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Super Fruits: Exotic Juices for Health
In the last few years there has been an explosion of exotic new fruit juices introduced to the market. These super fruits are packed with antioxidants and promise to deliver everything from improved eyesight to happiness. In general, much research remains to be done, but it’s safe to say the antioxidants and vitamins in these super fruits can enhance a healthy lifestyle, so drink up!
Acai berries, or palm berries, come from a species of acai palm (Euterpe oleracea) found in the Amazon and contain antioxidant proanthocyanidins and other flavanoids. They are rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, cholesterol lowering sterols, and fiber. In studies, acai has been shown to improve blood flow and to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cancer preventive properties.
Gogi berry, also called wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) or happy berry, is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a liver-nourishing, blood-building herb. It is a source of the antioxidant zeaxanthin and is used traditionally as a tonic to nourish the eyesight. Studies have shown cancer preventive, liver protective, antibacterial and, cardio-protective effects. One clinical study found gogi juice drinkers felt “enhanced feelings of well-being, such as calmness, contentment, and happiness.”
Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana), a native of southeast Asia, contains compounds called xanthones that exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-cancer, neuro-protective, and cardio-protective properties. Mangosteen has been shown to protect the skin from sun damage and can help bleeding gums and bad breath. It may also be helpful for treating acne. However, there have been few clinical studies to back up these claims.
Noni (Morinda citrifolia), another southeast Asian native, has a long history as a healing herb. There is a lack of clinical data to support many of the health claims, although several studies are currently under way. In one study on mice, noni enhanced endurance, reduced fatigue, and prevented cancer. Another study found noni juice to have anti-anxiety properties. Noni also contains laxative properties and is rich in potassium.
As you can see, many of these super fruits are native to faraway lands. At New Morning, you’ll find them in dried, frozen and supplement form. Have questions? Stop by the Supplements section and look for our nutritionist, Alison Birks. See you in the Store!
Vitamin B Family
The B vitamins are a family of nutrients that work most efficiently when taken together as they naturally appear in food. They contain some of nature’s most synergistic vitamins and are essential in energy production, proper digestion, maintaining the nervous system, red blood cell production, healthy immune systems and proper function of the heart. Deficiencies can be caused by stress, processed foods, prescription drugs, toxins, diets lacking in raw foods, alcohol and coffee consumption, and high-energy requirements- including routine daily exercise. Symptoms of B Vitamin deficiencies include chronic fatigue, depression, numbness or tingling in feet and hands, heart palpitations, insomnia, indigestion, nervousness, inability to concentrate, loss of memory, and joint pain.
B vitamins are water-soluble and need to be constantly replenished. At New Morning you’ll find some of the healthiest natural sources of B vitamins in a great selection of good quality, natural and organic whole grains, beans, nuts, fish, chicken, beef, green vegetables, eggs, and dairy products. Make your own fresh and heart healthy granola! Add some fresh whole milk yogurt with a little maple syrup and you won’t even miss the processed sweets. As a healthy alternative, New Morning also carries whole food B complex supplements in which all the enzymes, nutrients, and co-factors are intact.
Rodale Institute Begins Mission to Fight Global Warming - with Farms
New CEO Tim LaSalle Calls Organic Farming “The Brightest Hope for Our Planet”
Rodale Institute has proved that organic practices, sometimes referred to as regenerative farming, can remove about 7,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air each year and sequester it in an acre of farmland. Thus if all 434 million acres of American cropland was converted to organic practices, it would be the equivalent of taking 217 million cars off the road – nearly 88 percent of all cars in the country today and more than a third of all the automobiles in the world.
“The way that we farm may be the single biggest – and most undervalued – way that we can mitigate global warming,” said LaSalle, a native Californian and a former agriculture professor at Cal Poly. He added that he came to Rodale Institute, headquartered on a working organic farm in Pennsylvania, because he believes Rodale’s 60-plus years of leadership in organics can offer solutions to many of the most serious issues of the day – from nutrition and famine prevention to global warming
The idea is simple: Soil is a natural carbon storehouse and farming techniques that depend upon petroleum-based practices disrupt this natural process. The ecological impact of these conventional agricultural practices is made worse by greenhouse emissions from fertilizer production and nutrient losses. The result is that U.S. agriculture, using petroleum-based methods, contributes nearly 10 percent of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions..
Nearly 30 years of research in Rodale Institute’s Farming Systems Trial, the nation’s oldest side-by-side scientific study of organic and conventional practices, has proved that organic practices, which do not use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, can be the single biggest way to mitigate global warming.
Paul Hepperly, Ph.D., research director at The Rodale Institute and Fulbright Scholar states, “We’ve shown that organic practices can do better than anyone thought at sequestering carbon, and could counteract up to 40 percent of global greenhouse gas output.” Hepperly, who is helping other nations implement organic farming systems, explains that using soil-building crops and compost to support cash crops helps to build soil carbon levels while keeping productivity in line with conventional systems.
