No one wants to fall prey to a sore throat! Wouldn’t it be great if you could simply go to your fridge or pantry to find relief? Well, you can! Many natural sore throat remedies are staples you probably have on hand.
1. Saltwater gargle
Gargling with saltwater is a tried-and-true method to relieve sore throat pain. Gargle with this mixture every three hours to achieve the best results. As an added benefit, gargling with saltwater can help flush out the virus causing your sore throat.
2. Warm and cold fluids
Have something to drink. Cold drinks, ice cubes, and popsicles reduce pain by lowering the temperature of the throat’s nerve endings. When you consume a warm drink, on the other hand, salivation increases. This increases lubrication and makes your throat feel better.
3. Rest
Your body is using its energy to fight off an infection or irritation. If you have a sore throat and want to rest, do so in an elevated position. Try propping yourself up with pillows or using a reclining chair.
4. Honey
Honey has been valued for centuries for its antibacterial properties. Make a soothing drink by stirring 2 Tbsp (30 mL) honey into a cup of tea or warm water. Remember, though, that honey is not to be given to infants under one year of age.
5. Hot sauce
Capsaicin, which is found in peppers used to make hot sauce, can help reduce pain by fighting the inflammation of a sore throat. Get sore throat relief from hot sauce by mixing a few drops of it in warm water and gargling.
6. Lemon
Lemon has vitamin C, which is thought to be effective in fighting infections. Lemon water can help reduce inflammation, and it can help break up the mucus that might be irritating your throat.
7. Chicken soup
Like a warm drink, chicken soup can break up the mucus in your throat to help ease your discomfort. It will also help to keep you hydrated. Chicken soup can be a good source of nutrients too, which is helpful when you’re not feeling well.
8. Tea
Many herbal teas offer anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which help in soothing and healing a sore throat. There are a number that you can choose from to help reduce sore throat irritation, such as peppermint or chamomile.
9. Humidity and steam
Dry air can cause congestion, dry skin, a dry nose, itchy eyes, and throat irritation. One way to ease and help lubricate your sore throat is to have a warm shower. You can add moisture to the air in your home by using a vaporizer or humidifier.
10. Zinc
Studies show that zinc lozenges can help you kick a cold faster, including shortening the severity and duration of symptoms like sore throat. For best results, take zinc supplements within 24 hours of the onset of cold symptoms.
Help get your brain and body back in A+ shape for school this year! Have you thought adding mushrooms into your daily routine? With the goal of building a bridge between people and fungi, founder of Host Defense, Paul Stamets, knew exactly how to help! Keep scrolling to find out how their Lion’s Mane and MYCOMMUNITY® products might be exactly what you’re looking for. Let’s be #PoweredByMushroomMycelium!
Lion’s Mane
Available in capsules & extract
Find focus, mental clarity, and calm with help from our Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus) mycelium-based supplements. Known as “the Smart Mushroom”, Lion’s Mane is ideal for anyone seeking cognition, memory, and mood support. And as an added bonus, Lion’s Mane is also well-known for supporting the nervous system.*
MYCOMMUNITY®
Available in capsules & extract
Did you know mushrooms can be synergistic? They accomplish more together than they do alone. Different species offer a different range of system-specific support. When multiple mushroom species are combined, research suggests that there are greater immune benefits and a broader range of system-specific support compared to a single species.* What do you think a blend of 17 mushrooms can do for you?!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.
Traveling can be stressful – not just mentally but physically, too. Thankfully, Terry Naturally is here to the rescue! Check out these 5 must-have supplements to pack this travel season!
1. Ashwagandha: to reduce stress
2. Probiotics: to ease occasional digestive discomfort
3. Melatonin: for a good night’s sleep
4. Andrographis: to support immune health
5. CuraMed Acute Pain Relief: to relieve pain and reduce sore muscles
BONUS: AnxioCalm
Terry Naturally’s AnxioCalm is perfect for everyday use, or occasionally when you need the extra support. It provides relief when you need it, without drowsiness or mental fogginess.*
Looking for more travel essentials? Keep scrolling for two natural recipes that are perfect for on-the-go and for when you come home!
DIY Pain Relief Essential Oil Roller*†
Got Pain?*† Pair this DIY essential roller with with Curamin® Extra Strength for the ultimate pain relieving combination.*† It’s the safe, effective, and easy way to relieve pain today.*† Perfect to store in your carry-on bag and take with you on-the-go!
Ingredients
5 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
5 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil
1 Drop Clove Essential Oil
Coconut Oil or Carrier Oil of Your Choice
Method
Add essential oils.
Fill with coconut oil or carrier oil of your choice.
Roll where it hurts.
Enjoy!
Soothing Bathtub Soak*†
Do you have sore, achy muscles after a long day of travel? For optimal pain relief, take Curamin® Extra Strength, and then relax with this soothing bathtub soak recipe. You’ll feel the aches and pain melt away.*†
Ingredients
1 Cup Epsom Salts
1/2 Cup Baking Soda
4 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil
4 Drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
1 Drop of Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Method
Mix epsom salts and baking soda together in a bowl.
Add essential oils. Mix well and store in an airtight container.
Add 2-3 tablespoons to your next bath, and let your body relax.
Enjoy!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.
Iron is a mineral that is essential for growth and development.
