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How To Plant a Mixed Container VIDEO

Sweet Leaf green tea REVIEW

At just 99 cents per can, this Sweet Leaf green tea is not only a bargain, but is the best tasting tea beverage I have yet tried in my search for the ultimate thirst quencher. I've always like Arizona Southern Style Sweet Tea, which is a black tea, but this Sweet Leaf green tea is better.

I tried two flavors: Mint and Honey and the excellent Citrus. Both flavors are really incredible. If I had to choose, I'd probably go with the Citrus flavor.

Green tea and white tea have pretty strong impact on my system. I actually feel a slight euphoria and a pleasant energy boost from both types of tea. Unlike Rockstar Roasted Coffee + Energy, which also gives you a jolt of energy, Sweet Leaf green tea has a more natural sensation to it, a less speedy effect, while providing a boost to your productivity and a noticeable mood elevation.

I rank Sweet Leaf green tea very high on my list of canned teas and beverages in general. It has the perfect amount of sweetness and flavor, not overpowering, but not too subtle either. If you like iced tea, and especially if you're a fan of Arizona Sweet Southern Style Iced Tea like I am, you owe it to yourself to try some Sweet Leaf green tea.

The way my quest for the ultimate thirst quencher is going, I think I'll never again drink a standard soda pop, except perhaps in a restaurant. With all these healthy teas and juice drinks at Naturally Yours Grocery, who needs that artificial junk?

Sweet Leaf green tea. I almost forgot to mention -- it's organic!

First Blush and Pom juice REVIEW

Friends, here are two drinks that really belong in a league of their own. If you like juice drinks, and want to try some antioxident-rich, super healthy gourmet varieties, First Blush and Pom are for you.

Let's consider First Blush first. It gets its brand name from that fact that the juice is derived from the first crop of fine wine grapes, squeezed and processed by master craftsmen. It's unlike any grape juice product you've ever tried, at least that was my experience.

First Blush gets its distinct and startling taste from those sweet, fine wine grapes and you'll notice the difference from the very first sip.

I bought two different flavors at Naturally Yours Grocery -- Cabernet and Chardonnay. While I like them both, the Cabernet is clearly superior, in my personal taste, to the Chardonnay. However, you may prefer the Chardonnay. Either way, you're in for a real blast of flavor and a powerful rush of goodness you can feel as you sip it.

First Blush Chardonnay juice has a delighful taste that I would compare to a somewhat raisin flavor. The grape taste is so rich and smooth, you feel like you ate some grapes. It doesn't have that kiddy Kool Aid flavor, which is okay, but seems less serious than hardcore grape juice.

Yes, this is adult grape juice. It has no alcoholic content, but it delivers that mature flavor that you find in the finest sweet wines. Drink all you want, with no slurring your words, stumbling around, DUI, or hangover the next day. LOL

The first flavor I tried, and instantly fell in love with, was the Cabernet. First Blush has really got it going on when it comes to juice drinks. Their website is undergoing revisions, and the current placeholder site provides no information aside from contact info, so take it from me: this stuff is way beyond delicious.

Loaded with antioxidents, including resveritol, with no alcohol, no sugar added, and no preservatives.

With warm weather steadily heading our way, consider First Blush as your reliable ally in quenching thirst in a very healthy way.

First Blush really is "grape juice all grown up".

Now we come to another super powerhouse of goodness -- the mighty Pom Wonderful pomegranate juice. Again, I tried two flavors, the pomegranate and the pomegranate blueberry. Let me tell you, my decision was easy. Pom Wonderful pomegranate blueberry is the clear winner.

I've always like blueberry tea and pomegranate tea, but blending the two fruits together in a juice drink is really superb. The taste is almost shocking, it's so unique and delicious.

Like First Blush, Pom Wonderful is serious, upscale juice. While it's a bit more pricey than ordinary fruit juices, it is well worth it. This is stuff you savor every little drop of, rather than guzzling down rapidly. Sip it and let the flavor linger on your tongue.

Pomegranate is a nice flavor, but when combined with blueberry, you're skyrocketing into a whole new realm of taste-bud satisfaction.