“The world is taking climate change seriously,” says LaSalle. “The U.S. presidential candidates are being questioned about their environmental platforms. Major corporations are trying to be green in practice and products. Timing is everything and 21st Century regenerative farming is the brightest hope for our planet to reverse the effects of global warming, and to protect and improve the health of farmers, global citizens and future generations.”
Nature Nurtures
You don’t have to be a master gardener to experience the calming effect of a lush landscape - even if it’s a photograph. How much more heightened the feeling is, when you’re in the garden surrounded by the sun-warmed scent of wisteria, lilacs, and roses. The resulting physical and mental calm relieves the sense of urgency to do other planned activities. Some call this “biophilia”, or an addiction to nature. Gardeners have been doing it in their back yards for years.
Gardening is a great way to reduce stress and get exercise. It’s a good creative outlet, helps develop patience, and refocuses a person’s attention on the beauty of nature. Evidence supports a direct correlation between nature and a person’s sense of well-being. Hospitals install gardens to lift their patients’ spirits and speed the healing process. Just looking at a garden has been shown to reduce blood pressure, slow heart rate and increase mood elevating brain activity. Beneficial effects can take hold in minutes, faster than most medical alternatives. Get started! Visit New Morning for a great selection of organic vegetable, flower and herb seeds. Plus earth-friendly gardening supplies to enrich your soil, control weeds, eliminate pests, and take care of all your organic gardening needs.
Heirloom Seeds.
Brightly colored seed packets are springing up all around us. Did you know that almost all seed packets contain hybrid seeds? Hybridized plants are the result of a cross between two varieties, bred for lasting color, uniform size and the ability to ripen at the same time for harvesting and distribution purposes. Not only is flavor often lost in the translation, but hybrids can’t reproduce themselves. The next generation plant reverts back to one of the two original plants. Hybridization has led to the extinction of thousands of plants. In the early 1900s, nearly 7,000 varieties of apples existed in this country. Today, that number has shrunken to less than 1,000.
Heirloom vegetables are a marvelous way to enjoy great taste while preserving history and genetic diversity. Heirloom seeds can reproduce themselves, yield the same variety generation to generation; be self-pollinating; and have a traceable history back at least 50 years. How many times have you picked good-looking vegetables at the supermarket only to be disappointed by their failure to deliver on flavor? Unrivaled sweetness, fragrance, and juiciness are outstanding features of the historical vegetable. At New Morning you‘ll find Heirloom varieties of fresh organic produce and a great selection of Heirloom vegetable and flower seeds for starting your own traditions.
Earth Household
You might be surprised that the #1 source of pollution to rivers and ponds is right outside your door. All living creatures depend on an unimpaired water cycle. When water is fouled or disrupted, organisms that depend on that cycle can die. Storm water is untreated water that flows across streets, parking lots, driveways and into storm drains. Most storm drains flow directly into a nearby body of water. As the water runs over the surface or through the soil, it picks up pollutants and deposits them in surface or ground waters. We each have a profound impact on water quality. Here’s how you can help:
-Choose organic land care products! Synthetic fertilizers add to nutrient overload. Pesticides pollute the water table and can kill birds and beneficial insects.
-Plant native green buffers around the borders of your property. They clean storm water run-off and provide food and shelter for birds and wildlife.
-Use ecologically friendly personal care products and household cleaners.
-Check your car for fluid leaks and fix any immediately
-Do not pour household chemicals down the drain. Bring them to hazardous waste collection centers. May 10 is hazardous waste collection day in greater Woodbury. Find out more: www.cogcnv.gov
Brookview Maple Syrup
Delisse Locher and Harold Cable of Brookview Sugar House produce maple syrup the old fashioned way. They collect sap from trees on about 12 acres of land in Cornwall Hollow and Litchfield, bringing it back to their sugar house in Morris where they boil it over a wood-fueled fire for many hours until it reduces down into that thick, sweet, amber colored syrup we all love.
It takes about 43 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup, and Delisse and Harold take care to be responsible stewards of the land where they tap trees. They never use pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers in either their forest or their sugarhouse, but encourage the trees to grow and thrive by carefully removing some trees from their stands, allowing the others to grow larger and produce more sap. They only tap by hand, choosing trees 40 years and older, and they use all the trees they remove from the forest as fuel for the sugarhouse fires. The resulting maple syrup, which is fat and cholesterol free and rich in calcium, potassium, and iron, is a delicious and nutritious snack that also helps preserve our local farms and woodlands. You’ll find Delisse and Harold’s syrup across from the roasted nut and grain bins at New Morning. Now that’s sweet!
Detoxify Naturally!
