IHR Magazine - October/November 2012

YOUR HEALTH CATEGORY SOURCE

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editors’s letter

Introductions I would like to introduce myself. As the new editor of IHR, I will strive to bring you the latest and most pertinent trends and news affecting integrated health, in addition to inspiring interviews from industry leaders.

I have been a journalist for over 25 years including nine years freelancing at The Vancouver Sun, and have written health and lifestyle articles for magazines across the US and Canada. I have been a certified nutritionist for nine years, and teach a healthy eating course through colleges and continuing education programs.

I am also passionately interested in having a healthy lifestyle and in simplifying health information for the masses.

FYI: Canada is close to signing a 31-year trade deal that will give Chinese companies new powers over Canadian economic and environmental policy. National organizations including the David Suzuki Foundation are urging Canadian businesses not to forfeit our democratic principles in pursuit of trade expansion.

The Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement allows China to sue Canada, behind closed doors, if its interests are hindered – leaving little room for democratic oversight.

For example, if the B.C. government were to stop the Northern Gateway pipeline, Canadians could be on the hook for millions in damages. It also requires Canada to give Chinese companies “the right to full protection and security from public opposition.” It would put trade agreements before the protection of air, water, soil and biodiversity. The deal is being concluded with no public input, provincial consultation or parliamentary debate. You can fi nd out more at www.davidsuzuki.org.

a n n e r C l o r a C

Carol Crenna

Editor

www.ihrmagazine.com TM

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48 . DO YOU HAVE A SUCCESSION PLAN

contents Volume 12 . Issue 6

UP FRONT PUBLISHER’S LETTER......................................................................................8 GET THE GOODS .............................................................................................15 SKU REVIEW ....................................................................................................16 TOP SELLER ....................................................................................................20 What are your industry comrades and competition buying?

NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS ...........................................................................................22 Track the latest trends, government and trade tactics, and technology news FEATURES COMPANY PROFILE .......................................................................................28 Flash Beauté Inc. knows how to secure organic certification on third world countries’ products COVER STORY ................................................................................................34 A teenager with a calling builds a business that endures for 35 years WHO BUYS MULTIVITAMINS? ......................................................................42 Retailers and suppliers discuss the state of the multivitamin category DO YOU HAVE A SUCCESSION PLAN?........................................................48 Groom your next leader now or your company may fail SOCIAL MEDIA: tracking success of your online community ......................52 Are your followers and click-through numbers real?

42. WHO BUYS MULTIVITAMINS?

HEART HEALTH: the latest research .............................................................54 New heart-regulating integrative approaches INGREDIENT REVIEW ....................................................................................60 Argan oil: what is all the fuss about?

SHOPPER CONVERSION: how do we do it? ................................................62 Fulfilling the needs of your shoppers RESEARCH NEWS ..........................................................................................66 The most recent advancements in integrated medicine END NOTES FAX BACK.........................................................................................................72

34 . LIFELONG PASSION & PURPOSE 54 . HEART HEALTH: THE LATEST RESEARCH

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editorial board We believe that you, the retailer, dictate the tone and direction of the magazine, which in turn, allows us to provide you with the most accurate information that is relevant to your business.

IHR works with a knowledgeable group of industry leaders whose mandate is to ensure the relevance of the publication. Our editorial committee is comprised of thought-provokers who have shaped the industry and whose experience is vital in providing you with tools to succeed.

The IHR editorial committee is led by the following individuals:

GET YOUR INDUSTRY NEWS DELIVERED EVERY DAY VIA E-MAIL

Olivier Felicio President Rive Gauche Media

Andrew Betts Category Manager, Natural Foods Thrifty Foods

Sanjiv Jagota President Nature’s Source

Gilles Houde President and COO GNC Canada

Aaron Skelton, BSc (NNS) Sr. Category Manager, Health Food, Natural Value, Soins Naturels, Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Dean Mosca President Proprietary Nutritionals Inc.

To subscribe, go to ihrmagazine.com or fill in the following: Email address:

First Name: Last Name: Company/Store name:

Fax To: 1-888-849-0155

YOUR HEALTH CATEGORY SOURCE

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IHRmagazine.com • october/november 2012

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contributors YOUR HEALTH CATEGORY SOURCE

ISSN 1197 - 1495 |

Volume 12 Issue 6

Founder, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Mandy Harding of Memories by Mandy photography is based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She is a nationally accredited photographer through the Professional Photographers of Canada, and has been photographing everything from portraits and weddings to corporate work since 2007. Her favourite thing to photograph, though, is her beautiful one-year-old daughter Rylie.

Olivier Felicio

Editor Carol Crenna

Web Content Editor Joanne Brathwaite

Editorial Coordinator Irina Lytchak

Editorial Intern Jennifer Hopf

Art Director Scott Jordan

Design Sarah Vincett

Production Ken Vannucci is a Merchandise Manager for London Drugs, responsible for OTC, NHP, Vitamins, Baby and Grocery. Ken has a passion for retail, and has been with London Drugs since he graduated from UBC in 1989 with a Bachelor of Commerce specializing in marketing. He has a keen interest in product and package development and the marketing of products, with emphasis on consumerpackaged goods. Ken is from Trail, B.C and is married with two sons.

Erin Booth

Contributors Patricia Dunn, Noa Glouberman, Mandy Harding, Marsha Miller, Allison Tannis, Rachel Thexton, Ken Vannucci

President Olivier Felicio

Vice President Operations Frank Shoniker

Controller & Operations Manager Melanie Seth A former journalist and now principal of Dunn Public Relations, Patricia Dunn uses her 20 years of experience and contacts to raise the profile of clients including food companies, real estate developers and small business owners. Patricia has an insider’s knowledge of media and a keen sense of what’s newsworthy. Working in PR for seven years, Dunn PR’s Rachel Thexton has clients including Delta Hotels and Resorts, KPMG, CBC Television and Dairy Queen Canada. Rachel incorporates digital strategies into communications plans to generate publicity for clients in both mainstream media and top blogs.

Finance Administrator Henry Fonseca

Creative Business Coordinator Erin Poredos Subscription Rates Canada $50 (gst included) for nine issues (one year) USA $60 Change of Address email: ihr@publicationpartners.com telephone: 416-203-7900 fax: 416-703-6392 or send your cover label and new address to ihr c/o Rive Gauche Media, 60 Bloor St., W., Suite 1106, Toronto, ON Canada M4W 3B8

Advertising Information Olivier Felicio telephone: (416) 203-7900 x 6107 email: olivier@rivegauchemedia.com Paul Airut telephone: (416) 203-7900 x 6103 email: paul@gorgmgo.com Jeff Yamaguchi telephone: (416) 203-7900 x 6122 email: jeff@gorgmgo.com

Allison Tannis, BSc, MSc, RHN, is one of Canada’s most well-known researchers in the health retail industry. Allison has worked for a number of large natural product manufacturers and retailers, focusing on product development, brand management, marketing and merchandising. Currently, she is working as a consultant in the industry. She writes about multivitamins in this issue.

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Erin Poredos telephone: (416) 203-7900 x 6128 email: erin@gorgmgo.com Published by Rive Gauche Media Inc.

Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail 4067800 The publisher does not assume any responsibility for the contents of any advertisement and any and all representations or warranties made in such advertising are those of the advertiser and not of the publisher. The publisher is not liable to any advertiser for any misprints in advertising not the fault of the publisher and in such an event the limit of the publisher’s liability shall not exceed the amount of the publisher’s charge for such advertising. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in all or part, without the express written permission of the publisher. ihr magazine is pleased to review unsolicited submissions for editorial consideration under the following conditions: all material submitted for editorial consideration (photographs, illustrations, written text in electronic or hard copy format) may be used by ihr Media Inc. and their affiliates for editorial purposes in any media (whether printed, electronic, internet, disc, etc.) without the consent of, or the payment of compensation to, the party providing such material. Please direct submissions to the Editor, ihr magazine.

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FREE

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section header

GOODS

The first 100 retailers to FAX us at 1-888-849-0155 will get these goods for FREE Organic Oregano Oil Organic Oregano Oil from holista® is a potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and antimicrobial supplement that can help protect the body from free radical damage, infections, and fungal or yeast overgrowth. Obtained through gentle steam distillation, this product contains the leaf oil of Origanum vulgare blended in an olive oil carrier

XyloSweet® XyloSweet is 100% pure xylitol—an all natural sweetener that has the same sweetness as regular sugar without any aftertaste. Since XyloSweet is 40% lower in calories with zero net carbs and safe for diabetic usage, it is an ideal sugar replacement for any sugar-controlled diet. • Sugar-sweet with no aftertaste • Glycemic index: 7 (Table sugar: 85; Glucose:100) • Non-GMO • Gluten-free • Highest quality (pharmaceutical grade) • Safe for usage with any sugar-controlled diet • zero net carbs

Silica Silica is one of collagen’s principal constituents and in time deteriorates and looses elasticity, resulting in the skin loosening, hair thinning out, and nails becoming brittle.

Because of the refinement and transformation of today’s foods, our daily diet offers less and less silica, a supplement is therefore a good a way to compensate. Land Art developed SILICA, a gel made from 100% pure silicon retrieved from diatoms, fossilized plant cells found on the ocean floors. Prepared as a colloidal emulsion (suspended in a gel composed of water and natural gum), it is bioavailable and possesses a better assimilation for the system.

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october/november 2012 • IHRmagazine.com

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sku review

THE ORIGINAL MGN-3 ARABINOXYLAN COMPOUND The human immune system comprises more than 130 subsets of white blood cells, 15 per cent of which are Natural Killer (NK) cells providing the first line of defense for dealing with any form of invasion to the body. MGN-3 increases the efficacy of NK cells and interferon levels, boosts the formation of a group of proteins that help destroy abnormal cells, and improves the activity of T- and B-cells. MGN-3 contains rice bran that has been enzymatically treated with Shiitake mushroom.

ECHINACEA, TINCTURE ALCOHOL FREE, NATURAL WILD CHERRY FLAVOUR

ARGAN OIL, A MAGIC POTION FOR YOUR SKIN

Echinacea, Tincture Alcohol Free Natural Wild Cherry Flavour from holista® is an alcohol–free extract that’s naturally flavoured and sweetened to appeal to children and adults alike. Echinacea’s most common use is to prevent colds and sore throats, or speed–up recovery from these infections.

Its high content in unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins A and E makes it an excellent restructuring elixir. It softens the skin and hands, strengthens nails and leaves hair silky. 100% organic, Nafha Cosmetic Virgin Oil reveals its restructuring and sensual secrets to your body.

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16

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IHRMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

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sku review

ARNICA MUSCLE AND JOINT GEL Arnica Muscle and Joint Gel helps to reduce soreness and inflammation in muscles and joints. The medicinal herbal gel is ideal for the relief of minor pain and inflammation due to minor injury, bruises, sprain, arthritis or overexertion. Non greasy and fragrance free. A must–have for your herbal first–aid kit.

XYLOSWEET® XyloSweet is 100% pure xylitol—an all natural sweetener that has the same sweetness as regular sugar without any aftertaste. Since XyloSweet is 40% lower in calories with zero net carbs and safe for diabetic usage, it is an ideal sugar replacement for any sugar-controlled diet. • Sugar-sweet with no aftertaste • Glycemic index: 7 (Table sugar: 85; Glucose:100) • Non-GMO • Glutenfree • Highest quality (pharmaceutical grade) • Safe for usage with any sugar-controlled diet • zero net carbs

PROBIOMAX Probiotics can have many benefits when taken in adequate amounts and must contain a wide variety of strains in order to be compatible with the largest spectrum of individuals and ensure complete coverage of the intestinal tract. Thus, multi-strain probiotics have an increased efficiency compared to single strains ones. Probiomax contains the largest variety of bacterial strains (up to 10 different strains) and a higher concentration in its product category. Benefits include shortened duration of infections or decreased susceptibility to pathogens and viruses. Wampole Probiomax also offers 4 unique and complete formulas to stimulate the immune system and relieve digestive discomforts.

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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 • IHRMAGAZINE.COM

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sku review

SILICA Silica is one of collagen’s principal constituents and in time deteriorates and looses elasticity, resulting in the skin loosening, hair thinning out, and nails becoming brittle. Because of the refinement and transformation of today’s foods, our daily diet offers less and less silica, a supplement is therefore a good a way to compensate. Land Art developed SILICA, a gel made from 100% pure silicon retrieved from diatoms, fossilized plant cells found on the ocean floors. Prepared as a colloidal emulsion (suspended in a gel composed of water and natural gum), it is bioavailable and possesses a better assimilation for the system. Orange oil is added for flavor enhancement. Land art does not use any chemical substance or solvent in the extracting process of its silica, preferring water as its unique vehicle.

FOUR O’CLOCK TEA

ORGANIC OREGANO OIL Organic Oregano Oil from holista® is a potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and antimicrobial supplement that can help protect the body from free radical damage, infections, and fungal or yeast overgrowth. Obtained through gentle steam distillation, this product contains the leaf oil of Origanum vulgare blended in an olive oil carrier

Warm up your sales during the chilly season with the New Four O’clock Winter Collections! Four O’clock the tea and herbal tea specialist, have concocted four new Authentic, Intense and Delicious recipes.

A limited edition of four collection boxes created by a Canadian Artist. Gingerbread Herbal Tea, Banana Cinnamon Spice Black Tea, Almond Biscotti White Tea and Truffle Mint Herbal Tea. Enjoy a new flavor!

