Attended the Natural Products Expo last weekend in Anaheim on Saturday. This year's show (March 7-10) topped both exhibitor and attendee records - with more than 63,000 industry guests and 2,428 exhibitors. I like to attend the show to see what's new with companies I already like, new ones I encounter at the show, and also with the industry generally.
At the event, Whole Foods announced its commitment to full genetically-modified organism (GMO) transparency by 2018. With the help of the National Organic Trade Association, I had a chance to stop at a booth and send off letters to my representatives in Congress in support of disclosure of GMO ingredients in our foods. As they say, it's not nice to fool with Mother Nature.
Trends at the show in food included gluten-free products, allergen-free products, healthy snacks, non-dairy alternatives, and vegan and paleo offerings. There were also advances in supplements and natural beauty/personal care items.
Here are the highlights of my encounters throughout the day:
While standing in line for a book-signing, I met Michelle White, co-founder of Michelle's Miracle - a company based on the healing powers of the tart cherry. Her cherry concentrates and supplements are rich in nutraceuticals and antioxidants, and they are taken for gout, healthy joints, better sleep and their anti-inflammatory properties. www.MichellesMiracle.com
The author that Michelle and I were waiting for was Suzy Cohen, RPh (Suzy is on the left/that's me on the right). Suzy is a licensed pharmacist and the author of Drug Muggers: Which Medications Are Robbing Your Body of Essential Nutrients - and Natural Ways to Restore Them. The book explains how to replenish what prescription and over-the-counter drugs deplete from the body. The author originally self-published this title, and then it was picked up by Rodale. www.drugmuggersbook.com
A popular stop was the Emergen-C booth where they were mixing up healthy drinks for attendees. I had lots of ground to cover so I marched past, but did pick by a sample of the Raspberry flavor with 1,000 mg of Vitamin C (plus 24 Nutrients and 7 B Vitamins). After mixing the packet's contents with cold water today, I found the resulting drink to be delicious. www.emergenc.com/
Winding my way through the show's exhibit halls on Saturday, I found myself sampling dairy-free pizza made with tapioca twice. When I said someone else seemed to be using a similar recipe for their pizza, a Daiya rep told me that I had probably already been to their booth. Sure enough...
...I soon spotted the original Daiya helper who gave me my first sampling of their tasty pizza. Learn more about the company's pizzas and other products if your M.O. lately has been "hold the cheese!" www.daiyafoods.com/our-products.
As I wandered through the supplement section, I spotted a familiar face...
...turns out that, for about a year, Nicole Kidman has been the "brand ambassador" of the Swisse line of supplements - which include the No. 1 Selling Multivitamin in Australia.
Swisse Business Manager Oliver Baker told me that there are two basic formulas for their multi (called Ultivite) - men's and women's. As part of their push into the United States, the company is sponsoring trips to Australia this year for The Ellen Degeneres Show and some lucky selected winners. More details and opportunities to enter the drawing for the trip can be found on their website. www.swisse.com
At this stop, the product name beautifully captured the company's message - BeeAlive. Their mission is to "provide life-enhancing products" made with fresh Royal Jelly (never freeze-dried). Found in Nature, Royal Jelly is the exclusive food for the Queen Bee, who lives 2 to 3 years longer than other bees. BeeAlive offers 4 formulas for greater energy, stamina and vitality. Company rep Jen Schepens was all smiles as I snapped her picture at their booth. www.beealive.com
A couple years ago, while editing a book for a local LA colon hydro-therapist, I learned about how helpful colloidal silver can be in fighting colds. I had a rare one, and my client had suggested a helpful CS product. At the Expo, I ran across the Natural Path / Silver Wings brand of colloidal silver, which is a pharmaceutical grade of CS (and not electronically processed like many competitors' products). If you are a user of natural remedies, you will probably recognize their label on their website, if you don't already from the picture above. www.naturalpathsilverwings.com/
Toward the end of the day, I was happy to run across this booth Lively Up Your Breath. They were offering up samples of their 3 flavors of 100% natural breath freshener - Vanilla Cinnalicious, Sensual Citrus and Original Mint. I was a Vanilla girl. Their attendance at the show marked their 2-year anniversary. In the picture are Michael McNeeley and Gail Chester from LUYB. No they weren't playing "Paper, Rock or Scissors"; instead I think Michael's message was: Peace out! I seconded that, as it was time to wrap up and leave the Expo halls for the Press Room. www.livelyupyourbreath.com/
A day's end in the Press Room (yes, I am a journalist, as well as a health coach and health editor/writer), I was pleasantly surprised to see this pair and their LYFE booth. The reason I was interested at first is that a new LYFE restaurant has opened up near me, at 9540 Washington Boulevard in Culver City, and though there are many very good eateries in the neighborhood, I often see a line of waiting hungry people outside when I pass by. The LYFE ladies told me some of the reasons why people are eager to eat this food. The restaurant is committed to using local, organic and natural ingredients, for one thing. And they believe that people should love their food - both how it tastes and what it does for the body. Then LYFE PR gal and dietitian Jeannie Houchins RD (not in picture) informed me that the company also has a line of prepared foods that you heat up in a paper pouch. And I had an opportunity to sample the Orange Mango Chicken.
Can't wait to try out LYFE soon in Culver City. Right now, LYFE has two restaurants (Culver City and Palo Alto), but their hope is to go nationwide through franchising. By the way, Jennifer Garner is a LYFE Ambassador and Advisor. http://lyfekitchen.com/
With nearly 2,500 exhibitors, there is so much more to cover - but I only had the day and must also wrap up now. But before I go, I want to mention that some favored vendors who were present included Jarrow (the probiotic people) and Boiron (the homeopathic folks).
Also, in the Press Room, I ran into one of my favorite people - PR man Irwin Zucker (on left). He was promoting the book Surviving American Medicine, among other clients, at the Expo.my
The Natural Products Expo is a good reminder to keep your foods, personal care items, etc. as natural as possible. As my book client Larry Clapp (prostate expert) told me years ago, keep these things as close to what Nature created as possible. Your body will thank you with greater health and longevity!
To your health, naturally!
Robin Quinn, CNHP
(for my editorial site go to www.writingandediting.biz)
