There is no OZ when it comes to your health

January 7, 2013 by Laurianne Macdonald, B.Sc., MPH, CHt, Licensed RTT Practitioner

DEP recalls, GMOs, Monsanto… Oh my!

With growing concern over the use of pesticides, low nutritional value of hydroponic or commercially grown produce and the Frankenstein abomination known as genetically modified organisms (GMO) being the scariest thing to come out of food science laboratories since high-fructose corn syrup, the health food and supplement industry is now a $20-billion dollars a year business. Unfortunately, not everyone has your health and wellbeing in mind when they offer advice, that latest cure-all elixir, or that next best supplement.

Now more than ever, it is important to be a well informed consumer.

The last time I went to Whole Foods I brought a handful of questions about the herbal tincture everybody was talking about. I walked out confused and with a bag full of product I paid too much for. After taking my son to the local GNC with hopes to learn which protein supplement is best for an athlete of his age and activity, I realized I knew more about the products on the shelf than the store manager.  I find the same to be the case at most health food suppliers and vitamin shops. That may seen an unfair statement as I am working toward my degree in alternative medicine, but making sense of the endless array of product… brain enhancers, gout relievers, natural anti-inflammatory or holistic cures for allergies, is daunting to say the least. You need a degree to wade through the plethora of propaganda and marketing mumbo -jumbo if only to avoid worrying that something you’re taking may have contraindications, be toxic if used incorrectly, or counteract the effects of your current blood pressure medicine.

I’ve been fortunate enough to find a place and people that have sifted through all the holistic hoopla-la and commercialized confusion plaguing the health food and supplement industry today. After witnessing the shift in philosophy and commercialization of the market, Richard Pearl and Sharooz Taheri decided to open their own shop. At Simply Natural Shop and Cafe, they keep some of the old ways intact: things like personalized attention, experienced and knowledgeable staff, and a true commitment to protecting the holistic lifestyle… all while keeping pace with the latest industry and medical developments.

When I first walked into Simply Natural, the hometown feel was comforting but a little disconcerting; I’d grown accustom to being confronted by shelves and walls stacked ceiling high and six layers deep—not by a friendly “hello”. Then, I was allowed to shop at my leisure, not prodded and probed at every turn. I was encouraged to ask if I had any questions and found that after a while all I wanted to ask was why there weren’t more places where the staff was so well versed or how come other stores don’t treat me so well.

I came to find out Richard and Sharooz believe everyone who enters their shop in Sunrise is an honored guest. That is why they serve only the best time proven products, supplements and organics, provide news and information from reliable, unbiased sources, and offer advice backed by thirty years of experience. Sharooz is even a specialist in iridology and Neurofeedback (Brain Training), offering diagnostics and holistic counseling.

So, you don’t really need to get your degree in Alternative Medicine to take better care of yourself or your family. But your health and wellbeing is a precious treasure you must protect by staying alert, capable of telling the difference between market trends, diet fads and current medical findings. Be aware of pharmacological threats, nutritional guidelines, and always bring your questions, concerns, and need for unbiased, honest answers to someone you trust.