Nutritional integrity, commitment to consumer health and environmental sustainability are today my top guiding priorities when it comes to products I am personally willing to use and companies I am willing to support. One such line of products comes from Organic Traditions, and it has become a staple for me that fits the criteria of being a source of high-quality food options. It is a pleasure to share about what makes these products stand out for my personal dietary use, as well as a recommendation for others.
Our food plays a major role in the creation of our health and vitality. It has the power to directly affect our state of wellness or disease. Yet for too many of us, food is still not given the priority in our lives that it should have. We are on the go all too often and think that grabbing just about anything with calories is “good enough” to satisfy our body’s needs. Of course today nutritional science, as well as the wisdom of our body, proves otherwise and this is why more people are making a serious effort to create their personal state of health and well-being through every meal they consume.
Foods that are whole, unprocessed and in their most natural form are a good place to start. However, as we know today, specifically organic, plant food is where the real power lies when it comes to healing and prevention. Some people are full of skepticism and excuses when the word organic pops up, especially when it costs more. In the words of Joe Salatin below, it comes down to how we choose to see things and where we choose to focus our resources and priorities.
“If you think organic food is expensive, have you priced cancer lately?”
Joel Salatin, founder of Polyface Farms
One particular company, which I want to bring to your attention when it comes to high-quality, wholesome, natural and organic plant foods, is Organic Traditions.* I first discovered these products in a local health food store about 5 years ago when I was looking for raw, organic cacao powder. The products caught my attention for several reasons and over the years, my use and reliance on them have only steadily continued to increase. Below I will share with you why this has been so, as well as some of my top food choices from them, and the reasons behind those choices.
About Organic Traditions
Organic Traditions is the brand name of superfood products distributed by Advantage Health Matters. They focus on certified organic, kosher and gluten-free health and wellness products. The president and founder of Advantage Health Matters and Organic Traditions is Jerry Zeifman, who was inspired to turn to natural foods and remedies when he found no solution to his health issues with conventional medicine. It is a Canadian company, located in Ontario, Canada, with locations in New York, United States as well.
Advantage Health Matters is committed to offering the highest quality superfoods and wellness products, which they believe in and use themselves. Their products are sourced from organic, wildcrafted and ethically grown ingredients. They are committed to supporting farmers who are dedicated to the principles of sustainable and fair trade agriculture.
Organic Traditions is inspired by the traditional superfoods of many indigenous cultures around the world. They reflect traditions and cultures like that of Ayurveda, Jamu, Unami, Asian, South American and Western. They provide the consumer today with an abundant selection of various superfoods, superfruits, supersprouts, superseeds, superherbs, superteas, and superblends.
Aside from Organic Traditions, Health Matters also provides a second brand called Natural Traditions, which focuses on many wildcrafted superblends.
You can learn more about Organic Traditions and the products they carry via their US HealthMattersAmerica.com or Canadian HealthMattersCanada.com websites.
Organic Traditions has the Right Certification
What impressed me the most about Organic Traditions right from the start is the certification their food products carry. In our world today of poor quality farming and food processing methods, the right certification is essential to making sure that you are investing wisely with your money and health. All of the Organic Traditions superfoods show a clear, simple to spot and understand selection of certifying labels that allow the consumer to quickly and easily learn more about their food in the areas that perhaps matter most.
Organic
An organic food product today is of extreme importance to me to avoid the unnecessary chemicals and toxins associated with synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and poor farming methods. When it comes to Organic Traditions they don’t just provide 1 proper organic certification, but 3! Their foods are certified organic by the USDA, Canada Organic and EcoCert.
Non-GMO
Even though organic certification automatically assumes that the food is non-GMO, Organic Traditions also emphasizes this separately on all of their food products, with a separate certification label. This assures the consumer that they can trust the food they are eating to be most natural for their body and not be biologically compromised.
