Unboxed: Who needs pills? Powders are revolutionizing supplements
One way to get supplements with cleaner ingredients is to get rid of the tablet or capsule altogether.
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Gentlemen, grab your shaker bottles. Ladies, power up that Ninja blender. Oh, pill weary swallower of so many pills, the revolution will be shaken, and stirred. Here are seven magnificent new entrants to the "greens" category.
Magnesium has hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body, making the master mineral perhaps the most important one of all. Long known as a wingman to calcium in helping the body absorb the No. 1 mineral by sales, magnesium is projected to overtake calcium in sales by the year 2020, according to estimates from Nutrition Business Journal. Not only does magnesium help bones, but it is also known for its relaxation properties—while calcium tenses up muscles, magnesium relaxes them. Trace Minerals Research has capitalized on this scientific knowledge by marketing its lemon-lime flavored powder to the stressed-out average American consumer. The USDA has not been able to figure out how to fit minerals into the organic certification paradigm, but TMR has at least gone through the trouble of getting it certified as non-GMO. And 350 mg per scoop is a decent dose. The formulation also contains 100 mg of a complex of more than 70 other naturally occurring ionic trace minerals.
The cleaner ingredient movement is exhibited with this two-bucks-a-day powder blend – all ingredients are sourced from raw, organic, powdered superfoods the likes of chia, maqui, goji, maca, acai and 10 grams worth of organic sprouted whole grain brown rice protein. This stuff is so pure it even sports a Nutrition Facts panel, as befitting a food, as opposed to the standard Supplement Facts panel. sunfood.com
The protein market is diversifying. Gone are the days where protein came from eggs, steak or whey powder. And while plant protein sources are growing the fastest (yet still pale behind stalwarts whey and soy), this protein comprises short-chain amino acids derived from pasture-raised, grass-fed bovine hide from Brazil. The conscious leaders at Vital Proteins are proud of their sourcing – in Brazil, the country bans farming tactics like antibiotics and growth hormones. The peptides are certified rBGH-free, gluten-free, Kosher, paleo, non-GMO and Whole30-approved. This unflavored powder with a silky texture, which retails for $41 for a month’s supply, can be seamlessly added into smoothies, coffee, tea, juice and even oatmeal. vitalproteins.com
The other trendy health condition du jour is sleep quality. It no doubt ties directly in with stress, yet is differentiated in the ingredients used to address it. The 8 grams of protein qualifies it as a bona fide nutritional powder. But the real actives here are L-tryptophan (the stuff in turkeys that makes you all snoozy after you stuff your face with turkey on Thanksgiving) and tart cherry extract. One published study showed tart cherries helped increase performance in endurance athletes, while another published study showed it helped athletes recover better. The cherries also contain naturally occurring melatonin--everybody's favorite sleep ingredient this side of a fence harboring sheep. healthyskoop.com
This is a great-tasting multivitamin, multimineral along with 205 mg of amino acids. It also includes the antioxidant titan, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a healthy 1,000 IU of vitamin D. And the great taste comes from natural flavors including a little stevia. The individual packets are great for on-the-go consumption. It's almost too easy to tear a packet open and drop it in a water bottle. oxylent.com
You want straight-up protein, hold the kitchen sink of other ingredients? Here it is—USDA Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, raw, solar-powered, Kosher plant protein. The 20 grams of protein per scoop is derived from pea, pumpkin, sacha inchi, chia, quinoa, spirulina and chlorella. Pure plant protein goodness! Unflavored.
Remember back in the '80s when there was that generic product movement, simple black-and-white cans of "beer" or "soup"? Huel is marketed as "nutritionally complete human food" and it does indeed deliver 100 percent of the Daily Value of 27 vitamins and minerals (375 percent of vitamin C, for those of you keeping track at home). The primary ingredients are oats, pea protein, ground flaxseed, brown rice protein and medium-chain triglycerides. It delivers a rather ridiculous quantity of 148 grams of protein per day—you see, this is supposed to be the only thing you consume, day after day. Truth be told, it tastes pretty good—rather like a watered-down oatmeal actually. It can also be used like flour to bake cakes, cookies and bread.
Remember back in the '80s when there was that generic product movement, simple black-and-white cans of "beer" or "soup"? Huel is marketed as "nutritionally complete human food" and it does indeed deliver 100 percent of the Daily Value of 27 vitamins and minerals (375 percent of vitamin C, for those of you keeping track at home). The primary ingredients are oats, pea protein, ground flaxseed, brown rice protein and medium-chain triglycerides. It delivers a rather ridiculous quantity of 148 grams of protein per day—you see, this is supposed to be the only thing you consume, day after day. Truth be told, it tastes pretty good—rather like a watered-down oatmeal actually. It can also be used like flour to bake cakes, cookies and bread.
The "greens" category is making inroads into the traditional supplements world comprising tablets, capsules and gelcaps. Sure, gummies are blowing up, but all that sugar! Here are some notable new launches that are all about the nutritional ingredients. Power up that Ninja!
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