Photo credit: Muffet via Flickr

Recently, a young girl named Elise conducted an experiment that shows us why buying local and organic food is a better choice. She created a video explaining her experiment and uploaded it to YouTube (see the video below). Her experiment was to see how long it would take for a sweet potato to grow vines. She purchased the sweet potato from her local grocery store and placed it in water with toothpicks to suspend it. She waited three weeks with no results. Elise tried again with a second sweet potato for three additional weeks with no results.

Elise returned to the grocery store and was told that the sweet potatoes she purchased would not produce vines because they are sprayed with Bud Nip to keep them from sprouting. She then purchased an “organic” sweet potato from the same grocery store. The sweet potato finally sprouted a few small vines after four weeks. Elise finally purchased a sweet potato from a local farmer’s market. The sweet potato practically sprouted a tree after only just one week! Elise then researched what Bud Nip is and reveals that it is Chlorpropham.

According to Cornell University, “Chlorpropham is a plant growth regulator used for pre-emergence control of grass weeds in alfalfa, lima and snap beans, blueberries, cane berries, carrots, cranberries, ladino clover, garlic, seed grass, onions, spinach, sugar beets, tomatoes, safflower, soybeans, gladioli and woody nursery stock. It is also used to inhibit potato sprouting and for sucker control in tobacco”. It is moderately toxic by ingestion, but chronic exposure of laboratory animals has caused “retarded growth, increased liver, kidney and spleen weights, congestion of the spleen and death”. Long-term exposure may cause tumors, and in one experiment the chemical initiated skin cancer in mice. Chlorpropham has the potential to contaminate groundwater, and is strongly absorbed by organic matter. With so many negatives, it makes one wonder why a chemical like this is used at all?

The answer…Bud Nip keeps produce from sprouting during transport and while it sits on the shelves of a grocery store, thereby enabling the grocer to sell older produce without anyone being the wiser. Less waste equals more profit.

Now that we know just what we’re getting when we don’t buy local, let’s look at a few benefits of what we get when we do. Local foods have the widely known benefit of being fresher and tasting better, but they also usually have less environmental impact and support your local economy. They don’t need to be shipped from across the country, and therefore leave a far smaller carbon footprint. Buying local also means you know who and where your food comes from, which means you know a lot more about the food you’re buying.

So, the next time you have a choice to buy local and organic or to save money, hopefully you’ll look for ways to save money elsewhere and visit your local farmer’s market. In this case, you really do get what you pay for. Buy local. Buy organic!

What do you think about Elise’s experiment? We’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below or on our Facebook or Twitter pages.

Source: (http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/carbaryl-dicrotophos/chlorpropham-ext.html)

Photo Credit: alanagkelly via Flickr

The holidays are upon us, and for those of you looking for an interesting and flavorful alternative for your dinner table this Fall, Heather Short has an outstanding recipe utilizing Barlean’s Forti-Flax in her Turkey Meatballs recipe on YouTube!

Heather added Barlean’s Forti-Flax, a nutritional powerhouse on its own, with delicious local vegetables and spices to the ground turkey. Heather’s recipe makes two dozen succulent meatballs work well as a side dish or with your favorite spaghetti recipe!

Barlean’s Forti-Flax, our highest-quality milled flaxseed, gives that extra nutty pop of flavor to the ground turkey. Forti-Flax is a rich source of Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids, dietary fiber, protein, amino acids, and trace minerals; it is 100% certified organic, Kosher certified, GMO-free, and free of pesticides and herbicides. There is no doubt when using it in this Turkey recipe or a new creation of your own,  you are getting the very best as Nature intended it!

Heather’s recipe is quick and easy, but more importantly, it is a HEALTHY choice. You’re getting a great source of “what you need” from the turkey and vegetables, but the Forti-Flax really takes it to a new level. This recipe comes just in time to fight the holiday “bulge”, and trying healthy alternatives like this might be the kick in the pants that some of us need this year.  Change doesn’t often happen overnight, but it CAN happen, one meal at a time.

Thank you Heather for such a delectable recipe!

If you found this video helpful, please let us know what you think in the comments below.  You can also contact us on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

Other Barlean’s Forti-Flax ideas:

• On top of your Oatmeal in the morning, for a healthy cholesterol high fiber start to your day

• Rolled in sliced up banana wheels, for an easy potassium rich natural energy snack for lunch or after school.

