ONE LIFE | ONE BODY: FIX IT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE:

THE BENEFITS OF JUICE CLEANSING 

By Erik Vose, ND

Commit to yourself. This new year commit to a new you. The whole world is waiting for the new you to emerge. Meanwhile, there is a team of people waiting to support you in whatever way they can. At Erewhon, we are here to support your transformation to health – and that’s why we are offering the next level of juice cleansing.

Kick off the new year with us as we start off talks with our healthcare practitioners in Calabasas. It is a great opportunity to sit down with a naturopathic doctor or nutritionist for a brief presentation or to answer any questions you may have about the particular topic. Join us for a round table discussion to dive into the “Benefits of Cleansing” from expert nutritionist Kellie Morrow, CN, HHP on Saturday Jan. 9th, 2016 in Erewhon Calabasas. Kellie will go in depth about detoxification, how it works, and how it can work for you to feel and look great.

THE BENEFITS OF JUICE CLEANSING

Whether you need to lose weight, improve your immune system, address chronic illness, or just optimize your mental performance, juice cleansing is an amazing tool available to you. Juice cleansing gives your body a break from the regular wear and tear, while offering the vital nutrients needed to repair.

When you avoid solid foods for a period of time you give your digestive system a break, allowing your body to focus on other things such as detoxification, deeper tissue repair, improving the immune system, and resolving psychological stress.

The “normal” lifestyle full of chemicals and stress causes toxins to accumulate in the fat and within internal organs of the body, interrupting your natural energy flow. Mental fog, mood imbalances, chronic inflammation, and a host of diseases occur as a result. Inflammation under your skin causes a swollen puffy appearance, and poor blood circulation to the skin surface causes the face to look pale and sickly. Stress and poor diet causes bad bacteria to grow and multiply in our digestive system causing food allergies/sensitivities that show up as rashes, headaches, joint pain, and a bunch of other problems.

When you juice cleanse, phenomenal things happen to your inner and outer body. Your liver and kidneys filter out your blood and dump the toxins out of the body. Your immune system has the time to track down and properly address the underlying problems and infections. The result is radiant skin that communicates your health to the world. But it’s more than that, the result is the real you coming forward.

HOW TO JUICE CLEANSE

The way to juice cleanse is to avoid solid foods for a period of time and take in specific organic vegetable juices, hot teas, and broths as sources of vital nutrients. At Erewhon we have organic juice cleanses for all types of people,with 3 different levels of intensity from ranging from 1-7 days long.  

http://erewhonmarket.com/theorganicjuicecleanse

Come into Erewhon to sign up for our comprehensive juice cleanse protocols, speak with our knowledgeable staff, and find ways to optimize your health before and after a cleanse. Join us for our round table discussions twice per month with our health care practitioners.

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of cleansing, RSVP today for our Erewhon Round Table Discussion this Saturday, January 9th at 2pm.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/erewhon-round-table-discussions-the-benefits-of-cleansing-tickets-20149511732?aff=es2

Bio: Dr. Erik Vose is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor passionate about educating and empowering his patients. He uses both modern medicine and traditional treatments such as herbal medicine, homeopathy, visceral manipulation, craniosacral therapy, and sacro-occipital technique. He currently sees patients in his offices in Santa Monica and Thousand Oaks, and does house calls. For more information visit: www.BeNaturopathic.com.

ONE LIFE | ONE BODY: Hormone Therapy and Your Waistline 101

By Erik Vose, ND

Now is the time more than ever to re-enforce those weight-loss health habits for yourself. In this blog I will briefly explain some of the science behind weight loss, why it’s so hard, and how to actually make it happen.

As a naturopathic medical doctor (ND or NMD), I am steeped in the science of weight loss and have a few clinical pearls to share with you. I commonly see overweight patients who have serious hormonal or psychological obstacles to losing weight, and treating these issues can open the door for more typical weight loss strategies to actually work.

Putting yourself first is not selfish. Most of my overweight patients have three things in common:

1) They are very giving people, often pushing their stress down in the attempt to care for others.
2) They have hormonal imbalances, with estrogen dominance and elevated insulin.
3) The fat cells accumulate environmental toxins, which disrupt hormone levels and make it hard to exercise and lose the weight.

I will briefly explain how either of these alone will cause weight gain, and when combined these factors create a giant hurdle to keeping the weight off.

WHY WE GAIN WEIGHT: THE SCIENCE BEHIND WEIGHT GAIN

When we eat carbohydrate rich foods, our body produces insulin. Insulin and psychological stress together cause the body to make and store fat. Normally, we burn off the fat when we use our muscles. But when the body thinks it’s starving because of chronic stress, we store up fat instead of burning it off. Cortisol is the hormone that causes fat storage in response to chronic stress. When our adrenal glands are stressed out, we make cortisol instead of the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. Because of this, chronic stress can cause low testosterone, which ends up adding weight to an already overweight body. Toxin accumulation in fat is another major player in preventing weight loss. When we start to lose weight, we release the fat soluble toxins in our body which makes us feel horrible. This is one reason why weight loss is so hard – because we look to foods to help us feel better when we are feeling bad. Many common toxins also disrupt the hormone system, causing all kinds of problems including blocking our body from secreting testosterone in our adrenal glands to naturally removing estrogen from our body through our liver. This is why its so important to work with an alternative medical provider who can help you replace your hormones WHILE supporting your natural detoxification pathways.

WHY WE GAIN WEIGHT: THE SCIENCE BEHIND TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY

Testosterone increases our metabolism, causing our muscles to grow and therefore use more energy. With more testosterone, we burn more fat. Low testosterone is very common, according to some estimates around 40% in men 40 and older. The more fat that we have the more testosterone we turn into estrogen through an enzyme called aromatase. This aromatase enzyme is also expressed in chronic inflammation. According to conventional science (the American Diabetes Association), testosterone deficiency is associated with type 2 diabetes. Type II diabetes (insulin resistance) and testosterone deficiency go hand in hand. Trying to get diabetic patients to lose weight is notoriously difficult, and this is in part due to absent testosterone.

WHATS THE POINT?

To lose weight we use three main approaches:

1) Detoxification/cleansing the body
2) Balancing hormones
3) Addressing psychological stressors and beliefs

We need to detox first and foremost, but this is hard when its so tough to exercise. This is where testosterone comes in: it helps you exercise. Trying to lose weight without balanced testosterone is almost impossible. There are many treatments for increasing testosterone, however replacement is something to seriously consider. In both men and women, testosterone replacement works to speed up weight loss and reduce chronic inflammation.
To learn more, join us for a round table discussion 7pm on Tuesday, January 19th at Erewhon in Calabasas to hear about the science behind weight loss and ask your questions. At this talk you will hear about the comprehensive treatment strategy to address the underlying hormonal and psychological obstacles to weight loss.

Click HERE to RSVP today for our Round Table Discussion this Tuesday, January 19th at 7:00pm at Erewhon Calabasas.

BIO: Dr. Erik Vose is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor passionate about educating and empowering his patients. He uses both modern medicine and traditional treatments such as herbal medicine, homeopathy, visceral manipulation, craniosacral therapy, and sacro-occipital technique. He currently sees patients in his offices in Santa Monica and Thousand Oaks, and does house calls. For more information visit: www.BeNaturopathic.com.

