It’s always fascinating how little changes can add up to big results when it comes to our health. Some of the greatest healers consistently point out how integrating powerful foods into our routine can help us feel better fast by fueling and healing the body. One of these powerhouse foods is probably something you’ve never even considered: Blackstrap Molasses.

Did you know that Blackstrap Molasses is chalk full of vital nutrients such as copper, iron, calcium and magnesium that can feed your body? One serving (two tablespoons) contains about 14 percent of our recommended daily intake of cooper, 13 percent of our recommended daily intake of iron, 12 percent of recommended daily intake of calcium and 7 percent of recommended daily intake of magnesium.

Often lacking in American diets, copper is an important trace mineral that works to build healthy skin and hair. It’s even shown to be beneficial when it comes to helping to fight the dreaded appearance of gray strands. People have reported that their gray hair actually reversed course after adding more copper to their diet!

When it comes to those who are anemic, blackstrap molasses provides a welcome dose of healthy iron. A group that might particularly benefit from an iron boost are women who experience anemia during their menstrual cycle and feel a bit “off,” but don’t know why. These women may have never even considered that anemia could be affecting their health.

Blackstrap Molasses also contains calcium and magnesium to help strengthen bones and improve mood and mental outlook. Again, some people may not have even considered that a calcium and magnesium deficiency could be making them feel out-of-whack. When you are choosing Blackstrap Molasses, make sure to look for a high quality organic brand that offers the biggest benefit and talk to your doctor about how it can be integrated into your overall health plan.

A “gut feeling,” it turns out, may be more than just an expression.

A new triple-blind study has found that probiotics – the beneficial bacteria found in yogurt and kefir – can lighten your mood as well.

Researchers from Lieden University in the Netherlands found that subjects given a probiotic supplement for four weeks were less apt to be in a negative mood than those who took a placebo.

They divided the 40 participants, all healthy men and women, into two groups of 20. The first was issued a probiotic powder containing three types of beneficial bacteria — Lactobacillus, Lactococcus and Bifidobacterium. The second got an identical-looking powder that contained no bacteria.

Each was also asked to fill out a questionnaire psychologists use to gauge a person’s state of mind, both at the start of the study and when it ended. It showed the probiotic takers were much less apt to suffer from “the blues” – or have aggressive thoughts – than the placebo group.

“These results provide the first evidence that the intake of probiotics may help reduce negative thoughts associated with sad mood,” the researchers wrote. Probiotics, they concluded, might just be “a potential preventive strategy for depression.”

While probiotics are available in supplement form, yogurt is a far more popular way of consuming them. And a previous study at UCLA involving MRI brain scans found that eating yogurt twice daily for a month reduced activity in parts of the brain dealing with emotion and pain and increased it in decision-making areas.

“Our findings indicate that some of the contents of yogurt may actually change the way our brain responds to the environment,” noted Dr. Kirsten Tillisch, that study’s lead researcher.

Experts are also convinced there are strong links between the health of our gut ecosystem and our emotional well-being. One reason may be that levels of tryptophan, which the body uses to produce serotonin, may be increased by having more beneficial bacteria. Serotonin is a substance that affects our moods, and being deficient in it is a known cause of depression.

So it might be accurate to describe yogurt as a genuine “feel-good” food. But be sure the kind you buy has live, active cultures, such as those used in the study. And that it doesn’t contain any fake, toxic sweeteners, such as aspartame or Splenda. Or better yet, buy some plain, whole-milk yogurt (preferably organic) and sweeten it however you like – with fruits, honey or real maple syrup.

If you’ve never tried it, kefir is an even more probiotic-rich product that you can drink, more on the order of a smoothie.

We’re all about eating more nutritiously here at Wild Oats. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks – we have delicious natural and organic options to complete every meal. Some of our favorites include our Original Pancake Mix for breakfast, Organic Edamame & Cucumber Hummus for lunch or snacking and our Organic Italian Herb Pasta Sauce with Organic Rotini Noodles for a tasty dinner. All this talk about food is making us hungry!

It also gets us thinking, what percentage of the food you eat is natural or organic? Let us know for a chance to win a Wild Oats prize pack. Comment or reply on our Twitter or Facebook page and you’re automatically entered!

To share on Facebook, simply comment on our Mission Monday post by 8:59pm PT/11:59pm ET tonight to be entered to win!

To share on Twitter, tweet us with #WildOatsMission and #sweeps by 8:59pm PT/11:59pm ET tonight to be entered to win!

Full Sweepstakes rules and details can be found here: bit.ly/1DoNN9U

Spring is in the air. Time to break out the shorts and head outdoors. Note: Mosquitoes think this is a great idea too, and they don’t even wear shorts. If you don’t want to come home from a day at the lake looking like Sponge Bob Square Pants, or worse, you need a plan.

While it is easy to reach for the DEET, it’s probably not a good idea.  Although DEET is approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it has been linked to neurological problems; at least 18 different cases of children suffering adverse neurological effects, and even death. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that DEET causes diffuse brain cell death and behavioral changes in rats. It is toxic to birds and aquatic life. Sadly DEET has been found in approximately 75 percent of U.S. water sources, including the Mississippi River. 

But never fear, it gets worse. The topic here is actually mosquitoes and it turns out they can do a lot more than just make you uncomfortable.

Since 1937 mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus (WNV) have been steadily making their way across the globe. Reportedly arriving first in the US in NYC in October 1999, cases have been continually on the increase, and have currently been documented in 39 states.

