Green Options » sugar http://greenoptions.com/tag/sugar Posts tagged 'sugar' Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:10:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Can Diet Coke Kill You? Part 2 http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/15/can-diet-coke-kill-you-part-2/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/15/can-diet-coke-kill-you-part-2/#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:10:11 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/15/can-diet-coke-kill-you-part-2/

Due to the great popularity of “Can Diet Coke Kill You?” combined with a lot of controversy over it, I have decided to write this follow-up post.

Most of the controversy over the last article was around the fact that the documentary I referenced cited data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) but that organization itself claims there is no proven link between aspartame and cancer.

What was presented previously was a short explanation of why aspartame is expected to cause cancer and other health problems and a summary of some information presented in Sweet Misery, including findings from analyzing NCI and other data. This article, however, cites other scientific findings and discusses the economic-political history of this topic a little bit as well.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/11/15/can-diet-coke-kill-you-part-2/feed/ Honey is a Health & Fitness Queen http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/10/30/honey-is-a-health-fitness-queen/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/10/30/honey-is-a-health-fitness-queen/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:07:27 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/10/30/honey-is-a-health-fitness-queen/

With a lot of great health and fitness benefits, honey should be a common staple in people’s daily diets. Other than its great taste, it has numerous benefits for our bodies, immune systems, weight, and energy which you may not be aware of.

Honey is a source of a variety of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The main vitamins it provides are niacin, riboflavin and pantothetic acid, and the main minerals are calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Importantly, the amount of these substances in honey varies depending on its floral source, just as its color and taste vary.

On top of this, what are the main health benefits of honey?

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/10/30/honey-is-a-health-fitness-queen/feed/ Scientists Use Weed Killer to Make Cheap Sugar-Based Fuel Cell http://gas2.org/2009/09/29/scientists-use-weed-killer-to-make-cheap-sugar-based-fuel-cell/ http://gas2.org/2009/09/29/scientists-use-weed-killer-to-make-cheap-sugar-based-fuel-cell/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:13:33 +0000 Nick Chambers http://gas2.org/2009/09/29/scientists-use-weed-killer-to-make-cheap-sugar-based-fuel-cell/

This is one of those topics I’m just not sure what to think of…

When the average person hears the term fuel cell, typically what comes to mind is something that mysteriously makes electricity from hydrogen. In reality the process isn’t all that mysterious—basically the hydrogen is split into its component parts (electrons and protons) and the protons are allowed to flow through the cell, but the electrons are forced to travel another path, which creates the current (and charges the battery or runs the motors or turns on the lights).

Although the hydrogen fuel cell is the most common type of cell, you can make fuel cells that use many different things, including hydrocarbons and sugars. They all work on the same basic principal, but hydrogen fuel cells are considered superior because their only emission is water vapor and they produce lots of energy.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/09/29/scientists-use-weed-killer-to-make-cheap-sugar-based-fuel-cell/feed/ Sugar Laden and Highly Processed Foods To Be Sold As “Smart Food Choices” http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/28/sugar-laden-and-highly-processed-foods-to-be-sold-as-smart-food-choices/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/28/sugar-laden-and-highly-processed-foods-to-be-sold-as-smart-food-choices/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:48:31 +0000 John Chappell http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/28/sugar-laden-and-highly-processed-foods-to-be-sold-as-smart-food-choices/

General Mills and Kellogg’s want to sell sugary processed foods like Froot Loops and Lucky Charms to your kids.  This isn’t anything new.  But under the guise of the new “Smart Choices” Program, large food corporations want to proudly label sugary, highly processed foods as good nutritional food options.