ONE LIFE | ONE BODY: Nutritional Factors That Influence Your Love Life

By Erik Vose, ND

With Valentine’s day around the corner, many people find themselves looking for ways to enhance their appearance from the outside. The truth is it starts from within and this time we aren’t referring to your personality. We are talking about your gut bacteria and the way it affects your pheromones. Three simple scientific factors can not only make you feel great but actually improve your overall love life

THE SCIENCE BEHIND ATTRACTIVENESS

There are two main ways to increase attractiveness by changing your gut bacteria and improving your digestion. Attractiveness is based on the level of confidence and joy you radiate to others. When you are seen as truly comfortable in yourself they you are immediately seen as more attractive.

The simple scientific principle behind attraction is based on pheromones. These are chemicals released by your body that signal others to sense how attractive and genetically compatible you are. If a person is sick or toxic, their natural smell changes, and their pheromones are different.

By changing the gut bacteria, we can change both our sense of confidence and our pheromones. This is how it works:

When we change our gut bacteria, our neurotransmitters change. We can relax and feel good in ourselves. The gut bacteria improve digestion, which promotes a balanced nervous system and reduces overall anxiety. By feeling more relaxed and confident, you can rest assured that you are naturally healthy and attractive.

The gut bacteria influence our pheromones in several ways. When we change our gut bacteria, we change our immune system and our detoxification pathways. In fact, our whole metabolism changes. By changing the bacteria in our gut, our whole bacterial balance changes, which in turn changes our pheromones.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE

What can we do to change our gut bacteria? To begin with, changing our diet is the single best way to change our gut bacteria in the long term. To speed up the transition in gut bacteria, we can take a number of supplements to eradicate “bad” bacteria while promoting “good bacteria.”

Here are three easy tips to change your gut bacteria:

Change the diet: completely eliminate dairy, gluten, and soy. These three foods commonly interact with the immune system and promote bacterial imbalances along with excessive inflammation. It’s best to work with a nutritionist or naturopathic medical doctor to come up with an individualized diet that will actually be sustainable for you.

SF722 by Thorne is a great supplement to take, 1 capsule twice per day, to help remove some of the fungus and bacteria that have set up shop in the gut.
Megadophilus by Natren is a super-adhesive, long-lasting probiotic that works gently enough to gradually shift your gut bacterial balance towards health. Many people who react to probiotics with gas and bloating have no issues with this particular probiotic. Because it lasts so long, you don’t need more than a few billion per capsule, which is part of why this probiotic is so amazing.

To learn more join us today, February 6th, 2016 at 7pm in Erewhon Calabasas for a roundtable discussion with our certified nutritionist and functional medicine specialist, Asia Real, CN. Click HERE to register. Seating is limited.

Unexpected Natural Solutions That Solve Sleep Deprivation
By Erik Vose, ND

Who isn’t sleep deprived these days? Sleep is a major obstacle to healing, and as a naturopathic medical doctor I am excited to share what works for many patients in the integrative medical setting. Growing up with a mother who was an insomniac that later went on to become a sleep therapist taught me a lot about sleep that I am happy to share with you.

Sleep is the basic foundation of health. It’s when our body heals and our mind recovers from the challenges of the day. Without sleep we develop all kinds of issues.

Sleep problems start with stress, and end with terrible consequences for your health. Research shows that sleep problems are associated with everything from high blood pressure to attention-deficit disorder (ADD). But even if you sleep well (and if you do you should count yourself blessed) you still probably need some tips from time to time.

There are two basic types of sleep problems: getting to sleep and staying asleep. I will address both with some great tips that work like a charm.

The hours before midnight are doubly restorative, so getting to sleep early is a top priority for many patients to support the healing process. Sleep begins with setting a routine and schedule for success. By getting out in the sunlight during the day, our bodies naturally want to sleep.

Here are a few tips:

1. Full spectrum light therapy early in the morning: By using full spectrum lighting early in the morning, we can balance our natural rhythm and ability to wake up. Sitting in front of a full spectrum light for 15 minutes each morning will stimulate your brains natural rhythm to get up during the day and go to sleep at night.

2. Melatonin: Taking 2-3mg of melatonin 4 hours before bed has been predictably successful at stimulating the brain to increase melatonin production in time for bed. Many people take it 20 minutes before bed, and taking it 4 hours before bed works even better – and with less morning grogginess too!

3. Some protein before bed will keep your blood sugar levels from dropping, which causes many people to wake up. I regularly recommend a handful of nuts or some protein powder in a little water to patients just before bed so they can stay asleep easier.

4. Nutritional support: Drinking a great green powder drink during the day is one easy way to keep your b-vitamin and minerals levels balanced. The vitamins and minerals in many green powders offer your brain the support it needs to do its job correctly.

4. Herbal sedatives: There are a handful of powerful herbal sleep aids that are all very safe. Passionflower, lemon balm, chamomile, and valerian all have their strengths and weaknesses. If you are looking for a quick fix in the short term, these medicines are perfect.

Hormonal imbalance is another main obstacles for restful sleep. Stress and anxiety cause our brains to produce high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Cortisol imbalances go hand in hand with other hormonal imbalances. By setting a regular sleep cycle, our cortisol levels balance out and help us deal with stress in our lives.

For more advice on how to customize your natural solutions to solve sleep deprivation, come visit an Erewhon nutrition department near you. Our health practitioners and doctors are here to help you make the best decisions.

The Ultimate Wellness Plan: Part 1 of 3 – Alkaline and Blood Cleansing
By Erik Vose, ND

Alkalizing your body is a key step in recovering your health. Lots of people talk about it, but how real is it, and what science supports it?

Alkaline lifestyles are touted as helping with detox, fighting infection, and preventing chronic disease of all kinds. In my experience, these claims are all accurate, in this article I will explain the basic scientific basis for how alkaline lifestyles work.

What does ‘alkaline’ mean?

Alkaline is a chemistry term to refer to a high pH, which means that in a solution there are more OH- ions than H+ ions. This translates to the body in several important ways. Our enzymes all need a specific concentration of H+ ions to do their job properly.

What is an alkaline lifestyle?

An alkaline lifestyle is a way of living that supports the body’s natural alkalinity, allowing the body to spend resources on other things like repair and detoxification instead of balancing the acidity from the diet.

How can you tell if you are “alkaline”?

4 Quick tips
1. Diet rich in vegetables, and low in carbohydrates
2. Lemon juice (about ½ teaspoon) in water first thing in the morning, then 5 mins before each meal
3. Chlorella – 3 grams, twice per day
4. Coffee enemas

Learn more

Twice a month, Erewhon hosts a roundtable discussion for free where the public can speak with a healthcare provider to learn about a specific topic. This month, Kellie Grillo, HHP, CN will be hosting a round table discussion where you can learn more, this Saturday, March 5th at Erewhon Natural Foods Market in Calabasas. Kellie is a super friendly!

RSVP TODAY SEATING IS LIMITED. CLICK HERE

About one in one hundred people suffer from the autoimmune disorder known as Celiac Disease.

Ingesting any kind of gluten, which is found in wheat, rye and barley, can cause the immune system to attack the small intestine. This leads to an abnormal absorption of nutrients that can cause severe consequences.

Long-term health problems caused by untreated celiac disease can include

• Anemia
• Osteoporosis
• Infertility
• Miscarriage
• Lactose intolerance
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Seizures
• Dementia
• Migraines
• Neuropathy
• Pancreatic Insufficiency
• Gall bladder problems

Diagnosing celiac disease can be hard to do, as there are over two hundred different symptoms that can occur and not all of them in the digestive system. Some people have no symptoms of the disease but will get a positive result from a blood test.

