Stay Heathy This Winter with New Antimicrobial Povidone Iodine Throat and Nasal Sprays

We have some new iodine products in a throat spray and a nasal spray that I wanted to write about from a company called Cofix. They're unique, because the idea behind them is that they can be used preventably against microbes entering the body in a prophylactic way, helping to prevent infection by working to “deactivate a substantial portion of germs and pathogens” that come into the body through the nose and mouth.

The throat and our sinuses are in almost all cases how viruses and bacteria enter our bodies. The povidone iodine in our new Cofix sprays have long lasting antimicrobial effects in our bodies, and when used as a nasal spray or throat spray is meant to help protect against infections due to its antimicrobial benefits. The nose and throat are generally the first line of defense against bacteria and viruses from breathing in microbes from people nearby who might be sick. I feel like COVID made us all very aware of how bacteria and viruses can be transmitted from another person, obviously through coughs and sneezes, but also just breathing if they have a virus.

The most important thing we can do to stay healthy from whatever is going around each winter is by helping our own body's own immune system. Also, anything that can help to reduce the viral load, or the amount of a virus in our body, can be especially beneficial for helping our body to fight things off and stay healthy.

There has even been research done with these throat sprays on Covid patients, finding a significant reduction of incidents of contracting the illness for those who used it.

Do I think these povidone iodine sprays are 100% and that you'll never get sick? No, that would be amazing, but truly anything that reduces the likelihood of illness, whether it's cold, flu, respiratory infection, or whatever is a great thing. For me, a sore throat is always my first sign of illness, so I do believe this throat spray is a good idea. Knock on wood, I've been using it since the fall, and I do think it really works.

Iodine can impact the thyroid, both in people who are deficient and people who have excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. If you have thyroid disease or problems with your thyroid, we would recommend asking a doctor before starting this povidone iodine spray (something that's always a good idea for everyone regarding all supplements). Also, this antimicrobial iodine spray should be used sparingly, only a little is needed to be effective, more is not always better, so If you choose to try this Cofix spray, make sure you're only using the recommended amounts.

Stop in to see us at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights for more information.

Let's all stay healthy!

I was trying to save writing an article about keeping healthy and the immune system for closer to the fall, since I feel like that's usually when people get sick versus in the summer, but it seems like lately there are so many people coming down with Covid, I wanted to do an article for this month's newsletter.

I'd say things are definitely better than they were, and maybe this is just the new normal. Today it seems, for most people that Covid isn't horribly serious (thankfully!), although it's not great. When I had Covid this spring, it was over two weeks before I was back to normal, and it was pretty miserable. We still have people who come into the store on a regular basis complaining of symptoms that have lasted for months, especially loss of taste or smell, so doing what we can to give ourselves the best chance of staying healthy definitely seems like a good idea.

Fortunately, there are supplements that we feel can really make a difference in the battle to stay healthy, especially as we get closer to autumn and with school starting.

The top supplement we'd probably recommend is quercetin, a plant compound found in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables. Quercetin is a potent antioxidant and in the past has been a supplement frequently taken for allergies to reduce histamine levels.

The reason we'd recommend quercetin now for staying healthy is that it helps the immune system in a way unique to other supplements. Research has shown that quercetin helps to prevent viruses from being able to enter and infect cells as well as slowing viral replication, and has been studied with a number of different serious viruses with good results. Our immune system being able to overcome viruses (whether it’s Covid, flu, or just a cold) is the only way we stay healthy, and slowing the rate that a virus can proliferate in your body can make it easier to fight off.

Quercetin works by giving your immune system a better chance of stopping an infection before we even know we have it.

I definitely believe in quercetin, though recent research has shown that it can be somewhat difficult for the body to absorb and utilize, so we’ve found a new quercetin supplement by Natural Factors that is significantly better absorbed (up to 10 times more than regular quercetin supplements) since it uses a patent pending technology to make the quercetin into micro-droplets suspended in a liquid softgel to enhance absorption. I’ve switched my quercetin to this new liquid form, and would definitely recommend that everyone else do so as well.

In addition to quercetin, we’d also say adding zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin C to your daily regimen would be a good idea.

