![Expo East supplements trends: Are pills dead? Expo East supplements trends: Are pills dead?](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt09e5e63517a16184/blt5dbc9db54d67fcc1/64ff211feb6d2e3f702d58d9/pills-are-dead-gallery-featured-image.png?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Winner of the 2016 Natural Products Expo East Nexty award for product innovation, inspiration and integrity, Ora was not even exhibiting in the supplements aisle, preferring to set up shop in the Organic aisles. These powders are smartly designed, passionately formulated, organic, whole-food, plant-based, non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, wheat-free, eco-friendly, sustainable, chef-designed, and really just the future of supplements. The multi powders are formulated for either men or women, and also come in capsules if you like. There are other lines—protein, probiotics and omega-3s—also worth talking about, and stocking.
We always like how Jarrow is an early adopter of all the new ingredients that arise on the market. Now, we can’t say they’re the first to the gummy game, but it is notable that they are in it now, and using gummies for a variety of first-rate and trending ingredients. One is menaquinone-7, which is the long-chain vitamin K2 shown to both remove calcium from arteries, where you don’t want it (and a 2015 study showed it actually reverses arterial stiffness – that’s atherosclerosis, the No. 1 cardio killer), and also helps deposit calcium in your bones, where you do want it. Others in its lineup include co-Q10 for general cardio health and L-theanine for relaxation sans drowsiness.
For years, Natural Vitality has owned the burgeoning magnesium market with its savvy marketing (“Calmfulness”) and its full line of magnesium powders. Leave it to Garden of Life to come up with what at first glance seems like a classic Me-Too product, but then you see the magnesium is from USDA Organic peas, and also comes with 1 billion CFUs of a trio of probiotic strains for good measure.
Dr. Frank King is a homeopathic legend, with its King Bio lineup on the market since the 1970s. A subtle re-brand is afoot, with the line sliding over to the Dr. King’s brand —and, even more to the point, the Dr. King’s Kids lineup of homeopathic health remedies aimed right at children. The packaging is contemporary, and what’s even better is that it comes in a 2-ounce spray bottle, so you just spray the homeopathic water onto your child’s tongue. That makes compliance a breeze. And helps children process stress positively.
Oh, sure, who doesn’t have plant protein powders anymore? The Factors’ formulation houses 20 grams worth of pea, pumpkin, sacha inchi, chia, quinoa, spirulina and chlorella. But what makes this a standout is it’s also USDA organic, non-GMO, certified gluten-free, officially raw, Kosher, and … solar powered (We’re not sure if that means the processing or manufacturing facility has photovoltaic cells on the rooftop to provide electricity or if the actual plants and algae themselves are solar-powered, which would mean a whole new level of snark has entered the certification seal competition.) Also, VegiDay is a larger lineup of healthy snacks that includes Coconut Crunch, Coconut Chips, and fruit & nut bars.
Probiotics continue to grow at double-digit rates, making any formulation a great opportunity for retail growth. These satchels provide individual dosages of 5 billion CFUs of a specific mix of patented probiotic strains shown in human clinical studies to decrease both the duration and severity of sick days for kids in day-care centers. Part of that formulation is a prebiotic fiber to help the friendly bacteria keep your children well. These single-serving powder packs are unflavored, gluten-free, vegetarian and non-GMO.
Hey hey we’re the gummies! The D vitamins are gluten-free and is a plant-derived source of vitamin D3, from lichen. The vitamin B12 provides 850mcg of cyanocobalamin. And these gummies are 100% bovine gelatin, BSE-free. Comes tasting like lemon, strawberry and orange flavors.
These super-delicious electrolyte and multivitamin packs are perfect for water bottles. The lemon-flavored ones are only lightly sweetened and will instantly remind you of summers swinging under an old oak tree with Jimmy’s red wagon parked by the babbling brook. With 1,200mg vitamin C, it’s almost an Emergen-C, only with a ton of vitamins and minerals to support it. We have a new champion.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could change the pH of your water to contend with the over-acidification of modern life? Now you can! It’s all in the 75 trace minerals in the individual powder packets that can also buffer chlorine and act as antioxidants. The minerals are Eco Safe to assure consumers that the ocean is never touched when harvesting the product.
More than mere electrolytes, these minerals contain easily digestible and bioavailable organic mineral complexes and amino acids. These fulvic minerals, sourced from a location in New Mexico, can chelate minerals to aid in their uptake. One container contains 30 fluid ounces—one ounce per day.