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IHRMAGAZINE.COM • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

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For details, write #107 on Free Info Page, page 72.

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top seller review STORE INFO

HEALTH BOUTIQUES Nature’s Care Ottawa, ON

Parsley Sage & Thyme Delta, BC

Herbs & Health Foods Abbotsford, BC

Evergreen Natural Foods Toronto, ON

L’Bear’s Health Foods Trail, BC

Bins & Bins North Bay, ON

Rainbow Natural Foods Ottawa, ON

Store Size 1,000-3,000 sq.ft.

Store Size 1,000-3,000 sq.ft.

Store Size 1,000-3,000 sq.ft.

Store Size 1,000-3,000 sq.ft.

Store Size 1,000-3,000 sq.ft.

Store Size over 5,000 sq. ft.

Store Size over 5,000 sq. ft.

Demographics 25-40

Demographics 40-65

Demographics 40-65

Demographics 40-65

Demographics 40-65

Demographics 40-65

Demographics 40-65

Income $20,000-$40,000

Income $40,000-$60,000

Income $20,000-$40,000

Income $20,000-$40,000

Income $20,000-$40,000

Income $40,000-$60,000

Income $40,000-$60,000

Coconut Oil, Heartland, 908g

Ancient Grains, Parsley Sage & Thyme, 400g

Raw Agave Syrup, Wholesome Organics, 900ml

Assorted Tea, Traditional, 24 bags

SweetLeaf, Stevia, 70 packets

Holy Crap Cereal, Hapi Foods, 225g

Almond Breeze, Blue Diamond, 946ml

Apple Cider Vinegar, Bragg, 1L

Coconut Oil, Alpha, 475ml

Coconut Oil, Nutiva, 54oz

Flax Plus, Nature’s Path, 300g

N/A

Beef Patties, Ontario Natural Food Co-Op, 567g

Lemonade, Knudsen, 1L

Liquid Seasoning, Bragg, 32 fl.oz.

Nutritional Yeast, Red Star, bulk

Gluten Free Products, Namaste Foods, variety

N/A

N/A

Gluten Free Pepperoni Pizza, Sue’s Gluten Free Products, variety

N/A

Fish Oil, Nutra Sea, 500ml

Oil Of Oregano, Enerex, 30ml

Hawthorne, A. Vogel, 50ml

Blessed Thistle, Oregano Oil, New Nature’s Way, 250ml Roots, 10ml

Milk Thistle, Herbal Natural, 60 caps.

Curcumin, Now, 700mg

Omega 3 Oil, Nutra Sea, 500ml

Echina Force, A. Vogel, 120 tabs

Curamin, Terry Naturally, 60 caps

Fenugreek, Nature’s Way, 250ml

Gingko Biloba, Now, 120 caps.

Wild Rose Detox, Trophics, 1 kit

Milk Thistle, Trophic, 60 caps

Sore Throat Spray, A. Vogel, 15ml

Anti-Viral Echinamide, Natural Factors, 100ml

Hawthorne, A. Vogel, Sage Menopause, 50ml A. Vogel, 90 tabs

Glucosamine Sulfate, Swiss Herbal, 135 caps.

Herbal Select, Stevia, 28g

Tea Tree Oil Shampoo, Desert Essence, 4 fl.oz

Moisturizing Creams, Derma E, assorted

Shampoo, Herbal Glow, 16oz

Moisturizing Creams, Vitamin E Cream, Derma E, assorted Jason, 4oz

Toothpaste, Green Beaver, 75ml

Toothpaste, Green Beaver, 75ml

Hair Colour, Vita, 135ml

Spry Toothpaste, Spry Harmonized, 1 tube

Moisturizing Cream, Silver Soul, 8oz

Hydrating Shampoo, Deodorant, Jason, Aubrey, 11oz 2.5oz

Lavender Pure Castille Soap, Dr. Bronner’s, 236ml

Facial Care, Simply Natural, assorted

Oil, Kalaya, 60ml

Hair Colour, Herbatint, 1 kit

Longevity, Silver Soul, 30ml

Lotions, Green Beaver, assorted

Olive Oil Soap, The Soap Works, 1 bar

Body Lotion, Alba, 32oz

Meal Replacement, Vega, 2lbs

Vega One Protein Powder, Vega, 850g

Whey Factors, Natural Factors, 1kg

Pure Coconut Water, Protein Powder, Zico, 11.2oz Bio X, 5lbs

Whey Protein Powder, Now, 1.2 lbs

Whole Food Optimizer, Vega, 1029g

Iso Whey, InterActive, 2lbs

Whey Protein, Progressive, 680g

Slim Styles, Natural Maca Powder, Factors, 800g Navitas Naturals, 454g

Amino Acids, Swiss Herbal, 90 caps.

Protein Powder, Sun Warrior, 1kg, vanilla

N/A

N/A

N/A

Multi-Vitamin for N/A Active Women, Progressive, 120 tabs

Creatine, Now, 100 tabs.

Protein Powder, Progressive, 840g

Iron Supplement, Salus, 500ml

Udo’s Oil, Udo’s Choice, 500ml

Omega 3, Natural Factors, 120 tabs

Bone Basics, AOR, 240 caps

Multi Vitamins, Platinum, 60 soft gels

Vitamin C 1000 IU, Now, 100 tabs.

Flaxseed Oil, Flora, 500ml

Floradix, Salus, 700ml

Ultimate Flora, Renew Life, 30 caps

Multi Vitamins, Natural Factors, 180 tabs

Natural Calm, Peter Gilliham, 8oz

Women’s Multi Vitamins, Platinum, 120 soft gels

Vitamin D 1000 IU, Now, 90 caps.

B12, Natural Factors, 1000 micrograms

Vitamin C, Ester C, 150 caps

Stressentials for Women, Platinum, 60 softgels

Calcium Magnesium with Vitamin D, Natural Factors, 180 tabs

Active X for Women Immune 7X, Purica, & Men, Platinum, 60 120 vegi caps soft gels

Glutamine, Swiss Herbal, 30 caps.

Coffee Bean, Genesis Today, 60 caps

Grains, Salba Wholefood, 1lb

Dead Sea Salts, Colour Energy, 500ml

Natural Calm, CTW Enterprises, 8oz

Raspberry Ketones, Sea Licious, Progressive, 90 caps Karlene’s, 250ml

Raspberry Ketones, NuvoCare, 60 caps

Raspberry Ketones, Sunn Herbal, 500mg

N/A

Redbeat Crystals, Salus, 200g

N/A

Green Coffee Bean Extract, Genesis Today, 60 caps

Daily Grains, North Coastal, variety

Green Coffee Bean, NuvoCare, 45 caps

Belly Fat Transformation, Safslim, 16oz

N/A

Blood Pressure Formulation, Bell, 60 caps

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

TOP THREE PRODUCTS

FOOD

TOP THREE PRODUCTS

HERBS

TOP THREE PRODUCTS

PERSONAL CARE

TOP THREE PRODUCTS

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

TOP THREE PRODUCTS

VITAMINS/ SUPPLEMENTS

TOP THREE PRODUCTS

NEW PRODUCTS

Cinnamon, Natural Solutions, 90 caps

Shampoo & Conditioner, Avalon, 14 fl.oz

Active X Easy Multi, Platinum, 120 soft gels

Want your store to be included in the Review? Fill in & fax the form on page 73

20

IHRmagazine.com • OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012

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top seller review PHARMACIES Alcona Beach Health Shoppe Innisfil, ON

Lifestyle Natural Foods Vernon, BC

Health 4 U Spruce Grove, AB

Hooper’s Pharmacy Toronto, ON

The Chemist Pharmacy Markham, ON

Green Door Vitamins Kingston, ON

Valley Pharmacy Doyles, NF

Margis Pharmacy Toronto, ON

Store Size Under 1,000 sq. ft.

Store Size 1,000-3,000 sq. ft.

Store Size under 1,000 sq. ft.

Store Size 1,000-3,000 sq.ft.

Store Size 3,000-5,000 sq.ft.

Store Size Under 1,000 sq. ft.

Store Size 3,000-5,000 sq. ft.

Store Size under 1,000 sq.ft.

Demographics 25-40

Demographics 25-40

Demographics 40-65

Demographics 40-65

Demographics 40-65

Demographics 40-65

Demographics 40-65

Demographics 40-65

Income $40,000-60,000

Income N/A

Income $20,000-$40,000

Income $40,000-$60,000

Income $20,000-$40,000

Income $20,000-$40,000

Income $20,000-$40,000

Income $40,000-$60,000

Coconut Oil, Artisana, 425g

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Cookies, New Moon Kitchen, 275g

Chia Ground, Mum’s Original, 180g

N/A

N/A

Cherry Juice Concentrate, Cherry Lane, 750ml N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Gluten Free Cereals, Nature’s Path, variety

Goji Powder, Navitas Naturals, 454g

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Valerian, St. Francis Herb Farm, 50ml

Kyolic Garlic Extract, Kyolic, 180 caps

Rhodiola, Now, 60 caps.

Nutra Sea, Ascenta, 100ml

Omega 3, Jamieson, 1000mg

Gandha, AOR, 120 vegi caps

Garlic, Jamieson, 500mg

Milk Thistle, Sisu, 120 caps

Supreme Immune Booster, Bell Lifestyle Products, Corioulos

Milk Thistle, Naka, Liquid 500 ml

Cayenne, Health First, 180 caps.

Iron Supplement, Spatone, 28 daily sachets

CoEnzyme Q10, Jamieson, 60 soft gels

Astragalus, New Roots, 90 caps

Echinacea, Jamieson, 300mg

Royal Jelly, Bio Lonreco Inc., 10ml

Milk Thistle LIVER, New Roots, 90 caps

N/A

Cinnamon, Nature’s Way, 60 caps.

Fast Joint Care, Genuine Health, 30 caps

Glucosamine, Swiss Herbal, 120 caps

Fenugreek, Nature’s Way, 100 caps

Flaxseed, West Coast, 100 soft gels

N/A

DMAE-ALA-C, Derma E, 56g

Unscented Deodorant, Tom’s of Maine

DMAE Cream, Derma E, 5kg

Liquid Castille Soap, Dr. Bronner, 944ml

Shampoo & Conditioner, Pantene, 375ml

Fragrance Free Shampoo, Druide, 250ml

N/A

Soap, Soap Works, variety

Indian Coconut Body Butter, Pacifica, 236ml

Tea Tree Toothpaste, Jason

Ester C, Sisu, 600mg

Omega Lotions, Kalaya, 250ml

Shampoo & Conditioner, Garnier, 348ml

Body Lotion, Alba, 32oz

N/A

N/A

Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner, Thayers, 355ml

Hyaluronic Serum, Adeeva, 30ml

Shampoo & Conditioner, Prairie Naturals, 500ml

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

VegeGreens Protein, Progressive, 840g

Protein - Vanilla, Vega, 829g

Whole Food Optimizer, Vega, 1029g

Perfect Whey, Perfect Nutrition, 908g

Whey Protein, Webber Naturals, 2lbs

Whey Protein, Interactive Nutrition, 910g

Whey Isolate, Six Star Pro Nutrition, 907g

N/A

Glutamine, Procession, 300g

Electrolyte Hydrator - Lemon/Lime, Vega, Box of 30

Lean & Extra, GHI, 60 caps.

N/A

Energy Drinks, Boost, 8oz

N/A Performance Protein, Vega Sport, 829g

N/A

Mutant Mass, Fit Foods, Chocolate, 15lbs

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Creatine, Precision, 600g

N/A

N/A

Raspberry Ketones, Nuvocare, 60 caps

FloraSmart, Renew Life, 60 tabs

Ultimate Flora, Renew Life, 30 caps.

D Drops 1000 IU, D Drops Company, 5ml

Calcium, Webber Naturals, 500mg

B12, Trophic, 90 tabs

Glucosamine, West Coast, 500mg

Vitamin D 1000 IU, Sisu, 90 caps

Activ X Women, Platinum Naturals, 60 caps

Floradix - Fruit, Flora, 500ml

Joint Formula 14, SierraSil, 90 caps.

Strong Bones, New Roots, 360 caps

PGX Daily, Natural Factors, 60 soft gels

Vitamin K2, AOR, 60 vegi caps

Omega 3, Terra Nova, 120 caps

Omega 3, Sisu, 150 caps

Nutrasea, Ascenta, 500 ml, Lemon

N/A

Berry C Supreme, Health First, 90 caps.

Ester C, Sisu, 150 tabs

Vitamin B, Jamieson, 90 caps

Gaba, AOR, 600 mg Calcium with Vitamin D, Jamieson, 100 tabs

Green Coffee Bean, Herbal Slim, 60 caps

Chia Seed, Puresource

Curamin, Nature’s Way, 60 caps.

Ageless Telomeres, New Roots, 60 caps

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Raspberry Ketones 1234, Creative Bioscience, 60 caps

Green Coffee Bean, Genesis Today, 60 caps

Cal Mag, Health First, 60 caps.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Hexapro, Allmas, 3lbs, Vanilla

N/A

HCP 70, Progressive, 60 caps.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Omega 3, Now, 90 caps

The top selling products in the review are from randomly selected retailers. The review is meant to give readers some idea of what consumers are buying most of in these selected stores. Participating stores are free of any third-party influence and provide all the information. The information cannot be seen as a statistical survey or taken to reflect top-selling products on a national, regional or local level.