Check out www.barleans.com for Barlean’s Organic Oils complete product selection, and to find your closest store location.   

Happy cooking!!!

By Herb Joiner-Bey, ND

As school bells ring in a new academic year, parents want to give their children a learning edge to increase chances for future success. To nurture developing young brains and inquisitive minds, parents need look no further than the essential omega-3 fatty acids – building blocks for brain cells (neurons). Neurons use the omega-3s ALA (as in flaxseed oil), as well as EPA and DHA (as in fish oil), to build new tissue and nerve fibers to communicate with each other. Moreover, a special group of brain hormones called neuroprotectins, synthesized from DHA, is critical to maintaining the structure and function of brain tissue. Researches have also concluded that omega-3s can improve learning ability and behavior in children. The only question is — how do we get kids to take omega-3s? The answer is now easy – Barlean’s Omega Swirls. A proprietary process turns award-winning Barlean’s Organic Flaxseed Oil and / or Fish Oils into acclaimed, pre-emulsified Omega Swirls with the delicious taste and texture of fruit smoothies that kids love. Because the oils are pre-emulsified, their absorption into the blood stream has proven to be nine times that of non-emulsified oils. That means that a small amount of tasty Omega Swirl can have an enormous positive impact on your child’s brain development. Adjust the dose according to your child’s body weight. This school year, let Barlean’s Omega Swirls give your child a nutritional brain boost and a step up for future success.

For more information on Barlean’s great tasting Omega Swirl products, please visit our website: www.barleans.com, call us at 800-445-3529, or send an email to info@barleans.com

Best of health!

Most of us want to figure out ways to live longer. Obviously, this starts with your health. And while many look for a magic pill to make everything better, life just does not work that way. There are certain pills, such as omega-3 supplements, that will certainly help you on your journey, but those alone will not keep you healthy for very long.

First, eat a proper diet. Get plenty of fruits and vegetables every day, first and foremost. Your body needs to be running on proper fuel. Next, get plenty of exercise as well. Keeping your heart in great shape will help keep the rest of you in good shape too. Even exercising lightly for a few times a week can pay off big dividends in the health of your body, as well as your energy levels. Keep your stress levels under control. Even emotional and psychological fatigue can cause problems with your body and your health. Find a proper outlet for dealing with your stress. Finally, take daily vitamins and omega-3 supplements to keep your body properly nourished with nutrients.

With a multivitamin combined with the wonderful benefits of omega-3 supplements, you can give yourself the best chance to avoid sickness and keep yourself in top shape. Make your health a priority in your  life and you will see the quality of your life change dramatically for the better. Omega-3 supplements, in particular, are great for your heart and they combat the bad side effects of other, poor quality foods.

Fish oil supplements, derived from the tissues of oily fish, contain two essential fatty acids, EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that, combined, deliver many health benefits, including the reduction of inflammation throughout the body. Although fish themselves do not produce the oil, they accumulate omega-3 fatty acids through the consumption of micoalgae or other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Per 3-ounce serving, Salmon carries the highest concentration of omega-3 fatty acids (1.1-1.9g), followed by predatory fish shark, swordfish and tilefish (.83-.97g). High concentrations are also found in Halibut (.60-1.12g) and flounder (.48). Though frequently consumed, canned tuna falls at the lower end of the scale (.21-24). While the American Heart Association recommends the consumption of 1g of fish oil daily for patients with coronary heart disease, eating fresh fish every day may not be a part of most people’s regular diet or may not attain to the dosage recommended. Fish oil supplements fill in what may otherwise be missing from natural foods.

Among the health benefits, studies in the Cancer Epidemiology journal indicate that patients who took fish oil supplements had a 32% lower risk of breast cancer (causal relationship undetermined). Three diseases for which the US National Institutes of Health recommend the use of omega-3 acids include: hypertriglyceridemia, secondary cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure (but not to exceed 3g daily).

Other studies in England and Finland suggest that omega-3 fatty acids are responsible for neuronal growth of the frontal cortex of the brain that may affect personal behavior, producing less agitation. An Australian study records the use of omega-3 to prevent schizophrenia, and onset in patients after 1 year reduced by 8 times. It is also purported that fish oil may exert a neuroprotective action in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and some depressive patients, which reduces depletion of dopamine.

