The more we learn about nutrition, the more we realize that particular components of  foods are not our enemy. Fat and carbs, for instance,  are not the enemy.  However, the type and amount of fats and carbs you consume can either bring you closer to, or further from, healthy physical balance.  Now we realize the same  is true for that old stand-by bad guy, salt.  Your body requires salt to live, but most people consume far more than needed, which taxes the organs in their effort to excrete the additional salt from our systems, leading to bloating and cellular damage.  Table salt (mainly sodium chloride) has been linked to diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Table salt is a product that has been chemically cleansed with all beneficial  minerals and elements removed in the process.

Eliminating salt from your diet is not the answer. Exploring more natural alternatives can go a long way to helping us retain a balance.  Himalayan Salt is composed of natural elements that our bodies need for proper functioning. Salt is one of the essential elements for electrical impulses and general conductivity within the body.  Salt is not the bad guy. But changing the type of salt you consume and becoming aware of the quantity you are eating can improve health and help prevent common diseases.

Meadwosweet Market and juniperfoods.com are now on Facebook.  Fan us to receive updates on special offers, new products and more!  Facebook is also a great way for YOU to let us know what products you enjoy what you would like to see on our shelves.  Give us your product reviews and suggestions!

We really enjoy keeping in touch with our customers and look forward to seeing you soon.

Meadosweet Market owner Steve Gratzfeld was recentlly interveiwed for an article, “Why I Launched Here” on cnnmoney.com.  Over 12 years ago, Gratzfeld started our health food store in Sioux Falls South Dakota to work at what he really enjoyed, and has been providing healthy, allergen friendly foods to the Sioux Falls community ever since.  Congratulations, Steve! 

For the full article, visit CNNMONEY.com.

Meadowsweet staff member Becky Collins was recently recognized for her eco-responsibility with an award from Taste for Life magazine. Becky entered a contest that asked readers to share what they do to support a greener future.  “At my place of employment, it’s Earth Day every day for me.”, says Becky.  Since Meadowsweet’s  garbage collection service offers no recycling program, Becky decided to begin taking the recyclables home herself  to make sure they were not just getting thrown away.  “This may seem like a small way to conserve and protect our earth, but it has been such a blessing to start a project like this and have the cooperation of my co-workers.  We can all do it one baby step at a time.”

For her efforts, Becky received a prize package with donations from several of our vendors, including Nordic Naturals, Country Life, Natural Vitality, and Garden of Life. Congratulations Becky, and thanks for all your effort and inspiration!

Taste for Life magazine is available for free at Meadowsweet Market and online at tasteforlife.com

It is estimated that 4 to 6 thousand tons of sunscreen wash off of swimmers into our oceans every year. Now we are seeing the consequences.

A study published in the January 2008 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives found that four common conventional sunscreen ingredients kill an important algae that feeds coral. Without the algae, the coral turns white and dies. This has serious consequences for both ocean and human ecosystems. If you travel, be aware that many resorts and cruise lines are banning chemical sunscreens.

Health-conscious shoppers have been buying natural sunscreens for years because the reef-harming ingredients in conventional sunscreens, octinoxate, oxybenzone and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, as well as the preservative butylparaben, are also linked to a variety of health problems. According to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database skindeep.ewg.org, the reef-damaging ingredients are linked to allergic reactions, endocrine disruption, and cancer.

Luckily, it is not hard to find quality, eco-friendly, people-friendly sunscreen. Aubrey Organics sunscreeen is economical and contains NO harmful ingredients. Aubrey products are available at Meadowsweet Market. Stock up on sun care before your summer travels!

The massive peanut recall by the Peanut Corporation of America has affected even parts of the natural food industry, including Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s private label products, and Clif and Luna Bars. The situation has left consumers with questions about how to ensure the safety of their food. When a product that comes from one factory can affect thousands of people across the country, the supply chain is inherently unsafe. One way to address food safety is by re-examining the supply chain.  As consumers we can do that by finding out where our food comes from. At Meadowsweet Market and juniperfoods, you can enlist the help of our trained staff. Whether your question is about food allergens or origins, we can assist you in getting the information you need to make safe food choices. 