Of course it was going to come to this. Protein has been a mainstream craze for a few years now, and the diversification of protein sources is an opportunity to behold. And only in the last year or so, bone broth has become a craze—don’t call it chicken soup! So now we have a protein powder that’s a bone broth source—which also, incidentally, is firmly entrenched on the paleo bandwagon. Talk about ringing all the bells!
Native to India and Africa, moringa is a nutritionally complex superfood naturally abundant in vitamins, minerals and amino acids. These convenient, single-serve satchels turn a smoothie into a superfood sensation. Organic India is a B Corp. and the moringa is organic and non-GMO.
Specially designed for teens, this protein powder—with a bit of vitamin C, calcium and sodium for good measure—are aimed at giving kid athletes a nutritional boost, using a precise 2:1 protein:carb ratio to promote lean healthy muscle growth, speed recovery and refuel the body. The bovine protein source is free of growth hormones and steroids and the carbs from non-GMO sweet potatoes and whole grin brown rice. Nothing artificial.
Newborn babies are often gripped with gas and burps and have trouble figuring out what to do. A lot of that is predicated on stomach discomfort and gas. This formulation supports digestive and immune health with 75 million CFUs of friendly bacteria—and can be taken up to six times daily as needed. The product includes a 4oz bottle and one probiotic stick per package so you can easily squirt some of the liquid into the baby’s mouth.
Gaia Herbs has just rolled out three different types of tea. Tulsi tea is renowned around the world as a general tonic. Based on holy basil—known in Ayurvedic texts from 3,000 years ago as “the incomparable one”—the tea is a liquid adaptogen, with normalizing, broad-spectrum action that maintains homeostasis. Get your Ommmm on, one cup at a time.
The sports SKUs in the NOW supplements lineup continues to impress. Betaine helps the body properly synthesize sports ingredient superstars creatine and carnitine. It's also been shown to help cells function optimally during intense exercise, and also promotes endurance and muscle output. And now sports enthusiasts can consume it by the tablespoon, which helps the body metabolize and uptake it more efficiently.
The former Mushroom Matrix is re-designed and expands the medical mushroom category by combining the fungi with other nutrients for optimal effect. The Energy SKU contains cordyceps for endurance, reishi for adaptogenic properties, plus five B vitamins, and vitamins C and D for overall vitality, and 112mg of natural caffeine from yerba mate. These stick packets can be enjoyed in bottled water because of its yummy citrus orange flavor.
The Himalaya LiverCare product is not only sold around the world as a drug but is highly regarded here in the U.S. for its utility in promoting detoxification (the liver, after all, is the coffee filter of the body) but also in maintaining normal liver enzyme levels. It has recently been shown to play a big role in protein creation within the body. And now it’s available in a single-serve powder. Pour it into your favorite drink and you’re good to go.
The two top health complaints of Americans is energy and sleep. You can’t get one without the other. This powder stack contains magnesium, L-theanine—the relaxation amino acid—and melatonin. Combined, it should promote the rapid onset of sleep, improve the quality of sleep and lead to deeper and more refreshing sleep. This can be easily poured into a glass of water before bedtime.
Rainbow Light is separating itself from the pack with its targeted multi-nutrient supplement lines. Sure, there are separate men’s and women’s multivitamins, but there are also ones designed for the over-40 set, for those over age 50 even, for women looking to become pregnant who are over age 35, and more. This is a vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO protein powder for pregnant and nursing mothers. It contains 10 grams protein from plant sources, plus fiber, a greens blend, a digestive support complex, and a little bit of probiotics and a touch of stevia for taste.
Rainbow Light is separating itself from the pack with its targeted multi-nutrient supplement lines. Sure, there are separate men’s and women’s multivitamins, but there are also ones designed for the over-40 set, for those over age 50 even, for women looking to become pregnant who are over age 35, and more. This is a vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO protein powder for pregnant and nursing mothers. It contains 10 grams protein from plant sources, plus fiber, a greens blend, a digestive support complex, and a little bit of probiotics and a touch of stevia for taste.
Maybe it's the pill-weary, perhaps plain difficulty swallowing, or it might be the rise of nutrient-dense smoothies. What difference does it make? To be on trend today means to get rid of pills. Supplement companies are responding with new delivery formats to meet the public's demand.
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