Author: Whitaker's Natural Market

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Dr Jocelin’s Favorite Essential Oil for Allergy Season!

  • One of our family’s favorites.
  • Lavender is the most versatile of all essential oils
  • Fabulous for allergies!  It is a natural antihistamine which can help to calm the body’s reaction to allergens and encourage the body to naturally remove them from irritating your mucus membranes.
  • Lavender is an adaptogen, and therefore can assist the body when adapting to stress or imbalances.
  • It is a great aid for relaxing and winding down before bedtime, yet has balancing properties that can also boost stamina and energy.
  • Therapeutic-grade lavender is highly regarded for skin and beauty. Excellent for helping reduce scaring.
  • It may be used to soothe and cleanse common cuts, bruises, burns, and skin irritations.

Purchase online at http://www.whitakersfarmmarket.com/product/lavender/.

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Dr Jocelin’s Recipe for Chicken and Shiitake Mushrooms

How about a great easy way to use those healthy Shiitake Mushrooms?

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 2/3 cup sesame seeds
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 pound sliced fresh shiitake mushrooms
  • 4-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot or 1 to 1 1/2 tsp ground dried ginger
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4-1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons butter
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons mustard
  • Hot cooked rice

DIRECTIONS

Flatten chicken to 1/2-in. thickness; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place sesame seeds in a shallow bowl; dip chicken in sesame seeds.
In a large skillet, cook chicken in oil over medium heat for 6-8 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 170°. Remove and keep warm.
In the same skillet, cook and stir the mushrooms, ginger and garlic in soy sauce and butter for 3 minutes. Add cream and mustard; cook and stir for 6-8 minutes or until thickened. Serve sauce with chicken and rice. Yield: 4 servings.
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Spiders and Peppermint Oil

Peppermint Oil has many uses from helping the digestive system and stomach aches to relieving headaches, but did you know that you can use it to repel spiders?  To make a spider-repellent spray, place about five drops of peppermint oil in a 16-ounce spray bottle. Fill the bottle with water, add a shot of dish soap, and shake the mixture well. Apply the spray around doors and windows, around the outside perimeter of your home, and in any dark corner where spiders may be hiding.

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Allergy Season Relief

Allergy season is coming up and will unfortunately be here soon, so now is the time to be prepared.  So what are some of my favorite items to have on hand for combating allergies?

Lavender Essential Oil (my Dr Jocelin’s Practitioner Grade) works great to help keep your sinuses open, removing allergins, and clear of irritation.  Apply NEAT (undiluted) to your sinuses and back of your neck.

SinuOrega by North American Herb & Spice is a saline solution with oregano, bay, sage, and clove oils designed to fight off any bacteria or irritants in your sinuses.  Great for allergies and sinus infections.

Hyland’s Seasonal Allergy Relief relieves common allergy symptoms including watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, nose, and throat, sinus pain and headache.  Non drowsy, all natural, gentle, safe & effective.  Contains no Pseudoephedrine.

SinuCare by Europharma/Terry Naturally provides the soothing support of Eucalyptus and Myrtle to help you breathe easy. These unique botanical extracts have been shown to directly provide effective respiratory system support in part by their ability to support healthy cilia activity.  Goes to work immediately for results you can feel.  Does not cause drowsiness or jitteriness.  Supports both the sinus and bronchial airway passages.

Also, remember that allergies are a sign that your digestive system is not as healthy as it can and should be.  So adding in digestive enzymes, probiotics, and L-Glutamine (which nourishes the intestines) can also assist in reducing allergy symptoms and improving overall health.

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Gut Health

Your gut is key to your overall health.  Did you realize that?  It is the center of our immune system, digestive system, and even part of our emotions!

According to the Bible in Genesis 43:30, we are told “And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.”  Here we see an example as the bowels being the center or seat of emotions.  Our Creator knew that so much was driven out of our gut or digestive system, and we can see that in various Scripture verses.

Then from a physical standpoint, we can understand that our immune system is based out of how healthy and how many “good bacteria” we have in our gut.  We often support this army of “good bacteria” with probiotics for reinforcements.

We also know that it is part of our digestive tract and can affect things such as acid reflux, allergies, and bowel movements.  You may not realize this, but There are actually more nerve cells in the overall digestive system than in the peripheral nervous system!  

I share all these facts about our gut to encourage you to take time to maintain a healthy digestive system.  How do you do that?  Begin by eating foods rich in nutrients such as pasture raised non-gmo meats, fresh vegetables, non-gmo grains, probiotic laden dairy foods, etc.  Add in supplements like Digestive Enzymes to help break down your food in your stomach, probiotics to support the “good bacteria”, and L-Glutamine to reduce inflammation of the intestines.  Exercise to keep the body moving as well as regular bowel movements to eliminate toxins and waste products are also important.

