Wow, I spent all last weekend at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California. It was unbelievably HUGE! 2,600 exhibitors offering some sort of "natural" product.

The vast majority of the Expo is about food products, many of which I felt the title of "natural" was dubious at best. I mean, yes, organic hot dogs, pizzas, and hamburgers are made from natural ingredients, but I'm not so sure that the result is something that I would call natural, or healthy for that matter. And while there has been some movement toward more eco-friendly packaging for products, I did not see much of that evident at the show. Plus, most of the food companies were giving out samples of food in small plastic cups, and supplements or body care products were being handed out in little one or two time use foil or plastic packets. A lot of waste when you think about 65,000 people attending.

There was quite a broad spectrum of food companies in attendance, including some awesome ones like Newman's Own Organics, founded in 1993 by Paul Newman's daughter, Nell Newman. We're going to be speaking with Nell about how Newman's Own Organics came into being, how they've help spearhead the organic food movement, what they are doing to reduce their impact on the environment as a company, and what Nell herself is doing as a person to live green. Look for this in depth interview quite soon.

There were even a few raw, vegan food companies in attendance! Much to my excitement. Special thanks to Ultimate Rawfoods for their incredible chocolate made from raw cacao. Incredibly delicious, while being good for the body.

So many amazing companies, and so many amazing people that I can't even begin to list them all here. So here are some of the highlights in no particular order:

We saw some beautiful new clothes made from sustainable fabrics, including bamboo, hemp, organic cotton, and soy. Two of my favorites were Ecolution and Earth Creations. Green Label has some great t-shirts with powerful messages, and Livity is the bomb for bags! Tania, Jedi, and I each have a Livity bag made from a blend of hemp and recycled plastic bottles, and highly recommend them.

I made the best investment for my body that I've made in a long time, too. I got a pair of Earth shoes at the show, my first pair since the 70's! They feel so much better to walk in than my other shoes, including my running shoes, and they're vegan, too, which makes me even happier.

Lumia Organic had on display beautiful organic soy wax candles scented with essential oils. Clean burning, and 100% biodegradable, they are beautiful, safe for your home, and safe for the environment.

Drainbo offers a biological method of clearing clogged plumbing and keeping it that way, through the use of beneficial bacteria.

I've been interested in seeing if my cat, Isabelle, would like a raw food diet since it's what she would naturally be eating if she were in the wild, but haven't hound the right solution so far. She's not interested in plain raw meat, except for fish, but that won't give her all the nutrients that she needs. At the Expo, I discovered Wild Kitty, raw and natural cat food, which looks very promising. It's made from healthy meats such as free range chickens that are free of antibiotics, growth stimulants, pesticides and hormones; and whole fresh Wild Caught Albacore Tuna from the waters of the North Atlantic; along with whole food ingredient such as flax seeds, kelp, and vegetables. I'm going to get some the next time I go down to LA, and will let everyone know how it goes.

Organic Fiji are empowering island communities in the South Pacific, while providing delectable products made from the pure virgin coconut oil from there. Intoxicating is my best way of describing their products. I especially liked their Pineapple and Coconut, Cane Sugar Body Polish. Yum!

Eco-Me has a fantastic line of 100% natural do-it-yourself cleaning kits to help you make your own natural, non-toxic, chemical-free products, using basic ingredients such as water, vinegar, olive oil, and baking powder. A great way to help green your home, body, baby, and pets. The woman who started the company did so because her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer, with no family history of this disease nor a lifestyle to promote it. They can only assume that pollutants in the environment, and toxins in the home must have some connection. What toxic products are in your home right now?

It was great to run into some old friends of mine, Aaron and Kim of Moon Valley Bees and Botanicals. In addition to selling delicious raw Washington State honey from their own bees, they have an incredible line of 100% natural body care products made from their honey, beeswax, and organic or wildcrafted herbs and oils. My favorites are the Body Heal bar and the Muscle Rub bar. They smell amazing, and really work.

Speaking of smelling amazing, Buddha Nose blends the energetic dynamics of Shiatsu with organic or wildcrafted herbs and oils to create bath salts, salves, spray mists and more. I love their blends, they smell heavenly.

Special thanks, and a "Where have you been all my life?" goes out to Awakening, and their miracle working mineral therapy for the feet. They handed me a sample as I was leaving on Saturday, and I could not believe the relief that it brought to my sore, aching feet. Their products are non-greasy, and use Dead Sea minerals to awaken and revitalize your body. You won't believe how well it works till you try it!

And, let's not forget one of the most fun parts of the weekend, the Vitality eco fashion show to benefit women's cancer research, hosted by Think Products, Whole Foods, and l.a. models. It was a blast. The clothes were great, some of the models looked like regular people (they received the most applause), and everyone had a wonderful time.

All this expo excitement has me ready for the Green Festival in Chicago in April. If you're in the area, be sure and attend. The one they held in San Francisco in November was mind-blowing. Dianovo will be there signing people up, and spreading the word about the new green business tools we are about to unveil.