If you have suffered from an illness for more than a few months that is otherwise unexplained, you should consider being tested for the disease.

You will also want to be tested if you have a first-degree relative, such as parent, child or sibling, who has the disease as this means that you have a one in ten chance of having it yourself.

FOODS TO STAY AWAY FROM

If you suffer from celiac disease, you will want to stay away from wheat, barley, rye, oats, triticale, spelt, durum, einkorn, emmer, groat, brewers yeast and graham.

Some sufferers of celiac disease can sometimes eat pure oats, but many times in the process of processing, oats can become tainted with gluten and become a big problem.

Some foods are technically considered gluten free, but are still not good to eat in a gluten free diet. They include sorghum, millet, teff, corn and rice.

There is another group of foods that are not grains, but are at high risk for being cross-contaminated with gluten. They are quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth, and should be avoided unless documented proof can be obtained verifying that there is no gluten in them.

In addition to staying away from these foods, you will also want to stay away from anything in which they are an ingredient such as beer, blue cheese, bread flour, cake flour, communion wafers and so much more.

The list of all foods to avoid when you suffer from celiac disease is incredibly extensive and great care should be taken to learn how to correctly read labels on the food you eat.

Food is not the only thing you have to watch out for, however. Many medications also contain gluten and can set off the same symptoms that gluten-containing foods cause.

Medication manufacturers use excipients – specific ingredients that are used to bind pills together – in the production of their product and many of them contain gluten.

While the FDA is in charge of labeling foods that are gluten free, there are no such laws in place for medication. Moreover, inactive ingredients are often changed, without notice, so medications that once contained gluten may not, and vice versa.

It may seem like it takes a great deal of effort to control your diet when you have celiac disease – and it does – but it is certainly worth it. If you find that diet planning becomes a burden, you might consider consulting a registered dietitian or a doctor who specializes in celiac disease.

WISE FOOD CHOICES

Celiac disease is incurable and can only be managed by a strict, gluten free diet. There are no medications or therapies to give any relief.

That is why it is incredibly important to know what not to eat, how to read food labels correctly and how to structure your diet for the most good.

Many items on today’s grocery shelves have been modified specifically for those who have celiac disease and are sensitive to gluten. Many items that were once off limits can now be consumed, as they are produced to be gluten free and are labeled as such.

There are even many recipes that have been altered so that celiac disease sufferers can bake their own cakes, cookies and breads without the worry of an impending flare-up.

WHAT CAN CELIAC DISEASE SUFFERERS EAT?

With all the talk about what foods have to be avoided by those who have celiac disease, it can leave you wondering what you can have. It seems like all the great snack and comfort foods are loaded with gluten.

It may be that unless you specifically buy snacks that are labeled as being gluten free, you might have to do without a lot of commercially produced snack foods, or make them yourself.

However, there are plenty of foods that you can have, with no worries at all about gluten, contaminates or symptoms that might happen.

Beef

Beef is naturally gluten free, meaning that you can eat it with no worries.

Some have had the concern that when cattle are fed gluten containing grains, that it can be passed on to anyone who eats the meat of that animal, but this is not so.

The digestive system of a cow works in such a way that glutens and proteins are all broken down so as to become nonexistent by the time they reach the intestines where they might be absorbed back into the body.

While pure and natural cuts of beef are perfectly fine to eat on a gluten free diet, be sure to keep an eye out for beef that might be prepared with extra brining solutions or other ingredients that might contain gluten.

Beef that has extra ingredients added so as to be “ready-to-eat” can also contain gluten in the form of sauces, broths and even bread crumbs. These are also not appropriate for celiac sufferers.

Chicken

Fresh chicken contains no gluten, but the key is that it contains no extra ingredients. Most all batters, marinades, injections and breadings contain gluten, so they are off limits.

Frying chicken, a method that many people prefer when cooking it, also renders it useless to be included in a gluten free meal plan. You must also leave off cooking it in sauces and gravies that may be laden with gluten.

A plain grilled chicken breast, free from broths, can be seasoned with herbs and spices for a delicious, gluten free lunch or dinner entrée.

Fish and Seafood

Fish and seafood are also naturally gluten free, but thanks to the most popular cooking methods, many people falsely assume that they cannot eat them.

However, there are many wonderful ways to prepare fish and other seafood that can be tasty, healthy and completely gluten free.

Baking salmon and shrimp really brings out a succulent flavor that can be spruced up even more by adding herbs, spices and roasted vegetables. Other fish can be baked as well, but care should be taken with the lighter varieties, as they can flake apart quickly.

Again, as with the aforementioned meats, sauces and other added ingredients can add gluten, so you must be careful to avoid adding them or read labels to assure they are free of them.

Miscellaneous Meats

Other meats can also be gluten free if you are careful to read labels. These can include ham, hot dogs, bacon, deli meats and sausage.

Take special care, however, to read into labels on sausage as they can sometimes use breadcrumbs as a filler.

It can sometimes be hard to find these meats with absolutely no gluten, as they can be processed on commercial machinery that can often cross-contaminate. This is often the case when you have deli meat cut right in the store, as they do not clean their slicer after every cut.

By law, if a food is labeled as being gluten free, then that means there is no chance of that cross-contamination happening.

Milk and Dairy

All dairy foods are naturally free from gluten and are a great way to get vitamin D, protein and calcium into your diet.

However, modified versions such as milk, ice cream and cheese with added flavorings, can have gluten included in their recipes. It is always best to read labels and check for packages that specifically say “gluten free”.

Milk, cheese and yogurt are great ways to add extra flavor to other gluten free foods like rice and pasta.

Breads

If you are looking for gluten free breads, cakes, cookies and other snacks, it is likely that you will have to stick to those labeled as gluten free or bake your own.

Most all breads contain gluten as they are grain based and made with flour, but those that are specifically labeled gluten free are safe for your diet.

Baking your own can really be a great way to enjoy them, as you can experiment with different kinds of gluten free baking ingredients to come up with something that suits your personal taste preferences.

This gives you complete control over the types of bread items you make, the ingredients you use and the overall end result. Knowing that your creations are completely gluten free can add a completely new dimension of culinary enjoyment to you lifestyle.

Cereals and Pasta

With these foods, the criteria for including them in your diet are the same as with breads. As most of them are made primarily from grains, you have to be careful to read labels and choose only those labeled gluten free.

The good news is that many major cereal brands are recognizing the need for gluten free products and have created several recipes that are completely gluten free.

Some of these companies include General Mills, Post, Kellogg’s and Nature’s Path.

The same is true for many major pasta makers as well. There are many brands that have come out with products labeled gluten free for those who suffer from celiac disease.

Having these specially made gluten free products can really open up the recipe-making possibilities and more variety in the types of foods they can eat.

Prepared Foods

It can sometimes be hard to find them, but there are now some frozen meals that are completely gluten free.

It is not often that you can simply read a frozen food package and determine whether or not it is gluten free so it is best not to purchase one unless the package tells you specifically that it is gluten free.

There are also now options for gluten free frozen pizza, gluten free “just add water” dishes and gluten free soups.

Baking Mixes

These come in handy when preparing your own from scratch, gluten free breads and snacks.

