Up Your Lifestyle With Mokena's Only Health Food Store

It's getting easier to eat a healthy, all-natural meal in America, with an increase in organic and gluten-free sections at grocery stores, farmers markets (or ) in nearly every town and low-calorie dishes available on restaurant menus.

, Mokena’s only health store, aims to take the all-natural movement a step further by selling only the most natural food items and supplements available. According to Jann Morlan, co-owner of Health Nutz, everything in the store is healthy.

“Everything is either organic or very natural here, and nothing is genetically modified,” Morlan said. “We try to have some really healthy choices.”

Morlan and her sister Gail Lane first opened Health Nutz in December 2002, inspired by a cousin who owns a health store in LaSalle.

“We’ve always been interested in supplements and natural ways to get healthy and stay healthy, and we always wanted to do something along those lines,” Morlan said.

Problem was, Morlan and her sister both already had good jobs. Fate took over when Morlan’s job title was eliminated. After that, Morlan and her sister talked to their cousin and opened their own store in Mokena.

“There wasn’t a health food store in Mokena,” said Morlan, a lifelong resident of the area. When they found a location, they went for it.

The family-owned store has resided in Mokena for eight years. It first opened in the plaza across the street, and then five years ago, Morlan said they moved to its current location, 19844 La Grange Road.

Health Nutz sells an array of natural vitamins and supplements, ample amounts of gluten-free food options, refrigerated and frozen foods and beverages, essential oils, body care products, local honey, organic teas and lots more.

“Customers come in and tell us about a product they like, and we try to accommodate them,” Morlan said. “That’s how we’ve gotten a lot of the stuff we have.”

Morlan stated that the gluten-free food is definitely the most popular group of items, followed by the vitamins and supplements.

“There seems to be a really big need for gluten-free products in our area at this time,” Morlan said.

For someone just beginning to embark on the all-natural approach to eating, Morlan said she would suggest starting with a good multi-vitamin, and women should take a calcium and magnesium vitamin. Probiotics are also a great option, she said.

With food, Morlan suggested beginning with organic, unrefined products, like cooking oils.

“Anytime you can do organic or locally grown food, you’re much better off,” Morlan said.

Morlan said she lives by the store’s philosophy and highly recommends this way of life for others. She said that not only do they sell organic and natural items at Health Nutz, they also make suggestions for particular health issues that you’re experiencing.

“We try to be a source of information for the customers,” Morlan said.