twine or a rubber band.
    • Let the jar sit at room temperature for 24 hours. The room should be between 65 to 80 degrees F.
    • After 24 hours have passed, place a lid on the jar. Refrigerate the pickles at this point. Enjoy a teaspoon or so at a time with a meal. If you find the pickles too strong tasting, rinse a small amount before serving them. Pickles will keep up to 10 days in the refrigerator.

    3-Day Radish Pickles

    Course Snack
    Keyword gut health, pickles
    Servings 1 1/2 cups of pickles

    Equipment

    • 32-ounce glass canning jar with a lid (Make sure it’s really clean. You can even boil it for a minute to sterilize it.)
    • Small pot

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups water
    • 2 cups thinly sliced radishes (I used purple daikon radish and watermelon radish but red radish works too)
    • 1 ½ tablespoons sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon pickling spice OPTIONAL – In the video I used 1 tablespoon but it’s a little strong tasting so I recommend using less for most people’s taste.

    Instructions

    • Place the water in a small pot. Bring to a boil briefly, then shut off the heat and remove from the stove. Set aside to cool.
    • Once the water is cool, place it in the glass canning jar. To make the pickling brine, add the sea salt and pickling spice. Place the lid on the jar and shake well. Pour the pickling brine into a bowl.
    • Layer the vegetables in the glass jar. Pour the pickling brine over them. Make sure that all of the vegetables are submerged under the brine liquid.
    • Cover the jar with the lid.
    • Let the jar sit at room temperature for 3 days. The room should be between 65 to 80 degrees F.
      IMPORTANT: Unscrew the lid of the jar once a day to release some of the air that naturally builds up inside. At that time make sure the veggies are all submerged and if not, gently push them down under the liquid.
    • Taste after 3 days and if you want to let it ferment longer it should become more sour in another day or two. These pickles are salty so I recommend rinsing the pickles before serving. If you want to balance the flavor with some sweetness just add a tablespoon or two of your favorite sweetener and it will make them a little more mild tasting. Pickles will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

    Thank you to Christine Waltermyer and the Natural Kitchen Cooking School for working with us to help promote healthy, nutritious meals and products that are affordable, full of nutrients, and simple to make at home!

  • Looking to Keep Your Immune System Strong? Country Life Vitamins is Here to Help!

    Looking to Keep Your Immune System Strong? Country Life Vitamins is Here to Help!

    Take your immune health to the next level with Country Life Vitamins

    It’s not always easy to eat a balanced diet with all the nutrients we need, and something as important as our immune system needs extra attention. To fill the gaps we might be missing, adding in certain vitamins to our daily wellness routine makes sure we’re covering all our bases without the added stress. Thanks to Country Life Vitamins, we can trust that the ingredients they use in their products follow their 5 pledges – Authenticity, Cleanliness, Freshness, Consistency & Accuracy.

    Immune Support When It Matters

    Vitamin D

    Also known as the Sunshine Vitamin, Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain healthy bones and teeth, as well as promote immune health.*

    Multivitamins

    Get the essential nutrients you need for  health and wellness. Their Core Daily-1 multivitamins simplify your daily nutrition with support across seven key nutritional areas.*

    Minerals

    Minerals are elements used by the body that are not produced by plants, and play an important role in metabolism and other various bodily functions.* Many of their minerals are chelated (bound to amino acids) and they provide both single forms as well as multi-mineral formulas.

    Calcium

    Formulated to maximize your body’s calcium absorption for healthier teeth and bones, their calcium supplements may also be blended with minerals for total-body utilization. Adequate calcium and vitamin D as part of a healthful diet, along with exercise, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life.*

    Looking for a great way to add vitamins into your daily morning routine?

    Check out this refreshing smoothie recipe!

    Immune Boosting Berry Orange Smoothie

    Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free ~ Serves 2

    This delicious smoothie is rich in antioxidants, Vitamin C, with an added boost of sunshine – Vitamin D!

    Ingredients

    1 1/4 cups fresh squeeze orange juice

    1 cup of your frozen berry of choice – we used blueberries (can use fresh but will not be as thick)

    1/2 cup of fresh or frozen strawberries

    1/4 cup of almond or coconut milk (we used almond)

    1 banana

    1 tablespoon lemon juice

    1 teaspoon of honey or maple syrup

    4 sprays Country Life Vitamin D3 spray (2 sprays = daily serving size but this recipe yields 2 servings)

    Method

    Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour into 2 glasses and enjoy!

