Kale Fever - Report 2 from Natural Products Expo

March had its way with me, and here we are in April before I could return with another installment of my coverage of the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim. Thanks for your patience!

Running a close second with Chia for trendy items at the 2014 Expo was the highly touted Kale. We've been hearing a lot about this cruciferous vegetable lately. At the show, one woman told me, "I've had Kale salad, Kale soup, Kale juice, Kale chips - you name it... they had it here with Kale." 

On their website, Whole Foods calls Kale "one of the healthiest vegetables around." And this reputation is undoubtedly a main reason Kale was in so many products this year. WF says Kale stands out in three specific areas: (1) as a deliverer of antioxidants; (2) anti-inflammatory aspects; and (3) anti-cancer properties through glucosinolates.  To learn more about the benefits, go to Kale's page on the Whole Foods site.

KALE CHIPS were at the show at a number of booths. My favorite was by BRAD'S RAW FOODS, a company that invited us to "Join the Kalevolution."

Brad's chips come in three flavors: (1) Kale; (2) Hot Kale and (3) Cheddar. I sampled the Cheddar product at their outdoor booth and it was tasty.  Brad's chips are made with carrots, red bell peppers, nutritional yeast, flax seeds, raw buckwheat groats, scallions, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, cayenne pepper, and Himalayan sea salt. His site says that the chips are "never baked or fried," and instead they are "dehydrated at or below 115 degrees. " Visit the Brad's Raw Foods site for more info on this line of chips and their other products.

Another item that caught my eye was a plastic bottled kale juice delivered in the popular 1-2 servings size. NAKED'S KALE BLAZER seems to be getting mixed reviews for taste across the Internet. It has 100 calories per serving and delivers high amounts of Vitamins C and A as well as Potassium and Riboflavin. The product is available from WALMART, where you can find further details.

A friend tells me she likes to add a little kale to her HOME-MADE SMOOTHIES, and one blogger (www.heathersdish.com) says the secret to success with this idea is to freeze the kale first. For more on her tips for "How to Make a Kale Smoothie That Doesn’t Taste Like Dirt" click here.

Remember Whole Foods, who provided us with nutritional info on Kale earlier? They recommend steaming Kale for 5 minutes before eating, and you'll find their recipe for 5-Minute Steamed Kale here.

My next and last report on the Expo will be an assortment of my findings. Til then!

Be a picky eater for the health of it!

Robin Quinn
Health Educator

2014 - The Year of Chia & Kale at the Natural Products Expo West

As usual, the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim was a delicious and fascinating affair this past weekend. And I officially dub 2014’s Expo, The Year of Chia & Kale. In the upcoming weeks, I will blog on highlights from the show. Today….  Chia.

Anyone for a Chia Lollipop? As I walked the show floor, I came across XIOMEGA3 and their CHIA POPS. Handing me one, the booth rep noted, "You’ve got to have some fun with these products!" Like the other chia seed offerings, promotion for CHIA POPS mention that the seeds are a plant-based source of those all important Omega 3s. Could be a fun way to get these nutrients into your child or your child-at-heart self.

I saw many products combining Chia Seeds with Juice or other liquids. A friend at the show told me her favorite Chia Seed Products vendor is MAMMA CHIA, which calls itself the maker of “The Original Chia Seed Drink.” I found their sample of the “CHIA SQUEEZE VITALITY SNACK" - MANGO COCONUT flavor – to be tasty and convenient in its disposable foil pouch (thus the “squeeze” part of the name). Here’s a link for its counterpart in a glass container, which delivers 2500 mg of Omega 3s, 4 gs of complete protein, 95 mg calcium, plus antioxidants. And the “Squeeze Vitality Snack" version is only 80 calories per pouch.

