Panajachel Health Food Store
Hiking, drinking, kayaking, drinking, partying, drinking—with so many things to do at the lake, it's easy to get run down and not find time to do something about it.
The Pana Health Food Store offers one-stop shopping for organic, vegan and natural foods. They also carry natural snacks, gluten-free and other flours, vitamins, minerals and supplements, and lotions and creams.
You can place custom orders from their in-house catalog, which includes items from around the world. A delivery service is also in the works.
Since May 2008, Chris and Stephanie from a small town north of Austin, Texax, have owned and run Pana's only store dedicated to health products and foods. They'll be glad to offer advice on a range of health topics as well as on the products on the shelf. You can also get free information and advice from the knowledgeable staff.
Rootin', Tootin' Gluten
What is gluten, anyway? Rye, wheat, and barley contain a special type of protein that helps bread keep its shape but which also causes negative reactions in many people. Interestingly, the symptoms of Gluten Intolerance are nearly identical to those of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
To help avoid such problems, Pana Health Food Store carries a full line of gluten-free flours, pancake and brownie mixes, and ready-to-eat crackers and snacks.
Organic pasta, mustard, salsa, juices and other items allow you to cook and eat healthier meals. In addition to the better-known soy milk, Pana Health also stocks almond milk and rice milk, which avoid the possible negative side effects of soy.
Vitamins and Supplements
Most of us don't always eat as healthy as we should. That's where vitamins and supplements come into play, particularly for vegans—hardcore vegetarians. Vita-Green and other supplements designed for vegetarians also work for meat-eaters by providing a wide range of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.
Body Care
One of the few places in Guatemala with Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, Pana Health sells a variety of lotions and creams for both sexes. And if your body aches after horseback riding or a bumpy ride through the mountains, Icy Hot Patches will relieve the pain in no time. A therapeutic or clinical massage from Chris, who is also a U.S. licensed therapist, will make a bigger difference even if you opt for only fifteen minutes of back and shoulder repair (after a day of backpacking around the lake). Call 4132-3520 for an appointment or drop by the store.
More Products and Services
Hearing problems from ear wax? Pana Health sells those hard-to-find wax cones that can help eliminate this problem. They also carry natural household products and cleaners, oils, incense, teas, and treatments for parasites such as amoebae. If you're going hiking or on a day trip across the lake, grab a bunch of the natural snacks that are ready to eat.
Chris, along with his Guatemalan friend Daniel, runs Guate Realty from the office next door. Their Guatemalan Connection services company is also based here, providing private tours, rides to and from the airport, information and assistance on importing cars, offshore asset protection and more.
Gift certificates are available, and Pana Health accepts all major credit cards. In the Comercio El Patio on Santander, the store is open five days a week. See the Web site: PanaHealthFood.com, or call 7762-6151 for more information.