    DISCLAIMER: *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

    References:

    https://www.countrylifevitamins.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/countrylifevitamins/

    https://www.cottercrunch.com/cranberry-orange-smoothie-dairy-free/

  • Homemade Immune Boosting Essentials thanks to Christine Waltermyer!

    Homemade Immune Boosting Essentials thanks to Christine Waltermyer!

    Homemade Immune Boosting Essentials

    thanks to Christine Waltermyer!

    Christine Waltermyer is a local Wellness Chef, private chef to celebrities, published cookbook author and founder of the Natural Kitchen Cooking School, which offers an online Plant-Based Cooking Program. She also loves shopping at Basil Bandwagon! Visit naturalkitchenschool.com to get your FREE copy of her cookbook, “7 Days of Deliciousness.”

    Vegetable Broth

    Makes 8 cups

    Ingredients

    1 cup fresh maitake mushrooms, or ½ cup dried

    2 celery stalks, cut into big chunks

    2 carrots, cut into chunks

    2 to 3 cups winter squash, cut in big chunks

    ½ cup fresh burdock root, cut into pieces (or ¼ cup dried burdock)

    1 small bunch parsley (you can leave the stems on)

    1 tablespoon fresh ginger root slices

    ½ large onion, cut into big chunks

    1 tablespoon fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)

    3 dried shiitake mushrooms (or 6 fresh shiitake mushrooms)

    2 bay leaves

    2 cloves garlic

    ½ gallon water


    Method

    This vegetable broth can be made in an Instapot, pressure cooker or regular soup pot. 

    For Instant Pot or pressure cooker: Place all ingredients in the Instant Pot or a large pressure cooker. Place the lid on your pressure cooker or Instant Pot and bring to full pressure on high heat. After 15 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and let the pressure reduce naturally.  Strain out the ingredients by pouring the broth through a strainer into a large bowl. Remove the lid and cool completely before pouring into tall glass mason jars.

    For regular soup pot: Place all ingredients in a large soup pot. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to simmer on low for 1 hour. Remove from heat. Strain out the ingredients by pouring the broth through a strainer into a large bowl. Cool before pouring into glass mason jars.

    Store the vegetable broth in covered jars in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days, or freeze for up to 4 months.


    Lemon Sage Cold Care Tea

    Serves 1

    Ingredients

    1 cup (8 oz.) water

    10 fresh sages leaves (or one teaspoon dried sage leaves)

    1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

    1 teaspoon raw honey or brown rice syrup


    Method

    Place the water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Turn off the heat and add the sage leaves. Remove from the heat and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain the tea through a small strainer into a mug. Add the lemon juice and sweetener of your choice. Enjoy warm.


    Thank you to Christine Waltermyer and the Natural Kitchen Cooking School for working with us to help promote healthy, nutritious meals and products that are affordable, full of nutrients, and simple to make at home!

  • Chill Out This Summer with PlusCBD Oil!

    Chill Out This Summer with PlusCBD Oil!

    Have you been interested in hemp products? Well now’s the time to start! PlusCBD Oil has been a pioneer in the CBD industry, taking extraordinary efforts to make high-quality, safe, and effective hemp CBD oil products.

    Why should I take CBD oil? Great question! CBD can have a positive effect on general well-being, impacting mood, sleep, stress levels, and so much more. Everyone has their preference on the way they consume CBD- capsules, topically, liquid droppers, gummies, etc. Luckily for us, PlusCBD Oil just had a price decrease for all of their products so now you can try more than one and feel like you’re not breaking the bank!

    How much should I take? Well that can be tricky… The best thing to do is start small and work your way up. Start with a couple of drops a day at bedtime (that way if you take too much and it makes you sleepy, you’ll be ready for bed!). If you feel like it didn’t help, try a couple more drops and work your body into it. Everyone has different tolerances so a strength that may work for your best friend may not work for you – and that’s okay! Check out some other common CBD concerns below:

    Do you have more questions? Come on in or call us! Our amazing Wellness Ambassadors are on the sales floors and ready to help you find the perfect CBD for you!

    Scroll down for recipes, savings, & more ↓


    Keep Calm and Chai On

    Ingredients

    Strong brewed chai tea

    nut milk (use your favorite!)

