Friday, August 14, 2015

Gaia Herbs: Meet Your Herbs!

I have always been a bit skeptical of encapsulated herbs. Most herbal supplements I knew of in the past, were either dried and ground herb, standardized, or extracts. The dried and ground just didn't seem potent enough, standardized herbs involve toxic solvents for extraction-so I stuck with liquid extracts. Then I was introduced to Gaia Herbs.  Based out of Brevard, North Carolina, Gaia Herbs produces extracts, but also a line of quality encapsulated herb supplements. What makes them so unique is that their herbal supplements are basically extracts in a capsule, incredibly potent, with herbs grown sustainably. Their mission is, "to create and nurture healthy connections between plants and people. We do that through finding and maintaining strong global relationships in addition to championing personal and environmental sustainability here at home, on our own organic farm".

What really sets them apart is their Meet Your Herbs program. On the back of every product you purchase from Gaia is an ID number. When you enter this number in to their website, it will take you right to the field where that herb is grown. It is there that you can view a certificate of purity, integrity and potency, up-to-date information on your herb purchase, as well as its history and how it works in the body. Detailed information on seed source, the farm, parts used, you name it. Full transparency.

 In addition to this unique traceability program, Gaia Herbs is an amazing example of a business that uses their success to help the world. Globally, they help in almost every country in which their herbs are grown. In Kenya, they help Masai girls get the support they need, be it school or a rescue shelter. When the island of Vanuatu, in Indonesia, was hit by a large cyclone, Gaia Herbs was there to provide tools and supplies to help the residents of this island rebuild their homes and farms. They are part of the growing need to reduce carbon emissions by purchasing renewable energy credits and supporting the wind power industry. Organic farming is essential to Gaia Herbs, they support these practices all over the world. Locally, their tractors and trucks in Brevard, North Carolina are fueled with cooking oil waste from local restaurants. Every year they donate thousands of pounds of organic produce, from their large farm, to their local food bank. Gaia is there to help save the Everglades, they were there to support those in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, they are working to support preservation of remote Costa Rican coastlines. Really, the list goes on and on. When you purchase a supplement from  Gaia Herbs, you are not only getting an excellent product (that actually works!), you are helping support a wealth of programs focused on making this world a better place.


My favorite product: Adrenal Health

Runner-Up: Turmeric Supreme Extra Strength

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Goddess Garden Organics

Goddess Gardens is a small company rooted in Boulder City, Colorado. Owners Nova Covington and Paul Halter have always had a great appreciation for the outdoors and taking care of our environment. When their first child developed allergies to the chemicals in most bath and cosmetic products they put their backgrounds in herbalism and nutrition to use by developing a line of natural sunscreens. Their mission: "We believe in the power of nature-how it can move us, inspire us, and protect us as people."

A good natural sunscreen is very hard to find. Most sunscreens on the market today are full of chemicals that can do more harm than good. Have you ever wondered why you are told to apply sunscreen 15-20 minutes before heading out into the sun? It's because chemical sunscreens need time to soak into the layers of your skin to become active. This means dangerous chemicals such as oxybenzone and avobenzone, chemicals that can work as allergens, endocrine disruptors and possible carcinogens, are being absorbed into your body. Natural sunscreens use titanium dioxide and zinc oxides which are minerals that sit on top of the skin, which means immediate protection on application.

Goddess Gardens believes that you should be able to understand the ingredients listed on the products you purchase. Which is why you will see clean, natural ingredients on their sunscreens such as coconut oil, aloe vera, green tea and shea butter.

I have tried A LOT of natural sunscreens and I have to say, hands down, this is the best one I have found for children. You can tell this was a line of products founded by parents because their continuous spray sunscreens are perfect for squirmy kids who do not want to stand still to have sunscreen applied properly.

My favorite product: Kid's Continuous Spray SPF30
I will never rub sunscreen creams on my children ever again because of this product,. it is so easy to spray on.

"We believe that the more time you spend outside, the happier you will be, and that concerns over sun protection shouldn't spoil the fun."-Goddess Gardens

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Business Spotlight: Nordic Naturals


A couple times a year, the media tends to drag out the supplementation debate. The primary question: are supplements effective, or are they simply a waste of money? There is no easy answer to this question as supplements vary in use and effectiveness. One thing we do know without a doubt is that our bodies require Omega-3's, otherwise known as essential fatty acids. The word essential is in the name because your body requires these fatty acids to function optimally yet we do not produce them on our own. Every cell in your body need these fat molecules, yet the only way to acquire them is through food. According to the American Heart Association, a healthy person should consume fish twice a week for a good dose of Omega-3's. If you are unable to eat that much, supplementation is an easy way to get the essential fatty acids your body requires.
Quality is a huge factor when choosing the right fish oil supplement (or the fish you eat, for that matter). Not all Omega-3 supplements are created equal, this is why it is very important to know the company, fish supply and manufacturing of the fish oil supplement you choose.  Nordic Naturals is one of the best fish oil companies on the market today, here is why:

SUSTAINABILITY
"Since our founding, we have always been deeply committed to the health of the oceans. Our firm policy has always been to harvest our fish only from abundant waters and to utilize fish species that are flourishing. 100% of our fish-both the Arctic cod harvested in Arctic Norway, as well as the sardines and anchovies harvested from the South Pacific ocean-is sourced in compliance with the Norwegian fisheries management system, which has been a model of sustainability for over 30 years."

