Costco Wholesale has become my new go-to store for so many organic foods that I often shop for, for my little family. Slowly but surely, I have been able to ditch some of the more expensive health food stores in favor of good ol’ Costco.

I certainly wasn’t surprised to learn very recently that Costco, with its 670+ warehouse locations,  has now surpassed Whole Foods as the biggest organic grocer. I had been witnessing the ever-expanding organic inventory over the last few years, always rubbing my hands together with glee as I spied each new addition.

It’s about time. Organic foods tend to be quite a bit more costly than non-organic counterparts, so those of us who have been willing to shell out the extra bucks for organic are pretty thrilled to find fairer pricing available.  According to a June 1, 2015 article in the Seattle Times, Costco’s organics business has doubled in the last couple of years. Here’s hoping that trend continues!

Although this does not seem to be available in my neck of the woods, I have seen that Costco even sends out a special booklet of warehouse coupons, just for organics, in some cities.

I’ll talk about other decent store options for organic purchases in a future blog, but, today, let’s give Costco its due “props.”  They have proven to be a progressive and very well-run company in so many ways. I applaud their management for making certain that they offer good pay and benefits for employees, and for keeping prices very reasonable.  (Membership really does have numerous advantages; earlier this month, I even scored a great car rental deal by being a Costco member.)

As for savings, here’s just one example:  A 15-ounce can of ORGANIC black beans can retail for $2.89. I can usually find them for less than that, but the sale prices vary widely from brand to brand. By purchasing organic black beans at Costco last week, the per can price was only about 57 cents!  Yowza, that’s far better, right?!

Thanks to Costco, I have been able to find organic pastas, spaghetti sauce, salad dressings, extra virgin olive oil, fruit snacks, cookies, canned tomatoes, black beans, salsa, string cheese, breakfast cereal, fresh strawberries, macaroni and cheese, soups, cucumbers, spinach, frozen broccoli, frozen green beans, frozen mixed vegetable, frozen berries and other fruits, peanut butter, crackers, tortilla chips, bread—and much more. My pantry runneth over.

The bottom line for me is that their pricing on organics (and natural foods) helps MY bottom line.

So, for your foodie entertainment pleasure, here are a few images of my most recent haul . . .

I talk up a storm about “natural” foods and products.

But that word is somewhat misused more than we’d like to think it is, so here’s the 411 on the word NATURAL as seen on the products we buy today….

When a food label states “100% Natural,” this is supposed to indicate that it does not contain synthetic ingredients, preservatives, artificial flavors and artificial colors. Sounds good, but keep in mind that many products throw the word natural around very casually (and in a calculated way in terms of marketing)!

Take a step further and look more closely at the amount of sugars and fats, for example, giving attention to the actual nutritional information provided. (I just read that 7Up once had “100% Natural” on their label, but now it says “100% Natural Flavors. Hmmmm.)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website has this to say about labels and the use of the word “natural” . . .

As you can see, the parameters are not so obvious. Food makers seem to have a good deal of latitude in what is considered natural.

The point is simply this: Be a wise and aware consumer! Learn to read labels on prepared foods. Better yet, choose “certified organic” options, particularly whole foods that need no label at all.

If you are a label reader, then you’ve no doubt seen carrageenan on the line-up. It is a thickening and stabilizing agent put into many different foods, and it is derived from a particular seaweed. That sounds like it would be healthy, right? But, apparently, it is NOT.

I became increasingly aware of this additive after seeing it in yogurts, cottage cheese, almond milk, ice cream, any many other items including organic versions. It is even found in deli meats and infant formulas. Actually, the list goes on and on and on.

Looking into it, I was not pleased to see the various health concerns associated with its use. According to The Cornucopia Institute, “Animal studies have repeatedly shown that food-grade carrageenan causes gastrointestinal inflammation and higher rates of intestinal lesions, ulcerations, and even malignant tumors. Despite the evidence showing the risks in eating carrageenan, it’s still approved for use in organic food where it’s most often used as a stabilizer.”

Dr. Andrew Weil has also been vocal about the possible risks, as have many other doctors, health practitioners and nutritionists.