These gluten free baking mixes can absolutely change the life of someone who suffers from celiac disease, making it easier for them to lead a more normal life as far as food is concerned.

These mixes can include gluten free flours, bread mixes, muffin mixes, pizza crust mixes, cake mixes, cookie mixes and more. When you purchase them, just make sure the words “gluten free” are on the label.

When you have a product that is specifically labeled as gluten free, you do not have to worry that the product may have been cross-contaminated, which is a very real possibility with many flour products like bread mixes.

Condiments, Sauces, Etc.

This is probably the trickiest of the food product areas in which to find truly gluten free products. Many manufacturers can label a product as gluten free, only to have ingredients involved that do contain gluten.

Soy sauce, for instance, actually has quite a bit of wheat in the ingredient list, so it pays to do some extra digging in this category when searching for truly gluten free products.

The list of condiments that can be gluten free is actually fairly large. It includes ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, relish and many more.

Also included in this category are gravies, oils, salad dressings and other types of food toppings. Again, careful attention must be paid to all the ingredients on the list.

If there are condiments and such that you are particularly concerned about, you can always contact the manufacturer to find out details that are more specific.

DELICIOUS CELIAC DISEASE DIET

One thing is for sure, if you make your own recipes from scratch, using gluten free ingredients, then you can be sure you are truly eating gluten free.

Here are some recipes to help you get started in making your own gluten free foods.

https://www.jenreviews.com/celiac-disease-diet/

This article was shared via courtesy of JenReviews.com.

Our friends at OWL Venice sent us this delicious recipe from their upcoming cookbook. Pick up their organic broth elixir – available exclusively at Erewhon – and share a bowl of love and restoration this holiday season.

Curry Kabocha Soup

• 2 cups OWL turkey broth elixir
• 2 cups steamed kabocha squash
• 1/2 cup coconut, cashew or hemp milk
• 1 tsp curry powder
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Salt to taste
• Sprinkle of fresh chopped cilantro
• Top with olive oil, pepitas, and hemp hearts

Enjoy!

We can’t wait for you to experience our newest location! Erewhon Santa Monica features a beautiful patio, a terraced courtyard, large glass windows to bring a sense of indoor and outdoor connectivity, and a street-level view of Erewhon’s open kitchen. Sign up for our newsletter and be in the know on the latest developments!

We are taking the bone broth cleanse to a new level by infusing it with specific tonic herbs such as dandelion, echinacea, turmeric, ginger, lemongrass, and kombu (vegan mineral broth base); and organic and adaptogenic powerhouses like shiitake and reishi mushrooms.

BONE BROTH is one of the most beneficial foods to consume to restore gut health and support immune function and healthy inflammation response. Collagen, gelatin and amino acids (proline, glutamine and arginine) help seal openings in the gut lining and support gut integrity. This is a feat that even modern medicine cannot compete with. Bone broth is easily digestible and soothing to the digestive system, unlike many other foods that can be difficult to fully break down. Gelatin is also beneficial for restoring strength to the lining of the stomach and fighting food sensitivities, helping with the growth of probiotics, and supporting healthy inflammation levels in the digestive tract.

BONE BROTH is one of the best and only sources of natural collagen. As we age, our joints naturally experience wear-and-tear and as a result, we become less flexible and cartilage diminishes. Collagen also helps form elastin and other compounds within the skin that are responsible for maintaining skin’s youthful tone, texture and appearance. Gelatin, one of the star ingredients in bone broth, acts like a cushion between the bones that helps them “glide” without friction. Gelatin also provides the building blocks that are needed to maintain and form strong bones, helping take pressure off of aging joints and supporting healthy bone mineral density.

BONE BROTH is full of amino acids, collagen, trace minerals and dozens of other nutrients found within the bones that are not easily obtained from other commonly eaten foods. It’s low in calories and very high in minerals and other nutritional compounds that many people lack. Bone Broth is known to strengthen every part and system in the body from the stomach to brain, from muscle to ligaments and tendons. Bone broth is one of the most ancient food substances on earth. It has been used in almost every culture throughout history to improve health and support a healthy immune system.

KEY BENEFITS OF BONE BROTH:  supports the immune system, strengthens digestion and repairs stomach, maintains healthy skin, elasticity, protects the joints, encourages detoxification, improves metabolism

KEY BENEFITS OF KOMBU | VEGAN MINERAL BROTH:  anti-inflammatory, improves digestion, improves digestion, improves thyroid function, combats arthritis, prevents anemia, is one of the most iodine-rich foods on the planet, potent source of iron, packed with ocean minerals

BONE BROTH + SOUP

Soup that is made with a base of rich bone broth and vegetables add fiber and nutrients. Adding soup takes the edge off of a traditional liquid or juice-only cleanse. Many find it easier to adhere to a soup cleanse for longer periods of time because it’s a more versatile and realistic option to add to your daily diet and thus translates to increased benefits.

Vegetables are simmered in a nutrient-dense bone broth and pureed, so it’s still highly digestible and easily absorbed, packed with nutrients and the added benefit of fiber to help things move along. Since the soups are more like a traditional meal in terms of flavor and temperature, it makes it easier for people to maintain a longer fast because it adds variety for meals throughout the day. Not everyone has the time, patience or fierce dedication required for a strict juice-only cleanse. Combining soup with the power of bone broth is an effective way to cleanse that isn’t as rigorous to maintain.

BONE BROTH + COLD PRESSED JUICE

Combining bone broth with cold pressed juices is a powerful way to feed your body using two different, yet potent sources of liquid nutrition. The juice will supply the body with a boost of vitality from concentrated nutrients found in fresh vegetables in combination with the highly absorbent, mineral and collagen-rich bone broth. The purpose of cleansing with bone broth and juice is twofold. First, many people who have done a strict juice-only cleanse have often had trouble completing the fast due to feeling foggy, lightheaded or ungrounded because they are not able to completely rest. The bone broth + juice cleanse is considered easier to maintain because adding bone broth adds balance and vitality. The variety of flavors and temperatures of the bone broths make this cleanse more durable and easier to endure.

Bone broth and juice both flood your body with an array of nutrients, while still allowing the digestive tract to rest and restore without the risk of feeling overloaded or clouded; or foggy from the fruit sugars in the juice. The collagen, protein and small amount of fat in bone broth helps people feel more satiated and full in between the juices, which allows for far more benefits in combining these two types of cleanses.

The bone broth + juice cleanse is for those who choose to take the most nutrient-dense route possible. It’s the ultimate cleanse for powerful detoxification and repair from the inside out.

This blog is the first of four quarterly articles from our friends at Kitchen Witch Bone Broth. 

The research is out: gut health influences every level of our being. And let’s be honest, you probably put your gut through the ringer this holiday season. We Kitchen Witches want to help you detox your digestive system and hush the inflammation caused by overindulgence. That’s why we’ve partnered with Erewhon to bring you gut-healing recipes and tips throughout the seasons of the year ahead.

Each recipe is tailored to your wellness and features ingredients available on Erewhon Market shelves. We’re kicking things off with two recipes that are perfect for winter as they include superfoods that help boost your immunity during cold season.

What better time to commit to your gut health than at the start of the new year? Join us on this journey to take control of your digestive tract and the health of your entire system. Let’s make 2018 the year you restore your gut health.

