Gourmet 'truly raw' organic almond butter from Sicily now available at NaturalNews Store

(NaturalNews) Thanks to efforts by the USDA and the Almond Board of California, it is illegal for commercial almond producers in the United States to sell raw almonds. The almonds now have to be fumigated with chemicals or pasteurized (cooked) to meet "food safety requirements" that really have nothing to do with food safety but everything to do with killing your food. See my related CounterThink Cartoon at: http://counterthink.com/The_Killing...

Because of this unfortunate situation, health-conscious consumers in the USA who love almonds and almond products (such as almond butter) have been forced to purchase almonds from other countries. You see, almond growers in Italy can sell raw almonds to the USA without any problem. That's perfectly legal. Only U.S.-based producers are required to kill their almonds with heat or chemicals. (Just another brilliant move in Washington to destroy the livelihoods of U.S. farmers, isn't it?)

In any case, it now turns out that the best truly raw almond butters come from Sicily, Italy, where the "tuono" and "correnta" varieties are known for their robust aromas and flavors. They are the gourmet almonds of the world, and they're used quite liberally in the Mediterranean Diet.

I love almond butter. It's a delicious and highly nutritious natural nut butter that I use on everything from raw sandwiches to mouth-watering desserts. Now, through a special arrangement we've once again managed to put together for you, we've acquired a few thousand jars of raw, organic almond butter from Sicily, made from some of the finest almonds in the world. And as you've come to expect, we've managed to make this available directly to you at a ridiculously good price.

You see, since the USDA required that all California almonds be fumigated or pasteurized, the price of raw almonds has skyrocketed. A 16 oz. jar of truly raw almond butter can now set you back $25 at retail. Crazy, huh?

We're trying to bring that price back down to Earth with the fantastic pricing we're able to achieve due to our large reach and low overhead. While supplies lies, we've got 16 oz. glass jars of organic, raw almond butter from Sicily for just $13.95! (That's a savings of nearly 40% over the usual retail price of $22.95.)

Click here to take advantage of this special now.

This is for the good stuff! This is truly raw, truly organic, gourmet Italian almond butter made from Sicilian almonds. Raw almond butter doesn't get any better than this! (Taste it yourself and you'll see!)

The price, though, does get better: When you purchase a 3-pack of this raw almond butter, the price per jar drops to just $12.56 per jar, or a 45% discount off the usual retail price.

Click here for the 3-pack special of this raw almond butter.

As with all our store specials, this is only good while supplies last. (We received a single shipment of a few thousand fresh jars, and when they're gone, they're gone...)

While you can probably find a better price on pasteurized, non-organic almond butter, I'm confident you won't find a better price on raw, organic, non-fumigated almonds that are truly raw and nutritionally intact. This is "premium" almond butter at a non-premium price.

And unless the Almond Board of California reverses its decision requiring the fumigation of California almonds, you'll probably never see a price this low again on truly raw almond nut butter.

Historical information about almonds

Here's some interesting information about almonds, provided by our supplier of this remarkable raw almond butter:

Almonds are mentioned as far back in history as the Bible. The Bible’s “Book of Number” tells the story of Aaron’s rod that blossomed and bore almonds, giving the almond the symbolism of divine approval. Through history , almonds have maintained religious, ethnic and social significance.

They were a prized ingredient in breads reserved to Egypt’s pharaohs. Their exact ancestry in unknown, but almonds are thought to have originated in China and Central Asia. Explorers ate almonds while travelling the “Silk Road” between Asia and the Mediterranean. Before long, almonds trees flourished in the Mediterranean, especially in Spain and Italy.

Almonds were central to many cultural traditions around the world. In classical times Romans presented gifts of sugared almonds to important dignitaries as well as personal friends. At weddings they also tossed almonds to the bride and groom as a symbol of fertility. Today, Italians and Americans give guest at weddings a bag of sugared almonds, representing children, happiness, romance, good health and fortune.

In Sweden, cinnamon-flavored rice pudding with an almond hidden inside is a Christmas custom. Find it, and good fortune is yours for a year.

Cultivating almonds it’s a tradition that comes from afar. The earliest varieties of almonds were found in China carried by traders down the ancient silk road to Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. Nestled between the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Pacific Coast Ranges is California’s fertile Central Valley, home to one of the oldest and most beautiful flowering fruit trees. Unlike other flowering fruit trees that bear edible fruit, this tree’s “pearl” is the delicious nut found inside the fruit, the almond.

Botanically, the sweet almond is considered a stone fruit, closely related to the cherry, plum, apricot, and peach. The almond's botanical name comes from the Greeks who called them "amygdalon."

