Wally’s Natural, Auburn, CA                    Date:  3.29.2011

Author:  Allison White

Chocolate as a Health Food?

Can Chocolate actually be healthy and help with my Blood Pressure?

Hey, Doc – I need a prescription!

This is great news to Chocolate lovers like me, and those who worry about Diabetes risk and Heart health. Cocoa consumption was found to improve blood pressure, insulin resistance and sensitivity, blood vessel health, and helped with cholesterol health, according to a recent  Harvard Medical School Study of 2,575 participants.*

I find that I crave a daily dose of semi-sweet bliss, and now I don’t have to feel any guilt. I call it a “food friend with benefits” and my drug of choice.

The sensory experience of the silky texture melting in your mouth is indulgent, but as well as “mouthfeel”, it also helps” brainfeel”.  Cacao releases tension and invokes a joyous state of mind due to its effect on our neurotransmitters. It also has antioxidants as well as minerals such as magnesium and theobrone.

There are “Best in Class” varieties, as far as health benefits go.  I prefer chocolate made with organic raw cocoa and cocoa butter or coconut oil, sweetened with organic agave.  The reason chocolate is considered by many as a “candy” and “decadent and bad” is because often the chocolatier adds ingredients that are not considered healthy, such as refined sugar, and the cocoa bean is  processed at high temperatures, destroying many of the nutrients.

Until recently I didn’t know the difference between raw and “regular” chocolate.  I didn’t know that nibs were pieces of cracked cocoa beans, and I didn’t know that raw meant cooking or dehydrating less than 118 degrees.  I’ve used agave, honey and Stevia for years. agave is my favorite sweetener because of its low glycemic index and flavor.  I think chocolate sweetened with Stevia tasted more delicious than sugar-sweetened chocolate.

After “sampling” treats at the Natural Products Expo I now know that not only are fruits and nuts good additions to chocolates and truffles, but also herbs and Superfoods like  Acai and Aronia berry.  Some organic chocolate companies are adding chili and salt and other unusual but tasty ingredients.

Remember childhood days of hot chocolate?  Indulge the memories and try some hot and healthy chocolate after dinner tonight. Unlike coffee, it is not as acidic and it relaxes, rather than stimulates.  I blend vanilla almond milk, a  teaspoon of protein powder, a squeeze of agave nectar and a spoon full of organic dried cocoa powder.

Since Easter is around the corner, here are a few  “Blender Benders”  Easy Truffles       (without refined sugar or milk).

1 cup of dates, few T. hot water, and ¼ cup melted coconut oil,-blend till creamy-move to bowl and add  ¼ cup of cacao, dash of vanilla extract & agave to taste.  I never measure, so this can be adjusted to your preferred texture and taste.  When thick and creamy and before it hardens, roll spoon size truffles in cacao powder or dried shredded coconut.

If you like experimenting, tahini and cashew butter make healthy truffle fillings mixed with cacao butter.  Add vanilla, agave, raspberries, cranberries or dried blueberries, and some melted coconut oil and make into rounds and spoon over with semi-sweet chocolate.

If you want a source to buy great organic chocolate, here are my fav’s:

Dagoba Organic Chocolate,    Santabarbarachocolate.com and excellent raw vegan chocolate  www.gnosischocolate.com

Enjoy this Incredible Spring sunshine,

Health and happiness,   Allison

*http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/HEALTHbeat_030309.htm#art1

Sunflowers are the symbol for Energy, Perfection and Longevity. They are also awesome big bright blooms-so until the clouds part, brighten up your space with some fresh cut yellow flowers.
Yellow has always been my favorite color. I wrote a series of poems about “Yellow” in college, and whenever I see a big Sunflower I can’t help but smile. After reading new ingredient literature this week I am now an even a bigger fan of the beautiful Sunflower. It may just give the Fountain of Youth a run for it’s money.
Did you know that this flower has been treasured for centuries because Sunflowers turn to face the sun and have represented warmth, power, and nourishment? In China they are a symbol of longevity, and the Incas used it as their royal emblem because of its geometric perfection and believed it had magical powers.

Flower with Power

Recent Lab studies sent from one of our new suppliers from Switzerland has shown that this Sunflower shoot “ active” helps “reconstruct the skins epidermis with normal keratinocytes, and after 4 weeks the ATP production was increased almost as high as in young reconstructed epidermis” . That’s pretty technical jargon, but it sounds like an exciting ingredient to add to some of our future skincare formulations.