A healthy body is a self-cleaning, self-repairing organism, designed to maintain a delicate balance of health and optimum efficiency. In the 21st century, however, we are exposed to far more than germs and viruses—we are living in a modern day chemical soup. From cleaning products, cosmetics, and food, to computers, clothes, cars, and homes, we are exposed to an extraordinary number of chemicals, many of which are now showing up in our bodies. Studies indicate that many of them, at some level or combination, can affect our brain, hormones, reproductive and immune systems, or can cause cancer. We can cut back on the number of potentially toxic chemicals we come into contact with but can’t avoid them entirely. We can detoxify our system once or twice yearly to maintain the organs that process chemicals in our body, the liver, kidneys, digestive tract, and skin.
We can also:
§ Eat organic foods, which are measurably lower in pesticide residues
§ Eat foods that aid the body’s detoxification process, including beets, lemons, broccoli, garlic, raw asparagus and green tea
§ Drink plenty of water with fresh-squeezed lemon juice
§ Avoid or use alcohol, sugar, and caffeine in moderation
§ Get regular exercise
Visit us in the Supplement Department at New Morning for specific recommendations on how you can detoxify naturally.
Absorbable Calcium
Less than half of all Americans consume enough calcium. In addition to being essential for healthy bones, calcium helps regulate blood pressure, and maintains healthy nerve and muscle function. In the American diet, the main sources of calcium are dairy products, but other great sources include dark green vegetables like broccoli, collards, bok choy, mustard, and kale, and soybeans and almonds. Calcium supplements are often advised to ensure getting the recommended 1000 to 1500 mg daily. Our bodies absorb as little as 10% of the calcium in a supplement, depending on the form. Calcium citrate and calcium hydroxyapatite are more easily absorbed than other forms of calcium supplements. New Morning carries the area’s largest supply of natural supplements formulated for optimal absorption and efficacy.
New Morning’s dairy products are from natural & organic farms with ecologically sound practices. This means no antibiotics, pesticides or growth hormones. Our local grass-grazed milk comes in glass bottles like the ones some remember from childhood. And, unlike conventional farm animals, those raised on organic farms graze in pristine, wide-open fields. Small wonder why consumers who switch to organic don’t switch back. Better-tasting milk, with more nutrients and essential fatty acids! And when it comes to calcium rich green vegetables, New Morning’s produce department has one of the largest selection of the freshest, highest quality, 100% organic produce anywhere.
Immune Support
There are many things you can do to protect yourself from the sniffles, sneezes, coughs, and colds of winter. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and starting with a healthy lifestyle and diet is the best thing you can do for your health.
As helpful as supplements can be, they are no match for the power of a healthy diet, the best way to prevent illness and support your immune system. Choose whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats (from nuts, cold water fish, flax seeds, or avocados), and foods with natural immune-enhancing properties, including green tea, miso soup, shitake mushrooms, pomegranates, yogurt, kefir and Brazil nuts. Try to avoid sugar, trans fats, and refined vegetable oils.
In addition to a healthy diet, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, getting proper rest, and managing the amount of stresses in your life also go a long way to keeping you healthy. If you feel the flu coming on boosting the immune system with a supplement like elderberry, oregano oil, echinacea, goldenseal or yin chiao is your best bet.
At New Morning, we are fully stocked with natural solutions to all of your cold season concerns. Stop by the supplements department today to find the products that are right for you.
Fair Trade
Although we grow delicious fruits and vegetables in our own backyard, we import many products we can’t grow like coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar and spices. Most of these items come from developing countries in Africa, Central and South America, and Asia. Fair Trade certification helps these farmers earn a decent living. It focuses on a number of principles to ensure that high environmental standards are upheld, and that farmers get a fair price for their product, with direct access to the global marketplace. Fair trade farms guarantee fair labor conditions and a democratically organized workplace.
New Morning offers a huge selection of delicious Fair Trade chocolates from all over the world. Consider some fair trade chocolate for your Valentine this year. Saturday, February 9th from 6:30-9:00pm, New Morning will be hosting “Good Food For Change” at the Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society, in Woodbury, behind Middle Quarter Mall. Join friends for savory tapas and fabulous wine tasting from Organic Vintages and Woodbury’s own, Walker Road Vineyards. Meet many local growers; discover green solutions for your own home.
Laurel Ridge Beef
After reading an article in the New York Times about using cattle to keep pasture land clear, John Morosani of Laurel Ridge, in Litchfield, thought he had a way to keep old hay fields under control without damaging his mowing equipment. With his friend Jim, he fenced in 10 acres and purchased some cows. John and Jim were rewarded with well-tended fields and some incredibly delicious beef. Deciding that grass fed beef is better for you, and supports local farming,” they gradually increased their grazing fields to 220 acres and now sell grass fed beef with great enthusiasm.
