At the current rate of devastation caused by industrial farming, topsoil across the world will be depleted in 60 years.
If that’s not enough bad news, add to it the fact that industrial agriculture is responsible for up to one-fourth of “the emissions driving the climate crisis,” according to the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA). But there’s hope.
What is Regenerative Organic Agriculture?
Their collection of farming practices aims to protect and strengthen the farm ecosystem by focusing on soil health.
According to the ROA website, regenerative organic agriculture can:
rehabilitate soil
respect animal welfare
improve the lives of farmers
sequester carbon
build healthier communities
reap more nutritious and abundant yields
Benefits of Organic Food
While producers of conventional food may downplay the health benefits of organic, a meta-analysis in 2022, reported by the Institute for Functional Medicine, found an 11 percent lower probability of obesity in those who ate organic food.
Another meta-analysis of almost 350 peer-reviewed publications found that “concentrations of antioxidants such as polyphenols were much higher in organic crops and organic crop–based foods.”
For example, flavanones—key for radical scavenging activity—were found to be 69 percent higher in concentration in organic crops.
Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture
“Regenerative agriculture is being widely researched by organizations including the Rodale Institute and Nutrient Density Alliance to prove out soil health metrics, carbon sequestration, and nutrient density,” said Kristie Cerutti, vice president of supplement company Ancient Nutrition.
In addition to being invested in both of these organizations, their own R.A.N.C.H. Project focuses on Regenerative Agriculture, Nutrition, and Climate Health, which includes the launch of a new supplement line that is fully Regenerative Organic Certified.
Take Action to Protect The Natural Products Industry
Mark Wallace
Are you aware of the new FTC guidelines on how natural products companies are allowed to make consumers aware of what they're buying? Over the last couple of decades, things have changed quite a bit, and some of the new guidelines make it more difficult for us to play a role in our own health. I am concerned about what is going on, and how it may impact the natural products industry.
The FTC, in conjunction with the FDA, recently issued guidance that a supplement company have multiple human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for all “health-related” claims, and on complete products, rather than individual ingredients. Sounds like that could be a good thing, until you look closely.
The FTC Act requires advertising be truthful and not misleading, which protects consumers, something everyone can get behind.
Yet, this new direction seems to be more about protecting big pharmaceutical companies than consumers.
Effects of the Proposal
A lot of the guidelines have to do with making claims. The FTC wants to make sure we, as consumers, are not getting scammed. I like this idea, if only that was the outcome. Here is an example of how it might go into effect.
Say you want to buy a tea that promotes healthy sleep. The box can't tell you anymore that it's for sleep. It can only list ingredients unless that brand has paid to conduct human RCTs on that product. The company can't even reference established studies on ingredients. They need specific studies done on their specific product.
The revised FTC policy of what constitutes competent and reliable scientific evidence would mean supplement formulators could not rely on published science, would not be able to sell products without cost-prohibitive clinical testing (which might result in dietary supplements and medicinal herbs becoming as expensive as today’s pharmaceuticals), and any change to a formula would require starting over from scratch.
The FTC’s mission, as stated on its website, is “to prevent business practices that are anticompetitive . . . to enhance informed consumer choice . . . and to accomplish this without unduly burdening legitimate business activity.”
It seems to me that the new direction misses the mark.
I’m in agreement with the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s 2023 petition to the FTC in which it states that “The FTC’s new guidance discourages the dissemination of truthful nutrition information because it constructs an impression that RCTs are required for general well-being and structure/function claims, with no flexibility for the consideration of other forms of reliable evidence.”
It acknowledges the fact that medicinal herbs, foods, and vitamins have been part of the food supply for many years and should not come under the same scrutiny as new pharmaceutical drugs, which require pre-market approval (PMA), drug safety testing, and drug efficacy testing.
Over-the-counter and prescription drugs average over 2 million Serious Adverse Event Reports (hospitalization, permanent injury, or death) annually. In comparison, the CFSAN Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS), the FDA’s database for adverse event and product complaint reports for foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics, recorded 3,450 serious adverse events related to dietary supplements in 2023.