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
"At Nordic Naturals, Corporate Social Responsibility is guided by our mission and core values to encourage community growth and development and voluntarily eliminate harmful practices-beginning with the sustainable sourcing of our raw materials and continuing through manufacturing, employment practices, philanthropic interactions, and donation programs."

FRESHNESS
"Because of their experience with other brands, some people might be turned off to fish oils because of the all-too-common complaints about taste and smell. Our oils taste great because they're fresh. Research shows that fish oils only smell unpleasant when oxidation has started to degrade the oils' lipids, causing rancidity. Rancid lipids also contain free radicals that can damage proteins, DNA, and cells. Our patented nitrogen-based processing technology protects the oils from oxidation."

PURITY

"Our oxygen-free and low-heat processing maintains the integrity of delicate oils while also eliminating potentially harmful environmental toxins such as mercury. The result is that you consume only pure, health-promoting omega-3 your body needs and none of the toxins or oxidation you don't.
Nordic Naturals fish oils are documented to be completely pure. Every batch is third-party tested for environmental toxins, including heavy metals, dioxins, and PCB's."

ABSORPTION 
"The vast majority of fish oil concentrates on the market are in the ethyl ester form, a 'new to nature' fat with only 20 years of history in the human diet.
In a recent study, the triglyceride form of concentrated fish oil was 70% better absorbed by the body than the ethyl ester form. 100% of Nordic Naturals products are in the triglyceride form."

TRANSPARENCY
"A certificate of analysis is an authenticated summary of test results completed by an independent laboratory. We offer transparent access to our certificates of analysis. Every batch of Nordic Naturals oil is third-party tested, and we have never found a competitor's product able to match our purity and freshness levels."

Nordic Naturals goes far beyond quality fish oil production. They stand out as a business not just producing a quality product, but truly exemplifying integrity on all levels.
My favorite Nordic product: Ultimate Omega Mini's
Runner Up: Vitamin D Gummies

Friday, March 13, 2015

Business Spotlight-Fair Trade edition: Alaffia

I'm not really sure how most businesses begin. Maybe a spark of insight, a great idea? Someone sees a need and creates something that satisfies that need? Or maybe businesses simply begin as a way to make money? With Alaffia, a business was born to empower a people.

Togo, Africa is a place very acquainted with poverty. They see 160,000 women die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Children don't receive adequate education because they can't make the distance to school. Farming, the primary source of employment, is challenged due to deforestation. Alaffia, founded in 2004, began as a way to use the resources these people had at hand, to produce products that could alleviate some of these struggles.

Alaffia, now a thriving business, has put a serious dent in the battles these people face everyday. They now have three cooperatives producing Fair Trade Shea Butter and Coconut, along with other products that form the base to this line of lotions, shampoo & conditioners, body washes and facial care. The proceeds from the sale of Alaffia products go directly back to the people of Togo, Africa to support their Community Empowerment Projects. Here is an example of some of the great things this amazing company has done to support a people:

*Bicycles for Education: 6,300 bicycles have been provided to the children of Togo so they can get to and from school.

*Maternal Health Project: 3,558 births have been fully funded, pre- and post-delivery and any special or urgent care needs, for the Tongalese women of rural Togo. They have also started the Alaffia Women's Clinic Project as a way for local health clinics to provide training and information on everything from nutrition to preventing female genital mutilation practices.

*Reforestation Project: Since 2004, Alaffia has funded the planting of 42,625 trees to help control erosion.

*School Supply Drive: 11,700 children have received much needed school supplies through the sale of Alaffia products. They have also provided desks, installed new roofs, and built 1,250 school benches. They have also built 5 schools.

*Eyeglass Drive: 5,800 pairs of eyeglasses have been provided for those in need.

The next time you wash your face with Alaffia's wonderful face wash, or coat your body with their luxurious lotions, remember all that little product is doing to help pull the people of Togo, West Africa out of poverty.

My favorite Alaffia product: the Shea Butter. Perfect for the dry, winter months. I slather my face and
hands with this product every night.
Runner up: the EveryDay Coconut Body Lotion. I love it because it is so moisturizing, and the coconut scent is very pleasant.





