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YOUR LOCAL HEALTH FOOD STORE IS CHANGING. A RECENT SURVEY REVEALS THAT IN 2006 SALES OF NATURAL PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES GREW 9.7 PERCENT, TOTALING MORE THAN $56 BILLION. THIS GROWTH REFLECTS SOCIETY’S CHANGING VIEWS ON WHAT WE PUT INTO OUR BODIES AND FEED OUR KIDS; FROM THE COFFEE WE BREW IN THE MORNING TO THE ALL-NATURAL SPRAY WE USE TO KEEP OUR BATHROOMS SPARKLING CLEAN. HERE, WE HIGHLIGHT SEVEN TRENDS SHAKING THINGS UP IN HEALTH FOOD STORES
- GLUTEN-FREE FOODS: A Super Trend
The popularity of gluten-free foods is growing fast, with more than 2,500 gluten-free products on store shelves. It is estimated that at least 1 percent of the population has celiac disease, a chronic inflammation of the small intestine triggered by eating foods containing gluten, and many more people have an intolerance to gluten, resulting in a variety of symptoms from fatigue to bloating or indigestion.
There is no legal definition of a gluten free food but the FDA is working on issuing label regulations. Essentially, the new label will most likely require that gluten-free foods not contain wheat, spelt, kamut, rye, barley, hybrids such as triticale (a cross between wheat and rye), farina, semolina or malt vinegar. Gluten, a protein in these grains, is also found as an ingredient in many other foods (read labels carefully!), as well as in some waxes and resins that are used to coat fruits and vegetables.
Today’s range of gluten-free foods includes baked goods, vegetarian meat alternatives, beans, rice, baking mixes, baby food, candy, cookies, chips, pretzels, energy bars, crackers, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, puddings, pastas, rice cakes, sauces, dips and salsas, soups, seasonings and sweeteners. For tips on gluten-free living, including recipes and restaurants that serve gluten-free dishes, visit gluten.net, the website for the Gluten Intolerance Group. This organization is establishing its own gluten-free product certification program and includes a list of companies and products that have been certified gluten-free on its website.
- ORGANIC: From the Table to the Closet (and Beyond!)
Organic product sales are growing three to eight times faster than conventional products, according to the Organic Trade Association, a nonprofit group that represents the organic business community. And the range of products continues to expand, from food to skin care products, clothing, dietary supplements and more.
Aside from shielding us from toxins and providing more nutritious food, organic agriculture is good for the land, although it doesn’t get its fair share of financial support from the federal government. Nearly 3 percent of the food we buy is organic but organic farmers receive less than one-tenth of 1 percent of federal farm-bill spending. However, recent science revealing benefits of organic methods may help to bring about change.
Chemical-based agriculture has been considered the way to increase farm yields, but a 22-year Cornell University study comparing organic and conventional yields revealed a surprising fact. In the long run, yields of organic corn and soybeans equaled conventional ones—at a much lower cost. Published in Bioscience, the study found that organic farms, which did not use pesticides, used 30 percent less energy and water and improved soil quality; conventional farming degraded soil. With or without additional government support, the organic world is yielding a bountiful harvest in more ways than one.
The number of organic skin care and pet products is also growing. Clothing made with organic fiber is making new inroads with designer leather fashions, a variety of T-shirts, tote bags, baby clothes and crib bedding. According to Marci Zaroff, organic fashion pioneer and founder of Under the Canopy (a company making organic clothing since 1996), choosing T-shirts, towels and sheets made of organic cotton translates to significant reductions in pesticide use—up to 2 lbs. per item.
Packaging is also forging ahead and becoming earth-friendly in new ways. Reclaimed banana fiber, sugar cane and bamboo are now joining glass and recycled paper as eco-friendly packing materials.
- GREEN LIVING: Putting the Planet First
People everywhere are making efforts to preserve our planet’s health. Within four years, every one of the New York City’s fleet of 13,000 taxis will be a hybrid vehicle; the effect will be equivalent to removing the emissions of 32,000 privately owned cars from the city’s streets. In California, the Parducci Family Farmed winery has become the first in the country to be carbon neutral by switching to alternative fuel sources and becoming more energy efficient.
Industrial emission of toxic gases is only part of the green picture. What you use in your home and garden is another. Here’s how this trend may affect your shopping choices and landscaping habits.
Your Indoor Air: “Contrary to popular belief, full disclosure of all the chemical ingredients cleaning products contain and all the potential health problems they might cause is simply not required by federal law,” says Jeffrey Hollender, coauthor of Naturally Clean and CEO of Seventh Generation. “What’s worse,” he adds, “cleaning products enter the marketplace with little or no testing for potential health risks.”
A study by the Environmental Protection Agency examined six communities in various parts of the country and found that indoor levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a class of hazardous chemicals, were up to 10 times higher than those outdoors. This ratio held true even when indoor air was compared with outdoor areas near petrochemical plants and other major sources of pollution.
Cleaning products are a major source of VOCs and other hazardous pollutants. However, nontoxic products are now available for every situation, from laundry and dish soaps to air fresheners and stain removers. To keep things simple, avoid products with any of the following terms on the package: warning, poison, caution and/or danger. Choose products that are described as biodegradable, nontoxic, plant-based, enzyme-based, chlorine-free or phosphate-free.
Green Gardens: Conventional lawn care contributes to 10 percent of air pollution and uses 2 percent of fossil fuels, according to Paul J. Tukey, author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual and spokesman for safelawns.org, a website that shares how to care for lawns naturally. Suburban lawns receive more pesticide per acre than farms. Chemical fertilizers and herbicides, and pollutants from powered mowers are other sources of toxins that can poison your family, your pets and the planet.
