Health store also offers alternative practices

It can be difficult to find a niche and keep up in the alternative health industry, where trends come and go as people seek out new ways to improve their health. However, The Woodlands Health Market, which opened in 1999, seems to have what it takes to keep its customers coming back.

Owned by long-time Woodlands resident Cheryl Lemoine Kainer, The Health Market offers an array of health foods, vitamins, minerals, herbs and supplements, as well as certified professionals in several alternative health sciences, such as iridology, reflexology, ion foot detox and hair analysis.

"I started The Health Market to provide The Woodlands area with a good health-focused store that actually had food," Kainer said. "We have these little health food stores that sell vitamins and minerals, but we were one of the first to sell food products and get in on the gluten-free movement."

Over time, Kainer said, she began developing the health services aspect of her business. As a certified iridologist, she identifies strengths and weaknesses of organs by examining a person's iris.

"Iridology is something that isn't practiced much in the U.S., but is used widely in other countries," she said. "It focuses a lot on digestive health, but can be used to identify imbalances in any organ."

There are five trained health specialists on staff, including a reflexologist, classic naturopath and a certified nutrition counselor. The market also sells products related to aromatherapy and aroma cleanse therapy.

Kainer said she is picky about the types of products she carries and tries to obtain top-of-the-line brands for varying health issues. Shoppers at The Health Market are also more likely to find food-based vitamins, as opposed to synthetic ones.

"Your body really doesn't know what synthetic vitamins are and most of it gets excreted in your urine," she said. "It's a big waste of money. Food-based multivitamins are our biggest seller."

The Health Market's motto is "Take care of yourself." Kainer said her mission is to make sure everyone who comes into her store leaves with a better sense of their health and a better idea of how to improve it.

"A lot of people these days are into natural health, and they always seem to end up with 30 different bottles of pills to treat every little thing," Kainer said. "You don't need 30 bottles of pills. Alternative health services at the market let you get specific about what you need."

The Woodlands Health Market,, 427 Sawdust Road, The Woodlands. 281-367-0002, www.woodlandshealthmarket.com

Mon.–Fri.: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat.: 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Closed Sunday