Zenbev has natural written all over it while supportedby a solid foundation in science. Developed bya Canadian psychiatrist to help people relax andsleep naturally, Zenbev bridgesthe gap between food andmedicine. Containing organicfood ingredients supplied locallywhere possible, it is manufacturedin Ontario and sold around theworld. Zenbev’s Health Canada-approved formulation cleverlycoaxes the brain to trigger naturalrelaxation and sleep by usingpumpkin-seed flour combined

with other strategic ingredients. The organic pumpkinseeds are carefully harvested, the oil is removed andsustainably used to make high-quality pumpkin-seed

oil. The resulting flour is a nutrient-rich, protein concentrate providingessential amino acids that is Zenbev’skey to stimulating natural sleep.

For more information,visit zenbev.com

ccording to a StatisticsCanada report released lastyear, 24.3 per cent of men

and 23.9 of women in Canada areobese, an increase in obesity ratesof 10 per cent for men and eightper cent for women since 1994. Notsurprisingly, nine in 10 Canadianshave at least one risk factor for heartdisease, and the prevalence of Type2 diabetes is increasing dramatically.

A growing body of researchindicates that supplementing thecritical nutrients lost through foodprocessing, lifestyle and aging maybe important to stemming this trend.

For example, research hasprovided plentiful evidence for thebenefits of omega-3 supplementa-tion, says Dr. Jonathan Beatty, anaturopathic doctor as well as anatural product formulator andhealth educator for Prairie Naturals.

Two omega-3 fatty acids, EPAand DHA, are proven general anti-inflammatories, he says. “They’revery important for cardiac health,and studies have shown they canactually increase the uptake ofcertain chemotherapeutic agentsin cancer cells. In addition, they’vebeen shown to help in the treat-ment of diabetes.”

Dr. Beatty also prescribes coen-zyme Q10 regularly. Used in energygeneration in every cell of thebody, the supplement is importantfor muscle health, including thecardiac muscle. Studies have shownthat optimum levels of anothersupplement, creatine, can improvethe speed at which individualscan perform arithmetic functionsand can improve hand-eye co-ordination. “As we age, we produceless creatine naturally,” he notes.“That’s why it’s so important tosupplement it.”

It’s also essential to be alert fornutrient deficiencies caused bymedication, Dr. Beatty says. “Manyof the side-effects of medicationsare caused by nutrient deficiency,and because of that, they’re actu-ally very simple to treat.”

A common example is statindrugs, used to lower cholesterol.“Statins deplete CoQ10, so withoutsupplementation, patients takingstatins may be reducing one heartdisease risk factor while increas-

ing another. Any time a drug isprescribed, I encourage patients toask their doctor if there are any nu-trients they might need to supple-ment,” advises Dr. Beatty.

There is excellent clinical sciencesupporting the claims of nutrientsbeing sold in health food storestoday, says well-known nutrientresearcher and product formula-tor Lorna Vanderhaeghe. “Thereare so many human, double-blind,placebo-controlled clinical trials.”

Two nutrients have been ap-proved by Health Canada for thetreatment of diabetes: ConjugatedLinoleic Acid (CLA), a fatty acidthat been shown to burn fat; andgreen tea extract for weight loss.“That combination works excep-tionally well, even with no dietchange,” says Ms. Vanderhaeghe. “Ido hundreds of lectures across thecountry every year, and it continuesto surprise me how many peoplewith Type 2 diabetes don’t knowthat if they lose weight and eat theright foods, their diabetes could bea thing of the past.”

A study of post-menopausalwomen, the demographic that hasthe most difficulty losing weight,

found that they lost an average ofseven pounds over 90 days with thecombination of CLA and green teaextract, even with no other dietarychange.

Another nutrient, Chirositol,has been shown in more than 30clinical trials at the Virginia MedicalSchool to reduce belly fat and pre-diabetes symptoms, such as skintags. Fibre and chromium supple-ments are also approved by HealthCanada for use by individuals withdiabetes; lipoic acid is approved forthe treatment of diabetes-relatedneuropathy.

“All Canadians can benefit fromnatural health products (NHPs) aspart of a balanced, healthy lifestyle,”says Helen Sherrard, president ofthe Canadian Health Food Associa-tion. “Natural health products are agreat option for Canadians lookingto proactively manage their health,as there are many options for deal-ing with an array of symptoms andongoing ailments.”

All NHPs must undergo a pre-mar-ket review before they may be soldin Canada. “This process requiresthat evidence supporting the safety,efficacy, or any claims made, and

quality of the product be submit-ted to the Natural Health ProductsDirectorate for assessment in orderto be licensed,” says Ms. Sherrard.

