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Native Sun believes special diets deserve
special attention. That's why we carry a variety of
products tailored to meet the specific dietary needs
of our customers and make it easy for them to find suitable
foods with our unique color-coded tagging system.
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Green Tag - Low Sodium (under
100 mg) |
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Red Tag - No Gluten Added |
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Yellow Tag - No Casein Added |
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Brown Tag - No Peanuts Added |
Our staff is knowledgeable and available
to answer your questions about the products that are
appropriate for a variety of dietary restrictions including:
No Gluten Added
No Casein Added
No Peanuts Added
Macrobiotic
Raw Diet
Vegetarian and Vegan
Lactose-free
Kosher
New to shopping for a special diet? Request a free walkthrough of the store with our Food Education Coordinator Ginny Nehring by calling 904-260-2791.
No Gluten Added
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley,
rye and oats. Even the smallest grain will wreak havoc
on the digestive system of people with gluten intolerance
like those suffering from Celiac disease. As recognizing
sources of gluten can often be tricky, we have a special
section of the store dedicated specifically to products
whose manufacturers have verified in writing that no
gluten has been added.
No Casein Added
Casein is a protein found in milk that has been linked
to sensitivities in children. It is the primary protein
in cheese. A Gluten/Casein free diet is gaining acceptance
as an appropriate diet for children with autism.
No Peanuts Added
Peanuts are a common and potentially serious food allergy. The consumption of peanuts by an allergic person can signal reactions ranging from an itching or swelling of the lips, tongue or mouth, to life-threatening shortness of breath and a drop in blood pressure. Native Sun will only tag products as "No Peanuts Added," once we have written confirmation from the manufacturer that they are currently a peanut-free facility.
Native Sun Natural Foods Market meticulously reviews manufacturers’ allergen claims and our process is more diligent than any other store we are aware; however, we’ve found that changes while not often - do happen, and sometimes without notice. Therefore, our allergen tags are to be used ONLY as guides. Any questions about the products and current manufacturing practices should be handled by contacting the manufacturer directly.
Macrobiotics
Based on the ancient Chinese philosophy of the yin and
yang, macrobiotics is a way of life thought to establish
and maintain physical, mental and spiritual health by
looking at the relationships and effects of diet, lifestyle,
and environment. Basically a vegetarian diet, followers
of macrobiotics eat 40 - 60 % whole cereal grains, 25
- 30% raw vegetables, 5 to 10% beans and sea vegetables,
and two servings of miso soup per day. It has proven
beneficial for people suffering from heart disease,
cancer, diabetes, arthritis, digestive disorders, and
many other health problems.
Raw Diet
A raw food diet consists of unprocessed and uncooked plant foods, such as fresh fruit, dried fruit, vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, beans, nuts, and seaweed. Heating any food above 116 degrees Fahrenheit is believed to destroy enzymes that are necessary for the propoer digestion and absorption of food. Cooking is also thought to diminish a food item’s nutritional value and “life force”.
A raw food diet contains fewer trans fats and saturated fat than most diets. It’s also low in sodium and high in potassium, magnesium, folate, fiber and health-promoting plant chemicals called phytochemicals.
Proponents of the raw food diet believe it offers increased energy, weight loss, improved digestion, better skin appearance and a reduced risk of heart disease.
Vegetarian and Vegan
Our Vegetarian and Vegan customers have a plethora of
options throughout the store. A vegetarian diet consists
mainly of fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, seeds
and nuts. Some Vegetarians also include proteins from
animals such as eggs and cheese.
Vegans are "strict
vegetarians" who exclude animal flesh, animal products,
and anything made with animal products. Vegetarian and
vegan diets tend to be lower in total fat and decrease
the chance for coronary artery disease, hypertension,
obesity and some forms of cancer.
Lactose Intolerance
People with lactose intolerance find it hard to break
down milk sugars so they can be absorbed into the blood
stream. Consuming any milk or milk products can cause
them general discomfort, nausea, cramps, bloating, gas,
and diarrhea. Native Sun carries several lactose-free
alternatives for products like milk, cheese, yogurt
and ice cream. These substitutes are often made with
soy, rice or almonds, and taste just as delicious as
the "real" thing.
Kosher
The Jewish faith has strict laws about the types of
food that can be eaten, the types of foods that can
be combined in one meal and the way an animal is killed
for food. Native Sun respects these standards and carries
a variety of kosher products clearly labeled throughout
the store.
We hope that the tagging program we have
implemented helps our customers narrow down their choices
when it comes to special-diet-appropriate foods. Although
we re-verify with our manufacturers every 90 days, changes
to their raw materials and/or manufacturing processes
in the interim make it impractical for Native Sun to
guarantee the complete absence of gluten, casein or
peanuts even in items tagged "free" of these substances.
For this reason,
we encourage our customers to also contact the manufacturers
for your own peace of mind.
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