Archive | October 2014

Norm’s Farms Elderberry Products Review

Oct31

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Norm’s Farms

Overall Rating: 

About Norm’s Farm:

“Norman Lenhardt

Our story begins with Norman Lenhardt, who had a vision for the world. He wanted to protect and preserve America’s farm lands while also ensuring that we would have enough food to feed the world. When Norm was not advocating for farm preservation, city planning, or wildlife protection, he spent his time on his 170-acre farm. Located in the Missouri river bottom of Hartsburg, MO, Norm’s Farm boasts some of the richest soil in the world. Today the farm is managed by Norm’s son, Rodger Lenhardt.  In honor of Norm’s dream for land preservation, the farm has been put in a trust.

Why Elderberry?

Norm’s Farms is at the forefront of one of the most sustainable and exciting new crops: Elderberry. This emerging superfruit is packed with Vitamins A, B and C , iron, potassium, and the powerful antioxidants known as anthocyanins. The plants are a hardy perennial, and are naturally disease resistant. Surprisingly, only 10% of the elderberries consumed in the US are actually grown here; the other 90% are grown in Europe. We’re working to change that by selling plants and making value-added elderberry products.

Norm’s Farms

Norm’s Farms, founded by Ann, Rodger, and Erin Lenhardt in Pittsboro, NC, is a way of carrying on Norm’s work and vision. The Norm’s Farms family believes in the sustainable production of healing foods made with natural, simple ingredients–just like the elderberries Norm’s Farms grows. Because the Norm’s Farms family recognizes that their small Missouri farm cannot keep up with the company’s demand, they have begun working with small family farmers in North Carolina to help establish elderberry orchards. Norm’s Farms will have a local source of elderberries for their products in addition to those grown in Missouri.”

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Elderberry Extract

About:

“Norm’s Farms Elderberry Extract is made from farm-fresh North American native elderberries (not from European concentrate). Our Extract formula is very simple…we use a gentle water process to extract the elderberry and remove the seeds before we bottle it.

Our Elderberry Extract tastes great, like a dry red wine: it’s not sweet, and it’s not bitter. You won’t find any added alcohol, sugars, artificial sweeteners or ingredients in our products. Elderberry contains higher levels of antioxidants than blueberry, sweet cherry, tart cherry, acai, noni, goji, pomegranate and cranberry juices.

Ingredients: Elderberry, water,* malic acid** (less than .03% by volume).”

Elderberry Wellness Syrup

About:

“Norm’s Farms Elderberry Extract is made from farm-fresh North American native elderberries (not from European concentrate). Our Extract formula is very simple…we use a gentle water process to extract the elderberry and remove the seeds before we bottle it.

Our Elderberry Extract tastes great, like a dry red wine: it’s not sweet, and it’s not bitter. You won’t find any added alcohol, sugars, artificial sweeteners or ingredients in our products. Elderberry contains higher levels of antioxidants than blueberry, sweet cherry, tart cherry, acai, noni, goji, pomegranate and cranberry juices.

Ingredients: Elderberry, water,* malic acid** (less than .03% by volume).”

Elderberry Ginger Pecan Jam

About:

“Our Elderberry Ginger Pecan Jam is loaded with chunks of pecans and candied ginger. Delicious with soft cheeses and crusty bread, this tasty and unique jam is a wonderful way to get your daily serving of elderberry.

Ingredients: Sugar, elderberries, pecans, candied ginger (sugar, ginger), water, GMO-free pectin mix (sucrose, pectin, citric acid), lemon juice concentrate.”

Elderberry Jam

About:

“Our Elderberry Jam is made with the whole fruit and no seeds. It is then lightly sweetened with pure cane sugar and a touch of lemon juice.   Dr. Oz names Elderberry Jam as one of his top five foods for brain health, and you won’t find a better tasting Elderberry Jam anywhere.  Excellent stirred into plain yogurt or used to sweeten oatmeal.  It is also great on fresh home made biscuits.”

Elderberry Jelly

About:

“Our all natural Elderberry Jelly is made with pure elderberry juice, lightly sweetened with pure cane sugar, and then finished with a touch of lemon juice. This is a brighter, lighter version of our best-selling Elderberry Jam.