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industry news

IN THE KNOW:

GREAT NEW PRODUCTS AND THE LATEST ON RESEARCH AND REGULATION Walmart Rolls Out Eat-Healthy Insurance Discount Walmart is partnering with insurance firm Humana to give discounts to customers who choose healthier and more nutritious foods. It’s the first of this type of programme between a major retailer and an insurance company, according to RetailWire (September 2012).

After accepting Humana Vitality’s terms and taking a health assessment, customers will receive a Vitality

HealthyFood card offering a 5 per cent discount on specified products at Walmart. Foods under the programme include fresh fruits, vegetables, chicken, low-fat dairy products and low-sodium soups. The programme is specifically for HumanaVitality’s over 1 million members. It began Oct. 15, 2012.Walmart’s Dr. John Agwunobi, president of health and wellness, said that recent research found one in four families don’t make healthy purchases due to

Chocolate may be the next eco-fuel Researchers in the United Kingdom have found a way to convert chocolate manufacturing waste into eco-fuel.

Caramel and nougat waste from Cadbury Schweppes was fed to Escherichia coli bacteria in the experiment. The bacteria released hydrogen gas after sugar fermentation and the conversion of formic acid. This hydrogen was able to power a small fan through fuel cell technology. Fuel cells are an efficient source of energy and when used with hydrogen, have a zero emission rate. Such technology wouldn’t be limited to chocolate waste; there is potential for the entire food industry to use waste as an energy source. Researchers hope the waste-reducing technology can be scaled up in the next five to ten years for use as industrial electricity.

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price. “Price is an important factor in incentivizing wellness in America,” he said. “By offering affordable, healthier foods, we will help make our customers healthier and reduce costs to our healthcare system as a whole. This represents preventative care in its purest form.”

A predicted increase in food prices A severe drought in the U.S. affecting corn and soybean yields will affect Canadian food prices in the next few months.

The CIBC estimates a four per cent increase based on projections from the impact in the U.S., the worst of which will be felt next spring. The inflated rate is still about half of what it was in 2008 when a broader range of crops were affected.

Low income Canadians will likely feel the inflation since wage increases will not equate the 4 per cent rise in food prices.

Canadian farmers haven’t been impacted as much by drought and will likely benefit, while overall Canadian economic impact will be minor.

North Americans must work harder to fight obesity North America is in the throes of a weight epidemic, and they are on a path to get much heavier. In the U.S., several states have adult obesity rates above 30 per cent, according to the report titled F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2012, issued jointly by Trust for America’s

Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “If we stay on the current course, we could see obesity rates that are already unacceptable double,” states Jeff Levi, PhD, executive director of Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit organization dedicated to disease prevention. Along with rising obesity, researchers say there will be an increase in obesity-related diseases.

If things continue on their current course, the number of new cases of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and arthritis could rise 10 times between now and 2020, and double again by 2030, according to the report. Public health programs encouraging healthy habits can help. “Individuals can make small changes, too. Be more active,” Levi tells people. Small dietary adjustments are also beneficial. The change could be as little as one less sugarsweetened beverage a day.

Three dead after consuming ricotta tainted with Listeria Listeria-tainted ricotta is to blame for three deaths and 11 illnesses across the U.S. One lot of Frescolina brand ricotta salata cheese, imported from Italy, was recalled by Forever Cheese Inc. in September after the 14 illnesses were reported. The product was sold to restaurants, supermarkets and wholesale distributors.

Ricotta salata is a solid, crumbly cheese, not the typical ricotta sold in tubs. The tainted batch

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industry news

was sold between June 20 and August 9, and has a four-month shelf life, so it may be still be in some stores or refrigerators.

Older adults and those with weak immune systems are advised to avoid eating the imported cheese.

FDA suggests varying diet as arsenic levels in rice are investigated An investigation is underway to determine arsenic levels in rice. The Food and Drug Administration released initial findings in September that coincided with a Consumer Reports study that suggests limiting rice consumption. The FDA recommends varying their diet as opposed to changing it completely until they gather more information. “…

Consumers should continue to eat a balanced diet that includes a wide variety of grains – not only for good nutrition but also to minimize any potential consequences from consuming any one particular food,” said Dr. Margaret Hamburg, FDA commissioner. So far, 200 U.S.-grown rice and rice products have been analyzed in an ongoing analysis of 1,000 more planned samples. The preliminary studies include information about inorganic arsenic levels in various brands of rice, Basmati rice, rice cereals, rice milk and rice cakes. Inorganic arsenic is a known carcinogen, linked to an increased risk in different types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Experts say ingesting 10 grams of arsenic over a lifetime would likely affect health. So far, average

levels found in the analyzed samples contain anywhere from 3.5 to 6.7 micrograms per serving. A study published in 2011 showed people who eat more rice have higher arsenic levels in their systems, but toxicologist Christopher States at the University of Louisville says a person would have to eat “a tonne” of rice to reach the 10-gram mark.

What has RCC done lately to help retailers?

• RCC launched the Stop Sticking It To Us campaign, focusing on reasonable rates for credit card merchant fees. It built a coalition of associations representing 250,000 retailers to assist, and was successful in calling for House of Commons and Senate hearings on the matter. It helped to ensure that a low cost debit service continued to be offered to merchants.

• In Manitoba, RCC fought to ensure that small merchants were protected in regards to store hours. When Manitoba legislation was being changed to expand Sunday hours, RCC successfully ensured that small merchants with leases in shopping centres could chose to close on Sunday or operate during limited hours without retribution or fines.

• RCC spoke out for small retailers regarding price differences in Canada and cross-border shopping, and lobbied to ensure that consumers understood why price differences existed in Canada. These differences have had a devastating impact on small retailers in border communities in provinces including B.C. and Ontario.

Campbell Soup Co. shuts down plants amid decline in demand North Americans are eating a lot less processed, canned soup these days, which has prompted the Campbell Soup Co., the world’s largest soup maker, to close two of its U.S.based production plants. A recent Associated Press (AP) announcement explains that Campbell’s oldest soup plant, located in Sacramento, California, is currently in the process of being shut down, as is a Campbell’s spice production facility located in South Plainfield, New Jersey. The closures will result in 727 employees losing their jobs, a large number of whom have been working for Campbell’s for many years, as decreased production capacity is relocated to other Campbell’s facilities. Meanwhile, Campbell’s is focusing on new ways to attract the younger generation back to its soups, including gradually phasing out the use of ingredients like monosodium glutamate (MSG), and repackaging soups in pouches rather than in cans. According to data compiled by the marketing research firm Euromonitor International, canned soup consumption is down 13 per cent compared to what it was 10 years ago, which is partially the result of wider availability of fresh soups in supermarkets and restaurants.

Campbell’s market share also dropped 53 per cent over the past decade, likely due to shifting consumer preference away from processed, canned foods and towards fresh foods. At the same time, companies including Amy’s, Pacific Natural Foods and Imagine Foods, all of which produce organic soup products, are seeing steady increases in market share as health-conscious consumers seek out alternatives. A 2006 report in the Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ) found that the “natural” and organic soup market witnessed a 40 per cent market growth rate that year.

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industry news PCBs found in bubble tea in Germany

Actor Mark Wahlberg creates line of sports nutrition products GNC Holdings, Inc. and Mark Wahlberg partnered to create a new comprehensive line of performance nutrition products.

The Marked line consists of seven sports and active nutrition products aimed to provide the ultimate performance nutrition for anyone who wants to achieve their health and fitness goals. Wahlberg appeared in movies including The Perfect Storm, The Departed, Date Night, and recently Ted. (His mother is Canadian.) “I’m committed to living a healthy and productive life and helping the people around me do the same,” said the actor.

“That’s why I teamed up with GNC, a brand I trust for quality and integrity.” The Marked line will contribute to the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation that supports inner city youth. Wahlberg grew up in a poor workingclass area of Boston.

24

Bubble tea is a popular beverage in some Canadian cities, but is causing concern in Germany after researchers discovered polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) in the tapioca pearls found mixed into the sweet tea drink. German officials are looking into a possible violation of their food safety laws. The tea was from a national chain store that buys its pearls from Taiwan. There is nothing to suggest these are the same pearls used locally.

PCBs were chemicals used in ink and paint before they were banned in the 1970s. Low levels are still present in many foods and can accumulate in the body, increasing the risk of cancer.

shoppers across all segments will continue to practice prudent shopping patterns, such as buying on deal, choosing store brands over national brands, and researching offers online. These trends are not fleeting behaviours and will have a profound impact on manufacturers and retailers for years to come.” EconoLink also studied shoppers’ attitudes about their financial positions today versus one year ago.

Overall, 18 per cent believe they’re financially better off than last year (from 15 per cent last year); those stating their financial positions are worse today fell to 34 per cent from 38 per cent in 2011. However, spending done by trading and coupons jumped to 31 per cent in 2012 from 27 per cent in 2011.

Shoppers think they will be more financially stable in a year

Plans for Retail Council of Canada and Shelfspace merger

One quarter of shoppers, 27 per cent, anticipate they will be financially better off a year from now. This increased from 22 per cent one year ago, according the firm SymphonyIRI. The findings, reported in October 2012, also show that 21 per cent of shoppers believe their financial positions will be worse a year from now, down from 30 per cent last year. These stats are from the EconoLink survey “Economic Shopper Segmentation: A Look into How Shoppers Are Changing Their Behaviours in Today’s Economic Environment.”

Robert Tomei, president, consumer and shopper marketing, SymphonyIRI, stated, “We anticipate that

At the Retail West conference in Vancouver, plans were announced for a merger between Retail Council of Canada and Shelfspace. The new entity called MySTORE will launch in January 2013.

Diane J. Brisebois, CEO of Retail Council of Canada said the focus of MySTORE will be to provide independent merchants across Canada with a “real retail voice” and offer new tools to assist small retail businesses to prosper in an increasingly competitive environment. “MySTORE will provide the human resources required to address the specific needs and concerns of smaller retailers,” said Brisebois. The B.C. office of MySTORE will focus on

both B.C. retail issues and issues affecting small retailers across Canada. Mark Startup, former head of Shelfspace, has been appointed the VP in charge of all matters affecting independent retailers across Canada. He will be supported by a team of RCC employees located across Canada.

Nationwide Freedom Runs supported diabetes research This non-competitive event helped to get kids interested in running. The Canadian Diabetes Association partnered with Cash Store Financial to present 15 Freedom Runs across Canada in October. The family events took place in Victoria, Nanaimo, Prince George, Red Deer, London, Hamilton, Peterborough, Thunder Bay, Barrie, Whitby, St. Catharines, Sydney, Fredericton, Moncton and St. John’s. Participants chose either a 3K Family FunWalk or a 5K Walk-Run. The event was made more festive than most because it had less of a competitive environment, and offered many familyfriendly activities, refreshments and prizes. In addition to adopting a healthier, more active lifestyle, participants were encouraged to fundraise.

Cash Store Financial’s Freedom Run supported the 9 million Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes.

Although financial results for the October event weren’t available at press time, the first four events which took place in August and September raised over $100,000. The funds will be used to support scientists for developments in the prevention, treatment and

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industry news

management of diabetes, and simply to improve the quality of life of people living with diabetes.

Super-charged sweet potatoes offer a nutritional boost A team of Japanese scientists have found that passing an electric current through sweet potatoes increases the polyphenol levels by 60 per cent. This was reported at the 244th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia, the largest scientific society in the world.

The scientists claim that the electric shock stresses the vegetables, which in turn produce more polyphenols as a protective measure.

Polyphenols are diseasefighting antioxidant compounds found in plant-based foods. The Japanese research findings could have great implications around the world given that the vegetable is an important food staple in developing countries.

Ninety-five per cent of the world’s sweet potatoes are produced in poorer nations, often where malnutrition is a serious problem. Zapping the sweet potatoes with a jolt of electricity could be an inexpensive and simple method to increase nutrients when used on small farms or food distribution centres, the scientists propose.

Nestle and General Mills will cut sugar and salt in cereals… but not in Canada Nestle SA and General Mills Inc. will cut sugar and salt in the children’s breakfast cereals

they jointly market, but only those outside North America.

This is the latest attempt by major food companies to respond to health concerns.

(Reuters, Switzerland, October 2012) The two have been in a joint venture since 1990 to sell Nestle-brand cereals such as Cheerios in more than 140 countries outside the U.S. and Canada, markets which account for about half total global cereal sales of $25 billion. They say they will reformulate 20 cereal brands popular with children by 2015, boosting whole grains and calcium and reducing sugar by 24 per cent and sodium by 12 per cent. This change will affect 5.3 billion portions sold.

The joint venture called Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW) is the second-biggest breakfast cereal producer after Kellogg Co. It had sales of 1.9 billion Swiss francs ($2 billion) in 2011. Chief Executive Jeffrey Harmening said the plan builds on efforts started in 2003 to improve the nutritional profile of cereals. The group has cut almost 900 tonnes of salt and more than 9,000 tonnes of sugar from its recipes since then. But we have to wonder why this move doesn’t include cereals in our country.

