Wellness Foods: supplement with whole foods
By Gretchen Fox Schempp and Carrie Johanningmeier
The Wellness department isn’t just about nutritional supplements and healthy body care items. More and more folks are looking to get their vitamins and minerals from what they eat. We are happy to help you find ways to get your nutrition from food sources. “The World’s Healthiest Foods” by George Matlejan is a great resource for the nutritional values of vitamins and minerals in your foods. We reference this book often in our work and can help you find foods that will offer certain specific vitamins and minerals. Easy to use, you can index vitamins, minerals and foods and find all the information you need. Nutritional values, storage, preparation and recipes for the healthiest ways to cook items are all at your fingertips.
Over the summer we did a large reset in the Wellness department. You were all so patient and kind while this was occurring. Looking at sales over the first half of the year, we noticed that the trend was down for nutritional supplements and shoppers were purchasing more in the body care end of our department. Because of this, we decided to feature a wider variety of healthy clean body care products and a streamlined supplement selection.
We took a Wellness department trip in May. The two of us had time to talk about our department and our hopes for the direction we wanted to go with our selection. With more focus on foods as the main source of vitamins and minerals, we decided to highlight some of the foods we have to offer in the wellness section. By placing all the “food” supplements across from the dairy cooler, we have exposed more shoppers to some items they may not have been aware of. New items show up in this area all the time. Some things to look for in our superfood section are as follows:
ECLECTIC INSTITUTE POWders:
Beet Juice Powder: An excellent dietary source of nitric oxide, betalain pigments, vitamins and minerals. Instantly soluble, yet rich in fiber.
Sprouted Black Rice Powder: Grown in Northern
Thailand black rice contains numerous nutrients including all seven varieties of anthocyanins. Fully sprouted to neutralize phytic acid, release enzymatic activity, and provide superior digestibility.
Liver & Bile Purification Powder:
A blend of milk thistle seed, beet juice, dandelion root and leaf, turmeric, nettle leaf, and cinnamon to clean and strengthen the liver while assisting in the purification of the circulating bile.
Nettle Leaf POWder:
Nettles are very high in polyphenols, vitamins and minerals. Nettles may help support sinus function and promote healthy hair and joints.
Kale POWder:
Kale being one of the most nutritious veggies that is naturally detoxifying and immune supportive. A great source of Vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, and calcium, magnesium, manganese, lutein and zeaxanthin. High in protective phytochemicals including carotenoids, flavonoids, and organo-sulfur glucosinolates.
MEGAFOOD SMOOTHIE BOOSTERS:
Daily Energy: An uplifting Nutrient Booster Powder that provides B12 and beets. A power packed duo that may help promote and sustain your energy level throughout the day without any stimulants. Chromium and green tea are added to enhance mental alertness, focus and a healthy metabolism. Also, contains eleuthero, ashwagandha, and American ginseng to support your body’s ability to manage stress and maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Daily Turmeric:
Recover and renew with turmeric, black cherry, BioPerine black pepper, and Vitamin C. Helps maintain a healthy whole body inflammatory response and provide exceptional recovery nourishment from exercise and stress. Holy Basil Leaf is added to help promote your physical and mental endurance and bring forth a healthy balance and energy from within.
Daily Purify:
Optimize and energize with artichoke leaf, burdock root and dandelion root. Helps promote liver health and the ability to process and remove toxins from the body. Beets and a phenolic blend are combined with purple reishi mushroom and schisandra berry to provide a powerful array of deeply pigmented protective antioxidants known to maintain cellular health and healthy rejuvenation.
Daily C-Protect:
Protect and strengthen your immune system with Vitamin C and a phenolic blend including blueberries, oranges and cranberries. Provides a powerful spectrum of immune-boosting antioxidants including bioflavonoids and anthocyanins to nourish your body to stay strong. Astragalus and schisandra berry are added for their body rejuvenating and immune strengthening properties.
NAVITAS NATURALS PRODUCTS:
Acai Powder: (ah-sigh-ee) Sourced from the Amazon rainforest, acai is a delicious low-glycemic berry that provides exceptional amounts of antioxidants, omega fats, protein and fiber. The berries also contain an optimal combination of essential amino acids and possess many other micronutrients including resveratrol, polyphenols and flavonoids.