Fish oil supplementation is recommended during pregnancy for fetal brain, nervous system, and visual sensory development, because of insufficient western diets, as well as for reduction of an infant’s food allergies and severe skin sensitivity. Omega-3 fish oil benefits both the mother and child, especially when breast-feeding.

Additional health benefits of fish oil supplements, such as Barlean’s Fish Oil Supplements, and EPA / DHA continued to be researched.

Fish oil supplements, derived from the tissues of oily fish, contain two essential fatty acids, EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that, combined, deliver many health benefits, including the reduction of inflammation throughout the body. Although fish themselves do not produce the oil, they accumulate omega-3 fatty acids through the consumption of micoalgae or other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Per 3-ounce serving, Salmon carries the highest concentration of omega-3 fatty acids (1.1-1.9g), followed by predatory fish shark, swordfish and tilefish (.83-.97g). High concentrations are also found in Halibut (.60-1.12g) and flounder (.48). Though frequently consumed, canned tuna falls at the lower end of the scale (.21-24). While the American Heart Association recommends the consumption of 1g of fish oil daily for patients with coronary heart disease, eating fresh fish every day may not be a part of most people’s regular diet or may not attain to the dosage recommended. Fish oil supplements fill in what may otherwise be missing from natural foods.

Among the health benefits, studies in the Cancer Epidemiology journal indicate that patients who took fish oil supplements had a 32% lower risk of breast cancer (causal relationship undetermined). Three diseases for which the US National Institutes of Health recommend the use of omega-3 acids include: hypertriglyceridemia, secondary cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure (but not to exceed 3g daily).

Other studies in England and Finland suggest that omega-3 fatty acids are responsible for neuronal growth of the frontal cortex of the brain that may affect personal behavior, producing less agitation. An Australian study records the use of omega-3 to prevent schizophrenia, and onset in patients after 1 year reduced by 8 times. It is also purported that fish oil may exert a neuroprotective action in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and some depressive patients, which reduces depletion of dopamine.

Fish oil supplementation is recommended during pregnancy for fetal brain, nervous system, and visual sensory development, because of insufficient western diets, as well as for reduction of an infant’s food allergies and severe skin sensitivity. Omega-3 fish oil benefits both the mother and child, especially when breast-feeding.

Additional health benefits of fish oil supplements, such as Barlean’s Fish Oil Supplements, and EPA / DHA continued to be researched.

Cardiovascular disease is the biggest health risk facing Americans today, causing numerous health emergencies and deaths. There are many ways to lower your risk of cardiac problems, such as exercising and avoiding cigarettes. Managing your diet can often be one of the most important factors in improving cardiac health. In addition to avoiding red meat and saturated fats, you can improve the health of your heart if Omega 3 fatty acids are added to your diet.

There has been a great deal of research connecting the health of your heart to Omega 3 fatty acid consumption. In one study, it was found that one gram per day of Omega 3 fatty acids reduced the occurrence of death, cardiovascular death and sudden cardiac death by 20%, 30% and 45%, respectively, for patients with a recent myocardial infarction. Omega 3 fatty acids have also been found to work well in conjunction with statin drugs to lower cholesterol.

For anyone seeking to improve the health of his or her heart, Omega 3 fatty acids are a sound choice. One of the simplest options for increasing your Omega 3 fatty acid consumption is by taking fish oil supplements, such as those available from Barleans. With many varieties of fish oil supplements, available both in oil and in capsule form, there are numerous options to suit anyone’s fish oil needs. The benefits Omega 3 fatty acids have to your cardiovascular health are invaluable, making fish oil a smart choice for the health-conscious consumer.

Fish oil has been used for decades as a health supplement. Derived from the tissues of oily fish, the oil is very high in Omega-3 fatty acids, is thought by many to have a wide range of health benefits, ranging from the improvement of skin and hair, to reducing levels of bad cholesterol, to increasing mental health and acuity. With respect to pregnancy, fish oil can provide health benefits both to the expectant mother and her unborn child.

