It’s nearly impossible to find high-quality organic foods, nutritional supplements, or gluten-free products consistently in Calgary supermarkets. Fortunately, health food stores in our city are covering the gap!
We spent two weeks buying from each of the highest-recommended health food stores here. Here are the ones we ended up choosing as the best options.
Table of Contents
How We Chose the Best Health Food Stores in Calgary
Here are the factors we considered in picking the best health food stores in Calgary:
1. Calgary Nutrition House South Centre Mall
| Products | 4/5 |
| Convenience | 5/5 |
| Staff | 5/5 |
| Prices (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
When we choose health food stores, we’re more concerned with how the place can be beneficial for future patrons. Fortunately, Calgary Nutrition House met our standard, offering products for specific diets and natural remedies for various ailments.
Such solutions are available in the form of vitamins, minerals, and supplements. They can also provide clients with a wide range of superfoods, green foods, and healthy beverages such as coffee, juice, and tea.
The store not only has promising products but also a very approachable team of experts that most of their customers vouched for. This is naturally a plus for us, considering that some buyers may be first-time customers who need knowledgeable recommendations.
Speaking of which, their staff can be approached to help with everything from product consultation and purchase to necessary follow-ups. How do we know? Well, we may or may not have pestered them for several days to see how well they deal with questions.
They were very accommodating in our experience. Plus, you can also reach out to them even after business hours, given that you both have an agreement.
The only complaint shared by most customers is that their products are on the pricey side. That’s why we appreciate that they have certain products on sale, though they’re only available for online purchases.
Finally, Calgary Nutrition House goes out of its way to know its clients individually. This approach enables them to recommend products that will improve their health, which is a commendable effort.
Pros
- Variety of health solutions available (
- Healthy beverages (coffee, juice, and tea) are also available
- Staffed with an approachable team of experts
- Available for delivery
- Can be reached even after business hours
- Online purchasing available
Cons
- Certain products are pricey
- On-sale items are not available for in-store purchase (online only)
Helped me all the way, matches my diet
Very helpful team. I was looking for guidance on ideas how to match my specific diet with nutritional supplements and Ana helped me all the way, very happy to talk with her. Gabriel was also very helpful and very knowledgeable of my needs. If you go to the store please ask to see Gabriel and Ana and you won’t be disappointed – Arturo Alvarez
Happy experience, fitting choices
I stopped at this location not that long ago to pick up some nutritional supplements for my diet and workout, and so far I was very happy with my experience. Gabriel was knowledgeable about the products, asked open questions to make sure I get the ideal and fitting choices for myself! Will definitely come back again! – Nicolas Ragnvoldson
2. Amaranth Whole Foods Market – Arbour Lake
| Products | 5/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
| Staff | 5/5 |
| Prices (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
Amaranth Whole Foods Market is a locally owned and operated health food store with four Calgary locations, one of which is in Arbour Lake. With this level of accessibility, we reckon you’ll find it easy to find a location closest to you.
What we like best about them is that many of the products on their shelves are sourced locally. To do so, they have partnered with local sustainable farms, ensuring contained and consistent quality among a wide range of products.
They source various types of organic, plant-based, and gluten-free products (fresh produce and supplements included). This range alone tells us that they’re ideal for different types of diets and lifestyles, which is what we expect.
On top of that, new products are available every month so customers can shop from an up-to-date inventory. This is something we value considering people would love to see new stuff every now and then.
Amaranth Whole Foods Market also knows their game when it comes to convenience. They offer same-day delivery and have partnered with Instacart to deliver orders quickly – we got all of our orders from them in under an hour, which is quite impressive, actually.
We can confidently say something similar for their in-store customers as the shopping experience is great. With wellness advisors around, customers can find the right product and have their questions answered.
The downside is that they occasionally fail to deliver the correct items. Although this is actually Instacart’s fault rather than the store’s, it’s still worth looking into – it’s a shop’s responsibility after all.