Our pick for safest nut butters around? Eastwind Nut Butters does not source their products from the Peanut Corporation of America http://www.eastwindnutbutters.com/safe.shtml.  You can pick up their products at Meadowsweet Market.

For those who can’t have peanuts, Earth Balance Almond Butter is a great peanut alternative available at juniperfoods.com 

I recently represented Meadosweet Market at the Northern Plains Sustainable Agricullture conference and was encouraged by the growing selection of natural and organically grown local foods that are available to us here in South Dakota. Local foods eliminate the need for mass distribution of foods, which makes for a safer supply chain. Meadosweet Market will continue to expand its selection of local products to offer you the safest, best quality food choices around.

We welcome your feedback and product suggestions!

Meadowsweet Market was recently featured in the Life section of the Argus Leader newspaper for our knowledge of the many uses of Acai berry juice and supplements.  We have received an enthusiastic response to the article and hope that it provides customers with more information on healthy food choices.  If you’d like to learn more about this nutrient packed little berry, check out the article that ran last week:

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812030301

Eating healthy, allergen-friendly foods does not mean that your food has to travel long distances. We are especially lucky, in South Dakota, to have access to a variety of nutritious foods that are grown practically in our backyard.

Meadowsweet Market celebrates these fresh, naturally delicious foods by offering many choices for local fare. The next time you shop at Meadowsweet, put some local foods in your cart. You’ll taste the difference!

You are not just giving your family the freshest food available when you buy local, natural foods. You are also supporting a healthier environment. The farther food has to travel to get to your plate, the more energy and natural resources, including gasoline, are used. This important connection between our food and the land is an often overlooked way to have a positive impact on the environment. Local food is certainly the tastiest! So stop in, buy local, and be green!

In the eleven years that we’ve been open, it’s happened many times.  Someone will come in and say, “I’ve just been diagnosed with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance.  What can I eat?” or “My child has to eat dairy free, corn free, soy free, and peanut free.  What can they have?”  In the early years of business, we showed people our colored dots that were posted under the foods they could eat.  Yellow dots meant gluten free, blue dots meant dairy free, etc. so they would look for the dots to find their food choices.  We had so many people shopping for gluten-free and other allergen-free food that we decided to move all the selections together.  At first, we had a few sections of gluten-free groceries.  Customers would make requests for new items, until those few sections expanded to fill an entire wall.  Then the wall was not big enough, and we had to expand onto shelves.  We’ve had customers come in from South Dakota (of course), Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska.  Relatives of people living in other states would purchase items and ship things to them.  Then we decided it was time to get all of our allergy-friendly foods on-line so people nationwide could take advantage of our selection.  Some of the states we have shipped orders to include New York, Maryland, Missouri, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Ohio, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, California, Hawaii, Texas, APO and FPO Military Bases, and Washington, DC just to name a few.  We hope you take advantage of our on-line shopping site.  Please e-mail us if you have any product requests or suggestions. We appreciate our customers!

Celiac Sprue Association Welcomes Corporate Benefactor Member Meadowsweet Natural Health Market The Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) announces the addition of Meadowsweet Natural Health Market as its newest Corporate Benefactor Member. Through their generous support, CSA Corporate Benefactor Members further the CSA mission of helping individuals with celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis and their families worldwide through information, education, support and research. Meadowsweet Natural Health Market, located at 3801 W. 34th Street, in Sioux Falls, SD, provides online access to over 500 allergy-friendly products through its website http://www.juniperfoods.com/ . A wide array of gluten-free and allergy-friendly foods are offered in a convenient format that allows the shopper to select from a variety of baking ingredients and mixes, convenience meals, salad dressings, condiments, soups, snack foods, and other items. Detailed ingredient lists, nutrition facts, allergen coding and facility information are included for each product. Discounts for case ordering are available, and orders are shipped via the United States Post Office. Meadowsweet Market also offers in store shopping and local delivery to the Sioux Falls area. For further information about Meadowsweet Natural Health Market, visit their website http://www.juniperfoods.com/ , or contact Meadowsweet by phone at 605-361-5526 or by email at service@juniperfoods.com . For further information about the Celiac Sprue Association Corporate Benefactor Member Program visit the CSA website http://www.csaceliacs.org/ or contact the CSA office toll-free at 877- CSA-4-CSA, or e-mail celiacs@csaceliacs.org