During pregnancy, fish oil can be an important factor in the health and wellness of the mother and child. Having good nutrition and health is perhaps never more important than when pregnant. Not only is the mother’s health and wellbeing a major concern, but so is that of the baby, who needs optimal care even before birth. To that end, fish oil is a valuable supplement for expectant mothers concerned with supporting their overall wellness. It can improve blood glucose and energy, two things that are absolutely imperative to keeping an unborn child healthy.

People who take fish oil supplements have experienced many positive results and have strengthened their overall health. While it is clear that the health benefits during pregnancy fish oil provides are positive for both the expectant mother and her child, but fish oil is a good nutritional supplement for the whole family. Parents, grandparents, and children can all enjoy the positive effects of taking fish oil as a nutritional supplement. The benefits to both mental and physical health make fish oil a smart choice for any health-conscious individual.

ATTN: Expo West Attendees

Well, it’s that time of year again. It’s time for the world’s largest natural, organic and healthy products trade show of the year, Natural Products Expo West.  This year you can find Barlean’s Organic Oils presenting in booth #1532.

For the entire show, Barlean’s will be serving Omega Swirl based protein smoothies that are simply amazing! Kudos to our R & D team for coming up with another hit. We will also be releasing two of our newest products.  The first is our Olive Leaf Complex Throat Spray for enhanced immune support and sore throat relief. The other is our EPA/DHA rich 180 count Fresh Catch Salmon Oil softgels.

We will also be hosting two live radio shows. On Friday, ”The Frankie Boyer Show” will be streaming live from 12-2 pm and on Saturday, ”The Staying Healthy Show” with Jeffrey Burke, M.H, will be streaming from 2-4 pm.

Finally, for those of you interested in show specials, we will be offering a 15% line discount for any wholesale orders placed at our booth.

Here is a list of the special guests who will also be making appearances at Barlean’s booth:

• Dr. Christine Horner – Surgeon, Author, National Speaker
• Dr. Robert Wildman- Nutrition Expert , Author, Health & Fitness Educator
• Teresa Tapp- Exercise Physiologist, Creator of T-Tapp
• David Steinman – Author, Editor of Healthy Living
• Dr. Ward Bond - 27-year Industry Veteran & Nutritional Living TV Show Host
• Stacy Stengel – Sports Nutrition Specialist, Fitness America Physique Competitor
• Ashley Koff, R.D. – Hollywood’s Dietician & Founder of AKA Approved
• Christa Orecchio – Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Counselor    

The following short video is from the 2010 show. Here, Dr. Ward Bond interviews Barlean’s CEO Jade Beutler on the benefits of Essential Fatty Acids:

So, if you happen to be in Anaheim this week for Expo West 2011, please stop by our booth and say hello!  If you’re running short on time and need us to “meet you in the middle”, we’ll also be available during the show via our Twitter (@barleans) and Facebook accounts (www.facebook.com/barleans). We promise to get back to you right away!

In the words of the late, great John Denver “All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go”. Can’t wait to meet you at Natural Products Expo!

By now most people have heard of the importance of essential fatty acids to a nutritious diet and a healthy body. However, not everyone is acting on this information – yet. Experts estimate that fully 80 percent of the American population is deficient in these important elements.

Essential fatty acids are peculiar in that the human body absolutely needs them for many important functions, but it cannot manufacture them itself. That leaves your diet the task of making up for this, and unfortunately, many people’s diets fall short.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are two families of this supplement. The human body requires a balanced combination of both for optimum performance. Most people take in too many omega-6 fats, and not enough omega-3 sources. This is where supplements come in.

Excellent sources of essential fatty acids include flax oil (also known as flax seed oil), flax oil capsules, fish oil, fish oil capsules, and special flax seed supplements like Barlean’s Forti-Flax, which also includes valuable fiber, amino acids, and trace minerals. Such supplements are truly one-stop shops for your and your family’s improved personal health.

Incorporating essential fatty acids into your diet is not difficult, and the advantages are overwhelming. All you and your loved ones need is a supplement once a day – flax oil mixed into your breakfast, or a few capsules with your coffee – and you will be on the road to an infinitely more vibrant, energetic life.

To find a great source of these important nutrients near you, consult Barlean’s store locator online at Barleans.com, and enjoy your new, healthy life!