The program was recently created by a conglomerate of conglomerates, including ConAgra Foods, Kellogg’s, Kraft Foods, Pepsico, Tyson Foods, and Unilever.  The participating companies list all their products that “meet a comprehensive set of nutrition criteria based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other sources of nutrition science and authoritative dietary guidance”.  You can review the Smart Choices website for yourself.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/28/sugar-laden-and-highly-processed-foods-to-be-sold-as-smart-food-choices/feed/ Can Diet Coke Kill You? http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/28/diet-coke-can-kill-you/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/28/diet-coke-can-kill-you/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:45:10 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/28/diet-coke-can-kill-you/

According to a UK documentary, “Sweet Misery,” the National Cancer Institute identified a significant and impressive increase in brain cancer starting in about 1984. Why did brain cancer shoot up? It looks like it is because of articial sweeteners such as those found in diet drinks and food!

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/28/diet-coke-can-kill-you/feed/ Not So Sweet Surprise-How Much Sugar is Really in What You Eat? http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/22/not-so-sweet-surprise-how-much-sugar-is-really-in-what-you-eat/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/22/not-so-sweet-surprise-how-much-sugar-is-really-in-what-you-eat/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:36:45 +0000 Rachel Venokur-Clark http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/22/not-so-sweet-surprise-how-much-sugar-is-really-in-what-you-eat/

Just in case you were thinking about indulging in some sweet treats today, I would like to offer you the option to take the healthier road. Sometimes it can take a visual aid to open your eyes and force you to take a cold hard look at what you are actually putting in your body or feeding to your family. Luckily, Sugar Stacks has put together an array of photos for us.  Unluckily, there are many items on their website that a lot of folks may consume on any given day, slowly causing their body to deteriorate without even realizing it.

Each food item is paired with the actual amount of sugar it contains stacked up in pretty little cubes. Each cube equals a teaspoon of sugar. Since they do not differentiate between different kinds of sugar, its important to know that natural sugars found in fruit and vegetables will be metabolized differently then the sugar found in a can coke or your favorite Frappachino. In my article on Natural Sweeteners, I explain that not all sweeteners are created equal. When it comes to refined sweeteners like white table sugar, high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet and Splenda, there are many side effects and health risks to take into consideration.

It’s time to face reality. It’s time to ask your self, what have I been putting in my body? Would I ever just eat the nearly 10 cubes of sugar that are the soda I just drank?  Can I make a smarter choice then this? You may have seen these before, but in my opinion, if you are still eating and drinking these items on a regular basis, you can never see them too much. For even more photos go to Sugarstacks.com.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/09/22/not-so-sweet-surprise-how-much-sugar-is-really-in-what-you-eat/feed/ Would You Buy Your Groceries Here? http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/03/would-you-buy-your-groceries-here/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/03/would-you-buy-your-groceries-here/#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:41:28 +0000 Rhonda Winter http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/03/would-you-buy-your-groceries-here/ Where can you buy healthy fresh food in your neighborhood? Where are the grocery stores and farmer’s markets, how is the quality of food that is there, and which food options do you actually have access to? Are there nearby food banks or community gardens? Can you grow your own food? What local food choices are available to you in your community?

Moldy Meat ShelvesI took this photo in the meat section of my neighborhood grocery store earlier this week.

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/03/would-you-buy-your-groceries-here/feed/ Coca-Cola Launches Eco-Friendly Packaging http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/05/31/coca-cola-launches-eco-friendly-packaging/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/05/31/coca-cola-launches-eco-friendly-packaging/#comments Sun, 31 May 2009 23:43:12 +0000 Lisa Wojnovich http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/05/31/coca-cola-launches-eco-friendly-packaging/ A Bottle of Dasani Water

In their ongoing efforts to achieve a more environmentally friendly image, the Coca-Cola Co. announced earlier this month that they will be launching new biobased plastic bottles for their Dasani water line later this year and vitaminwater next year. They’re calling their new packaging the “PlantBottleTM.”