Ingredients: Sugar, elderberry juice, water, fruit pectin mix, lemon juice.”

Blueberry Elderberry Preserves

About:

“Norm’s Farms found the tastiest North Carolina grown blueberries to feature in our new line of Preserves.  Loaded with lots of whole blueberries and oh-so-good-for-you elderberries, these preserves are the perfect treat.  And at only 8 grams of sugar per serving (the same as most fruit spreads), this is a treat you can afford!

Ingredients: Sugar, blueberries, elderberries, lemon juice concentrate, water, GMO-free pectin mix (sucrose, pectin, citric Acid).”

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My Thoughts:

In the past few years of making healthy swaps in the kitchen, one of the lowest on my priority list is jam/jelly (because I eat it so infrequently). Our daughter eats peanut butter and honey sandwiches often, with the occasional jelly swap. Our local store carries a few brands of organic jelly, making it easy for us to put good things into her sandwich. She tried the jam, jelly and preserves and enjoyed the flavor of them all. She was down with trying it in that it’s a berry-and strawberries are her favorite. The fact that it’s a hit with our kiddo is a good thing.

In scouring the ingredient lists, it’s easy to see that they are simple, with few ingredients, but non of them appear to be organic, and the only non-gmo ingredient is the pectin mix. It’s hard for me to see what sets these products aside from the rest of the non-organic jellies, jams and preserves on market shelves. I appreciate all of the labor it must require to grow, harvest and jar these elderberry products, but I always strive for organic for items that I buy continuously.

I’m not a big fan of the caliber of the ingredient lists, but I am a fan of flavor. These products (all of them) are delicious. The elderberry flavor tastes like a blueberry/blackberry combination to me. Rich, sweet and delicious. It’s great on toast (I buy Rudi’s Organic gluten free spelt bread) or in a sandwich with a spread like peanut or almond butter.

The wellness syrup and extract are both tasty (the syrup being sweeter; the extract being more water-like and tart). They are both handy to have around for days when I’m feeling less than 100%. We even gave some to our 6 year old when she was struggling with a cough. It coats your throat, tastes good and isn’t packed full of junky ingredients like products that you’ll find in the pharmacy. It’s a better alternative to pharmaceutical solutions for sore throats.

I’d love to rave about a local company (they grow in Missouri & I’m in Kansas), but I just can’t get past the lack of organic ingredients. Jellies, jams and preserves are already a treat for me (merely pure sugar). Thus, I want it to be an organic treat if I eat it often.

Marvellous Organics Superfood Review

Oct28

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Marvellous Superfoods

Overall Rating: 

About Marvellous:

“Marvellous Superfood was started by Dixey as a response to her own health challenges in 2008. She found the majority of superfood blends expensive, and often made out of up to 40 different ingredients, so decided to blend her own mixture that would be both nourishing and detoxing. She chose the seven most nutrient-rich, easily absorbed ingredients she could find, blending them together in equal proportions.

She started sharing the blend with family and friends and found that everyone enjoyed its benefits. The hugely positive response led to Dixey getting the blend certified Organic by the Welsh Organic Scheme in February 2012, and so Marvellous Superfood was born.

Dixey dedicates her spare time to her life long love: painting. You can see some of her work on her website and her facebook page. 

She also teaches and performs flamenco dance, is passionate about preparing delicious, vibrant food and practising meditation.

Company Ethics

Since 2012 we have gone from having one product, one retailer and a small Internet presence, to supplying an ever-expanding range of products to multiple health-food shops in South Wales, numerous prestigious shops in London and the South East and a number of international stockists.

Despite the company’s success our feet remain firmly on the ground and our ethics burn strong. We do and will always run a family business, focused on offering the highest quality products at the most feasibly affordable prices. We believe in the importance of organic products and do all we can run the company as ethically and environmentally friendly as we possible can.

Marvellous Superfood grew from a need for a high quality superfood blend that was affordable and accessible to all, and this continues to be our priority. We are pleased to offer a discount to those dealing with serious health challenges. Our wish is to share the many benefits we have experienced with as many people as possible. Including increased vitality, fewer colds and flues, speedy recovery, healthy digestive systems, clearer skin and less cravings for unhealthy foods, to name but a few. After all Health is Wealth as the old saying goes!”