Here at Wally’s Natural, we have a Department that researches the latest discoveries and newest natural  ingredients, so that we can continue to bring our valued customers and families the best possible personal care products.

We have just ordered samples of Natural Sunflower shoot extract because we are excited about the health benefits this botanical offers. In the coming months  as we develop our new products, we hope to use quality ingredients like Sunflower shoot extract in our skincare, along with our existing organic essential oils.

Sprouts contain all the nutrients that a plant needs to grow, and that is why seed sprouts are so good for our bodies. They have the most concentrated “protecting” compounds against disease and damage. Mother nature wants the tender shoots to survive and these compounds are proving to have benefits to us humans as well.

Essential Oils made from seeds and flowers are a very concentrated  source  of healing compounds and have been used for centuries. Wally’s Natural uses well know essential oils such as Lavender, Chamomile, Calendula, Echinacea, Gardenia, Chickweed, Tea tree, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon, Mullein, as well as Green tea and Aloe Barbadensis leaf. Wally’s  sources  our Essential oils from Organic growers and always try to support sustainable agriculture.

If you haven’t tried Wally’s Itch-Away Oil or Wally’s Ear Oil, go to our website now and try it. You’ll be hooked. If you are looking for other Natural Products we have some of the best from other manufacturers on our E-Store for your convenience. When you think of Natural care products, we want you to think of us, because we think of you.

- Allison White

So What are the hottest new natural products for 2011?

Cute Sippy Cups are Winning

Dragons blood Extract is just one. Attending the Natural Products Expo 500 exhibits last weekend gave us at Wally’s Natural the chance to preview the line-up of new products from all over the world. Natural does not mean age-old plant remedies and plain foods. Cosmetics, cleaning products, Pet products, baby products and supplements all had new items to display. The latest scientific discoveries involving botanical ingredients and formulations give rise to better safer natural products. A buzz word is  for body products is “Bio-Available”, or the ability  of the body to use the nutrients, energy, and healing properties from products ingredients. Over-heating or pastuerizing may destroy some nutrients, Some ingredients are more potent when combined with other ingredients, or when processed in new ways. We at Wally’s are always interested in what is the best ingredients and products for your health, and care about bio-availability, how we source and package, and in bringing knowledge to you. In the last few years the darlings of the show have been Acai Berry, Aloe leaf juice, Stevia and products with Reservatrol. So what are some of the products getting attention now? Cherry, Baobab, and Maqui products, wheat grass shots, coconut juice products, and agave nector to name a few.

In the food section we decided the raw seaweed biscuits and flax-seed crackers took a backseat in taste to the newest organic chocolates, which are being fortified and improved to help with heart health. A new juice extractor that claims to deliver considerably more juice and more nutrients due to slow mashing rather than spinning was one now on our wish list. Cute Sippy cups for kids using safe plastics and other fun products were on display in the New Products section. We hope to share some of the most interesting with you soon. Keep well!

Alison White

Wally’s Attends the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, CA

Rebecca, Jeff, and Allison at Expo West

Wally’s Team members attended the Expo Trade Show March 10-13, along with over 50,000 other members of the Natural Products Industry.

The venue is a wonderful place to keep informed and educated on cutting edge new technologies and ingredient innovations. One of the most exciting exhibit halls was the “New Products” hall-definitely an E Ticket. We look forward to introducing some of these products to you.

The Show was also a great place to network with Suppliers of raw materials and ingredients, packaging vendors, and distributors and retailers.  There were events like the New Zealand outdoor exhibit where we met some of the leaders and new products from that beautiful “Green” country. There were seminars, and booths for samples and tastings, and celebrity book-signings and autographs.

There were many new products using coconut juice, Maqui and Baobab, Blueberry and Cherry and Papaya products and supplements and many vegan and gluten free food items.

We were pleased to see that no one else at the show offered Outer Ear wipes, and we feel this new exciting product will be a hit.

Stay tuned for more details of our wipes and other products!

So happy to tell you:

*Our new look! If you may have noticed we’ve switched to a new color scheme – we’ve decided to go with a color scheme that matches our all-natural philosophy. Let us know how you like it!

