Your #PlasticFree Body Care Routine

plastic free bath and body products on a white canvas backdrop

Tis the season to say bye bye to plastic waste! Swapping a couple daily use items for plastic-free alternatives can make a big impact—just imagine what happens if millions of people opt to ditch one plastic bottle. That's millions of plastic bottles kept out of our environment.

If you're interested making the switch to plastic-free (or less plastic-full) body care, the Co-op wellness department has you covered! We're highlighting 12 products to carry you through a sustainable daily routine.

Moonflower Botanicals Bar Soap

Sam's palm-free bar soaps are handmade right here in Bellingham, Washington! Sam uses flowers from her garden to infuse herbal goodness into the soaps she makes. All bars create a rich lather and are packaging and palm-oil free!

plastic free shampoo and conditioner bars for itchy scalps

HiBar Shampoo & Conditioner Bars

HiBar was born of the belief that salon-quality haircare should come without a polluting plastic bottle. Their paper packaging is compostable and the bars are made without soaps, sulfates, phthalates, silicones, or parabens. The Co-op carries HiBar's for all hair types!

Wild Carrot Herbals

These facial cleansing bars are handmade, biodegradable, and minimally packaged in paper. They're made in Oregon using organic botanicals and high-quality essential oils. Not only that, they're affordable at just $12.99 for a bar that can last up to six months with daily use.

a woman holding four wild carrot herbals facial moisturizers

Wild Carrot Herbals Saffron Seed Nutrient Cream

This facial moisturizer is a Co-op staff favorite! It's filled with ultra-nourishing botanical ingredients like sea buckthorn oil and saffron-infused olive oil. It comes in a glass jar that can be used again and again after you've finished your product.

Moon Valley Organics Lotion Bars

Ditch the pump! These lotion bars are made with fewer than 12 certified organic, herbal ingredients. They come in post-consumer recycled cardboard boxes and cute tins that are recyclable or easily reusable. We love them for carrying jewelry during travel!

Moon Valley Organics lotion bar on forest floor

plastic free blemish roll on with colloidal silver

Uncle Harry's Colloidal Silver Blemish Stick

Uncle Harry's is a local, family-owned company out of Redmond, Washington. Sustainability has always been at the core of their mission. This Colloidal Silver Blemish Stick is less drying than alcohol-based acne products and comes in a glass tube.*

* = Looking for ZERO plastic? While this product is better than most, it does have a plastic cap.

Booda Butter Eco Balm

Another locally owned company with sustainability in mind! Booda Butter Eco Balms come in biodegradable paper tubes (yes, the label is biodegradable too!). Balms are certified organic and Booda stuffs 2x more product into a tube than typical plastic-packaged lip balm.

lip balm in a plastic free tube on green moss

plastic free deodorant spruce and fir scent

Island Thyme Natural Deodorant

Nearby on Orcas Island our friends from Island Thyme make effective baking soda-free natural deodorant that comes in a paper tube! These low-waste deodorants have tons of 5-star reviews. Choose from multiple scents available in the Co-op wellness department!

Plus Ultra Bamboo Toothbrush

Plus Ultra is committed to sustainable practices. Their toothbrushes are made with 100% compostable bamboo materials.* Did you know bamboo has natural antibacterial properties? It's consider a "green solution" to wood for its short growth cycle and great carbon capture potential.

* = Looking for ZERO plastic? While this product is better than most, it does have plastic bristles.

woman just out of the shower holding a bamboo toothbrush

Uncle Harry's Mild Mint Toothpaste

This locally made, natural toothpaste comes in a glass jar* that can be used again and again once you've finished your product! It's completely free of fluoride, carrageenan, triclosan, artificial sweeteners, and SLS.

* = Looking for ZERO plastic? While this product is better than most, it does have a plastic lid.

Radius Floss with Coconut Oil

RADIUS offers an alternative to floss with all that plastic packaging! Radius peppermint sponge floss comes in 100% plastic free packaging* and is a great alternative to silk floss for vegans.

* = Looking for ZERO plastic? While this product is better than most, the floss itself is nylon.

5 Tips to Heighten Wellbeing During the Holidays

holiday table with friends toasting the occasion

Holiday nostalgia is in the air. Everywhere you turn coffee shops highlight sweetened drink specials including pumpkin spice and eggnog lattes. While as the weather becomes gloomier, rainier and cooler, in the home kitchen, more soups, casseroles and roasted vegetables make it to the table. Even receptors on our tongues are heightened during the fall and winter months, further enhancing the flavors of rich comfort foods.