Almonds are a surprisingly source of calcium: Although we would have to consume 330 calories' worth of almonds to get a significant quantity of this bone-supporting mineral, almonds are higher in calcium than all other nuts. Almonds are also a significant source of magnesium, and they supply a healthy amount of vitamin E.

These sweet, versatile nuts have the highest dietary fiber content of any nut or seed; like all nuts, almonds are a good source of protein and they are cholesterol free. Vitamin E, considered a powerful antioxidant, is plentiful in almonds. They're also high in magnesium, containing even more than spinach. They’re abundant in phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and trace amounts of the B vitamins thiamine and riboflavin.

Click here to see all the NaturalNews Store specials.

(And enjoy your raw almond butter!)

Raw Organic Virgin Coconut Oil has a hundred uses for health and home

(NaturalNews) People who really know about health know about virgin coconut oil. It's the oil of choice for health-conscious people, and it's used in everything from smoothies (delicious!) to personal care products. You can use coconut oil both inside and outside your body.

It's even useful for cooking because coconut oil has a much higher temperature tolerance than even extra virgin olive oil. Its fat molecules stay intact, in other words, at higher stovetop temperatures, so that makes it safer for use as a cooking oil. It's also widely used in raw foods recipe as a stabilizer and source of delicious plant-based fats with their own unique nutritional properties.

Virgin coconut oil is 44.6% lauric acid, 16.8% myristic acid, and 8.2% palmitic acid, and it's composed mostly of medium-chain-fatty-acids (MCFA). MCFAs are widely regarded as extremely useful for providing sustainable energy due to their molecular structure. Many bodybuilders and athletes rely on MCFAs as a key part of their high-performance diets.

I've been an advocate of organic virgin coconut oil for years, recommending all the top companies such as Nutiva (www.Nutiva.com) and Vivapura (www.VivaPura.net). They provide outstanding coconut oil products that I use myself on a regular basis.

Now, we've teamed up with The Raw Food World to acquire a large shipment of 100% raw, organic, Kosher, centrifuge virgin coconut oil from the Philippines that's available in the NaturalNews Store starting today. This is the really good stuff that's processed with a centrifuge, not by cooking, so the coconut oil is both raw and molecularly intact.

We're also making it available at a terrific discount to NaturalNews readers. See below for specials that offer as much as 45% off what you'd normally pay for this kind of premium-grade coconut oil.

Here are the details (and below, I describe the process of how this oil is harvested, extracted and packaged):

Raw organic Kosher centrifuge-extracted virgin coconut oil

This is a special shipment of high-grade certified organic virgin coconut oil. It's a premium grade coconut oil that rivals anything available in the industry today.

A 16 oz. container of this oil normally sells for $17.95. Through this NaturalNews Store special discount, it's now available to NaturalNews readers for just $10.95 for a 16 oz. container. That's a savings of 39% over the regular price.

When you purchase three 16 oz. containers of this coconut oil, the price drops to just $9.98 each. That is nearly a 45% discount off the usual retail price, and it comes out to just over 62 cents per ounce. (These 16 oz. containers are GLASS.)

Click here to take advantage of this coconut oil special.

Looking for an even better deal? We also have it available in a one-gallon container. The normal retail price for one gallon of this premium coconut oil is $74.95, but we've been able to make it available to NaturalNews readers for just $49.95, a savings of 32% off the normal price.

And here's the best deal of all: When you purchase three one-gallon containers of this premium coconut oil, the price drops to just $44.96 per gallon. That's a 40% savings over the retail price, and it brings the price per ounce down to just 35 cents!

Compare this price anywhere, and you'll see what a tremendous deal this really is. We've put together yet another screaming good deal for our NaturalNews with this coconut oil offer.

(These one gallon containers are PLASTIC. We're working on a way to use glass gallon container in the near future, but breakage is a huge problem during shipping, so right now they're packaged in plastic. If you want glass containers, choose the 16 oz. containers instead.)

How coconut oil is harvested and extracted

Ever wonder how premium coconut oil is actually made? Here's where ours comes from:

First, whole coconuts are collected fresh off the tree, then shelled to remove the outer shell (the brown skin).

The white coconut meat is removed and ground at low temperatures into granules. These granules are then dried at 104 - 113 degrees Fahrenheit for 2.5 hours.

Once dried, the coconut granules are loaded into a customized cold-process expeller that squeezes out the oil. This is also done at 113 degrees or lower in order to preserve the raw nutrients.