    PlusCBD Oil unflavored oil

    sweetener of your choice (sugar, honey, whichever kind you prefer)

    cinnamon

    nutmeg

    ice cubes

    Method

    1. In whatever cup you plan on drinking out of, pour in the milk and chai tea you want (I prefer about half of each in the glass). It’s also easier to measure these liquids in the glass so I don’t over-pour for myself.

    2. Add CBD oil. There is no right or wrong amount of oil but make sure you use only the dosage you normally take. If you haven’t used CBD before, start with a couple of drops and you can always add more as you go. Mix.

    3. Add your sweetener. There’s no right or wrong amount of sweetener either, as long as you’re using what you like you’re good to go! 🙂

    4. Next, add a dash of cinnamon and a small sprinkle of nutmeg. Mix.

    5. Add ice cubes, mix once more, and enjoy!


    Triple C Milkshake

    Ingredients

    4 large scoops (about 1 1/2 cups) cookies & cream ice cream

    1/4 cup milk

    PlusCBD Oil unflavored oil

    Method

    1. In a blender, blend together ice cream, milk, and CBD oil.

    2. Pour into a glass, top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!


    But First, Coffee!

    Ingredients

    8oz freshly brewed coffee

    creamer (use your favorite!)

    PlusCBD Oil unflavored oil

    ice cubes

    collagen peptides (optional; use your favorite!)

    cinnamon (optional)

    Method

    1. Brew coffee and place in refrigerator.

    2. Once cooled, combine coffee, creamer, CBD Oil, collagen, and ice in a glass.

    3. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy!


    Stock up on all PlusCBD Oil products by the end of June to take advantage of their 25% OFF discount!

    BOGO DEAL! With the purchase of any PlusCBD Oil product, you’ll receive a FREE 10ct 5mg gummy pack!**

    *PLEASE NOTE: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

    **While supplies last. Available in all stores.

    References:

    https://pluscbdoil.com/faqs/

    https://pluscbdoil.com/blog/

    https://pluscbdoil.com/what-is-cbd/

    https://www.pluscbdoil.com/learn.html#benefits

  • Tips for Staying Healthy This Flu Season

    Tips for Staying Healthy This Flu Season

    UPDATE 5/5/2020: Here is the latest important information:

    • Due to supply issues, we are limiting certain items as follows (we are unavailable to special order these items as well):
      • LIMIT 2 PER CUSTOMER:
        • Yeast
      • LIMIT 4 PER CUSTOMER:
        • Eggs

    UPDATE 4/30/2020: Here is the latest important information:

    • Due to high demand with curbside orders, our phone extensions have changed! Please listen to our NEW phone menu as they have changed for ALL stores.

    UPDATE 4/17/2020: Here is the latest important information:

    • Due to supply issues, we are limiting certain items as follows (we are also unavailable to special order these items as well):
      • LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER:
        • Hand sanitizers and related products (glycerine, tea tree oil, etc.)
        • All immune-related and anti-viral supplements
        • Whole chickens
      • LIMIT 2 PER CUSTOMER:
        • All household cleaning products, toilet paper, etc.
        • Protein staples, and beef products
        • Chicken, eggs, milk
        • Yeast
      • LIMIT 4 PER CUSTOMER:
        • Cascade toilet paper

    UPDATE 4/15/2020: Here is the latest important information:

    • In order to shop inside all of our stores, state mandated masks must be worn inside.
    • The coffee/tea stations and nut butter machines are no longer self-service. To use these areas, please ask an associate for help.
    • Want to change up your routine at home, check out our blog, social media accounts and our Pinterest page for fun ideas! There is something new everyday! Make sure you check out Women’s Voice magazine & the Non-GMO Project’s streaming of the award-winning documentary film Modified, available for FREE until April 22nd! For more information, check out our social media pages (Facebook and Instagram).

    UPDATE 4/11/2020: Here is the latest important information:

    • Please wear a mask if you leave your house. All of our team members are wearing masks and we are encouraging all customers to wear masks when they shop inside with us.
    • All stores will be closed tomorrow for Easter and we will reopen on Monday.
    • Our Curbside Pick-Up program will be unavailable from 6pm tonight until Monday morning. If you have a Curbside order in process or ready for pick-up, you must come get it before 8pm on Saturday as we will be CLOSED on Sunday for Easter and you will have to wait to pick-up on Monday. However, all stores will remain open until 8pm tonight if you need to grab a couple of last minute groceries for tomorrow!
    • Regarding our Curbside Pick-Up program, orders may take more than 24 hours to fulfill. Please check your email for receipt of order and kindly DO NOT place a repeat order to insure we got your first one- it confuses the system too much. Thanks for your patience.