Building and Keeping Trust
For 25 years, Taste for Life magazine has provided education about health research. We believe in people’s right to have access to scientific information to make empowered choices that could benefit their health.
In addition to reporting on RCTs, our articles also cite literature reviews, observational and epidemiological studies, and animal and in vitro studies—the same type of studies that, since the establishment of DSHEA 30 years ago, the FTC also considered “competent and reliable” scientific evidence that could be used in support of health claims.
Those interested in speaking with members of congress about protecting the natural products industry and the millions of Americans who safely use supplements, can learn more about the Natural Products Association’s annual Congressional Fly-In, scheduled for May 22, 2024.
The Templeton List is Your Guide to Healthy Eateries
Mark Wallace
The Templeton List isn't just for people deeply dedicated to health; it's for anyone looking for healthy dining options across America.
Featured in Whole Foods Magazine and Woman's World among other publications, it provides a reliable go-to resource for finding healthy eateries across the U.S.
Discover Healthy Eating Spots Everywhere
The Templeton List, a division of The Templeton Wellness Foundation, is more than a mere list of places to eat; our dedicated team ensures each restaurant adheres to our rigorous health standards before we recommend them.
This means evaluating everything from their ingredients' freshness to their cooking techniques, so that wherever you travel in the country, there will always be delicious yet nutritive meals available to you!
Something for Everyone
New restaurants are added daily! With a growing number of dining establishments on the list ranging from cozy cafes to fine dining establishments, there's sure to be something ideal for every palate and diet.
This variety enables consumers to make informed food decisions that balance flavor with health considerations while supporting local eateries that prioritize both.
We’re always in search of the healthiest restaurants in the country – feel free to contact us if there is one you’d like to recommend. Our team will check it out.
James Templeton's Dream
Inspired by James Templeton, who overcame Stage 4 cancer over 38 years ago and has since been an advocate of alternative health practices, The Templeton List strives to make eating well part of everyday wellness.
James's experience, as recorded in his book I Used To Have Cancer, emphasizes the value of diet when it comes to staying healthy. This List serves as his way of helping others discover pleasure from eating food that's good for them!
Making Healthy Dining Simple
We understand it can be challenging to find healthy dining options, which is why the Templeton List keeps you up-to-date with the latest offerings. More than just a directory, this resource serves to foster better eating habits among you and your loved ones.
Start making healthier eating choices right now using The Templeton List, taking one step towards living a balanced life.
Ever wonder what all those symbols on your favorite product mean?
Messaging through symbols is a growing way for brands to quickly connect with customers over shared values. Symbols might be used to convey how something is grown or how the company is addressing environmental and social issues.
Below, we explore what goes into several important certification/designation symbols, and why industry-leading Fungi Perfecti—makers of Host Defense Mushrooms—is committed to the highest standards.
Host Defense Certifications
Organic / Vegan / Gluten-Free
The most obvious place to start when considering a supplement is verification for safety and quality.
The Certified Organic designation by the USDA, or other reputable third-party certifiers, verifies that ingredients have been grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides, and, as with all organic foods, none of it is grown or handled using genetically modified organisms, which the organic standards expressly prohibit.
This means that any product certified as organic is also non-GMO.
Host Defense products are certified organic by either the USDA or Washington State Department of Agriculture.
In addition to being non-GMO, they are also vegan and gluten-free.
110% Climate Positive
Many organizations are beginning to make a “carbon neutral” commitment. This means that they minimize their footprint where they can and offset any emissions they can’t eliminate, bringing their total emissions to zero, or carbon neutral.
While this is important work, unfortunately, being carbon neutral is no longer enough to keep pace with climate change.
At Fungi Perfecti, they have committed to being climate positive.
Working with a third-party carbon management solutions provider, they have minimized their overall impact, and offset not only their remaining emissions, but an additional 10% of the combined totals of their scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions—earning them the designation of 110% Climate Positive.
By purchasing a Host Defense product, you’re helping to offset over 10% more carbon emissions than were released to produce it!