The oil that comes out is then loaded into a centrifuge machine that spins it at high speed to remove any moisture or particulate matter. (The solid coconut matter that comes out is used to make coconut flour, which can be substituted for wheat in baking recipes.)

The resulting oil is called "Virgin Coconut Oil." It is then poured into the final containers, labeled and shipped.

Note that there is no cooking, pasteurization, fumigation, hydrogenation or other artificial process involved. This is all about harvesting the coconut meat, drying it, then pressing out the oils to be captured, filtered and packaged. It is probably the most natural process you can find for consuming coconut oil other than picking and eating the coconut yourself.

Coconut oil has a surprisingly long shelf life -- up to several years on the shelf due to its ability to naturally resist oxidation. When stored in the refrigerator, it is naturally a solid. When warmed in ambient room temperature, it becomes a liquid.

Using virgin coconut oil

Here are several ideas for using coconut oil. If you're right now cooking in a pan with something like olive oil, try replacing that with coconut oil. Coconut oil resists creating high-heat carcinogens, meaning you can cook with it at higher temperatures without poisoning your food as often happens with corn oil, soybean oil or other cheap, low-end vegetable oils.

Secondly, you can add coconut oil to just about any smoothie to give it a fatty "ice cream" flavor and texture. Try blending frozen fruit with palm sugar and coconut oil! It makes a delicious, ice cream textured dessert that will just blow your mind with its nutritional potency, too. (Your kids can eat this all day long, guilt free!)

If you're into raw foods recipes, you'll find yourself using coconut oil for all kinds of things. Especially desserts, where coconut oil is often part of the icing that goes on the raw cake or pie. It's super delicious! (And also guilt free...)

You can use coconut oil in practically any recipe that calls for vegetable oil or shortening. Shortening, by the way, is just hydrogenated vegetable oil. I hope you never eat that because it's terrible for your health. Replace it with coconut oil for the sake of your health...

Coconut oil can also be used as a partial replacement for butter. It doesn't quite have the butter taste, but it's close, and the healthy fats in it resemble butter in many recipes. (Try replacing half the butter in a recipe with coconut oil.)

Finally, you can use this coconut oil to make your own skin care products. Melt a small amount of bees wax in a pan with coconut oil, add some medicinal herbs or tinctures, and you've made your own skin salve! Coconut oil is a wonderful base for all sorts of personal care products. I've even seen it packaged as a personal lubricant (no kidding!). It's great for skin, hair, face and your entire body, head to toe.

The key is getting the good quality coconut oil that hasn't been cooked. That's why you'll really like what we've acquired for you here: It's a premium-grade coconut oil that's perfect for smoothies, cooking, baking and personal care needs.

Get some while our supplies last. As with most of our specials, this is a one-time shipment that will probably be sold out within a few days.

Click here to get some of this coconut oil for yourself today.

You'll really enjoy this oil. I'm stocking up on some for my own kitchen!

Why Organic Palm Sugar is the next big thing in natural sweeteners

(NaturalNews) The search for healthy, natural sweeteners sometimes seems to involve a whirlwind of information. I've been writing about stevia since 1997 -- back in the day when the FDA was actually seizing stevia products and threatening to arrest the owners of stevia companies. But today, stevia is now widely accepted as a safe, natural sweetener. That doesn't make it super popular, however: Many people complain about the aftertaste of stevia, and it doesn't melt or cook like sugar does.

So the search goes on. For several years, many people in the natural health community have been turning to agave nectar, a low-glycemic sugar made from the bulbous roots of agave plants. While agave has a wonderful taste and a relatively low glycemic index, it has also been embroiled in controversy about whether it is truly "natural" or even low glycemic. Some agave nectar providers have, in the past, even been accused of adulterating the product with high-fructose corn syrup (although my sources tell me this practice has ceased for mainstream U.S. suppliers).

Now a new choice for a natural, wholesome sweetener emerges, and it has tremendous promise. It's called palm sugar.

Why palm sugar is the next big thing in natural sweeteners

Palm sugar is a nutrient-rich, low-glycemic crystalline sweetener that looks, tastes, dissolves and melts almost exactly like sugar, but it's completely natural and unrefined. It's acquired from the flowers growing high on coconut trees, which are opened to collect their liquid flower nectar. This nectar is then air-dried to form a crystalline sugar that's naturally brown in color and naturally rich in a number of key vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, including potassium, zinc, iron, and vitamins B1, B2, B3 and B6.

It is never refined or bleached like white sugar. So the nutrients it was made with are still there. That's rare for sweeteners, most of which are highly refined. Even stevia is highly refined in its white powder form (real stevia is a green herb).