According to Wikipedia, WNV is “Now considered to be an endemic pathogen in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and in the United States, which in 2012 has experienced one of its worst epidemics. In 2012, WNV killed 286 people in the United States, with the state of Texas being hard hit by this virus.”

While that all sounds a bit apocalyptic, the risk is actually relatively low. How low exactly?  Well, according to the CDC, “About 1 in 5 people who are infected will develop a fever with other symptoms, including, body aches, low energy and headache, fever, and stiff neck.” Bottom line,  “Less than 1% of infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, neurologic illness.”

It’s that “fatal neurologic illness” part that sent me scampering our across cyberspace looking for some kind of effective natural bug repellent. (That and the fact that there is no cure or treatment.)

Good news is there are lots of options out there, and while they may not last as long as ones that contain DEET, they are plenty effective if applied regularly (every couple hours) – and most smell nice too!  

So, how do you make natural bug repellent?

The main ingredients for any make it yourself insect repellent is essential oil. While these oils are considered “natural,” used improperly they can cause blisters, rashes and other complications, so caution is a must. If you are already hyper sensitive to smells (as I am,) have an autoimmune disorder, or are pregnant, these oils, even diluted, may not be for you. Young children are often sensitive to chemicals no matter what the source and essential oils are no exception.

With that in mind if you don’t want to be bugged this summer, here are some dissuasive oils you might try. All oils must be mixed with a carrier and should never be applied undiluted. The carrier can be water based, oil, glycerin, or alcohol depending on your preference. You’ll need a total of about 40-50 drops of oil per 8 ounces of bug repellent of any of the following.

Here is the sweet list of bug inhibitors!

• Basil
• Cedarwood
• Citronella
• Clove
• Eucalyptus
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Lemongrass
• Mint
• Rosemary
• Tea Tree
• Thyme

 Once you have decided on a scent (or two!) the next thing to decide is if you want a repellent that sticks to you, (oil or glycerin) or one that has more evaporative qualities, (water or alcohol.)

Get yourself a small spray bottle, – a three to four oz travel bottle works great. Measure, mix, and spritz!

If you want a tried and true recipe, here is one from Scratch Mommy  that is glycerin based

• 30 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
• 10 drops of Geranium Essential Oil
• 1 T vegetable glycerin
• Fill to (almost) the top with distilled H2O

Shake and apply as needed.

NOTE: Because of the Tea Tree Oil this repellent is not recommended for children.

Scratch Mommy Titles this one: “Great For Kids and Pets”

• Spray bottle (8oz or 10oz sizes work best)
• Water
• Witch hazel
• Peppermint, clove, lavender, or lemongrass essential oil for small children. Or lemon, eucalyptus, and tea tree for older kids and pets. (Lemon and eucalyptus can irritate the skin of very young children)

Create a 50/50 mix of witch hazel and water, and add 15 drops of the essential oil of your choice.

Remember topical applications are not the only way to discourage unwanted pests.

Mother Earth News reminds us that good old geranium and citronella are first and often best lines of defense against biting insects if you are just sitting around outside. Research by Guy Surgeoner at the University of Guelph, showed that citronella candles can reduce the number of bites by up to 42 percent!

*The essential oil in catnip (Nepeta cataria) ,  was found to be about 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide), the widely used synthetic repellent.”

Other tactics to avoid being the main course at an outdoor buffet include wearing loose fitting clothing, and avoiding perfumes and sweet smelling shampoos, which oddly enough have the opposite effect of essential oils.

We have choices about what we put into and on our bodies. By choosing natural and organic products over harmful pesticides and additives, we are actively and effectively voting for the kind of world we want to live in.

To learn the prevalence of West Nile virus where you live, check the CDC website: www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/wncount.htm

Black Bean Nutrition Tidbit

Black beans have bean a nutritious staple food for thousands of years in South America, however black beans did not cross the Atlantic Ocean until the 1500’s in the boats of European explorers.

The Nutritional Benefits of Wild Oats Organic Black Beans:

Nutritionally Authentic:

USDA Certified Organic food product

The darker the bean, the higher amount of antioxidants

Nutritionally Affordable:

Fat-free

High in antioxidants and fiber, available at an affordable price

An inexpensive protein source

Nutritionally Accessible:

Shelf-stable pantry solution, easy to store and use quickly in recipes

Medical Nutrition Therapy Tips and Solutions:

Pregnancy: Black beans are high in B vitamins, especially folate.

Anemia: Black beans are high in iron, and eating foods rich in iron prevents against anemia.

Brain Function: Black beans are high folate, which helps keep homocysteine levels in check. Studies have shown an increase in homocysteine levels can be a dangerous precursor to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Vegetarians: They are an excellent source of protein for vegetarians.

Children: Bump up your child’s fiber intake by serving by making them delicious black bean burritos using Wild Oats organic black beans for a grab-n-go snack on the run, or pack for school lunch.

Athletes all of ages: Easily digestible fuel source for before or after exercise.

Men: Consuming black beans can prevent impotence and erectile function in older men.

Cancer: Consuming beans may lower your risk for certain types of cancer.

Elderly: Beans are naturally a soft texture, and also can be pureed and consumed without teeth. A great way to add bulk to stools for those suffering from constipation.

Diabetes: Black beans have a nice balance of carbohydrates and fiber, so they won’t spike blood sugar rapidly.

High Blood Pressure: Rinse the canned beans to wash away added sodium.