Low Iron vs Iron Deficiency
There really isn’t a difference between low iron and an iron deficiency. Dr. Foster, a board certified family medicine D.O., says that “one is the more common phrase for the other.” Do you think you may have low iron? Well rest assured, you’re not the only one! Iron deficiencies are very common, especially among women and in people who have a diet that is low in iron. Such as women who menstruate, who are pregnant or breastfeeding mothers (or those who have recently given birth), people with gastrointestinal diseases, and more.
Iron Deficiency Symptoms
Although it may be temporary, the symptoms are important to pay attention to. Dr. Foster says that the top five symptoms of low iron includes “fatigue, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, hair and nail changes and pica — which is the medical term for chewing ice. A few more symptoms include cold hands and feet, chest pain and extreme pallor.”
However, if you have any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor to determine if you have an iron deficiency.
Energy For What You Love
MegaFood Blood Builder Iron Supplements
Are formulated to support healthy energy & be non-constipating
Made with real food & added nutrients
Gentle enough to take any time of the day, even on an empty stomach
Did you know that your gut is considered your “second brain”? The mind/gut connection is very real, with more evidence emerging all the time of just how much the microbiome (the environment inside your gut) impacts your overall health.
Want to learn more? Click here!
Before you go – take a look at a few of our favorite gut-healthy products from LifeSeasons. You might just get a “gut feeling” to add it to your daily routine!
IB Soothe-R
Helps to normalize intestinal function and ease intestinal discomfort*
Triphala – a blend of three fruits, rich in antioxidants, used in traditional practices to soothe the intestines*
Caraway – helps to calm intestinal spasms, indigestion and flatulence*
Slippery Elm – rich in mucilage to comfort irritated mucosal tissue*
Marshmallow – supports immunity and soothes the intestinal lining*
Bifidobacteria – gut-friendly bacteria that support immunity and help to regulate elimination*
Digestivi-T
Supports the digestive tract and promotes the absorption of nutrients*
SEB – Gluten Relief® – a powerful enzyme blend for digesting proteins in gluten (grain) and casein (milk)*
DigeSEB® Enzymes – promotes the digestion of carbohydrates and fiber*
Lactobacillus – probiotic bacteria to support healthy digestion, absorption and intestinal integrity*
Bifidobacterium – probiotic bacteria for intestinal tract health, especially benefiting the bowel; neutralizes free radicals*
Saccharomyces Boulardii – a beneficial yeast that supports healthy digestive function and immunity*
Keto Digestivi-T
Soothes bloating and digestive discomfort associated with high-fat or high-protein diets*
Lipase – a digestive enzyme that supports the breakdown of fat*
Ox Bile – provides supplemental bile to support fat digestion*
Protease Enzymes – enhance the body’s ability to digest protein*
Lactobacillus – probiotic bacteria to support healthy digestion, absorption and intestinal integrity*
Bifidobacterium – probiotic bacteria for intestinal tract health, especially benefiting the bowel; neutralizes free radicals*
Puri-T
Supports healthy liver function and detoxification*
Milk Thistle – contains antioxidants that protect the liver from toxins and support cellular repair*
Artichoke – supports the body’s ability to increase natural bile flow*
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) – an amino acid the body uses to create antioxidants that neutralize free radicals*
Turmeric – rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants to support normal inflammation response*
Resveratrol – an antioxidant that promotes cellular repair, combats DNA damage, and supports the body’s ability to decrease liver fat*
Regulari-T
Helps reduce gas and discomfort, and promotes healthy elimination*
Turkey Rhubarb – supports healthy elimination without creating dependence*
Butternut – supports the body’s elimination process*
Aloe Vera – assists the body’s ability to speed up intestinal passage*
Psyllium – a good source of fiber to promote intestinal health*
Horseradish – helpful for digestion and for improving bowel transit time*
Stock up on ALL LifeSeasons products before their 25% OFF SALE ends March 31st, 2022!
*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.
‘Tis the season to keep your medicine cabinet stocked with products that help you and your family feel well and stay healthy. Thankfully, Boiron’s homeopathic medicines do just the trick! Made with natural, non-drowsy ingredients, you will feel the relief day and night with multi-symptom and targeted solutions for the whole family. Want to know more information about some of their cold and flu relief products? Keep reading – and who knows, you might just find additional tips from Boiron themself!
Wherever You Go, Take Oscillo!
Oscillococcinum® (also known as Oscillo) works best when taken at the first sign of flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, headache, body aches, chills and fever.
For everyone ages 2 & up, non-drowsy Oscillococcinum® has been shown in clinical studies to help reduce both the duration and the severity of flu-like symptoms.
They Have Kid-Friendly Options Too!
Multi-symptom formulas help target more than just your runny nose or cough! Their Chestal® line is available in easy on-the-go meltaway pellets and sweet-tasting syrups.
Medicine Cabinet Must Haves
Their ThroatCalm®, ColdCalm® and SinusCalm® products are specifically designed to help relieve specific symptoms at the onset, established and resolution stages of the common cold.
BOO!
Don’t be scared, you found Boiron’s additional tips to help keep you healthy this cold & flu season.
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/ .
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.
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.
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:
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:
Practice social distancing (6 feet) at all times (and when possible)
Shop quickly
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
UPDATE3/19/2020: 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 atshopbasil.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:
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.
Herbs, Vitamins, & Supplements
Household Cleaners
Healthier Diet
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!
