Vitamin Information Center

MODESTO, Calif., Sept 11, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — Journal of Nutrition Cites Almonds as a Rich Source to Fill the “E Gap”
More than 90 percent of the U.S. population does not meet the current intake recommendation for vitamin E, according to a special supplement to the September 2008 Journal of Nutrition(). The article recognized almonds as an excellent source of vitamin E that can fill this nutrient gap and the authors concluded that vitamin E, among other things, can help support a healthy immunity.
The Almond Board of California has commissioned numerous studies on the availability of nutrients in almonds, and as an excellent source of vitamin E, one ounce of almonds could help consumers reach their recommended daily allowance (RDA). The RDA for vitamin E is 15mg of alpha-tocopherol. On average, most Americans consume only 8 mg of alpha-tocopherol vitamin E per day. By eating one ounce of almonds (7.5mg of vitamin E), Americans can achieve the RDA.
“Vitamin E is an essential nutrient that the body needs daily, and most people don’t realize that they can fill that ‘E gap’ with easily available and enjoyable whole foods,” said Maret Traber, Ph.D., professor of nutrition and principal investigator at the Linus Pauling Institute and expert on vitamin E. “Almonds are an excellent source of vitamin E.”
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recognizes vitamin E as a nutrient of concern in the American diet since most people don’t get enough. The Guidelines highlight almonds as the premier whole food source of alpha-tocopherol vitamin E, the form of vitamin E that the human body prefers.
Dr. Karen Lapsley, director of scientific affairs for the Almond Board of California, confirmed almonds’ multi-tasking nutrition profile, stating, “In addition to vitamin E, when compared ounce for ounce, almonds are the nut highest in protein (6g), fiber (3g), calcium (75mg), riboflavin (0.3mg) and niacin (1mg). Also, the skins of almonds contain levels of antioxidants called flavanoids that are similar to many fruits and vegetables(2).”
Americans can close the gap — the E Gap — today by adding a one-ounce handful of vitamin E-rich almonds.
One ounce of almonds, about a handful, offers: Calcium (75mg), Protein (6g); Iron (1.0mg); Potassium (200 mg); Unsaturated Fat (12g). U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that the majority of your fat intake be unsaturated. One serving of almonds (28g) has 13g of unsaturated fat and only 1g of saturated fat.
The Almond Board of California administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. Established in 1950, the Board’s charge is to promote the best quality almonds, California’s largest tree nut crop. For more information on the Almond Board of California or almonds, visit www.AlmondsAreIn.com.
References:
() Janet C. King, Jeffrey Blumberg, Linda Ingwersen, Mazda Jenab, and Katherine L. Tucker. Tree Nuts and Peanuts as Components of a Healthy Diet, Journal of Nutrition, September 2008, Volume 138, Number 9S-I Supplement. 1734-1765.
(2) Paul E. Milbury, Chung-Yen Chen, Gregory G. Dolnikowski, Jeffrey B. Blumberg. Determination of Flavanoids and Phenolics and Their Distribution in Almonds, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, June 28, 2006.
SOURCE Almond Board of California
http://www.AlmondsAreIn.com

Colorado-based Natural Grocers is the latest natural and organic food retailer to enter the market with the grand opening Saturday of its first store in Richardson at the northwest corner of Coit and Campbell roads.

The company plans as many as four stores in the Dallas area and more in other Texas cities, said Kemper Isely, a son of the chain’s founders, who operate the 28-store chain with his siblings. He’s looking along Greenville Avenue in Dallas, Flower Mound, Plano and Southlake. A store opens in Amarillo in November.

The Richardson store is about 14,000 square feet and specializes in dietary specific needs including gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and kosher. The company’s roots are in vitamin and mineral supplements, but the store carries groceries, health and beauty supplies, fresh meats and poultry, dairy, fruits and vegetables, frozen foods and baked goods.

The stores offer no paper or plastic bags, except in produce, but boxes are on hand for shoppers who forget to bring reusable bags.