However our busy lives do not stop in the winter and food is in abundance all around us throughout the seasons. With this constant abundance we can often make unhealthy decisions when it comes to holiday gatherings. Perhaps a new approach can help heighten the wellbeing of this holiday. Following are some great tips to enhance your Thanksgiving experience, which can support your health as well as those you love.

Don’t skip breakfast. Not only does this habit enforce overeating later at dinnertime, but your energy will lag throughout the day. Eating a well-balanced breakfast will help keep you satisfied, and less prone to overindulge in appetizers and dinner.
Opt for whole food recipes. Utilizing whole foods, in place of packaged or canned ingredients, adds more nutrient density to your meal, while simultaneously reducing added sugars, preservatives, and additives. For example, instead of serving cranberry sauce in a can, try making my quick and healthy raw cranberry relish which is low in sugar and allows all the powerful anti-inflammatory phytonutrients and enzymes to stay intact. See my recipe below.
Attempt a new plan of attack. Instead of eating everything that is offered, choose only your favorite dishes, and then make some room for a salad or roasted vegetables. This way you will be more satisfied emotionally, quenching those cravings that have culminated over the last year.
Eat mindfully. With each bite of food, chew slowly, savoring the flavors and aromas you have missed all these months. It can take up to 20 minutes for the body to identify fullness cues. Consequently, taking the time to eat your meal will allow you to identify when you are happily full before you reach the point where you need to unbutton your jeans.
Catch some fresh air. Instead of cozying up on the couch after dinner, go for a walk with a dear relative or friend. Good conversation is a great way to reconnect with those you have not seen all year. Afterwards you may feel even more satisfied and rejuvenated than before, allowing you to more consciously make a healthy decision when picking out a slice of your favorite dessert.

Raw Cranberry Relish

Did you know most cooked cranberry sauce recipes call for 1-1 1/2 cups of sugar! This recipe calls for only ¼ cup of maple syrup or honey and requires a bit of resting time to enhance the flavors. Therefore, taste it the following morning to see if you really need to add more sweetener. This relish tastes great tossed in salads, in wraps, sandwiches, or along with your Thanksgiving turkey. A little goes a long way!

a wooden bowl full of homemade cranberry relish

INGREDIENTS

12 oz fresh organic cranberries

1 organic orange, juice and zest

1/4 cup maple syrup or honey

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root

Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes (can replace with a little deseeded jalapeño)

DIRECTIONS

Rinse cranberries and strain. Pour onto a clean kitchen towel and pick out any soft cranberries. Add the fresh cranberries into a food processor. Process until finely minced. Be careful not to process it too much because then the relish will become too soggy. Pulse in the orange juice, zest, maple syrup, grated ginger root, and sea salt. If you want to add heat, do so now. Transfer into a glass jar, allow to rest overnight before serving, and store in refrigerator for up to one week.

Makes about 2 cups • Time: ~ 10 minutes

Selva Wohlgemuth, meal planning instructor

By Selva Wohlgemuth, Co-op News Contributor

Selva Wohlgemuth is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and owner of Happy Belly Nutrition in Bellingham, Washington. She specializes in gut health and has an in-depth knowledge of women's health. She is an avid outdoorswoman and mother.

A Few of Our Favorite Wellness Products

Mushroom Master Blend

From OM Mushrooms

Adaptogen powerhouse
10 mushrooms, plus 3 adaptogens & Reishi Extract
The Multivitamin of Mushroom Superfood

Olive Leaf Complex

From Barleans

Clinically studied for anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties to support a healthy immune system
Full spectrum liquid, super antioxidant wellness solution.
95mg Oleuropein per serving
May help support healthy immune system, cardiovascular system and blood pressure in the normal range
Non-GMO, kosher, sustainably sourced

Back to Balance Cleanse

From Himalaya

Ashwagandha has been a revered adaptogenic Ayurvedic herb for 2,000 years
Vegan
B Corp certified

Local Vendor Profile: Moon Valley Organics

by Sarah Schermer, former Cordata Wellness Manager

Photos by Matt Curtis

updated March 2020; originally published October 2017

Aaron (left) and Kim Otto pose on their Whatcom County farm while welcoming Co-op staff for a tour.

Honeybees drone in a field of chamomile. Nearby, calendula is blossoming in tidy rows—glowing with a bright orange of fresh tangerines.