    UPDATE 4/9/2020: Here is the latest important information:

    • Please be patient with us! In order to practice proper social distancing, we are limiting the number of customers in the store at a given time.
    • Curbside orders may take extra time to be fulfilled – we thank you for your patience and cooperation. Our stores are still open for walk-in business but please practice proper social distancing.

    UPDATE 4/7/2020: Here is the latest important information:

    • Effective today, 4/7/2020, our cafe hours have changed! Cafes will be open from 9am-4pm everyday. If you would like to place an order, you can place the order inside, call or order online through www.shopbasil.com.
    • Please be aware of certain policies for our Curbside Pick-Up program:
      • We will process orders as quickly as possible, but please understand that it might take us several hours (or longer) before your order is ready for pick up.
      • Depending on volume, some orders may not be available for collection until the following day.
      • Orders placed after 6pm will ONLY be available for collection the following day.
      • Orders are available for pickup from 9am-7pm daily.
      • All orders are final. We currently do not have the ability to revise the order after it is submitted.

    UPDATE 3/31/2020: Here is the latest important information:

    • We’re online! You can now place your orders for our Curbside Pick-Up program online through our website by clicking here or visiting www.basilbandwagon.com/curbside-pick-up/.
    • Need a quick and easy dinner for two? We now offer F2M Dinner for 2 for only $19.99! To see what’s on the menu, please call the stores directly:
      • Flemington: 908-788-5737
      • Clinton: 908-735-3822
      • Lambertville: 609-460-4500

    UPDATE 3/23/2020: Here is the latest important information:

    • Regarding our Curbside Pick-Up program, your tips are applied to our round-up program as generous gift to our local organizations. Each of our stores are “rounding-up” at the registers for different local groups (as follows):
      • Flemington = The Flemington Food Pantry
      • Clinton = The Open Cupboard Food Pantry
      • Lambertville = Fisherman’s Mark
    • Our cafés are still open! To order from the café, you can come in, call ahead, or order online by visiting www.shopbasil.com!
    • We are asking all customers to follow these guidelines in order to help our staff and community stay as healthy as possible:
      1. Practice social distancing (6 feet) at all times (and when possible)
      2. Shop quickly
      3. Please limit shopping to one family member when possible
    • Due to supply issues, we are limiting certain items as follows (we are also unavailable to special order these items as well):
      • LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER:
        • Hand sanitizers and related products (glycerine, tea tree oil, etc.)
        • All immune-related and anti-viral supplements
        • Whole chickens
      • LIMIT 2 PER CUSTOMER:
        • All household cleaning products, toilet paper, etc.
        • Protein staples, and beef products
        • Chicken, eggs, milk
      • LIMIT 4 PER CUSTOMER:
        • Cascade toilet paper
    • We’re working on our checkout terminals so that physical touching of pinpads are limited. What do we mean by this? When paying with a card (debit or credit), all cards are to run as credit. This means that for debit transactions, customers must press ENTER when prompted for a pin (but DO NOT enter your pin).
    • Until further notice, CASH BACK IS SUSPENDED.

    UPDATE 3/20/2020: Here is the latest important information:

    • Starting Saturday 3/21/2020, the first hour (8am-9am) of all stores will be open solely to seniors (62+), pregnant mothers and immunocompromised individuals. If you do not fit under any of these, please wait to shop until after 9am!
    • In an effort to protect our most vulnerable Community Members, we are now offering curbside pick-up. Please call us directly at the following numbers to place a phone order:
      • Flemington: 908-788-5737
      • Clinton: 908-735-3822
      • Lambertville: 609-460-4500
    • Unfortunately, we do not have our catalogue online currently available. However, you can place a cafe order for pick-up at shopbasil.com. We are working on getting the rest of our catalogue online.
    • Our curbside pick-up is a work in progress and we greatly appreciate your support and patience with us as we work through the “kinks” of this program! We are trying to process orders within a timely manner.
    • We are not selling self-serve kombucha until further notice.
    • We are also “rounding up” at the registers for local food pantries in the area. The following stores that we are “rounding up” are for the following food pantries:
      • Flemington = Flemington Food Pantry
      • Clinton = Open Cupboard Food Pantry
      • Lambertville = Fisherman’s Mark