Cacao Powder:
Cacao is a great source of antioxidants and it contains an abundance of magnesium and iron. It adds a great chocolate taste to any smoothie and is a healthy alternative to conventional over-processed “cocoa” used for baking, hot chocolate, desserts and smoothies. Navitas cacao powder is made using the finest cacao beans that are milled at low temperatures to protect the nutrients and flavor.
Goji Powder:
A convenient way to enjoy this ancient Chinese super fruit. It is a vegetarian form of protein, packed with essential amino acids, rich in Vitamin A and a good source of Vitamin C. Possesses over 20 trace minerals and vitamins. This freeze dried powder is a great addition to granola, oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies and many other recipes.
Hemp Protein Powder:
Made from nutrient dense hemp seed that is a great vegetarian source of protein, omegafatty acids, magnesium and fiber. Navitas organic hemp powder contains 50% protein and contains all the essential amino acids making it a complete protein. This ecofriendly superfood has a nutty flavor and is easy to enjoy in smoothies and baked goods.
Pomegranate Powder:
Pomegranates are a great source of naturally occurring phytonutrients and superior antioxidants like polyphenols, ellagic acid, tannins and anthocyanins. These compounds are strong free-radical fighters providing protection against cellular damage. Navitas pomegranate powder has a sweet fruity flavor that is easy to add to a variety of recipes. This super fruit contains a diversity of vitamins and minerals and is especially high in Vitamin C and potassium.
Superfood Blend: (protein smoothie mix)
A combination of hemp that is high in protein and omegas, antioxidantrich cacao and maca that benefits the endocrine system to create an energizing and nourishing smoothie blend. This robust trio of super foods provides you with natural strength and energy throughout your day.
Yacon Slices:
Made from an ancient South American tuber that tastes more like fruit than a root. It is a low calorie, nutritionally dense super food that contains inulin, a complex sugar that breaks down slowly into fructooligosaccharides, which promote healthy prebiotics. Mildly sweet, dried yacon slices have a taste and texture similar to exotic apple slices.
GARDEN OF LIFE PRODUCTS:
Super Omega 3 Organic Chia:
An essential superfood rich in omegas that promotes heart and brain health, helps maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels and promotes healthy digestion and elimination. A great addition to your modern, fast-paced diet. Chia, has a very mild, nutty flavor that tastes great sprinkled on salad and cereal or mixed into beans, legumes, yogurt and especially smoothies.
Real Cold Milled Organic Golden Flax:
Grown in North Dakota on pristine and virgin soils. Garden of Life flax goes through a unique 5 step cleaning process that gently filters all impurities leaving behind only the purest golden flaxseeds. To unlock their goodness, cold-milling methods preserve all of the nutritional value without releasing the valuable oils. Rich in omegas flax promotes healthy digestion and regularity, heart, breast, and brain health and supports healthy balanced hormones.
Organic Golden Flaxseed and Organic Chia Seed:
Golden flaxseeds are the most concentrated source of beneficial lignans, a polyphenol that supports digestion, reproductive, prostate, breast, and heart health. Added to flax is the richness of chia seeds making it higher in protein, omegas, vitamins and minerals than flax alone.
Organic Golden Flax Seed and RAW Organic Antioxidant
Fruit: RAW Certified Organic antioxidant fruits and berries, such as blackberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries plus apples, bananas, and mangos have been added to the nutritious flax. Your taste buds will say, “thank you.”
All of these food supplements can easily be added to foods, smoothies and drinks for a bit of a boost. One of my current favorite concoctions is what I call CocoMaca Magic. This delicious energizing and hormone balancing icy drink is a great alternative to that coffee and scone for breakfast.
On another note:
We hope you like the new set up in the Wellness department. Our hope is to make shopping easy. We try to set our products in a fashion that makes sense. We have low profile signs indicating the categories for easier shopping as well. We are excited to have moved the aromatherapy section to be located near the wellness desk. This has proven to be beneficial to both staff and customers as we are more available to help with questions and the products. Plus it gives a little more space to shop this busy and growing category. We thank you greatly for your patience as we change things up and for your ongoing support.
Peace and love from the Wellness Gals.
CocoMaca Magic
2 cups ice
2 Tablespoons Navitas Cacao Powder
2 teaspoons of Herb Pharm Maca Powder
1 Tablespoon Dr. Bronner’s whole kernel coconut oil
1 cup coconut Goodbelly
Mix in blender or blending device (I use a Nutribullet) to slushy smooth texture. Play with liquid amount to get desired consistency. You may need a spoon or straw.