All of POM Wonderful Juices:

• contain no added sugars, preservatives or colors
• are a good source of potassium
• are gluten-free
• are flash pasteurized to retain both flavor and nutrients
• are certified kosher
• 100% juice

First Blush and Pom Wonderful. Two different brands of fruit juice. Two incredible drink options that will not disappoint even the most discriminating connosieur.

Steaz iced tea REVIEW

In my parched quest to hydrate and please

my tastebuds with liquid refreshment...

may I introduce you now to Steaz Iced Teaz?

You really need to try a can of this stuff.

It goes down smooth and is full of great flavor.

What the heck? 

Lime Pomegranate? 

What a nice blend. 

We're so lucky, pampered really, 

to have so much flavor and natural 

goodness to choose from at 

Naturally Yours Grocery.

Do yourself a huge favor. 

Stop buying and guzzling all those 

horrible gas station convenient store 

sodas and junk beverages. 

Start investing in drinks 

that help you stay healthy

and productive.

Why not quench your thirst with a 

flood of anti-oxidants and polyphenols?

Let's pour some, shall we?

Ah, now that really hits the spot.

A terrific thirst quencher and 

boost to the immune system.

Wikipedia says this about the health benefits of white tea.

[QUOTE]

White tea comes from the delicate buds and younger leaves of the Chinese Camellia sinensis plant. 

These buds and leaves are allowed to wither in natural sunlight before they are lightly processed to prevent oxidation or further fermentation. This protects not only the delicate flavour of the white tea, but also retains high levels of the chemicals responsible for the tea's health benefits.

White tea contains high levels of catechins, a polyphenol compound that is responsible for lessening atherosclerotic plaques, reducing carcinogens, reducing risk of stroke, heart failure, cancer (including tumor formation), diabetes and for the protection of skin from damage caused by UV light.

[END QUOTE]

Buy Steaz tea drinks at

Naturally Yours Grocery online.

Reed's Spiced Apple Brew SALE

I bet you think I'm insatiably thirsty. Not really. I just love exploring various beverages. Every time I try to drink a beer, I leave half the bottle to rot. Gas station convenient store soda makes me sick. I'm trying to drink more water, but, like a little kid, I seem to require some flavor to entice me to consume liquids.

Here's a good solution (excuse the pun) to slake your thirst. Reed's Spice Apple Brew and Extra Ginger Brew. These are not just sodas, they're herbal tonics. I like that.

Now on sale for a limited time. Just $3.99, marked down from $6.99. While supplies last. Hurry. Warm weather is headed our way. Grab a couple 6 packs and stock up -- and save money to boot.

Here's what Reed's Inc. says about their fine beverages.

[QUOTE]

Back in the early log cabin days, the pioneers couldn’t go to the store and buy soft drinks, they made their own. They didn’t make them the way modern commercial soft drinks are made, even the so called natural ones. They brewed them in their kitchens, directly from roots, spices and fruits.

These early soft drinks, besides being delicious, were also used as herbal tonics.


Reed’s brews are delicious revivals of this lost brewing art. Each batch is hand crafted with pride, carefully brewed and aged like fine wine in small batches by our expert brewmasters.

They choose only the finest fresh herbs, roots, spices and fruits. They won’t let sugar, preservatives or artificial anything spoil Reed’s natural taste.


[END QUOTE]

Herbal Supplements in Addition to Teas

Today I visited Naturally Yours Grocery in Peoria to pick up some L-Lysine amino acid supplements to treat a small blister on my lip. I had cooked up some jalapeno poppers in the oven, bit into one, and the filling inside was so hot, it burned my lip.

I immediately put an ice cube on my lip, which is good way to draw the heat out and prevent blistering.

It almost always works -- if you hold the ice cube on it long enough. The question is: How long is long enough? Generally, if you take the ice cube off and it still burns, put the ice cube back on. Of course you may want to apply the ice cube, remove it, re-apply it, if it gets too cold for comfort.

Anyway, I did not keep the ice cube on long enough apparently because now I have a tiny blister on my lip that is bugging me. It may be infected slightly. No big deal, but I wanted to nip it in the bud.