Interestingly, it’s been found that vitamin C increases the effectiveness of quercetin and vice versa, so it's a smart idea to take those two supplements together. Vitamin C helps to enhance the functioning of the white blood cells of our immune system, which are the first line of defense against bacteria or viruses that enter our body. We particularly recommend the Ester C form of the vitamin since it’s gentle on the stomach and stays at work longer in our cells than regular vitamin C. Most people aren’t getting enough vitamin C in their diets through fresh fruits, so supplemental vitamin C can help to fill in that gap.

Vitamin D is also great for the immune system. It’s made in our body when our skin is exposed to sunlight. I’m out in the sun a lot in the summer, so I usually stop taking vitamin D supplements when it’s hot out, but if you aren’t outside very much it’s probably a good idea to supplement with vitamin D, especially as we get closer to fall. Additionally, even though it’s made in our skin, wearing sunscreen or having a darker skin tone can make it harder for the body to make vitamin D, so those are also things to consider. Research on Covid patients has found that people who had the lowest levels of vitamin D levels had much more severe illness, which no one wants, so supplementing is a simple way to keep yourself healthy (it’s a tiny, inexpensive pill). Vitamin D is also helpful for bones and calcium absorption, so it’s always a favorite supplement of ours.

The last in our list of top recommended immune supplements is zinc. Zinc is also a tiny, inexpensive pill, and it’s been found that most people aren’t getting nearly enough zinc in their diets. Zinc has been shown in research to have a protective effect against respiratory viruses but it also appears to have a regulating effect on the immune system, helping to prevent inflammation and also helping the body’s response to infection.

None of these are new supplements (with the exception of the new form of quercetin), and they’re the same supplements that we’ve been recommending through this entire crazy time, but now is probably a good idea to start a supplement regimen if you’re gotten out of the habit.

We currently have the new liquid gel quercetin, Ester C, and Vitamin D on sale at the store, so it’s a good time to stock up for fall and winter.

Stop by and see us at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights so we can help you find the supplements that are right for you! We have a kind and knowledgeable staff to help with any questions you may have.

Event Cancellation & Masks

Due to new vaccination requirements in Cook County for certain activities, we have chosen to cancel our wine tasting that had been planned for Friday, January 7th.

We also wanted to reiterate our mask policy at the store, that everyone shopping at the store will need to wear a mask in accordance with state and local laws. We had relaxed our stance a bit in the past, usually wanting to avoid confrontations with customers not wearing masks, but with increased Covid positivity rates we will be going back to asking each person to please wear a mask while shopping in the store. We have masks available if needed.

Additionally, we will continue to offer curbside pickup for customers who prefer it, just give us a call at the store at 708-448-9114 and we will help you with collecting your order and then will bring it out to your car when you arrive.

We really appreciate your help with this and for supporting us! ❤️

Quercetin for Immune Health

I wanted to briefly write about quercetin, a plant compound found in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables. Quercetin is a potent antioxidant and in the past has been a supplement frequently taken for allergies to reduce histamine levels. Interestingly, quercetin also has potent antiviral benefits, which is why it has recently become quite a popular supplement.

Quercetin is not a new or experimental supplement. It has been used for many years and has an excellent safety profile.

Research has shown that quercetin helps to prevent viruses from being able to enter and infect cells as well as slowing viral replication, and has been studied with a number of different serious viruses with good results (it was even researched with the Ebola virus back in 2016). Even though Covid is what’s foremost on everyone’s radar at the moment, it is not the only respiratory virus going around this year. I know several different people who were quite sick this year, but had negative Covid PCR tests; I only mention that because just like any other year, there are a host of viruses going around this winter, not just Covid, so doing what we can to stay healthy is always a good idea.

Dr. Paul E. Marik, MD, chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia spoke about quercetin, saying "If you have something that is potentially beneficial, safe, and cheap, what do you have to lose?"

One of the reasons that quercetin may be beneficial against Covid and other viruses is that it may help to reduce viral load, making illness easier for the body to fight off. Our bodies are constantly fighting off invading viruses that we come in contact with as we go about our daily lives. If our body’s immune system is able to fight off those attacks, we stay healthy; it’s when the body is overwhelmed by those invading viruses that we fall ill. Research has shown that quercetin is able to help prevent viruses from replicating and infecting cells, and those benefits have been shown in both in vitro and in vivo studies for a variety of viruses including the common cold. Let me be clear, quercetin is not a magical cure for anything, but I do believe it can help our immune systems to work better to fight off whatever viruses we may come across.