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/05/31/coca-cola-launches-eco-friendly-packaging/feed/ Obama’s Administration Refuses to Halt Production of Monsanto’s Genetically-Modified Roundup-Ready Sugar Beets http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/06/obamas-administration-refuses-to-halt-production-of-monsantos-genetically-modified-roundup-ready-sugar-beets/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/06/obamas-administration-refuses-to-halt-production-of-monsantos-genetically-modified-roundup-ready-sugar-beets/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:44:31 +0000 Gina Munsey http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/06/obamas-administration-refuses-to-halt-production-of-monsantos-genetically-modified-roundup-ready-sugar-beets/ Recent data showing sugar’s rising popularity over high fructose corn syrup is good news, right?  Not if that sugar is genetically-modified.  In fact, if you’ve purchased beet sugar recently, there’s a very good chance that you’ve unintentionally consumed a genetically-modified product. Industry statistics show that more than half of the sugar beets grown in the US in 2008 were genetically-modified varieties.

If that isn’t enough to make you cringe, consider the following: most of those engineered beets were Roundup-resistant, courtesy of agri-tech giant Monsanto.  Last autumn under the Bush administration, the USDA approved the Monsanto seed without preparing a standard Environmental Impact Statement.   But certainly President Obama, with an organic garden on the White House Lawn, would have done things differently.

Wouldn’t he?

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/06/obamas-administration-refuses-to-halt-production-of-monsantos-genetically-modified-roundup-ready-sugar-beets/feed/ Sugar Popularity Grows as Backlash to High Fructose Corn Syrup http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/01/sugar-popularity-grows-as-backlash-to-high-fructose-corn-syrup/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/01/sugar-popularity-grows-as-backlash-to-high-fructose-corn-syrup/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:35:20 +0000 John Chappell http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/01/sugar-popularity-grows-as-backlash-to-high-fructose-corn-syrup/ Four Types of Sugar

A recent New York Times article noted that sugar is making a comeback in American diets as an alternative to High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).

The increased interest in sugar as an alternative to HFCS is attributed partly to HFCS backlash as well as increased PR campaigns and changes in consumer taste.  The change in sugar preference is highlighted by industry figures that note that as recently as 2003 American consumption of sugar was approximately equal to HFCS, but by 2007 the figures had changed and consumers guzzled 44 pounds of sugar compared to only 40 pounds of HFCS

In response to consumer demand, food making giants Pepsi and Pizza Hut have recently rolled out “natural” pizzas and sodas made with “old fashioned” sugar instead of HFCS.  Agro-industrial monolith ConAgra also announced that it would begin production of an HFCS-free line of frozen meals, and Kraft foods declared that it would remove HFCS from its line of salad dressings.  These are just a few examples of large food conglomerates creating new products in response to the recent angst against HFCS.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/01/sugar-popularity-grows-as-backlash-to-high-fructose-corn-syrup/feed/ Control Sugar Cravings: 5 Natural Sweeteners to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/10/control-sugar-cravings-5-natural-sweeteners-to-satisfy-your-sweet-tooth/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/10/control-sugar-cravings-5-natural-sweeteners-to-satisfy-your-sweet-tooth/#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:51:49 +0000 Rachel Venokur-Clark http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/10/control-sugar-cravings-5-natural-sweeteners-to-satisfy-your-sweet-tooth/ On average we consume over 20 teaspoons of added sugar in our diet daily, and sometimes we don’t even know it. This can add up to an average of 142 pounds of sugar per person per year! Americans love sweets! And how could we not when sweet flavors release serotonin in our brains, the chemical that gives off the feelings of love, contentment and well-being. But not all sweeteners are created equal. When it comes to refined sweeteners like white table sugar, high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners like NutraSweet and Splenda, there are many side effects and health risks to take into consideration. These items are stripped of vitamins, minerals and fiber and can spike your blood sugar, often leading to more sugary cravings, mood and energy swings. Sugar can be addictive for many people because of the chemical reaction that take place in the body. Artificial sweeteners, because of the neurotoxins they contain, have been know to cause headaches, memory loss, nausea, PMS, dizziness, mood changes, heart arrhythmia, joint pain and more. Using natural and minimally processed sweeteners can help to control sugar cravings, stabilize moods and energy and have a dramatic effect on your health. Since most natural sweeteners are 1.5 times sweeter then sugar, you can use less of it in baking and other recipes that call for sugar.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/10/control-sugar-cravings-5-natural-sweeteners-to-satisfy-your-sweet-tooth/feed/ Eating for Energy - 5 Helpful Foods http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/08/eating-for-energy-5-helpful-foods/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/08/eating-for-energy-5-helpful-foods/#comments Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:28:23 +0000 Amy Bell http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/08/eating-for-energy-5-helpful-foods/ The foods we eat have a direct impact on our overall energy.