Nestled near the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Nooksack River, just off the Valley Highway in Deming, Moon Valley Organics is a handmade haven of quiet and quality, carefully cultivated by Kim and Aaron Otto.

From seed to salve, their mission is to create high-quality, organic personal care products that promote a healthy way of caring for our bodies and the world.

No small task, but they’ve been doing it with grace and style since 1999.

The farm’s old silo is ringed by fields of herbal ingredients, busy workshops, and a cozy
micro-village of trailers and tents for itinerant WWOOFers. (WWOOFers volunteer on organic farms around the world in exchange for a hands-on learning experience, plus room and board.)

If the relaxed, smiling faces of Moon Valley staff don’t tip you off, we are assured through their certified B Corp status that both seasonal and long-term workers enjoy the Moon Valley ethic and environment.

Calendula is the farm’s signature herb and Kim’s personal favorite. This year’s harvest was so abundant that space in the drying racks in the barn loft was at a premium, so blossoms were pre-drying in the hot, sunny field. Calendula, long-valued for its soothing properties, is used in almost all of the lotions and lip balms made by hand on the Moon Valley Organics farm.

Lovingly and expertly crafted from ingredients mostly grown on their own sustainable permaculture farm, their soaps, lip balms, lotion bars, and salves need no preservatives because of the high-quality beeswax and infused oils. (Don’t try it at home, but Kim says you can practically eat the stuff!)

Like all of their products, every herbal lip balm is formulated and packaged by hand right on the farm.

If the silky feel doesn’t make you want to buy one for every pocket and bag, just know that 10 percent of net lip balm profit is donated to organizations dedicated to protecting pollinators. And, Moon Valley created a 4-acre pollinator sanctuary on their own farm, ensuring the health of our flying friends for generations to come.

Listening to Kim and Aaron talk about bees and dirt makes me proud to carry their products.

Their commitment to sustainability even extends to packaging, which is not only beautiful but also BPA-free, 100 percent recyclable, and made from the highest percentage of post-consumer recycled materials available. For those striving for a zero waste lifestyle, the Co-op is happy to offer bulk options for their bar and liquid soaps. And a relatively new addition is plastic-free Moon Valley Herbal Shampoo bars packaged in recyclable paperboard

We are proud to call ourselves partners, and together will continue using beautiful body care and cooperative business as a vehicle for social change.

moon valley organics farm tour attendees

Taking a break in the calendula field are current and former Cordata wellness staff (taken in 2017: above, from left) Ticker Ba-Aye, Jesi Van Leeuwen, Sarah Schermer, Christy King, and, seated, Christy’s son, Odin.

LEARN MORE

Learn more at moonvalleyorganics.com. You can even take a video tour of the farm.

Ask the Nutritionist: Vitamin D

by Selva Wohlgemuth, Co-op News contributor

June 2019

Selva Wohlgemuth, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist

“Tell me more about vitamin D. How and where do I get enough vitamin D for general wellness?”

Many people have heard of vitamin D and understand its relationship to the sun. I often hear people say “soaking up my vitamin D” when a nice, sunny day arrives. But is it really as simple as that? Of course not. Today I will clarify what vitamin D is, why you need to make sure you are getting enough, and how to make sure you are getting what you need.

Vitamin D 101

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin with hormone-like properties that is found naturally only in a few foods and can be synthesized in the skin from the sun’s UVB rays. It is commonly known for its facilitative role in bone health by increasing calcium absorption and for its role in improving seasonal affective disorder. However, many people do not know that it also is required for proper immune function, hormone health, cellular growth and development, and blood sugar and blood pressure regulation. That’s a lot!

Many studies have found an inverse relationship between vitamin D status and autoimmune disorders, diabetes, eczema, cancer, depression, and more. The current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) is set at 400IU per day
for infants, 600IU per day for children and adults, and 800IU for the elderly.

SOURCES OF VITAMIN D

Vitamin D from the Sun

The sun doesn’t give you vitamin D3, it merely starts a process. Upon the skin’s exposure to the sun’s UVB rays, pre-vitamin D3 is converted to inactive vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). After conversion in the skin, cholecalciferol is quickly transported to the liver and then to the kidneys to be metabolized to active vitamin D3, also known as calcitriol. Therefore, if the liver or kidneys are not functioning properly, vitamin D status can be impaired.