Vegan
Being someone who consumes a 100% plant-based diet, it is important to me that none of the foods contain or be contaminated with any animal products. This is again where Organic Traditions excels with their labeling in that each food product contains a clear vegan certification label.
Raw
As I teach and practice myself, whole, natural foods in their raw form are highly beneficial for our short and long term health and well-being. We can count on foods in their raw form to have all of their vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, enzymes and natural microbes intact, which is most natural to our body and beneficial for our health. I am not interested in any pasteurized or irradiated foods, or foods treated with any kind of unnatural or excessive heat. I am also not interested in foods that have some or most of their nutritional benefits lost due to today’s numerous food processing methods. This is where I highly value that Organic Traditions has the raw certification label on nearly all of their superfood products.
Gluten-Free
Even though a gluten-free certification is not critical for me, by choice I aim to consume very little if any gluten in my diet today. So this certification on Organic Traditions foods is a welcome bonus for me. However, for many others in our population today, having the gluten-free certification is essential, as both full-on Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance have increased drastically over the past few decades. The consumption of gluten can cause extreme digestive distress and damage, as well as compromise the immune system and overall health.
Low Glycemic
For those who value or eat based on the Glycemic Index, many of the Organic Traditions foods also have that label provided for the consumer on a select few items.
Kosher
Finally, for anyone who requires it for their choice of lifestyle, most of the Organic Traditions superfoods are also certified Kosher.
Organic Traditions Tells You the Origin of the Food
Another major characteristic that has continued to impress me over the years about these superfoods is that almost every single product is clearly labeled to inform the consumer about the country of origin of the food product. Again, in today’s world where questionable farming practices are applied and contamination issues prevail, this is very important.
It is also valuable to know about the origin of the food as more of us are seeking local food products, to increase sustainability practices and help local economies. This can therefore further help us make choices that are most in alignment with our lifestyle and priorities.
Organic Traditions Offers Wholesome & Natural Foods
The more health-conscious we become, the more we seek foods in their whole, natural forms. This means foods that ARE the ingredient, rather than foods that are made up of ingredients.
Almost all of the Organic Traditions superfoods are just that—one ingredient foods, without any additives, preservatives or secondary ingredients. What you see, is pretty much what you get. The main exception to this includes their superblends and chocolate-covered lines of products.
Organic Traditions Offers Sprouted Foods
As more of us learn about the benefits of sprouting dry foods like nuts, seeds, grains, and beans, we are beginning to incorporate this practice as part of our regular lifestyle. Soaking and/or sprouting benefits us and our health in two main ways. It increases the nutrient levels—awakening the life energy within the seed to begin a new life. Secondly, it increases the ease of digestibility, basically making dry, high protein and high-fat foods like nuts, seeds, beans and grains easier for our bodies to digest.
To provide these benefits, along with some increased convenience, Organic Traditions also offers some of their superfoods in sprouted form. These are easy to identify as they clearly share this in the title of the food, for example, Sprouted Flax Seed Powder, and also bear the 100% Sprouted certification label.
Sprouted food choices include chia, flax, quinoa, and a Risotto mix made up of sprouted brown rice, lentil, and flax seeds.
My Favorite Organic Traditions Foods
Organic Traditions carries dozens of different natural, whole food options. To date, I have used, and continue to regularly use many of their superfoods, superseeds, and superfruits. I have yet to try their superherbs, supersprouts, and superteas, as for now I have not had the need or desire to purchase these products. I have also not tried any of their products from the Natural Traditions line, so I cannot comment about those. Additionally, I have not tried any of their Chocolate Covered blends. While these can make much healthier snacks than anything chocolate covered from the typical convenience or grocery store aisles, they are not items that I would seek or consume as part of my diet today. I prefer to buy raw cacao and raw almonds and make my own super healthy snacks. Below, I will share with you my top 5 foods that I buy and consume regularly from Organic Traditions.