Selfcare industry met at new Scandinavian trade show in Malmo If you are considering expanding your product mix, you may want to go further afield. A new international trade fair for the natural and organic industry was held in Malmo, Sweden in October. Natural Products Scandinavia follows the success of Europe’s leading

event for the sector, Natural & Organic Products Europe, which is held in London every year.The Scandinavian show included 175 exhibitors from the Nordic region and 26 other countries that showcased the latest in organic food, beauty, personal hygiene, supplements, vitamins, eco living and sustainable lifestyles. Exhibiting brands included Biofood, Dagsmeja AB, Dermanord, Bringwell Group, Bioforce, MedicaClinical Nord, Midsona, Octean, HKC Egenvard and Green Medecine. It included a conference programme with leading speakers including Stefan Engeseth, author of Sharkonomics, Helena Marksetdt from Fairtrade Sweden, superfood guru Mikael Makinen from Finland, a trend reporter from Euromonitor, Yanna Barakova from Bulgaria, Simon Pettman from the UK, retail trainer Alf Dunbar from Scotland, and Amarjit Sahota, President of UK’s Organic Monitor. The show was aimed at health stores, wholesalers, importers and supermarkets.

This is the first time the region has had a trade show of this size, which reflects Scandinavia’s growing importance.

For more information visit www. naturalproductsscandinavia. com

“Best before” and packaging information: confusing for consumers?

Much of the data provided on food labels is put there to provide information on food safety, but often the jumble of numbers, dates and product codes can be confusing to consumers.

According to B.01.007 of the

Food and Drugs Regulations, a pre-packaged product having a durable life of 90 days or less, packaged at a place other than the retail premises from which it is sold, must show the “durable life” date and provide instructions for proper storage. (canadianmanufacturing. com, October 2012) Durable life is defined as “the period, commencing on the day on which a pre-packaged product is packaged for retail sale during which the product, when stored under conditions appropriate to that product, will retain, without any appreciable deterioration, its normal wholesomeness, palatability, nutritional value and any other qualities claimed for it by the manufacturer.”

The problem is that this is a matter at the sole discretion of the manufacturer; and the date is only valid for unopened products. Many foods could be unsafe within the best before date. If, in the opinion of the manufacturer the shelf life exceeds 90 days, there is no requirement for any best before date. However, manufacturers use them for tracking purposes.

According to research done by the online news magazine canadianmanufacturing. com, there appears to be no standard or scientific basis for the determination of what is a “durable date” or a “reasonable shelf life” for products. Many food items are specifically exempt from the regulation (such as pre-packaged fresh fruit and vegetables including pre-chopped vegetables and salad greens). Foods prepared by a commissary and sold in automatic vending machines or mobile canteens are also exempt, even though they may have a higher food safety risk.

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industry buzz

CHFA East 2012

September 20th to 23rd, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON 2.

1.

3.

4.

6.

5.

1. Nathalie Bohn and Mike internicolas from Andalou Naturals 2. Ron Calmes from Axel Kraft International 3. Bob MacLeod and Steve From Kiss my face 4. Michelle Villar from Taste of Nature 5. The group from Innovite 6. Mark Delbridge from Silver Hills Bakery

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industry buzz 8

10.

9.

11.

12.

13.

8. Lynne Hashinsky from Seventh Generation 9. Jennifer Stone Hero Nutritional Products 10. Helen Midwood from Pacific Natural Foods 11. Donna Gallant from VIVA magazine and Krsitine Henderson from Weleda Canada 12. Caroline Farquhar and Ryan Ligenza from Renew Life 13. Rhonda Lofton from Wolfgang Puck

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company profile

African beauty secrets revealed Flash Beauté Inc. works closely with women in remote African villages to bring beauty products to Canadians

By Carol Crenna

A

lthough many customers give organic labels little more than a glance, simply expecting the certification on health store products, Jerome Vignols, founder of Flash Beauté Inc., experienced the challenges of achieving this accomplishment.

As a pioneer in organic beauty products in 1998, he encountered what many of us would consider insurmountable obstacles to certify ingredients grown in rural Africa.

Vignols states, “Obtaining certification for shea butter in 2003 was an achievement. In remote villages, women were mostly illiterate, which made management requirements and paperwork very difficult. It took two years of sending trainees thousands of kilometres to implement high standards and educate women on the difference between an organic and a conventional product.”

Launching Kariderm His company developed a close relationship with a women’s cooperative in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and introduced the world’s first certified organic shea butter under the Kariderm brand.

Fair trade certification followed soon afterward. The company sells only pure, unrefined shea butter, extracted without solvents, to retain its nutrients. Most production is still done by hand; the only exception is mechanical fi lters that remove impurities.

From its beginnings as a small specialty importer, Flash Beauté

28

Inc. has now become a manufacturer and distributor of a complete range of beauty products. Thirty different 100 per cent natural shea butter products for body, face and hair care are sold across Canada through health retailers, with additional importers in Europe and Korea.

Why shea butter?

Although it had gained popularity in France, where Vignols originally lived, shea butter was not known in Canada. “I met the president of a cooperative in Africa where it has been produced as a traditional product for centuries. I recognized that it was an opportunity for business and to introduce Canadians to shea’s many benefits,” explains Vignols. (L’Occitane had previously introduced shea butter in Quebec.)

Deciphering quality Today several brands sell shea butter, but according to Vignols, they don’t offer what Kariderm does. Quality varies from country to country, affected by production methods. The key is to retain strict, consistent selection of nuts. Oil quality can be identified by colour and scent greyish or greenish, rather than pale cream, and stronger smell, instead of a very light scent, denotes lesser grades.

“Sometimes producers buy the cheapest nuts in bulk and then process them in not the best conditions so the products acquire a stronger smell or become rancid,” he says. Kariderm doesn’t add or remove anything including fragrance.

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company profile

At a Glance Flash Beauté Inc. Brands: Kariderm, African Essentials Main Address: 4629, Louis-B. Mayer, Laval, Quebec H7P 6G5 Phone: (450) 682-1935 Email: info@kariderm.com Websites: www.african-essentials.ca, www. kariderm.com Staff: 5 Top-Selling Products: Kariderm Moisturizing and Protective Cream (shea butter facial cream), Kariderm Organic Lip Balm in vanilla (shea butter), Kariderm Hand Cream (shea butter).

Launching African Essentials Although Flash Beauté has expanded to other ingredients, it sticks to basics: selling only natural products that are easy to use and easy to understand. Consumers are increasingly seeking good natural beauty products for daily care, and pay much attention to validating the story behind them, according to Vignols.

Specializing in raw materials lesser known in Canada, Flash Beauté Inc. duplicated the partnership established in Burkina Faso this time in rural Morocco. There it produces high-altitude, unrefined argan oil under the label African Essentials. It will expand to a full line of argan based hair and skin care products.

Again, Vignols partnered with rural women producers to obtain ECOCERT organic and fair trade certification.

Argan oil is not new to the West, but other brands have yet to be certified organic and fair trade. African Essentials Argan Oil actually got a boost from other brands; due to the popularity of Moroccan Oil, consumers began seeking out products containing the pure oil, not found as just one ingredient in a processed formula with additives.

High altitude argan oil is produced in a small village in the mountains in limited quantities. It is very isolated; people retain their original culture with few modern conveniences. “There are no roads, only rocky pathways, which makes transportation difficult, resulting in costly imports,” admits Vignols, who has visited the community. Since African Essentials just launched, it currently just sells across Ontario and Quebec.

What is argan oil?

African Essentials Argan Oil is produced from selected raw argan nuts extracted from dried fallen fruits. This differs from some producers that gather all nuts found on the ground, which often

come from goats that ingested the fruit whole, thus generating a lower grade “goat’s oil.”

Argania spinosa trees are now government-protected, making it unlawful to cut them down for wood, and they’re monitored for goats that climb the trees to eat the fruit, often destroying blossoms for the next year’s fruit. “Villagers now pay attention because it has become one of the area’s few resources. There is cattle breeding, but since it is so dry, they have very little agriculture,” explains Vignols.

Shea butter vs. argan oil?

Consumer feedback for both oils is positive. Vignols says people with extreme eczema conditions have found great relief with shea butter. “We launched it during winter to protect against harsh weather, and then suddenly sales picked up during summer months, too. Customers like it year-round, especially in dry climates like Alberta.”

Argan oil works well on hair, but it also gives surprising results on skin because it is very quickly absorbed. Whereas shea butter is a little heavier, and is used for very dry facial skin or body care, argan oil is exceptional for all facial skin types. Shea butter is absorbed at a deeper level, making it therapeutic for eczema and psoriasis, yet argan oil offers immediate surface results.

New ingredients In future Flash Beaute will be developing other African-sourced beauty products with unique traditional ingredients under the African Essentials brand. They will include black cumin oil and baobab oil. “We will keep them pure, simple and very effective,” concludes Vignols. “And if we continue to sell the best possible products to consumers, we will also impact the communities involved in making them.”

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PAIN MANAGEMENT All natural evidence-based solutions Pain. Everywhere we turn we hear of new products, new solutions, yet people still suffer. The growing risk in Canada is the onset of renal and liver toxicity from prolonged use of synthetic medicines.

In conventional medicines, rapid and effective pain relief can be obtained using a combination of nonsteoridal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen, analgesic drugs such as acetaminophen, narcotic drugs such as hydromorphone, and/or muscle relaxants drugs.

Throughout history, various cultures have used herbs to treat pain. Today the mechanisms of action of many of these herbs have been elucidated, and not surprisingly, these are similar to the mechanism of synthetic drugs. The main difference between a drug and an herbal medicine is that the drug usually consists of a single pure ingredient, whereas the herb consists of a blend of active ingredients.

Pain relief with herbal medicine: myth or reality?

Patients with acute or chronic pain conditions can turn to a natural approach as an alternative to synthetic drugs. But will herbs be able to partially or completely reduce pain within 48 hours? This is actually a pharmacological question and when it comes to pain relief, it is a YES or NO answer. The fact that pain has a major impact on quality of life, sleep and social-economic factors, such as your ability to adequately perform at work means that you need to find treatments that are rapidly effective.

Clinical trials and medical practice have shown that this pharmacological-based approach to pain management can be replicated through an herbal approach, using the similar strategies; for example, blocking the pain signal with herbs that offer anti-inflammatory, analgesic and muscular relaxant properties, with fewer side effects. The herb’s pain relief benefits are derived from its multiple ingredients usually acting through different pain relief pathways (such as anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic). The relativity lower dose of the ingredients, along with the multiple activities, is usually what gives the herb its safety profile and efficacy.

To name few of the most common and understood herbs: Devil’s claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), is a well-established antiinflammatory, California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) offers analgesic properties similar to narcotics, and Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) is often used for its anti-spasmodic activity. At lower doses levels these herbs may be effective in relieving chronic pain. As a second step, the therapist could suggest products that are designed to bring relief for chronic pain conditions (ex. Glucosamine and MSM) and encourage patient to modify lifestyle habits that could contribute to painful conditions.

Wampole Vitalis is the next generation of natural pain relief: Seven products that work in teams to synergistically help in relieving sciatic, osteoarthritic, migraine, menstrual or neuromuscular pain, to name a few. Wampole has also relaunched a fan favorite – its natural herb sleep aid.

For more information: info@wampole.ca

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Top seller review • October/November 2012 YOUR STORE MATTERS

>

Take a moment to fill out this questionnaire and your store may be among those highlighted in the Top Seller Review Section of the next issue of ihr. The number of units sold determines the top sellers. To be included in the review, products mentioned must be classified as natural health products not standard consumer brands.

Store Name__________________________________________________ City ______________________________________ Province ___________ Date ___________ Name ____________________ Title _________ Address __________________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________ Fax _____________________________ Email __________________________________________________ Store Size:

under 1,000sq.ft.

1,000-3,000sq.ft.

3,000-5,000sq.ft.

over 5,000sq.ft

Approximate Income of Store Customers:

>FOOD top sellers Flavour:

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Product: Brand: Size:

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25-40

$40,000-$60,000

40-65

over 65

over $60,000

Product: Brand: Size:

Flavour:

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Product: Brand: Size:

Flavour:

>vitamins/supplements top sellers

>Herbs Top sellers Size:

under 25

>sports nutrition top sellers

Product: Brand: Size:

$20,000-$40,000

Approximate Age of Store Customers:

Flavour:

Product: Brand: Size:

Flavour:

Product: Brand: Size:

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>personal care top sellers

>New Products top sellers

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Size:

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FAX: 1-888-849-0155 or (416)703-6392

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ihr Magazine 60 Bloor St. West, Suite 1106, Toronto, ON, M4W 3B8 May 2012 • IHRmagazine.com

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LIFELONG PASSION PURPOSE &

With a passion for healing that began in adolescence, Lovie Wesolowski-Spicer has become an icon as health retailer and athletic performance coach.

By Carol Crenna • Photography by Mandy Harding

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 • IHRmagazine.com

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hen the late Phil Brunner from Albi Naturals made a trip to the Prairies to introduce products to a new health retailer who’d contacted him, he arrived at the door of a teenager’s parents’ house. He was told the girl he wanted to meet wasn’t home from high school. He parked his Winnebago and tried not to look surprised as he waited for her, eyed closely by the cautious parents.

That was in 1977 when, at 17, Lovie Wesolowski-Spicer took daring steps to realize her dream to open a health store, coldcalling suppliers whose products she’d tried and trusted. With a $21,000 bank loan co-signed by her parents and another $7,000 from brother Jules, the enterprising youngster opened Nature’s Health Centre in Saskatoon’s Grosvenor Park Centre, a mall concept never attempted in Canada before. It opened under a business model and bookkeeping system that she developed in her grade 12 business class which she still uses today. Spicer has become a health and performance-nutrition pioneer, establishing the store in the same location for 35 years.

“I was fascinated by the human body at an early age, and asked for models or colouring books of the organs whenever I was offered a gift. Our family physician kept telling my parents about my affinity for healing, saying he conversed with me like a colleague when I was an adolescent,” states Spicer. Her strengths remain in chemistry – choosing product ingredients that are most effective, regardless of brand – and in building relationships with customers by giving health consultations.