Friday, February 13, 2015

Business Spotlight: MegaFood

Supplements are a tricky business. Since they are not regulated by our government, really anything goes, which has become very apparent with the recent news surrounding the quality of certain supplements sold in our mass markets. The purity of product and transparency of some of these companies have been called in to question. This is why it is so important to know how your supplements are made. One company getting it right: MegaFood.

MegaFood began production on their supplements in 1973 in Derry, New Hampshire.Their mission,"...to produce superior whole food supplements for those who care about their health and well-being". They are one of the first companies to create a supplement whose base is whole foods. Translation: these supplements are produced using real food! Actual carrots are used to produce the Vitamin A, broccoli for Folate, oranges for Vitamin C. What does this mean to you? Your body recognizes it as real food. The result? A more absorbable and digestible supplement. 

When first introduced to this line of supplements, I was told that when you enter most supplement facilities, they are full of powders and liquids-the "base" of most supplements. At MegaFood, when you enter their facility it is filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Organic or sustainably grown gets first priority. In fact, their partners are farmers. The vitamin C in their Complex C is sourced from Uncle Matt's, the organic orange juice company out of Florida. They get fruits and vegetables from Stahlbush Island Farms, a business devoted to innovation in sustainable agriculture in Oregon's Willamette Valley. The cranberries used in their cranberry supplement are sourced from James Lake Farms, a 64 acre organic cranberry farm in northern Wisconsin.

My favorite product from MegaFood is the Women's Over 40 One Daily Multivitamin.
Runner up: all their other products!

Check out their website, www.megafood.com, they actually have live web cams in their facility! With all the recent speculation over the true ingredients in the  supplements you purchase, MegaFood has remained a bastion of transparency, quality and purity.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Business Spotlight: W.S. Badger Co.

I don't think it is a surprise to people out there that most businesses do not have their best interests at heart. Money rules the day. So if there is money to be made, it will be made, even if it is at the expense of your health and safety. But not all businesses operate in this way.

As the Wellness Coordinator of a health food store, and specifically one that is a cooperative, being mindful of quality is very important. Be that the quality of ingredients, or how the product is made, or the standards a business holds itself to. This year, instead of focusing on what is wrong about current business operations, I thought I'd highlight some businesses that are getting it right. Let's start with one of the best: the W.S. Badger Company.

This small company out of Gilsum, New Hampshire began back in 1995 when owner Bill Whyte began looking for a solution for his dry, cracked hands due to the cold winters of New Hampshire. Badger Balm was born, and with it a company founded on sound principles and devoted to quality products. Their mission is, "to create fabulously pure and effective products of the highest natural quality, based on simplicity and thoughtful preparation, with the intention to soothe and heal. To run a business that is fun, fair and profitable; where money is fuel, not a goal; and where their vision for a healthier world finds expression through the way they work and through the way they treat each other and the people they serve."

Their Core Principles:
1. Individual responsibility in a team concept
2. Personal and caring approach in communications
3. Supporting organic, sustainable agriculture through their purchasing practices
4. A business environment that is respectful and supportive of all employees, and of the people they serve
5. Personal and social healing through their charitable giving
6. Environmental responsibility
7. Honesty and integrity
8. Fun is good
9. Generosity

The W.S Badger Co. shares its financial information with all of its employees. They provide free, home-cooked meals to all employees every day. Employees receive a living wage, 6+ weeks paid maternity leave and a "Babies at Work" program. They donate considerably, most of their products are 100% organic, and they support suppliers that have third party social and environmental certifications, as well suppliers that support sustainable practices. And they are a B Corporation!  A B Corporation is a certification given to businesses that meet rigorous standards for social and environmental performance as well as accountability and transparency. So it's no wonder that Badger has won the 2013 Best for the World Award given to outstanding B Corporations, as well as numerous other awards and recognitions. And I haven't even mentioned their fabulous products!

Their products are amazing! All their balms are made with organic olive oil produced on a 200 year-old estate in Spain. Most beauty products that contain olive oil are made with very low quality stuff, I've tried the olive oil they use in their products and it is seriously one of the best olive oils I've ever tasted. Up until recently, if you asked me my favorite product from Badger I would have told you it was their Foot Balm. But they have just come out with a new line of skin care, and their Cleansing Oils are now my new favorite. It just makes sense. We are all washing our face with cleansers that are basically removing that top protective layer of skin on our face. These Cleansing Oils gently cleanse while protecting the integrity of your skin. What a concept! It's actually nothing new, people cleansed with oils for centuries, but I'm happy to see it coming back in style.

W.S. Badger Co.: quality business, quality products! It's great to see a business getting it right.