BG Apothecary & Natural Goods LLC

05/21/2025

05/16/2025

We want to thank all of you for following us on our journey to growing and thriving together.

05/02/2025

If you have heard of titanium dioxide at all, you probably know it as an ingredient in sunscreen. But it is also used in lots of foods, from pizza and salsa to frosting and candy—and now, there is growing concern about the potential health risks of eating it.

In general, manufacturers add titanium dioxide to make products look more appealing. “A very small concentration makes something look very white and bright,” said David Julian McClements, a professor in the food-science department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Adding it with other colors can make those colors pop, he said.

Titanium dioxide is most prevalent in candy, coffee creamers and frosted or powdered baked goods, said Kelsey Mangano, associate professor and nutrition program director at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The substance is also in many chewing gums and mints.

It is a common ingredient in sunscreen because it is effective at blocking ultraviolet rays. It is used in medications for a similar reason: to help protect the active ingredients inside the pill from being broken down or altered by light.

New higher-resolution microscopes and other methods of detecting and analyzing particles are allowing researchers to better understand titanium dioxide.

Scientists now know that most titanium dioxide ingredients used in food contain varying amounts of tiny nanoparticles. The problem with nanoparticles is that, because of their small size, there is the potential for them to pe*****te the mucous layer in your gastrointestinal tract, get into your cells and accumulate in your organs, said McClements.
Some studies in animals found that consumption of titanium-dioxide nanoparticles led to damage to the liver, immune and reproductive systems, as well as DNA. Other research has found that titanium dioxide changes the gut microbiome and inhibits the growth of beneficial bacteria.

New research in people has found a link between titanium dioxide consumption and inflammation in the gut. In a small study with 35 healthy adults, those who had the highest levels of titanium dioxide in their stool had higher levels of certain gut-inflammation measures than those with the lowest titanium-dioxide levels. They also had indications of more gut permeability, or how “leaky or separated the cells are,” said Mangano, lead scientist of the study, which was published in February in the journal NanoImpact.

The concern is that chronic increased gut inflammation and permeability could increase the risk of colon cancer, nutrient deficiencies and the low-grade inflammation that underlies many chronic diseases, Mangano said. After conducting this research, Mangano said she stopped chewing gum, which often contains titanium dioxide.

Children likely face greater potential risks from titanium dioxide, said McClements. They tend to eat more foods that contain it, like candy and other sweets, and they are smaller.

The science isn’t clear-cut. Some studies in animals haven’t shown toxic effects. Scientists also disagree about which studies are relevant to how people consume it. Before the EU banned it in food, food-safety experts identified that titanium dioxide had the potential to cause damage to DNA. But they were uncertain about how exactly it happens and at what dose the damage starts to occur. So they could no longer consider titanium dioxide safe when used in food.

The occasional cupcake or creamer with titanium dioxide likely isn’t a problem, said Bischoff. The potential risks are longer term and likely from chronic exposure, he said.

What you can do
Many products that have titanium dioxide include it on the ingredient list. And there are many versions of foods that don’t contain it—including foods that aren’t packaged or ultra-processed, such as fresh fruit and vegetables.

Be aware, though, that the FDA doesn’t require food manufacturers to list the name titanium dioxide among a product’s ingredients. Companies can cite the more general “artificial color” or “artificial coloring” instead. You can contact the manufacturer to seek more detail if “artificial color” is listed on the label, an FDA spokesperson suggests.

Or you could save yourself the trouble and avoid foods with artificial colors.

Some food companies are removing titanium dioxide from certain products. Whole Foods recently reformulated its 365 brand macaroni and cheese: Its new product no longer contains titanium dioxide. Beyond Meat did the same with its plant-based chicken nuggets.(msn.com)

04/29/2025

04/24/2025

VesselMax promotes healthy microcirculation and supports vascular strength and tone at all layers of the blood vessel, as well as blood vessel valve structures.

The muscles of blood vessels need to receive constant stimulation to maintain a resting level of contraction. This phenomenon is known as vasomotor tone. Vasoconstriction, whether due to an increase in venous wall stress or biomechanical stretch, is sufficient to cause an increase in vasomotor tone. Narrowing blood vessels leads to a reduction in blood supply and consequently a reduction in oxygen supply to various organs and tissuesVesselMax is a powerful blend of botanical extracts shown to promote healthy microcirculation and support vascular strength and tone.

The four ingredients in VesselMax work synergistically to support all layers of blood vessel structure

In stock and available today

04/23/2025

CBD Maxx softgels offer pure isolated CBD derived from h**p. Available as a Extra Maximum Strength dose to help regulate and balance the Endocannabinoid System. Each softgel contains 100mg of CBD Oil.