Pros
- Has four locations in Calgary
- Wide variety of organic, plant-based, gluten-free products
- Fresh produce and supplements available
- Locally sourced products
- Partnered with local sustainable farms
- Same-day delivery (online purchases)
- Has wellness advisors in-store
Cons
- Complaints regarding the delivery of wrong items
- Minor complaints regarding overcharging
Favorite products, great prices
I have been shopping at the Arbour Lake Amaranth for many years. Always great service, great prices and stocked up on my favourite products! And they always have very knowledgeable staff which is amazing! – Chris Kerr
Excellent service, have all the products
Always so nice to go to a local family owned store where my business is recognized, valued and appreciated. The service is excellent, the owners and staff are wonderful. They always have all the products in stock that I need. If ever out of stock they promptly order it and call me when it’s in. What more could you want! Everything is excellent!! – Karla Harris
3. Joy and Vitality Centre
| Products | 5/5 |
| Convenience | 5/5 |
| Staff | 3/5 |
| Prices (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
Joy and Vitality Centre offers a diverse range of health products and wellness services. This makes them a great one-stop shop for self-healing and self-improvement, especially if you’re on a serious health journey.
Like most health food stores, they have a large selection of herbs, vitamins, and health supplements. They even carry beauty products, though, which is a total plus since most health food stores ignore these.
Now, we can’t overlook their wellness services – although we’re still focused on their offerings as a health store. We just think it’s worth noting because it makes the experience more holistic (and more convenient in that regard).
Among their well-known services are the Himalayan salt cave with halotherapy, sound baths, and sound healing. They also do Tibetan bowl therapy, reiki, pranic healing, RMT massages, organic juice cleanses, and tonic bars.
With these services, it’s no surprise that the place is popular among athletes, weekend warriors, and health nuts. Actually, we think anyone interested in living a healthy lifestyle will find something here.
In our case, we were glad that we chose to visit their shop personally, as we found browsing their shelves very interesting. Note that they even offer customers healthy drinks that are made completely fresh and in-house – something you can’t enjoy if you’re just ordering online.
That said, all of their products are available for delivery, regardless of how large or small your order is. They even provide free shipping across Canada on orders of $100 or more, which is a big deal, especially for bulk orders.
Pros
- Wide selection of health products
- Various health and wellness services
- Products can be purchased online
- Offers delivery services on all products
- Free shipping across Canada on orders of $100+
- Provides fresh healthy drinks
Cons
- Minor complaints regarding rude staff
A place of healing
Joy and Vitality is a wonderful place in Calgary! It is not just a store or Salt cave or yoga but a place of healing. Eugenia, Serge and her family are wonderful and always makes you feel at home. A gem in Calgary which you have to check out – Darcy Saworski
Awesome selection
A wonderful group of people. Supplements, services and cafe are the highlights of the Joy and Vitality Centre. Check them out and start feeling healthy again. Awesome Selection of Himalayan pink Salt.. Definitely book time in the salt cave!! – user uv1569
4. Vitamins First
| Products | 5/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
| Staff | 5/5 |
| Prices (A higher score means better value) | 3/5 |
Vitamins First is a Calgary-based health food store that specializes in natural and organic health remedies. They not only provide a retail store but also a holistic clinic (located downstairs in the store) for more in-depth health consultations.
With such extra services, we believe the store really carries its mission of inspiring people to make informed and healthy choices. They accomplish this through their staff, many of whom have diverse training and years of experience in health consulting.
However, we believe that their products remain the store’s strongest point as they address various health issues. To give you an idea, these products deal with aging, detoxification, children’s illness, natural skincare, and more. Product type coverage is great.
In terms of convenience, Vitamins First does not disappoint either. They deliver to any location in Canada, making their health products easily accessible not only to Calgary residents but to anyone in the country.
Unfortunately, items can’t be purchased online and can only be delivered through phone inquiries. Still, it helps that their products and their benefits are accessible on their website for those who are unsure what to buy and want to research beforehand.
That’s why it’s important to check out the details on their site so you don’t get the wrong items, especially since it can be difficult to return items in this store. Although having strict policies is great, we still see this as a hiccup when it comes to customer service.
