Health Food Chains Key Terms

Sound like a pro by learning health food chains key terms

By Kim Hill, Owner Karsun Designs
When searching for information on opening a health food chain there are a few key terms with which you may not be familiar. These are terms that in a health conscious society you need to familiarize yourself with to help your business grow and become a source for all things health food related. Essentially, you want to know the most you can about the health food industry so you can pass this knowledge on to your customers.

 

Organic

Organic foods have certain standards such as the non-use of pesticides, insecticides and herbicides. This also includes food that doesn't include growth hormones and antibiotics such as you might find in non-organic livestock. Organic food products are considered to be healthier and are a definite must-have at any health food store.
Try: Organic Trade Association details how The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) defines organic agriculture and touches on the benefits of organic products.

Smoothie

A smoothie is a drink that is blended and chilled and usually made with fresh fruit or vegetables. Some include protein and whey offerings for an added boost.
Try: The Smoothie Manual from Dr. Smoothie offers a smoothie definition and tips for anyone interested in a smoothie business.

Supplements

Supplements, sometimes called vitamins, are simply a supplement to a diet. These can include certain dietary ingredients such as vitamins, minerals and herbs that are missing from a person's nutritional value.
Try: WebMD has a topic overview on dietary supplements that can aid in learning more about this key term.

Sports nutrition

Sports nutrition is a way of life that includes certain supplements and dietary components that can be applied to any sport, but it's most popular in the body-building and weight-training arena. Sports nutrition items can encompass a wide variety of products from whey to creatine, and supplements as well.
Try: The National Association of Sports Nutrition guides you through what sports nutrition is and how it works.

Creatine

Creatine is an organic acid that happens naturally in the body and supplies energy to muscle. However, creatine supplements are commonly found in health food stores and can be purchased as an extra dietary component. Creatine is considered to promote muscle growth, which explains its popularity in body-building and weight-training circles.
Try: Body Building explains what creatine is and how the supplemental formulas work.

Detoxification and cleansing

Detoxification and cleansing diets remove toxins and poisons from a person's body through the implement of certain supplements and diet. This helps heal the digestive track and restore prime liver functions. While not every doctor believes this to be effective, this is a highly sought-after product in the health food industry.
Try: Informed Beauty has an article on doing detoxification the right way and explains the entire process.


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