Interestingly, it’s been found that vitamin C increases the effectiveness of quercetin and vice versa, so it's a smart idea to take those two supplements together.

It’s a supplement with good science behind it, and something that has been shown to be safe to take and has been used for many years, so I’d recommend adding it to your supplement regimen this winter along with Vitamin D, Zinc, and Vitamin C.

Vitamin D is a vitamin that’s made in our skin in response to sunlight, but most people are not getting much sun on their skin in the cold weather, which is why our vitamin D levels are usually a lot lower in the winter. Research on Covid patients has found that people who had the lowest levels of vitamin D levels had much more severe illness, which no one wants, so supplementing is a simple way to keep yourself healthy (it’s a tiny, inexpensive pill). Vitamin D is also helpful for bones and calcium absorption, so it’s always a favorite supplement of ours.

Zinc is a mineral that’s also great for the immune system, and most people aren’t getting nearly enough zinc in their diets. Zinc has been shown in research to have a protective effect against respiratory viruses but it also appears to have a regulating effect on the immune system, helping to prevent inflammation and also helping the body’s response to the Coronavirus and other viruses.

Vitamin C helps to enhance immune cell functioning, and we especially recommend the Ester-C form since it has been shown to stay active in the body longer that regular vitamin C. It’s also a non-acidic form of vitamin C that’s gentle on the stomach. The majority of people who had severe Covid symptoms, including critically ill patients, were low in vitamin C. Vitamin C is easily obtained from fresh fruits and vegetables, but unfortunately most American diets are not getting the recommended amounts of fresh product every day, so supplements can be helpful.

Keep in mind, we are not physicians, but each of these supplements has been used for many years to help with immune health, which is even more important this year.

Staying Healthy in 2022

Staying healthy is something we always think about, but the past few weeks I'd say have everyone a little worried since for many of us the number of people we personally know who have gotten sick is definitely increasing, including people who have been vaccinated. We aren't physicians, but from the research available, we definitely feel like everyone should be taking vitamin D, zinc, vitamin C (in the Ester C form), quercetin, and maybe melatonin. Those are all supplements that have been used and recommended for immune and respiratory health for years, and we'd say it's especially important to keep up on that supplement regimen now.

Vitamin D is a vitamin that’s made in our skin in response to sunlight, but most people are not getting much sun on their skin in the cold weather, which is why our vitamin D levels are usually a lot lower in the winter. Research on Covid patients has found that people who had the lowest levels of vitamin D levels had much more severe illness, which no one wants, so supplementing is a simple way to keep yourself healthy (it’s a tiny, inexpensive pill). Vitamin D is also helpful for bones and calcium absorption, so it’s always a favorite supplement of ours.

Zinc is a mineral that’s also great for the immune system, and most people aren’t getting nearly enough zinc in their diets. Zinc has been shown in research to have a protective effect against respiratory viruses but it also appears to have a regulating effect on the immune system, helping to prevent inflammation and also helping the body’s response to the Coronavirus.

Vitamin C helps to enhance immune cell functioning, and the Ester-C form has been shown to stay active in the body longer than regular vitamin C. It’s also a non-acidic form of vitamin C that’s gentle on the stomach.

Quercetin is a plant compound found in many fruits and vegetables. It’s often used for allergies, but it also has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the body and has been shown to be beneficial against viruses. Part of why it works so well is that it’s been shown to can calm down the body’s overactive inflammatory response to viruses as well as helping to prevent viruses from replicating in the body.

Melatonin is usually known as a sleep supplement, but research has shown that melatonin can help with regulating the immune system and has anti-inflammatory effects. One recent large-scale study found that melatonin significantly reduced the risk of death in Covid patients that had been intubated and has also been recommended as a supplement to reduce the severity of Covid symptoms. For immune health we’d suggest using a time-release form before bed and also starting with a lower dose like 2-3 milligrams a day (sometimes if a person starts taking a higher dose without using melatonin previously, they can have sleep disturbances or strange dreams). Here’s a great study on melatonin and Covid-19.

Things are a bit crazy at the moment, but I think we all need to remember that this won't last forever; we just need to get through it.