Pros
- Wide range of natural and organic health products
- Has a clinic for more in-depth health consultation
- Delivers across the country
- Informative website
- Responsive and easy to reach
- Comparatively competitive prices
Cons
- No online purchasing
- Can be difficult to return items
Helpful staff, really friendly
Love coming here to stock up on all my vitamins and supplements. Have been going here, and the vitamin first stores, for quite some time now. First time I came here the lady at the desk was very knowledgeable and helpful. She explained what the difference between brands were and which one she would recommend. She would recommend based on how good the product was regardless of pricing. Really friendly! – Lynne Lien
Excellent selection of products
Great store and staff. Excellent selection of Eminence products and I am so happy to have this store so close to me. I shop here for all my skin care needs and they can order in products if not in stock. Highly recommend. – Stephanie S
5. Nutrition House North Hill Mall
| Products | 5/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
| Staff | 5/5 |
| Prices (A higher score means better value) | 3/5 |
If the name rings a bell, it’s because this is the second franchise of Nutrition House in Calgary that we’ll feature on this list. By the way, they’re one of Canada’s leading natural health product companies, so the fact that they showed up twice in the list isn’t that shocking.
With that said, you can expect similar products and services – including national brands of vitamins, supplements, body care products, and sports nutrition products – across their shops. The differences aren’t big across franchises.
So, what sets this one apart? The customer service experience, which is among our favorites.
Everyone was extremely helpful when we went, answering questions, making recommendations, dealing with small buying disputes, and basically providing top-notch service stewardship. They were also interestingly knowledgeable.
We found out that it’s because each of the staff members here receives ongoing education through a training program. This ensures that customers receive the friendly, knowledgeable service they’ve come to expect every time they visit the store.
It’s also worth noting that they have natural health product advisors, which makes them a great option if you’re looking for natural health solutions and advice. We highly recommend speaking with their advisors if you’re unsure what to get.
Seeing as this store is a national franchise, it’s expected that their products and services are on the expensive side. But the best part about them is that they shower their customers with deals like free shipping, hassle-free returns, and on-sale and discounted products.
Pros
- Concentrated on natural health products
- Top-notch customer service
- Staffed with natural health product advisors
- Online shopping available
- Free shipping on all orders over $60
- Hassle-free return process
- Open daily
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Some complaints about not accepting coupons/discounts
So friendly, great store
Great store ! Not a huge collection but Katherine is so friendly and knowledgeable that she clears all my doubts [if any] so as to get my supplements confidently. Please increase the homeopathy collection . It will be good to see the natural cosmetic collection ! – Leena Rudra-Das
Will be back for more
Visited today for a specific item, found it with help from an employee. While there, I also asked about their essential oils and left with the NOW brand version (Nature’s Shield) of the popular Thieves Oil. The price was much better than my regular supplier- I’ll certainly be back for more, as well as other oils, as my stock need replenishing. – Stephanie “Stevie” Bierkos
6. Morning Sun Health Foods
| Products | 3/5 |
| Convenience | 5/5 |
| Staff | 4/5 |
| Prices (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
Morning Sun Health Foods is easily Calgary’s most accessible health food store, with multiple locations throughout the city. You know convenience is always a great factor for us, so this is a considerable plus from our side.
Another likable thing about them is the range of vitamins and supplements they have to offer, both in-store and online. Their inventory is large and is regularly replenished, making it likely for you to score the products you need.
Actually, the store is well-known for its private label “AliveVitamins,” which they have been producing for nearly 40 years. They sell this product exclusively in their stores, something to take note of if you’re interested.
Like most stores on this list, Morning Sun Health Foods also has an online selling platform. It’s actually a simple online store where you can add items to your cart, pay, and wait for the items to get to your door.
On their online shop, you’ll find on-sale items as well as best-selling products. These sections make it easier to browse since you’ll only filter through items that are affordable and sought-after.
Overall, the site is pretty informative and well-organized with all the details you’d expect to find. It makes the entire shopping experience easier, perhaps much better than going to any of their locations across the city, honestly. We certainly found it easier, in our case!