    UPDATE 3/19/2020: In support of a healthy community, we are updating some store policies:

    • Please be expedient with your purchases and exit the building. While you are shopping in the building, we appreciate the practice of social distancing (maintaining a distance of about 6 feet from others) when possible.
      • To limit the time it takes to wait for your cafe orders, you can place your order, pay for it, and select a pick-up time online! To do so, please visit www.shopbasil.com. Please make sure that you select the correct store before ordering!
    • If you’re feeling “under the weather,” please be mindful of others and stay home.
    • We have temporarily suspended our refund and return policies. To ensure the health and safety of our employees and customers, ALL sales are final.
    • In order to reduce the spread of germs, we are asking that all customers and staff to not bring in any reusable containers, drinkware, or bags. However, if you are using a reusable bag, we would like to ask you to bag your own items.
    • Due to supply issues, we are limiting certain items as follows (we are also limiting special orders of these items as well):
      • LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER:
        • Hand sanitizers and related products (glycerine, tea tree oil, etc.)
        • All immune-related and anti-viral supplements
      • LIMIT 2 PER CUSTOMER:
        • All household cleaning products, toilet paper, etc.
        • Whole chickens, protein staples, and beef products
        • Chicken, eggs, milk

    If you’re staying home and would like to invest in a future purchase with us (once we all nip this thing in the behind), please consider ordering a gift card! You can purchase a gift card at shopbasil.com!

    We appreciate your cooperations and your local support!


    UPDATE 3/17/2020: This is an evolving situation that we will continue to closely monitor on a daily basis. When updates arise, we will notify our staff and customers as soon as possible. We want to thank our staff and customers for the endless love and support that we have received over the past couple of days. We appreciate your understanding of our various supply issues and our constant updates. Here are the updates as of today:

    • We have sent out a company wide update informing all team members of CDC recommendations for preventing the spread of germs. In that same communication we are putting a strong emphasis on team members adhering to the Basil Bandwagon Handbook sick policy, which reiterates many of the CDC’s recommendations.
    • As always, our team members will continue to frequently wash their hands and will be wearing gloves at checkout lanes. Cashiers will also have cleaning supplies at the registers to frequently wipe down checkout lanes, pin pads and other frequently touched surfaces.  Our teams will also be wiping down frequently touched surfaces throughout the store, including doorknobs and handles.
    • All seating areas have been removed.
    • All cafés will continue to have take-away service.
    • We will not be offering any food samples and all vendor demos have been cancelled in an effort to reduce the spread of germs and reduce person-to-person contact. We have also removed all testers (grocery, wellness, and beauty areas) from the shelves and will replace with new ones in the future.
    • All kombucha stations are no longer self-serve. We ask that all customers do not refill your personal growlers at this time. Please ask an associate to fill a growler or cup. We will be providing free growlers soon- until then, please use to-go cups only.
    • Our staff is working hard to keep the store fully stocked as possible. We are working with our distributors to maintain inventory, although we may experience temporary out of stock issues with some essentials. This is an unprecedented event and volume of sales.
    • Due to supply issues, we are limiting certain items as follows (we are also limiting special orders of these items as well):
      • LIMIT 2 PER CUSTOMER:
        • Hand sanitizers and related products (glycerine, tea tree oil, etc.)
        • All immune-related and anti-viral supplements
      • LIMIT 3 PER CUSTOMER:
        • All household cleaning products, toilet paper, etc.
      • LIMIT 4 PER CUSTOMER:
        • All meat and protein staples, eggs, milk

    UPDATE 3/7/2020: Hey there Basil Bandwagon shoppers! We know coronavirus is the talk of the town lately and while we don’t want to make light of it, we want to remind everyone that there’s no reason to panic! Even in China where most cases have occurred, there is only 1 case for every 85,000 residents that live there. And the other good news is that in 80% or more of those cases, symptoms are like a bad cold.

    How is Basil Bandwagon Natural Market Doing Their Part to Limit the Spread of Germs?