The store is located across the street from a Sprouts Farmers Market. Sprouts, a chain of natural food stores based in Phoenix, opened its first area store here in 2005.

The Isely family founded privately-held Natural Grocers in 1955 as the Vitamin Cottage. The company operates stores in Colorado, New Mexico and enters Utah next year.

Sunflower Farmers Market, a Colorado-based organic and natural supermarket chain is also expanding here and in Texas.

Austin-based Whole Foods Market Inc. has two stores under construction in Dallas in Lakewood and Park Lane.

Mr. Isely said the market is growing as more people become aware of organics and the benefits of natural foods. The company’s best store is 100 feet away from a Whole Foods in Boulder, he said.

Marketing manager Nancy Flynn said the company has an online store and already had a strong customer base from the Dallas area.

After more than fifty years as Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers, the family-run market is flipping its name to Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage.

The modified moniker comes as the Lakewood-based company expands later this year to Texas, where consumers might not realize that Vitamin Cottage sells groceries alongside nutritional supplements.

“When we go into new markets, it takes a lot of PR so people realize that we’re not just another Vitamin World or GNC,” said co-President Kemper Isley, who runs the company with his sister, brother and sister-in-law. “People think of us as just selling vitamins, when the majority of our business comes from groceries.”

Long known in the Denver area, Vitamin Cottage plans to open in Dallas in June followed by another location later this year. The company also is gearing up for stores in Durango and Utah.

Texas is the backyard of Whole Foods, but Vitamin Cottage doesn’t view itself as a direct competitor to the nation’s biggest natural- and organic-foods supermarket. The average Vitamin Cottage store runs around 10,000 square feet and emphasizes value pricing, while Whole Foods locations are usually five times that size and have on-site bakeries and meat counters.

“We think that market’s a bit underserved with the type of store that we have,” Isley said.

Closer to home, Vitamin Cottage later this month is relocating its Happy Canyon store in south Denver to a larger location at South Colorado Boulevard and East Evans Avenue at the end of this month.

The stores will have the new Natural Grocers name, and the company is slowly swapping the signage at existing locations.

Although Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage “doesn’t easily trip off the tongue,” the name remains true to the brand’s reputation for authenticity and integrity, said Steve Koloskus, founder of Denver-based Extra Strength Marketing Communications.

“Their shoppers really understand the category. They understand that they don’t sell products with additives or preservatives,” Koloskus said. The challenge for the chain is reaching out to a broader audience when stores ranging from King Soopers to Wal-Mart are beefing up organic and natural products offerings.

Margaret and Phillip Isley started the company in 1955. The husband and wife team went door-to-door in Golden selling whole-grain bread along with nutritional information and vitamin supplements. They opened their first retail store in Lakewood, offering a small amount of natural-food products, vitamins and supplements.

Today, the chain operates 26 stores, employing about 950 people. About half of the floor space of most stores is dedicated to natural- and organic-grocery items, which account for about 60 percent of the company’s sales.

This year, the company expects around $190 million in sales. Overall sales have been growing by about 20 percent annually for nearly a decade, Isley said.

davisj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2514

Neither paper nor plastic

The new store at South Colorado Boulevard and East Evans Avenue will be the first in the chain to not give out any bags, plastic or paper. Instead, customers can bring their own reusable bag or the store will provide free recycled boxes.

If the idea works, Vitamin Cottage plans to expand the bagless concept to other stores, following a trend by other grocers to cut down on the use of plastic bags.

A number of studies have shown that depression is biochemical in nature; meaning physical and emotional stresses lead to many neurochemical changes. And when body’s neurochemical makeup goes haywire, it will result in depression.

Thus, if you are considering alternative treatments for depression, one of your important objectives would be to keep the physical and physiological processes of your body within normal levels. Below are some alternative treatments for depression that you may consider.
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There are a many benefits of a whole foods diet that will positively impact your health. If you are considering making the shift to a whole foods diet, are curious about whole foods nutrition, or simply want to learn more about the whole foods benefits…this article will benefit you greatly. Continue Reading…