Pros
- Focused more on providing vitamins and health supplements
- Has multiple locations throughout the city
- Informative online store with benefits and descriptions of the products
- Solid online shopping experience
- Knowledgeable staff
Cons
- Sells limited health food products
- Some products are often out-of-stock
Knowledgeable and helpful staff
Jyothi was the manager at the previous location. I hope she continuous serving the public at the Boulevard Shopping Center. She is very knowledgeable and a beautiful person inside and outside. A real asset for Morning Sun Health Foods Ltd. – Jose Herrero
Professional & knowledgeable & always committed to customer safety. Thank-you – Wendi Donchi
7. Replenish
| Products | 4/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
| Staff | 4/5 |
| Prices (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
If you’re looking for a health food store that goes above and beyond, we recommend Replenish. They provide a compelling shopping experience by consistently providing an amazing range of curated products.
Their inventory really does have a lot, including body and hair care products, cosmetics, food, and vitamins and supplements. If you want to check it out for yourself, you can find the complete list on their website.
Particularly interesting, we thought, is that the store even holds public seminars to keep customers up to date on the most recent health products on the market. At the same time, they ensure that those products are available in their shop for their customers’ convenience.
Replenish appears to have a positive in-store and online presence, which helps them stand out. However, in our opinion, their online platform seems to be ineffective in some ways.
Why? Well, there are things for which customers can’t even place orders because they’re only available for in-store shopping. Seems like an odd limitation.
Speaking of which, we were a little disappointed that we also got a few reports of people having a bad experience shopping at Replenish. Some of them felt pressured to buy mountains of items, which is the polar opposite of the easy and fun shopping they’re promoting.
However, the fact that this came from only a handful out of several dozen respondents to our survey makes us feel confident about what else they have to offer. For now, we still see them as a good shop for various health-related products and services.
Pros
- Offers various food and other health products
- Holds informative events on health food items
- Often-updated inventory
- Positive in-store and online presence
Cons
- Some reports of them being pushy to customers
- Some products can’t be ordered online
Always suggests the best
Long time costumer! Pria is very knowledgeable and will always suggest the best. All my friends are sent to your store when they need an health advise. Thank you! – Ora Redmark
Helpful and knowledgeable
Love this store. like that it’s a local calgary store to support. very helpful and knowledgeable on the products they carry. Always happy with their customer service. – Lara
8. Light Cellar
| Products | 5/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
| Staff | 3/5 |
| Prices (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
When it comes to the best health food stores in Calgary, Light Cellar is definitely one of the top options to consider.
Customers who shop at this store have access to a unique and diverse range of quality superfoods, organic herbs, and spices. In addition to its services, the store hosts educational events to raise awareness about the benefits of healthy foods.
In general, we could say that their Elixir Bar is what distinguishes them from others. It certainly was one of the most interesting things we’ve seen at a health food shop.
The bar is where customers can choose from a wide range of delectable drinks. Our favorite part is that the drinks not only taste good but are actually, well, healthy. Their ingredients are chosen to provide important nutrients and energy.
We had the chance to experience it ourselves when we visited their cafe. Their star seed chai, as well as their medicinal mushroom drink, are truly divine. Try their chocolate kits, in particular – just about everyone on our team thought them amazing.
If this is your first time hearing about them, we understand your reluctance to give them a shot. It’s a good thing that their products are available through their website, and they’re quick to deliver, especially since they are open for business every day.
The only issue we heard about is their poor client accommodation for in-store customers. Unfortunately, we also vouched for this, as we encountered some rudeness from their staff when we visited their cafe.
Pros
- Offers a wide selection of superfoods and herbs
- Hosts health educational events
- Elixir bar features healthy drinks
- Products available for online purchase
- Delivers all products
- Open daily
Cons
- Minor complaints regarding customer accommodation
- Quite pricey
Amazing store, beautiful cafe
What a surprise to find this amazing neighbourhood store on our doorstep in Bowness! Locally produced superfoods – mushrooms, honey, chocolate, as well as a demo kitchen and a beautiful cafe. Looking forward to exploring cookery and fungi field trip opportunities with River Valley School! Thanks for making us so welcome today. – Kate Harris
Delivers in two days
Every time I goes through Calgary i have to stop by. Such an amazing store. They are all knowledge! Recently I had place a order and it was delivered in 2 days. Love their live classes as well with Malcolm and Danny. – Vlada Kropacek
9. Lotus Herbal Health
| Products | 5/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
| Staff | 4/5 |
| Prices (A higher score means better value) | 3/5 |
For those looking for a health food store that specializes in providing medicinal herbs, try Lotus Herbal Health. The store has the necessary knowledge for such products, making them a trustworthy option.