In terms of package size, most of the foods from Organic Traditions come in one of three sizes: snack size 3.5oz/100g, or small 8oz/227g, or large 16oz/454g. The products are packaged in re-sealable, plastic-foil like bags. The packaging is opaque to not allow any light to penetrate the product, which is important as many nutrients are light, heat, and oxygen-sensitive.
Finally, speaking of packaging, I wish to comment here as well, that it can be rare for a company today to have truly effective packaging. This meaning a smart blend of practical and appealing, while being honest and authentic about the product inside. I find the Organic Traditions packaging to excel in each of these areas. The packaging is very clean, elegant and appealing. It provides the consumer easily with nutrition information, as well as some practical uses for the food item. It contains all of the “right” information in a neat, quick and easy to spot and read format. The packages also have two images of the food product: an artistically presented image of the whole food as it would appear in nature, as well as a smaller image of what to actually expect in the bag. They provide the consumer with an overall feeling of “clean and simple”, which is how our food should be.
1. Raw Cacao Powder
Having access to high-quality raw cacao gives a whole new meaning to chocolate. When I moved away from processed and animal-ingredient foods over 5 years ago, I had no problem giving up any kind of commercial chocolate. This is a food product that is touted as “the treat” in our society and which most people cannot seem to live without. However, from a health perspective, it is a product that is high in refined sugars and fats, amongst other additives, which are far from healthy for us. It is unfortunate therefore that every so often we hear claims about the benefits of chocolate, as it really should be represented more accurately for true health benefits. The true health benefits are in the raw, whole, natural cacao bean, not the processed food product that we call chocolate today.
Those of us who are familiar with baking may consider various cocoa powders that are available and which seem to be “pure”. However, unless the product is labeled as “raw” it is most certainly heat-treated and Dutch-processed (alkali processed). Aside from obvious chemical and nutritional drawbacks, it has been found that cacao’s phytonutrient and antioxidant levels can vary by 20-fold depending on the severity of alkali processing. So if we were hoping for nutritional and health benefits from the product, any food that contains alkali-processed cacao definitely isn’t a great investment of our money or health.
This is where companies like Organic Traditions provide cacao in its purest form, where we can use it to create healthy and delicious “chocolatey” snacks and desserts. My favorite raw cacao powder-based recipes include Raw Superfood Squares, Raw Brownies and Raw Chocolate Mousse Cake.
Raw cacao is an excellent source of protein (6g per 1 TBS/20g), healthy fats and minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc. It is a great source of fiber, has no sugars, and is a low-glycemic food item. It is an outstanding source of antioxidants, with the brand from Organic Traditions coming in at 11,000 ORAC/serving.
Food origin: Peru (packaged in the USA)
Certification: Gluten-free, organic, non-GMO, raw, vegan, kosher
Uses: smoothies, snacks, desserts
2. Raw Almonds
I am sure that most of us are well aware of the health and nutrition benefits of almonds, but are probably not aware of the differences in quality when it comes to almonds. Today, almonds can be found in pretty much any grocery, bulk, and even drug store! The almonds will typically be roasted, but can often be found in their “natural” form too. This is what many people consider raw almonds, however, if they come from the US, they are quite certainly never truly raw.
As of September 2007, raw almonds available in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, are no longer “truly raw” due to a mandate passed by the USDA, FDA, and the California Almond Board, announcing that all almonds including organic must be pasteurized. Farmers have a choice of one of three methods of pasteurization:
Propylene Oxide (PPO) Fumigation (a known carcinogen)
High Heat (degrades the integrity of the nuts and enzyme structure)
Steam Pasteurization (can devalue the nutrients, enzyme activity, and antioxidants)
As you can see from the three examples above, even though the 3rd option appears least nutritionally destructive and safest for us, none are ideal for providing us with high-quality, truly natural food products. When pasteurized almonds are soaked, they often develop black mold spots within as little as 12 hours. Pasteurized almonds will also not sprout, whereas truly raw almonds should sprout around 3 days of soaking. High-temperature processing destroys all enzymes and protective bacteria, thus rendering these almonds nutritionally compromised. So even though organic almonds on the market use pasteurization method number 3, many within the natural health communities have begun to look for other options. And this brings us to Organic Traditions.