It’s estimated that 90 percent of people who buy organic food do so to avoid pesticides, so it makes sense to avoid exposure to the same toxins in your garden at home. Plant-derived ingredients in organic and natural pest- and weed-control products are safer choices. Don’t forget bug spray to protect you and your family from mosquitoes and other pests; plenty of brands don’t contain toxins.
Natural products are also available to treat dog spots on lawns. And, if retiring your power lawn mower is unthinkable, keep in mind that new push mowers are lighter and easier to use, and some run on rechargeable batteries.
- KIDS’ HEALTH: Knowledge Is Power for Parents
At a May 2007 conference, more than 200 scientists, including nutritionists, pediatricians and toxicologists, concluded that the impact of environmental toxins on kids has been seriously underestimated.
The International Conference on Fetal Programming and Developmental Toxicity was sponsored by leading health organizations, including the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization. In a consensus statement, the group concluded the following:
- Toxins in a mother’s body are passed on to a fetus. A father’s exposure to toxins also poses risk.
- The risks of toxic exposure are especially high from preconception through adolescence.
- Exposure to toxins during these stages of life can lead to lifelong functional deficits and increases risk for disease, including neurological and behavioral problems, heart disease, endocrine malfunction, cancer and obesity. And, the damage can be passed on to future generations.
The Good News: Use of toxin-free household and personal care products by families and anyone planning to have children is better for kids’ health. Organic food can also make a difference, especially for kids whose growing bodies are more susceptible to the negative effects of pesticides. A study of 23 children, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, found that switching most foods from conventional to organic for as little as five days reduced levels of key pesticides in the blood to non detectable levels.
In addition to organic produce and other fresh food, conveniently packaged organic versions of kid-friendly foods are becoming more plentiful—without harmful pesticides, dyes, artificial flavors, preservatives and fillers. These include single-serve whole-grain or pure-fruit snacks, yogurts and kefirs with live cultures for better digestion, gluten-free cookies, mini pizzas with omega-3s, chicken nuggets and low-fat organic hot dogs without nitrates or nitrites. For babies, there are a variety of organic foods, and organic-cotton baby clothes and blankets. More supplement products, including multivitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, and herbal and homeopathic remedies for sniffles and other common ailments, are being formulated for kids, with packaging that appeals to youngsters.
- PET CARE: Be Kind to Four-Legged Friends
Like people, pets do best when they eat nutritious food. For dogs and cats, that means meat without animal by-products or lesser quality meat substitutes such as rice protein or wheat gluten. Pets don’t need chemical preservatives, dyes, added sweeteners or taste-enhancing fillers, but they need vegetables, which you can add or may already by in your pet’s food.
Today, there are plenty of options in organic pet food and many foods also contain added nutrients to protect against illness, promote longevity and enhance energy. Some of these include alfalfa, wheat grass and flaxseed for dogs, and taurine, fish oil, green foods, sage, artichokes and natural clove for cats. Probiotics for better digestion and chelated minerals to improve nutrient absorption are also being added to pet foods.
Pet supplements are growing in popularity. You’ll find multivitamins for overall health; fish oil, as an anti inflammatory, and for the skin, coat and immune system; green foods to support immunity and energy, and reduce allergies; glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health; and herbal remedies, flower essences and homeopathy to treat specific problems.
Nontoxic pet stain and odor removers use enzymes rather than harsh chemicals, to neutralize odors and get stains out. Pet shampoos and other grooming products are also available in nontoxic, natural or organic formulations.
- FAIR TRADE CERTIFICATION: Doing Good for Others
Ninety percent of Americans think that companies should be mindful of their impact on people and the environment, according to survey by the Natural Marketing Institute. Fair Trade is one way businesses can exercise responsibility, and sales of these products are growing rapidly. Among Fair Trade sales in the US, coffee doubled in the past two years, tea grew by 187 percent in 2005 and cocoa increased by 110 percent in 2006.
What Fair Trade Means: When you see a Fair Trade Certified label on a product, it represents a movement to improve people’s lives and protect the environment in developing countries. “Ten years ago, our children couldn’t study past the age of eight because there was no bus to school and we had no money,” says Sabino Brenes, a member of a Fair Trade co-op in Costa Rica. “Now with Fair Trade, we have fixed the road and we have bus service. Our kids can go to school with the help of scholarships from the co-op’s fund. One is getting a business degree at the university and the other is in high school.”
Fair Trade may also make the world safer. Members of a Colombian Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative prevented cultivation of more than 1,600 acres of coca and poppy used to produce illicit drugs.
Fair Trade vs. Organic: Some Fair Trade crops also meet organic certification requirements, in which case food labels state that the products are organically certified. However, even when they are not certified as organic, Fair Trade crops have usually been cultivated with fewer chemicals than conventional ones.
More Products Available: In addition to coffee, tea and cocoa, more Fair Trade products are becoming available in the US, including rice, sugar, vanilla, chocolate, some herbs and fresh fruit, such as bananas, mangoes, pineapples and grapes. Prices for Fair Trade versions may be higher, as in the case of bananas, because shipping from small farms is more costly. However, prices of gourmet coffee and chocolate are competitive with non–Fair Trade products of the same quality.
- SUSTAINABILITY: A Cause Worth Supporting
Unlike certifications such as organic or Fair Trade, which are based on laws and rules, sustainability is a philosophy or way of life. Sustainable foods and products are made in a way that not only provides for today but also preserves resources for future production of these goods. Sustainable agriculture doesn’t create negative effects, such as depleted soil, polluted air, water or earth from waste products, or damage to workers and communities. The movement encourages food production on small farms, local distribution of goods, humane treatment of animals, and respectful and economically fair treatment of farmers and consumers.
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