Healing Greens Soup
Bright green & superfood-rich, this satiating soup is a body’s dream come true. It’s a crowd pleaser that takes fun toppings like a champ and freezes well for later consumption. Get your daily greens, fiber, liver cleansers, and digestive soothers all in one. It’s great hot, cold, or at room temperature. So you can enjoy it straight off the stove or as a replacement for your cold smoothie.

Ingredients:
• Kitchen Witch Bone Broth, 1 jar broth +2 jars water, or 2 jars broth + 1 jar water
• Sunpotion Chlorella, 1 heaping TB
• Cilantro, 1 bunch (lower stems discarded)
• Ginger, 2TB chopped
• Meyer lemon, juice of 1-2 to taste
• Kale, 1 head Dino, rough chopped w/ stem
• Broccoli or Broccolini, aprx 2 heads chopped (about 1.5lbs) — stems too!
• Celery, 3 large stems, rough chopped
• Japanese Sweet Potato (or other), 1 large, rough chopped
• Ghee or coconut oil, 2-5 TB (add more for Keto and hormone health) We love Bulletproof and Nutiva!
• Gray or Pink Salt & Pepper, to taste

Preparation:
In a medium soup pot, heat ghee/coconut oil to medium-high heat. Saute celery till softened but not brown (about 6 minutes). Add sweet potato and ginger. Stir and sauté another 6 minutes. Add large pinch of salt and pepper. Add broth and water, turn to high heat and bring to a simmer, covered. Allow a low simmer for 12-15 minutes; till sweet potato is nearly tender. Add broccoli/broccolini, liquid should just cover veggies, add more as needed. Cover and bring back to a simmer. Allow a low simmer for another 7-10 minutes, till broccoli is bright green but not soft. Turn off heat. Add kale, cilantro, lemon, and chlorella to high powered blender. Ladle some soup on top to fill, blend on high till smooth. Pour into large bowl, and repeat with rest of soup, mixing into large bowl as you go. Mix bowl well, taste for salt, pepper, and lemon–adding as needed to taste. Pour back into blender pitcher for easy pouring, and fill your jars for freezing (we like 16oz servings) or serve right away. Add your favorite toppings.

Optional Toppings (get wild!):
• Kale Chips (especially Erewhon Ranch, Café Gratitude’s Garlic Tahini, or Raw Food Centrals Original)
• Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds (GoRaw! has the crispiest, lightly salted)
• Moon Juice Parmesan Crips (cannot go wrong with these savory powerhouses!)
• Zoodles!
• Extra protein: shredded chicken, poached egg, or sautéed shiitakes

Daily Healing Greens Tonic
This magical concoction is similar to the Healing Greens soup but requires less prep time (which makes it perfect for regular consumption). This warm, cleansing, anti-inflammatory tonic works with your innate physiology. The superfoods activate your body’s cleansing & digestive systems and are perfect for starting each day feeling vibrant and nourished.

Ingredients:
• 1 cup Kitchen Witch Bone Broth, any flavor, warmed
• Lemon juice, ½ lemon, preferably Meyer for sweetness
• Ginger, small knub fresh, about 1/4” unpeeled
• Kale, 1-2 whole leaves w/stem
• Cilantro, 1-3 whole stems w/leaves
• Sunpotion Chlorella
• Ghee or Coconut Oil, 1 tsp. (We love Bulletproof and Nutiva)
• Grey or Pink Salt, just a pinch

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a high-powered blender. Blend for 10-30 seconds, till frothy. Pour, breathe deeply, and relish this powerful tonic–your whole body will rejoice.

We hope this resource guide will help you throughout the stages of your cleanse.

TOP 5 FAQs

• Q: Is there an order to drinking the broth and soup/juice? 
• A: We recommend starting and finishing your day with the broth; and drinking your soup or juice as your meals during the day.
• Q: Can I consume other items during my cleanse?
• A: You are trying to give your system a rest, so water and herbal teas are totally acceptable. We suggest you refrain from eating solid foods during the duration of your cleanse in order to fully appreciate the benefits it creates for your digestive system.  If you are really struggling, steamed vegetables would be okay. Try to remember to be intentional and take your time during your meals, it will help you feel fuller.
• Q: I am not as regular/I am more regular than usual/my waste is watery and smells terrible. Is this normal?
• A: Yes. Your body is working through all of the built up toxins. This may cause constipation or diarrhea. This is your body’s way of helping you clean out.
• Q: Is it okay to exercise during my cleanse?
• A: Absolutely! You may be surprised at your increased energy and working up a sweat will help you eliminate more toxins. A brisk walk, easy jog, or especially yoga/pilates (focus on your breathing) are excellent choices. Pay attention to any signals your body is sending you. If you feel weak, don’t push as hard as you normally would and remember to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
• Q: Can anyone do a cleanse?
• A: It is always a good idea to consult your health care professional if a cleanse is right for you (especially if you are pregnant, breast-feeding or have existing conditions).

BEFORE YOUR CLEANSE

The key to a successful cleanse is preparing your body for what’s to come. As much as we love to indulge (and sometimes overindulge) before big changes, it is best to do the exact opposite when preparing for an Erewhon cleanse.

In the week leading up to your cleanse, we recommend you:

Reduce heavier food items (meat, dairy, cheese, candy, refined carbohydrates and sugars).

Focus on minimally processed fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein (fish, eggs, sprouted legumes and nuts, etc.)

Cut down on starchy foods the last few days before you start cleansing.

Cut down on alcohol and caffeine consumption – you should eliminate all alcohol a few days prior and focus on proper hydration rather than substances that can dehydrate you.

Need a lift? We recommend healthy herbal or green teas. If you need a sweetener, focus on low GI (glycemic index) sweeteners such as raw Stevia or locally sourced honey for a better antioxidant load and less likelihood of spiking blood sugar. Another great detoxifier is hot water with lemon and ginger!

Cut out all nicotine.

Load up on probiotics. This will ease your body’s transition into cleansing by helping good gut bacteria proliferate and help break down the enzymes in your cleanse.

Sleep, sleep, sleep. The more rest you get, the better. Sleep is the best time for your body to heal itself. Give it a head start.

Prepare your body. Many authorities on cleansing suggest the following: deep tissue massage, sauna sessions, yoga and cardiovascular workouts, colonics and enemas, and skin brushing in order to stimulate your lymphatic system and release the “dead weight” we carry around on a daily basis.

We recommend the following mental preparations in addition to the physical ones above:

Notify your friends and family ahead of time that you will be cleansing.

Ask for their support and willingness to adjust in social settings in order to enable you to be the most successful you can be during this time.

Scale back social outings – each body reacts differently to a cleanse. It is best to err on the side of caution.

Prepare yourself: brainstorm ideas on ways to distract yourself should cravings arise. Some people experience emotional swings during the detoxification process; though this is totally common and not unexpected, it can be startling. Seek out opportunities to work through this by journaling, practicing deep breathing or meditation — or head to the beach and soak up some sun!

WHAT YOUR BODY IS DOING DURING YOUR CLEANSE

During the cleanse process, you are essentially giving your digestive system a ‘rest’ by doing much of the breaking down of foods before it even reaches your stomach! As you are giving your body the nutrients it needs during the cleanse, it can then focus on properly eliminating the toxins that are just sitting in your system. This can manifest in many ways (see potential detox symptoms, below), but you can aid your system in many ways!

Get a massage. Your lymphatic system is the system that moves waste throughout your cellular body; it is effectively the body’s housecleaner – when properly functioning, it will push toxins towards your kidneys in order to properly eliminate them; massage of the kidneys and lymphatic system will expedite this process and enable you to better expel toxins!