In sock and available today

04/22/2025

April marks Stress Awareness Month 2025, a time for you to take charge of your wellbeing and discover effective ways to manage stress. This year’s theme, , empowers you to approach ourselves and others with kindness, compassion, and acceptance, no matter the challenges we face.

04/22/2025

🌎EARTH DAY SALE!🌍

We need a healthy planet to thrive, and our planet needs us. Earth Day 2025 is about taking action for nature.

When we buy in bulk, we immensely decrease our environmental impact by reducing packaging waste and lowering carbon emissions. Each bulk purchase results in less plastic in our landfills and oceans, while reducing the need for frequent transportation cuts emissions. By purchasing only what we need, we can minimize food waste, reducing the pressure on resources and landfills. Additionally, bulk buying supports sustainable farming practices and encourages reuse through the use of reusable containers. This not only reduces waste but also promotes long-term conservation efforts.

🌎EARTH DAY SALE🌍
Our Instagram followers get 10% off all bulk herbs

Mention this post for sale price

04/11/2025

Try some new caffeine free Superfood Lattes at home. Super Easy!

-Cherry Blossom & Beet root Latte
To make the most delicious beet root and sakura latte (aka cherry blossom latte) just add the Beet root powder and Sakura cherry blossom powder to your cup. Pour in the hot water, and dissolve the sakura powder. Then, add the milk, can be hot or cold. Sweeten to taste.

-Blue matcha and monk fruit latte
Simply add the Blue butterfly pea flower powder to hot water to dissolve the powder. Then, add the milk, can be hot or cold. Sweeten to taste with monk fruit.

-Turmeric Chai Latte
Add a 1/4 tsp turmeric powder to hot water to disolve, add milk of choice and sprinkle chai spice. Mix well and sweeten if desired

Lattes do not have to be caffeinated or complicated. You don't need spend a lot of time or money to create them. You DO have complete power over what goes in it and what it does for you.

Make a sleepy latte by adding a pinch of valerian, chamomile and skullcap powders

Make an allergy iced latte by adding some nettle, bromelain, quercetin and NAC powders

A brain health latte by adding lions mane, Magnesium L-threonate and ginkgo biloba powders

PRO TIP: Make your desired blend (brain blend/sleep blend/allergy blend) and keep it in it's own container.
Use just 1/4 tsp of that blend per cup.

When working with strong flavored or not so pleasant tasting herbs, I find that chai spices or peppermint can often cover them up enough to make them hardly noticeable at all, even a delight to sip. There are some herbs or supplements that work best if make into a savory sipping broth instead.

Think - fire cider enjoyed hot!
Bitter herbs can make a nice addition to a garlic & celtic salt broth

04/11/2025

ArthroSoothe™ provides joints with nutritional support for lubrication, free movement, and healthy function.* Joints, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and synovial fluid (for joint lubrication) undergo a continuous, but slow turnover and remodeling process. This is affected by many physiological factors, such as diet, supplements, activity, stress, gut health, immune status, infections, aging, hormones, toxic load, and/or various medications.

In stock and available today

04/11/2025

This strawberry icebox cake is a no bake classic that brings together everything you love about summer desserts.

Ingredients
2 cups heavy cream
3 Tbsp. confectioner's sugar
2 tsp. lemon zest
1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
14 whole graham crackers
1 lb. fresh strawberries hulled and thickly sliced
Crushed freeze-dried strawberries to garnish
Instructions
Line 8x8-in. square pan with foil or plastic wrap, allowing a 2-inch overhang on all sides.
In large mixing bowl or stand mixer, whip cream to soft peaks. Mix in confectioner's sugar, lemon zest and vanilla bean paste.
With rubber spatula, spread thin layer of whipped cream across bottom of pan. Top with 4 whole graham crackers and 1/2 graham cracker. Spread with 1/3 of the whipped cream. Top with 1/2 of the sliced strawberries.
Top with 4 whole graham crackers and 1/2 graham cracker. Spread with 1/3 of the whipped cream. Top with remaining sliced strawberries.
Top with 4 whole graham crackers and 1 half graham cracker. Spread with remaining whipped cream.
Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours, or overnight.
Decorate top of cake with fresh strawberries and freeze-dried strawberries. Slice and serve.
Refrigerate leftover strawberry icebox cake for up to 3 days.

04/11/2025

Antioxidants protect your cells from cellular stress. You’ve heard of dietary antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin C and CoQ10. But the body doesn’t rely entirely on you for antioxidant protection: it can make several of its own antioxidants, with one of the most important of this group being superoxide dismutase—or simply SOD.

In stock and available today