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.

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.

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.

More Support for Your Immune System: Colloidal Silver

There has been a lot of hype over colloidal silver with the recent outbreak of Ebola. I was curious, I've known of colloidal silver as a great support for our immune system via it's antibiotic-like actions, but I've also heard it can turn you blue. So is this a viable supplement, or just another fad?

Colloidal Silver has been around for centuries. Many cultures have used silver as a means to optimal health. Ancient cultures used silver vessels as a way of keeping liquids fresh. Pioneers making their way West in the 1800s placed silver coins in their milk and water supplies for preservation. And to this day silver air purifiers are used by airlines. But how does it support our immune system?

The answer is in the particles. The atoms of silver work on viruses by halting further mutation, hence its popularity for potentially curbing the Ebola virus. Colloidal silver also works on bacterial and fungal infections by starving the bacteria or fungus from overgrowth. With this in mind, colloidal silver has been known to be effective for the common cold, compromised immune systems, yeast and fungal infections (both internally and externally), E. Coli and Staph infections, shingles, flu, parasites, Lyme's Disease, the list goes on and on.

When shopping for a colloidal silver, look for one in the atomic form versus the ionic form. In its atomic form the colloidal silver can exist safely in higher concentrations (250-500 parts per million)

without causing clumping of the silver particles which could possibly lodge in tissue. This difference is rarely listed on the label, you can tell if it is atomic by its color. An atomic colloidal silver will have an amber color, where an ionic will be clear.

If suffering with skin specific issues, consider one of the topical formulas for external use only. Natural Path/Silver Wings produces both a Colloidal Silver Aloe Gel with tea tree oil and a Colloidal Silver Herbal Ointment. The aloe gel ointment is formulated for use with bacterial or fungal infections of the skin that need to dry out such as cold sores and nail fungus. The Herbal Ointment is excellent for skin issues that need some moisturizing. These would include burns, eczema, warts, and anything that cracks.

With any supplement, testing is of utmost importance, but even more so with colloidal silver. Remember all those stories of people turning blue? This was primarily an issue of poor quality. Natural Path/Silver Wings colloidal silver is tested both internally and by third-party independent laboratories to ensure the highest standards and quality. So you won't turn blue!

A Cure for Ebola

Okay, so I don't really have a cure for Ebola, but I do know that if you are exposed to Ebola, or any other illness, a healthy immune system will be your strongest defense. As we move into this winter season, illness is inevitable, germs are unavoidable. The hope is when you do get a minor illness that it does not turn into a secondary or lingering affliction. We can do this by following these protocols:

1) Get enough rest! The body needs to re-set. When we don't get enough sleep we are putting extra stress on the body. Without the reserves of stamina and vitality that sleep can provide the body starts a viscous cycle of depletion. When it's time for your immune system to go to work, it has very little to draw from.

2)Exercise! When you get sick your immune system calls out, "Foreign Invader! Foreign Invader!". The lymph system is responsible for removing these foreign cells. Lymph nodes are storage sites for cells within the lymphatic system, which is why you can feel your lymph nodes swell close to the site of infection. The issue with our lymph system is that is has no way of moving these cells along, there is no muscle activity associated with the lymph system. Simple bouncing can remedy this. Jogging, skiing, moving your body helps your lymph system work those foreign invaders out into the blood where they can be processed and eliminated.

3) Eat Good Food! It doesn't matter what kind of food issues you may have, if you are dairy, gluten or meat free- just eat clean food that you can recognize. This means devoid of too many ingredients. Cook fresh (Organic!) fish or meat of your choice with lots of veggies, or if you are a vegetarian or vegan, stick to lots of veggies and healthy grains such as quinoa. Basically, be mindful of anything from a box, and severely limit your sugar intake!