The amazing caramel and butterscotch taste of palm sugar

Remarkably, even though palm sugar cooks, dissolves and melts just like regular sugar, it has a far superior taste. As Wikipedia states, "The taste of pure coconut palm sugar resembles that of brown sugar, yet with more rounded caramel and butterscotch notes, without the metallic ending flavor that brown sugar has. It has a rich flavor." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_sugar)

I completely agree with that assessment. Palm sugar adds a special richness to almost any recipe. I've been using it in smoothies, and I know raw food chefs who are thrilled about using it in raw food desserts (palm sugar is not raw, by the way, but neither is agave nectar). You can use palm sugar as a replacement for regular white sugar in any recipe. You'll get improved taste, improved nutrition and a lower overall glycemic index for the finished food.

Palm sugar is not a calorie-free sweetener. It has calories like any carbohydrate, but due to its relatively low glycemic index, its calories are absorbed into the bloodstream at a significantly slower rate than regular refined sugar. This property should be of interest to anyone who is monitoring their blood sugar levels and attempting to avoid blood sugar spikes. Palm sugar isn't medicine; it's a food with a surprisingly low GI, considering its sweet taste.

Now available in the NaturalNews Store

We have obtained several thousand pounds of organic, evaporated palm sugar from the Indonesian island of Java. This has been harvested in the traditional manner by local Indonesian farmers using sugarhouse drying techniques that have been handed down from generation to generation.

It has a glycemic index of 35. By comparison, the GI of honey is 55 - 60, and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is 62. Maltodextrin, a common powder often added to many sweeteners, has a GI of 105! (http://www.snac.ucla.edu/pages/Reso...)

At just 35, our palm sugar has a glycemic index very similar to milk or cooked carrots. And yet it's a super delicious sweetener!

Click here to check out our organic palm sugar at the NaturalNews Store.

One disadvantage: The price

As with many healthy products, the price is higher than conventional, processed "junk" products. Highly-refined cane sugar is dirt cheap because it can be mass produced in sugar factories that churn out huge quantities of that white, nutritionally-devoid powder known as "table sugar."

But creating something healthier is more complex. Climbing coconut trees to harvest the nectar of their flowers is difficult work, and drying the liquid into crystals takes time (and patience). Palm sugar isn't fast sugar. It's slow sugar that takes time to grow, harvest, and dry. Not coincidentally, it also takes time for its complex carbohydrates to be disassembled during digestion, which is why it has a lower glycemic index.

Organic palm sugar usually costs anywhere from $8 - $10 per pound in the USA. There is an issue with adulteration when purchasing palm sugar overseas: Some low-integrity companies adulterate it by mixing in cane sugar. Our palm sugar, however, is 100% organic palm sugar with nothing else mixed in.

Even so, we've been able to get this for you at an extraordinary price. While supplies last at the NaturalNews Store, our 1-pound bag of organic palm sugar is just $5.95. That's about a 33% discount off the normal price for organic palm sugar.

When you purchase three 1-pound bags of organic palm sugar, the price drops to just $5.32 per bag. That's a 40% discount off the normal price.

These extremely good prices are only available while supplies last. As this product is seasonal, I don't yet know when we'll be able to get another shipment, especially at such a good price.

Click here to order our organic palm sugar now.

My experience with palm sugar

As you know, I only recommend products I use myself. I've been experimenting with organic palm sugar for about two months now, and I'm really happy with the results. When used as a sweetener in smoothies, it doesn't give me the "sugar jitters" that more refined sugars used to do. (I used to be borderline diabetic myself, so I'm very aware of how sugars impact the way I feel.)

It also doesn't make my teeth feel sensitive the way agave nectar sometimes can. I don't know if you've ever experienced this side effect from agave nectar, but it's something I've noticed. I still recommend agave nectar, by the way, because it has many good properties. But it does seem to make my teeth feel funny from time to time. (I'd be interested to hear if you've ever felt this, too...)

Palm Sugar mixes really well with water, but it doesn't mix 100%. There are a small number of palm sugar solids that do end up at the bottom of the smoothie shaker bottle, but this is no big deal as you can just shake it again. (I use a Blender Bottle to shake up my smoothies.)

I've been using this palm sugar to sweeten Boku Superfoods, Living Fuel, Rejuvenate Pro, and many other products. I've also been using it during my workouts, and I find that I experience a very healthy flow of sustained energy that keeps me powering through workouts. I can't say it's 100% due to the palm sugar, but it seems to be a very friendly carbohydrate that offers a "slow burn."