Laurel Ridge cows get plenty of pasture and eat only fresh grass, hay, and kelp (to provide trace minerals). They don’t receive antibiotics or growth hormones and are not finished on corn but eat grass or hay their entire lives. Beef from grass fed cows is healthy—it has less fat than boneless chicken breasts from the supermarket—and is high in Omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a potent antioxidant. Laurel Ridge beef is flavorful, tender, juicy, and fresh and New Morning is proud to carry it.
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Fresh Food To Go.
Snacks eaten between meals or as a meal substitute, while “ready-to-go,” are often high in fat, salt and sugar. Since adults frequently skip meals and growing children need more energy than they can get from a single meal, it’s important to build food value into daily routines. Healthy snacks help maintain energy levels, good nutrition, and proper weight.
Fresh local, organic fruits and vegetables are here! With a little planning, they can be just as enticing as less healthy choices. Chilled, washed and pre-cut vegetables: green, red and yellow sweet peppers; ripe cherry tomatoes and sweet fennel are very inviting when paired with fresh salad dressing or a curried-yogurt dip. New Morning carries a huge selection of fresh, local produce and fruits including melons from Riverbank Farm in Roxbury; and pears and apples from High Hill Orchard in Meriden. Try your hand at making Chef Carol’s spicy Roasted Pumpkin Pepita Salsa. Visit newmorn.com for a new twist on garden ripe tomatoes and pumpkins.
Local Vegetables
The dog days of summer are the heyday of local vegetable harvests. While the hot and humid weather causes many of us to retreat to the air conditioning or the pool, local farmers are spending long days in the field bringing in an abundant variety of vegetables they have been patiently fussing over all season. Dinner is easy this time of year--grill some zucchini or summer squash, roast some fingerling potatoes, make a slaw with carrots and cabbage, and finish it off with a juicy watermelon. All using vegetables grown within 30 miles of home.
New Morning supports local farms because we value the health of our community and our environment. Our local produce comes from farms that are growing organically or are using sustainable practices. We know the farmers we buy from, have seen their farms firsthand and offer their products to you with confidence. We currently have local vegetables from Sunrise, Sunset Farm and Sun One Organic Farm, both in Bethlehem, Riverbank Farm in Roxbury, Fort Hill Farm in New Milford, and High Hill Orchard in Meriden. Stop by the store today and taste what these local farms have to offer.
Harvesting and Preserving Herbs
Harvesting and preserving herbs is a lovely task that allows you to continue enjoying herbs from your garden throughout the year. On grey winter days when you’re missing the aromas, flavors, and textures of your favorite plants, your preserved harvest can make you feel as if you’re still in your garden.
To dry herbs collect them on a clear day after the morning dew has evaporated. Gather in small bunches, bundle stems with elastics, hang in a dark, well ventilated place (attics offer the perfect climate), and let dry thoroughly. When dry, remove leaves from stems, place in jars, label, and store away from heat and light. Flowers and leaves without stems dry nicely in single layers on screens.
Parsley and chives can be cut with scissors, frozen on cookie sheets, and stored in bags in the freezer. Chopped herbs can also be frozen with a little water in ice cube trays, stored in containers, and used for flavoring soups, stews, and casseroles. Basil leaves last for months covered with olive oil in a jar in your refrigerator. The leaves must be submerged in oil, because if exposed to air mold occurs. The basil leaves and/or basil- flavored oil will add a delicious flavor to pasta and other dishes. Herb flavored vinegars are easy to prepare and make all salads delicious.
‘Bring your garden inside’ by preparing big beautiful bowls of your own signature potpourri. You can combine dried leaves and flowers of a variety of scents, textures, and colors; add an essential oil that compliments your ingredients, and a natural fixative like orrisroot to preserve the fragrance. For an easy recipe try dried lemon verbena, lavender flowers, and dried roses mixed with orrisroot, rose, lemon, or lavender essential oil, and accented with personal favorites from your harvest.
Mid-winter, when you’re really missing your herb garden and/or need a soulful break, try sipping lemon verbena or spearmint tea while relaxing in a hot bath to which you’ve added a few drops of lavender or rosemary essential oil. Escape to your favorite place and remember to toss your cares out with the bath water.
Greens now!
Dark green vegetables like kale, spinach, watercress and broccoli are the richest source of dietary Vitamin K around. One serving of spinach or two servings of broccoli provides four to five times the recommended daily allowance of phylloquinone or Vitamin K.
If you're between the ages of 18 and 44, there's a good chance you didn't get enough Vitamin K today. Did you know that people age 13 and over get half the recommended daily dosage of Vitamin K? The body stores very little Vitamin K and its reserve is rapidly depleted without regular dietary intake. Most people know about the importance of calcium for healthy bones. Less known is the fact that Vitamin K is the “glue” that plugs calcium into the bone matrix. Adequate consumption of Vitamin K, an important activator of three proteins essential to bone health, may decrease the risk of hip fractures from lower bone-mineral density among women of all ages.