What I love and value so much about the Organic Traditions almonds is that they come from Europe (Italy) where the US laws do not impose that the almonds be pasteurized in any way. Therefore the almonds are neither pasteurized in any way nor are they irradiated. This provides us as consumers with a truly raw, unprocessed and most nutritionally sound food product. The almonds taste great, soak great (no black molding) and are just an all-around pleasure to consume.
Raw almonds are an excellent source of protein (6g per 1/4 cup), healthy fats and minerals like magnesium, manganese, zinc, calcium, and iron. They are also loaded with vitamin E, as well as a good source of fiber. They are naturally cholesterol-free, gluten-free and a low-glycemic food.
Food origin: Italy (packaged in the USA)
Certification: Gluten-free, organic, non-GMO, raw, vegan, kosher
Uses: snacks, smoothies, salads, desserts, main meals, homemade nut butter, and nut milk
3. Chia Seeds
When it comes to chia seeds, I have been in love with them since I was first introduced to them a few good years back. They are exceptionally nutrient-dense, and so versatile to use! Today they come in as one of my top three seeds to consume as part of our regular diet. (Hemp and flaxseeds being the other two.) My favorite way to eat them is very simply as additions to my smoothies, but they have a plethora of ways in which they can be utilized in meals and recipes—even as egg replacers!
However, as the market and demand for chia seeds grew over the past few years, so did cheap sources of chia seeds. Non-organic sources are abundant, which can include seeds grown in nutritionally poor soils, grown with synthetic fertilizers and pesticide spraying. This is why, just like with almost any other food, it is ideal that we invest in an organic version.
Organic Traditions has several chia seed options for us to choose from:
- Dark Chia Seeds
- Dark Milled Chia Seeds
- White Chia Seeds
- White Milled Chia Seeds
- Sprouted Chia Seed Powder
- Sprouted Chia & Flax Seed Powder
To date, I have only had the pleasure of using the dark chia seeds. One of the most common questions that people ask is what difference there is between the white and dark chia seeds. To which the answer is that truly not much. White chia seeds are rarer, and some sources cite small nutrient increases, but generally, either color is just fine. Some companies may choose to only cultivate the white color for example in superior soils, thereby claiming that “it” is more nutritionally sound. But this is not necessarily a reflection of the color difference across the board for all chia seeds. Most people simply pick one over the other if they have the choice, for aesthetic reasons.
Chia seeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids (3g per 1 TBS). Added to this, they have an outstanding 3:1 omega-3:omega-6 ratio. They are a rich source of fiber and packed with various vitamins and minerals, including folate, calcium, and iron. They are naturally cholesterol-free, gluten-free and a low-glycemic food. Finally, chia seeds are a great source of antioxidants, with the brand from Organic Traditions coming in at 1,200 ORAC/serving.
Food origin: Ecuador (packaged in Canada)
Certification: Gluten-free, organic, non-GMO, raw, vegan, kosher
Uses: smoothies, salads, snacks, desserts, main meals
4. Golden Berries
Golden berries are known by various names, with the most common other two perhaps being “Ground Cherries” or “Inca Berries”. They are cultivated in many climates all over the world and make delicious food in both their fresh and dried forms. To date, I have had the pleasure of eating them in both their fresh and dried forms and love both forms equally depending on the mood or availability. The fresh golden berry is succulently sweet and juicy. The dried golden berry is more of a sweet-sour flavor and chewy. It is quite a unique flavor that they have, and one that I find extremely pleasurable for my palette.