Think about how you feel after having certain foods.

A greasy fast food meal more than likely leaves you tired, sluggish, and possibly feeling guilty, while a meal full of complex carbohydrates, healthy protein and fats, and fresh fruits and vegetables leaves a person feeling satisfied and energized.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/08/eating-for-energy-5-helpful-foods/feed/ This is Why You’re Fat (Possibly the Most Disturbing Website Ever?) http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/03/this-is-why-youre-fat-possibly-the-most-disturbing-website-ever/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/03/this-is-why-youre-fat-possibly-the-most-disturbing-website-ever/#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:07:03 +0000 Amy Bell http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/03/this-is-why-youre-fat-possibly-the-most-disturbing-website-ever/ Ok now, we all know the dangers of eating fried foods and food loaded with trans fats, sugar, and other unhealthy ingredients.  Right?

Well apparently there are still plenty of people out there who either don’t know…or don’t care.
When I first saw this website I was shocked by the foods on it, it’s a meat-filled calorie bomb photo gallery you wont believe! (Who knew you could batter and fry just about anything imaginable, and/or cover it in bacon?  Yuck.)

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/03/03/this-is-why-youre-fat-possibly-the-most-disturbing-website-ever/feed/ A Spoonful of Sugar Could Save Children’s Lives http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/23/a-spoonful-of-sugar-could-save-childrens-lives/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/23/a-spoonful-of-sugar-could-save-childrens-lives/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:59:33 +0000 Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/23/a-spoonful-of-sugar-could-save-childrens-lives/ a spoonful of sugar can save children\'s livesA friend of mine’s daughter went to Africa.  She had to end her trip early, fly to the US, and be hospitalized for malaria. She was a lucky American child who could get medical care for this disease that affects 350–500 million people worldwide each year.  Her life was never threatened.

New research suggests a simple, natural solution can save the lives of children suffering from hypoglycemia caused by malaria:  a spoonful of sugar.

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/23/a-spoonful-of-sugar-could-save-childrens-lives/feed/ Fair Trade Justice With Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-op http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/22/fair-trade-justice-with-just-us-coffee-roasters-co-op/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/22/fair-trade-justice-with-just-us-coffee-roasters-co-op/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2009 04:05:09 +0000 Heather Dunham http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/22/fair-trade-justice-with-just-us-coffee-roasters-co-op/ I am NOT a coffee addict.

Am not.

But I dare say I might become one.

I do enjoy a good cup of coffee, but caffeine sometimes makes me edgy.  Though I have managed to mostly avoid the lure of Starbucks, I have been known to indulge in a white chocolate mocha at Second Cup, or a French Vanilla at Tim Horton’s… and don’t get me started about Iced Cappucino in the summer!!

Then I read 5 Ways to Green Your Coffee and I got the itch.

So I bought myself a french press and some fresh-ground, organic, Fair Trade coffee.  And I just had to share a little about the company behind my coffee.

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/22/fair-trade-justice-with-just-us-coffee-roasters-co-op/feed/ Companies Vow to Reject Sugar from Genetically Modified Beets http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/02/15/companies-vow-to-reject-sugar-from-genetically-modified-beets/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/02/15/companies-vow-to-reject-sugar-from-genetically-modified-beets/#comments Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:43:52 +0000 Amy Bell http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/02/15/companies-vow-to-reject-sugar-from-genetically-modified-beets/ After writing my post earlier this month about genetically engineered ingredients and animal cloning, I was given the opportunity to speak with Lisa Bunin, Campaign Coordinator with the Center for Food Safety.