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At the same time she opened Nature’s Health Centre, Spicer became a sports nutrition coach, using her body-building brother as a guinea pig. She explains, “I felt, ‘If I can help people who are sick, can you imagine what I could do with people who are well?’” His lean body mass grew so large that athletes wanted to know his secret.

Spicer launched Performance Nutrition, a consulting company, and has worked with many famous athletes. She recounts notable names: Charles Servizio, in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most pushups (46,001 in 24 hours) was trained by her.

Winnipeg Jets GM, Kevin Cheveldayoff has been a client since he played Juniors. Trainer-to-the-stars Grant Roberts, who trained Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby, was a customer at Spicer’s store when he was 15, and was then coached by her. Marcia Kilgore, owner of Bliss New York Spa, who has clients including Julia Roberts, worked for Spicer and continued getting advice while opening her business. Spicer advised Olympic bobsledder Jamie Cruikshank, Olympic decathloner Winchester Johnson, and Superbike racer Brett McCormick. She’s worked with NHL players Devin Setoguchi (Minnesota Wild) and Luke Schenn (Toronto Maple Leafs) since their teens. Agents asked Spicer to help increase the athletes’ muscle-to-fat ratio, enabling them to play in the NHL. In 2004, former Saskatoon Blades GM Brent McEwen (current scout for Los Angeles Kings) asked Spicer to work with the team.

She recounts, “The team had been dead last even though they had Mike Green, Wacey Rabbit and Devin Setoguchi, who later became

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“Ever since I began, there have been government regulation issues and products pulled from shelves.

It doesn’t have to impact the business.”

some of the NHL’s highest paid players.” She created individual off-season programs for 33 on-ice players and 28 prospects. As a result, in one off-season, the average muscle gain per player was 22 pounds, and speed or endurance gains were extraordinary.

Now a Registered Nutritional Consultant (RNC), Certified Natural Health Practitioner (CNHP), and ISSA Specialist in Sports Nutrition, she lectures to national audiences.

Spicer has fond memories of working with health industry legends.

Orthomolecular pioneer Dr. Abram Hoffer and Order of Canada recipient and pediatric expert Dr. John Gerrard visited her often because their patients shopped her store. She was taught by icons Dr. Morton Walker, Dr. Bernard Jensen and Dr. Earl Mendell. She knew Udo Erasmus as a zoologist before he launched his product line and lectured at her store, and the late Charlie Fox, Kyolic’s founder, was “a phenomenal storyteller” during his store lectures.

Jack Gahler, a construction worker who sold supplements parttime, didn’t have initial success with Spicer. “I didn’t like the products he sold, so wouldn’t buy them, and encouraged him to start a higher-end line. He did, and called it Natural Factors.

Jack’s fibre is woven into the structure of the industry; grandson Michael stays true to his grandfather’s humbleness and integrity.”

Spicer obtained a second business loan a decade ago when health products went mainstream –– her biggest-selling brand was introduced in the mall’s supermarket. “I invested in introducing products that no other store had to regenerate the lost business.

It worked.”

Today, in her 50s, Spicer continues coaching and managing the store every day and now greets third-generation customers. How does she keep going, even after raising eighteen-year-old twins?

She concludes, “There was never any choice. I was brought to where I need to be. I still feel 17, having the same passion, and living by the same philosophies.” Spicer has now committed to writing a book to “give back” to the hockey industry.

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Spicer’s sage advice: • Hire up-and-coming experts. Spicer heads to the local university to find staff. Four staff members became naturopathic physicians during their employment. Biochemistry student, Jason Kindrachuk, worked at the store for years, and is now a Ph.D. researcher at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Washington D.C. • Create environments to keep staff. She has never fired an employee and no one has left for reasons other than to advance their medical careers. (Some felt the responsibility to find a replacement when they left.) Their needs and limited hours available are respected; they’re given unique opportunities to learn; they’re treated like family Beckie Harris has been there for 22 years.

• Align with health organizations. Patient-support organizations are realizing that research-backed dietary advice brings increased hope to those with a disease. It empowers them to participate in their healing. “Providing a local health society with specific nutrition and supplements that relieve symptoms offers huge potential for a store (or supplier) to get in on the ground floor.”

While on the provincial board of the MS Society, Spicer became the consulting expert, fielding all complementary medicine and nutritional questions.

• Consider public profile. People of influence can become champions of your company. Public speakers in all sectors, who have incredible opportunities to influence audiences, often mention nutrition. “At a teachers’ conference, in the middle of the keynote speaker’s lecture to 2,500 people, he stopped and said, ‘I have to share with all of you that you need to be taking omega3s for these reasons… I take Ascenta.’” Immediately following, attendees purchased every bottle in Spicer’s store.

• Don’t dismiss any request. Seemingly unrelated sectors provide potential customers. Spicer has conducted health talks for a musicians’ association about stress reduction; a mining company’s miners about detoxification and sinus-cavity cleansing; and a violin players’ organization discussing relief for muscle pain due to holding instruments for long periods.

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• Stay ahead of the curve to be seen as a leader, but not too far ahead. When the first omega-3 supplier tried to sell the new product to Spicer, she repeatedly refused. Spicer waited and watched the market. After the first reports by media validating its research, and disease-management organizations beginning to promote it – areas outside of the natural health industry Spicer suddenly placed a large order. “Surprised, they called and asked why the sudden change of mind. I said ‘because the environment changed.’ It must be fresh when the trend hits the marketplace.”

• Be a trend forecaster. Spicer analyzes cultural trends, searches websites like www.webmed.org for new compounds being researched, and keeps an eye on new specialty retailers for the latest trends. “Take an ‘aerial’ view of nutrition that’s now a part of everyday everywhere school, restaurants, fitness, workplace wellness, retirement homes, vacation destinations…” Her picks for future trends: 1. Tea will top sales. Since tea shops/public tea rooms are growing, increasing tea consumption, this will translate into a lucrative healthy tea product market.

2. Yogurt makes resurgence. Frozen yogurt shops are returning; and similar to how juice bars inspired sales of greens and protein powder, superfood ingredients added to yogurt will spur supplement sales to “make your own.”

3. Weight loss will expand. “Diet products provide an opportunity for you to become consultants on the other necessary steps that should be taken for weight management when customers come into the store.”

• Think collaboration, not competition. Spicer aligned herself with the departments of pharmacy and medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, and advises medical students there on complementary medicine. “Open communication has created

mutual respect. If you consider that all disciplines are trying to help in their own way, no one gets defensive and everyone works together.”

• Recognize regulatory cycles. Spicer explains, “Ever since I began, there have been government regulation issues and products pulled from shelves. It doesn’t have to impact the business.” Within first years of business, fears from the U.S. that all supplements would be pulled from the market prompted her to include product availability-dependent back-out clauses in her leases. She advises not concentrating the business in one area, and focusing less on product hype and more on core customer needs.

At a Glance Nature’s Health Centre Locations: One Main Address: 48 Grosvenor Park Shopping Centre, Saskatoon Phone: (306) 373-5322 Website: www.natureshealthcentre.com Staff: 4 Top-Selling Products Food: essential fats and oils, gluten-free alternative grains, gluten-free mixes (cookies, muffins, brownies) Vitamins: foundation vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, vitamin B, magnesium, calcium, weight management products, athlete-focused products including sports nutrition and protein powders Personal: Fragrance-free, preservative-free, hypoallergenic shampoos, conditioners and skin ointments for specific health issues

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Natural health solutions take the spotlight last 40 years,” says Helen Sherrard, president of the Canadian Health Food Association. “Canadians are taking the initiative to educate themselves about natural health options, exploring what’s available to them and ultimately benefiting from the supplements.”

“Natural Health Products Week is a great time to speak to the public at a local level,” says Sherrard. “These activities will help showcase the benefits achieved through using natural health and organic products.”

CHFA suggests these top three ways to promote health “from the inside out” to your customers:

Natural Health Products Week, which runs from November 12 to18, 2012, is a week-long celebration initiated by the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) to raise awareness and shine a spotlight on natural health products, their benefits, and the importance of the NHPs industry.

Enjoy more whole foods — Convenience is entrenched in the modern lifestyle which sometimes means grabbing fast, processed food and snacks on a regular basis. However, it’s just as convenient to eat whole foods, and much healthier.

Consuming more nuts, seeds and fruits is the easiest option for consumers to enjoy healthy and nature-made ready-to-eat foods.

Natural health retailers across Canada (locations found at chfa. ca) will be celebrating with a number of in-store promotions and activities. This annual initiative shines a spotlight on all natural health and organic products, highlighting the benefits of a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle.

Learn which natural health options improve your health — Encourage customers to stop by your store where knowledgeable staff can share helpful information and health tips. While there, they can celebrate Natural Health Products Week by participating in draws for prizes and enjoying sample taste tests.

Canadians are taking a broader approach to maintaining their health; a recent Ipsos-Reid survey shows that more than 70 per cent of Canadians regularly take natural health products as a way to support their healthy lifestyle.

Go organic — Introduce customers to the latest certified organic foods that you carry, which have been grown and handled according to strict procedures and without persistent toxic chemical inputs.

“Natural health retailers have seen a progressive increase in education and purchases among the general public over the

If you’re a natural health retailer interested in supporting NHP Week, you can learn more at chfa.ca.

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multi vitamins?

Who buys

By Allison Tannis

E

veryone takes a multivitamin. Right? The reality is that many of us don’t. According to a 2010 Ipsos-Reid survey, although 73 per cent of Canadians regularly takes a natural health product, our purchase of vitamins and minerals fell 4 per cent — to 53 per cent from 57 per cent from the previous year — and has been in steady decline.

How do retailers encourage consumers to buy into this daily ritual that should be as basic as brushing your teeth? By knowing your customer and giving them exactly what they want.

A steady staple?

Although multivitamins are accepted by the wider population, they are not high on bestseller lists. “The multivitamin category as a whole has been flat for the last few years… consumers have a set amount of disposable income and a growing number of health category options, ” confirms Renzo Mariani, VP of Sales and Marketing at BodyPlus, makers of Progressive’s multivitamin line.

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Retailers agree. “Multivitamins are not our best seller…fish oils and greens are,” states Lou Liberatore, Health First Network board member and owner of the Healthy Bug in Halifax. The popularity of green products and essential fatty acids isn’t surprising considering that focused research and marketing have directed consumer interest towards these products, stealing attention away from conventional multivitamins.

Yet, multivitamins are fighting back. A glance at store shelves shows a growing number of diversified multivitamin products available by selected retailers with enough space to display them.

Multivitamin metamorphosis In a category once dominated by one-size-fits-all one-a-day formulas, multivitamins now offer products targeted to specific ages, activity levels, genders and even health conditions. They are sometimes available in divided daily dosages, which are thought to offer better absorption of nutrients. They may include additional nutrients such as greens, superfruits (like acai berry and bilberry), herbal extracts, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids in an attempt to offer a better, more “complete” multivitamin.

Jason Gloster, owner of Horn of Plenty in Dundas, Ontario tracks sales of multivitamins in his store and he has seen a marginal increase this year. Yet, he is quick to note that growth is not from “your average one-a-day multivitamin”; it’s coming from premium products with higher price points. Alternatively, pharmacies are not reporting such growth in multivitamin skus, perhaps due to restrictive planograms in larger format stores.

Regardless of where a consumer buys, they appear to be looking for the same thing. “Customers come in asking for the ‘best’ multivitamin, and for many, price is not an issue,” says Mike Boltsworth, supplement section supervisor at the Halifax Planet Organic. Mike Forbes of Forbes Pharmacies (Rexall), Victoria, B.C. notes a similar request from consumers for the best multivitamin, but says, “A lot of multivitamin sales come from the pharmacist (recommending them to customers), so sales of specific brands depend on what the pharmacist recommends.”

The right fit Consumers are becoming more ingredient savvy. They are proactively researching products’ nutritional information on the Internet. They have heard that taking the wrong delivery type may be of little benefit to their particular body (if not absorbed), and that taking specific nutrients not deficient in their particular body may set its equilibrium off balance. According to Mariani

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at BodyPlus, consumers are better educated about the value of quality ingredients and delivery methods. “They aren’t willing to settle for one-size-fits all anymore.” Body Plus has seen success in diversifying its multivitamin line, now offering gender and activity specific formulas.

Diversify your products Since each consumer’s demands are unique some want traditional one-a-day formulas, while others prefer more complex personalized multis stock a comprehensive multivitamin section.

How do you know how many types to carry? “For the right product mix, I look at inventory like interior decorating within a house: arranging by colour, brand mixes, sight lines. I expand on one line as a focal point or add something new to catch the eye only if I see these filling a vacancy in the market. In the near future, I feel that micronutrients will be reinvented with products by a new brand offering a different appearance or delivery method,” states Lovie Wesolowski-Spicer of Nature’s Health Centre in Saskatoon.

Consider a choice of delivery formats: tablets, capsules, powders and liquids may alter the product’s effectiveness, absorption and price point. (Tablets are usually lesser absorbed and least expensive while liquids and powders are thought to be better absorbed and higher priced.) Children’s, men’s, women’s, and “over 50s” formulas designed to meet varying nutritional needs are also available.