However, the darkness of your skin, the fat deposition underneath your skin, and the coverage on your skin (including sunscreen and clothing) all play a role in if and how much pre-vitamin D3 is converted to cholecalciferol. If you have darker skin tone, are elderly (less fat under skin), wear a protective clothing layer, or apply a sunscreen greater than 10 SPF, you will have reduced or no vitamin D3 conversion.

Furthermore, above the 40th parallel north (or below the 42nd parallel south), there is inadequate UVB radiation to support vitamin D synthesis from mid-October to mid-March. Bellingham is at the 48th parallel north.

Plus, the best time for good UVB exposure is between 10 am–2 pm. If you are working an indoor job from 9 am to 5 pm, are fully clothed, and wear sunscreen on your face, then you will not synthesize any vitamin D. If you think you will get some vitamin D when sitting in a sunny spot inside, think again. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, or time of day, if you are sitting in front of a window, all UVB rays are blocked and you will not synthesize any vitamin D.

Nutritionist Tip: Get outside around noon for 15 minutes and expose your hands, arms, and face (without sunscreen) in the late spring, summer, and early fall months to synthesize about 1000IU. Then layer on the sunscreen or seek shade.

Vitamin D from Food

Vitamin D is only found naturally in very few foods including fatty fish like salmon and sardines (340IU per 3 ounces), eggs (40IU per egg), and liver (40IU per 3 ounces). Mushrooms, although advertised as a source of vitamin D, often do not provide much useable vitamin D unless the grower purposefully has exposed the mushrooms to UV light. One cup of sliced “unexposed” crimini mushrooms only provides 5IU, whereas the “exposed” provides around 400IU. Ask your grocer what kind they offer. However, there are other foods on the market that are fortified with vitamin D such as dairy and plant milks, orange juice, and some cereals, usually providing anywhere between 50-100IU per serving.

Nutritionist Tip: Enjoy fatty seafood like salmon, UV “exposed” mushrooms, and fortified milk or non-dairy milks multiple times per week for substantial food sources of vitamin D.

Vitamin D from Supplements

Vitamin D supplements can be found as vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). Vitamin D2 is synthesized via UV irradiation of yeast, whereas D3 is synthesized via UV irradiation of lanolin. However, research studies have found that vitamin D2 may not be as effective in increasing active (calcitriol) vitamin D3 serum levels. Taking supplements is essential when adequate dietary intake and proper sun exposure are lacking.

How Much to Supplement?

The optimal intake of vitamin D to support general health and well-being remains controversial. Researchers have found a U-shaped curve regarding vitamin D status, indicating that both low and high vitamin D serum levels are correlated with disease development and progression. The Linus Pauling Institute recommends that generally healthy adults supplement with 2000IU of vitamin D3 daily. Some may need more or less depending on the factors previously discussed.

More is not always better! High-dose vitamin D supplementation that is not monitored can lead to abnormally high serum calcium concentrations, which can damage the kidneys and heart. Research suggests that daily intakes of less than 10,000IU per day in healthy individuals is very unlikely to result in toxicity.

Nonetheless, it is best to test not guess! Work with a health care practitioner to check your vitamin D status 1–2 times per year to get a feel for your unique needs. Research studies suggest that a serum vitamin D concentration between 40 ng/mL and 60 ng/mL is ideal.

Nutritionist Tip: Supplement with 1000–2000IU per day and check your vitamin D levels annually to ensure a serum vitamin D between 40–60ng/mL. Make sure to check your multivitamin, as they often already contain some vitamin D.

RESOURCES FOR THE INSPIRED INDIVIDUAL

Overall, low vitamin D status can impact your health in many ways. Unfortunately, testing vitamin D status is not as routine as it should be, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. Ensuring optimal vitamin D levels year-round can help keep you feeling your best. Be an advocate for yourself and request vitamin D labs at your annual doctor visit or see the resources below for additional helpful research, testing, guidelines, and applications.

See www.Grassrootshealth.net for more vitamin D information and research. They also provide vitamin D testing for $65.
Get the free DMinder App to monitor your vitamin D status and local sun exposure.
See the Environmental Working Group’s “Guide to Sunscreen” for safe sunscreen products.Article References:Krause’s Food & The Nutrition Care Process, 14th Edition.
Pages: 1071-1072.Linus Pauling Institute. Vitamin D. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-D#RDAGrassrootsHealth. Resources. https://grassrootshealth.net/documentation/

Ask the Nutritionist

Have questions? Send them to [email protected]. Selva Wohlgemuth is a registered dietitian nutritionist. Learn more about her approach to general health and well-being at her Happy Belly Nutrition website, and see her recipes and other kitchen tips at Poppies and Papayas.

