With our guidelines for organic personal care, Whole Foods Market is working toward ensuring that “organic” means organic in every aisle of our stores. Listen in as we share about our efforts to protect the organic standard for our shoppers, suppliers and planet. Joe Dickson is Global Quality Standards Coordinator at Whole Foods Market.

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The definition of “organic” should not change substantially between the food and the non-food aisles of our stores:

• When you’re in the produce aisle, “organic” means that a fruit or vegetable was grown without toxic or persistent agricultural chemicals in environmentally friendly ways, and that it was certified by a third party.
• Whole Foods Market believes that this should be the definition in our Whole Body departments as well, which is why we’re raising the bar.
• Our guidelines require any product making an organic claim – including products with ‘organic’ in the brand name – to be made up mostly of organic agricultural ingredients and to be certified.

Our guidelines ensure that “organic” truly means organic in every aisle at Whole Foods Market:

• With food, in order to call a product “organic,” it has to contain at least 95% certified organic ingredients (and the remaining 5% is tightly controlled too) thanks to strict government regulations.
• Since there’s no government oversight of organic body care, consumers have no assurance that “organic” products contain ANY organic ingredients at all.
• Any product making an “organic” product claim – like “organic shampoo” or “organic bath salts” must be 95% organic and certified to the same USDA Organic standard as food.
• Products with more than 70% organic ingredients can make a claim like “Made with organic essential oils and extracts” if they’re USDA certified, or “Contains organic essential oils and extracts,” if they’re certified to the NSF 305 Organic Personal Care products standard.
• The NSF standard is similar to the “70%/Made With” level of the USDA standard, but allows certain ingredients and processes that are specific to personal care products.

These standards will help encourage the quality of personal care (and the industry as a whole) to improve:

• As of June 1^st, all organic personal care products sold in our U.S. stores will be certified organic.
• Looking at the front label, anything that uses the word “organic” must be certified to one of the standards mentioned above.
• Anything with “organic” in the product or name must be certified by a USDA accredited certifier or to the NSF standard – look for the certifier’s name on the label.

According to Joe Dickson, Global Quality Standards Coordinator at Whole Foods Market, this is a huge step with a positive impact for all stakeholders:

By requiring that organic products have substantial amounts of organic ingredients, we’re increasing the demand for organic ingredients and thus increasing the amount of land being farmed organically.

• We’ve already seen many suppliers obtain certification and increase the organic ingredients in their products in order to comply, and this is a huge win for organic farmers, the environment, and shoppers seeking more organic products.

Supporting the health of an infant can sometimes feel like a guessing game with a limited amount of safe options. Find out why homeopathic remedies are gentle and easy to use for a variety of baby-related issues. Dr. Trevor Holly Cates is a naturopathic physician practicing in Park City, Utah, and a consultant for Hyland’s.

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Naturopathic physician Dr. Trevor Holly Cates uses homeopathy to support children’s health:

• Homeopathic remedies are therapeutically active micro-dose medicines mostly derived from plant and mineral sources.
• These all-natural remedies provide a gentle and effective way of enhancing a person’s immune system and improving symptoms.
• Homeopathy has been used for over 200 years and works as a catalyst to help our bodies act to their fullest abilities.

Homeopathic remedies are regulated and can be used in the earliest stages of life:

• Most homeopathic medicines are regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as over-the-counter drugs.
• Manufacturers have to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices and market their products with similar guidelines as all over-the-counter medicines.
• Homeopathic manufacturers rely on the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States to create monographs, or guidelines, for specific active ingredient preparation and strengths.
• Homeopathic products often have different instructions on the labels for children ages 2 to 12, which is usually half the adult dosage.  Dr. Cates recommends less frequent dosing for children and babies than adults.

Remedies are easy to use and can be helpful for tough issues like ears, teething, colic and sleep:

• The top homeopathic remedy for teething is Chamomilla.  It is also a great remedy for colic when the child is irritated and seems inconsolable.  Colocynthis can also be helpful when babies draw up their legs in pain and like their abdomens massaged.
• For ears, Belladonna is a top choice especially when there is a sudden onset with fever and flushed face, but also consider Pulsatilla when the child has had a cold and the pain is worse at night.
• For sleep, it depends on the reason.  Aconitum works well when there is anxiety and restlessness, and Pulsatilla can help weepy, moody children.
• Single homeopathic remedies or combination formulas are found in readily dissolvable tablets placed in the baby’s mouth or as easy-to-use liquids, and are also available in gels for teething and drops for ears.