4)Reishi! Of course I have to mention at least one supplement, and the one making the biggest impression on me right now is Reishi. It is a shelf mushroom that grows on hemlocks, and it is superb for boosting the immune system. Reishi mushrooms have been used in Eastern medicine for over 2,000 years for their anti-aging properties. It works as an immunostimulant and has been helpful for anyone suffering from allergies, chemical sensitivities and auto-immune disorders. It has been used experimentally to treat HIV/AIDS, and has shown some anti-tumor properties. I take it in an Immune Tonic full of other immune enhancing herbs by Urban Moonshine.

 Good Luck! I hope we all make it through Ebola-free!

Stress, Anxiety and Insomnia-Free: Naturally

We all deal with stress everyday, but that long-term, accumulative stress builds on itself over time resulting in several nervous system problems such as depression, anger and exhaustion, not to mention the wear and tear on your organ systems. Help is here in the form of PharmaGABA! GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid, naturally occurs in the brain as a calming agent and as a regulator of proper function and neurotransmission. It works very effectively as a natural solution for stress, anxiety and insomnia by inhibiting nerve transmission therefore calming nervous activity.

Previously, GABA was shown to have little movement across the blood-brain barrier and considered ineffective as a supplement, but the synthetic form of GABA was being tested. Research has shown that the natural form of GABA, called PharmaGABA, has demonstrated effectiveness in increasing alpha brain waves, which promote relaxation with mental focus and alertness. It also helps improve sleep quality by inducing deeper levels of sleep, and it works fast, effects are usually felt within the first 5 minutes and can last 4-6 hours.

Common drugs used to treat anxiety tend to have numerous side effects and can be highly addictive. Popular sleep aids inhibit those deeper levels of sleep which result in disruption of normal sleep patterns. PharmaGABA is an effective, natural option for these issues.

The Bug Spray Experiment

In my last post I noted that I was going to conduct a study of all the bug sprays we currently carry at the Co-op as well as my own personal homemade formula. Although not completely scientific, I did choose days that were partly cloudy with little wind to ensure optimal bug levels. I did not participate in this study as I refuse to purposely expose myself to long periods of bug exposure, but my two young boys were perfect candidates for this as they were willing to stay outside as long as possible and they love experiments. I tested these sprays for application (ease of applying the bug spray), exposure (how long they could be outside with only one application), and overall impression of the spray.  Here are the results:

Purple Prairie Bug Spray (Made in Minnesota)
Application: Easy to apply, needed to rub it in for optimal coverage.
Exposure: 50 minutes
Overall Impression: Both boys liked the light scent.

Simply B Natural "Bug Off" Juice (Made in Minnesota)
Application: Easy to spray on, needed to rub in for optimal coverage.
Exposure: 35 minutes (note: this was the buggiest of all four days)
Overall Impression: This is a a different spray in that it is vanilla-based instead of your traditional citronella or lemon eucalyptus-based sprays. I believe one child stated, "It smells like cookies".





My Homemade Bug Spray
Application: I used the mist bottles that we sell here at the store, they provide a good even mist.
Exposure: 30 minutes for one child, 1 hour and 15 minutes for the other.
Overall Impression: Pleasant smell as I add some floral scents to my formula to cut the strong citronella smell. Bugs started to bite through non-sprayed clothes.

Badger Anti-Bug Shake & Spray (Made in Vermont)
Application: Easy to spray, but like the others it needs to be rubbed in a bit to coat.
Exposure: 1 hour and 45 minutes (they would have stayed longer, but had to come in for lunch).
Overall Impression: This spray definitely has the strongest smell of the four. Both boys noted this with one okay with it and the other not a fan.

So there you have it. This has turned out to be a very bad bug year, but for natural bug sprays I think these fair very well. Chemical-free bug sprays will never hold a candle to those with chemicals. For one, re-application is minimal and their effectiveness is much more apparent, but they contain chemicals that can be harmful to you and to the environment. You will have to carry these natural bug sprays with you and re-apply often, but can rest easy knowing that warding off those awful bugs didn't expose you, your family, or the world to some potentially harmful chemicals. Here's to hoping bug season will be over soon!