It only comes once a year, and when it does it seems all of LA’s wellness-minded community members flock to one place: Expo West, the mother of all natural product conventions. Last week, health coach and wellness educator, Alexa Gray of SuperFood, SuperLife, hit the show to navigate the endless array of natural products. She reported back with these ten interesting finds…
10 Natural Product Trends From Expo West
New Fire Cider with African Bronze Honey | Walking around the Expo or any other place that’s packed with people, there is sure to be coughing, wheezing or sneezing. Fire Cider is an old herbal recipe (see TCM’s recipe here) passed on through the ages to help us combat sickness, especially colds! Fire Cider is a cocktail of raw apple cider vinegar, roots, fruits and spices. It is sweetened with African Bronze Honey, which is sustainably harvested and supports the local people of Zambia, where it’s from. Here we find both the honey and a product on a mission, one we can all stand behind.
Addictive Wellness Chocolate | Chocolate. Is it bad for us or good for us? What really determines this answer is what’s inside of the bar. Meet Addictive Wellness Chocolate, a pure, addictive chocolate that is full of high quality Chinese tonic herbs that serve different functions. This chocolate is even friendly to those with sugar sensitivities because it is solely sweetened with a bitter-free organic stevia and xylitol that comes from birch trees.
Tin Star Ghee | Ghee is the new gold in the health world, but really has been made for centuries. In Ayurvedic medicine, ghee is a staple and used as a healthy fat to keep us lubricated on the inside and outside. It goes great as your staple cooking oil, but adds a nice caramel flavor to whatever you are whipping up. This artisanal and handmade goodness will bring your food to life.
Organic Shallot Oil by Wei | You’ve never had anything like it before. This delicious oil only has only two ingredients: organic safflower oil and shallots. This Vietnamese inspired oil has an incredibly high smoke point (of 510°F) and is full of health benefits. They also sell a travel sized for those foodies who wish to bring their arsenal on the road. Winner of the Good Food Award Winner 2016.
Almond Flour, Cassava & Coconut Tortillas by Siete family foods | This may just be the best alternative to corn and flour I’ve ever tasted. Siete Family Foods came about after founder, Veronica Garza, had suffered from an autoimmune condition that plagued much of her life. She began educating herself about what foods heal and what foods harm. After adopting a low-inflammation and grain-free diet, Garza developed these delectable tortillas that taste like the real thing but come with extra nutrition.
Yes Cacao Botanical Chocolate | You have to be careful when consuming this chocolate, because you will feel the botanicals. Artisan and founder, Justin Polgar, makes different bars to stimulate different effects, from meditation, to grounding, to providing you brain food, these foods are no joke. You will feel them if you are sensitive. They are full of medicinal and immunological mushrooms like Reishi and Chaga all the way to more unique ones like lions mane.
Obi Probiotic Soda | That’s right, a soda that is full of beneficial bacteria. This organic, vegan, non-gmo, and low sugar beverage is rocking the shelves because of the taste and its probiotic benefits. Obi contains over 20 strains of probiotics, making it one powerful pop. The flavors are reminiscent of childhood favorites, from the Meyer Lemon Lime, to Tart Cherry Vanilla Bean, to Valencia Orange & Grapefruit, and even the Root Beer. These drinks are a more satisfying upgrade to the classic soda. Keep the health of your gut in mind.
Konjac Charcoal Sponge by Daily Concepts | This charcoal sponge comes from a jelly like potato found in Japan called the Konnyaku potato. It’s a product that has been used for beauty for a long time because it helps to remove toxins and balance the pH of your skin. With no preservatives and chemicals, this sponge also comes in a packaged serves as a holder for your shower, making it both brilliant and sustainable.
Sage Room Spray by Juniper Ridge | Juniper Ridge (meet them here!) prides themselves on harvesting their own ingredients for their all natural sprays, incense, teas and body washes. Every product is named after the place from which it originates, and the smell brings you right there. For Juniper Ridge, “nothing smells better than the forest,” so why not bring the trees into your room. Let it inspire your senses and bring you straight to the great outdoors.
Beard Oil by OAK & ADZE | Beard oil is a thing? Apparently, yes! This might just be the perfect gift for any man you know in your life who has some scruff. Oak & Adze use high quality oils to help keep the beard soft and moisturized and does the same for the skin underneath. Every blend has its own unique smell (very handsome and manly, of course), which can serve as an aftershave or cologne.
