Wheatgrass Express

One of my favorite things about Northwest Arkansas is the entrepreneurial spirit that encompasses the region. I recently visited a new business in Springdale called Wheatgrass Express. When I called to ask for directions, Ross, one of the owners, told me to look for the red truck with wheatgrass all over it.

Wheatgrass Express is the one stop shop in NWA for seeds, sprouts and growing equipment. At the front of the building, there is a small retail store that offers various types of high quality, organic seeds; equipment to grow sprouts and wheatgrass; and a reasonably priced hand juicer.

Wheatgrass Express is a husband and wife team that sells their wheatgrass and sprouts to area restaurants and juice bars. My first experience with a wheatgrass shot was at Inta Juice in Fayetteville. Ross said that they saw a need for sprouts and wheatgrass in the region and decided to fill that gap.

The growing facility is very clean, bright and open. The grass and sprouts are grown on trays and are carefully managed. There is a system in place for making the grass grow at an even height. Wheatgrass Express does custom orders for various restaurants and juice bars throughout the region.

I must admit that my favorite part of the tour was when Ross pulled out some cups and asked if I wanted to try a fresh wheatgrass shot!

The shot was bright green, smooth and had a sweet after taste. Two of the health benefits that I like are the shots stimulate the thyroid gland and increase energy levels. You can read about all of the health benefits on the Wheatgrass Express website.

Ross was such a great host and sent me home with a couple of bags of sprouts to try. I couldn't resist and started to munch on the sunflower sprouts on the way home, pretty delicious! I have been using the sprouts on wraps and toppings for various dishes such as chili and stir fry, they add a nice crunch.

Don't be afraid to try a green shot of wheatgrass packed full of antioxidants, you may end up craving the shots like I do.

You can also find Wheatgrass Express on Facebook. Let me know if you have any experience with wheatgrass shots or how you use sprouts in cooking.

Active Life Acupuncture

My friend Hayden recently launched his business Active Life Acupuncture. While I had tried acupuncture in the past, I didn't feel like it was for me. I didn't like yoga either and now I am in training to be a teacher.

Hayden's office is located in downtown Fayetteville on School Avenue, in a super cute old house. His office is warm and welcoming with a lot of natural light. Hayden is a board certified acupuncturist, Diplomate of Oriental medicine and certified yoga teacher. At Active Life Acupuncture he offers acpuncuture, fire cupping, medical massage, Moxa, Chinese herbal medicine and private yoga lessons.

I recently had my initial appointment with Hayden. The first appointment begins with an interview. The interview tells Hayden why you are seeking acupuncture, any areas of the body that may be in pain, health history and getting to know each other. After the interview, he evaluated my posture, took my pulse and asked me to move my injured shoulder in several directions.

Since I have had acupuncture in the past, I wasn't nervous about the needles. The needles are sterile, very fine and are never supposed to hurt after they are adjusted. 

My personal experience is a slight shot of tingling, which Hayden told me is your body's normal response to recognizing what is happening. I have also experienced a dull ache but not to the point where I can't relax. Hayden informed me that sometimes it will feel like the needle is in for a few hours after the visit. For me, the worst part of acupuncture is the needles in my ear. I can hear the needle poke into my skin, but it doesn't hurt.

The last part of acupuncture is the best part, relaxation! Hayden made sure that I was warm enough and left the room for about 15 minutes. I was so relaxed and comfortable that I drifted in and out of sleep. After resting, the needles are gently taken out and you can go about the rest of your day reaping the benefits.

I chose to seek out acupuncture for depression; however, acupuncture can treat a variety of ailments from immune disorders, pain management, addiction and various other issues.

If you are curious about acupuncture and alternative medicine, I recommend giving Hayden a call, his easy nature and genuine desire to help is sure to put you at ease.