Golden berries make excellent snacks and what I consider as a true “treat.” While a variety of different fruits should be consumed daily, fresh golden berries are not always easy to source, especially out of season. They are not a common fruit found in most North American grocery stores year-round. This is why I consider them a true treat—healthy and delicious, but rare.
Organic Traditions provides the dried golden berry in its raw and organic form. This allows us to have this wonderful superfood in its highest quality and readily available to us. They are an antioxidant-rich snack that can be used straight out of the bag on their own any time of the year or added to some other meals as you see fit.
Golden berries are an excellent source of potassium, as well as iron and vitamin C. They are a good source of protein (2g per 1/4 cup) and fiber. They are naturally cholesterol-free, gluten-free and a low-glycemic food.
Food origin: Ecuador (packaged in the USA)
Certification: Gluten-free, organic, non-GMO, raw, vegan, kosher
Uses: snacks, smoothies, salads, desserts
5. Shredded Coconut
I am a huge fan of the coconut and enjoy this very delicious and highly nutritious food on a regular basis. The three ways I consume coconut are in its fresh whole form; in its dried whole form, and as coconut butter. (Note: As part of a whole food, plant-based diet I do not consume, nor do I recommend coconut oil.)
I enjoy eating the fresh or dried flakes or strips as snacks and using them to make all sorts of treats and snacks. My favorite recipes with it include Coconut-Almond Superseed Granola Bars, Banana Coconut Cream Cake and the Superfood squares I mentioned above in the raw cacao section.
The dry shredded coconut from Organic Traditions is up to my standards when it comes to being pure and organic. It is not sweetened, not sulfured, and does not include any other ingredients. It tastes wonderful, with a fresh aroma and very delicately sweet flavor.
When in its whole and unprocessed form, coconut is an excellent source of healthy fats and provides a slow-burning fuel. In its whole form, the coconut also provides some protein, healthy carbohydrates and fiber. It contains some vital vitamins and minerals, including iron. It is naturally cholesterol-free, gluten-free, and a low-glycemic food.
Food origin: India (packaged in the USA)
Certification: Gluten-free, organic, non-GMO, raw, vegan, kosher
Uses: snacks, smoothies, salads, desserts
Where to Buy
Organic Traditions superfoods can be found at most local health food stores across Canada and the US. Look for them also in certain health food restaurants, natural health practitioner’s offices, as well as holistic health and wellness centers. Organic Traditions can also be easily purchased online on Amazon and many online natural health food stores.
Conclusion
Whether you are already well into a journey of optimally healthy eating or just beginning, it is always good to know about the choices available to us today that can provide the highest quality of nutrition possible. We all know that upon walking into the typical grocery store today, we are confronted with aisles upon aisles of food-like products, but not real food. Packages of all shapes, sizes, and colors disguise the multitudes of processed food items and try to make us believe that they are an adequate source of nutrition for our body and health. Well, today our health speaks for itself and it cannot get any clearer when it comes to our weight and disease, types and rates. Our most common food choices are not nourishing, healing or protecting us. Far from it, they are most often the main causes of our health and weight challenges.
As we take steps on our journey of taking our health back and re-learning how to feed ourselves for optimal health, we naturally gravitate to all that is wholesome, natural and pure. As we come back to real food, we come back to real health and in turn begin to enjoy a renewed sense of vitality and vigor, as well as the quality of life. This is where our journey truly begins to empower us as the creators of our own health and happiness. This is when we don’t have to be convinced of anything, for we inherently know what the human body needs to survive, thrive and enjoy its human experience to the fullest!
And so I hope you enjoy experimenting with adding in some new flavors and textures from Organic Traditions into your meals as I have over the years, and continue to this day. You can count on their ultra high quality, purity and nutrition to nourish your body and make you feel good about the choices you are making for your health. It is always a pleasure to share the positive examples in our society, for we know we have too many negative ones. It is, therefore, my hope that their exceptional food standards and commitment to our health will continue to remain high, as they continue to be a reputable leader in the natural food industry.