Too hot to cook? New Morning’s 100% organic produce department is bursting with green harvest from our busy local growers: including Sun One Organic, Riverbank and Fort Hill Farms. Stop in for a complete menu of healthy prepared foods at New Morning’s Provender- creator of the world’s best (Vitamin K-rich) Kale Salad.
Visit New Morning Thursday, Aug. 16th from 4:30 and 6:30pm. Sample organic wines from Organic Vintages and New Morning’s selection of the finest cheeses from around the world, including local artisanal. Free
Picnic Naturally
Summer is the season for picnics and New Morning is the source for all you need for a “green” picnic. With a little planning, you can enjoy delicious food and easy clean-up. When thinking about what food to bring, go for items that don’t need to be kept cool. Try a pressed sandwich of pesto, spinach, blue cheese and roasted red peppers on a baguette. Bring along pickled cucumbers, beets, or onions. Always include some fresh, local produce like cherry tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, or carrots. A pasta or green salad can be dressed on the spot. For a sweet treat, bring along a delicious baked good from the Provender at New Morning. Or try some fresh, local fruits like cherries, apples, or pears.
You can reduce the amount of trash you generate and make clean-up easy by using recycled and recyclable paper products. We have lightweight bamboo products that you can reuse and recycle, reusable “plastic” products, including some made from cornstarch. Instead of wrapping items in plastic wrap, use parchment paper. And when it comes time to wash up, choose from our natural soaps and wipes for a clean finish to your day.
Vegetarian Verve
As we enter the season when local produce is abundant and delicious, you may notice your diet shifting to include more vegetables and fruits. This is a good time of year to consider going vegetarian. Vegetarians typically do not eat meat, poultry, fish, or any products made with animal derivatives. People change to a vegetarian diet for many reasons, including ethical concerns for animals, to improve their health, or to take better care of our environment. Studies have shown that vegetarians have reduced rates of obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and diet-related cancers and they tend to live slightly longer than non-vegetarians.
The environmental impact of a meat-based diet is a compelling reason to consider going vegetarian. Excessive amounts of water, fossil fuels, and pesticides are involved in raising animals and the food they eat. The quantity of manure, methane, and ammonia produced by animal farms contaminates our air and water. With careful attention to your diet to assure you’re getting enough of all the nutrients you need, a vegetarian diet can benefit you, the animals, and the planet. All while enjoying the bounty of our local harvest this season.
Verdant Pastures
Local food proponent, nutritionist, and author Joan Gussow once quipped, “As for butter versus margarine, I trust cows more than chemists.” Pasture-raised cows, sheep, and goats tend to be healthier (and happier) when they get to live as nature intended. By eating grass and other plants, they get all the nutrition they need from natural sources, and produce higher quality meat, milk, and milk products for our table. Pasturing also helps reduce environmental damage and provides a viable source of income for small farmers in our state.
At New Morning we offer local dairy products from farmers we know and respect. In fact, we’ve met some of their animals and many of them are happily at pasture in the most picturesque areas of the state. We offer raw cow’s milk from Stonewall Dairy and Local Farm both from Cornwall Bridge; pasteurized, but not homogenized, milk from Hautboy Hill Farm in Cornwall Hollow, raw jersey milk from Foxfire of Manchester; and raw goat’s milk from Mountain Brook Farm in Southbury. We have award-winning cheeses from Beltane Farm in Lebanon and Cato Corner in Colchester. Beaver Brook Farm in Old Lyme, supplies us with cheese and delicious ice cream. You’ll love the freshness and the taste.
Herb Gardening
Herbs are captivating plants that wow us with their flavor, fragrance, and medicinal uses. Luckily you don’t need a formal vegetable or herb garden to plant some of these treats; you can grow them in pots or tuck these versatile plants into a perennial border or a foundation planting. Most herbs require a lot of sun and average soil conditions and many do well in sandy soil. Because of their strong fragrance and flavor, garden critters like deer and groundhogs tend to avoid them. Another benefit is that many of our favorite herbs are perennials and come back each year.
As with vegetable gardening, choosing which herbs to plant can be overwhelming. Stick with the flavors and fragrances you love and try one or two varieties of something different. New Morning carries some popular favorites—basil, thyme, oregano, dill, parsley, and more—as well as a few unusual herbs for the adventurous. Our capable staff, including our customer programs coordinator Gene Banks, who used to own an herb nursery, is available to answer your questions and get you started on a delicious and fragrant summer garden.
Clean Gardening
One of our most precious resources is fresh water and, unfortunately, many of the herbicides, fertilizers, and pesticides that we put on our lawns and gardens end up there. Chemicals don’t recognize property boundaries. They do their job on your lawn, and then sink into the ground where they slowly make their way into the creek in your back yard and eventually to the lake down the street and finally into Long Island Sound. In “The Dead Zone,” an area at the mouth of the Mississippi River in the Gulf of Mexico, every living thing dies each summer as a result of runoff of nitrogen and phosphorous from farms and homes upriver. In 2005 The Dead Zone was as large as Connecticut.
