There are lots of mini-debates within the health food industry. Here is our overall approach on particular topics:
Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals are naturally-occurring compounds that are found in plants. Some phytochemicals have quite miraculous properties. For example, aspirin was created by a french scientist, Charles Frédéric Gerhardt, due to his discovery of acetylsalicylic acid in the bark of willow trees. Willow-bark treatments for pain had been used for centuries, as a form of
folk medicine. It was only when the phytochemical responsible - in this case, acetylsalicylic acid - was isolated that this traditional treatment was taken seriously, and transformed into the aspirin that we know today.
Many phytochemicals are currently being researched to establish whether they are of benefit. Examples include:
- Antioxidants are considered highly beneficial because they prevent essential compounds within cells from being oxidized by "free radicals". It's actually fairly well-established that this is largely true: oxidization always occurs as cells age, and is one of the major causes of cell malfunction. If this oxidization can be prevented, then age-related problems can be held back to some extent. We also know that different antioxidants have different functions within the body, so it's good to include a variety of antioxidants in your diet.
- Essential oils are found in almost all plants, and have various effects on the body. For example, there are various essential oils in ginger that have a calming effect on the stomach, and oils within star anise that appear to have an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Polysaccharides and oligosaccharides are complex sugar compounds. They have unexpected properties. For example, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are a particular group of polysaccharides that are not digested directly by the human gut, but which are usable by the "friendly bacteria" in our gut. Therefore, FOS are one of a class of foods known as prebiotics.
The term "phytochemicals" generally refers only to the chemicals that we know little about, rather than the established groups such as vitamins and amino acids which are more well understood.
Organic and non-GM Food
There is a huge debate about what the organic food movement means, and whether it is a form of health food. There is also considerable disagreement on whether or not GM (genetic modification) is a good thing.
At Healthy Supplies, we are unashamedly on the fence. There are many good things about organic food, and many items under the "organic" label are produced with loving care and to a high quality. Yet there are some suppliers who simply use the term "organic" as a marketing term.
Overall we believe that there is good and bad in all food categories, and we evaluate each food product in its own particular merits. We don't believe that "organic food" is synonymous with "health food". Even though it has its merits, there are plenty of conventionally-produced foods that are of very high quality and nutritional benefit, and it's also true that quality can vary enormously within all types of food, including organic food.
Primarily, we taste stuff, and assess its nutritional value, in order to ascertain whether or not it is a healthy food. Our primary focus is health and enjoyment, rather than the more political concerns.
