Thursday, March 28, 2013

Tea Party: Part 1

This article was contributed by Rynn Jacobson, an Apple Wellness employee. Rynn is going to school for herbology and natural medicine, and will be sharing some of her knowledge on teas and their healing properties. Follow along as she welcomes us into the world of healing teas.
 

 I love tea. Passionately. It is coming close to an obsession these days. I have tea 
in the morning with my breakfast, in the evening after dinner and as a reward for finishing my housework.
 
I suspect there are those of you thinking, “Meh, I’m a coffee lover. Who has time for tea? Tea is for people who can’t handle the magical energizing mania of caffeine.” It may surprise you to know then, you coffee-obsessed, that just a short time ago I was a stoic follower of those magical beans as well. What happened? You may ask—
 
My doctor happened. She told me in no uncertain terms that coffee was allowed only as an occasional treat for me, and in small amounts. (This isn't to say that everyone should cut out coffee from their diet--this was advised due to a medical condition.)
 
You see, both my husband and I spent some time as barista’s and developed a distinctive coffee snobbery. You know the type, right? We chatter excitedly about organic fair-trade perfectly brewed and locally roasted blends and visit only the local coffee shops at which, “They know what they’re doing…” 

And so, about eight months ago, I found my days dreary and dim without my crisp cuppa' joe. My afternoons were dismal without my delicious pick-me-up. The full flavor, the acidic, energizing intensity of a mug of coffee made it difficult to appreciate the soothing, beguiling subtleties of an aromatic tea. 

But gradually, I realized I was being romanced by my tea pot. 

I’m going to say something that may seem shocking. Compared to tea, coffee is simply boring. Tea is an adventure. And there is something else about tea that intrigues. Tea is something that coffee can never compare to. Tea is healing. 
 
There is a tea for every ailment of the body, a warm beverage for every wrinkle in the mind. Tea can soothe your aches, energize your muscles, purify your blood, clean out your intestines, relieve your fever, clear your congestion... Let me prove it to you.
 
We are going to be launching the weeks together with a cup of tea in our mornings. Each week, we’ll have a tea to review. I’ll tell you how to prepare it, what it tastes like, and what it’s good for. Consider yourself cordially invited to our tea party.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Meet Our New Employees.


 MEET BEN:
Hi, my name is Ben Tesmer. I have been in the fitness industry for the past four years, working with all types of athletes, making sure they have all the best equipment they need to succeed. I am currently serving in the Marine Corps Reserve Golf Co. 2/24 and will be attending school for personal training. It is an incredibly rewarding field to be a part of. There is nothing better than helping people achieve their fitness goals. I am excited to be apart of the Apple Wellness team, and to further my career in this exciting industry.


MEET RYNN:
Hello! My name is Rynn Jacobson. I am passionate to help everyone learn how to properly care for themselves and their families through proper nutrition and natural remedies. Currently, I am going to school for herbology and natural healing.  I look forward to sharing my increasing knowledge with our members!
 
My husband and I have lived in Madison for several years. Our favorite things to do are explore coffee shops, go for long hikes with our dog Reynard,  read classical literature, and travel. 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

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.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

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! 

Thursday, August 30, 2012

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!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

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!

Monday, April 30, 2012

Apple Video: Curamin Rocks.



Got Pain? Curamin Rocks. Check it out!