We encourage you to go organic in your garden this year to protect this precious resource. Find out what watershed you belong to (parts of Woodbury, Southbury and Bethlehem belong to the Pomperaug River Watershed, www.pomperaug.org) and make the commitment to begin gardening organically today. Need help? New Morning has knowledgeable staff and a wide range of organic gardening products to get you started.
Chocolate Love
As Valentine’s Day approaches, we hear about many ways to woo the loves in our lives using certain foods or drinks. Many foods are purported to be aphrodisiacs, including asparagus, radishes, potatoes, and pine nuts. As delicious as all these items are, they can’t hold a candle to our obsession for chocolate. Theobroma, the botanical species of the cocoa bean from which chocolate is made, translates into “food of the gods,” and it’s not hard to see why it got this name!
Chocolate contains a number of substances that are good for us—like flavonoids and antioxidants—and it makes us feel good because it contains the stimulant theobromine, tryptophan, and small amounts of caffeine. Americans eat 10-12 pounds of chocolate each year and, following the general rule that applies to most foods, the closer it is to its natural state, the better it is for you. In other words, eat less ‘junk food chocolate’ and choose a high-quality dark chocolate with a minimum number of additives for the most health benefit. New Morning carries healthy organic chocolate options- more cocoa, less sugar and additives. Next time you’re in the store, pick up some chocolate for someone you love—and that includes yourself.
In a Pickle.
For thousands of years, cultures all over the world have preserved everything from cabbage to plums without the aid of modern methods like freezing or canning. They used a natural process called lacto-fermentation in which salt and spices are added to the vegetables or fruit; the mixture is then pounded slightly and put into an airtight container. The salt prevents bad bacteria from forming while allowing Lactobacillus, a good bacteria, to grow and preserve the food. This “good” bacteria lends the tart flavor that pickle lovers love.
Most food that was traditionally fermented is now pasteurized. Unfortunately, both good and bad bacteria are killed in pasteurization. In lacto-fermentation, the good bacteria thrive and produce lactic acid, which preserves and lends many proven health benefits. When we eat these foods, the good bacteria make their homes in our bodies, help maintain a healthy balance in our digestive system, shore up our immune system, and possibly protect us from intestinal pathogens. Short of making your own sauerkraut or kimchi, the best way to get this good bacteria into your system is to try some of our naturally fermented products from Deep Root or Real Pickles—both regional businesses supporting local farmers, traditional foods, and your health!
New Year!
The beginning of a new year often brings with it renewed promises to take better care of ourselves. But taking care of ourselves isn’t always easy—integrating exercise and healthful meals into a busy life is hard to do. At New Morning we recognize that just a little effort goes a long way and we want to make it easier for you to live a more holistic life this year. Not only do we offer healthy organic food, including prepared food from our in-store caterer, The Provender, we also offer supplements, books, and exercise equipment—like yoga and Pilates supplies—that will help you be more physically active.
It’s been proven that 30 minutes of brisk physical exercise five times a week significantly lowers a person’s risk of life threatening conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Thirty minutes sounds like a lot, but the good news is that breaking that effort into three,10-minute chunks of time still offers significant health benefits. A quick walk to the mailbox, a jog around the office building at lunch, or a brisk walk with the dog in the evening can all add up to a longer, healthier, more holistic life.
Powerful Potato
One potato, two potato, three potato, four…you know how the nursery rhyme goes. But why stop at seven? It looks like we don’t. Potatoes are the number one vegetable crop in the U.S., with each person consuming over 135 pounds of them each year. Its most popular form is as French fries, but mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, and potato pancakes are some of the many other ways we like to consume this healthy carbohydrate.
A 5.3 oz. potato with its skin on contains nearly half the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C; as much or more potassium than bananas, spinach, or broccoli; 3 grams of fiber, about the amount in a slice of whole grain bread; about as much protein as half a glass of milk; and, it has zero grams of fat. At New Morning Natural & Organic, we enjoy trying new varieties of potatoes like fingerlings and other heirloom varieties. You’ll also find the standard reds, whites, and golds. Potatoes are a great storage crop. Given the right conditions—a cool, dark, dry place—they can last for months. If you’re looking to integrate some healthy carbohydrates into your diet, you might stop by our produce department and pick some potatoes for your holiday table this year.
Healthier Holidays.
If we don’t get sufficient rest during the holiday season, irritability rises and tempers shorten, resulting in the onset of a vicious cycle. Left unchecked, it’s no surprise that many people suffer from depression this time of year. When life gets busy, we quickly forget about a balanced diet –skipping meals and snacking on the run. If your body doesn’t get a balance of the right nutrients, it has to do more with less energy. Stress increases an appetite for snacks and high-fat comfort foods. Although sweet snacks can give a short- term energy boost, you’ll feel worse later when your blood sugar drops.
