At work, at the gym, on TV, in blogs…everyone’s talking about the hottest natural health trends. But chances are, when you go to the store to stock up, you’re hit with some serious sticker shock. You don’t need to break the bank to benefit from the latest and greatest health products, though. Here are our hacks for buying the best products nature has to offer without paying out-of-this-world prices.
Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil. This decadent, delicately sweet fat is all the rage because of its health benefits. It’s also an amazing DIY beauty ingredient. You could pay more than $35 for a 54 oz. jar at that cute store on the corner””we think a tropical vacation should be thrown in for that fee! For less than $23, you can get the same-size jar from Vitacost.com, and it’s extra-virgin, certified organic and cold-pressed.
Apple Cider Vinegar With “Mother.” It’s a health supplement–it’s a salad dressing–it’s a facial toner–it’s a chrome polisher–it’s a bug repellent. There are so many uses and benefits to this product, you might even call apple cider vinegar “priceless.” But–that doesn’t mean you should pay top price for it. Why spend $10 for a 32 oz. bottle of Bragg’s raw organic at a health store when you can get it for less than $5 online?
Raw Honey. Rich, creamy and packed with natural antioxidants that you just won’t find in those little bear-shaped containers you see in the supermarket, raw honey is a favorite of foodies and health freaks alike. You could spend more than $20 for a pound of this “liquid gold.” But it pays to shop around”¦online. YS Eco Bee Farms sells the most popular raw honey on the market, and a 16 oz. jar sells for $6.99. (Sweet!)
Chia Seeds. A single tablespoon contains 2.5 g of omega-3 fatty acids, 5 g of fiber and 3 g of protein. It’s the health trifecta! There’s really no need to pay more than $10 for a 12 oz. bag of this amazing nutrient (which is delicious in yogurt, oatmeal and salads, by the way.) Shop online instead of parting with a big chunk of your paycheck at a specialty store.
Nutritional Yeast. It tastes a little like parm cheese (making it soooo delicious on pasta), but nutritional yeast is vegan and low in calories, and it’s packed with essential vitamins including B, thiamine and zinc. Yeah, the stuff is pretty amazing–so we understand why health food stores get away with charging close to $20 for a 1-lb. bag of nutritional yeast. All the same, we encourage you to be smart and shop around, so you can buy Frontier Naturals Nutritional Yeast Mini Flakes for $13.25 a pound.
