All posts by jon

Natural Products Expo West – Preview Post

By On March 5, 2013 In Blog With No Comments Permanent Link to Natural Products Expo West – Preview PostPermalink

The equivalent of a massive family reunion for the natural products industry kicks off this weekend, March 7-10th, in Anaheim, CA. Natural Products Expo West is the biggest event for the industry in the country (maybe the world!) and it never fails to disappoint with established brands showing off their latest and greatest innovations, new brands leading the way with the next newly “discovered” ingredient and a packed agenda of top tier speakers, panel discussions and, of course, opportunities to wine and dine.

Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 4.59.08 PM

I love to make predictions about what the “it” ingredient will be each year. In recent years, coconut and chia have taken the spot. This year, I’m placing my bet on pea protein. Sold by companies like Axiom Foods, protein has officially tipped into the mainstream and although most of our meat eating society gets plenty of it, foods touting protein continue to be a big deal. With this in mind, I think pea protein will be in the spotlight. It’s clean (minimally processed) and has a relatively significant amount of protein compared to other vegetarian sources. It’s a refreshing alternative to soy and is a great vegetarian option.
I’m also betting (and hoping, honestly) to see the dietary supplement side of the show talking more about a need for transparency when it comes to ingredient sourcing and processing. The natural food community has been doing the hard work for years of taking a tough look at ingredient sourcing and processing, yet the dietary supplement industry has been largely absent from the discussion. With a significant number of dietary supplement ingredients coming from China and from genetically modified sources, there’s definitely cause to take a closer look. Botanical medicine brands, like Gaia Herbs, are excellent examples of providing transparency when it comes to sourcing and the standards they hold their ingredients to. I hope to see other brands opening up about this issue as well.

I’ll definitely be making my way over to LYFE Kitchen. Founded by a past McDonald’s exec, this “socially and sustainably responsible” brand offers both restaurants and a growing line of frozen meals. The brand interests me on multiple levels and I’m interested to learn more about both the mission that fuels their brand as well as how they plan to find business success given their high standards to everything from the ingredients they source to the materials they use to build their restaurants.
I’ll look forward to checking back in after the show to share my discoveries and if my bets for trends were right.

Like this post?

Is it Okay to Add Aspartame to Milk? Let’s All Hope Not!

By On March 4, 2013 In Uncategorized With No Comments Permanent Link to Is it Okay to Add Aspartame to Milk? Let’s All Hope Not!Permalink

Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 1.23.17 PMI was sad to see news last week that the milk industry has petitioned the FDA to approve the use of aspartame, an artificial, chemically-created sweetener also known as NutraSweet and Equal, as a way to create a lower-calorie milk. You can find the article here.

The natural products industry is under tremendous pressure to innovate and create new products, and the milk industry is by no means immune. Another likely factor at play in this news is our society’s continued desire for products that provide it all – great flavor, great nutrition, zero calories and, of course, cheap. An artificially-sweetened, low-calorie milk is such a great example of how just because something can technically be done it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right thing to do.

Milk is an American symbol of what is good and wholesome in our diets. As a mother, I’ve been told repeatedly to give milk to my children (not just for the calcium but also as a liquid-dense source of calories). It is an excellent addition to the diet for many of us due to the protein, calcium and vitamin D it provides. If you’re open to drinking raw milk, the benefits multiply exponentially.

It’s because milk is so wholesome and because so many of us rely on milk to keep ourselves and our families healthy, that adding an artificial sweetener to it is especially troubling. Like all natural things, milk was beautifully created with just the right amount of calories and sugar (lactose). If we need a low calorie drink, let’s all turn to a nice big glass of pure water and save our milk for a nicely (and naturally) packaged snack.

Like this post?

Image by ShardsOfBlue

My Recent Interview on the Cancer Radio Program: Five to Thrive

By On February 26, 2013 In Blog With No Comments Permanent Link to My Recent Interview on the Cancer Radio Program: Five to ThrivePermalink

Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 1.37.00 PM (2)My friend and colleague, Dr. Lise Alschuler, recently asked me to be a guest on the radio program, Five to Thrive, that she and her business partner, Karolyn A. Gazella, co-host every weeknight on W4CS.

Lise is one of the leading cancer experts in the naturopathic community and she and Karolyn have based their radio show on their book, Five to Thrive, which pinpoints five specific pathways that are essential to preventing cancer: immunity, inflammation, hormones, insulin resistance, and detoxification/digestion.

Have a listen to my interview where I talk about the history of our modern food movement, genetically modified foods and the power of food as medicine. Thanks, Lise and Karolyn! Who knew radio could be so much fun!

 

Like this post?

When is the right time to take digestive enzymes?

By On February 20, 2013 In Blog With No Comments Permanent Link to When is the right time to take digestive enzymes?Permalink

Screen Shot 2013-03-05 at 1.47.21 PM (2)I get asked this question on a pretty regular basis. And it’s true, WHEN you take digestive enzymes will have an impact on how well they will work for you to support digestion, and minimize irritating symptoms like heartburn, bloating, etc.

To answer the question about timing once and for all, a randomized intervention trial published in the journal, Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, used three randomized groups of people to look at the digestive ability of lipase (a digestive enzyme that breaks down fat). Lipase was given to each group either before, during or just after eating and the ability to digest fat was measured using a breath test. The winner? The group given lipase during or just after eating experienced the most effective breakdown of ingested fat.

How do you know if digestive enzymes are right for you? If you experience bloating, gas, or excessive burping after a meal, digestive enzymes may be worth a try. I’ve had good results using a product like, V-Zyme by Pharmax, that provides a blend of enzymes to support the digestion of carbohydrate, protein and fat.

Dominguez-Munoz JE, Iglesias-Garcia J, Iglesias-Rey M, et al. Effect of the administration schedule on the therapeutic efficacy of oral pancreatic enzyme supplements in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: a randomized, three-way crossover study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005;21:993-1000.

Thanks, Pharmax, for use of your product image.

“Ask the Expert” Partnership with Health Magazine and Kashi

By On February 18, 2013 In Uncategorized With No Comments Permanent Link to “Ask the Expert” Partnership with Health Magazine and KashiPermalink

1-Health-Magazine-Ask-the-Expert

I love when great brands unite (and I get to be in the middle of it!). Just one such thing happened when I had the chance to do a year-long “Ask the Expert” column with Kashi and Health Magazine. We gave each month a theme, such as “easy ways to shop healthy all week” or “easy ways to live naturally at work”. The general goal of the column was to provide tips for small changes that can add up to having a big impact on your health. Not only was it fun to have such a great platform to share natural food and lifestyle tips, but also awesome to represent and bring exposure to the naturopathic medical profession!

Like this post?