    Cashiers have wipes at the registers to frequently wipe anything that may be touched by our shoppers (keypad, register belts, etc.). As always, our employees will continue to frequently wash their hands with hot water and soap, and we will continue to make sure that café tables and other frequently touched areas of the store will be washed and disinfected to help avoid the spread of germs.    

    Tips for Staying Healthy in General:

    • Wash Your Hands – Frequent hand washing with just soap and warm water is important for protecting against all infectious diseases and use hand sanitizers and disinfectants when soap and water are not available. Hand sanitizer is becoming harder to find as distributors cannot keep up with such high demands. Click here for some DIY recipes you can make at home!
    • Disinfect Surfaces – Coronaviruses can persist on surfaces for up to 9 days! Make sure you disinfect surfaces in your home, especially if you think someone might be infected.
    • Strengthen Immunity – Unfortunately those folks who are older and/or are immune compromised have a much higher rate of death from all viruses, and so doing what you can to strengthen your immune system is vital.

    Strategies to Boost your Immune System

    Exercise, stress relief, a balanced diet and certain supplements are all effective ways to boost your immune system:

    • Exercise – Regular exercise mobilizes T cells, a type of white blood cells which guard the body against infection. However, continuous rigorous workouts can actually weaken the immune system, so moderation is a key.  
    • Sleep – A solid 7-8 hours is needed to avoid reducing the activities of T cells in your body.
    • Less Stress – Stress can release the hormone cortisol, which negatively affects T cell reproduction. Try yoga, meditation or deep breathing each day to reduce your stress levels. If you would like some recommendations, ask some of our staff members – there are lots of local businesses who would love to work with you!
    • Moderate Alcohol Intake – while moderate consumption of alcohol can positively affect overall health, excess intake (more than 2 drinks/day) can negatively affect the immune system.
    • Stop Smoking – Smoking impairs the immune system, and you have a significantly higher chance of being seriously affected by virus infections.
    • Healthier Diet – Vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts are loaded with nutrients essential to immune health. A diet rich in colorful food typically will be higher in valuable vitamins. These foods all can help you strengthen your immune system: citrus, red bell peppers, broccoli, garlic, ginger, spinach, yogurt, almonds, turmeric, green tea, kiwi, poultry, and sunflower seeds to name a few!
    • Herbs, Vitamins and Supplements – While the hope is you can get many needed nutrients from your diet, supplementing can help improve your immune system.  Here are just a few things you may want to include in your daily regime:
      • Echinacea, Elderberry, Andrographis, Colloidal Silver, Monolaurin & Zinc
      • Vitamins A, B6, C, D & E all help strengthen your immune system, and especially Vitamin C, which you can get from citrus fruits, spinach and strawberries. And although it’s cold here now, consider getting outside during sunny days to help your body produce more Vitamin D. Even just 15 minutes in the sunlight will help!
      • Mushrooms and mushroom supplements – rich in essential nutrients and very good for your immune system.

    We all hope that the spread of Covid-19 is curtailed as soon as possible and if so, great, but if not, we look forward to helping you as you reduce stress, improve your diet and strengthen the ever important immunity system.  All of which is good regardless of what season we are in!    

    For more information:

    https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

    https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.html

    https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/Guide_to_Local_Production.pdf

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

    https://www.lifeextension.com/protocols/infections/2019-novel-coronavirus-sars-cov2-covid-19

    https://www.npr.org/2020/02/27/810016611/coronavirus-101-what-you-need-to-know-to-prepare-and-prevent

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/02/26/how-to-prepare-for-coronavirus/?arc404=true

    https://healthcareinamerica.us/for-a-stronger-immunity-natural-ways-to-boost-the-immune-system-d7aba9ae599b

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html?utm_source=Good+Harvest+Contact+List&utm_campaign=407de02845-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_06_05_08_19_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ae16396593-407de02845-109654375

  • Celebrate National Kombucha Day with Health-Ade Kombucha Recipes!

    Celebrate National Kombucha Day with Health-Ade Kombucha Recipes!

    ALL Health-Ade Kombucha on sale this month (1/1/2020-1/31/2020) 2 for $6!