I personally haven't baked cookies or anything like that with the palm sugar because I don't bake cookies in the first place, so I don't have direct experience using it in baking, but I've heard reports from several others who were delighted with its properties in baking and cooking. It melts well, but doesn't burn easily. As Wikipedia says, "...it has a very low melt temperature and an extremely high burn temperature. This makes it a suitable sweetener for confectioners."

The future of palm sugar

With everything I've learned about palm sugar over the last several months, I expect this to become the next "big thing" in natural, organic sweeteners. Before too long, we'll begin to see it in health food bars and superfood smoothies.

You may even begin to see it next year in natural food products such as healthy cereals. I've come to really appreciate one cereal company called Nature's Path, and palm sugar is the kind of natural ingredient they may be interested in researching more. (They already have some really great natural cereal products.)

But you don't have to wait for the food products industry... you can try it yourself in your own smoothies and recipes! Enjoy your palm sugar. I think you'll really like this natural, nutrient-rich organic sweetener.

Top organic gluten-free snacks

(NaturalNews) Good-tasting, wheat-free crackers, breads and cookies are hard to come by. Sure, there is an ever-growing amount of gluten-free products available, but many of these products have an unpleasant taste and texture that turns people off to the idea of eating anything that is gluten-free.

Fortunately, there are some companies that produce wheat-free, gluten-free snacks that actually taste good, contain whole, healthy ingredients, and are certified organic. The following is a sampling of some of the best brands in the industry:

Mary's Gone Crackers
Like many others in the health food industry, Mary's Gone Crackers was birthed out of a health-conscious mother's endeavor to provide for the health needs of her and her family. After discovering that both she and her son had celiac disease, Mary Waldner began formulating her own gluten-free snacks.

Packed with nutritious whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, brown flax seeds, amaranth, millet and chia, Mary's Gone Crackers can actually be considered a gluten-free superfood snack. The company also utilizes a proprietary method of formulation that does not extrude the ingredients using high heat, preserving the myriad of delicate nutrients.

Mary's Gone Crackers makes cookies, crackers, "Sticks & Twigs" (similar to pretzels) and cracker crumbs. All of the products are certified organic, kosher, non-GMO, vegan and delicious. Even the cookies are soft and chewy, and are made with low-glycemic natural sweeteners. All the products are produced in a dedicated wheat-free, gluten-free and nut-free facility, ensuring no cross-contamination.

For more information about Mary's Gone Crackers, please visit www.marysgonecrackers.com.

Raw Makery
Raw, sprouted, certified organic and gluten-free snacks. Is it too good to be true? Not if you are Raw Makery, a Las Vegas-based company that sells breads, "Krispys", crackers, "Stix", "Rawtillas" and cookies.

What began in a kitchen and migrated into two local cafes has become a nationwide product line of some of the best, most wholesome gluten-free snacks in the industry. Every item is raw and contains sprouted ingredients. Buckwheat, golden and brown flax seeds, chia seeds, yams, spirulina, dulse and Himalayan Crystal salt are just a few of the many super ingredients that grace Raw Makery's gluten-free foods.

Since none of Raw Makery's products are cooked, they are all highly rich in living enzymes, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Raw Makery is a top pick for gluten-free superfood snacks.

For more information about Raw Makery, please visit www.rawmakery.com.

Muso From Japan
Those looking for a great gluten-free snack that is high in protein will love the offerings of Muso From Japan. This company makes two delicious, grain-free and oil-free crackers that pack a decent protein punch.

Muso's organic Green Pea Chips and Mungbean chips are uniquely high in protein because both the pea and the mungbean are high in protein. These delicious chips make a great, lightly-baked snack without added grains. Both contain two simple ingredients: either green peas or mungbeans, and sea salt.

The green pea variety contains six grams of protein per serving and the mungbean variety contains a whopping nine grams per serving. Both varieties are rich in vitamins and minerals and contain no additives, preservatives or sugars.

For more information about Muso From Japan, please visit www.muso-intl.com.

Eartharvest Certified Organic Slice n' Bake Cookie Dough
If I told you that you could buy delicious, organic, whole-grain, gluten-free and vegan cookie dough, you might think I was crazy. Actually, a company called Eartharvest will soon be unveiling its new line of healthy cookie doughs that meet these criteria. These doughs will include flavors like chocolate chip, quinoa raisin, peanut butter and walnut brownie.

These delicious cookies are made with organic whole grains like quinoa, amaranth, brown rice and sorghum, as well as organic coconut and palm oils. There are no artificial ingredients, no eggs or milk, no gluten and no GMOs, and organic cane sugar is the primary sweetener used. As far as cookie doughs go, it will be difficult to find one that is healthier and tastier than Eartharvest.