One company, thankfully, has decided to remove it from their products in 2015, due to consumer demand. Whitewave Foods (makers of Silk and Horizon brands) made an official announcement just a few weeks ago. (Read one of many recent reports here: http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Manufacturers/WhiteWave-pulling-carrageenan-from-Silk-Horizon)

If you are a data-seeking-show-me-the-studies kind of person, I’d recommend starting here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1242073/

Meanwhile, this might be a good time to look more closely at those labels . . . and consider avoiding this highly controversial, and very possibly dangerous, ingredient.

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NOTE #1. The Cornucopia Institute offers a “Shopping Guide to Avoiding Organic Foods with Carrageenan” here: http://www.cornucopia.org/shopping-guide-to-avoiding-organic-foods-with-carrageenan/

NOTE #2: If you wish to take action, here’s a link to a petition directed to the FDA, asking for the removal of carrageenan: https://takeaction.takepart.com/actions/fda-remove-carrageenan-our-food-supply-stop-making-us-sick

A blog just isn’t sufficient to cover ALL the reasons I follow natural, alternative, and holistic health subjects; in fact, I do believe I could write a book on this.

In short, I can see where—in too many cases—allopathic or traditional medicine has fallen very short of its intention to heal.

While traditionally trained doctors have (thankfully) amazed us with their ever-increasing skills at caring for broken body parts and many urgent concerns, they have not always been as effective in dealing with disease processes—and prevention of disease.

The reasons for this far exceed my space and ability to cover here, but I would like to say that there is a strong pattern that I have witnessed over my adult lifetime of changes and reversals of medical advice.

Of course, that could be a positive thing, but the real point I would like to make on that is:  more holistically-trained healers, and even “new age-y health nuts” have been warning of the “errors” in traditional advice—long before the allopathic healing community discovered they were doling out poor information.

Let me give you just a few examples from my own life and experience:

1.  In dentistry, I became aware of the concerns over mercury fillings as a young adult.  I would ask my dentists over the years about that, and as expected, they’d parrot the old line that “there was no data to support or warrant the concerns about mercury.” It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that putting mercury in your mouth could be problematic over time.  I think we all know now that they reversed that stance, in a big way.  (By the way, due to my own health problems, I had a zillion and one silver/mercury fillings removed many years after I stupidly let them put them in by the bucket.)

2. In college, as I was taking my early courses for an eventual hoped-for degree in nutritional sciences, I became uncomfortably aware of my instructors’ lack of knowledge of more current or progressive considerations.  I kid you not when I tell you that much emphasis for my hospital dietetics courses was upon making the food presentation on a plate (for a hospital patient or nursing home patient) look attractive with a colorful selection from the old four food groups.  (Sigh.)  I actually had to cut out pictures of foods from magazines to put on plates, as a homework assignment!!  That should scare the pants off of you. (In all fairness, we also learned much about food handling safety, etc., so it wasn’t a total waste.) Anyway, whenever I raised my hand to ask any specific questions regarding vitamin and mineral requirements set by the FDA, etc., the instructors were shockingly clueless.  And I think we all know how great hospital food is for you when you are most in need of extremely nutritious food!

3. Let’s talk about my dad.  After his heart attack when I was just 17, I remember my mother learning to cook differently, per doctor’s orders.  MARGARINE was a biggie on the list of switcheroos, moving away from real butter.  I’ll spare you a scientific lecture on margarine, simply saying that the oils used then were pretty inferior, and hydrogenation was another issue of concern (early 1970s).  Again, I think we all know by today that pure, virgin olive oil would be considered a better option for cooking. The point is: So-called health nuts figured that one out loooooong ago—like most such things.

4. And speaking of heart attacks, only recently have we seen mainstream articles revealing that eating fats has gotten a bad rap and is not so deeply implicated in heart disease as once thought.  (Unfortunately, this may give some people the mistaken impression that they can now eat boxes of Krispy Kreme Donuts.)  In reality, the newer sciences prove out that eating fats from good sources such as raw nuts (no, not the crappy cans of beer peanuts!!) and avocados, for example, is a GOOD plan for the heart.  Who woulda thunk it?  Yes, the many health nuts thunk it long ago.

5. I once recommended to my dad that he consider taking Vitamin E daily, having read a good deal (at that time) about emerging news concerning E’s potential heart health benefits.  My parents said they’d have to ask Dad’s cardiologist first.  As I expected, the cardiologist said there was “no proof it helped,” etc., so my parents decided to go with his almighty authoritarian advice.  (Aren’t we all brainwashed to assume that our highly esteemed doctors hold all knowledge about our bodies?) About 10 years later, many physicians were recommending Vitamin E to their patients! So this was simply another example of the lag time between new ideas . . . and when docs finally find out and get with the program.  (Note: Today, other antioxidants are recommended—if the docs are even open to suggesting them.)