It’s also easy for individuals todo their own research, adds Ms.Vanderhaeghe. “Anyone can go toPubMed, the public medical library.For example, just type in CLA andweight loss to find all the relatedstudies. All the abstracts are there,so the average person can read andunderstand.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Canada’s Natural HealthProducts Industry

70Percentage of Canadians whouse Natural Health Products(NHPs) on a regular basis.

45Percentage of Canadians whotake an NHP on a daily basis.

85Percent of those who use NHPsdecided to use these productsbecause they want to helpmaintain and promote theirhealth.

10,650Estimated number ofestablishments directlyinvolved with the sale of naturaland organic health products.

34,000The estimated number ofindividuals, directly employedby the industry.

70Percentage of Canadian NHPusers who support developing anew act for NHPs in Canada.

151The number of licensed NHPsthat have a recommended useor purpose associated withmenopause.

Nutrient supplements offer a provenway to better health

All Natural Health Products (NHPs) must undergo a pre-market review before they may be sold in Canada.PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS

T H E G LO B E A N D M A I L • T U E S DAY, M A RC H 2 0 , 2 01 2PAGE 1 • AN INFORMATION FEATURE

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MARKETPLACE

“All Canadians canbenefit from naturalhealth products (NHPs)as part of a balanced,healthy lifestyle.Natural health productsare a great option forCanadians looking toproactively managetheir health, as thereare many options fordealing with an arrayof symptoms andongoing ailments.”

Helen Sherrard,President,Canadian Health FoodAssociation (CHFA)

Natural Health increasingly defining a lifestyle

A nutrient-rich, protein concentratemade with organic pumpkin seedsprovides the essential amino acids keyto stimulating natural sleep.

www.hormonehelp.com

Dear Lorna, I’ve been following your book A Smart Woman’s Guideto Weight Loss and taking Glucosmart containing Chirositol™for the last 2 months. I’ve lost 30 pounds and 4 inches. I’mgoing to keep following all your advice...another 60 pounds to go. AM, BC

Belly fat is a stubborn problem. No end ofsit-ups and crunches make it disappear.We know there is a connection between ourexpanding waistlines and our hormones. Insulinis a powerful hormone that, when in excess,causes belly fat and an elevation in circulatingmale hormones in women, causing facial hairgrowth and acne too. In men, elevated insulinresults in a beer belly and breasts.

Elevated insulin promotes weight gain, high cholesterol, diabetes andexcess belly fat. Skin tags are an early sign of pre-diabetes. Thankfully,busting belly fat and normalizing insulin just got easier. The nutrientChirositol™, researched in over 30 studies at the Virginia Medical School,works for pre-diabetes, Type-2 diabetes, excess male hormone-relatedconditions like acne, PCOS, and male facial hair growth in women.Chirositol™ found in Glucosmart, has also been shown to reduce appetiteand improve our happy hormone serotonin, which halts sugar cravingsand controls appetite. But where Glucosmart really shines is in fightingbelly fat in both men and women.

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By Helen SherrardPresident of the Canadian HealthFood Association (CHFA)

s the health care land-scape continues to evolve,many Canadians are

taking a more active approach totheir own health and that of theirfamilies. It’s no coincidence thatmore than 70 per cent of Canadi-ans use natural health products(NHPs) to maintain and improvetheir health, as well as to treatvarious ailments. People recognizemore and more that they haveoptions for addressing their healthconcerns. Many are seeking a moreholistic, natural approach to theirhealth care.

While there is a role for bothnatural and pharmaceutical treat-ment, the NHP industry, whichcontributes $3 billion to the Cana-dian economy and helps millionsof Canadians meet their healthcare needs, is increasingly recog-nized as a core part of mainstreamhealth care in Canada.

A 2011 Natural Health ProductTracking Survey, conducted byIpsos Reid for Health Canada,shows that Canadians use NHPsin three main ways: to prevent ortreat a health condition; to reducehealth risks; and to maintain goodoverall health. Moreover, the latestConsumerology Report on healthcare suggests that Canadians arechoosing “what’s seen as beingmore naturally produced healthsupplements,” instead of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The 2011study of 1,500 Canadians focusedon consumer consumption, per-ceptions and behaviours regarding

OTC drugs and health supple-ments, including vitamin, mineraland herbal supplements.

An easy way to take a moreholistic approach to your healthcare is to visit your local healthfood store and buy an NHP-basedcough remedy for a sore throat.Another option is to try naturalzinc or elderberry lozenges, whichwill help heal and restore the bodynaturally. It’s a simple yet powerfulchoice for consumers who want

to know what is in the productsthey are using and feel good aboutthose ingredients. NHPs give themthat option.

Even more important than treat-ing an illness is avoiding being sickaltogether, and NHPs can certainlyhelp with that. It’s always recom-mended to consult with yourhealth care practitioner beforestarting a new regime; however,learning about and practisingpreventive health care can help

avoid sickness from occurring. It’sabout taking a proactive approachtowards health, diet, exercise andlifestyle.