Eartharvest gluten-free cookies have a great texture and taste, and are a healthy, sweet treat without all the added garbage, which make them a top pick for the occasional sweet treat.

For more information about Eartharvest, please visit www.eartharvestfoods.com.

NuttZo, an organic, nutrient-packed nut butter

(NaturalNews) Good nutrition is the foundation of good health, especially for children in their crucial developmental years. But this is not news to Danielle LiVolsi, a San Diego mother of two and founder of NuttZo, a nutritionally-dense, multi-nut butter company. In fact, Danielle's longtime affection for nut butters helped inspire her to develop her superior line of organic butters that pack a punch both nutritionally and flavorfully.

The NuttZo story is an inspiring one, birthed from Danielle and her husband Kevin's adoption of their first son, Gregory. A Ukrainian orphan, Gregory was severely malnourished and deficient in necessary vitamins. Having always had a heart for good health and nutrition, Danielle began working hard to provide Gregory with a diet rich in the things he was lacking.

Having grown up loving nut butters herself, Danielle decided to include healthy nut butters in her array of nutrition-boosting foods. At the time, there were no nut butters available that contained the diverse array of nutritional components she desired, so she began making a homemade nut butter blend, which would later be sold as NuttZo Original, using some of the richest superfood nuts and seeds available.

"NuttZo is one of my favorite creations because I love peanut butter and tree nut butters," she passionately explained. And an amazing creation it is, packed with valencia peanuts, flax seeds, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, sea salt and vitamin E tocopherols.

One serving of NuttZo Original contains 650mg of alpha lipoic acid (ALA), or 50 percent of the Daily Value of ALA omega-3s. NuttZo is also 100% organic and is USDA Organic Certified.

At the same time Danielle introduced NuttZo Original, she and her husband also started a non-profit organization called "Project Left Behind" with a mission to help the more than ten million orphan children around the world who lack not only good nutrition but love, meaningful value systems and education.

"NuttZo is all about paying it forward, having a wonderful product that's very healthy and nutritious, and, you know, changing the world one nut at a time," she opined.

The LiVolsis have since adopted a second son who was also a Ukrainian orphan, and the couple continues to reach out to children around the world through Project Left Behind to provide them with "human touch, nourishment and surrogate nurturing tools."

NuttZo has also just released a second nut butter called NuttZo PF which is peanut-free. NuttZo PF contains cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds and sea salt, and it packs a whopping 970mg of ALA omega-3s per serving. Like the Original, NuttZo PF is USDA Certified Organic and contains no added sugar.

"When I put out a product, I want it to be exactly what I'd want to eat and feed my family," emphasized Danielle about her NuttZo nut butters.

Not only is NuttZo a powerhouse of organic nutrition, but it is incredibly delicious as well!

To find out more about NuttZo and where to buy it, please visit www.gonuttzo.com.

To learn more about Project Left Behind, please visit www.projectleftbehind.org.

Top new whole food bars

(NaturalNews) The market for food bars is seemingly endless. Countless companies now produce bars which they claim are the best, most wholesome bars available. But which ones are truly everything they say they are?

This year, several companies have unveiled new lines of food bars that are worthy of mention. These bars are free of genetically-modified ingredients (GMOs), artificial sweeteners and processed fillers, and are either completely or mostly organic. None of them contain any refined sugars or artificial sweeteners.

The companies that produce these bars have demonstrated a genuine commitment to honesty in both the way they conduct business and the methods by which they produce their products. This means sourcing ingredients of the highest quality and nutritional content and maintaining operations that are environmentally-friendly.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it does represent some of the most impressive new whole food bars available. They were evaluated primarily based on taste, nutritional content and ingredient quality.

It is also important to note that the companies represented here did not pay for these endorsements. These products truly are some of the best in their class and we simply want to share this valuable information with our readers.

Greens Plus 22 Days Energy Bars
To complement its already stellar lineup of energy and food bars, the makers of Greens Plus are introducing a new line of certified organic, vegan energy bars called "22 Days". Hatched from the notion that it takes 21 days to break a habit (and thus 22 to start a new one), these delicious bars are made with raw, organic superfoods. They are gluten-, dairy- and soy-free and come in four flavors: Cherry Chocolate Bliss, Enlightened Pumpkinseed, Goji Mate Firecracker and Daily Mocha Mantra.