6. I’m not intending to pick on cardiologists here, but another good current example of ever-changing traditional advice came into awareness quite recently (2012-2013).  My own mother-in-law had been told to take calcium supplements for many years, but her cardiologist just had her significantly reduce that amount, now that news emerged that calcium could increase heart attack risk!  I think we all know what I’m about to say:  Yes, health nuts knew more about this, years ago.

7. Dare I mention the advice on mammograms?  Women (and men) have been thoroughly indoctrinated to believe that early detection is so important that it would outweigh any risks associated with yearly mammograms.  I’m going to leave you, dear reader, with the task of reading up on this controversy.  Just take note that frequency guidelines have shifted a great deal in recent years (less frequent mammos), which of course, is just what those crazy health nuts have been discussing for a long while.  (I guess they were not a bunch of boobs, after all.)

These examples are just a tiny fraction of such instances, so imagine the bigger picture!

The attitude of the average person toward “alternative health” disciplines and ideas has been, thank God, changing for the better. Most folks know that our docs simply aren’t trained to know everything, least of all concerning nutritional considerations.

There was a time not so long ago when chiropractors were considered total quacks, but most people are open to using one today.  And drinking a green smoothie, even just 30 years ago, would have been considered a fanatical, hippie ritual; yet, today we commonly see green smoothie recipes all over the TV and Internet.

Maybe modern science and its dogmatic advocates would be wise to tone down any arrogance and close-mindedness and take note of the long-term pattern here?

I am certainly not suggesting that all those natural disciplines and ideas are superior, all the time! Discernment is mandatory.   It’s just that it becomes painfully obvious that many of these folks have been RIGHT about many things, and have done a lot of good for people—long enough to be listened to and treated with some true respect.

Have you tried the Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers at Cheesecake Factory restaurant?

Yum! They taste awesome, and it would be tempting to think that such a choice would be a healthy choice, and maybe even downright low-calorie — at least compared to their other burgers and sandwiches.

Think again. Taking a look at the Cheesecake Factory nutritional info chart, you’ll see that one of those delicious sandwiches are 1,130 calories! AND 19 grams of saturated fat comes with it!

Tonight, I’m trying my hand at simply “roasting” some portobello mushrooms and some pearl onions, tossing in some spices and a bit of olive oil. I won’t be adding any fatty dressing into the burger line-up, but we’ll put a small amount of fresh avocado along with baby spinach plus a LIGHT AMOUNT of grated cheese on our version… Surely, that will be much healthier.

What’s your recipe? If you have one, please share!

The Nutri-Soft nutritional data for Cheesecake Factory info is found here.

Have you ever wondered if that loose, single avocado or orange you just bought is actually organic?

Did the supermarket mix up what they have in their display bins?

What if someone dropped off their conventional produce into the pile of organic goods?

Without a certified organic notice on the produce, it’s natural to wonder.

The good news is, there IS a way to tell for certain.  With this simple infographic we’ve prepared, showing an organic banana label, you’ll see how easy it is to crack the code!

This is only part of what there is to be learned about decoding those Price Look-Up stickers.   Be watching for further blog news on the secret to knowing if your produce is GMO …

One of the complaints concerning “natural” soaps, particularly shampoos, is that they do not lather up much.

Unfortunately, all those suds that we have come to love comes with a cost—and they are not necessary for proper cleansing.

Our love affair with sudsy, thick shampoos may have begun in 1950s or thereabouts, when bottled shampoo commercials boasted about the rich lather of their brand, implying that it was better for hair. (Let’s face it, it just plain feels good to our heads and hands to feel all that velvety foam swimming on our scalp and between our fingers….)  I remember well, as a young girl and teen, using that green tube of concentrated Prell . . . then having to dump a boatload of “creme rinse” on to my head to help repair the resulting straw-like strands of hair. I’m tellin’ ya, that thick lather seemed to suck out every last molecule of oil from my hair!

So, the problem with all that seemingly luxurious sudsy-ness is that the detergents responsible for the bubbles (most often petrochemically derived sulfates) can be very drying to hair and skin (as with my Prell experience). They can also cause allergic responses, and they are detrimental to the environment.

