NATURAL COUGH REMEDY

 It's that time of year. If you find yourself coughing – and coughing some more – here is a soothing natural remedy that is safe for adults and babies. Not only does it help relieve symptoms, it also boosts your immune system and helps to lessen the severity of the illness. Give it a try and let us know if it helps!

  DIRECTIONS:

Bring a large saucepan of water to boil. Once boiling, add one generous tablespoon of oregano, thyme, and sage. Stir in and let steep for 2-3 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

FOR ADULTS:

Pour the hot liquid into a large bowl. Put a towel over your head and the bowl and inhale deeply. Try to keep it up for about ten minutes.

FOR CHILDREN:

This requires two adults. Pour the hot liquid into a large bowl. Put the bowl on the floor. Have one adult hold the child in their lap, being very (VERY!) careful not to let the child touch the boiling hot water. Have the other adult hold a large blanket over their heads and the bowl, making a "tent". All the steam will stay under the blanket. Try to keep them under for about ten minutes. The longer the better.

These herbs are antibacterial and antiviral and will immediately start working to clear up the cold in your throat and lungs. Cold viruses are sensitive to heat and the warm air will help to loosen congestion.

Healthy Recipe: Onion Chickpea Curry Dip

This recipe is another family favorite. It's a variation of a recipe I got out of the cookbook Raw Energy, and with a few modifications and ingredient switches, we all love it! It has a little bit of a zing to it (thanks, onion!) and the texture is so creamy. 

If you love Indian, you'll love this dip on chips, with veggies, or even spread on a sandwich! (If you don't love Indian, you could always swap out the spices and try another variation without the curry!)

Onion Chickpea Curry Dip

1 cup raw cashews

1/3 cup raw onion, roughly chopped

1 can garbanzo beans, drained

the juice of 1 lemon

2.5 TB coconut oil

1 tsp sweet curry powder

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. 

Store in a tightly sealed container for up to one week. 

Enjoy! 

Healthy Recipe: Coconut Balls

These coconut balls are incredibly delicious and surprisingly healthy. They are gluten-free, dairy free, sugar free, and egg free… making them the perfect treat for just about everybody!

This recipe is a family original and has become a family favorite as well. We recently made these for our daughter's first birthday party and they were a huge hit. Enjoy!

Healthy Coconut Balls

2 cups raw cashews

1 cup gluten-free oats

10 pitted medjool dates

1 1/2 TB coconut oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup maple syrup

Combine all the ingredients except the maple syrup in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped and mixed together. Turn the processor on low and pour in the maple syrup. The consistency should be a little sticky. If it appears too dry, add more maple syrup as needed. Once the maple syrup is added, let the processor run on a medium speed for about a minute, until the mixture is thoroughly combined. Scoop out and roll into balls. 

Variation: Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup cocoa powder for a delicious chocolate version!

Gluten Free Area Expanding at Apple Wellness!

Our daughter, Rosemary, was diagnosed with gluten intolerance shortly after she was born. Since then, our whole family has embraced a diet without gluten.

We had always carried a variety of gluten-free items at our store, but suddenly it became much more personal. We began to research brands and try out new gluten-free products, implementing them into our daily diet. We had been wanting to greatly expand the gluten-free area at Apple Wellness, and this was just the push we needed to actually do it. We have discovered great tasting breads, crackers, pizza crusts, and snacks that are totally gluten-free and we would even go as far as to say that they taste better than their gluten counterparts!

Our vision is to become the best gluten-free friendly store in the Madison area. We have expanded our gluten-free area and will continue to bring in new products over the next few months. Some of the brands we carry include:

Sami's Bakery
Enjoy Life
Luci's Cookies
Tinkyada
Kinnikinnick Bakery
Udi's
Annie's
Blue Diamond
...and more!

Stop by and check out our gluten-free area! Mention this e-mail to receive 40% off one of our new favorite snacks:

Plentils Chips by Enjoy Life

Please stop by to take a look, and let us know if there is anything you would like to see in our gluten-free area!

Apple Video: Curamin Rocks.

Got Pain? Curamin Rocks. Check it out!

Product Review: Acure Organics Day Cream

Acure Organics is definitely my new favorite skin and hair care line, but my favorite within this favorite is for sure the Chamomile + Carrot Day Cream. I have recommended this day cream more in the past two months than any other product - ever.

This cream smells great, absorbs well, and makes my skin feel incredibly soft and moisturized. It contains Gotu Kola Stem cells that have been proven to firm skin and help protect it against day-to-day life. It also contains Chlorella, an ingredient shown to support collagen and elastin fibers.

I've been putting this on daily for the past three months and my face has never felt brighter, clearer, or healthier.

Mention you saw this recommendation to get 15% off your next purchase of Acure Organics Camomile + Carrot Day Cream. I think you'll love it, too!

Recipe: Apple "Sandwiches"

(image source)

Try this delicious alternative to breakfast toast! Core and slice an apple into thin disks, spread with your favorite nut butter, and sprinkle with gluten-free oats, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, or even chocolate chips!

Delicious! We make ours open-faced and our favorite filling is peanut butter with coconut flakes!

Gluten-free is delicious.