The challenge to eating on the fly is to choose healthy, easy- to- prepare foods that give you energy. Aim for a combination of whole grain products (like bread and pasta) and raw veggies and fresh fruit, along with a small amount of protein (dairy, meat or bean) at least three times a day. And, come to New Morning Natural & Organic. In addition to finding shelves stocked with natural and organic dairy, fresh fruit and grains, our knowledgeable and friendly staff is always available to answer your questions and explain their specific benefits for you. Relax, have some hot homemade soup and spend a little quiet time browsing for that special gift for someone.
Fall Rubies
The ruby-colored cranberry is one of the gems of the New England fall harvest. From mid-September into November, the boggy lowlands of Massachusetts- the second largest producer of cranberries in the U.S.- are flooded for easy harvesting. Since cranberries are hollow, they float on the water, creating a Persian-carpet effect as their bright red color mingles with the surrounding colors of fall.
These tart and tangy berries are an essential part of New England fall cuisine. Cranberry stuffing, cranberry-walnut bread, baked apples with cranberries, and cranberry sauce are some favorites. And, in addition to their beauty and incredible flavor, they are nutritious. Fresh cranberries are high in vitamin C, are a good source of antioxidants and help prevent urinary tract infections, particularly from E. coli. The cranberry is an important part of our regional food system - you can support our region’s farmers and your own health by incorporating this fruit into your diet. New Morning Natural & Organic offers many cranberry products, including fresh organic cranberries, available from mid-October through the first of the year. We carry freeze-dried, frozen, and dehydrated cranberries, cranberry juice and juice concentrate, and a variety of cranberry supplements year round.
The Bird
Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be our national symbol; after all it’s truly an American original. Today’s domestic turkeys are decedents of the wild turkeys tamed by the Aztecs. High in protein and lower than chicken in fat content, turkey is an economical source of iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and B vitamins. Natural and organic turkeys that forage on green pastures have a natural diet, grow without the aid of artificial hormones and antibiotics and are rich in nutritional value and flavor.
The old adage, “You are what you eat” was never truer. A turkey labeled “natural” was never fed antibiotics or growth hormones. No preservatives or artificial ingredients are added in its preparation for market. “Free range” is defined by the USDA as “having access to the out- of- doors”. A certified organic turkey is raised on 100% organic feed and given access to the outdoors- without the addition of antibiotics or growth hormones. New Morning’s selection of fresh or frozen, natural or organic turkeys, are unrivaled in flavor and juiciness. But hurry and place your order, as our fresh, natural birds are going fast. No matter what kind of bird you pick, rest assured that yours grew up on a farm, with open range, clean shelter and healthy feed. And don’t forget the supporting cast of fresh organic cranberries and vegetables to complete your meal.
Pilgrims and Pumpkins.
The Pilgrims learned to grow pumpkins, corn and beans from the Native Americans, to sustain them during the long winters in the New World. Early settlers created spicy pumpkin pie as a substitute for the meat pies they missed from their homeland. Today, pumpkins are mainly thought of for jack-o-lanterns and pies. These incredibly nutritious members of the squash family also make delicious breads, soups and even ice cream. Pumpkins are a better source of beta-carotene than cantaloupe or dried apricots, offer more fiber than broccoli and corn, and are a great source of iron, magnesium, potassium, Vitamins A, C and E. And, they’re rich in cancer-fighting antioxidants, safeguarding the immune system and slowing the aging process. All this, and low in fat, sodium, and calories too!
Getting antioxidants through your food is an important first step in ensuring good health. New Morning carries the most extensive all organic selection of produce in Western Connecticut including antioxidant-rich vegetables like broccoli, spinach and sweet potatoes. And because busy lifestyles make it easy to come up short on good nutrition New Morning carries the highest quality natural and organic supplements possible. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you address any specific dietary concerns you might have.
The Whole Truth
Whole grains are a fabulous addition to a healthy diet. The US Department of Agriculture recommends 3-6 servings of grains daily. At least ½ of them should be “whole” grains as they offer the greatest benefits. Kansas State University analyzed 45 studies covering 20 types of cancer and concluded that whole grains had a protective effect in 43 of them. Whole grain foods can help decrease blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Whole grains have three parts: the bran which provides fiber, trace minerals, phytonutrients and B vitamins; the germ which is loaded with antioxidants, Vitamins B and E, heart healthy unsaturated fats; and the endosperm which contains complex carbohydrates and protein.
Many product labels are unclear about the whole grain content of the ingredients. Read your labels: “100% wheat” doesn’t mean whole wheat; “multigrain” means many grains, but not necessarily whole grain; “stone ground” means coarsely ground-it may contain the germ, but not the bran. Look for foods that list a whole grain as the first ingredient and contain a minimum of 2 grams of fiber. New Morning’s extensive selection of whole grain foods makes increasing your consumption easy and delicious. We offer numerous varieties of whole grain rice, hot or cold breakfast cereals, pasta, bread, crackers, cookies, flours and baking mixes of just about any grain you can think of -all serviced by a knowledgeable and friendly staff.