Certified B Corporation
Certified B Corporations value people over profit. They share in the collective mission of transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.
The process to become a Certified B Corporation requires a strong commitment to transparency.
Fungi Perfecti, makers of Host Defense, became a Certified B Corporation in 2023 and was evaluated using the rigorous B Impact Assessment on a wide range of criteria, from supply chain practices and sustainability efforts, to employee satisfaction and commitment to corporate responsibility.
Identifying and supporting B Corporations is a great way to be part of the solution, helping to create a paradigm shift in business practices that can lead to a more equitable future for all.
BPI Compostable Certified
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) compostable mark indicates the end-of-life opportunity for a compostable product. It is a way for consumers to identify products and packaging that can be safely commercially composted, and to determine that an item can be diverted with food or yard scraps where a program exists.
Years ago, Host Defense set out to create custom crafted material for our singleuse packets that can be commercially composted. In 2024, BPI Certification was achieved after having met the rigorous review process and having met the third-party verification ASTM standard.
By purchasing products with the BPI Compostable symbol, you are helping to reduce the amount of non-compostable, virgin plastics!
Ensuring Holistic Benefits for People and The Planet
Mark Wallace
Many organic standards define what organic is not. For instance, organic means no GMOs ever, no use of antibiotics, and no use of toxic synthetic chemicals.
But some organic standards clarify the minimum that organic must be, and these minimum requirements help ensure the health and safety of the land and the people who produce and consume organic products.
Organic, Defined
Organic by definition is an agricultural system managed to foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.
Under the USDA National Organic Program, some of the practices that define what organic is include requirements for:
Land Usage
Use tillage and cultivation practices that maintain or improve soil quality and minimize soil erosion.
Animal Welfare
Offer livestock year-round access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air, clean water for drinking, and direct sunlight.
Organic Feed
Feed livestock 100% organic feed (free from growth hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, or slaughter byproducts) for up to 30% of their diet during the grazing season.
Benefits of Organic Farming
Practices such as these ensure many human, environmental, and animal health benefits. Here are a few backed by science:
Climate Friendliness
Organic farming is climate-smart agriculture. Multiple studies show that organic farms sequester more carbon in the soil, use less energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and have less nitrogen pollution than their conventional counterparts.
Soil Usage
Organic crop and livestock production increases carbon sequestration by promoting soil health.
Studies have shown that organic soil has 13% more total soil organic matter, 40% more beneficial soil microbes, and over three times as many earthworms as non-organic soils.
This healthier soil helps farming communities cope with extreme weather associated with climate change.
Organic soil can hold 10 times more water, alleviating the impacts of drought and reducing soil erosion during flood events.
Under extreme weather conditions, organic farms can produce higher yields than their conventional counterparts, helping to ensure food security and improve the resilience of agricultural communities.
Toxin Reduction
Pesticides
Organic protects public health by reducing environmental and dietary exposure to pesticides. Many studies link detrimental health impacts with pesticide drift and the ingestion of foods contaminated with pesticide residues.
Pharmaceuticals
Organic dairy and meat prevent exposure to antibiotics and hormones. Synthetic pesticides and antibiotic residues, even those banned for use in lactating cows, have been found in milk samples across the US.
The prohibition of antibiotics in organic farming means that organic does not contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
If we were to time travel back to 1935, we would see an America in the midst of the Great Depression, a harrowing time in which many people went hungry. In Oklahoma and Florida, two family-owned stores (Akin’s and Chamberlin’s, respectively) opened with the goal of providing healthy foods and products for people.
Over the decades, the stores expanded to keep pace with a growing interest in the health food movement. Chamberlin’s became part of the Akin’s family in the late 1990s. When a decision was made to purchase Florida-based Earth Origins Market in 2016, the Healthy Edge Retail Group (HERG) was formed.
Meet Jeff Shackelford
Jeff Shackelford began stocking shelves at the Akin’s Tulsa store in 1998. He moved up through ever-expanding management roles, and today serves as Vice President, Purchasing for Healthy Edge Retail Group and is the incoming President of SENPA, a trade association that represents the people of the natural products industry.
