Supporting Canadian women’s health with trusted natural health products
To better understand the health challenges Canadian women are navigating, CHFA conducted a national study—and the findings point to clear opportunities for solutions.
From menopause and mental health issues to anemia, skin conditions, and thyroid disorders, women across the country are managing multiple, overlapping symptoms, including fatigue, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Despite growing interest in natural health products (NHPs), significant gaps remain in how well these products are meeting their needs.
Prioritizing affordability and access is essential. With tariff increases and regulatory cost pressures on the horizon, retailers have a critical role to play in keeping NHPs accessible to price-sensitive consumers. Creating clearly merchandized value sections, curating “good, better, best” product assortments with brand partners, and leveraging in-store promotions or trial-size offerings can significantly help overcome price barriers, creating more affordable options that consumers are likely to consider.
Meeting diverse health needs across life stages. This all starts with understanding the specific challenges women often face: from mental health and anemia in younger women to perimenopause, weight gain, and sleep issues in later years. Retailers are uniquely positioned to support these evolving needs through thoughtful product selection, curated shelf sets, and in-store education, like demos.
Integrating holistic wellness messaging that encompasses nutrition, mental health, and self-care can help consumers better understand the interconnected nature of women’s health and empower more informed, personalized choices at every stage of life.
Addressing under-managed conditions, such as perimenopause, premenstrual syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, and skin concerns, is critical. Simplified labelling, clear user guides, and symptom checklists can help overcome confusion and limited knowledge, enabling informed choices. Wider product availability and simplified selection processes will also improve accessibility, especially for new or hesitant users.
Building trust through community and healthcare collaboration. Retailers can build credibility by promoting highly trained staff; offering trusted guidance in store; and partnering with local doctors, pharmacists, and naturopaths for community events or referrals. Focusing on in-store communication around safety standards, third-party certifications, and quality assurance also helps address consumer concerns around efficacy and the potential side effects, which helps to also promote confidence at the shelf.
Retailers play a vital role in educating consumers by making credible, science-backed information easily accessible at the point of purchase. Leveraging trusted third-party resources, partnering with health professionals for in-store events or content, and training staff to confidently communicate product benefits can all help deepen consumer understanding and confidence in NHPs.
Brands and retailers who respond with empathy and provide evidence-based solutions will ultimately champion better health outcomes for Canadian women at every life stage, while also building long-term trust and encouraging repeat purchases.
For more insights on supporting Canadian women’s health with trusted NHPs, read the latest report available at chfa.ca.