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Super Protein

About:

“Packed full of protein rich superfood powders this unique blend is gluten, dairy, and yeast free as well as being 100% organic. It contains no artificial or processed sugars or sweeteners and is suitable for coeliacs and diabetics.

Made with a base of Hemp Protein 33% and Pea Protein 33%, we’ve added Goji 6.6%, Lacuma 6.6%, Red Maca 6.6%, Yellow Maca 6.6% and Beetroot 6.6% to create a delicious, protein rich, absorbable superfood powder to feed your muscles and improve strength and stamina.”

Red Maca

About:

“Red Maca powder is the ground root of the red maca plant. It is thought to have a beneficial affect on energy levels and vitality as well as a balancing effect on the hormonal system.”

Wellbeing Blend

About:

“Wellbeing blend is our highly nutritious blend of 7 Organic, Raw, Superfood’s: Chlorella, Spirulina, Barley-Grass, Wheat-Grass, Kelp, Hemp Protein and Beetroot. All in equal parts and nothing else!”

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My Thoughts:

There are few things that I get more excited about than organic superfoods. There’s something about products like this that are incredibly exciting to me. They are so rich with goodness, so good for the body and so convenient to incorporate into your diet. I’m someone who would much rather spend extra money on good food & supplements than cars, clothing, etc. (Any day). Good food truly excites me!

Marvellous Superfoods are produced across the Atlantic Ocean from where I am-and I sure do appreciate the product line that they’ve created from afar. I truly couldn’t wait to try these goodies.

Basically, all three of these (Protein, Wellbeing Blend & Red Maca) are all in powder form. They’re perfect to add to a smoothie or a really basic drink (powder + water in a blender bottle). Every morning, I concoct at least 2 different drinks. One of them is a protein smoothie and one of them is a superfood drink. In my protein smoothie, I use a heaping tablespoon of the Super Protein + chia seeds + coconut milk. In my superfood drink, I use about 1/2 a tablespoon of the Wellbeing Blend and about 1/4 tablespoon of Red Maca. I love this morning routine! Nothing makes me feel like I can take on the day more than when I eat (or drink) a nutritionally awesome meal in the morning (along with a  kiss from my husband)🙂

If your taste buds are not adapted to the earthy, rich flavor of these raw superfoods, don’t worry! They are easily masked if you mix them into a smoothie with some almond or coconut milk & fruit.

The quality of these blends is top notch. All of the ingredients are raw & organic-so there’s no need to scratch your head over hard-to-pronounce ingredients. Its simple: Marvellous Superfoods creates fantastically hearty and healthy superfood blends that I would recommend to anyone! They will take your health and vitality to the next level.

Raw Generation Juice Cleanse Review

Oct28

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Raw Generation

Overall Rating: 

About Raw Generation:

“Never Heated, Pasteurized, or Pressurized (HPP)

Raw Generation Juices NEVER  heated, Pasteurized, or Pressurized (HPP). Our juices are NEVER exposed to heat of any kind…they are truly 100% raw. Flash freezing is the best way to preserve vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and micro flora without effecting taste or nutritional value.

Any form of Pasteurization, including High Pressure Pascallization (HPP), lowers the nutritional value of foods by raising temperature. Don’t be fooled by claims of “Gentle Pasteurization” either… that’s marketing hype to disguise the fact that the product has been heated.

Never Diluted

Our juices are made with 100% fruit and vegetable juices. We never add water so you can be assured you are getting the maximum amount of nutrition in each bottle.

No Harsh Chemicals Used

We use a safe and natural cleaning solution of water and vinegar to wash our fruits and vegetables. No harsh chemicals are used. What would be the point of drinking our juice if it were filled with a chemical residue?

No Preservatives or Additives

That means absolutely no chemicals, additives, preservatives, dyes, flavors, etc, etc. Nothing is added to our juices. Our ingredients are picked out of the ground or off a tree- fruits and vegetables ONLY!

Separation is Natural

Since our juice is freshly made with no fillers, binders, or chemicals it will naturally separate. Just give it a good shake before you are ready to drink it and it’s ready to go. This juice settles. You shouldn’t.