Exfoliate. Your skin is the most direct way for toxins to exit your body (usually as unsightly pimples or blemishes); as before in preparation for your cleanse, brush your skin with a stiff-bristled brush in order to slough off dead skin particles that can potentially clog pores while stimulating blood flow.

Exercise. Get your heart rate up and toxins will naturally evacuate as you sweat. Step it up by enjoying the sauna/steam room after a workout in order to further cleanse your system (your pores will remain wide open post-workout). Take a cool shower once finished to truly refresh your body and keep it from reabsorbing the toxins expelled while you sweat!

Take a detoxifying bath. Epsom salt is a great way to replenish magnesium in your body – magnesium is proven to reduce inflammation and ease headaches by improving blood circulation while sulfates help flush toxins and heavy metals from your cells.

DETOX SYMPTOMS

A note about detox symptoms – each person has different reactions and experiences when they do a juice cleanse – this is not necessarily due to the cleanse itself, but rather than the substances in their daily lives they grown accustomed to and dependent on. Individuals who rely heavily on caffeine in order to get through their daily life will potentially develop headaches, hand tremors and in rare occasions, palpitations. As long as your kidneys are functioning properly, you detoxify on a daily basis without a juice cleanse – however the benefit of a juice cleanse is the ability to allow your body to focus solely on healing rather than digesting food!

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

Headaches

Nausea

Dizziness

Fatigue/Lethargy

Constipation/Diarrhea

Gas/Bloating (due to increased fiber intake)

Skin Irritation/Breakouts

Elevated Body Odor

Coated Tongue

Food Cravings

BENEFITS CAN INCLUDE:

Increased energy

Increased range of mobility (due to decrease in inflammatory responses)

Happiness and overall sense of wellbeing

AFTER THE CLEANSE

You will find that many of the things you did to prepare for your cleanse are the same things you should do AFTER – just in reverse. The most important thing to do is listen to what your body needs, it will tell you!

When you reincorporate solid foods into your diet, remember that regardless of what you are craving, it is best to eat simple foods (like smoothies, fruits and light salads) to get your body reaccustomed to the act of breaking down and digesting. Incorporate sprouted and fermented food items next, lightly processed (steamed or baked) vegetables, broth soups and the like for at least two days.

Continue drinking copious amounts of water.

As your system adjusts, begin adding nuts, seeds and legumes, whole grains and starches (complex carbohydrates), and good fats until you feel comfortable with digesting light proteins. Make sure you are chewing slowly and thoroughly in order to enable the digestive enzymes present in your saliva to work their magic before your meal even reaches your stomach.

Above all – be mindful as you eat to ensure you do not fall back into toxic and taxing eating habits directly after your cleanse. Take time to consider your relationship with caffeine, nicotine and alcohol – as well as things like simple carbohydrates, red meat and synthetic sugars. You have essentially ‘rebooted’ your eating habits – a cleanse is a great way to adopt new and healthier eating habits easily and comfortably.

As always, we are here to help! Email us (marketing@enfmkt.com) or call us at 310.362.3062 if you have any questions.

Here’s to your (gut) health!

We loved sitting down with Rowe of Venice founder, Rowe Samieian, and learning about his personal journey to create his organic, vegan, and paleo Gourmet Super Snacks.

This is the first of an ongoing series where we invite local entrepreneurs to share their inspirational origin stories with you.

Tell us how Rowe of Venice started

I am excited to share my personal experience of healing my body through clean eating and hope that Rowe of Venice might help others improve their health as well.

I’ve been a vegetarian for over 25 years, mostly for spiritual and well-being reasons. In 2012, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. After three years of researching my disorder and trying to find solutions, I met with a scientist and a nutritionist, who told me that my diet was lopsided. Most of what I was eating was turning into sugar: pasta, muffins, breads, fruits, potatoes, etc. By taking a food allergy test, taking the right supplements, and simply changing my diet, there was a 95% improvement within six weeks—hence I learned firsthand that we truly are what we eat!

While I was excited about the improvements regarding my health, I still had a craving for sweets, but was unable to find anything that would work with my system. So, I decided to create my own! I love spending time in the kitchen, but I am not a chef by any means. As I started trying different recipes, my main priority was to use pure superfood ingredients.

When I finally shared my Coconut Snacks with friends and family, they couldn’t believe they were made from only six ingredients—all of which they could recognize. This loving circle of support reminded me that there are plenty of people who would appreciate the quality, purity and taste of my creations.

After several months of working in the kitchen I created Cacao Nibs, Espresso, and Goji Berry flavors, using the same base of pure ingredients, and adding other superfoods to offer distinctly different tastes and nutritional benefits.

What is your philosophy around special diets?

Everyone’s dietary needs are unique. I believe in a balanced diet, and know from personal experience that the purity of food we consume is the key to good health! Personally, I try my best to stay away from processed and manufactured foods and enjoy what mother earth offers in its natural form. I have also learned that it is important to be mindful and pay attention to how the food is working with one’s system, and if necessary get a food allergy test and adjust accordingly.

What’s new for Rowe of Venice?

I am thankful to be part of the Erewhon community and happy to share that I have a Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Flourless Paleo and Vegan bread coming to market very soon. As always, you will recognize and can pronounce all the ingredients in the food I make! Everything Rowe of Venice offers is made in small batches, and in a local kitchen to ensure the highest quality, integrity and purity that our bodies deserve.

I am always in a state of gratitude while working in the kitchen, trusting that energy is carried into the very essence of the food I offer, and I hope you enjoy!

What a wonderful time we had, sitting down with Megan, owner and creator of Decadently Raw. We loved learning about her journey and were thrilled when she agreed to share the recipe for her Superfood Chocolate Turtles!

This is part of an ongoing series where we invite local entrepreneurs to share their inspirational origin stories with you.

Tell us how Decadently Raw started

I got my start in chocolate around 2005, when David Wolfe brought raw cacao butter and raw cacao powder into the marketplace. I’d always been a chocolate lover, but when I started eating raw, my options to indulge were limited because in 2005 there were just one or two raw chocolate brands on store shelves, and they were expensive.

I began experimenting in my own kitchen, making raw chocolate for myself and friends, but most importantly, for my parents. I would make superfood chocolate that contained 20 different superfoods in an attempt to get them to eat foods that actually had an antioxidant count. They had no idea the chocolate they were eating was so healthy and it made me realize the potential of my discovery.

It became my passion to create food that feels sinful, but isn’t. I wanted to create healthy junk food! So, in 2009, my company, Decadently Raw Confections, made its debut at Erewhon. I remain grateful for that chance to be on Erewhon’s shelves.

In the beginning, we sold a few different raw desserts like sugar cookies made from cashews and coconut, and raw chocolate covered pretzels made from scratch. Now, after nine years in business, we’ve finally returned to our roots with raw chocolate! We currently offer three different flavors of filled chocolates, and our classic superfood chocolate turtles.

So you can have your chocolate and eat it too with our guilt-free treats! I hope you all have fun trying this recipe at home!

Superfood Chocolate Turtles (recipe makes 45 turtles)

1 pound fresh, soft dates
2 tablespoons lucuma
1 teaspoon vanilla powder
Unbroken Pecans

First, make date paste by pitting the dates and placing them into a food processor.