In 2022, HERG was named the Retailer of the Year by Vitamin Retailer magazine. We caught up with Shackelford to find out what makes HERG so successful. Our conversation covers old-fashioned customer service, top-notch education for both staff and shoppers, and the willingness to lean into new ways of serving customers as the retail landscape evolves.
Taste for Life: As a father, you’re deeply involved in youth sports, including coaching football. To keep your players in shape during the off-season, you and a group of dads recently created a thriving youth lacrosse club in a short period of time.
You seem to be a person who, when you see a need, steps up and figures out a way to make things happen! Has this trait guided your career as well?
Jeff Shackelford: It has. I’ve been very lucky and blessed to have been with the Akin’s Group for 26 years. I started in 1998 when it was a five-store, family-owned business.
The Healthy Edge Retail Group now has 15 stores across three banners in three states: Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Florida.
Our newest store, a Chamberlin’s, opened in Lakewood Ranch, FL, in June 2024. It has a huge foodservice island in the middle of the store for grab-and-go meals, fresh sushi, ramen and poke bowls, smoothies, juices, a hot bar, and a salad bar.
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about opening and closing stores as well as being a servant leader, such as when we acquired Chamberlin’s and Earth Origins.
The exterior of the Chamberlin's store in Lake Mary, Florida.
TFL: Could you give an example?
JS: When we were rolling Chamberlin’s into our corporate structure, I was in my early 20s. The higher-ups said, “Let’s move you from Oklahoma to Florida. You know how Akin’s runs. Get Chamberlin’s doing things the same way.”
I ran the Chamberlin’s banner for three-and-a-half years. That works with my personality. I’m a hands-on learner.
I can sit in a classroom all day and not absorb much. But put me in the middle of something and let me mess with it, and I’ll figure things out!
TFL: It’s great to have leadership that believes in you.
JS: They’re always there to encourage us. A lot of our people have been with us more than 10 years. A lot of us worked in the store when we first started. We know what it’s like to stand in front of a customer and deal with a problem like not having an item that’s on monthly sale.
We try to lead with a servant’s mentality. We are here to take care of our stores; the stores are there to take care of our customers.
TFL: It’s amazing to have such a depth of experience in an organization. How are you adapting to the younger generation of shoppers?
JS: All of us are open to suggestion. We don’t approach situations as if we know everything.
We understand that the younger generation is shaping the retail landscape, and it’s changing constantly. We can look at our customer base and say, “Well, Mrs. Jones, who’s been coming to our store for 20-plus years, shops this way.” But her kids don’t shop that way. We need to serve the customer where and how they want us to serve them.
We lean on those in our organization who have special skills that allow us to continue to be relevant, on the cutting edge, and the natural products store that customers of all ages return to.
TFL: Are there examples you can share?
JS: It used to be that you either had to come into our store or have our products shipped to you via a third-party carrier that might take days to deliver. That was it. We were already developing curbside pickup and a home delivery model when COVID hit.
As a brick-and-mortar store, we want customers to come in and build relationships with team members who can provide education. But not every customer wants to shop that way.
We said, “You know what? That’s all right. If you’re busy and you want to pull into the parking lot and have us put the order in your car trunk, we’re going to do that. If you want to order it and have a home delivery service pick it up and deliver it to your front door in a couple of hours, we can do that.” We’ve expanded who we are.
TFL: How do you use social media?
JS: We do a lot on Facebook and Instagram and are exploring TikTok. We’ve found some success with local influencers who can really tie into specific stores.
A lot of the bigger influencers we’ve partnered with have a reach that goes so far outside of who we are that it becomes a challenge. We want to use social media in a way that gives customers valuable content.
We ask our younger generation team members where they look for information and why. As topics hit the newswires, we try to make sure store staff has the information they need so we can answer questions when people walk in the door.
We are always looking at new ways to communicate that can bring value to our stores, our team members, and ultimately our customers.
TFL: Your stores’ servant philosophy and continual evolution must result in loyal shoppers.