At the Expo, NATURE'S PATH was offering tastings of Q’IA, its cereal brand that includes Chia Seeds mixed with other healthy ingredients such as Buckwheat, Hemp and Fruit and Veggie Purees. The cereals are organic, vegan, no-salt-added as well as gluten-, fructose- and lactose-free. They can be sprinkled into oatmeal, smoothies or salads as additional options to cereal in yogurt. Flavors include Cranberry Vanilla and Apple Cinnamon. In case you're wondering, “Q’ia” means energy.

Next up, “Kale Fever.” Serving that blog up within the week… Tune in again!

For the health of it!

Robin
Health Educator

Highlights of the 2013 Natural Products Expo West

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.

How does it look? It was very good, and amazingly flavorful for a prepared food from a bag (this company uses paper bags like the French cook). My one suggestion would be to not encourage people to heat these prepared foods in the microwave. Fortunately, the packages also heat nicely in the oven.

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)

Book: The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth

“Raw living food is extraordinarily ordinary.”
~ Debbie Merrill

Vibrant and joyful … These are words that truly captured the energy of skating fitness expert Debbie Merrill, as I watched her mingle. The event was a recent book-signing/fundraiser at the 5th Street Whole Foods in Santa Monica. Years ago, I interviewed Debbie about her work in training celebrities to skate on screen (think Steve Martin gliding through MOCA in L.A. Story). Now I learned that Debbie was just releasing a revised edition of her August 2009 book on raw foods, The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth. I also discovered that she had hosted a TV show on the raw foods lifestyle for two years since we had last met, featuring guests in the forefront of raw living such as David Wolfe (The Sunfood Diet Success System), Gabriel Cousens, MD (Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine), and Juliano (of Juliana’s Raw Restaurant). Cousens wrote her Foreword, and the other two gave her endorsements. Other book blurbs come from Martin, Melanie Griffith, Patricia Bragg (apple cider vinegar proponent), and newswoman Jane Velez-Mitchell.

The petite, attractive blonde athlete has been “eating and living” the vegan way for 27 years, she told me, the last 17 years as 100% pure raw vegan. She described herself as a “person who transitioned to live foods and the fountain of youth one inch at a time.” Her 450+ page book offers Debbie’s knowledge and wisdom, along with the tools that work for her. In addition, as Cousens explains in the Foreword, we get Debbie’s life story which she “so elegantly shares as a narrative for her teachings.” Cousens also notes that Debbie encourages you to “live a full joyful, loving, healthy life with every bite,” but you don’t feel forced.

The book’s sections are cleverly laid out like a meal, starting with “Section 1. Appetizers: Awakening” and ending with “Section 5: Final Course” (the nuts and bolts of her program, including 40 “rawkin’ raw recipes” which Cousens calls “excellent”). Debbie has delivered 40 chapters, and here are some highlights:

Ch. 1, Create Your Own Treasure Map: Before embarking on an exploration of raw foods, Debbie asks you to become aware of what you want to get out of life. Her tools are a “Treasure Map” (similar to a vision board) and a “Treasure Box” (where you put your written goals). “What you can visualize, vocalize and physicalize, you can manifest in your life,” she tells us.

Ch. 3, Peeling the Onion: Here Debbie quotes Mae West: “Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly.” She offers the insight that success comes from mastering one part of your goal, and then moving on. The author promotes moving forward one small step at a time toward our goals for a healthy lifestyle, and insists that bad habits will then become easier and easier to shed.

Ch. 5, Move It or Lose It: Of course, a professional figure skater who has performed around the globe will share her wisdom about exercise. “Health should be a verb,” Debbie writes. “… health is action.” The reader is asked to sign a contract with themselves to commit to get moving.

Ch. 8, The Road to Raw: Here Debbie admits that she went to raw foods because years ago she saw that she was “falling apart” and “eating more crap than vegetables” as a vegetarian. She reveals the changes she made and the benefits she gained. “This is not about deprivation,” she notes, “this is about moderation, rejuvenation, inspiration and innovation.”