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Dr Jocelin’s Essential Oils

Dr Jocelin’s journey with natural supplements began when she was only 5 years old and an herbal blend saved her life after having experienced chronic bronchitis for over a year with no medical resolution or hope for one. That planted a seed which became watered over the years resulting in her obtaining six different degrees and certifications in natural health including Doctor of Traditional Naturopathy and Certified Aromatherapist. Out of her passion for the purest and highest quality supplements and essential oils for her patients, she formed her own line of practitioner grade essential oils including custom blends based on her patient’s needs.

About our oils…
• 100% Pure Practitioner Grade Essential Oils (higher concentration that many other essential oils including therapeutic grade resulting in using less oil to achieve the same or better results)
• Sustainably Harvested
• Hand Blended and Bottled in Small Batches right here in Ohio
• Formulated by a Naturopathic Doctor who is also a Certified Aromatherapist as a result of the needs of her patients
• Reasonably priced to make accessible to All
• Unadulterated, no synthetics, no cheap commercial grade oils – just pure high quality practitioner grade essential oils
• High quality Dark Amber Bottles with reducer for ease of use and protection from light
• Woman Owned Business

Dr Jocelin is pleased to be offering her entire line in store at Whitaker’s Farm Market, so be sure to check out the entire line up featuring the new label design as well!

Have friends and family you wished could enjoy them but they live out of state?  Then encourage them to check out www.drjocelin.com where they can order them online!

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Health Benefits of Maple Syrup

Since we were exploring about Maple Syrup this week, I thought I would share 9 health benefits of Maple Syrup:

1. Contains Numerous Antioxidants
2. Gets a Lower Score on the Glycemic Index
3. Fights Inflammatory Disease
4. May Help Protect Against Cancer
5. Helps Protect Skin Health
6. Alternative to Sugar for Improved Digestion
7. Supplies Important Vitamins and Minerals
8. Healthier Alternative to Artificial Sweeteners
9. May Enhance Antibiotic Effects

Maple syrup is one of the oldest forms of sweetener there is, having been eaten by Native Americans living in North America hundreds of years ago. Maple syrup was first collected and used by indigenous people before they introduced it to early European settlers, who figured out ways to quickly improve the technology needed to gather more.

Did you know?  A typical “sugaring” season lasts 4–6 weeks, and it takes 40 gallons of sap to make each gallon of maple syrup!

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Importance of Breakfast

Studies show that eating a proper breakfast is one of the most positive things you can do if you are trying have plenty of energy and even to lose weight. Did you know that Breakfast skippers tend to gain weight? A balanced breakfast is very important to starting your day right with plenty of energy to carry you through the day.  Your breakfast can include things like fresh fruit or fruit juice, granola or muesli, yogurt, wholewheat or sprouted bread toasted, local pastured eggs, and even a fruit and yogurt smoothie.

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To Do Lists

According to a recent Psychology Today Article, making a “To Do” List can have benefits.  They wrote “In a culture with a surfeit of choices, lists can be a way to coalesce and conquer. A list helps you discern and progress with a clearer, lighter head. Scratching out to-dos can be a healthy self-protective action, or a healthy “defense.” ”  To me, it is like cleaning and organizing my mental house for the week as I plan.

Here are the Six Great Benefits of Lists:

  1. Provide a positive psychological process whereby questions and confusions can be worked through. True purposes surface.
  2. Foster a capacity to select and prioritize. This is useful for an information-overload situation.
  3. Separate minutia from what matters, which is good for identity as well as achievement.
  4. Help determine the steps needed. That which resonates informs direction and plan.
  5. Combat avoidance. Taking abstract to concrete sets the stage for commitment and action. Especially if you add self-imposed deadlines.
  6. Organize and contain a sense of inner chaos, which can make your load feel more manageable.

The real key is to have a plan and steps to accomplish it.  As a mom of a one year old with family responsibilities and store related responsibilities, having a “To Do” List is important to me as I can see what “must” be done, what “needs” to be done, and what would be “nice” to have done.  It takes the pressure of accomplishment out of my mind and into a piece of paper.  Stress is one of the top risk factors for illness, heart attacks, cancer, and more…so take time this week to de-stress or “clean” your emotional house!  Also, try Dr Jocelin’s Stress Release Essential Oil Blend especially while you work on your To Do List.

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Fresh Air

Did you know that stopping to enjoy the fresh air actually has measurable health benefits?

Research shows that exposing your lungs to fresh air, and the scents of flowers and plants, can help to relieve stress and anxiety. Oxygen is thought to affect the levels of serotonin released in the body, in turn, contributing to feelings of happiness and relaxation.

While you may be familiar with the smell of lavender, you might not realize that it can also be beneficial in helping relieve insomnia, anxiety, and stress. This is also true of jasmine, which has been shown to boost mood, along with the smells of freshly cut grass, roses, rosemary, and peppermint.

Whether it means popping into the garden, mowing the lawn, or a weekend expedition to a woodland retreat, immersing yourself in the great outdoors could help to put a smile on your face.

Benefits of Being Outside Include:

  • Increased Energy
  • Improved Digestion
  • Clean Lungs
  • Bolsters Immune System

So take a few minutes to enjoy the fresh air on these warmer days!  And on those colder days, try diffusing “outdoor scents” such as lavender, jasmine, and pine indoors!