As of this writing, I have taken only 3 L-Lysine tablets and already the blister is shrinking and not bothering me like it was.

As I was looking at the supplements and vitamins section (enter store, turn left, go all the way to the wall), I noticed bottles of extracts and capsules of some herbs I frequently use in tea form. Sometimes it's hard to drink a lot of herbal tea, so I thought, why not try some herbal supplements?

I bought a bottle of Mullein capsules, but there were a lot more herbal supplements that were interesting to me.

I like the idea of having two different preparations of an herb, the tea and the supplement capsule. There are also tinctures and extracts available.

Many of these supplements were discounted at 30% off.

I am currently seeking clarification of this major supplements sale and will post an update about them shortly.

Now -- new, lower prices up to 50% OFF a huge variety of vitamins and supplements at both Peoria and Normal stores!

Alicia Silverstone on Vegan Health Benefits VIDEO

Alicia Silverstone "On Vegan Health Benefits"

Herbs and Plants for Nuclear Radiation Poisoning

I'm researching specific herbs to take when you've been exposed to nuclear radiation poisoning.

I am one who believes that Nature provides all the medicine we need, no matter how sophisticated our technologically generated toxicity becomes. This is not to say that all pharmaceuticals are irrelevant, but I personally see them as a last ditch treatment.

Go with what the Earth provides first.

It doesn't seem like the radiation from Japan's nuclear power plants will have much effect on Americans, but the "situation is fluid", i.e. the crisis is evolving and the impact may be greater than government, nuclear energy representatives, or news media, always dreading civilian panic, are letting us know.

I currently see no reason for us in Central Illinois to be concerned, but it doesn't hurt to investigate this topic, in case a nuclear power plant in the United States starts leaking radiation.

Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition says these plants and herbs are good protection against radioactive toxicity (Google the scientific names if the substances are unfamiliar to you):

* Gingko biloba

* Ginger

* Aqueous extract of Centella asiatica

*  Hippophae rhamnoides berry fruit juice concentrate

* Osimum sanctum

* ethanolic extract of Piper longum (pippali) fruits

* Panax Ginseng

* Podophyllum. hexandrum

* aqueous extract of guduchi, Tinospora cordifolia

* fruit pulp of Amala, Emblica officinalis (EO)

* Phyllanthus amarus

* Rajgira (Amaranthus paniculatus) leaf extract   

* hydroalcoholic extract of jamun seeds (JSE)

* Pudina or Mint (Mentha arvensis Linn., Family Lamiaceae)

* Mentha piperita

* Ageratum conyzoides, (family: Asteraceae) aka Billy Goat Weed

* hydroalcoholic extract of Aegle marmelos (AME) aka Bael


[QUOTE]

Ionizing radiations induce reactive oxygen species in the form of ^·OH, ^·H, singlet oxygen and peroxyl radicals that follows a cascade of events leading to DNA damage such as single- or double-strand breaks (DSB), base damage, and DNA-DNA or DNA-protein cross-links, and these lesions cluster as complex local multiply damaged sites. The DNA-DSBs are considered the most lethal events following ionizing radiation and has been found to be the main target of cell killing by radiation.

The radioprotective activity of plant and herbs may be mediated through several mechanisms, since they are complex mixtures of many chemicals.

The majority of plants and herbs contain polyphenols, scavenging of radiation-induced free radicals and elevation of cellular antioxidants by plants and herbs in irradiated systems could be leading mechanisms for radioprotection.

The polyphenols present in the plants and herbs may upregulate mRNAs of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, glutathione transferase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and thus may counteract the oxidative stress-induced by ionizing radiations. Upregulation of DNA repair genes may also protect against radiation-induced damage by bringing error free repair of DNA damage.

Reduction in lipid peroxidation and elevation in non-protein sulphydryl groups may also contribute to some extent to their radioprotective activity. The plants and herb may also inhibit activation of protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), cytochrome P-450, nitric oxide and several other genes that may be responsible for inducing damage after irradiation.
 
