Book Review: Missing Microbes

By Martin J. Blaser, MD

Reviewed by Rosalind Michahelles

The author of MISSING MICROBES, Martin Blaser, is near the top of the tree in the U.S. medical establishment.  He is someone to listen to.  Not only is he the head of the Human Microbiome Program – the study of our body’s bacteria – but he has also been the head of the NYU Medical School and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.  He is not by any means the first to warn against the overuse of antibiotics, which has led inexorably to both antibiotic resistance – they don’t work as well – and possibly to other problems, like obesity, esophageal cancer, asthma, juvenile diabetes, and celiac disease. 

Photos from our anniversary celebration

We celebrated our 40th anniversary the weekend of May 16th-18th, and it was a fabulous time! Many of our wonderful vendors came out to sample their products, and local practitioners gave free chair massages. You can read more details about the celebration in our press release.

Scott on our staff took some great photos of the event:


Press Release: Celebrating 40 Years of Locally-Owned Success!

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Cambridge Naturals announces its 40th Anniversary Celebration to take place on the weekend of May 16th-18th.

The celebratory month will kick off in May with daily tastings by local artisanal food producers, 15-minute chair massages by local massage therapists and the customer gift packs with product samples. “We want to commemorate this momentous occasion with our entire community that has supported us for so many decades,” said Elizabeth Stagl, co-owner. “Our staff, our customers and our vendors can all take part in ‘ringing the bell’ with us.”

Book Review: Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease

Book Review: Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease

Book By Dr. Robert Lustig
Reviewed by Rosalind Michahelles

In FAT CHANCE Dr. Lustig analyzes sugar (meaning, carbohydrates generally, glucose and fructose) scientifically, psychologically, and sociologically. He explains the subject from different perspectives:

• How we digest, use, and store the sugars in our diet
• Why sugars are addictive and hard to forego
• And what our society does to encourage their consumption

Health Article: Grape seed Extract (GBE) Emerges as Anti-Cancer Powerhouse Thanks to Pro-Active Supplement Users

Article By Ethan Evers

(NaturalNews) The therapeutic potential of grape seed extract as anti-oxidant, anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory is so well established that this natural supplement is now being used in seven on-going clinical trials, only one of which is on cancer (of the breast). But the spotlight may soon shift to grape seed extract’s anti-cancer potential as recent landmark studies on human patients have just uncovered its remarkable protective effects against three major cancers: squamous cell carcinoma, prostate and hematologic malignancies.

Book Review: Vitamin K-2 and the Calcium Paradox: How a Little-Known Vitamin Could Save Your Life

By Kate Rheaume-Bleue (Collins, 2012)

Reviewed by Rosalind Michahelles

The paradox in the title refers to the fact that – according to the author’s research — dietary calcium, unaccompanied by vitamin K-2 may well end up in soft tissue like blood vessels rather than in bones and teeth. In other words, it may harden your arteries rather than strengthen your bones and your teeth. Apparently vitamin K-2 plays a crucial stimulating role where two proteins are concerned: one is osteocalcin, which pulls calcium into bones; the other is matrix gla protein (MGP) which pulls calcium out of soft tissue. Vitamin K-2 thus provides a twofold benefit.

Making the case for wetshaving vs. conventional shaving!

his post was written by Zach, customer service specialist and resident shaving expert! He’s been actively working to improve our Men’s section, bringing in the best natural and effective bodycare products out there!

In my previous post on shaving naturally I mentioned ‘wetshaving’ as a method of shaving that has been gaining a following in recent years amongst those looking for a better grooming experience, to lessen their impact on the environment, and to save money in the process. What follows is a brief explanation of some of the tools and methods involved.

Glazed Red Pepper-Fennel Almonds

This delicious recipe was passed along to us by Louise Rasmussen, the incredible cook at Wallowa Llamas in Eastern Oregon. Not only are these almonds incredibly addictive, but they provide a great, healthy energy boost whether you’re hiking the rocky slopes of Eastern Oregon or trekking through the snow to catch the T. We carry most of these ingredients at the store. If you’re avoiding sugar, you can substitute any great, local raw honey or maple sugar.

Antibiotic Resistance – and What to Do About It?

How do bacteria manage to overcome antibiotics? And, will herbs rather than pharmaceuticals ultimately help us more?
By Rosalind Michahelles

Penicillin famously killed off some staphylococcus aureus in a petri dish in the lab of Alexander Fleming in the late ‘20’s and by the time we entered WWII, it was available for treating our war wounded. Civilians soon followed and I happened to be an early beneficiary in May of 1947, hospitalized for earache as an infant. The first semi-synthetic antibiotic, methicillin, appeared in 1960. It took only four years for the first resistant bacteria to be identified: methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureas, or MRSA. MRSA and other antibiotic resistant bacteria, like clostridium difficile, have become a scourge not just in hospitals but also occasionally in the population at large.

DIY Sugar Lip Scrub

I’m not sure about you, but my lips have it rough in wintertime—pun intended. They crack, they peel, and no matter how much lip balm I use they still end up raw and chapped by the end of the day. Not the most attractive look, and it certainly doesn’t feel that great either. For dry skin in winter time, I always use a salt or sugar scrub in the shower—so I thought, why not for lips too? A little exfoliation goes a long way towards sloughing off that dry skin and keeping your lips soft and moisturized. This recipe is easy to make at home with a few ingredients, many of which we stock at Cambridge Naturals.

You’ll need:
¼ cup granulated raw cane sugar
2 tsp coconut oil
5-6 drops Jojoba or Argan oil
3 drops vitamin E Oil
2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil (I like lavender or peppermint)

Mix ingredients together in a small bowl until sugar is fully coated by the oil. There should be a little residual oil at the bottom of the bowl—add more sugar or oil as needed. Store in small airtight glass container; it should last at least 2 months.

To use:
2-3 times per week. wet lips with a little water. Take a pinch of the sugar scrub and massage onto lips with fingers for 30 seconds. Wipe off with a warm washcloth and apply your favorite lip balm.