Supplement sale! 20% off!

One day only supplement sale.

20% all vitamins, herbs, minerals, probiotics, and more.

All day at both stores.

RSVP on our Facebook event to get a sale reminder! Don't miss this once a year event.

Wellness Day at the Co-op

The Co-op wishes you a happy and healthy New Year, and to give you a head start on your best health we invite you to join us for Wellness Day at the Co-op.

In both stores—
• 20% off all supplements (all day, while supplies last)!
• Demos and samples from local vendors and tasty treats (like smoothies) from various Co-op departments.
• Enter to win wellness products.

In the Downtown store—
• Live music by Hawthorn Creek. Smoky, sultry, swamp music with amazing male-female vocal harmonies and dirty slide guitar.
• Chair massage by Dora Keating, ND/LMT, from The Shanti Center.
• Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement (WAHA) answers questions regarding health care, open enrollment, and general health education.

Co-op Talks in the Co-op Connections classroom (across the street from the Downtown store)—
Co-op Wellness Talks feature knowledgeable local health practitioners. Attend one session, or join us for the entire series!
(approximately 15 minutes each)
• 1 pm Brain Health with Jim Ehmke, clinical nutritionist. Learn proactive ways to enhance memory and prevent Alzheimer’s.
• 1:20 pm What Your Face and Tongue Say About Your Health with Katrina Svoboda Johnson, certified ayurvedic practitioner, owner of Ayurvedic Health Center & Wellness Shop. Like a reflexology map, the health of the body can be read in both the face and tongue.
• 1:40 pm DIY Health with Mystique Grobe, naturopathic doctor. Discover ways to help yourself medicinally and preventively in a world where real health has to be our priority.
• 2 pm Joyful Self-care & Resilient Well-being with Deborah Zucker, naturopathic doctor and author of The Vitality Map: A Guide to Deep Health, Joyful Self-Care, and Resilient Well-Being. Free yourself from the trap of being too serious about health and self-care. Learn to be flexible, curious, and playful on your health journey to sustain it for the long run.
• 2:20 pm Carbohydrates: How Low Can You Go? with Selva Wohlgemuth, registered dietitian nutritionist. Join in the discussion on carbohydrates and their role in health and disease. Be prepared for some solid evidence-based nutrition information.
• 2:40 pm Tai Chi and Qigong with Kelly Hong-Williams, certified tai chi and qigong instructor, owner of Powered by Qi. Improve energy flow and balance. Learn some quick techniques to melt stress, improve posture, and clear the mind.
• 3 pm Tips for a Deliciously Balanced Plant-Based Diet with Michelle Smith, registered dietitian nutritionist and nutrition coach. Learn simple ways to adopt a more plant-based way of eating with simple and practical steps.
• 3:20 pm Rapid Relaxation with Hypnosis with Erika Flint, board certified hypnotist and accredited certified professional hypnotherapy instructor. Utilize the power of your mind to achieve near instantaneous relaxation with hypnosis. Feel lighter, reduce stress, sleep better, and enjoy your life more than ever before.
• 3:40 pm Ten Ways to Nourish Yourself Today with Kate MacKenzie, health coach. Start the New Year with simple and nourishing ideas for your body and mind.

September Staff Pick and New Items

Gaia SleepThru

"I love Gaia SleepThru. It helps me not wake in the middle of the night with a racing brain. 100% high-quality herbs with no grogginess, just a good night's sleep!"

—Sarah Schermer, Cordata Wellness

Good Culture Cottage Cheese Cups

$2.25 each (5.3 ounces)

Creamy organic cottage cheese with live, active cultures. Zesty flavors and made with the milk of happy grass-fed cows.

classic, pineapple, blueberry açaí chia, strawberry chia, kalamata olive

Yellowbird Hot Sauces

$5.99 each (9.8 ounces)

Spicy condiments with spunky character. Made with real ingredients deep in the ♥ of Texas.

sriracha, jalapeño, habanero, serrano

Bonafide Drinkable Veggies Bone Broth

$6.49 each (12 fluid ounces)

Organic farm-fresh vegetables plus handcrafted organic bone broth makes drinking veggies tasty and nourishing.

revitalize, glow, thrive

Harmless Harvest Coconut Probiotics

$5.75 each (32 fluid ounces)

Uses the whole edible coconut (not just the coconut water) for delicious organic on-the-go nourishment.

original, strawberry, blueberry & açaí, mango & acerola

So Good, We Put Our Name on It: Co-op Supplements

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

vitamins omega sunflower D3 E epa dha omega 3

Co-op brand supplements offer Co-op shoppers a great deal on high-quality products, manufactured to current Good Manufacturing Practices, by a company that is committed to environmental sustainability and social responsibility—just like the Co-op!