Just one example of such anapproach is to use omega-3 fattyacids, which act as an anti-inflam-matory, lubricate muscles, lowerblood pressure, protect vision,reduce osteo- and rheumatoidarthritis, improve your mood andmore. Utilizing this one supple-ment shows the possibilities of

preventing uncomfortable andpainful symptoms, while improv-ing your quality of life. However,our health care system is gearedtoward treating illness, which isexpensive and only adds to thedemands already placed on thesystem. Using NHPs as part of ahealthy lifestyle and preventivehealth care routine is a valuableinvestment in personal health –and a necessary investment in ourhealth care system as a whole.

Natural health products help Canadians livehealthier, happier lives

NATURAL HEALTH PRODUCTS

AN INFORMATION FEATURE • PAGE 2THE GLOBE AND MAIL • TUESDAY, MARCH 20 , 201 2

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Health food storesprovide choice, education

ccording to the CanadianHealth Food Association(CHFA), there are more

than 40,000 natural health prod-ucts licensed for sale in Canada.“The natural health productcategory has grown remarkablyover the past 40 years and nowrepresents a $3 billion industry,with thousands of jobs in small-and mid-sized businesses,” saysCHFA president Helen Sherrard.

With that range of choiceavailable, buying natural healthproducts from health food storescan result in a superior level ofcare, while supporting the localeconomy, she says.

“Most health food store salesstaff are trained and skilled,” saysMs. Sherrard. In addition, such staffare often part of a greater holistictreatment community, she notes,so they are able to direct custom-ers to health professionals suchas dieticians and naturopathicpractitioners when further adviceis needed.

At Planet Organic Market, for ex-ample, it is common for individualsto visit one of the stores for the firsttime after being diagnosed withceliac disease or food allergies, saysAlan Thompson, store manage-ment coordinator. “We can arrangea shopping trip in which we pointout the items in the store that areappropriate for their new diet. Wealso hold education sessions, andthe most popular are cooking class-es for people with food allergies andraw food preparation classes.”

In addition to educational offer-ings for customers, Planet Organicarranges regular educational ses-sions for its staff. “In less than10,000 square feet, our stores selljust over 30,000 different products,so it’s very important for us to beable to provide education sup-port for our employees,” says Mr.Thompson.

“Almost weekly, we have differ-ent vendors, suppliers and guestspeakers do morning or eveningclasses with our teams,” he adds.“And if there is a new item, thevendor or broker will arrange aclass to go over the product infor-mation and benefits, so our teamcan help educate our customers.”

“While there is a rolefor both natural andpharmaceutical treat-ment, the NHP industry,which contributes$3 billion to the Canadi-an economy and helpsmillions of Canadiansmeet their health careneeds, is increasinglyrecognized as a corepart of mainstreamhealth care in Canada.”

The latest Consumerology Report on health care suggests that Canadians are choosing “what’s seen as beingmore naturally produced health supplements” rather than over-the-counter drugs. PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Prairie Naturals, a family businessheadquartered near Vancouver,researches, develops, marketsand distributes more than 150premium quality nutritional andfitness supplements and naturalhair and body care productsthrough hundreds of retail storesacross Canada.

All Prairie Naturals ingredi-ents are tested by independent,government-approved labora-tories before production begins;all finished products are furthertested to ensure label claim,

potency and purity.To help Canadians “live the

healthy life” at any age, thecompany sponsors ongoing edu-cational programs for the publicand its retail partners. Frequentlypresented by holistic pharmacistRoseMarie Pierce or naturopath-ic doctor Dr. Jonathan Beatty, theprograms focus on all aspectsof healthy living, from diet andnutritional supplementation toexercise and attitudinal healing.

prairienaturals.ca

PROFILE: PRAIRIE NATURALS

“In less than 10,000square feet, our storessell just over 30,000different products, soit’s very importantfor us to be able to pro-vide education supportfor our employees.” ”

Alan Thompson,Store Management Coordinator,Planet Organic Market

This report was produced by RandallAnthony Communications Inc. (www.randallanthony.com) in conjunctionwith the advertising department of The Globe and Mail. Richard Deacon, National Business Development

Manager, rdeacon@globeandmail.com.

Online?

Visit theCanadianHealth FoodAssociation(CHFA) websitefor moreinformation:

www.chfa.ca Your little miss sunshine

benefits from a little vitamin D.

Healthy Canadians understand

the advantages of NHPs.

In fact, seven of every ten Canadians understand that Natural Health

Products (NHPs) are an essential part of their lives. The Canadian Health

Food Association (CHFA) works to ensure that you have access to, and

choice of safe, innovative and effective natural health products.

Visit chfa.ca today.