    Yields one small jar of dressing

    INGREDIENTS

    1/4 cup Health-Ade Blood Orange Carrot Ginger Kombucha

    3/4 cup olive oil

    1 teaspoon raw honey

    1/2 teaspoon sea salt

    1/4 teaspoon black pepper

    1 clove garlic, finely minced

    METHOD

    1. Combine all ingredients in a small jar and whisk vigorously to combine.

    2. Taste dressing and season with more salt and pepper, if desired.

    3. Dressing will keep in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to five days.


    Yields 4 servings

    INGREDIENTS

    1 bottle (1 pint) Health-Ade Cayenne Cleanse

    Juice from 4 blood oranges, plus 1 sliced blood orange for garnish

    1 cup carrots, peeled and chopped

    Juice from 1/2 lemon plus zest for garnish

    1 cup ice cubes

    Cayenne pepper, for sprinkling

    METHOD

    1. Combine Cayenne Cleanse, orange juice, carrots, lemon juice, and ice into a high-powered blender. Blend on low, slowly increasing to high speed. Blend on high for 1 minute or until smooth consistency is reached.

    2. Strain drink through a fine mesh sieve once or twice. Divide drink equally between 4 cocktail glasses. Pour over ice if desired.

    3. Use a vegetable peeler to peel 4 long ribbons of lemon zest. Place 1 ribbon into each glass.

    4. Slice remaining blood orange in wheels and place one face up in each glass.

    5. Sprinkle a pinch of cayenne pepper into each glass. Enjoy cold. Refrigerate up to 2 days.


    Yields 1 serving

    INGREDIENTS

    1/4 cup crystallized ginger, for rim

    2 teaspoons sea salt, for rim

    2 ounces grapefruit juice

    1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)

    4 ounces Health-Ade Ginger Lemon Kombucha

    2 ounces club soda (optional)

    Grapefruit wheel or wedge, for garnish

    METHOD

    1. Place candied ginger and sea salt in the bowl of a food processor. Give it a few good pulses, until ginger and salt are combined and powder-like.

    2. Run a lemon wedge around the rim of a chilled highball glass. Dip glass in ginger-salt mixture to coat. Fill glass with a handful of ice cubes.

    3. In a cocktail shaker, add grapefruit juice, lemon juice, Ginger Lemon Kombucha, and a handful of crushed ice. Very gently shake and strain into a prepared glass. Top with club soda if desired.

    4. Garnish with a grapefruit wheel or wedge and serve.


    Yields 2 servings

    INGREDIENTS

    1.5 cups diced mango (about 1 mango)

    1 cup dried pineapple

    1/2 cup cold water

    1 cup Health-Ade Ginger Lemon Kombucha

    2-3 ounces rum or vodka (optional)

    METHOD

    1. Add mango, pineapple, and water to a blender and blend until smooth.

    2. Strain mixture through a mesh strainer, scraping with the back of a spatula to get all of the juice.

    3. Mix fruit puree with kombucha and optional alcohol, and serve over ice.

    4. Garnish with sliced pineapple and basil.



    All recipes and information above are provided from INFRA and Health-Ade Kombucha.

    Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA) is a purchasing cooperative owned and governed by independent natural and organic food retailers of all sizes working together to leverage our voice in the industry. They unite their members for the purpose of providing operational support, leveraging purchasing power, and engaging in shared marketing activities.

    Working together is how we compete and differentiate ourselves in the marketplace, and gives us a higher chance of success. The level of integrity and commitment of the retailers who are INFRA members helps us shape a future together where we will be able to continue to bring high quality organic food to our individual communities, because we have a shared vision and commitment.

  • Have A Stress-Free Thanksgiving with PlusCBD Oil!

    Have A Stress-Free Thanksgiving with PlusCBD Oil!

    The holidays are known to be the most joyous time of the year- spending time with family, relaxing, and eating mounds of food. But they’re also known to be the most stressful time of the year too. This year, let PlusCBD Oil help you stay stress-free!

    What is CBD? CBD, or Cannabidiol, is a phytocannabinoid that is found in agricultural hemp. CBD is non-psychotoxic (i.e. it does not get you high) and has been recognized for its benefits on both human and animal health. Researchers have found that phytocannabinoids like CBD are plant derivatives that “communicate” to almost every major organ system in the body via the endocannabinoid system (ECS), to help restore normal balances and physiologic homeostasis.