The bars contain between six and eleven grams of hemp and rice protein each depending on the type. They are lightly sweetened with things like organic raw agave syrup and organic tropical blossom honey. Organic evaporated cane juice is also used in the flavors containing chocolate. The bars are also rich in various raw, organic superfoods like goji berries, almonds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews and dates.

Overall, these bars taste amazing. They are not too sweet and each variety is rich in flavor. In other words, you can actually taste the luscious ingredients and not be overpowered with too much of one ingredient, too much sweet or too much salt. Also, 22 Days bars are made using sunflower lecithin, an excellent alternative to soy lecithin.

For more information, please visit www.22daysnutrition.com.

Sequel Naturals Vega Food Bars
Brendan Brazier, formulator of the Vega product line, is passionate about his line of products, which includes his whole food bars. These bars are mostly raw, plant-based and alkaline-forming.

This year's newest offering, the Vibrancy bar, is a unique new bar that is raw, organic and enzymatically-active. Like all Vega bars, the Vibrancy bar is plant-based, but what sets it apart from the others is its sprouted ingredients like buckwheat and almonds which add a unique enzymatic element.

Vega Vibrancy bars are loaded with essential fatty acid (EFA) oils like hemp seed oil, flax seed oil, pumpkin oil, coconut oil, green tea seed oil, pomegranate seed oil, and many others. They also contain a rich array of green foods like spirulina, wheat grass, dulce, kelp, chia and kale. They are very lightly sweetened and rich in complex flavor, making them a welcomed alternative to many of the other food bars available on the market.

For more information, please visit www.sequelnaturals.com/vega.

Macro Greens Superfood Bars
The makers of Macro Greens and Macro Reds superfood supplement powders have come up with some delicious new food bars that combine powerful, whole food ingredients with great taste. Each raw, organic bar contains either Macro Greens or Macro Reds as well as a host of other nutritious ingredients like brazil nuts and dates. They are also chock full of probiotics, antioxidants, herbs, fiber and enzymes.

Free of corn, soy, wheat, GMOs and preservatives, these bars are healthy and alkalizing. They are gently sweetened and rich in flavor and come in three delicious flavors: Lemon Ginger, Berri Berri, and Chocolate & Cinnamon.

For more information, please visit www.macrolifenaturals.com.

Betty Lou's Just Great Stuff Bars
Betty Lou's new line of Just Great Stuff bars are loaded with delicious blends of organic fruits, vegetables and nuts. The fruits and vegetables have been freeze-dried, which according to Betty, is a superior method of delivery that ensures the preservation of delicate nutrients. Betty also uses sunflower lecithin rather than soy lecithin in the bars that contain lecithin.

Just Great Stuff bars are gluten-free and vegan, and they contain strong antioxidant ingredients like cacao, acai and goji berries. They are also USDA certified organic.

For more information, please visit www.bettylousinc.com.

Certified Organic Nutiva Hemp Seeds: Huge Discount for NaturalNews Readers

(NaturalNews) Here's one of the secrets of really healthy people: Make hemp seeds a regular part of your diet. They're rich in omega-3 fatty acids, plant-based proteins and phytonutrients. That makes them a nutritional powerhouse for supporting good health!

And today, NaturalNews has teamed with the Raw Food World to bring you an unbeatable deal on certified organic Nutiva hemp seeds. While supplies last, you can get a 5-pound bag of these nutritious hemp seeds, plus a 16 oz. bottle of Nutiva hemp oil in a fancy dark glass jar for just $41.95.

This is the best price you are going to find anywhere on certified organic Nutiva hemp seeds (+ hemp oil). We put this special deal together for NaturalNews readers, and we just received the shipment of hemp seeds two days ago. This offer is good while supplies last. Take advantage of it right here:
http://store.naturalnews.com/index....

Normally, a 5-pound bag of hemp seeds costs $49.95 all by itself. (Roughly $10 per pound.) Through this limited offer for NaturalNews readers, the price drops to $41.95 and you get a free 16 oz. bottle of Nutiva hemp oil which is worth at least another $16. Plus, this hemp oil is shipped in a glass bottle unlike most hemp oil products that are shipped in plastic bottles.

The total value is just under $66, but it's all yours for just $41.95 today while supplies last:

http://store.naturalnews.com/index....
(It's the top-most item on the page...)

This is a great opportunity to stock up on certified organic hemp seeds! You can use them in all sorts of ways: Sprinkle them on salads, cereals or other foods. Blend them into superfoods. Or mix with flax, agave nectar and spices to make your own raw dried herb crackers! (With the help of an Excalibur dehydrator, of course...)