Physician Recommended Supplements for COVID Prevention

A year ago, by now, I thought Covid would be a thing of the past. With this new Delta variant, it seems we are not out of the woods yet, though I remain hopeful that things will get better. The nasty thing about the Delta variant is that it is much more contagious, and it appears that vaccinated people can also spread the virus and become infected (though generally with a milder case, thankfully). It’s frustrating, because I think we’re all tired of this virus and restrictions and everything else.

I recently read recommendations by a group of physicians who study this virus who have published new supplement regimens that they have deemed as effective for both prevention and mild cases. I’ll mention the relevant recommendations below.

For prevention, they recommend the following: 1,000-3,000mg of vitamin D3 daily, 500-1000mg of vitamin C twice a day, 250mg of quercetin, 30-40mg of zinc, and 6mg of melatonin.

Now, none of these are groundbreaking- they’re the supplements we’d always recommend for the immune system, with the exception of quercetin which is a lesser-known supplement. Still, I just checked on our website (passhealthfoods.com) to check the date, and there’s one of my articles on there from June of 2014 about quercetin. The article goes on to say how great quercetin is for viruses and how it can calm down the inflammatory response to viruses as well as how research has shown it can prevent them from replicating. So as I said, none of these are new supplements, though I’m glad that their benefits are hopefully becoming more well known!

They also recommend taking vitamin C twice a day, which I feel like is kind of a hassle for most people (more the fact of just remembering it two times a day). We have a special type of vitamin C at the store known as Ester-C which has been shown in research to stay active in the body longer than regular vitamin C, so if you use that form we’d say it’s probably comparable to using a regular vitamin C twice a day. It’s also a non-acidic form that’s gentle on the stomach (sometimes high doses of vitamin C can bother people’s stomachs).

Melatonin seems strange to be on the list, since it’s usually known as a sleep supplement, but research has shown that melatonin can help with regulating the immune system and has anti-inflammatory effects. One recent large scale study found that melatonin significantly reduced the risk of death in Covid patients that had been intubated. The Physicians do specifically recommend using a time release formula for maximum effectiveness. Even though melatonin is frequently used for sleep, high doses can sometimes cause sleep disturbances or weird dreams in some people. To prevent those possible side effects, it’s recommended to start with a lower dose and increase gradually.

Zinc and vitamin D3 are of course on the list since they’re both great for the immune system, and we’ve always recommended them during the colder months of the year for staying healthy. Vitamin D has been reported as being incredibly important since the beginning of the pandemic since it has been found that people with low vitamin D levels are much more likely to die from Covid than people with higher levels. Zinc works to help prevent viral replication, which is why it’s often seen as beneficial against any viruses.

The nice thing about the list of supplements that they’re recommending for Covid prevention is that they’re all affordably priced (in fact, I think we have all of them marked down on “every day sale” at our store). Also, all of them are well known vitamins or supplements that have been used safely for many years.

The doses recommended above are for adults, but we do also have children’s supplements available in good tasting natural chewables or gummies for vitamin D3, vitamin C, zinc, and melatonin.

Finally, I’d definitely urge everyone who hasn’t to get vaccinated. I know that sounds strange from a health food store owner, but we do really care about people and don’t want anyone to experience suffering that could be preventable. We had one of our good customers pass away from Covid not that long ago. He was a healthy, vibrant man, and yet when he contracted Covid he became extremely sick and never recovered. I feel like so many people think that since they’re younger or healthy, they’ll be fine, but the thing is, you never know. You don’t know how your body will react to this illness, which is now so easily spread. It breaks my heart to think of the people whose lives have been permanently altered because of this disease. Please take care of yourselves, and do what you can to stay healthy.

Mask Mandates at Pass Health Foods

What a year this has been, but we are so incredibly grateful that things are starting to get back to normal little by little. 

We wanted to address new mask recommendations by the CDC for vaccinated people, and just say that regardless if laws change in our town or state in the coming weeks, we will still require masks to be worn at Pass Health Foods. 

We have many children and other medically vulnerable people who come into our store, and we want Pass Health Foods to continue to be a safe place to be for everyone. We will not be checking people for vaccination cards now or ever, so we ask that everyone please continue to wear masks while shopping in the store.  Additionally, we will continue to offer curb side pickup if you prefer.

We really appreciate each of you, and thank each of you in advance for helping us to keep everyone safe.

Worries about the Coronavirus Vaccine

Dear Carolyn,

What do you think about the coronavirus vaccine?  I am kind of nervous about getting it.