[END QUOTE] 

Here's what I found on the East West School of Planetary Herbology

[QUOTE]

Kombu Seaweed (Laminaria japonica)

The Japanese are probably among the world’s main consumers of edible seaweeds. We in the West are familiar with nori seaweed as the outer wrapper of sushi and various other seaweeds used as a stock in miso soup.

The most well known seaweed is kelp, known in Japanese as kombu. I’m not sure how much research is available to back up these claims, but it is widely understood that kelp’s alginates offer the best protection from radiation and environmental pollutants. Alginates bind with heavy metals and radioactive substances and prepare them for excretion from the body.

Check out Planet Thrive at for a great anti-radiation kombu and miso soup recipe.

Chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa)

According to my colleague Roy Upton, line director of Planetary Formulas and director of the American Herbal Pharmacopeia, chlorella was first developed by the Japanese as an antidote and treatment against atomic radiation. This makes it one of the best nutritional supplements to take for the prevention and treatment from radiation exposure.  While iodine pills primarily affect the thyroid gland, these supplements are of great health benefit to the whole body.

[END QUOTE]

You may also want to ramp up the standard arsenal used to strengthen the immune system and the body's internal detoxification processes. Increase your intake of carrot juice, vitamin C, pure water, green leafy vegetables, olive oil, wheat germ, and brown rice.

Here are some more herbs that improve your overall health, strengthen internal organs, and help eliminate various poisons:

* Red Clover

* Golden Seal

* Hyssop

* Garlic

* Onion

* Curry

* Dandelion

* Cayenne

* Peppermint

* Lemon

* Apple

* Avocado

* Lecithin

* Grape seed oil

* Grapes/raisins

* Bananas

* Sea salt (which is generally mineralized and iodized)

* Reishi mushroom

* Coconut oil

Hopefully, this article will at least get you pointed in the right direction toward finding effective natural treatments and prevention for radiation poisoning.

Peace Pilgrim Tea Time VIDEO

Suzanne Toro "Peace Pilgrim -- Time for Tea"

Applegate Turkey Bacon REVIEW

Ready for a big old country style breakfast?

Step right up to Applegate Turkey Bacon.

This is a really delicious addition to your eggs and whole wheat toast. It fries up a bit differently, being less greasy than ordinary pig bacon. But it's just as satisfying, if you like bacon now and then.

Serving Size: 1 slice (28g), Servings Per Container: 7

Amount Per Serving: Calories 30, Calories From Fat 10, Total Fat 1g, Saturated Fat 0mg, Cholesterol 15mg, Sodium 210g, Total Carbohydrates 0g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 0g), Protein 5g, Vitamin A 0%, Vitamin C 0%, Calcium 0%, Iron 2%

Buy Applegate Turkey Bacon

and other Applegate Farms products

at Naturally Yours Grocery online.

Organic Vegetable Gardening VIDEO

Foods to NEVER Give to a Dog

WebMD had a really great article recently, entitled "Dangerous Foods for Dogs".

Unfortunately, it's presented in an online slide show format, which is not the ideal way to present non-visually intense information. Online slide shows may be appropriate when you need to show images of something, or different angles of it, to properly and fully communicate. But to present information in an online slide show, thinking it's "fun" or "interactive" is poor usability. (For more on this topic, see my blog post "6 Reasons Why Online Slide Shows Suck".)

I have clicked through the slide show and now present the list, in plain text format, of foods you must never give to a dog. Visit the original article for further facts.

(1) avocado/guacamole

(2) onions

(3) coffee or caffeinated products

(4) grapes

(5) raisins

(6) milk or ice cream

(7) chocolate

(8) peaches

(9) plums

(10) foods containing xylitol (artificial sweetener)

(11) raw eggs

(12) raw meat

(13) uncooked beef bones, chicken bones, fish bones

(14) potato chips

(15) pretzels

(16) sugar products

(17) yeast dough

(18) nutmeg

(19) baking powder

(20) baking soda

Here are some things you might not have known that you can give to dogs (whether or not your particular dog will like them is another story):

(1) apples

(2) oranges

(3) bananas

(4) watermelon

(5) green beans

(6) carrots

(7) cucumber

(8) baked potato

(9) rice

(10) pasta

 Buy pet products at

Naturally Yours Grocery online.