You can even make your own trail mix or healthy granola with these hemp seeds. Or give away a 5-pound bag to a friend who would appreciate the healthfulness of what they're receiving. It's a deeply appreciated gift!

I've been covering Nutiva for years, and I've interviewed John Roulac several times. Nutiva is a company with the best ethics in the business (along with Ruth's Hemp Foods which has admirable ethics as well). Everything he does is honest, clean and widely trusted. When he says his seeds are certified organic, it's an honest claim backed by years of solid experience and a trusted reputation across the industry.

That's why I'm so happy to be able to bring this incredible price discount to you on certified organic Nutiva hemp seeds. I don't think you'll ever find a better price anywhere. And the nutrition you'll receive from these hemp seeds is truly outstanding. Try them yourself and you'll see what I mean.

You may also find lots of other interesting items in the NaturalNews store: http://store.naturalnews.com

Enjoy exploring all the raw foods, healthy foods, food ingredients and much more. Thank you for your support, and I hope you enjoy your hemp seeds!

NaturalNews announces chemical-free Chia seeds at under $5 a pound

(NaturalNews) As you may already know, NaturalNews has teamed up with The Raw Food World to launch the new NaturalNews store (http://store.naturalnews.com). The combined reach of their customers and our readers is allowing us to make some "screamin' good" high-volume purchases of health-related products that we can offer to readers at ridiculously competitive prices.

Today, we bring you a screamin' good deal on chemical-free Chia seeds. While supplies last, you can pick up a one-pound bag of grown-without-pesticides Chia seeds for the amazing price of just $4.95. They aren't certified organic, but they're grown without pesticides or herbicides of any kind. Both Matt and I regularly eat these ourselves!

This $4.95 / lb. price is only good while supplies last.

See more details at:
http://store.naturalnews.com/index....

Why Chia seeds?

Chia seeds remain one of my favorite superfoods. They're rich in omega-3s like flax seeds, but they taste a whole lot better than flax (in my opinion). I probably don't need to tell you about all the health benefits of omega-3s. Virtually everyone can benefit from increasing their intake of these health-supporting oils.

Chia seeds are also naturally high in calcium, a nutrient necessary for healthy bones (among other functions in the body). This is plant-based calcium, too, not the calcium carbonate you might see in lower-cost vitamins.

Another huge benefit offered by Chia seeds is the Chia gel that forms when you soak them in water. This gel surrounds the Chia seed, and when you eat or drink the Chia seed, this gel physically fills your stomach, helping you feel full faster, encouraging you to eat less at a meal setting. It may also help slow the digestion of dietary sugars because it locks those sugars in this Chia gel, requiring more time for those sugars to be released and digested. (Note, however, that I'm not saying Chia seeds are some sort of magic weight loss product. They aren't. They just really nutritious superfoods!)

How to prepare a "Chia smoothie"

I use Chia seeds in smoothies. It's easy: Just take a few spoonfuls of Chia seeds, place them in a glass jar and add 8 ounces of water (fill the jar). Let that sit for 6 - 8 hours until the Chia seeds are fully gelled up. You now have a "Chia gel" solution that you can pour into smoothies, mix into cereals and add to recipes. In smoothies, they're delicious!

In fact, you can just add a few delicious ingredients to the Chia gel itself and drink that down as a delicious smoothie. Try adding some blended bananas, peanut butter and stevia to the Chia gel: It's a banana-Chia smoothie that's delicious! Or add raw almond milk, and raw honey too -- that's an awesome recipe!

In their dry form, Chia seeds can also be added to bread recipes, pancakes and other baking recipes. And of course, Chia seeds go extremely well in raw foods recipes such as Chia crackers. The Chia gel actually helps all the raw ingredients stick together better.

Chia remains one of my top-recommended superfoods. It's nutrient dense, delicious and loaded with good nutrition. The omega-3 oils they offer are phenomenal because it's usually quite difficult to get those oils from plants. For those who don't want to eat fish or take fish oil supplements, Chia seeds are a smart source of dietary omega-3s. (I also take Moxxor green-lipped mussel oil capsules because I know it's a clean source of marine omega-3s.)

Chia seeds just $4.95 per pound

I don't think you'll see a better price on chemical-free Chia seeds anywhere!

While supplies last only:
http://store.naturalnews.com/index....

Other sources for Chia seeds

Chia seeds are also available at Good Cause Wellness (http://www.goodcausewellness.com/se...), an online retailer I've recommended for nearly two years now.

You can also find Chia seeds as an ingredient in products like Living Fuel (www.LivingFuel.com).

And of course, most health food stores carry Chia seeds, too. So pick up a bag the next time you're there.