We spoke about some exciting new developments in the fight against genetically modified beet sugar.

On February 12, 2009 several food safety, environmental, and corporate watchdog groups launched the Non-Genetically Modified (GM) Beet Sugar Registry.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/02/15/companies-vow-to-reject-sugar-from-genetically-modified-beets/feed/ The Eco-Friendly Skies: Greening the Airline Industry http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/12/the-eco-friendly-skies/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/12/the-eco-friendly-skies/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:09:54 +0000 Lisa Wojnovich http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/12/the-eco-friendly-skies/ Aircraft De-icingYet another product has been added to the list of new and innovative things we can make from corn. Recently, Dupont Tate & Lyle Bio Products announced that, working in conjunction with Kilfrost, a major producer of de- and anti-icing fluids for aircraft, they have come up with a new de-icer derived from non-petroleum sources — namely, corn and sugar.

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2009/02/12/the-eco-friendly-skies/feed/ Honey for You and Your Honey http://feelgoodstyle.com/2009/02/06/honey-for-you-and-your-honey/ http://feelgoodstyle.com/2009/02/06/honey-for-you-and-your-honey/#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:38:16 +0000 Liz Thompson http://feelgoodstyle.com/2009/02/06/honey-for-you-and-your-honey/ Honey TeaLooking forward to a big box of organic chocolate on Valentine’s Day, or maybe a couple of heart shaped cookies?  Your sweet tooth may thank you but your skin tells a different tale.  That’s right, refined sugar can weaken collagen and put skin at risk for premature aging.

It is not news that refined sugar and the yummy treats we make with it are bad for our bodies and our health.  They are empty calories that cause us to gain belly fat and send our blood sugar through the roof.  But they can be so very tempting, especially on a special occasion.

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]]> http://feelgoodstyle.com/2009/02/06/honey-for-you-and-your-honey/feed/ Leading Hospital System Takes Stand Against Animal Cloning and GE Ingredients http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/02/06/leading-hospital-system-takes-stand-against-animal-cloning-and-ge-ingredients/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/02/06/leading-hospital-system-takes-stand-against-animal-cloning-and-ge-ingredients/#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:34:08 +0000 Amy Bell http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/02/06/leading-hospital-system-takes-stand-against-animal-cloning-and-ge-ingredients/ Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) is a San Francisco, CA based system of 41 hospitals and medical centers in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

This national leading Catholic hospital system is now leading the nation in more ways than one.

CHW has made the decision to use food suppliers who have agreed to seek out alternatives to foods made with genetically engineered (GE) ingredients or cloned animals.

Included in CHW’s new food policy is GE sugar beets, which just recently have been introduced into the nation’s food supply, as well as meat and dairy products from cloned animals, which the FDA has decided to allow.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/02/06/leading-hospital-system-takes-stand-against-animal-cloning-and-ge-ingredients/feed/ Cocoa Camino: Chocolate With Heart for Valentine’s http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/04/cocoa-camino-chocolate-with-heart-for-valentines/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/04/cocoa-camino-chocolate-with-heart-for-valentines/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:50:47 +0000 Sonya http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/04/cocoa-camino-chocolate-with-heart-for-valentines/ With Valentine’s Day coming up, in our home thoughts are turning to celebrating with fair trade, organic chocolate like Cocoa Camino.

Cocoa Camino is a line of premium Fair Trade Certified and certified organic chocolate, cocoa and sugar products produced by the Canadian La Siembra Co-operative.  These products include chocolate bars, sugar, hot chocolate, cocoa, chocolate chips, syrup and couverture.  They’re sold in natural health food stores, pharmacies and grocery stores.

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/04/cocoa-camino-chocolate-with-heart-for-valentines/feed/