Opaque Bottles

We purposely stopped using clear bottles. Why you ask? Because clear bottles let in sunlight that destroys the nutrients faster than in opaque bottles. The choice was simple! We’re using opaque bottles so our juices stay as fresh as possible so you can get what you are after… high quality nutrition to help you lose weight and feel great!

BPA-Free Plastic Bottles

We use BPA free plastic bottles. You are drinking our juice because you want the health benefits right? So why would we sell it in a plastic leaching bottle? Plus, you can take these bottles anywhere! Rest assured that you are drinking nothing but juice from fruits and vegetables.”

In regards to the quality of the ingredients, I learned this about Raw Generation’s fruits and veggies:

“We purchase all our fruits and vegetables from a local wholesaler. Are products come from all over some local some not so local. We triple wash everything we produce to insure we remove any residue.”

To get started with Raw Generation, use the code “RUNONORGANIC” for 40% off!

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“Jessica”

About:

“Packed with the cleansing nutritional power of leafy spinach, kale, and collard greens, this specially formulated juice also includes bright notes of lemon and apple for a clean, sweet taste.

Each leafy green vegetable is bursting with a wide array of minerals (lacking in most peoples’ diets) and provides all essential amino acids, which means you get a nice dose of complete proteins! This is the best juice to incorporate into your daily diet and will give you noticeable results in a matter of a few days.

INGREDIENTS: [50% leafy greens: kale, spinach, collards], apple, carrot & lemon juices.”

“Elizabeth”

About:

“Our Elizabeth blend brings you a daily dose of our soothing and stimulating green juice blend. The result helps rid your body of harmful toxins while promoting optimal health you can feel from the inside and see on the outside.

Hydrating cucumber and aloe invigorate and refresh your vital organs and tissues, while the enzymes in sweet, ripe pineapple support optimal health and digestion.

INGREDIENTS: cucumber juice, pineapple juice, aloe vera juice.”

“Carolyn”

About:

“Replenish important vitamins & minerals with the delicious and filling juice. This nutrient-rich juice blends fruits and vegetables has absolutely no preservatives or added sugar.

The Carolyn contains apples, high in beta-carotene, malic acid, and vitamin C. The beets within the beverage boost fiber, folic acid, iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, B, and C. Carrots are high in B vitamins and Folate.

INGREDIENTS: carrot juice, apple juice, & beet juice.”

“Cecelia”

About:

“This juice quenches thirst and packs a powerful punch of antioxidants with a blend of carrot, ginger, and fresh squeezed orange juices. Not only does the juice help rid your body of toxins found in many of the foods you eat, it also provides your cells with components that help them heal and rebuild.

Ginger, a root rich in anti-inflammatory properties, gives the juice a little kick. The carrots are high in B vitamins, beta-carotene, and vitamin A (great for a healthy liver) and vitamin C. Oranges have a long list of nutritional benefits, such as being high in C & B vitamins, phytochemicals (powerful antioxidants).

INGREDIENTS: orange juice, carrot juice, & ginger juice.”

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My Thoughts:

I was really looking forward to trying Raw Generation juices after reading the story of how it all started. Moreover, I thought it was neat that they have a juice called “Jessica”-even though it has one too many “s”😉

I really enjoyed the juices in regards to their flavor profiles and combinations. I like that “Elizabeth” contains aloe vera juice, “Cecelia” is a bright, orange smack-in-the-face, “Carolyn” gives you the hearty, robust goodness of beet juice, & “Jessica” loads you up with a bunch of leafy greens.

The creativity with the bottling (and using BPA-free bottles) along with the use of ultra-healthy ingredients like kale, ginger and aloe vera make me a fan of these juices. However, it’s hard for me to REALLY get on board with a brand that does not strive to always use organic ingredients.

I understand it is a much more costly route to creating juice. But, I always believe that proper and adequate nutrition is worth every dollar. Thus, I’d really be happy to continually support Raw Generation if they started using all organic ingredients. For that matter, indicating that the juices contain non-gmo ingredients would be a good first step in the right direction. For me, it’s hard to justify buying these cleanses when there are several other brands who make organic juice cleanses for about the same price.