(Important side note for females of ALL ages: If you are not aware, please look into the connection between bubble baths and UTIs!!! See this article on Women and Bubble Baths, as one of many on the subject.)

Having used a number of more natural products for hair and skin, I know how hard it is to get over the “where is the lather” factor. But it doesn’t take long to discover that it was never really necessary or desirable, and most such products do offer a modest lather.

Most recently, I became aware of an interesting brand and product line I was anxious to try. Actress Jessica Alba is a co-founder of The Honest Company which prides itself on selling non-toxic, safe, eco-friendly products, much of which is geared toward babies. (Where was this good stuff when my daughter was that little?)

Fortuitously, I happened to see one of their products at my local Costco, and rushing to check it out, I practically crashed my cart into the stack of body soap/shampoo sold by The Honest Company. Of course, I just had to purchase it. The box contained two 17 fl. oz (500 ml) bottles of their SHAMPOO & BODY WASH (I was intrigued to realize it served a dual purpose) . . . and it lists a “Sweet Orange Vanilla” scent.

As the box plainly reads, this versatile “soap” is natural, hypoallergenic, non-toxic, color-safe, tear-free, biodegradable, vegan, and pH balanced. That seems to cover about every possible concern, yes?

It went straight to our shower, and after giving it a test drive, I have to say that I honestly (pun intended) liked it.

Used as a shampoo, it did lather up much more than I had expected, so that was a pleasant bonus. The sweet orange vanilla scent was pleasant, for sure, and most will be happy that it is really a very light scent; I would have even appreciated a stronger dose of it, in fact.

It cleans well. That’s the bottom line. I doesn’t dry your hair out, but I did feel the need to follow with some conditioner since it did not seem to offer any real moisturizing, which is just fine with me.

I have a feeling this company will do very well. With a celebrity face as a founder, their obviously well-planned and appealing marketing, and a much-needed line of safe products, I expect we’ll see much more from The Honest Company. I’m really curious to know what new products they’ll add in, and I’m looking forward to trying more of what they have to offer, so stay tuned for further updates!

If you’d like to learn more about The Honest Company and see their impressive line-up of non-toxic products, click here.

P.S. Since I don’t have a baby around to try those diapers with, how ‘bout letting me know what you think when you’ve tried it out?

(I discovered an excellent price for 2 bottles on Amazon…)

I recently posted the following on my Facebook page . . . .

I was surprised to see the documentary FOOD, INC. available to view on Vimeo (free). If you haven’t seen it, I hope you will. It’s not a feel-good movie, but it’s important.  How about this weekend?

Things can’t change for the better without strong consumer demand for improvements.  This isn’t just about treatment of farm animals or vegetarianism; its focus is much broader—a subject that is fraught with deception.

Hiding our heads in the sand makes us complicit in hurting ourselves, our children & grandchildren, fellow human beings, sentient animals, and our planet.  Watching this documentary is a good start, since knowledge is power.

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Here’s the description of the film from the Food Inc. website (http://www.takepart.com/foodinc/film):

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Here is the link to the video on Vimeo:  http://vimeo.com/23607359

Whenever I walk into a standard supermarket—which is not that often—I feel uneasy (and sad) seeing the huge piles of produce available that are not organic. In fact, I can no longer enter a mainstream restaurant and order a salad or fruit, etc., without a sinking sense that I am about to eat a touch of poison.

I have tried to turn my head and look the other way, since it’s pretty hard to socialize and live a so-called “normal” life when you have to avoid getting food from these places, but it has become increasingly difficult for me to justify this behavior.

Although some non-organic produce can be somewhat safely cleaned, prepared, and eaten, it is troublesome to understand that we are all ingesting toxins when we eat from this supply.

Think that’s no big deal?  Think again.

The data is quite clear that we are almost all walking around, even the youngest among us, with dangerous levels of pesticides in our tissues. (I wish I’d understood this more clearly many years ago!)

We can’t avoid all risks in life, but it can be extremely helpful to our bodies to reduce our exposure to dangerous chemicals. And as a parent, I believe it is my responsibility to reduce that load whenever reasonably possible. Knowing what I do, I can’t in good conscience buy and prepare food for my family that could potentially add to any known risks.

Luckily, better options do exist, and it all starts with awareness.

Here’s a brief and informative video from the Environmental Working Groups, with the brilliant Dr. Andrew Weil, that I’d love to share with you.