According to Mike Forbes, be sure to offer smaller easy-to-swallow capsules. “The elderly are starting to get into multivitamins, and they have a problem with the large pill sizes. I often advise them based on pill size instead of coverage,” says Forbes. In his four pharmacies, he hasn’t experienced customers asking for multi-function vitamins (such as with added antioxidants and probiotics), and hasn’t had many request for liquids or powders over capsules and tablets.

Sebastian Wong of Ki Nature et Sante in Montreal states, “The multivitamin category is changing towards whole food supplements, and age- and gender-specific options are more prevalent… These help customers feel like it was made for them.”

However, he cautions, “It is important to have variety, but not too much. Too many options create confusion.”

Selling the X-factor To help staff and consumers wade through the diverse category, educate them on how to properly read a multivitamin label.

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Ensuring that staff ask consumers questions about their health, lifestyle, and age and then directing them to the appropriate multivitamin will help keep products moving off your store’s shelves. Ultimately, “…staff is what really moves the product,” says Gloster. Whether you stock multivitamins by merchandizing according to brand or prefer featuring them in a separate shelf category, optimize sales by making them easy to find. Consider signage, shelf tags with “Did You Know?” quick bytes of information, and bright, easy-tospot labels.

Only half of us may take a multivitamin. But that doesn’t mean you can’t sell as many as possible with proper merchandizing, educated staff and a diverse selection. Mariani put it best: “Understand the needs of your customers and then show them how the right multivitamin isn’t just an insurance policy, but a key component in their health regime, and the perfect fit for their lives.”

Allison Tannis BSc MSc RHN is a nutritionist, author and consultant who specializes in nutritional marketing and communications. Visit allisontannis.com for more.

Selling considerations for multivitamins: k Digestion: Digestive issues affect absorption of vitamins and minerals. For example, as we age, digestion and absorption of foods decreases. Therefore, the elderly require the most highly absorbable and high quality supplement to obtain optimum amounts of nutrients for continued health.

k If elderly customers or those with digestion issues prefer tablet form, suggest an inexpensive pill-cutter for an easier-swallowed divided dose.

k Intolerances: Customers with food intolerances or sensitivities may have reactions to certain added nutrients such as spirulina and green tea extract.

k Contraindications:

Consider which medications the customer is taking before recommending a multi; certain nutrients may create unpleasant side effects.

For example, heart disease and high cholesterol medications, antidepressants and pain relievers can cause constipation so taking a multivitamin with iron may increase the problem.

k Deficiencies: Certain medications can create nutrient deficiencies. For example, antacids, antibiotics, some anti-diabetes medications and anti-inflammatory medications deplete folic acid, and oral contraceptives can cause significant declines in vitamin C.

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Do you have a

SUCCESSION PLAN?

By Carol Crenna

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Timing is critical. “In all companies, we know the owner or executive is leaving, we just don’t know when. Those on the outside can objectively see when a succession plan is required, but internally they are not paying attention until it’s too late— when the person has already made the decision to leave. At that point, their body may still be there, but their focus and drive are gone, and a replacement won’t be able to tap their knowledge and learn from their passion,” explains Eden, who has worked with over 400 companies in the past 35 years.

Succession succeeds only when: 1. Your wisdom has been transferred to your successor.

2. You build adequate job training and integration time into the process.

3. Your contribution as exiting owner or executive is honoured, and your departure is accepted by your staff and the industry.

4. Your incoming successor is respected and appreciated.

5. You recognize that this transition process takes at least 1 to 3 years.

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Succession training should be similar to a traditional apprenticeship. The student shadows the master at his trade until they become the master. Often little has been recorded about the executive’s experiences in how they dealt with specific challenges, how successes occurred, what common sense approaches worked, and decision-making processes that helped them to think differently. “It is this storytelling as mentor which is missing today,” says Eden. Beyond teaching day-to-day duties, taking time to recall exact circumstances may be critical for the replacement to deal with similar issues and crises. “It is in the stories where wisdom is learned, and through hearing the entrepreneur’s journey, inspiration is gained. If this isn’t given, the new person has no point of reference, except education, for what it takes to do the job.”

“The greatest loss in succession is the irreplaceable wisdom and common sense gained by the retiring owner or executive that cannot be duplicated,” states Jan Eden, president of Calgarybased Eden Group, a corporate growth and CEO-training specialist.

Understand the difference between a general manager and a leader. If the incoming executive doesn’t take steps to grow the company, they’re a general manager, and the business will eventually fail. To fill the shoes of an entrepreneur requires a visionary leader who can see where the business needs to go and can execute steps to get there, focusing as much outside of the business as inside.

s your company strategically positioned for the future, with a plan in place for your retirement? Only 10 per cent of small to medium-sized business owners has a formal, written succession plan; 38 per cent has an informal, unwritten plan; and 52 per cent does not have a succession plan at all, according to a Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey.

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In this volatile climate, the emerging leader must be able to see what’s coming by studying the economy, reading about and analyzing the future of your industry, and the exact place that you should be today.

“For example, for many today, the vision is to ‘go global.’ This requires considering what it is that you don’t know in order to learn it,” offers Eden. “Several large companies in Alberta that globalized have failed drastically. They had the vision to expand into the U.S., but without a solid plan or S.W.O.T. analysis. They drive to Seattle or Denver with Alberta license plates and think they can set up the business there like in Canada. I was brought in to help a company after it lost $185 million trying to expand into the US because the leader didn’t consider what they might not know about the market.”

Critical factors in a succession plan: 1. Remove your assumptions. A strong resume or past experience doesn’t guarantee a good candidate. “The minute you assume anything, you are in trouble.”

2. Identify all risks both in not developing a proper succession process and in hiring the wrong candidate.

3. Consider the emotional impact that making this decision will cause.

4. Recognize that you and others close to the decision-making process may lose perspective. Getting objective external help may be necessary.

5. Find solutions to overcome the knowledge and business experience gap (which averages eight years) between you and your successor.

Sometimes the wrong person is given the top position due to a promotion within; it is their reward for working for the company loyally for many years. As Eden points out, it has become less about ability to lead in future and more what they have given to the company in the past. “You don’t honour a person’s loyalty by giving them a position that they cannot handle.”

Sometimes the CEO wants to retire but they, or others in executive roles, fear it because in their minds the revered leader is irreplaceable. Since duplicating yourself is rare, identify what it is about you that are most important to replace. Is it your people skills, ability to take action and execute, or progressive approaches?

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Pointed questions need to be asked to discover these qualities.

Rather than being overwhelmed by the exiting leader’s extended resume of experience, when summarized into a few strong points, the search becomes a more manageable, targeted task.

“Sometimes a company wastes time looking for a perfect fit when you actually need a complement, someone who has the most vital qualities but also brings new attributes to go forward.”

“Only by identifying how the successor may fail will you ensure that the ideal candidate successfully takes your place,” states Eden. The person leaving is often tempted to rush the process because they’re anxious to find a replacement, and therefore not wanting to look realistically at the negatives of hiring a certain candidate. The costs associated with hiring the wrong one are substantial when you consider rehiring, lost productivity, and subordinates who may leave due to a poor transition period.

Recognize that replacing the leader will change the company’s dynamics. Ensure that the staff has accepted the new person before the exiting leader leaves. Otherwise you lose momentum, putting the company at risk.

What if you own a retail concept that may look completely different in a decade? How do you find someone who can thrive in an evolving market?

Retailers need a successor that can constantly consider what the top competition in the world is doing, in and outside of your sector, and how it can be done better, and organizing focus groups to have continuous discussion with the public. Being innovative can take many forms: they may discover a new way to provide reduced costs to the customer while increasing your bottom line; invent an unusual private label product for your company; or offer a completely different service model. The person needs to be able to not necessarily think smarter, but think differently than the rest to stay progressive in a volatile industry.

How do you know what to do when you leave? “The majority of retiring people aren’t retiring; they’re ready to leave that job but they aren’t ready to stay home,” Eden concludes. Consultant positions can be ideal if the new leader has integrated into the culture and spent time working with the retiree, eliminating causes for discomfort.

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Your online community: tracking success

By Patricia Dunn and Rachel Thexton

Today it’s called your brand, but everyone – small businesses, corporations, you, me – needs to both build and maintain your reputation.

With the increasing pace and flow of electronic information, actively managing your profile is more crucial than ever. Even though we are public relations professionals, we recognize that anyone can build and maintain an online reputation through social media without hiring a team of consultants. But like any engagement, commitment is critical.

First, you define your goals ––”I want to be recognized as the premier purveyor of persimmon extract” –– and then commit the time to writing the blog entries and engaging the community through all social media platforms. To engage new audiences, distribute

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the persimmon extract to top food bloggers to create buzz and provide insight about the product. Do Facebook comments show tepid response to the taste? Maybe this is the time to tell these followers about a new flavour that hits stores next month.

media consultant bought followers. To determine your company’s authenticity, watch for dramatic spikes in numbers and followers having vague bios with zero tweets. Keep the following in mind when discussing online PR measurement:

How do you measure social success? When we discuss online public relations with clients, we’re often asked about return on investment (ROI). It’s important to consider that online popularity is more than just about numbers.

Measure the right things. Go beyond the number of followers.

Measure engagement and interaction, but also measure referrals to your website, blog or landing page.

Online tools have made it easier to measure reach, clicks and other metrics. Tools like Google Analytics, Hootsuite, Facebook Insights, Topsy and Bitly provide data that companies can use to evaluate the success of their social media efforts. Twitter is also expected to introduce its own analytics tool this year.

Focusing too much on numbers may not be prudent, however.

Although it is tempting to use the number of followers to determine the online success of a brand, social media is not a popularity contest. This numbers obsession is why some companies, politicians and celebrities have resorted to buying Twitter followers. One recent study found that up to 46 per cent of business Twitter followers are “bots,” automated accounts that are not managed by real people.

Demand authenticity. To get the most out of social media, connect with authentic people. A community made up of fake followers is not really a community. Buying followers (in any way) to increase your online community isn’t transparent or ethical.

These accounts cannot help you amplify a message or make a sale.

Are you working with an agency or external expert? Some companies may not even be aware that their outsourced social

Ask for context. What caused the spikes in your number of followers? Is it an online ad? A promotion with a blogger? A retweet by an influential person? Who are your followers and what type of conversations have you been seeing?

Expect transparency. From the beginning, be committed to growing your online community organically. Let your agency know that you’d rather have an authentic, robust community than a bought one.

Examine quality in addition to quantity. Dig deeper and evaluate what type of content people are engaging with. What type of information do they find most useful? What content of yours do they share with their networks?

Measuring public relations has never been a perfect science. But companies can take advantage of the opportunities that social media and other online tools provide, and their advanced ways to analyse results.

Patricia Dunn and Rachel Thexton work with clients including PepsiCo, Dairy Queen, O.N.E. Coconut Water, Apothic Wines, Adera Development Corporation and Delta Hotels at their Vancouver-based company Dunn Public Relations. www.dunnpr.com

Even though it’s not all about the numbers, here are some numbers: u Consider the big players: 22 per cent of Fortune 500 companies now have a public-facing blog that has at least one post in the past 12 months (comScore; www.arikhanson.com) u It IS your market. Social networking website usage grew 88 per cent among Internet users aged 55-64 between April 2009 and May 2010 (Pew Research; www.arikhanson.com) u Don’t think people won’t notice: 75 per cent of brand ‘Likes’ on Facebook come from advertisements. (Mashable; www. arikhanson.com) u Consider your options. More than 250 million people use Facebook Connect every month. (Facebook). u You know Twitter counts. Since April 2012, Twitter has gained

40 million users and a 62 per cent increase in mobile use of the platform (ClickZ; www.arikhanson.com). And from December 2009 to December 2010, users with a biography listed on Twitter increased from 31 per cent to 69 per cent. (Pew) u Don’t forget your business network. Twitter held the no.

2 spot up until December 2012 (37.5 million unique visitors) because LinkedIn was top contender the entire year before that (33.5 million). (ClickZ) u You may watch TV, but still consider video. The average Internet user watches 30 minutes of video online per day, a 40 per cent increase over 2009. (U.S. statistic by comScore) This could be compared to 4 to 5 hours of television per day. (www.arikhanson.com)

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Heart

health:

the latest research

By Carol Crenna

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earing our heart on our sleeve isn’t considered beneficial. But if we could actually do it, we would be able to take a close look at its condition every day to head off heart disease, the “silent killer.”

City Heart Study where participants’ vitamin D levels were measured in the 1980s and followed up to the present. This study measured vitamin D levels that included sunshine it didn’t prove that vitamin D supplements alone prevent heart disease.

More of us die from a broken heart than any other ailment.

Our hearts are often the most discussed, but least appreciated organ. Every seven minutes in Canada, someone dies from heart disease or stroke. Heart disease accounted for 29 per cent of all deaths in Canada (69,648) in 2008. It costs the Canadian economy more than $20.9 billion every year in physician services, hospital costs, lost wages and decreased productivity. (Heart and Stroke Foundation)

Another new study in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM, November 2012) found that low vitamin D combined with and high parathyroid hormone increases death in black adults and older Caucasians (aged 70 and older).

Few Canadians make a concerted effort to fend off heart trouble.

They’ve been told about healthy habits to reduce the risks losing weight, getting more exercise, eating less red meat and avoiding stress but they don’t do them regularly. However, consumers are taking supplements and medications to avoid heart disease. With that in mind, consider the latest research: Vitamin D deficiency increases heart disease You already know that not getting enough of the sunshine vitamin contributes to cancer and poor bone health, but new research from Copenhagen University Hospital shows that low levels of vitamin D are associated with a high risk of heart attack.