I also get that it may be shocking to see such an unfavorable review for juice that is entirely made of fruits and vegetables. What can I say, my standards are very high. I aim for organic juice whenever possible (it’s always possible)🙂

Malie Organic Hawaiian Body Products Review

Oct27

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Malie Organic

Overall Rating: images

About Malie:

“Malie Organics is dedicated to using certified organic ingredients or organically grown ingredients whenever possible. Our organic ingredients and products are not only safer for your skin and the air you breathe, they also work in harmony with the body for more deeply therapeutic results. Malie Organics’ emphasis on natural, organic and wild-crafted tropical ingredients allows us to create exquisite products that offer the most transformative aromatherapy spa experiences available in the world.

We translate the purity of the most fragrant flowers and fruits in the world through our advanced hydrosol distillation process, so that you can enjoy the aromatherapeutic benefits of each botanical in every product. Click here to learn more about our Hawaiian Hydrosols.

At Malie Organics, we’ve created a sustainable approach to providing the purest, natural ingredients our island paradise has to offer. Our reverence for the land and commitment to the preservation of natural resources guides us in our organic farming methods and in harvesting our wild tropical plant life. We ensure that the fertility of our rich volcanic soil is never depleted. Our highly sensitive “wild-crafting” methods allow the precious flowers from our pristine rainforests to thrive in a state of constant renewal and all wild-crafted ingredients are harvested according to regulation by the Organic Food Production Act.

Everything in Malie Organics’ products is safe and nontoxic, with absolutely no petroleum, mineral spirits, sulfates or parabens. Because of our commitment to your health, well-being and the environment, we only use all natural, organic and wild-crafted ingredients. All ingredients are approved for use in cosmetics by the natural products association. Malie does not test on animals or use animal products.

The preservative system that we use consist of minimal amounts, less than 1% in combination of phenoxyethanol and chlorphenesin which are both mild, low in toxicity and are alternatives to using parabens. Both phenoxyethanol and chlorphenesin are approved for use by the Natural Products Association and other organic certification organizations for use in cosmetics.”

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Mango Nectar Body Polish

About:

“Nurture the skin and relieve the soul. This exquisite treatment is lovingly crafted from natural and organic ingredients, incorporating tropical beauty secrets passed down through generations. Made to exfoliate, nourish and hydrate skin, giving you a beautiful golden glow.

100% organic and/or wildcrafted ingredients.

Mango Nectar Polish Ingredients: Organic Sugar, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Tapioca Starch, Organic Orange Peel, Mango Powder, Organic Sandalwood Powder, Organic Turmeric Powder, Mango Hawaiian Hydrosol, Vitamin E Oil, Organic Grapefruit Seed Extract.”

Mango Nectar Body Cream

About:

“Treat your skin to a lush, nourishing blend of organic therapeutic botanicals and oils, including moisturizing Coconut, Kukui and Macadamia Nut Oils. Awapuhi Ginger, Aloe and Chamomile calm and soothe the skin while our pure Hawaiian Hydrosols lend their aromatherapeutic essences to transform body, mind and spirit. Leaves skin soft, smooth and irresistibly beautiful.

70% of ingredients produced by certified organic farming techniques.

Ingredients: Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut), Glycerin (Vegetable), Glyceryl Stearate) Coconut), Organic Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, PEG-100 Stearate (Coconut), Cetearyl Alcohol (Palm), Cetearyl Glucoside (Sugar), Organic Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Awapuhi Ginger) Root Extract, Organic Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Lecithin (Soy), Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil, Hawaiian Hydrosol, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Stearic Acid (Mixed Plants), Silica, Fragrance, Xanthan Gum (Tree Bark) Phenoxyethanol*, Chlorphenesin*. (*Ingredients less than 1%).”

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My Thoughts:

Holy cow-both of these products smell like an absolute paradise. This is perhaps the best-smelling body cream I’ve ever used. It is simply intoxicating.

Needless to say, smell isn’t the most important thing to me in body products, but it certainly makes me love them even more (since it’s in addition to awesome ingredient lists).

I prefer a creamier, richer body moisturizer like this one by Malie because it truly moisturizes skin-whereas some lotions are very liquidy, watery and seem to evaporate (more or less) within a few minutes; leaving skin dry and tight again. This cream soaks in just enough so that your skin isn’t goopy, yet it leaves your skin quenched.

