I feel like this is a crazy sounding supplement, but I wanted to write about it anyways, because it really does seem to work. It's meant to help detoxify alcohol from your system and help with preventing the side effects that can come with drinking alcohol like headaches or hangovers.
Let me be clear, I'm not advocating excessive drinking, but December and the holidays can be times when we may indulge more than we normally would due to festivities or parties.
Liz had tried this after we had got it in because she was visiting her daughter at Notre Dame and there were a lot of celebrations that she went to with other parents. She said she brought along a little baggie of these (they recommend taking one capsule before each alcoholic beverage). She said she used them and couldn't believe that she didn't have any side effects like a headache or feeling bad the next day after using the anti alcohol complex.
I wanted to mention it because I thought it might be useful during the holidays and New Year's since the ingredients help to detoxify the liver and help the body recover from the effects of alcohol.
The recommendation is to take one capsule before each alcoholic beverage or else five capsules before or after drinking. We have this and all of our Life Extension products on sale every day for 20% off at Pass Health Foods, so stop by and see us for more information or if you have any questions.
Starting the New Year by Burning Sage
Many people burn sage as a cleansing and purifying practice, helping to cleanse a space of negative energy. Some feel that sage helps them to feel grounded and more connected to the spiritual realm, while others feel that burning sage helps to reduce "bad vibes".
Even if you don't really believe in sage’s ability to cleanse a space of negative energy, I do think there is value in continuing historical traditions that connect us to the past.
People have burned sage and other herbs in many different cultures around the world for at least 4,000 years. Native Americans and other Indigenous Peoples have used burning sage to clear negative energy and restore harmony, and also as a sacred practice.
This is an interesting article by the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, The Sacred Art of Smudging, that also has information about burning different herbs:
"There are three primary herbs used in the Native American tradition for smudging: sage, cedar and sweetgrass.
Sage is used to dispel negative energy.
Cedar is used for an overall blessing or to cleanse where there has been illness.
Sweetgrass draws in positive energy"
We have all three of the above varieties at the store.
It’s recommended that non-native people call the practice of burning sage smoke cleansing rather than smudging, since the word "smudging" is associated with practices of the Native American people, though burning sage or other herbs has been used in many cultures, including the ancient Egyptians and Celts.
Burning sage or smoke cleansing seems like a nice thing to do to start the New Year on a positive note.
To light a stick of sage or other herbs, hold it at a 45 degree angle and light one end. Let the stick burn for roughly 30 seconds before gently blowing out. The sage bundle will continue to smolder similar to how an incense stick would. Many people use the same sage stick multiple times, though others recommend using a new stick if safe each time you do a purification ritual.
A small bowl of sand or dirt can help to extinguish a sage stick after a cleansing, but it should also extinguish itself after a time. You can also stamp the sage stick out in a ceramic bowl to extinguish it.
When cleansing a home, it should be done in a thoughtful, respectful, and meditative way, walking clockwise beginning at the front door around the indoor perimeter of the home, allowing the sage smoke to penetrate dark corners and closets.
Burning sage can be a nice way to begin the New Year in a positive way.
Stop by and see us at 7228 W. College Drive in Palos Heights.
Furry Friends and the 4th
The fireworks on the 4th (and 3rd of July in Palos Heights) are wonderful to watch, but for many pets it can be a rough time. We have two products I wanted to recommend that we think can really help pets to feel calmer during the holiday.
The first is Vital Planet Calm for Pets. They’re soft chews with relaxing supplements that are safe for pets that can help them to feel less stressed and anxious. The nice thing about these treats is that they don’t need to be used daily for them to be effective; they can be used as needed and can really make a difference.
Another long time favorite is our Green Gorilla CBD for Pets (in liquid or lamb dog treats). They’re best known for pain relief for older dogs, but just like how CBD can help with stress and anxiety in humans, it can also help pets to feel relaxed and less stressed.
Stop in the store before the 4th (we’ll be closed on Monday for the holiday) to pick something up for your pet that can help them get through what might be a stressful time for them.
Holiday Help: Stress, Depression, and More
We wanted to share a few articles from our website that might be helpful this month:
Help for Stress Free Holidays
This month’s focus is on having a happy, healthy, and stress-free December. The holidays are a time of togetherness and love, but it can also be a time of heightened stress, anxiety, and depression for many. There are a number of very effective natural products which can help each of us to make it through these weeks in more calm, positive state. Read more on our website.
