Super supplements
Nourish your body with vitamins made from real foods.
By STEPHANIE ECKELKAMP
We all know that food is the best way to get the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients we need—whether it’s vitamin A from sweet potatoes, iron from spinach, or vitamin C from a grapefruit. But to boost immunity or make up for a less-than-perfect diet, many of us turn to supplements. The problem is, most supplements are made with chemically synthesized vitamins and minerals that are often not absorbed effectively by the body.
Food-based supplements
Now, however, there’s a new generation of supplements made with real food (like lemons, spinach, carrots, and berries) that’s fermented in probiotic cultures (like Lactobacillus acidophilus and yeast) before being pressed into tablet form. Unlike their synthetic counterparts, these supplements contain “a complete whole food complex that includes phytonutrients and enzymes,” says Taryn Forrelli, N.D., director of medical education for New Chapter supplements. “Your body recognizes the supplement as food, so the nutrients are easier to absorb.”
Buyer’s guide
To sample the newest trend in supplements, look for these brands at your health food store:
IMMUNE BOOSTER: New Chapter Every Woman’s One Daily ($25 for 30 tablets; newchapter.com) is made from organic fruits and veggies like blueberry and spinach, herbs like ginger and turmeric, and superfoods such as shiitake mushrooms. Since you soak up more nutrients with food-based supplements, you may fight off colds and viruses more effectively.
STRESS REDUCER: VS Organics Whole Food Women’s One Daily ($40 for 90 tablets; vitaminshoppe.com) delivers a range of vitamins and minerals, plus an effective combination of stress-busting herbs like Vitex (chasteberry), maca, and lemon balm.
DIGESTION AID: TwinLab UltraHarvest Premium Multi-Vitamin ($35 for 90; twinlab.com) includes “green” foods (like spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass, and alfalfa) along with plantbased enzymes such as amylase, protease, and lipase to keep your digestive system healthy.
ENERGIZER: The Vitamin Code by Garden of Life: Women ($40 for 120 capsules; gardenoflifeusa.com) contains raw, whole food ingredients and several minerals such as folic acid, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
Read more Health articles.
Food-based supplements
Now, however, there’s a new generation of supplements made with real food (like lemons, spinach, carrots, and berries) that’s fermented in probiotic cultures (like Lactobacillus acidophilus and yeast) before being pressed into tablet form. Unlike their synthetic counterparts, these supplements contain “a complete whole food complex that includes phytonutrients and enzymes,” says Taryn Forrelli, N.D., director of medical education for New Chapter supplements. “Your body recognizes the supplement as food, so the nutrients are easier to absorb.”
Buyer’s guide
To sample the newest trend in supplements, look for these brands at your health food store:
IMMUNE BOOSTER: New Chapter Every Woman’s One Daily ($25 for 30 tablets; newchapter.com) is made from organic fruits and veggies like blueberry and spinach, herbs like ginger and turmeric, and superfoods such as shiitake mushrooms. Since you soak up more nutrients with food-based supplements, you may fight off colds and viruses more effectively.
STRESS REDUCER: VS Organics Whole Food Women’s One Daily ($40 for 90 tablets; vitaminshoppe.com) delivers a range of vitamins and minerals, plus an effective combination of stress-busting herbs like Vitex (chasteberry), maca, and lemon balm.
DIGESTION AID: TwinLab UltraHarvest Premium Multi-Vitamin ($35 for 90; twinlab.com) includes “green” foods (like spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass, and alfalfa) along with plantbased enzymes such as amylase, protease, and lipase to keep your digestive system healthy.
ENERGIZER: The Vitamin Code by Garden of Life: Women ($40 for 120 capsules; gardenoflifeusa.com) contains raw, whole food ingredients and several minerals such as folic acid, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
Read more Health articles.
