Covenant Natural Health Care

Healthy Alternative

Typical grocery stores unfortunately don't cater to healthy eaters or people with food allergies. While I've noticed a positive change in the ratio between processed food aisles and organic, healthy food aisles, the healthy food aisles have a long way to go before catching up to the others.

The tri-state is lucky to have some natural health food stores within 45-60 minute drive. CNHC is highlighting Healthy Alternative this week.

7570 Burlington Pike
Florence, KY 41042
(859) 282-5888

My experience with this business has always been positive. The employees are friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help. Most products are priced competitively, but I do find that their frozen meat products are little expensive, so I try to buy them locally.

If you're struggling to find foods that meet your dietary needs (gluten-, soy-, dairy-, and/or wheat-free) Healthy Alternative is a good place to check out. They even carry some cleaning products that I haven't been able to find elsewhere, like Dr. Bronner's Sals Suds (mentioned in this post).

Because some smaller businesses don't have websites to browse (like Healthy Alternatives), it may be beneficial to call them for hours and to see if they carry the products you're looking for before going— especially if you live more than 30 minutes away.

healing hands

In addition to supplying your body with the nutrients it needs to be healthy, there are additional natural, alternative therapies that encourage wellness and healing—one being massage therapy.

According to massagetherapy.com these are just a few of the benefits of a massage:

• Ease medication dependence.
• Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.
• Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
• Increase joint flexibility.
• Lessen depression and anxiety.
• Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
• Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
• Reduce spasms and cramping.
• Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.

I don't know about you, but within 5 minutes of laying on a massage table I'm out like a light. In addition to the benefits highlighted above, getting a massage from a licensed massage therapist is a good chance to get away to a quiet, calm place and relax. No cell phone, computer, kids—just a dark room, warm table, and the soothing smell of essential oils.

Here are a few places that I recommend:

Wellness Therapy—Joyce Wicklund, Florence KY

Sia Spa—Kenwood, Ohio

Pure Concepts Salon & Spa—Kenwood and Mason, Ohio

In fact, I'm about ready to head to Pure Concepts for a little R+R and a deep tissue massage. Going to kick some stress to the curb and reap all the benefits of a soothing massage.

Always ask the spa or therapist what types of oils they use on your skin. It's OK to question whether or not there are chemical or paraben type ingredients in their products. Or, you can do like I do and bring your own. I highly recommend the 3-in-1 eucalyptus mint + lime oil from Good Fortune Soap. It smells amazing, lasts forever, and is seriously calming. Get $5 off your purchase if you sign up for their e-mail offers and updates. And if you stop by the site, you should definitely check out the owner's story about just returning from Haiti where she educated over 50 people on how to make natural soap. She is even selling the soap made in Haiti (for $5—a weeks salary in Haiti) to people back home and then sending 100% of the money back to Haiti to those that made it!

Have a blessed day and weekend! Thanks for visiting :)

[local] weekend challenge

Happy Friday! I'm not quite sure where the time went this week, but I'm looking forward to a few days of rest—oh and a little vegetable shopping, too. Last week I shared ten reasons to visit your local farms. This week I am challenging myself and you to visit a local market near you that you have never been to. While you're there, pick up a vegetable (or fruit) you don't normally eat or have never tried.

I have found that eating healthy has expanded my palate in so many ways. I used to hate (i mean really hate) red beets. Canned red beets—blech. It was all I could do to swallow them when I was a kid. I'm pretty sure I remember some of them ending up in a napkin. But, this year, I got over my bad beet memories and bought some fresh, organic beets at the store. I steamed them and topped them with butter—absolutely delicious! They are now a vegetable I buy regularly.

My point is that eating fresh foods is so much different than eating processed foods. You may change your mind about things you don't like when you taste an organic local fruit or vegetable.

I think Luke and I are going to visit Gorman Heritage Farm. Word on the street is that they have beets, which I'd like to can. But I'm going to call first just to be sure. I'm hoping they also have something that I've never tried before. I'll report back here. In the meantime, scope out some places that you can visit (Localharvest.org is a great resource). Let me know which market you stopped by and what you picked up (in the comment section below)! I'd love to know and add the market to our locals list.

Local farms don't just carry fruit and veggies, but also pick your own (PYO) flowers and herbs.

top 10 reasons to frequent your local farmer's market

I honestly think that one of the best things about summer is pulling into the farmer's market down the road and totally enjoying the whole experience of shopping. Maybe it's because I know in advance that I won't have to wait in a long line to check out, get run over by a speedy shopper with their shopping cart, listen to music I don't like, get annoyed by loud and blurred announcements over the speaker system, gasp at the over-priced produce, and wonder where my food came from.

After work today, my husband and I visited the market down the road. I was hoping to scoop up another 20 pounds of organic, freshly picked green beans to can for the winter (I only got 9, cleaning them out). Again and again we have such a great experience here, so it reminded me of the top 10 reasons why we love our local farmers.

10. Produce is fresh and high quality. Everything I've ever gotten locally has been picked within the last few days. It didn't have to travel on a truck, be waxed for shelf life, and I know exactly where it came from. (There are some cases where markets will get Georgia peaches, etc, but for the most part it's local).

9. It supports local farmers—therefore creating a demand for them to keep farming organic produce and supporting our local economy. When Luke lost his job January 2009, we felt the pinch financially and it was a reminder that I need to do my part in helping local people keep their jobs, rather than buying produce from other countries.

8. Nothing beats small-town-like service. We are always promptly helped while browsing. I've never had a question unanswered or had to wait to be helped.

7. It's honest business. These are people I trust. I once had a question about local corn and it being genetically modified. The worker was honest with me and told me that it was genetically modified.

6. Unbeatable prices. Most of my experience with market prices have been way below chain store prices, especially for organic food. Little markets, in most cases (see note above), do not have to pay for delivery across states and for someone to stock chain store shelves. Therefore, little markets can pass along great prices to their customers.

5. They are helpful in sharing ideas and resources. I started a garden this year and I had a TON of questions. These farmers/gardeners delighted in sharing their tips with me. They can also share resources on where to get stuff they don't carry.

4. Sample first, then buy. Today, the market introduced to me a new variety of green beans that they were growing. When I asked what they tasted like he gave me one to try—straight off the plant. Most markets will let you try something if you kindly ask.

3. It's simple. I think the busyness of life has really gotten to me lately. So, I find it stress relieving to visit local markets and enjoy the slower pace and simplicity of them.

2. Sometimes you can negotiate prices. I mostly buy in bulk so that I can can/freeze/preserve the produce at peak freshness for meals all winter long. If you buy 10, 15, 20 pounds of something, it doesn't hurt to ask for bulk pricing. One place I visited last year gave me 50% off organic tomatoes for buying about 25 pounds worth for canning. That made organic tomatoes like $1/pound ... instead of the $3-4/pound at the chain store.

1. And the number one reason why I love the local markets—it builds relationships. Today, the young man who helped us said to me, I remember when you and Luke first came to visit us last year ... I love getting to know the farmers and the people growing and harvesting our food.

Check out localharvest.org to find a local farmer's market near you. Also, check out the locals sidebar to the right and let us know if there is anyone that we should add to the list. Oh, and have a great weekend!