Great Bones
If you're between the ages of 18 and 44, there's a good chance you didn’t get enough Vitamin K today. Once thought to be plentiful in the American diet, there’s now evidence that people over age 13, get half the recommended daily dosage. Everybody knows that healthy bones need calcium. Less known is the fact that Vitamin K is the “glue” that plugs calcium into the bone matrix. Vitamin K is now considered equivalent to Fosamax-type osteoporosis drugs. Adequate consumption of Vitamin K may decrease the risk of hip fractures among women of all ages.
Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is found in nature. Dark green vegetables like kale, spinach, watercress and broccoli, are its richest source. The body stores very little Vitamin K and its reserve is rapidly depleted without regular dietary intake. One serving of spinach or two servings of broccoli provides four to five times the recommended daily allowance of phylloquinone. At New Morning you’ll find a delicious selection of dark leafy green vegetables in our organic produce department. Stop in soon for a complete menu of organic foods, the highest quality supplements, and healthy prepared foods from New Morning’s Provender, creator of the “World’s Best (Vitamin K-rich) Kale Salad.”
Autumn Apples
No wonder, ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ The health benefits of apples are endless. Bioflavonoids (especially abundant in apples) are important because they assist in the absorption of Vitamin C and maintain the integrity of the blood vessel walls. Some bioflavonoids are also potent antioxidants. Antioxidants help the body prevent oxidation, increase immune function and can decrease the risk of infection and cancer. Bioflavonoids also help protect us from heart disease, asthma, and diabetes. Apples are naturally delicious, low in calories, have zero cholesterol and sodium and are fiber rich. It’s best to eat apples with the skin on, as nearly half of the Vitamin C content is located just beneath it. As the apples ripen, a large amount of fiber and flavor becomes highly concentrated in the outer surface of the fruit.
Make sure you take advantage of this autumn’s harvest and get your bioflavonoids the natural way - by eating fresh apples! New Morning Store stocks an abundant variety of organic apples. If you don't get enough of foods rich in bioflavonoids, New Morning also carries many natural and organic supplements made without artificial flavors, coloring, or preservatives. Our staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and ready to help you meet your specific dietary concerns.
Beef Phobia
If you’ve been hesitant to include beef in your diet, you’re not alone. Beef has now been associated with everything from heart disease to colon cancer. In truth, red meat provides complete protein, including sulphur-containing proteins like cysteine. It’s a rich source of taurine and carnitine, important for healthy eyes and provides a key nutrient for the cardiovascular system—coenzyme Q10. Red meat is also one of the best sources of vitamin B12, which is vital to a healthy nervous system and healthy blood.
There is more evidence than ever to suggest that problems associated with beef result from the way the animals are raised and processed through a mass-market factory-farmed, feedlot system. In contrast, organically raised cows forage on green pastures and organically grown grains. Raised from birth to market on family farms, they have regular access to open pasture and stored grasses during the winter months. Their meat is generally higher in vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids, which help prevent heart disease. Lower stress means less illness. Organic animals are never given antibiotics, hormonal implants or growth-promoting additives. New Morning carries local, fresh and frozen organic or naturally raised beef from livestock that are outstanding in their field. Don’t be afraid! Stop by New Morning for red meat that is naturally better for you.
Too Refined?
If you eat the typical “American” diet you probably don’t get enough fiber. Americans tend to consume large amounts of refined grains and not enough fruits and vegetables. Fiber is an indigestible complex carbohydrate found in plants- a weight watcher’s dream. High fiber foods are low in fat and contribute to a feeling of fullness without the calories. Fiber is divided into two categories according to its physical characteristics and effect on the body: water-soluble and water insoluble. Each functions differently and has different health benefits.
Soluble fiber binds with fatty acids, prolonging stomach-emptying time so that sugar is released and absorbed more slowly. In addition to regulating blood sugar it lowers LDL (bad cholesterol), reducing the risk of heart disease. Slower digestion may also increase the uptake of minerals and other nutrients. Foods rich in soluble fibers include oatmeal, dried legumes, barley, flax seed, psyllium husk, apples, citrus fruits and strawberries. Insoluble fiber promotes regularity, speeds up toxic waste removal, and keeps an optimal pH in the intestines, helping to prevent colon cancer. Good sources of insoluble fiber include bran, (wheat, oat and rice) wheat germ, green beans, the cabbage family, celery, and fruit and root vegetable skins. In addition to their health benefits, many people feel fiber-rich foods taste better than refined foods. Stop in at New Morning and discover delicious foods that are also naturally better for you.
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