The study involved over 10,000 people and was published in the American journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (September, 2012).

Low vitamin D levels are linked to 40 per cent higher risk of ischemic heart disease, 64 per cent higher risk of heart attack, and 81 per cent higher risk of death from heart disease, says Dr. Peter Brondum-Jacobsen, Clinical Biochemical Department, Copenhagen University Hospital. The investigation was based on the Copenhagen

Which is better: fish oil or pharmaceuticals?

We spend billions of dollars per year in North America on heart health supplements (the leading condition-specific category), but far more for cholesterol-lowering statins and other prescription cardiovascular drugs.

Omega-3 supplements are getting the lion’s share of supplement sales followed by CoQ10 and vitamin E. (Nutrition Business Journal) The supplement industry is facing growing competition from pharmaceuticals for the same market. The prescription omega-3 drug Lovaza (GlaxoSmithKline) is a high-dose DHA and EPA product that surpassed the $1 billion mark in 2009 in global sales, and is poised to soon surpass all fish oil supplements combined. The drug company Amarin Corp. is currently testing an omega-3 derived prescription drug and is expected to fi le for U.S. regulatory approval by the end of 2012. Both Lovaza and Amarin’s drug are designed to treat patients with very high levels of triglycerides, a blood fat connected to heart disease.

Low zinc linked to heart trouble A new study at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University (the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry October, 2012) has found how zinc deficiency can develop with age, leading to infl ammation associated with many health problems including heart disease. It’s also linked to cancer, autoimmune disease and

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“Omega-3 supplements are getting the lion’s share of supplement sales followed

by CoQ10 and vitamin E.” diabetes. It’s especially important for elderly people to get enough zinc, since they need more when their ability to absorb it declines.

About 40 per cent of elderly North Americans have diets deficient in zinc. In animal studies, when the subjects were given 10 times their dietary requirement for zinc, the biomarkers of inflammation were restored to those of young animals.

Emily Ho, associate professor in OSU School of Biological and Population Health Sciences states, “In both animal and human studies, zinc deficiency can cause DNA damage, and this new work shows how it can lead to systemic inflammation.” Ho recommends seniors take 8-11 milligrams of zinc a day in supplement or food form. It is found in seafood, meat, grains and vegetables, (although it’s harder to absorb in grains and vegetables). Levels above 40 milligrams per day should be avoided; zinc can interfere with absorption of iron and copper.

Pine bark extract may support blood vessel health New research reveals that pine bark naturally improves circulatory and blood vessel function in patients with coronary artery disease.

Heart attacks and strokes are caused by atherosclerosis (“hardening” of the arteries), and atherosclerosis is preceded by poorly functioning inner walls of the arteries. Endothelial cells line all of the blood vessels and arteries of the body, reducing friction and improving blood flow. A study published in European Heart Journal (January 2012) examined patients with coronary artery disease and the effects of a natural extract from the bark of the maritime pine tree. The study found that the extract naturally improved endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

“When coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked by plaque build-up, oxygen-rich blood cannot reach the heart muscle, often leading to a heart attack,” stated Dr. Frank Enseleit, the lead researcher of the study. “The results of this study show that pine bark extract significantly improves endothelial function and

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blood flow in patients with coronary heart disease. Its contribution can be clearly identified in spite of patients’ medication regimen of blood thinners, statins and blood pressure medications.”

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, study was completed at the Clinic for Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland.

The extract is derived from the bark of a maritime pine tree that grows along the coast of France. It contains procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids that have all been found to offer health benefits. This latest research confirms over 280 published studies and review articles that have been completed over the past 40 years on the bark, which is available in more than 700 dietary supplements worldwide.

Studies find cranberries are a coronary aid Three new studies have confirmed the research reinforcing cranberry’s health benefits. The American Heart Association’s (AHA) Council for High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions correlates cranberry juice consumption with improved blood pressure in adults. (Nutrition Business Journal, October 2012).

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cranberry juice may have a beneficial effect on high blood pressure due to its polyphenolic antioxidants. The study, presented at the AHA’s High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions, found that participants who drank cranberry juice as part of a healthy diet had lower blood pressure levels than those who did not.

An ounce of prevention equals a pound…

Our hearts weigh between one half to three quarters of a pound (280 to 340 grams) depending on gender and age while the weight of the brain, liver and kidneys decreases with age, the heart’s weight increases. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) This relatively small organ works 24 hour days to keep us alive. Help customers to appreciate their hard-working heart, and understand that healthy lifestyle is crucial to prevent heart disease. And explain that it can be difficult to get enough nutrients from diet alone so supplements may be necessary.

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LISTEN TO YOUR HEART Pycnogenol® helps maintain healthy circulation by increasing vasodilation of blood vessels, consequently improving blood flow and cardiovascular function.*

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

*For a complete list of scientific research and further information visit our website at www.pycnogenol.com Pycnogenol,® French maritime pine bark extract, is a registered trademark of Horphag Research, Ltd and its applications are protected by U.S. patents and other international patents. © 2012 Horphag Research USA, Inc.

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ingredient review

gold Liquid

Argan oil is the

hottest new beauty buy

By Noa Glouberman

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What is it? Argan oil (Argania spinosa) is produced from the kernels of the argan tree, which grows wild in Morocco. The argan tree thrives in semi-arid soil with nut-sized fruits that contain one to three argan oil-rich kernels. It is rare oil due to the tree’s very specific growing areas and the tree’s use by locals for wood.

(The rising popularity of argan oil in North America has prompted the Moroccan government to no longer allow cutting them down, and plans for increased production of oil aim to triple annual output by 2020.)

Is it new? No. It was first reported by explorers in the 1500s, and was taken to Europe in the 1700s. But use as a beauty aid is relatively new in North America. “Several companies from Europe have been using argan oil in their products for at least 15 years, particularly in France, since it was introduced as an established, popular product in much of North Africa,” states Pascal Frochisse, president of Distripharm in Saint-Bruno, Quebec. His company uses argan oil in its Nafha French organic products.

What is it in? Argan oil is traditionally used for food, but was launched in North America as a hair care ingredient and is now expanding into body care. For hair, it is packaged as a smoothing oil just a few drops is placed on dry hair to increase lustre and shine –– or as one ingredient within shampoos and conditioners.

For skin, it is found in body moisturizers and anti-aging creams.

“Our main line of skin products and hair conditioners contains argan oil, and we recently launched a new beauty brand called African Essentials that also contains the ingredient,” says Jérôme Vignols, president of Flash Beauté Inc. in Laval, Quebec.

Distripharm uses the ingredient within its anti-ageing and moisturizing facial creams along with other oils and extracts, and as a pure oil product for skin.

What does it do? Argan oil is said to help repair damaged hair and heal a dry scalp. For skin, it may reduce acne, aid in the treatment of psoriasis and eczema, soften scar tissue, and even diminish premature wrinkles and age spots. Beauty products include argan oil because of its ability to treat dull, dry skin and hair according to Vignol. (Health benefits of consuming argan kernel oil have

been reported to include lowering cholesterol and protecting against tumours due to its antioxidants.)

What makes it work? This oil boasts nearly three times the amount of vitamin E as olive oil. It also contains essential fatty acids, arotenoids, ferulic acid, sterols, polyphenols, carotenes, and squalene. All of these elements are known to help heal skin, reduce inflammation and fend off free radicals. (The antioxidant phenols in argan oil are caffeic acid, oleuropein, tyrosol, catechol, resorcinol, epicatechin and catechin.)

How quickly does it work? The fast-absorbing properties of argan oil enable its benefits to be seen instantly, especially if you have dry skin or hair that’s been damaged by a cold climate, chlorine or colour treatments. It gives immediate smoothness and brilliance to hair when applied as oil on dry or wet hair.

What makes it unique? One advantage compared with other oils is that argan has a fairly dry and silky, rather than heavy, finish.

When applied to your body, it doesn’t leave a greasy residue on skin.

Why buy it? The number of cosmetics containing argan oil on the U.S. market increased from two in 2007 to over 100 in 2011. A September 2012 search for “pure argan oil” on Amazon.com yielded over 500 items in the beauty department alone. One hair treatment by the brand Moroccan Oil has spent nearly 900 days on Amazon’s top 100 best-selling beauty products.

Are there different qualities or grades? To date, the most popular and promoted brand of argan-based oil is Moroccan Oil, but it includes silicone and linseed extract. Other brands are available that do not have these additional ingredients. Some methods of extraction use more processing and even use argan kernels that are left behind after goats have ingested the fruit and the seed is defecated. However, the highest quality brands use unrefined, certified organic oil extracted only from kernels of fallen fruits that are separated, sundried and hand-crushed by women using traditional methods with stones.

What do consumers think? “It’s new for us to work with argan oil, but the comments from customers have been very good,” Vignols says. “Even at trade shows where people are trying the testers and look for immediate results, they really like the product.”

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orget oil-free—the new beauty philosophy includes oils that are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. Derived from natural plant concentrates, argan oil is being touted as the newest saviour for skin and hair.

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Columnist Ken Vannucci

Merchandise manager for London Drugs and a social media advocate.

Shopper conversion: how do we do it?

By Ken Vannucci

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ken’s kool

T

he trick to most of the retail concepts in the trade today is the “breaking down” of each concept so that the front line staff can understand what is meant by these terms and catchphrases that get tossed around.

One example is the notion of “shopper conversion,” which is over-used and typically not understood. Yet, it may be the single most important strategy for retailers to survive in retail today. It is also a key strategy that the front line must understand and practice if they want continued employment in retail.

The way that I explain shopper conversion to stores is as follows: people come into our stores for Item A and B, and by us being a little creative, and thinking a little bit, we get them to leave with A,B,C,D,E,F,G… Let me clarify that I do not want to make anyone leave the stores with excessive or useless C,D,E,F,G’s. Rather, I want to do my best to have consumers leave with items that they should be thinking about at time of A and B purchase, to make it a more efficient shop, but didn’t. I save them a trip.

Conversion means assisting consumers to save time and save money by not forcing them to leave the location they are in to have to run around town fulfilling their shopping needs in various locations. Very simple spend more me with me.

How do we do it at store level?

Sometimes, the best examples are from retail locations that you would least expect. These are ones that practice the concept even though they have never heard of shopper conversion.

We have a small ethnic grocer up the street that really does a good job with this. They are not a tidy retailer. They have no parking to speak of. They offer nothing extraordinary in terms of product selection compared to larger retailers. They are ridiculously small, crammed into no more than 2,000 square feet. They are not priced competitively. They have only one location. They do not print flyers every week. They do not have a marketing budget that rivals other retailers.

What do they do well, maybe better than any of these others, that gives them this amazing ability to convert; and believe me, they convert!

The store is packed with people and products, yet you can maneuver. This, of course, is a key if you want patrons to buy more: don’t make it hard for them to shop. Even if stuff is jammed all over the place, they put things close to other things that you may need: floorstack of tomatoes beside floorstack of tomato paste beside bins stacked with dry pasta; stacked jars of artichokes next to stacked jars of eggplant beside breadsticks stack right in front of the deli. On and on it goes. Want to convert people easily?

Merchandise it well to make it easy to find stuff that works together. Adjacencies are important.

They have signs and tickets on everything; I have never had to ask anyone the price of an item. To convert people, make it easy for them to know how much each item is worth. If you make someone work at trying to give you money, they won’t.

Finally, they are really friendly, approachable people. At the checkouts, as you wait in line, there are great last-minute deals for you to buy because, no matter how full your basket is, you can always find room for a great deal.

The most crucial thing to understand in retail conversion that they do very well is: they don’t spend a lot of dollars trying to get new customers; they spend a lot of time and effort making sure they hang on to the bunch they have.

And they have a loyal bunch.

To make more money as a retailer without breaking the bank trying to get new customers into your stores, convert more customers that you have in your stores now. This is how a little corner grocer who should grab no more than $500 of my yearly food budget ($10 a week) seems to grab five times that!

Not rocket science. Just good retailing.

And yet they are extremely busy, and have an extremely loyal customer base. I sometimes stand back and just watch!

People fill their baskets with a variety of categories in a store that should be just a convenience shop. No one should be filling their basket with more than five or six items when there is a Walmart, Real Canadian Superstore, Safeway and PriceSmart within 1.5 kilometres of this store.

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special information feature

Why do we have such a need for minerals?

By Michael Deslandes, Biologist

Minerals are the construction and maintenance materials of all living organisms. They build up our skeleton, maintain our tissues and facilitate the functions in our bodies (heart, muscles, nervous system, etc.)

A poorly balanced diet, our lifestyle and physical exercise make us lose precious minerals that are difficult to replace. And sufficient intake through food is more and more difficult to achieve. Why? According to Agriculture Canada, soils have lost 50% of their mineral reserves over the last 40 years. Our frenetic lifestyle, our diet which is often lacking in nutritious foods, fruits and vegetables that are grown in overly exploited soils considerably reduce our mineral intake. Supplements therefore become necessary allies.

For minerals to be assimilated by our cells, it is necessary for them to be in colloidal or ionic form. It is an undeniable major advantage of liquid supplements. Pills and capsules are often only partially assimilated and end up feeding your bathroom plumbing rather than your body. For all needs in minerals supplementation, choose one of Land Art’s liquid highly bioavailable formulas, created by our research and development lab.

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What exactly is ionization?

Basically, we refer to ionic components when a pure ion is separated from the source. In most cases, an ionic component is more easily assimilated by the body because the “digestive� work is already done.