Add the lucuma and vanilla powder and turn the food processor on. When the mixture rolls itself into a giant ball, that’s when you know the paste is done.

Measure out 10 gram pieces of date paste. *It is helpful to keep a small bowl of warm water near you when working with date paste. If you keep your hands wet, the dates won’t stick.

Roll each 10 gram piece into a ball.

Flatten the ball into a flat round circle.

Press 4 unbroken pecans to the underside of the caramel round. (You could also use cashews or walnuts if you prefer).

Set in the fridge for an hour or so before covering in superfood chocolate (recipe below).

With a teaspoon, carefully spoon chocolate on to the turtle, leaving some of the caramel showing.

Place back in the fridge for thirty minutes, so the chocolate can set.

Superfood Chocolate Recipe

8 oz cacao butter
1 cup cacao powder
1/2 cup maple syrup or sweetener of choice.
A pinch of vanilla bean
Superfood powders of your choice (1 teaspoon of each). My favorites are mucuna, moringa, chlorella, medicinal mushrooms, ashwagandha, and maca.

Using a low heat source, melt the cacao butter (I like to use my dehydrator).

At the same time, place your sweetener in a small dish and heat up as well. (Again, I prefer to use my dehydrator for this).

Sift cacao powder and superfood powders in the melted cacao butter and whisk together.

Place mixture back into the dehydrator for 5-10 minutes to warm it back up.

Add the heated sweetener to the chocolate and whisk vigorously. NOTE: This chocolate will be thicker than normal, better for dipping.

After the mixture is thoroughly combined, you have a chocolate that is ready to use for your turtles. I hope you enjoy!

We all were inspired by the love between founder Lindsay Gores and her adorable dog, Zoey.

This is part an ongoing series where we invite local entrepreneurs to share their inspirational origin stories with you.

What inspired you to start PURE Dog Food?

PURE Dog Food was started after a car hit my miniature Yorkshire Terrier, Zoey. She suffered a broken pelvis in 8 places, could barely eat, and recovery was slow. I almost lost her.

I was told by our vet to feed her a clean diet of chicken and rice while she healed. The best I could do with my full-time work schedule was to grab some takeout rice and a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. But Zoey wasn’t getting better quick enough. I knew she needed more nutrition. After consulting with my vet I began cooking a special meal at home for Zoey using organic, lean turkey, long grain brown rice, whole grain rolled oats, broccoli, and carrots.

This mix became PURE Dog Food’s first product, Turkey Tried & True. After just a few days on this diet, Zoey began a complete turnaround in her healing. She took her first steps, the personality came back to her face, and her regularity was even better than before due the addition of fiber into her diet and vitamins that support the absorption of protein. I had my Zoey back again!

I knew I couldn’t put Zoey back on a diet of commercial kibble, with all its preservatives, fillers, and animal byproducts, made in a factory somewhere. However, as a working professional, I also knew it was impossible to cook a handmade meal for my dog everyday. But Zoey was back to her old self and loved her new food. I knew I couldn’t be the only one in this situation, so I took the plunge, quit my job, and started cooking Zoey’s recipes for a larger audience.

When the initial PURE customers began seeing dramatic results of their own, I knew I was on to something special, and I haven’t looked back since. It’s been an amazing journey, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to share our story and our products with the Erewhon community.

In celebration of our participation in the City of Santa Monica’s “Meatless in March” campaign, we sat down with JJ, our raw vegan chef at Erewhon Venice and asked him the top 10 reasons to explore a raw diet:

CHEF JJ: I am sharing this top ten list from the enlightening and life-empowering education I received at Living Light Culinary Arts Academy. I am forever grateful to them and happy to share it with you!

1. Look and Feel Your Best with Raw Foods

2. Reduce Health Risks and Heal from Disease

3. Avoid Premature Aging and Promote Longevity

4. Achieve an Ideal Body Weight

5. Increase Energy, Vitality and Stamina

6. Enhance Memory and Mental Clarity

7. Reduce Colds, Flu and Allergies

8. No Greasy Cleanup

9. Be Kind to Animals

10. Protect the Environment

This is the second in a series of seasonal recipes from our friends at Kitchen Witch Bone Broth.

KITCHEN WITCH:  For this recipe, we bring you a bone broth tonic based on both Chinese Medical and Western Herbology theories for seasonal eating. Spring is the season to clear, move, and reset a system coming out of storage (Winter) mode. As with any traditional/alternative theory, it is guided by the happenings of nature to adjust the happenings occurring within the body.

System Clearing Springtime Tonic

We Kitchen Witches are back to support your dedication to your gut with a Spring bone broth tonic we use as we transition into LA’s favorite season: SPRING!

Spring is an excellent time to move out the old and clear space—both indoors and inside the body. The natural expansiveness of Spring’s growth seen in nature (buds, flowers, wind, sprouts, greenery) is mirrored in our bodies: we crave more movement, lighter meals, and cleaner living spaces.

In Chinese medicine, where we Witches began our formal training, Spring is ALL about the liver and gallbladder (Lv/Gb). The liver, our body’s major detox organ, transfers toxins and waste from the blood to bile, mostly while we sleep. In Spring, traditional medicine says: MOVE-THE-BILE! This bodily cleansing is also seen in nature. Think of the color green, cleansing spring wind, moving stagnation, new growth, and lighting up the darkness as we emerge from Winter.

How do our bodies move the bile? By consuming small amounts of sour and bitter foods, while simultaneously moving the bowels to get the bile OUT (you know bile is what makes poop brown right?! Without it, bowel movements would be—gasp—gray!).

Our System Clearing Springtime Tonic takes care of all that physiology for you. It sweeps away the cobwebs that accumulate during the dormancy of Winter, and clears your system out. The probiotics work to regulate the bowels, the beets promote lymphatic flow. The sour activates the liver, and the bitter stimulates movement in the gallbladder. And, of course, the soothing collagen of the bone broth serves to strengthen and sooth our hardworking guts as they process Winter’s refuse.

Here is how you can make this delightful Springtime tonic at home:

Kitchen Witch Bone Broth ½ – 1 cup, warmed (not too hot, keep those probiotics alive)
Ghee 1 tsp – 1TB (we love Bulletproof, 4th and Heart, and Mamma Sattva)
Burdock tincture 3 drops – 2 droppersful depending on bitter tolerance (we love Gaia, and we like a good strong dose)
Farmhouse Culture Ginger Beet Gut Shot 2 oz
Squeeze of Lemon
Salt to taste

Add all ingredients to a blender, blend for 10-20 seconds. Alternatively, mix gut shot in after if you are worried the broth is too hot for our probiotic friends. Pour into your favorite mug; best enjoyed before your first meal of the day, or as a light meal replacement. When bile is released into the digestive system first thing in the morning, your body is better able to digest the food you eat throughout the day.

To help keep the liver and gallbladder movement flowing throughout the day, we love to sip Traditional Medicinals tea. Our favorites include: Roasted Dandelion Root, Burdock with Nettle, and Ginger-Aid.

Remember, LOVE your Lv/Gb!

As we get closer to our Santa Monica opening on April 11th, we wanted to take a moment and reflect on the fifty years of passion that has made Erewhon the special place it is today.

Erewhon has been independent and family-owned in Los Angeles since 1968. We started as a specialty health food store, focusing on macrobiotics (which not many people were talking about back then). Today, Erewhon is a full-service organic grocery store and cafe. We are known for our 100% organic produce, coldpress and wild-crafted juices, chef-inspired dishes, and our Tonic Bar. We continue to forge the path when it comes to functional foods, adaptogens, herbs, and superfoods.

