In Part 2 of our series on Natural Energy, we take a closer look at ingredients in the top natural energy products and supplements. Dr. Hyla Cass tells us about what to look for, including vitamins and herbs, and what to steer clear of when choosing one of the many popular products that promise a boost these days. Dr. Cass is one of the country’s foremost authors and speakers on the subject of integrative medicine.

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Curious about all the promises of energy for your busy day that are packed into pills and drinks these days? Is there any truth in what the labels and ads are selling, and why are so many of us in need of an extra pep in our step? Ric Scalzo, a respected herbalist, botanical researcher, and founder of Gaia Herbs, gives us some answers, and tells us how to balance energy naturally and safely.

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Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are crucial for a healthy heart. Listen and learn about the role and benefits of these “good fats.” Then get expert tips for choosing high-quality fish oil supplements. Stuart Tomc has more than 20 years experience in Nutritional Medicine. He is a consultant to the World Health Organization and integrative physicians worldwide.

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As part of Whole Trade Guarantee™ Month at Whole Foods Market, we encourage you to explore the world of Divine Chocolate – owned by cocoa farmers, made for chocolate lovers. Lovingly grown under the tropical rainforest canopy in Ghana, Divine’s cocoa beans are carefully fermented and dried by the farmers who co-own the company. The great news is that when consumers purchase Divine Chocolate products for their loved ones, they will also do a good thing for the farmers in Ghana by ensuring that they receive a Fair Trade price for their cocoa beans.

Comfort Kumeah is a mother of five, a grandmother and a member of Kuapa Kokoo cocoa growers’ cooperative. She teaches kindergarten (her classroom often exceeding 120 students) and works on the farm whenever she isn’t teaching, on Saturdays and during the school holidays. Here she talks about Fair Trade and how it has helped her family and community.

Each bar of Divine Chocolate is adorned with traditional West African Adinkra symbols. Each symbol has its own special meaning, representing something integral to Ghanaian culture. These symbols are still in use today serving to deliver messages of goodwill.

Learn more about Divine’s fair trade mission and hear more of the farmer-owner’s stories. Divine Chocolate, share the love!

How can you lower your risk of cardiovascular disease? Why is chronic inflammation often the heart of the matter? Get answers to these questions and more as you learn about specific nutrients, food and daily habits to help keep your heart healthy. Malia Curran, MS, MPH is a nutrition consultant and speaker, and sees clients in the Boston region.

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It’s Whole Trade Month, which means time to celebrate the Whole Trade Guarantee and the hard-working folks who produce these outstanding products. By no coincidence, Whole Trade Month falls around Valentine’s Day, when we often think about chocolate and roses, two of our staple Whole Trade products. But the Whole Trade Guarantee encompasses so much more. From bananas to coffee to body care, we sources thousands of items from producers who share our commitment to quality, the environment and healthy working conditions. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s help to start developing healthier habits! Good health-and healthy weight-is about smart decision making. Rather than hearing about what NOT to eat or fad diets, listen to positive successes that are truly changing people’s lives. Dr. Joel Fuhrman shares his experiences in helping people create health by aiming for optimal nutrition. He is a board-certified family physician, author and nutritional researcher who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutrition, and co-founder and chief medical officer of Eat Right America.

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One of our core values at Whole Foods Market is to care about our environment. As such, we set out a few months ago to give our new gift cards a fresh look, including our limited edition “peas on earth” holiday design. One of our primary goals was to find a more environmentally sound substrate on which to print the cards.

You might not think about it, especially given the small size and long life of your plastic cards, but the volume of cards out there creates an enormous impact! Most of the 17 billion plastic cards produced every year¹ are made of virgin PVC. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans use more than 1.5 billion credit cards alone, which if stacked would reach 70 miles into space²! When these cards expire, we just throw them away, contributing more than 75 million pounds of PVC to the waste stream every year³!

We thought there had to be a better way. And while there is, we quickly learned that there is no perfect solution. We examined dozens of different substrates, from recycled PVC to cards made out of wood to PLA-based biodegradable cards. There’s even a PVC-based substrate that biodegrades! But we found none of these to be the silver bullet. Read the rest of this entry »

In Part 2 of our series on natural health during cold and flu season, we’ll hear about how the immune system works, which supplements have been shown to support wellness, and some of the best ways to help maintain health year-round. Malia Curran, MS, MPH is a nutrition consultant and speaker, and sees clients in the Denver, CO area.

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Now is the time to focus on staying well, and supporting the immune system is a smart way to do so. In part 1 of a 2-part series, Dr. Kenna Brooke talks about natural approaches, formulas for wellness and lifestyle suggestions for promoting seasonal health. Dr. Brooke is a Naturopathic doctor who practices as a wellness consultant in the Cherry Creek area of Denver, Colorado.

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