JS: Yes, definitely. I still see customers I met decades ago as a store manager at the Tulsa Akin’s store. They still shop at the store. I know what day of the week they come in and what they buy. It’s always fun to see them!
We stress to our staff that our job is to build relationships with customers.
Nine times out of ten, somebody comes to a health food store because they’re having a health issue, or they want to get healthier. Those are very personal matters.
You’ve got to build a relationship of trust so when people come in with questions, you can have conversations about diet, sleep, life stressors, and health goals. In that way, we can make good recommendations, whether it’s for the type of food they’re eating or the multivitamin or the hair care or facial care products they’re buying.
We want to make sure we’re suggesting something they’ll be happy with and that they’re going to come back and buy. Not every product works the same for every person, so we do our best to inform customers about the differences in products so they can make educated purchases.
TFL: What educational tools do you use to support relationship building?
JS: Education has been the cornerstone of our company for many years.
About 20 years ago, we developed a trademarked, in-house program called TNT, Total Nutrition Training, that every employee goes through. It covers everything, including company history. Akin’s and Chamberlin’s both started in 1935. We’ve been around! TNT also covers top-selling supplements and how they’re manufactured as well as issues like what makes a natural vitamin different than a synthetic one.
We also partner with our manufacturers and brand partners. Their experts come to our stores to lead in-store consumer trainings that staff also attend.
In addition to staff aisle trainings, webinars, and dinner trainings, we hold an annual two-day vendor summit, most recently in Orlando. We send top team members, not just store managers, from every store so they can expand their knowledge and build relationships with brands. Typically, there are just under 100 vendor tables and in-depth seminars.
We have a weekly staff newsletter that touches on topics in the news.
Terry Naturally, a great brand we carry, puts on a wonderful, three-day training event. This year, Mary Ann O’Dell, our director of education—who is also a registered dietitian—attended and brought back information to share with all of our stores.
Founder Terry Lemerond has formulated so many products. He has been a great education partner for a long time and helps educate on topics even if he doesn’t have a product for it!
At HERG's annual two-day vendor summit, top-performing HERG employees can meet and build their relationships with brands to expand their knowledge.
TFL: How do you compete with mass market?
JS: We don’t try to compete directly with mass market. The mass market guys often cherry pick and only want a line’s top items.
When someone comes into our store, they’re going to find a wider selection of products. I may carry 100 SKUs in a line. That’s why staff education is paramount.
If customers happen to ask questions that our team members can’t answer, they can call company leadership, any time, and we’ll get an answer. I may not know the answer, but I know brand representatives and other industry people that I can call to get one.
I can reach out and say, “I’ve got a customer asking about this. Do you have any information we can share?”
We also customize product selection by store. That’s a challenge because with 14 stores and another one opening in late May 2024, I have 15 different sets.
We have a core group of products we try to have everywhere, but I also have stores with very different clientele, even if the buildings are only located 20 minutes apart.
A lot of times, the big guys will not have what a customer wants. They’re cookie-cutter stores and offer the same products at every location.
We’re customizing according to community. We attempt to stock the items customers want in their local stores. If we don’t have a product, we are happy to special order or help a shopper find a similar item on shelf and help them understand the differences between the products.
It always comes back to customer service and the knowledge of our store teams on the frontlines every day.
TFL: Sounds as if you’re very responsive to the neighborhoods where your stores are located.
JS: We try to be. We root ourselves into and participate in each of our communities. It wasn’t that long ago that we were the local mom-and-pop health food store. That’s what allowed us to grow over the years, just rooting in and figuring out how to better serve the community.
TFL: What do you think it’s important that people understand about your company?
JS: Our staff. We have some of the most educated and well-trained staff available. We’re always looking to grow and improve. By no means do we think we run perfect stores. But we do all we can to make sure we have the right products on the shelf, at the right price, every day.
This is where the relationship with the customer comes in. They need to feel comfortable in saying, “I was reading about this product that you don’t stock,” or, “Hey, you’re a little high on this product.” And then let us go to work on that.
