Be Well - October 2021

Be Well

The Common Market’s Wellness Newsletter

shopping fair trade Plus:

Self-Care Products at the Co-op

OCTOBER 2021

October is

FAIR TRADE MONTH Fair Trade month is about supporting businesses that seek to create a more equitable international trade system through respect and transparency. Fair Trade is important in order to help entrepreneurs in developing countries achieve success, and more importantly make sure that marginalized groups such as women, children, and minorities - are not exploited.

Alaffia Body Care Products

Many brands at the Common Market are Fair Trade certified businesses or use Fair Trade certified materials, meaning that farmers and artisans are paid a fair price for their products, and that their working conditions are safe and healthy.

Two Fair Trade companies we love & why: • Alaffia uses only fair trade shea butter and coconut oil that are produced by women’s cooperatives in Togo West Africa.

By paying the women who make these oils fair wages the company is helping them to support their families as well as supporting gender equality through employment.

African Market Baskets

Through their non-profit organization: The Alaffia Foundation, the company works to help empower communities through increased access to education and health care which helps provide much needed prenatal care to women. They also help build schools as well as collect and donate bicycles so children can travel to school. In addition they work to provide better access to school supplies such as books. visit www.alaffia.com/pages/alaffia-foundation for more information.

• Oversees Connections - African Market Baskets These baskets are handmade by artisans in Bolgatanga, Ghana.

Dr. Bronner’s Soaps (soaps and lip balm also available in bulk)

Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balms

By working with the artisans directly and by paying them a fair wage the company is helping to protect this artistic tradition.

Oversees Connections donates 10% of their profits to Every Basket Helps which provides educational and health care opportunities for weavers and their families.

Look for this logo on products to be sure that your dollars are supporting Fair Trade!

Nubian Heritage Body Care Products

Prioritizing Your Mental Health M

any of us are aware of how to avoid or treat routine aches & pains, sneezes & sniffles, but when our mood seems out of alignment the norm is not to admit to such symptoms let alone ask for help. According to the World Health Organization, the overall objective of World Mental Health Day on October 10 is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

Look for these products at the Common Market!

Caring for our mental well-being is more important than ever as we continue to navigate our way through the uncertainty of a global pandemic. While we may not be able to change the larger circumstances that we find ourselves in, there are small things that we can do on a personal level that support our mental health on a daily basis.

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Tea

Tea can be a very soothing, comforting beverage. Especially as we move into colder months, incorporating a warm cup of tea into your routine can help lift spirits and make you more relaxed or energized depending on the herbs included in your beverage. The ritual of making a cup or a pot of tea can also be calming and centering.

Mood Boosting Supplements

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Herbs can be helpful when dealing with mood swings, anxiety, depression, and just general irritability. Many people take encapsulated herbs, but tinctures are another quick and easy way to get a concentrated dose of an herb without having to swallow a pill.

Aromatherapy

Sometimes changing our physical environment in subtle ways can also aid us in changing our internal environment. Lighting a scented candle or burning some of your favorite incense may help you feel more comfortable and at ease in your space. Scents can be very powerful tools in changing our mental state.

Ever smell cookies baking and become instantly transported back to your grandparents’ house? Aromatherapy is similar! Essential oils can be used for many things, including assisting with letting go of stress or increasing mental focus. What makes you feel calm, uplifted, or inspired will be unique to you, though some good starting oils include lavender (for calm and relaxation), sweet orange (for uplifting), clove (for warming and comforting), and cedarwood (for balancing/centering).

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Creating a Spa Environment at Home

There are lots of little things that you can do at home that can emulate being pampered at a spa or salon. Some of our favorites include treating yourself to a face or hair mask, taking a bath or shower with bath bombs or shower salts, and using a warming or cooling eye mask. Taking care of yourself in these extra ways can feel indulgent, but remind yourself that you are worth the time and attention that you give to others!

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1. Celebration Herbals Ginger Root Tea 2. Buddha Tea Calm Buddha Blend 3. Bach Rescue Remedy Stress Relief Pastilles 4. Winged Chilled Out Drink Mix 5. Sea Witch Botanicals Incense 6. Gaia Emotional Balance Supplement 7. Banyan Botanicals Tranquil Mind Supplement 8. Evan Healy French Rose Clay Mask 9. Pranarom Uplift Essential Oil Blend 10. Acure Gold Foil Sheet Mask 11. Big Dipper Meditation Aromatherapy Pillar

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EVERY

WEDNESDAY

5%

DISCOUNT

All shoppers 60 years of age+ receive a 5% DISCOUNT off all purchases* *Discount does not apply to exempt items.

Featuring NEW WELLNESS DEALS!

Shop our Wellness Department every Wednesday for money-saving discounts on vitamins, supplements, and more!

927 W 7th St | 5728 Buckeystown Pike Frederick, MD | www.commonmarket.coop | 301.663.3416