The scrub has the same incredible aroma and provides a gritty & effective means of exfoliating skin. I love using the scrub during a steamy shower, then following up with the cream afterwards. This duo is truly a treat for your skin.

Though these ingredients only comprise a small amount of the body cream’s ingredient list (less than 1%), I don’t like seeing any ingredients that have a moderate toxicity level (phenoxyethanol). I could do without it! I’d give these products my highest rating without them. To me, if you’re going to use so many organic ingredients, why throw the junky ones into the mix?

Malie Beauty, overall, is quite an experience of almost entirely organic skin care products. I’ve really enjoyed using them and see myself coming back to the scrub for gift-giving!

Big Island Organics Review

Oct24

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Big Island Organics

Overall Rating: 

About Big Island Organics:

“In 1996 Greg Petersen and Kristal Roach started Petersen Organics on their small farm on Hawaii’s big island. Their first product was Gingerade, a simple mix of Hawaiian yellow ginger and organic lemon juice grown on their farm with filtered water and agave nectar. This potent health tonic soon made its way to the local brewery’s menu and then to grocery stores becoming a local favorite.

Many years later Greg and Kristal decided to take Big Island Organics to the mainland. Today their delicious and healthy gingerades are offered at organic and natural food stores like Bristol Farms, Lassen’s, New Leaf, Pharmaca, Breaux Mart, Akins, Harmons, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage and Whole Foods.”

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Hawaiian Gingerade

About:

“For over ten years we’ve been mixing this one up. Fresh harvested yellow ginger, organically grown on the Big Island of Hawaii was the inspiration behind its creation. This is a strong herbal beverage with the exotic flavor of ginger combined with the tanginess of fresh lemon juice.

We continue to exclusively use Hawaiian yellow ginger. The Hawaiian climate is ideal for this plant and we choose from the highest quality available, buying direct from the farmer and supporting Hawaiian agriculture. Each 16 ounces of Hawaiian Gingerade (pictured) contains 42 grams of Hawaiian Yellow Ginger Root known to be twice as strong as the commonly used White Ginger. Try one today and feel the difference!

Ingredients: filtered water, organic lemon juice, organic agave nectar, organic fresh pressed Hawaiian yellow ginger juice.”

Gingerade Mate

About:

“Feeling energized and happy is what Yerba Maté is all about. This wonderful plant contains 24 vitamins and minerals and has been used as a health enhancing beverage for centuries in South America. In modern day Mate’ has found its way into American life. Many people are choosing to drink Maté instead of Coffee or Black tea, finding it to be safer and gentler on their body and mind.

We have brought together our powerful Hawaiian Gingerade with Yerba Maté to create a strong energy drink that will get you on your feet and feeling great. We use the highest quality Maté available. Each 16 ounces (pictured here) of Gingerade Maté contains a generous 3.5 grams of Yerba Maté. Uplift yourself to higher ground!

Ingredients: filtered water, organic lemon juice, organic agave nectar, organic fresh pressed Hawaiian yellow ginger juice, organic cold infused Guayaki Yerba Mate.”

Agave Lemonade

About:

“We have created the world best lemonade using the finest 100% organic ingredients. This is what real lemonade is all about.

Our delicious Agave Lemonade is made using fresh organic lemon juice that’s not from concentrate. We use organic agave nectar to lightly sweeten it. Agave nectar is a highly nutritious sap that is naturally extracted from the agave plant. The natural sugar in agave is low glycemic and considered to be one of the world’s healthiest natural sweeteners.

Kids and adults Love our Agave Lemonade!

Ingredients: filtered water, organic lemon juice, organic agave nectar.”

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My Thoughts:

These lemonade drinks will completely change your lemonade game! There is simply no comparison between Big Island Organics drinks and the typical container or bottle of processed, artificially filled junk you’ll find at the convenience store. More and more brands are creating organic lemonade drinks, however-Big Island Organics also harnesses these beneficial ingredients: agave nectar, ginger juice & Guayaki Yerba Mate. These ingredients take these beverages to a whole new level.