There’s nothing better than standing in an aisle with a customer and trying to figure out how we can serve them better so that they’ll go home and tell their neighbors and family about the experience and send more people our way!
We’re by no means the biggest player in the industry anymore. Many have grown faster. That’s okay because we want to do it the right way, and make sure that when we open a store, it’s the right location with the right offerings.
TFL: People seem hungry for real connections, especially after COVID.
JS: Yes. I sit on the board of directors for the SENPA trade organization, and we’ve talked a lot over the last year about nourishing the human connection; people have a need to come into the store and talk to somebody.
For me, that’s where the fun is, to be able to get to know somebody and know I was able to take care of them.
Hopefully, the next time they’re needing something, we’re the first people they call.
Essential Formulas Incorporated was founded when Michael Schoor, now Chairman and CEO, discovered Dr. Ohhira's Probiotic formula while traveling through Malaysia in 1997. During a stop in Kuala Lumpur, Michael experienced serious digestive discomfort after eating some regional cuisine. He consulted a local doctor who recommended a probiotic product from Japan, known as OM-X (Ohhira's Mountain Extract).
These capsules provided quick relief and worked more effectively than any remedy Schoor had taken in the past, and with no negative side effects. He was so impressed that he was compelled to learn more about OM-X and the formulator of the capsules, Dr. Iichiroh Ohhira, one of Japan's leading microbiologists.
At their first meeting, Dr. Ohhira explained why his digestive health formula is so effective. Supported by more than twenty-five years of university-based scientific studies, the capsules contained not only live probiotics, but also prebiotics (substances that nourish probiotics), organic acids and biogenic ingredients that promote a healthy digestive tract. Michael understood the impact this formula would have on people's health and became determined to share Dr. Ohhira's formula with others.
It’s everywhere, even in the body. “Plastic particles have been found in human organs, blood, and placenta,” writes Liz Switzer of the Duke University School of Medicine. She says the average person eats, drinks, or inhales more than 120,000 plastic particles a year, or up to 5 grams of plastic per week, “the equivalent of a credit card,” according to Duke’s Jason Somarelli, PhD, assistant professor in the division of medical oncology.
Even the organic industry hasn’t escaped responsibility. “Plastic is the Achilles heel of the organic supply chain,” said Amber Sciligo, PhD, director of the Organic Center, at a recent conference sponsored by the center and the Organic Trade Association. The conference brought together many stakeholders to “define the challenges in reducing plastic use, identify research needs, highlight success stories, and discuss what needs to be done to solve this growing problem,” according to the center’s report.
Alejandra Warren, cofounder and executive director of Plastic Free Future, discussed reducing plastics along the organic supply chain. The Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act 2023, she said, will reduce toxins, pollution, and single-use plastics; require recycling; and hold companies responsible for their products, among other benefits.
Researcher Carol Miles, PhD, a professor of vegetable horticulture at Washington State University, presented work that she and colleagues are doing on the problems plastic mulch poses for organic farmers and the environment. Their projects include developing biodegradable cellulose based mulch (hydromulch)—to be sprayed on crops to suppress weeds and mitigate plastic pollution—and soil-biodegradable plastic mulch that’s tilled into the soil after use, eliminating waste and disposal problems.
Other speakers covered health problems, including breast cancer, caused by chemicals that leach into the soil and water; the lack of toxicology information on many chemical components of plastic; and the shortage of facilities to process plastics that are recyclable.
Sources
"End-of-life challenges for plastic mulch” by C. Miles et al, Organic Confluences Conference 2023, eorganic.info, 6/15/23
“Organic Confluences Conference 2023: Reducing plastic across the organic supply chain” by A. Formiga, Organic Confluences Conference 2023, eorganic.info, 6/15/23
“Reducing plastics along the entire organic supply chain” by A. Warren, Organic Confluences Conference 2023, eorganic.info, 6/15/23
“It’s time to talk about plastic pollution and its impacts on human health” by L. Switzer, Duke University School of Medicine, http://medicine.duke.edu, 4/18/23