In liquid supplements, components from water-soluble sources are naturally ionized during production. The product is then said to be in solution.

Components which are in suspension are not, partially nor wholly, ionized because certain components are not watersoluble. (calcium carbonate, calcium citrate or magnesium citrate for example) A clue to know if a product is ionized: it will be very liquid, like water, without any deposits. If the product is thick or has the consistency of a gel, it is without a doubt that one (or more) components it contains are not soluble. The separation of the ion will then need to occur in the body.

Note: a solution may also become saturated if the quantity of components is too high which will create deposits.

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research news

Spirulina

Omega-3 Spirulina could treat chronic hepatitis C

Spirulina is good for more than boosting energy. In a study published in BioMed Central Gastroenterol, a fairly substantial percentage of patients given spirulina supplements reduced their hepatitus C infection (HCV) symptoms.

In the study, 66 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection received either spirulina or silymarin (an extract of milk thistle widely used for treating liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus) for six months of treatment. The two groups were followed up and blindly compared for early (after three months) and late (after six months) treatment response.

The effects of both treatments on: 1. alanine aminotransferase, which is a liver function test, 2. chronic liver disease questionnaire scores, and 3. sexual experience scale scores, and 4. the occurrence of any adverse effects of the treatments. Among the spirulina-treated patients, 13.3 per cent had a complete end to virus symptoms and 6.7 per cent had a partial end of symptoms after treatment. After three months of treatment, scores for all four of the above list were significantly improved in the spirulina group compared to the silymarin group.

These results suggest potential for spirulina in the treatment of chronic HCV patients. (BMC Gastroenterol. 2012 Apr 12;12(1):32.

PMID: 22497849)

O m e g a - 3 supplements improve citalopram efficacy in depression It seems there is still much to learn about omega-3’s benefits to brain health. A 2012 study was completed to find out the effects of combining omega-3 fatty acids with citalopram (a common antidepressant drug) and comparing that with effects of citalopram with a placebo (olive oil was used). Forty-two subjects participated in the nine-week study of combination therapy: some were given two 1 g capsules containing 900 mg EPA, 200 mg DHA, and 100 mg of other omega-3 fatty acids twice daily plus citalopram. Others took two 1 g capsules of olive oil per day plus citalopram. All individuals had major depressive disorder (MDD).

Results, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, revealed that the combination of omega-3 oil and the SSRI drug demonstrated significantly greater improvement in the patients over time, beginning at week four. The researchers concluded that the combination therapy was more effective than just using the drug (with placebo) in decreasing signs and symptoms of MDD during the eight-week treatment. However, combination therapy did not seem to speed up the initial antidepressant response usually found from taking the drug alone.

Results suggest that there may be an advantage to combining omega-3 fatty acids with a SSRI drug in treating people with major depression. (J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2012 Feb;32(1):61-4.

PMID: 22198441)

Beet juice Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure We know that beets have a long history of use as a liver cleanser, but they may also be good for the heart. Two randomly controlled studies were performed on volunteers with a normal blood pressure to find out their blood pressure after taking either four doses of beetroot juice or three types of bread (regular bread, and red beetroot- and white beetroot-enriched breads). It wasn’t stated why bread was used, but it represented “processed food.”

In the 2012 studies, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the volunteers’ total urinary nitrate/nitrite (NOx) was measured at the beginning, and at two hours, four hours, and 24 hours after taking beetroot. (Measuring urinary NOx helps determine the level of healthy homeostasis in the body.) Over a 24-hour period, beetroot juice alone significantly lowered systolic BP and diastolic BP compared to a control group. This was compared to the beetroot-enriched bread products that also lowered SBP and DBP. Total urinary NOx significantly increased following taking 100 g and 500 g beetroot juice, and also after beetroot-enriched bread was eaten.

These studies demonstrate the blood pressure-lowering, and perhaps heart-protective effects, of beetroot, which seems to be unaffected by processing. (Br J Nutr. 2012 Mar 14:1-9. PMID: 22414688)

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research news

Vitamin D

Microgreens Higher vitamin D can lower risk of Alzheimer’s

Vitamin D is not only vital as a cancer and heart protector; it may also stave off Alzheimer’s disease. A study was conducted to determine whether not taking vitamin D supplements, and therefore low vitamin D in the body, could be used to predict onset of dementia.

Women aged 75 to 84 that didn’t take vitamin D supplements (taken from results of the Epidemiology of Osteoporosis Toulouse study) were divided into three groups. These groups were divided according to the women’s onset of dementia within seven years (meaning no dementia or Alzheimer’s disease). Their amount of Vitamin D intake was estimated from food questionnaires given to the women.

Women who developed Alzheimer’s had lower vitamin D intake than the non-demented groups. Low baseline vitamin D dietary intake was associated with the onset of AD, but not other dementias. Those with the highest vitamin D intake had a lower risk of AD compared with those who took lesser or no amounts of vitamin D. However, it wasn’t stated how much needed to be taken to offset the disease. (J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2012 Apr 13. PMID: 22503994)

Microgreens pack a nutritional punch In the first scientific study of their nutritional content, young “microgreens” have been shown to contain 40 times more nutrients than when fully matured.

Microgreens are the seedlings of vegetables including cilantro and red cabbage, initially popular with chefs as a garnish. They are picked when only a few inches in length, harvested less than two weeks after germination, and offer a variety of colours to improve “plate presentation.”

“Because microgreens are harvested right after germination, all the nutrients they need to grow are there,” says researcher Qin Wang, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Maryland in College Park. “If they are harvested at the right time they are very concentrated with nutrients, and the flavour and texture are also good.”

Research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed high levels of vitamins and beta-carotene among microgreens, specifically red cabbage, cilantro, daikon radish and garnet amaranth.

Experts say these nutrients help fight cancer and are vital to our eye and skin health. Microgreens contain a high concentration of nutrients and intense flavour so not much is needed to impact the taste and nutrition of a meal.

Acupuncture Researchers “pinpoint” effective pain relief with acupuncture Acupuncture has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 4,000 years, and modern research now confirms why. A new study indicates that it could be more effective at treating pain than conventional therapies, and even pharmaceutical drugs. (The New York Times, September 2012) The authors of the study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine say the findings provide the most current and conclusive evidence that acupuncture is a reasonable referral option. The study was a meta-analysis from 29 studies of approximately 18,000 patients suffering from chronic pain. Cases included neck, shoulder and back pain, recurring headaches and arthritis. Participants were assigned to receive acupuncture, conventional treatment or “fake” acupuncture. The results were significantly in favour of acupuncture, with even fake acupuncture resulting in less pain than traditional treatment.

“This has been a controversial subject for a long time,” stated Dr. Andrew J. Vickers, lead author of the study, at Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center in New York. “But when you try to answer the question the right way, as we did, you get very clear answers.”

Studies also show acupuncture can alleviate addiction symptoms and other psychological or mood disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder. However, some experts remain convinced the benefits are simply a result of the placebo effect, which is a concern that the recent study set out to address.

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research news

Walnuts

Spinach Walnuts improve sperm quality

Eating walnuts may improve fertility in healthy, young men according to research published in 2012 in the medical journal Biology of Reproduction.

The study by UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Heath involved 117 men between the ages of 21 and 35 who were divided into two groups. While maintaining a typical Western diet, half of the male participants also ate 70 grams (2.5 ounces) of walnuts per day; the other half did not consume any tree nuts. After 12 weeks, sperm quality was improved in the group that consumed walnuts. The greatest improvement in “sperm swimming” was also observed in walnut eaters. (Natural News, August 2012) Fatty acids found in walnuts are believed to have aided in sperm development, the study said, although it wasn’t clear if they contributed to improving male fertility. Walnuts’ omega-3 fatty acids have also been linked to improved fertility and better sperm quality in other studies. About one in six couples are infertile, according to other research, with 40 per cent of those due to a male deficiency. “…There is increasing evidence to show that aspects of a man’s diet can affect the number and quality of sperm produced by his testicles,” said Dr. Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield in England, commenting on the study. This study was funded in part by the California Walnut Commission.

Spinach may decrease colon cancer risk Researchers from Oregon State University studied the effects of a carcinogen in cooked meat (called a Heterocyclic amine) and its effects on microRNA and cancer cells.

The study is part of ongoing research in the field of epigenetics, studying how cell behaviour can be changed through factors such as diet and the environment. The research at OSU’s Linus Pauling Institute (LPI) was recently reported in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, in work supported by the National Institutes of Health.

It was found that spinach consumption can somewhat limit the effects of the carcinogen and reduce the prevalence of colon cancer. Tests on animals in the lab found that spinach reduced colon cancer incidence from 58 per cent to 32 per cent.

Cancer is caused by changes in DNA sequence, or mutations, that allow for uncontrolled cell growth. But the role played by diet, environmental toxins and lifestyle in affecting the expression of genes is a new focus due to increasing evidence that they are just as great a cause. According to Mansi Parasramka, a postdoctoral scholar with LPI, cancer develops in many steps, with damaged cells arising through various means including MicroRNA changes.

More on acupuncture Olive oil contributes to better health in general, studies show Several studies have shown that incorporating olive oil into a healthy diet can support cardiovascular and liver health and lower blood pressure.

Medical journals show olive oil decreases the risk of heart disease and inflammation, regulates blood sugar, and improves insulin levels. The Journal of the National Medical Association published a 2003 study involving over 3,000 men and women showing that a diet rich in olive oil, fish, fruits, and vegetables decreased the risk of heart disease. The Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology published a study in 2009 stating clear evidence that olive oil consumption, as a part of a Mediterranean diet, is associated with a lowered risk for cardiovascular disease.

The World Journal of Gastroenterology concurred in another 2009 study. Scientists stated that not only does olive oil lower the risk of heart disease, it decreases triglycerides in the liver, improves insulin levels, and regulates blood sugar levels. Olive oil reduces cytokines in the liver by removing fat and cleaning out the serum lipid levels in the bloodstream. This lowers cholesterol in overweight individuals and reduces triglycerides in the liver. The high oleic acid content in olive oil may increase the oleic acid levels in cell membranes, which reduce blood pressure by controlling protein signaling. Other omega-9 rich oils have been reported to not have the same effect.

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research news

Echinacea

Chia seeds

The world’s largest echinacea study validates efficacy in flu prevention Scientists at the Common Cold Centre at Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences, Wales, U.K., have recently completed the world’s largest clinical study on Echinacea purpurea.

Although it has been considered a time-honoured remedy for cold and flu, some research studies (including an overview of evidence by the Cochrane Library) have recently questioned its efficacy – particularly as newer and less concentrated formulations have flooded the market. This study, however, set out to establish the short- and long-term effects of echinacea on cold and flu viruses. It was found that the use of a properly formulated echinacea meant fewer colds, reduced duration of cold symptoms and less reliance on synthetic pain-relievers containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Roland Schoop, one of the study’s authors, told Britain’s Daily Telegraph that researchers were amazed when they found a 26 per cent difference in cold episodes.

In addition, the study showed that an echinacea preparation could be taken daily for up to four months to prevent colds without adverse side effects or rebound symptoms. University of London researcher Dr. Margaret Richie, who was not in the study, added, “The clinical trial indicates that echinacea supports low-running immune systems but does not overstimulate well-supported ones.” (www.dailymail.co.uk/health) The double-blind, placebo-controlled study demonstrates that echinacea is effective in the prevention and treatment of colds and flu, and that it is safe for long-term use.

Chia seeds, rich in omega-3, beneficial to postmenopausal women Chia seeds, an excellent plant-based source of alpha-linolenic acid, may help raise blood levels of the long chain omega-3 EPA and omega-3 ALA for postmenopausal women.

Based on the findings of a study by the University of North Carolina and the Appalachian State University completed on postmenopausal women, eating 25 grams of ground chia seed daily for seven weeks was associated with increased levels of omega-3 ALA by 138 per cent, and increased levels of omega-3 EPA by 30 per cent.

(Natural News, September 2012) These polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for normal body functions and must be obtained from food because the body does not produce them. Omega-3 contributes to building cell membranes in the brain, and protects against heart disease by lowering cholesterol and maintaining artery function. It may also reduce inflammation, stabilize hormones and improve mood, which is certainly good news for women experiencing menopausal symptoms.

Chia is one way to get the recommended daily dose of 2 grams of omega-3 ALA. It is also a rich and sustainable source of dietary fibre, protein, minerals and antioxidants.

Chaga mushrooms Chaga mushrooms pose multiple health benefits The chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) is a fungus that grows parasitically on birch and other hardwood trees. Betulinic acid is a compound toxic to cancer cells found in birch bark; however, taken directly from the bark, it can’t be digested by humans. Chaga contains large amounts of betulinic acid in a form that can be ingested orally, and contains a full spectrum of immune stimulating phytochemicals.

Researchers at Kyunghee University in Seoul, South Korea, examined chaga’s effectiveness in protecting cellular DNA. Cells were treated with mushroom extract and then exposed to oxidation. The extract-treated cells had 40 per cent less DNA mutation compared with the untreated cells.

A Japanese study found that chaga had higher levels of antioxidants than other medicinal mushrooms. While few human clinical studies have been performed, in vitro and in vivo animal studies have found chaga mushrooms decrease tumour size. (Natural News, August 2012) Compared with other foods rich in antioxidants, such as blueberries and pomegranate seeds, chaga is much higher in antioxidants. To reap the benefits of chaga mushroom, it is best taken as a supplement, in liquid extract form (and added to any beverage), or dried and taken as a tea.

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