Ginger does many incredible things for the body-not the least of which is that it helps aid and facilitate digestion. This is helpful to anyone looking to improve their overall health, lose weight and detoxify their system. Efficient digestion is vital in absorbing the nutrients from the foods you eat.

The foundation of each of these drinks, lemon juice, is one of nature’s most potent detoxifiers and cleansers. Regularly consuming lemon juice helps balance your internal pH, clear your skin, boost energy levels and increase your metabolism.

Besides all of the remarkable health benefits, these drinks are delicious! I enjoyed drinking half a drink every morning, pairing it with a protein-rich smoothie (containing a healthy source of fat like chia, flax or hemp seed) for a macro-balanced start to the day. Since these drinks are primarily a source of sugar (healthy sugar), it’s important to pair them up with protein & fat to keep your diet balanced.

I recommend these to everyone-who doesn’t love lemonade? You’ll love it even more after tasting what Big Island Organics has to offer: fresh, organic goodness with a kick of ginger!

 

Moksa Organics: New Product Picks!

Oct21

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Moksa Organics

Overall Rating: 

I have been fortunate enough to have forged a good relationship with Melanie Martin, creator of Moksa Organics, & am continually excited about the new-to-me products that I get to experience. I am always pleasantly surprised. The aromas and different organic components of Melanie’s products are expansive, very unique, and they turn your showering experience into a aromatic wonderland. You can read my prior reviews of Moksa here:

https://runonorganic.com/2020/07/27/moksa-organics-summer-picks/

https://runonorganic.com/2020/06/10/for-pre-and-post-run-moksa-organics/

https://runonorganic.com/2020/07/28/moksa-organics-skin-care-review/

Here are the three goodies I’ve recently tried:

Key Lime Vanilla Body Oil

About:

“who:  you.
what: the best body oil ever.

when:  apply after showering when your skin is damp, but anytime really.

how:  we’ll leave that up to you.

These creations are an in house favorite and they bring new meaning to the word “eco-luxe.”  Made with certified organic plant oils and pure essential oils, our body oils nourish your skin without leaving a greasy feeling.  Grape seed oil is high in antioxidants giving your skin a boost of nourishment with healing agents.  We infuse the grape seed oil with organic healing herbs for 6 weeks before we bottle them and package them.  Seriously, there is no better experience for your skin.  After your shower, give yourself this gift: apply to skin and face, breathe deeply, and dance in the nude.  No need to thank us.  You deserve the best.”

Ingredients: Certified organic sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, pure essential oils & rosemary extract. Body oils: Certified organic sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, pure essential oils & rosemary extract.”

Kilimanjaro Body Butter

About:

“Rich with Cocoa Butter, this body butter is good enough to eat.

who:  you.
what: the best body butter ever.

when:  after showering when your skin is damp, but anytime really.

how:  we’ll leave that up to you.

For the love of butter:

Use it for dry and cracked skin.
Use it for damaged or parched skin.
Use it as a lip balm before a smooch.
Use it on your feet.
Use it for massage.
Use it for cuticles.
You can even use it on your pregnant belly.

Ingredients: Certified organic shea butter, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, pure essential oils, & rosemary extract.”

Amazon Lemon Body & Face Bar

About:

“Lemon Lavender & Poppy Seeds

Take a shower on the wild side.  Our blend of awakening lemon and ambrosial lavender will rain down scent-sy suds of goodness every time you scrub up.

Lather up and scrub down.  This bar of bliss is hand mixed, hand poured and hand wrapped.

Ingredients: Saponified 100% food grade coconut, olive, sunflower, hemp seed oil, castor oil, shea butter, pure essential oils, organic herbs and botanical extracts.”

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My Thoughts:

Sublimity. It sounds so redundant on each of these respective Moksa reviews that I’ve written-but it’s the absolute truth. Moksa products always blow me away. There’s absolutely no junky ingredients in these products; quite the contrary, actually. The very best ingredients are used in these body care products and your skin can certainly tell a difference. That’s one of the most beautiful things about organic skin care like Moksa makes: you don’t ever have to worry about synthetic ingredients irritating your skin, no rashes, just healthy, beautiful, quenched skin. It makes all the difference.

