The Natural Products Expo East 2018 in Baltimore was held September 12 to 15th. This was my first time to attend and see the broad range of the latest and greatest in the massive health foods, lifestyle, and products industry. After four long days, the Top Ten Trends at #expoeast became very apparent. Obviously, many companies are embracing organic and avoiding the risks of GMOs and glyphosate as discussed in my previous blog. The conference has so many exhibitors and products to share it made sense to start with the top ten trends and then share more posts about specific favorite products.  BTW Cacao & Chocolate of every combination and flavor you can imagine was one of may favorite features of the conference.

Green TeaIt soon became evident #expoeast is designed to spotlight natural products that can help improve our long-term health and quality of life. By offering a venue for marketers, suppliers, and vendors to learn more about the health products and services being made available to the public. It is up to each of us to make informed decisions about what we buy and feed our families. We must be vigilant when it comes to food ingredients, safety, and transparency.

With more common sense, education, and health information we are able to make better choices and decisions for our families. If education and health are high priorities it is essential to make smart decisions about which foods to boycott and which foods to buy. The goal of this post is to educate and inform readers about healthy food choices.

Top Ten Trends Expo East

  1. Alternative baking and flour ingredients: almond, cassava, coconut, millet and plantain
  2. Alternative natural sweeteners: Erythritol, Honey, Lucuma, Maple syrup, Monk Fruit and Xylitol.
  3. Beverages: Brain Boost, Coffee, Electrolytes, Energy drinks, Green powders, Juices, Kombucha, Protein mixes, Shakes and Teas.
  4. Better Bodycare products: natural creams, lotions, shampoos, skin care, soaps and toothpaste,
  5. Botanicals: berries, flowers, herbs, greens, mushrooms, roots, seeds and weeds.
  6. Coconut craze continues: candy, coconut fiber, flour, meat, milk, oil, sugar and water.
  7. Ethnic cuisine: chilis, flavors, hot sauces, mixes, salsa and spices.
  8. Hemp products: bags, bars, CBD, clothing, oils, powders, seeds and topicals.
  9. Cultured fermented & sprouted: Beans, Grains, Greens, Nuts, Seeds and Vegetables
  10. Vegan & vegetarian foods: Algae Chia seeds Mushrooms Pea protein Seaweeds and Soy

Healthy Planet & Healthy Products

We must focus on the importance of buying, eating and growing a diverse array of locally produced, minimally processed, nutrient dense and organic whole foods. Serving healthy nutrient dense organic whole foods at home will set the foundation. Many adults and children are being brainwashed by advertisements, commercials, and government agencies to consume Frankenfoods made with GMOs and glyphosate. Our body and microbiome are made up of a complex and interconnect web that affects every other cell in our body. Thanks to the power of the internet we have access to independent and informative sources that are transparent and better able to educate and inform us with a wealth of wisdom on healthy organic foods and ingredients.  Several companies were promoting their support for Regenerative Organic Agriculture.  Dr. Bronner‘s booth proudly proclaimed we are All – One and deserves an honorable mention for their great products and services.

Healthy Habits & Habitats

In 2018 Morningstar NEWS will focus on Healthy Habits and Healthy Habitats. Researching and role modeling proven principles for a fantastic future drives us to share the wisdom we discover. Our vision is attracting a wide variety of eco-friendly people to help design, build and live in a more healthy and sustainable way. We invite ideas, insights, and inspiration to help us focus our planning and progress. Sharing solutions, strategies, suggestions, and systems will help us all design and develop better eco-villages.

Where is Your Gap?

What actions, behaviors, beliefs, and decisions regarding your habits and habitats are impacting your happiness and health? What is your motivation for making better choices to avoid health hazards and adopt healthy habits?  When we are happy, healthy and holistic we naturally shift to a more sustainable ecological, economical and environmentally friendly lifestyle. Investing in our health also helps protect our wealth.

Mastery Action Plan (MAP)

Our daily habits and habitats directly impact our happiness and health. There are many reasons to seek natural products for better happiness and health. What are you willing to do differently today to embrace better choices in 2018? Deciding to follow a healthy habits code of conduct and mastery action plan will enhance our quality of life. Our happiness and health benefit from healthy challenges, changes, and choices. Choose wisely.

Call to Action

What comments, commitments or concerns come to mind regarding healthy habits and habitats?

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Belize Eco Village Bulletin 7