Are Health Food Stores Healthy?: Hmm, Not So Much
July 22, 2009 by blackgirlgrown
Filed under food and drink, living green
The extent of my health food store shopping begins and ends at Whole Foods – and that’s really only because they’ve got really great produce. That is my minor contribution to “living green.” But I’ve never approached shopping at Whole Foods or Trader Joes as an endeavor to eat/buy health food. And given a recent Smart Money article on “10 Things Health Food Stores Won’t Tell You,” that approach works for the best. A few points that stand out:
Organic Food: Organic is not another word for healthy. And the evidence suggesting organic foods have extra nutrients is debatable. Also, the label standards for organic are murky at best, and are always up for changes (at the whim of Congress!).
Natural: Similar to organic, just because a food is natural doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Arsenic, poppy, and coca are all natural – but certainly not healthy. In a rising number of instances, “natural” products can be hazardous to your health.
Saving the Earth: Some products at health food stores, no matter how green the packaging is, aren’t necessarily as eco-friendly as they sound. And the varying number of “eco-labels” each have their own standards reflecting their own definition of health and environmental purity.
Employees: Assuming employees know anything more than where to pick up their check is dangerous. Unfortunately, this spans most retailers from pharmacy technicians (seriously) to the Trade Joe stock boy. Don’t ask them for any advice on -strange ingredients of unknown origin grinded up, put in a capsule, and sold- supplements. Do you really want to put your health in the hands of someone more interested in their 15-minute break than your well-being?