Thanks, John

Dear John,

It’s completely understandable to be nervous about the new coronavirus vaccines, especially for people who generally don’t take medications. There are several things about the vaccine, however, that I feel can help allay those fears.

The two main vaccines we have available, those by Moderna and Pfizer, are known as mRNA vaccines, which are different from the vaccines we have had in the past. Most vaccines that we’re familiar with use dead or inactivated viruses in a vaccine to help our body to be able to fight off that same virus if we encounter it.

These new mRNA vaccines are not made like that, and don’t contain any virus particles. Instead, they help our immune system to be able to recognize a special protein that is on the outside of the COVID-19 virus. The vaccine works by creating that protein in our body, which the immune system can then recognize as something that doesn’t belong and can mount a defense against it. Then later, if we do encounter the coronavirus, our immune system right away can recognize the virus and will already have the tools to fight it off. After getting the vaccine, and after the body makes that special protein, the vaccine is broken down- it doesn’t stay in the body, the only thing is does it to make a small amount of that special protein that’s found on the outside of the coronavirus so our body is ready and has the tools to prevent infections if it sees the COVID-19 virus.

Something else that’s important to know, is that while these specific vaccines were developed relatively quickly, this mRNA technology has actually been in the works for nearly thirty years, and is a really exciting development to make new vaccines and therapies for illnesses that have had no cure, and is right now being worked on for a possible therapy or even a vaccine for cancer, MS, HIV, and more. Science is amazing, and I’m grateful to those researchers who have dedicated their lives to helping to reduce human suffering.

The other thing to think of is that the coronavirus is no joke. If a new vaccine came out for the common cold, I’d be impressed, but I wouldn’t sign up right away, since while a cold is annoying, it’s not life threatening. COVID and this pandemic are completely different. So many people have died, and for those who recover, many can experience long term damage to the lungs, heart, and more. So I feel like any possible risk of the vaccine is overshadowed by the very real threat that the coronavirus poses. Also remember, by this point millions and millions of people have received the vaccine without a problem.

Additionally, there have been concerns in the past about some vaccines containing thimerosal or mercury, though neither the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine contain those or any other preservatives (which may be part of the reason it needs to be stored in sub zero temperatures). I just wanted to mention it, since I know thimerosal has been an issue for some.

COVID-19 has literally stopped normal life. These vaccines are the way for things to get back to normal. We can’t live like this forever, and the more people that get vaccinated, the faster we can return to our lives, and in doing so, many lives will be saved as well. Getting the vaccine is also an act of service in a way, since it is us doing our part to help to reduce the spread, reduce infections, and make things better.

Another thing the vaccine can help with is preventing mutations. Mutations in the coronavirus are a real problem, since a mutation in the virus can change it to make it more contagious or even more deadly. The more people that are vaccinated, the fewer amount of people will be infected, which means that the virus will have less of a chance to mutate.

Virus types like COVID-19 are known for their ability to mutate, just like how the flu does. There are concerns about vaccine effectiveness with these new mutations, and some wonder if it’s even worth it to get vaccinated since there are new virus strains evolving. The good news is the vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer have such a high rate of effectiveness against the coronavirus (both are around 95% effective against the original virus), that even a modest decrease in that effectiveness gives a positive outcome.

When the vaccines were still being developed, health experts were hoping for a vaccine that would be around 80% effective. Thankfully, the vaccines that were developed were a lot better than that, so even a lowering of effectiveness for possible new strains still leaves us in decent shape. Additionally, researchers are working on possible boosters for emerging strains to offer added protection. There’s still a lot we don’t know. It might be that every year we might have to get a booster shot to stay protected. Some researchers have speculated that over time, maybe in a decade, the coronavirus might still be around but with developed immunity may become a form that causes only mild illness, like the common cold; only time will tell.

I completely understand the anxiety about getting the vaccine, though I believe it’s the right thing to do, and I also think there is a lot of misinformation going around regarding the vaccine, which doesn’t help.

Hopefully this article has explained things a bit, and I hope might make someone a little less fearful of getting vaccinated. We need life to get back to normal, beyond just the selfish reasons of how I’d like to go to a restaurant or a play without worrying; there are real problems this pandemic has caused, for children who can’t be in school, for nursing home and older family members who are feeling more isolated than ever, and for the unprecedented rise in mental health issues that many people are experiencing. We need our regular lives back, and realistically, that is not going to happen without the vast majority of people getting vaccinated.