*An exciting new catalog of over 15,000 products for every day natural living! If you’ve visited the site in recent months you’ll have noticed that we’ve been working towards becoming a full service store that can serve you in more ways than ever before. In a few weeks we should have everything completely ready for launch!

*Sadly I’ll be focusing on doing more research/analysis and less blogging in this new stage of Wally’s development, but it has been a pleasure getting to communicate with the masses reading Natural Nation.

* Happily, Cirbie will be taking over as the head blogger/writer here pretty shortly, and I hope you all enjoy her wit and heart!!

Much love from the Wally’s Natural team,

All the Best,

Hudson

Consider Ear Oil

Medicinenet says:

” The skin on the outer part of the ear canal has special glands that produce ear wax, also known as cerumen. The purpose of this natural wax is to protect the ear from damage and infections. Normally, a small amount of wax accumulates and then dries up and falls out of the ear canal, carrying with it unwanted dust or sand particles.

Ear wax is helpful to coat the skin of the ear canal where it acts as a temporary water repellent. The absence of ear wax may result in dry, itchy ears, and even infection.

Unfortunately, many people suffer from hearing loss and discomfort from excess wax. All the scientific evidence is against using cotton swabs (like the leading brand of X-tips). Just one out of countless published examples, the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit cites patients who have pushed cotton swabs too far down their ear drum or too hard, which can “deafen a patient, cause vertigo, shatter the eardrum, or even paralyze the face .”

One solution that appears effective and safe on your ears and your wallet is ear oil – The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide recommends using a few drops to “soften and lubricate the earwax” so it will come out on its own easier. You don’t need a prescription to get it, and you can get an ounce (of which a single does is only a few drops) for under 10 dollars. However, Be sure to NEVER use ear drops if you think you may have a perforated ear drum:

This warning (also from medicinenet.com) is consistent with all professional medical advice that I’ve seen:

“If the person does try OTC ear wax softeners, it is imperative to know that he or she does not have a perforated (punctured) eardrum prior to using the product. Putting ear wax softeners in the ear in the presence of a perforated eardrum may cause an infection in the middle ear. Similarly, simply washing one’s ear in the presence of a perforation may start an infection. If a person is uncertain whether or not he or she has a perforation (hole) in the eardrum, consult a physician. Some individuals may also be hypersensitive to products designed to soften ear wax.
Therefore, if pain, tenderness or a local skin rash develops, the use of these drops should be discontinued.”

If you’re interested in trying a new method of cleaning your ears, ear oil could be the solution you have been looking for.

Wally’s Natural Ear Oil is the #1 Selling Ear Oil with natural ingredients. Try it today!

References:
http://www.medicinenet.com/ear_wax/article.html

http://www.physorg.com/news204910460.html

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/got-an-ear-full.shtml

The weekend really rejuvenated my spirit, which sometimes feels dulled after long days at the office. Was it the fact that I was treating myself or that I was taking myself out of my routine? I think it was a little bit of both, and I think there’s a lesson in there that we can incorporate into our daily routines to make a positive change (It’s what Wally’s is all about!). The very act of incorporating change can be invigorating, even if that change is incorporated into something that is routine – like work. Changing the way I complete an assignment at work; sitting up straighter, breathing deeply, and remembering how what I’m doing right now relates to my long term goals – these small efforts at awareness both clarify perspective and build discipline. Little changes like these have a way of spilling over into ‘bigger’ parts of our life – our attitudes, our health, our relationships and our performance at our jobs. That kind of awareness is what Yoga is all about – and practicing Yoga extends beyond stretching our bodies. Stretching our minds and practicing awareness builds the discipline and character we have to fall back on when we struggle – and only during struggle do we grow. Its a fact of life – whether you’re struggling to integrate exercise and diet into a busy and demanding schedule, whether you’re trying really hard not to bark at the kids when they act up – practicing awareness in the ‘in-between’ moments will help you achieve your goals. It works for me.

Get in touch with us on facebook and twitter to join the conversation. I’d love to discuss awareness, yoga, change, and whatever else is on your minds.

All the best,

Hudson

My Subaru Outback, though a bastion of love, reliability, and understated style (love for my car will be a recurring theme throughout the life of this blog; Subarus Unite!), takes a while to warm up in the morning, and we’ve been having a string of below freezing nights, so my day started off in a shivering and harried mess. If you’re like me, that’s a prescription for stress, and if you’re like me (a lot of assuming going on here today) you treat stress like the whooping cough. Yet this morning I woke up with a song on my lips.