Choosing products carefully is important to your baby’s health. Learn about the wonderful products and stringent standards for body care in our stores. Whole Foods Market’s Senior Global Whole Body Coordinator, Jeremiah McElwee, has been working in the natural and organics products industry since 1994 and has been a devoted father since 2005.

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According to Jeremiah McElwee, Senior Global Whole Body Coordinator, it is important to a baby’s health to choose products carefully:

• Baby skin is the most sensitive and helps regulate body temperature, hydrate, and protect internal organs.
• The skin is the largest detoxification organ in the body.
• Artificial colors, preservatives, and scents can cause irritation, especially for babies.

Premium body care is a standard developed by Whole Foods Market for our vendor partners:

• The premium body care standards make it easier to choose products like baby lotions, oils, powders, wipes and washes.

• Quality standards team evaluates every product to ensure it meets the premium body care standards.
• Criteria for evaluation include quality of source, environmental impact and safety.

There are many benefits to shopping at Whole Foods Market for your family:

• Whole Foods Market carefully monitors all the products and ingredients we select.
• Our team members are thoroughly trained and educated about the products we offer to help guide customers in making the most informed decisions.

For many women, starting a family is an impetus to move toward a healthier lifestyle. Discover where to begin with better choices for supplements, body care and aromatherapy. Malia Curran is a nutrition consultant, speaker and mother of 2 young children.

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Nutritionist Malia Curran recommends the following supplements for pregnancy:

• If possible, a woman should start taking a prenatal vitamin three months prior to getting pregnant.
• DHA is an essential fatty acid found in fatty fish and fish oil that is vital for the growth of a baby’s brain and nervous system.
• Research shows that babies born to mothers with higher amounts of DHA scored better on attention and visual learning tests.
• For nausea, eat something—such as crackers—before you get out of bed, and ginger or ginger tea promotes a calm stomach.

Choose body care products carefully while pregnant:

• Remember that what you put on your body can be absorbed into your body.
• Skin, hair and oral care products can contain harsh ingredients, so choose body care with a high percentage of natural ingredients and avoid synthetic scents.
• Dilute products containing 100% pure essential oils in equal parts with unscented varieties.
• Look for the Whole Foods Market Premium Body Care™ label for the best choices available.

Aromatherapy can be beneficial throughout pregnancy:

• Only 100% pure essential oils provide benefits, and synthetic scents may be harmful.
• Before using essential oils, always consult your practitioner, and research varieties and usage specific to your stage of motherhood. During pregnancy, certain oils should be avoided.
  • Essential oils are very concentrated and can be harmful if not used properly by diluting them with carrier oils.
  • Never use essential oils directly on skin.
  • Massage is an opportunity to pamper yourself and may also promote a positive mood and comfortable, relaxed muscles and joints.

Aromatherapy can also be used during labor:

• Candles with no petroleum wax or artificial scents can help create a warm, softly lit atmosphere.
• Aromatherapy can also be used by inhaling essential oils from a tissue, the pillow, an electric diffuser, mists or forehead compresses.
• During and following labor, inhaling 100% pure essential oils of rose or ylang ylang may inspire strength; grapefruit, sweet orange or peppermint may promote relaxation and focus; and mandarin, bergamot, lavender or clary sage may support a positive mood.

What fats are essential for heart health and how can we ensure high-quality, adequate intake?  Join us as we discuss the critical role good fats play in a heart-healthy diet. Dr. Hector Lopez is a board-certified specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, holds a Masters degree in Nutrition and is a member of the Nordic Naturals Advisory Board.

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Experts believe hydrogenated fats increase the risk of heart disease, however there are healthy fats that support the heart:

• Heart health is dependent on the balanced intake of essential fatty acids or EFAs as they are commonly referred to.  These are considered “essential” as they MUST be consumed in the diet because the body cannot produce them on its own.
• These fats are involved in a variety of molecular mechanisms that have a direct or indirect effect on heart health including: turning certain genes on/off that regulate fat and carbohydrate metabolism; supporting the body’s anti-inflammatory response, and even changing the actual characteristics of LDL cholesterol.

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There are many effective ways to support a healthy heart through simple dietary and lifestyle choices. Learn about the link between inflammation and plant-based nutrition from one of the doctors who former President Bill Clinton credits with regaining his health this past year. Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr. is an internationally known former surgeon, researcher and clinician at the Cleveland Clinic, and author of the book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease.