I know I usually write about supplements, so this is a departure from the norm, but when I saw this question I thought it was worth responding to. We do have lots of great supplements for the immune system at the store, and definitely recommend that everyone take a quality vitamin D, zinc, and vitamin C supplement right now (there are others of course, but I’d say those are the big three). Stop by Pass Health Foods if we can answer any questions for you, we love helping people find natural products that can help a person’s specific needs.

Carolyn Johnson is one of the owners at Pass Health Foods at 7228 W. College Drive. Feel free to stop by the store for more information or advice, or look on our website at www.passhealthfoods.com. Pass Health Foods has a very kind and knowledgeable staff.

This column makes no claims to diagnose, treat, prevent, mitigate, or cure diseases with any advice or products. Any health related information in this article is for educational purposes only. If you’d like to submit a question for an upcoming column, email us at passhealthfoods@gmail.com and put Healthy Answers in the subject line. Be well!

Dangers of Buying Supplements Online

Online shopping has exploded in popularity, and understandably so, particularly in this crazy time. I just wanted to mention some new research that has come out which was undertaken by NOW Foods, a local company with quality supplements.

The trouble with all natural supplements is that they are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that pharmaceuticals are, and because of that, many companies have sprung up putting out products that do not match what it says on the label- in many cases having different, lower strengths of ingredients (if it even contained any at all).

This is why it’s important to buy supplements from reputable sellers with reputable brands. You’re not really saving anything buying a cheap product online if it doesn’t really contain the right active ingredients.

This report is NOW’s fifth in 2020 regarding suspect brands whose main sales appear to be on Amazon. Previous reports include: CoQ10, Acetyl-l-Carnitine, SAMe and Phosphatidyl Serine, and now they have just put out a new report on the findings of online Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) supplements (you can follow the links for the individual articles) that found that the products tested averaged less than 50% of the potency advertized on the labels.

Without a doubt shopping online is convenient, but when it comes to supplements, I’d steer clear due to the fact of so many unscrupulous sellers. Also, it’s not just weird brands selling fake supplements, but there have been problems on Amazon that the company has admitted to where Amazon sellers were selling counterfeit supplements of well known brands by relabeling or resealing products with adulterated pills. Even when online sellers are selling genuine products, there can be issues with how supplements are stored and at what temperature, damaging the ingredients-probiotics in particular, but it holds true for all supplements.

Online shopping is a reality of 2020, we just advise caution in regards to supplements.

To make shopping at our store easier, while we will remain open to customers coming in the store, we do also offer curb side pickup, where you can call or email to place an order or ask questions and we will bring it out to your car when you arrive. We can do so in a way that is entirely contactless if desired, putting the bag in your trunk or backseat. Additionally, you can read about our ongoing store safety procedures here.

Call the store to place an order at 708-448-9114 and we will run it out to your car when you arrive. We have a product catalog of our recommended products that you can see on our website here.

New Store Sanitizing Procedures

This week we are having two UV-C air sanitizing systems installed in our heating and air conditioning unit. One to sanitize the air as it enters the heating system and another as it exits as an extra measure of precaution. We have been researching air cleaning systems for a long time now, and settled on these two UV-C units as the best to keep the air clean and disinfected in the store since UV-C lights have been determined to be able to kill COVID-19 specifically. The research on COVID and airborne transmission is worrisome, so it’s important for us to do everything possible to keep people safe in our store. With these UV-C light units, the air in the store will be circulated through them five times an hour, to kill any lingering microbes that may be in the air.

These new UV-C systems are in addition to the two medical-grade HEPA H13 air purifiers we already have in the store. We also have a sanitizing schedule of cleaning all counters and high tough surfaces throughout the day, and carts, pens, and baskets are disinfected after each use. Face masks that cover the mouth and nose continue to be required to shop in the store, and we have hand sanitizer available at both registers and the entrance to the store.

This is a crazy time, but we want people to feel safe in our store. Let us know if you have any other suggestions for us. Additionally, while we are open for customers to shop in our store, we do continue to offer curbside pickup if you prefer. Call the store to place an order at 708-448-9114 and we will run it out to your car when you arrive. We have a product catalog of our recommended products that you can see on our website here.