Erewhon is more than a store. It is a living, breathing community of like-minded people who are striving to be their very best. Curious, courageous and conscious…we keep evolving, because we are with you on the path to optimal health and wellness. You drive us to do better. You have the highest expectations for the brand. We are constantly improving to meet those expectations.

Transparency and innovation are so important to us, because of this partnership with you. We love sharing the stories behind the products we sell—where they come from, who made them, and how they are in line with the mission and environmental responsibility that inspires everything we do.

We are so grateful for the relationships we have made along the way—in the community, with our amazing teams, with our farmers and brand partners. We love the fact that founders, after toiling in solitude, trust us enough to be the first to sample their products. We love the fact that often our feedback allows these innovators to change their formulations to be more successful. Many brands got their start on our shelves and have built upon their vision: Addictive Wellness, Coconut Cult, Karma Bakery and GT Kombucha. It’s thrilling to watch these entrepreneurs continue to grow, yet remain true to their roots.

When you shop at Erewhon, you are supporting small and passionate businesses who are seeking a better way. When you shop at Erewhon, you are supporting organic farmers. When you shop at Erewhon, you are supporting education and exploration. When you shop at Erewhon, you are supporting a way of living and a way of life. We are so grateful to all of you.

Here’s to the next 50 years!

With love and appreciation,

Tony and Josephine Antoci

One of the main reasons we love doing what we do, is that we get to work with inspiring people like Andy Hnilo, founder and CEO of Alitura Naturals. We hope you are as moved by his origin story as we are!

EREWHON: Tell us about the path to launching Alitura Naturals.

ANDY: Wow, what a ride it has been! March 20, 2011 I woke up in in a Cedars Sinai ICU bed after getting hit by series of large vehicles. A westbound Land Rover had hit me into the eastbound lane, where I was run over by a Toyota Tundra. Lucky to be alive, I laid in the middle of Melrose as paramedics and first responders cut my clothes off of me in order to get me into the ambulance as quickly as possible. 7 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and the worst compound fracture that the maxillofacial specialist at the hospital had ever seen.

I knew I had a long road to recovery. But that accident was an absolute blessing in disguise. It gave me perspective and was the catalyst that rocked me towards my purpose to help others feel better about what they see in the mirror. Unhappy with what I found on store shelves, I became interested in active ingredients that created a noticeable difference in my appearance by accelerating the healing of my scarring and abrasions.

I didn’t want to be seen during the day, so that left me a lot of time to research, create and test. I would drive all around Los Angeles with a little backpack of Apple Cider Vinegar, a blend of Organic Essential Oils and a mineral rich blend of four clays, organic superfoods and nutrient-dense ingredients. Seeking feedback, the response was incredible. I continued to fine tune this Clay Mask for three years, until the Bulletproof CEO heard of my story and had me on his top-ranked podcast, Bulletproof Radio. The rest was history, months later we partnered up and in June 2014, Alitura Naturals was born.

EREWHON: Your story is incredible. Where does the name of your company come from?

ANDY: “Alitura” is Latin for “feeding and nourishing.” The skin is the largest organ and protects what lies within the body, and I firmly believe that the skin responds best to ingredients that come directly from the earth, rather than synthetic formulations or chemicals. My mission is to provide the highest quality products, devoid of synthetic ingredients, parabens and toxin-laced chemicals. I create products with an unflinching devotion to quality and results. I use cutting-edge ingredients such Copper Tripeptides and Vitanol (a natural form of Retinol) in the Gold Serum, K-Factor 16 Manuka Honey & potent plant-derived stem cells in the Night Cream, and even Grass-Fed Colostrum in both the Clay Mask & Night Cream to create a noticeable improvement in the vibrancy of your complexion.

EREWHON: What does Erewhon mean to you?

ANDY: I got a second chance in life and am able to create skincare products with a mission of purity of ingredients. My road to recovery is intimately woven with Erewhon. I spent many hours scouring the wellness aisles at Erewhon on Beverly Boulevard. I absorbed so much information from your extremely knowledgable health guru’s in my attempt to get back to where I was before the accident. I remember carefully selecting a blend of the purest botanical extracts and essential oils, while having a healthy drink at the tonic bar. I was back on my feet quick, feeling reborn with a sense of purpose.

Having my Alitura products on the shelves of Erewhon stores across all of Los Angeles carries a special meaning to me, where necessity was the Mother of invention, and fueled by the passion and purpose to help others. Thank you for all that you do, Erewhon. You take pride in what you put on the shelves of your stores, allowing your customers comfort in truly knowing that they can shop without worry. I am so honored to be a partner of yours!

We are so excited to share this seasonal recipe from our friends at Siete Family Foods. Their fresh take on Pico de Gallo is perfect for Cinco de Mayo and beyond!

PLUM PICO
From the Kitchen of Chef Andrés Figueroa at Siete Family Foods

Ingredients
1/2 red bell pepper, fine dice
1/4 small red onion, fine dice
4 ripe plums, diced
4 Serrano peppers, seeded, fine dice
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
Juice of 2 limes
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp agave nectar
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions
1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and chili powder.
2. Serve with Siete Foods Sea Salt Grain Free Tortilla Chips and share with people you love.

We were so happy when Mary Shenouda found time between meetings in Austin to discuss the beginnings of her company with us. Her passion, determination and energy are infectious (even over the phone)!

EREWHON: Tell us why you launched Phat Fudge.

MARY: Phat Fudge was created out of necessity. My clients and I both needed a performance food that was fat focused, easy to digest, and made with simple ingredients. It was turned into a product, however, because of my online community. What was a popular recipe became a daily demand to turn it into a consumer good that could be found in stores. Without the encouragement and support of Instagram, I don’t know that I would have been able to see that opportunity all on my own.

EREWHON: Can you talk a bit about overcoming obstacles and if you have any advice you’d like to share with other budding entrepreneurs?

MARY: Obstacles are part of the game, and as long as you expect and accept it, you’ll be incredible during the transition from OMG to PHEW slash YAY. Early on I chose what areas absolutely needed process and what areas could be fluid for the sake of pushing the company forward. Sometimes remaining naive about certain things creates a bit of magic in your favor instead decision paralysis when you know too much.

My advice to new entrepreneurs is to fail forward, and frankly, to believe beyond reasonable doubt that there is no such thing as failure as long as you master the pivot. You have to be really stubborn about your success and a touch crazy to make it happen. Don’t wait to start and share as you go. There is nothing more powerful than including the community in your journey; they will have your back every step of the way.

EREWHON: What’s new on the horizon?

MARY: I’ve taken Phat Fudge as far as I can as a solo venture with the Original version. As I gear up to launch Vegan, I’m excited to build out a team and continue to expand the line. It’s an exciting and humbling journey.

EREWHON: What does being at Erewhon mean to you?

MARY: Erewhon is where everybody knows your name and you never have to worry about being “that guy” with dietary restrictions or requirements! Jokes aside, this company and its ethos will always have a special place in my heart. Back when I was still hand-packing everything myself, you were the first retailer to carry Phat Fudge, believing in and supporting me before anyone else. I felt like I was part of the family from day one and that I brought something of value to the community as well.

EREWHON: You absolutely did. Thanks so much for chatting with us, Mary it’s been super inspiring!