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Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s clinical research and book on preventing heart disease is centered around smart eating for a healthy heart:

• Protection against heart disease through plant-based nutrition has been the foundation of his research and clinical practice strategy for over 25 years.
• He has consistently found in patients severely ill with advanced coronary artery disease that the results of using plant-based nutrition are prompt, powerful and enduring.
• The foundation of this plant-based diet includes a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains, while avoiding animal products and processed oils.
• Additionally, he adds 1000 I.U. of Vitamin D3 and 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 daily to ensure adequacy of these nutrients.

Chronic inflammation has been shown to increase the risk for cardiovascular disease:

• Coronary artery disease develops from progressive injury to the delicate inner lining of our blood vessels known as the endothelial cells.  When healthy, these cells produce copious amounts of nitric oxide.
• Nitric oxide protects our blood vessels by: maintaining a smooth blood flow to prevent cellular elements from becoming sticky; providing more blood to muscle and other body systems requiring it; inhibiting the development of inflammation in the vessel wall; and preventing the formation of vessel blockages or plaque.
• The western diet of processed oils, dairy, meat, fish and poultry progressively destroys our endothelial cells’ capacity to produce nitric oxide, thus leading to a loss of vascular protection.
• Without nitric oxide, a sticky LDL cholesterol molecule enters beneath the endothelial lining initiating an inflammatory cascade of events culminating in plaque formation and blockage with occasional plaque rupture causing a heart attack.

Dietary and lifestyle choices help support a healthy heart:

• Consume a plant-based diet and avoid processed oils, dairy, animal, fish and poultry products.
• Choose rolled oats for breakfast that are filled with polyphenolic compounds and also copious amounts of green leafy vegetables, which can help restore endothelial function.
• Exercise is important to incorporate, such as regular walking, biking, swimming, running and resistance training.
• Whether it is with family or friends, find the joy of interpersonal relationships.

Need help developing healthier habits? Good health—and healthy weight—are about smart decision-making. Listen in and learn about success tools for creating health through optimal nutrition in this encore presentation of our podcast interview with Dr. Joel Fuhrman, board-certified family physician, author, and co-founder and chief medical officer of Eat Right America.

Let us know what steps you are taking toward healthy changes this year for a chance to win an Eat Right America bundle featuring some of their best-selling books, DVDs and assorted other special gifts: a $97 value! Simply enter a comment below by January 31^st and one lucky reader will be selected at random.

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The motivating reasons Dr. Fuhrman’s patients make healthy weight a priority:

• Learning about the successes of others losing weight and reversing chronic disease, when all other diet methods have previously failed, triggers the desire to recommit to health.
• Discovering the science, logic and theory behind high-nutrient eating to remove addictive overeating provides the drive to get started.

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The New Year is a natural time to think about giving the body a much-needed vacation.  Find out what to expect and avoid on a whole body cleanse, and the simple ways to make the most of your efforts to reduce the “body burden.”

Dr. Gaetano Morello is a licensed naturopathic physician practicing in West Vancouver, British Columbia.

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Join one of our very own Whole Body team members for an insightful interview about the positive impact of Vitamin Angels not only on children’s health, but also in the hearts of our team members, customers and supplier partners. Susan Oelker is the Southwest Regional Supplement Buyer and has worked for Whole Foods Market for 14 years, where her passion for the best supplements and body care products is matched only by her enthusiasm for supporting suppliers who give back to the global community.

Your next vitamin purchase can make a difference for under-nourished children. Find out how and tell us what you think. We’ll donate $1 to Vitamin Angels for each of the first 5,000 comments posted on one of our Vitamin Angels blog posts by November 30, 2010.

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Learn more about Vitamin Angels in our previous Viva Vitamin Angels podcast. Read the rest of this entry »

Get ready to be inspired by a special organization that is profoundly changing the lives of children around the world. Discover the passion behind Vitamin Angels and how easy it is to get involved. Howard Schiffer, founder of Vitamin Angels, was honored with the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance’s Hero Award in 2003 for his work in “making a difference in the lives of so many children throughout our country and around the world.”

Your next vitamin purchase can make a difference for under-nourished children. Find out how and tell us what you think. We’ll donate $1 to Vitamin Angels for each of the first 5,000 comments posted on one of our Vitamin Angels blog posts by November 30, 2010.

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