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HEALTHY HEARTS NEED HEALTHY FAT February is the perfect time to pay homage to the hardest working muscle in your body. Did you know that your heart beats an average of 72 times per minute? This means that by age 66, one's heart will have beaten close to 2.5 billion times. An organ that works this hard deserves a little extra love and attention. Consuming more fat is usually not the first idea that comes to mind when trying to care for one's heart. However, the types of fats one consumes could be the most crucial factor in determining one's cardiovascular health. Most are unaware that healthy fats are the primary energy / fuel source for the heart. In fact, if one's diet is lacking in these important fats the heart can not possibly function at optimum capacity. The healthy fat most Americans are deficient in is omega 3 fatty acid. Omega 3 fatty acids are found primarily in wild-caught fish, flax and chia seeds, walnuts, & sea weeds. Fish oil tends to be the most bio-available source of these health promoting fats. Omega 3 fatty acids not only provide excellent nourishment to the heart muscle but also benefit many other organ systems as well. Below is a brief sampling of the major benefits of fish oil... The Heart Research shows that Fish oil can boost healthy HDL cholesterol levels while helping to lower triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and blood pressure. Fish oil also has a slight blood-thinning effect. This is very helpful for many Americans whose arteries are full of plaque which can lead to blood clots and eventually a stroke or heart attack. Research shows that these fatty acids break up clots before they can cause any damage. Fish Oils have also been found to help maintain the elasticity of artery walls and promote healthy heart rhythm. American medical researchers report that men who consume Omega 3 fish oils regularly have a 50% lower risk of dying from a sudden cardiac event . (Siscovick, David S., Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 274, No. 17, November 1, 1995) Inflammation / Joints Omega 3 fish oil fatty acids have a very positive effect on the body's inflammatory response and have been researched for helping improve conditions like arthritis. Fish oil also supports joint mobility due to its lubricating and soothing properties. Mood / Mental stability Fish oil has been researched for improving memory, recall, reasoning, and focus. DHA, a component of fish oil, is essential for proper brain / neural development. Given this, supplementing with Omega 3 fish oil is essential for any woman that is pregnant or nursing. Studies show that children struggling with ADD and ADHD experience an improved quality of life when supplementing with Omega 3 fatty acids.
Cancer Research demonstrates that consuming Omega 3 oils regularly can help prevent three of the most common forms of cancer – breast, colon and prostate. These are just a sampling of reported benefits from Omega 3 Fats. Unfortunately, most Americans are not getting nearly enough of these life preserving fats. The good news is that there are high quality Omega-3 rich fish oils available to help supplement one's diet. It is important to note, however, that not all fish oil supplements are the same. To ensure that your fish oil is of high quality make sure that it is 1) third party tested to be free of toxic heavy metals like mercury & lead 2) tested for oxidation / rancidity and 3) sustainable certified.
THINK GLOBALLY, LOVE LOCALLY!!! This Valentine’s Day, keep the love in the neighborhood- delight your true love with delicious, locally made chocolates! We have so many to choose from this year at The Turnip Truck.
In case your Valentine doesn’t eat many sweets, consider giving one of our chocolatey body care products! Not locally made but full of good ingredients, we have EO Chocolate & Mint Hand Soap, Giovanni Chocolate Body Scrub, and Nubian Heritage Body Butter made with cocoa, shea butter, hazelnut and chocolate seed oil. Or have one of our supplement experts help you concoct a special love potion for your sweetie… For more information on our local chocolates, please visit: |
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Psychiatry department researchers at the University of Sheffield UK found that fish oil supplements "alleviated" the symptoms of depression, bipolar and psychosis. [Journal of Affective Disorder Vol. 48(2-3);149-55]
The Turnip Truck sells two high quality brands of fish oils that meet these specifications. One brand is Nordic Naturals, a pharmaceutical grade and doctor recommended fish oil. Nordic Naturals has been an industry leader for over 2 decades and has won many awards for the purity and quality of their fish oils. The other high-quality brand is New Chapter's WholeMega, a relative new-comer in the fish oil market. WholeMega is 100% pure extra virgin cold pressed Wild Alaskan Salmon oil. WholeMega is naturally rich in antioxidants and other beneficial fatty acids, often lacking in other fish oils. Both brands are available at The Turnip Truck and will be ON SALE for the entire month of February. 
Made right up the road in Inglewood (the Upper East Side!), Olive & Sinclair Chocolates have quickly become a Nashville favorite. Offered in many different varieties- 67% Dark Chocolate, 75% Dark Chocolate, Salt & Pepper, Sea Salt, Cacao Nib, Coffee Bean (made with local Bongo Java coffee beans), and their newest and one of their most popular flavors, Mexican Style Cinn-Chili- Olive & Sinclair chocolates are made with slow roasted and stone ground cocoa beans. Their chocolate bars are hand crafted in small batches. Their labels were designed by fellow Nashvillian, Bryce McCloud at Isle of Printing and fortunately, these chocolates taste as great as they look!