I’ve found the best time to apply body oil is right out of the shower, before you’ve completely dried off. The droplets of water still on your skin help the oil spread evenly. The aroma of this key lime vanilla body oil transports me to a warm, tropical place. The scents are rich, zesty and uplifting. I look forward to showers just so that I can slather this body oil on.

Moksa body butters are very dense and rich-a little goes a long way. This Kilimanjaro body butter is no exception. To me, it smells like a cocoa bean made love to a coffee bean-pure divinity. This is great anytime, anywhere moisturizer. I use the most body butter on my legs, often before I run (it wakes them up!). My favorite Moksa body butter for pre-workout and recovery is the Athlete’s Secret. Be sure to check out that body butter, too!

I’ve so many organic facial soaps that I enjoy, and have worked this amazon lemon into the rotation. I love how clarifying and fresh it is-it takes care of all the grime without completely stripping my skin. One thing that makes Moksa bar soaps unique is that you can use them on body AND face. The ingredients are so pure (completely organic) that all of your skin will benefit from it. Make sure to follow up with an organic serum or moisturizer afterwards (especially on your face) to restore even more nutrients back to your skin and provide you with a dewy complexion.

If you’ve never browsed the Moksa site, give it a look! They even make soy-based, natural candles.

Guest Post: Optimizing Your Fitness Levels One Step At A Time

Oct17

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Small health changes introduced in one’s daily lifestyle can play a huge impact in the long run. Although the tried and tested methods of effectively boosting health is well known to all, here are some inspirational ideas that can help in maximising your fitness levels without drastically changing your current lifestyle and causing discomfort to you or any of your household members.

Introduce natural cleaning

The marketplace is flooded with household cleaning products that contain a wide range of strong chemicals, bleaches and substances that claim to get rid of dirt and grime. However, exposing yourself and your family to such cleaning products can be extremely hazardous, especially for young kids and pets. The large amounts of toxic ingredients present in commercially available household cleaning products can put not only put a strain on one’s health but can also damage the environment. Make your own cleaning products at home that are not only safe but highly effective and also easy on your budget. By mixing equal parts of water and vinegar, an all-round home-made cleaner, works just as effectively as a branded all-purpose cleaner, except that it is not only highly effective but also extremely safe and cheap.

Naturally flavour the water you drink, in order to consume more

It is important to stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking plenty of water. But in order to stay healthy, is it necessary to really stick to the mantra of drinking eight glasses per day? If you are like the majority of us, who love sweet treat once in a while, it means that you will have to drink more water than usual. But a vast majority of people are not accustomed to drinking plain water and hence instead of adding sugary flavours or agents to natural water, try adding some natural flavours that are calorie free, such as limes, lemons, oranges or cucumbers. Although the taste might not level up to your popular fizzy drink, drinking naturally flavoured water is more beneficial for you than carbonated ones.

Feast on legumes and healthy nuts

Certain legumes such as alfalfa sprouts, green peas, broad beans, sugar snap peas, soy beans amidst other healthy legumes are abundant in unsaturated fat, protein, vitamins and fibre. By feasting on them as an alternative to sugary biscuits or fatty crisps, you can help in staving off hunger pangs and further fuelling your body with essential nutrients. Moreover, legumes and nuts help in filling you up faster and prevent bingeing episodes, while providing you with a good energy boost.

Keep your shoes out

Staying healthy is not just about your body — but also speaks volumes of the environment that you are living in. Hence one of the best ways of making a huge difference to your overall health is by simply keeping your shoes out of the main door. More than 75% of house dust comes from outside and could include dangerous chemicals such as arsenic and lead. By entering your home with the shoes on, you are enabling the spread of these hazardous chemicals around the house and endangering the health of the other people living with you. Ensure that all members of your family keep the shoes out of the door for a healthier home.

About Author

Carlo is a fitness enthusiast and loves writing about fitness, health and weight loss. She is currently writing on behalf of a pure garcinia cambogia extract company, US Pure Garcinia Cambogia.

References:

http://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/calories-burned-during-exercise-10-ways

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/40068/fitness/optimising_your_fitness_plan.html

http://www.rd.com/health/fitness/8-secrets-to-optimizing-your-exercise-plan/