    Some people have heard that CBD and Omega-3 is “better together,” but why? Great question! CBD and Omega-3 are both fats that interact with our ECS. Without enough Omega-3, our ECS cannot work well thus causing every system in our bodies to not “answer” communications well. CBD works by interacting with our ECS, so getting enough Omega-3 may enhance its effects and increase the CBD absorption!

    Want to make the perfect combination that is “better together?” Combine Nordic Naturals Omegas with PlusCBD Oil products! The omegas will help increase the absorbability of the CBD Oil while getting the added benefits from the omegas. Consider it your “winter wellness duo.”

    Stock up on their products by the end of November to take advantage of their 25% OFF discount!

    *PLEASE NOTE: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


    References:

    https://pluscbdoil.com/faqs/

    https://pluscbdoil.com/blog/

    https://pluscbdoil.com/what-is-cbd/

    University of Minnesota. “High fat foods can increase oral cannabidiol absorption into the body.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 August 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190813130426.htm

    Papanikolaou, Yanni et al. “U.S. adults are not meeting recommended levels for fish and omega-3 fatty acid intake: results of an analysis using observational data from NHANES 2003-2008.” Nutrition journal vol. 13 31. 2 Apr. 2014, doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-31

  • Stay Healthy This Winter with Nordic Naturals!

    Stay Healthy This Winter with Nordic Naturals!

    When it comes to the cold winter season, everyone thinks about elderberry, echinacea, oil of oregano, vitamin C, vitamin D, and more. But does anyone ever think about combining some of those with omegas?

    What are omegas? Good question. Omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 are fatty acids that are important dietary fats. Finding the perfect balance may be difficult to find for each individual because we are all different; our lifestyles, our diets, our health routine, etc. However, scientists have found that everyone suffers from an omega-3 deficiency- and most people don’t know that! Thankfully, our friends at Nordic Naturals are committed to delivering an increase in awareness of this issue and to produce high quality omega nutritional supplements.

    There are two main omega-3s- EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). There is scientific evidence that these omegas help with many things. For example, cardiovascular health; mental health and brain function; eye health; pain due to physical stress; hair, skin and nails; adolescent development; and immunity.

    While we’re stuck inside during the winter months watching copious amounts of tv, playing video games, reading novels, catching up on bills, working on school projects, etc., remember to take your omegas with vitamin D! And what better to take than Nordic Naturals Omega+Vitamin D products. Since some people have a harder time swallowing soft gels, they have created a liquid option too! The increase in EPA from the omegas help with our immunity and eye health with the additional increase in vitamin D for all of the added winter wellness benefits. If you’re already taking a vitamin D supplement, don’t stress! Just make sure you add an omega supplement to your routine. Don’t forget about the kids either- they have many options for them too!

    Omega Supplements for Adults
    Omega Supplements for Kids

    But why Nordic Naturals? Great question! Nordic Naturals has high standards for their products and are set to protect the consumers. Their products are tested for a wide variety of environmental toxins as well as exceptional freshness levels and are third-party purity tested. Not only are their products always fresh, but they taste great! Most consumers come back for their products as they don’t have that “fishy” taste, aftertaste or smell and their flavors don’t taste artificial (because they’re not- they add natural fruit essences into their soft gels and liquid oils)! Another benefit of their products is that they ensure optimal absorption with a true triglyceride form. Meaning that most concentrated fish oils on the market use an ethyl ester molecular form- which is a synthetic fat. Nordic Naturals has always been deeply committed to not just the health of humans but the health of our oceans and planet. They use sustainable sourcing and environmentally conscious corporate practices (i.e. eco-friendly packaging and using only wild-caught, sustainably-sourced fish).

    Want to make the perfect combination that is “better together?” Combine Nordic Naturals Omegas+Vitamin D with PlusCBD oil products! The omegas and vitamin D will help increase the absorbability of the added benefits of CBD oil. Consider it your “winter wellness duo.”

    Stock up on their products by the end of November to take advantage of their 25% OFF discount!

    *PLEASE NOTE: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


    References:

    https://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/professionals/why-omega-3s/536

    https://www.nordicnaturals.com/healthy-science/vitamin-d-cold-flu-season/

    https://www.nordicnaturals.com/healthy-science/an-introduction-to-vitamin-d/

    https://www.nordicnaturals.com/healthy-science/omega-3-dosage-how-much-epa-and-dha-should-i-take/

    https://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/professionals/why-nordic-naturals/580