The store was founded in 2013 by owners who are Chinese and have a legitimate background in herbal traditions. According to them, they learned everything they know about this type of health food from genuine herbal masters.
Now about their store: they have a great selection of products including natural herbs and supplements. Lotus Herbal Health specializes in fermented preparations and medicinal mushrooms, so they mostly offer dietary supplements.
Customers with digestive issues can also turn to the store for probiotic products, which is the store’s other area of expertise. We do recommend speaking to their staff first so you get the right product for you.
Lotus Herbal Health also impressed us with its ability to accommodate its customers’ inquiries and, in turn, provide health solutions. This is perhaps why the store has many patrons – their services make purchases worthwhile.
With all of that said, it’s easy to conclude that Lotus Herbal Health is a good store to visit if you’re looking for authentic Eastern herbal health products. We just think the store’s website lacks information about each item they sell, which disappoints us a little.
Pros
- Sells authentic Eastern herbal health products
- Has a background in herbal traditions
- Offers various probiotic drinks
- Specializes in dietary supplements
- Accommodates customers with health solutions
- Delivery available
Cons
- Lack of information about their products (on their website)
Best herbal store
This is by far the best herbal store in the city, Rose is so knowledgeable and offers only the products that works and does not oversell. Highly recommend this store to everyone. – Jasmine Aliya Jivraj
Has a variety of natural herbs, very approachable
My friend introduced me to Lotus as the place she goes when she wants to talk. I was surprised to find the amount and variety of natural herbs and supplements in stock, some of which are Alberta sourced. Sasha is a well of information who is very approachable. – Brenda Phillips
10. High-Vibe Health Inc.
| Products | 3/5 |
| Convenience | 4/5 |
| Staff | 5/5 |
| Prices (A higher score means better value) | 4/5 |
High-Vibe Health Inc. specializes in broth products and they do so in an outstanding way. In fact, the shop is the only certified organic bone broth provider not only in the city but in the entire province of Alberta.
Their broth is gluten-free, sourced locally, and handcrafted with fine ingredients. To help you visualize better, it’s simmered for 24 to 50 hours to extract as much nourishing goodness as possible (and to maintain quality as well).
High-Vibe Health sells a variety of broth products, including turkey, beef, chicken bone broth, chocobroths, and vegetable broths. You can shop for this big selection of favorite broths both online and in their physical store.
Customers can also rely on the store for home delivery, especially since online purchasing is available. It is important to note, however, that they only ship frozen/perishable items within the Greater Calgary area.
This means that if your order contains products such as bone broths, veggie broths and soups, and nourishing treats and you are outside of their delivery limit, your order will be canceled and you may be charged a 5% administration fee.
Aside from the delivery inconvenience (at least for some), High Vibe Health continues to deliver up-to-par services. Obviously, there are areas of improvement, but we’ll take them for what they are now.
Pros
- Only certified organic bone broth provider in Alberta
- Provides premium bone broth products
- Nourishing treats, powders, and teas also available
- Online purchasing available
- Offers delivery services
Cons
- No delivery of orders with frozen items outside the Greater Calgary area
- Limited health products
Delicious, made with the best ingredients
We LOVE the bone broth at High Vibe. We often warm it up and drink right from our mugs. We also just started giving it to our brand new puppy who also loves it. But I have to say our absolute favourite are the bone broth brownies. My husband often asks me when I am grabbing more. They are moist, delicious and made with the best ingredients so you don’t feel guilty over indulging on them. – Caley Wolf
Quality bone broth
I love that there is a place I can buy quality bone broth and healthy drinks and baked goods. This is my go to shop for bone broth! – Jessica Dickson