Ch. 12, Paralysis of Perfectionism: Debbie jokes that perfectionism seems in some ways to be part of her DNA. This has helped her as an athlete, but also hurt when she saw an error as a personal defect. She’s learned along the way that sometimes it’s better to do something imperfectly than to wait til you can do it flawlessly.

Ch. 16, The Carrot and the Rabbit: Chapter 16 highlights the reasons for giving up being a meat eater. The author urges the reader to become informed with such films as Eating, Diet for a New America, and Super Size Me, and/or to even visit a slaughterhouse. (That visit did it for her, she said.) To Debbie, the most compelling reason came down to one word, compassion (for the animals).

Ch. 36, The Essential Raw Kitchen: Debbie learned to love cooking from her mother, who was a fabulous Italian cook. Here the author provides tips on the practical side to preparing to “raw-mble” in your own kitchen. She recommends a Vita-Mix blender, a food processor, a dehydrator, a juicer/wheatgrass juicer, and more. And, of course, a ready supply of fresh veggies and fruit.

Ch. 38, The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth Food-for-Life Plan: Here you’ll find Debbie’s food plan. She writes that you can do it in its entirety, or slowly move toward 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% raw foods. You’ll find lists of foods for fruit, veggies, protein, fats, and grains, along with recommended daily amounts. Her “Additional Suggestions” include this reminder: “What you don’t eat is as important as what you do.”

Ch. 39, Rawsome Recipes: During our interview, Debbie told me that she has included simple raw recipes, as well as those that more die-hard raw foodists would enjoy. Ones that caught my eye include “Debbie’s Raw Pizza Pizzazz” (made with raw crackers, homemade tomato sauce, sundried tomatoes, black olives, nuts, plus), raw enchiladas, “Debbie’s Sprouted Lentil Salad” (gets raves at holiday pot luck parties, she said proudly), mango smoothie, “Nano Banana on a Stick” (named after her dad, and includes banana, nuts, carob powder, and more), and raw cracker recipes. “Mother Earth is the best chef in the Universe,” she notes.

“I’ve lived through every type of diet that there is,” Debbie writes in her book. “I’ve gone from red meat to chicken to fish, from vegetarian to macrobiotics to lacto-ovo to vegan to raw vegan, and it is certainly not for me to say where you should end up … [but] if there is the slightest twinge in your soul that you are not where you want to be, then I invite you to take this wonderful journey with me.”

The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth is available
online at www.debbiemerrillshow.com.

Debbie Merrill’s Instructor to the Stars website is www.skategreat.com.

What We're Learning about Dietary Fat & Heart Disease

Hi folks,

Just have to share an article that I found. It does a great job of clarifying what we're learning about the link between dietary fat intake and heart disease.

Check it out at http://www.myhealthtoday.com/dietary-fat-heart-disease/.

Namaste!

Be well!

Robin Quinn, CNHP

Safety Steps When Building Sandcastles

New article by Rodale Press says building sandcastles at the beach this summer may make you sick! Say it isn't so! Some of my favorite memories of my childhood family vacations involved hours spent building elaborative sandcastles in Wildwood, New Jersey, complete with seashell ornamentation. Actually the percentage who got sick was small in those studied. Still, it doesn't hurt to take the recommended step of washing your hands before you eat on a day of playing in the sand. To learn more about the precautions, go to: http://www.rodale.com/dirty-beach-sand-can-make-you-sick?cm_mmc=DailyNewsNL-_-2009_07_13-_-Top5-_-NA

Safe Harbor to Present Info to LA County Mental Health Officials

Safe Harbor is a unique organization that helps people facing mental health challenges. They have hard-to-find info on alternative approaches to gaining and maintaining mental well-being.

The group will be doing a presentation before the LA Department of Mental Health sometime in July. The focus will be on non-drug wellness programs.

To support this effort with donations, write to:

Safe Harbor
787 W. Woodbury Rd., #2
Altadena, CA 91001

More info on Safe Harbor at:
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/

Namaste,

Robin Quinn, CNHP