Holiday Wellness Survival Guide
The holidays are a wonderful time of joy, togetherness, and goodwill… but they can also be a time of stress, anxiety, digestive maladies, and weight gain. We put this Holiday Wellness Survival Guide together to hopefully cope with the latter so we can experience more of the former. Read more on our website.
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Holiday Wellness Survival Guide
The holidays are a wonderful time of joy, togetherness, and goodwill… but they can also be a time of stress, anxiety, digestive maladies, and weight gain. I put this Holiday Wellness Survival Guide together to hopefully cope with the latter so we can experience more of the former.
Stress and Anxiety
December usually heralds in party after party while we juggle work and family. While these get-togethers can be wonderful, they can also cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. L-Theanine is an amino acid derived from green tea that works very well to curb anxiety, without tiredness. Studies have shown that theanine stimulates alpha brain waves, which are associated with relaxation and mental clarity. Theanine can be taken daily or just on days when you know you’ll be going into a situation that can be stressful. Another supplement that many people find helpful for stress and anxiety is the herb valerian, which is known by many as “nature’s Valium”. Valerian is best known for its benefit as a sleep aid, but in lower doses, it is very effective at reducing anxiety, though unlike Xanax or valium it is completely non-addictive.
Digestion
The holidays are a time when we eat many foods that we ordinarily don’t, and that fact can bring on many digestive complaints like bloating, stomach upset, and gas. Digestive enzymes are very effective in treating digestive complaints at the cause instead of simply trying to mask a symptom of poor digestion.
Our bodies naturally contain digestive enzymes, though the number of digestive enzymes naturally present in our bodies decrease as we age, increasing digestive problems. Digestive enzymes work by helping to naturally break down food in the stomach, so that food is digested more easily. How many times have you overeaten and then felt like there was a brick in your stomach? Digestive enzymes help with that problem. By helping food to digest properly, they can help keep problems like bloating, stomach upset, and gas away since food is more easily digested.
Avoiding Weight Gain
Weight loss, or wanting to avoid packing on holiday pounds is on many people’s minds this season. It’s easy to overeat and consume many more calories than we ordinarily would at holiday parties. A good suggestion is to avoid “grazing” at holiday buffets. When you take the time to fill up a plate and sit down to eat it can help you realize how much you’re eating instead of mindlessly eating calorie after calorie standing over the appetizer table. One supplement that can be especially beneficial to prevent holiday overeating is glucomannan.
Glucomannan is a type of fiber (available in easy to swallow capsules) that expands many times its size in a person’s stomach, helping them to feel more full. By taking glucomannan before a holiday party it can help you to feel more in control of your eating, since you won’t feel as hungry. Glucomannan is nice because it’s stimulant-free, so it can be taken at night and won’t keep you up when it’s time for sleep.
Staying Healthy
As the weather gets colder, sickness becomes more and more prevalent- a lack of fresh air and being indoors is a big contributing factor. There has even been recent research that has suggests that much of the increase in illness during winter is as a result of vitamin D deficiency (our body manufactures vitamin D from skin exposure to sunlight). One recent study involving African-American postmenopausal women found a 60% reduced risk of colds and influenza for those taking 800 IU/d vitamin D3 and 90% reduced risk for those taking 2000 IU/d.
Elderberry syrup is another supplement which is great for the immune system- especially combating against viruses, specifically the flu. In one study, a clinical trial on patients displaying full-blown flu symptoms took place in Israel in the middle of a flu epidemic. Half were given the black elderberry extract and half a placebo. Within 48 hours 75% of patients who had been given elderberry had clearly improved and within 72 hours 90% were symptom-free. Only 16% of patients on placebos had shown any improvement after two days, and the rest took at least six days to recover.
Another supplement that is especially effective on viruses is a mushroom complex called AHCC. AHCC is a common supplement to be taken by cancer patients, for its anti-tumor benefits, but is beneficial in combating the flu as well. AHCC is commonly prescribed in Asia for immune health. Both human and animal studies have shown AHCC’s ability to enhance the activity of natural killer cells (NK cells). Those NK cells are the first defense for the body’s immune system and are able to launch a rapid attack against foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses while the other parts of the immune system are still mobilizing. A quick immune response to bacteria and viruses can often make the difference between getting sick or staying well.
The last supplement I’d recommend that’s a favorite of ours for immune health is Irwin Naturals Immuno Shield, which is a very well put together combination of several different herbs, probiotics, and more to help boost the immune system. It can be taken in low doses as a preventative measure, or in higher concentrations if you do get sick. We’ve found it really does help to get you better faster.