The reason why?

What I drove by to get from Lincoln into our offices in north Auburn:

This is what its like driving the 193. And as cheesy as it sounds, all I could think about while driving (without any regard for traffic law) was how blessed we are to inhabit and work on this earth. And not just to be here but  to feel an emotional response from it, to understand just how miraculous and unlikely everything truly is. As an undergrad at UCSC (go Slugs!), I studied some decently advanced statistical theory – and one of the most humbling things I learned from that experience was that given the scientific facts of our reality ; the hugeness of the universe, the strange evolution of life on earth, the strange combination of factors that has led us to develop an (apparently) unique human consciousness, etc.. – they’re all incredibly unlikely. Like 1 in a googol small. In stats that kind of small is literally indistinguishable from 0. That means that in a sense, our existence is so unlikely that it would be overlooked as an impossible in a scientific study. In the true sense of the word miraculous, which I understand as the impossible happening before your eyes, every single day of our existence is a miracle!

The country up here inspires me to this kind of revelry. The land, we seem to forget, provides for us every day. The trees give us air to breathe, the earth gives us food and home. No amount of chemistry, touch screen technology, or finance can ever replace the bounty that nature provides us. And that’s why I’m excited to come to work each day. We maintain an almost religious belief about how the earth provides for us. Wally’s commitment to 100% all-natural is no joke – The herbs, the oils, the minerals that are found underneath our feet every day have true healing power. Given how miraculous the earth’s bounty are, from the most obvious fruit hanging from a tree’s limb or the vaccine for polio growing from a monkey’s kidney tissue, it makes sense that the natural world can provide for us in other and varied ways.

We at Wally’s don’t oppose technology when it truly benefits mankind; but like all things, it needs to be taken in balance. Maintaining a healthy ratio of natural to synthetic products in all aspects of our life is crucial to living well. From food to skin care to vitamins and more, showing respect for Mother Nature’s bounty is showing respect for our selves; we’re as much a part of this world as the herbs or the minerals or the bees.

Check out our store for great ways on adding more natural to your life.

All the best

Hudson

It’s been a while since we last checked in…I hope you all have been sticking to your New Year’s resolutions and are nurturing your well-being! If any of you are still pursuing weight loss as a part of your path towards holistic health, check out our Formulas and Supplements section of the store, where we offer all-natural aids to help you achieve your fitness goals. As you’re working to construct a more balanced and aware life for yourself,  consider integrating some homeopathic remedies and vitamins (like Emergen-C, or these joint health vitamins) into your plan – we at Wally’s believe that living well takes a well-rounded commitment. For great advice on intelligent living, this blog by Inger Wilkerson is a great source for ideas on nutrition and lifestyle for natural, environmentally-conscious citizens (like you and us!).

This pretty much says it all…

This pretty much says it all...but it's not as hard as it looks!

All of the goals and striving we take on (whether its weight loss, reducing our environmental footprint or simply taking time out of our day for relaxation with some bath salts and candle aromatherapy), all the effort we put in to make positive changes will never reach their full potential unless its approached holistically and naturally – there’s no reason that the weight we’re going to be losing can’t be accompanied by even bigger gains in our nutritional and spiritual  welfare.

And here I defer to some appropriate wisdom…

“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”
Henry Ellis

Let’s take these cold winter months as opportunity to let go of old habits, old ways of living, and hold on to what we care about most; our family, friends, health, and this beautiful Earth.

Here in our Northern California offices we’ve been nurturing our well-being by restructuring our staff, adding some friendly faces, getting this blog up and running, and much more… all while maintaining our unfailing commitment to 100% all-natural quality! We’re also getting ready for some even bigger changes to come for our little company…more information on that coming soon, so stay tuned.

A lot has been happening here at Wally’s, and we have been working around the clock to ensure www.wallysnatural.com is providing you with the absolute best in selection, service, quality, and price. If any of you have any suggestions, comments, or questions about living naturally or the content in this blog and at wallysnatural.com, please e-mail me personally (hudson@wallysnatural.com) so we can continue to improve and serve you all better.

Now go achieve your goals! We at Wally’s are here to help…and we know you can do it.

All the best,

Hudson