Walk down the aisles of the Co-op’s wellness departments and you’ll notice something new. Well, not exactly new but a newly redesigned label for our in-house supplements.

a newly redesigned label for our in-house supplements

Before we put our line of supplements on our store shelves, we searched for suppliers that could meet our high standards. Our supplement manufacturer has been owned and operated by the same family since 1924. Their 85-plus years of manufacturing experience results in consistent and safe products.

What's more, their facility is certified organic by Quality Assurance International, a leader in organic certification, as well as third-party certified by the Natural Product Association. All manufacturing procedures and standards for cleanliness are periodically audited by the FDA. They are also a member of the Organic Trade Association.

our confidence in our supplements is reflected in the clarity and completeness of our labeling

Full disclosure labels list the details of each product’s contents. Labels disclose information about artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives in addition to gluten and common allergens.

our manufacturer is dedicated to supporting green initiatives

In line with the Co-op’s commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility, our manufacturer is dedicated to supporting green initiatives. Supplements are shipped in boxes that use partially-recycled materials and recyclable crushed paper as packing material. The fully recyclable amber glass bottles are made from 35 percent recycled material, and the white plastic caps are also fully recyclable. All promotional materials also utilize post-consumer fibers.

The manufacturing facility makes use of natural skylights to save energy and provide a pleasant work environment, and all unusable computer hardware and equipment is recycled.

Each year since 2006, our manufacturer participates in donating 11 million children’s multivitamins to Vitamin Angels—the only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing vital nutrition to those in need internationally and domestically. Through its “Operation 20/20” campaign, they plan to eradicate childhood blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency worldwide by the year 2020. Over 30 percent of the world’s population suffers from micronutrient deficiencies. The Co-op, along with Vitamin Angels and our manufacturer, believes every person has a right to basic nutrition.

Co-op brand supplements do not include extra costs for marketing and advertising, and we pass those savings directly to our shoppers.

Co-op member-owners can save an extra 25 percent when they place an advance order for three or more of any wellness item

When searching for natural, premium supplements to promote overall wellness and global sustainability—look no further than the Co-op’s own brand.

Great Essential Oils

by Alissa Vanlandingham, Outreach Team

Essential oils by Pranarom (previously Veriditas) are 100% pure Ecocert certified and organic.

Essential oils are all the rage at the moment. What makes the essential oils the Co-op sells different from varieties you might find elsewhere?

The Co-op carries Pranarom brand essential oils. Pranarom was previously known as Veriditas Essential Oils. While the name may have changed, rest assured the quality of the oils and the integrity of the brand have not.

Pranarom oils are exclusively sold at natural food stores like the Co-op, healthcare practitioners and certified aromatherapists. That’s because these oils are the real thing. Having support from wellness professionals like our wellness department managers is integral to using them safely and successfully.

Organic plants provide the highest potency oils with strong anti-microbial properties lacking in chemically treated plants.

Pranarom is committed to organic. Organic plants provide the highest potency oils with strong anti-microbial properties lacking in chemically treated plants. By choosing organic plants, Pranarom helps preserve organic farmland and supports small farms. It’s also a plus for pollinators. Pranarom’s all organic plants are 100% pollinator friendly supporting bee, butterfly and hummingbird populations in the areas they grow. All products are third party verified organic through ECOCERT SA.

It takes a whooping 5.5 million freshly picked roses to produce a single liter of rose essential oil.

There are a huge number of uses for essential oils. Popular uses include aromatherapy, topical treatments, perfumes, cleaning products, insect repellants and more. While some people recommend ingesting oils, we advise against that unless instructed to do so by a healthcare professional. Essential oils are incredibly potent. It takes a whooping 5.5 million freshly picked roses to produce a single liter of rose essential oil, so when you ingest just a few drops of oil, you’re taking in A LOT of plant material even if it doesn’t like it.

Swing by our wellness department to explore the many varieties of essential oil we offer. You can ask department staff best uses for each. They’ll be happy to help you choose an oil that suits your needs.