Acerola cherry
This tiny fruit is one of the richest sources of vitamin C available, with 50–100 times more than oranges or lemons. This bright orange-red berry contains antioxidants such as carotenoids and anthocyanins. Acerola has been shown to support immune function, digestion, skin appearance, and energy levels.
Aloe vera
You’ve probably slathered aloe vera onto a sunburn, but did you know it’s also soothing to the gut? Aloe is rich in restorative bioactive compounds like amino acids, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, enzymes and antioxidants that support digestion, regularity, and healthy inflammatory levels in the gut and throughout the body.
Amla
Also known as the Indian gooseberry, this bitter berry has been a vital part of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years used for its rich health benefits. Amla is high in antioxidants and phytochemicals like kaempferol, furosin, gallic acid, corilagin and quercetin that help fight free radicals and support immune function, digestion, and healthy aging.
Banana
The banana is a dietary staple for many across the globe and everyone's favorite addition to smoothies, oatmeal, sandwiches, baked goods, lunchboxes, or as a quick, portable snack. Bananas were first cultivated in Southeast Asia where they were grown as an ornamental plant and for their medicinal properties. Bananas are considered to be the world's first fruit and their cultivation is thought to predate the cultivation of rice!
Originally, only green and red bananas were grown and had to be cooked to eat. The sweet yellow banana that we know today is a mutated version of the original varieties, and wasn’t discovered until the 1800s in Jamaica. Once realized that this banana could be eaten without cooking, this variety was cultivated and quickly became popular. Today, over 1,000 varieties of banana are available worldwide and an estimated 100+ million bananas are consumed annually.
While famous for high potassium levels, bananas are also good sources of fiber, resistant starch, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin B6, manganese, and the essential amino acid tryptophan. Bananas support regular bowel function and the soluble fiber binds to and removes toxins in the gut. Resistant starch acts as a prebiotic that feeds beneficial gut bacteria to support overall gut health. Bananas also offer a potent source of readily available energy to help fuel the body through workouts and daily life.
Blackberry
This popular dark purple berry is an aggregate fruit composed of small drupelets that each contains a seed. This distinctive structure gives the berry its unique texture and appearance. Blackberries have a long history of use, dating back to ancient Greece and Roman times when they were used for their medicinal properties.
This nutrient-rich berry is high in vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and contain beneficial phytonutrients like anthocyanins, flavanols, ellagitannins, and phenolic acids, which contribute to their high antioxidant capacity. They are also an excellent source of fiber, which supports gut health and digestion.
Blueberry
Arguably the most widely consumed berry throughout the world, the blueberry is originally a native plant of North America. In fact, Native Americans used blueberries as food and medicine long before European settlers arrived. Now, the blueberry is grown on nearly every continent as either wild or farmed berries.
This superfood is one of the most nutrient dense foods you can eat. While both farmed blueberries and wild blueberries are very beneficial, there are some key differences between the two. First, wild blueberries grow naturally and are managed in their native environments such as in barrens or forests, while “regular” or farmed blueberries are cultivated specifically for commercial production. Second, wild blueberries are smaller and have a higher skin-to-pulp ratio than farmed blueberries. This gives them a deeper, more complex flavor and higher levels of anthocyanin antioxidants. Otherwise, both types of blueberries stack up pretty closely in nutrient composition.
Carnitine L-tartrate
This naturally-occurring compound is found primarily in red meat, and in smaller amounts in chicken, milk and dairy products, fish, beans, and avocado. It is responsible for transporting fat into the mitochondria where it's converted into ATP for energy. Carnitine is important for energy production and metabolism and supports healthy glucose metabolism, lipid profiles, and body composition. It supports metabolic flexibility and the body's ability to switch between burning glucose and fat for fuel, which is critical for exercise and fasting.
Carrot
Carrots are one of the most popular and versatile vegetables in the world and come in a rainbow of colors, including orange, purple, red, yellow and white. Carrots are a descendant of wild carrots, aka the flower Queen Anne’s lace. The first carrots available were purple and yellow, and the modern orange carrot wasn’t cultivated until 1400-1500 BC.
Carrots contain an array of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber. While famous for their ability to improve vision, this is true mostly for orange carrots as they contain the orange carotenoid, beta carotene. This carotenoid converts to vitamin A in the body, which supports vision and immune health. The other colors have their own benefits: purple carrots are high in anthocyanins (anti-inflammatory), yellow carrots contain xanthophyll carotenoids (skin and eye health), and red carrots contain lycopene carotenoids (heart health).
Coconut water
Coconut water is known for its delicious, tropical flavor and is often referred to as “Nature’s Gatorade” because of its hydration properties. Coconut water is the clear liquid inside of young, green coconuts and is packed with a wide variety of nutrients, including electrolytes (potassium, magnesium and sodium), antioxidants (vitamin C and flavanoids), and cytokinins, a type of plant growth hormone that has immune, skin, and healthy aging benefits.
We source our coconut water from a socially responsible company who exclusively works with small family farms in India, the Philippines and Indonesia that are strategically chosen for their use of agroforestry & sustainable practices. These farms use intercropping, a regenerative agricultural practice in which the farms grow a variety of native crops, creating a symbiotic relationship where all plants thrive with a resulting increase in soil quality, nutrient density, and yield of all crops.
Collagen
Collagen is a type of structural protein that makes up as much as 30% of our body’s total protein and is found primarily in the skin, hair, joints, bone, and teeth.
Within our bodies, collagen is going through a continuous process of breaking down and renewing. Supplementing with collagen helps support this turnover by supplying the raw materials needed to make new collagen. Since our ability to produce collagen starts to decline as soon as we turn 20, this can be especially helpful to maintain skin health and promote healthy aging throughout the body.
Creatine
This naturally-occurring organic acid is found primarily in red meat and seafood. One of the key roles of creatine is to increase the phosphocreatine stores in muscles, which is required to regenerate ATP, especially during high-intensity activities that require rapid energy production. Creatine is also known to increase muscle mass and strength gains when combined with resistance training.
D-ribose
This simple carbohydrate occurs naturally in the body and is found particularly in cell's mitochondria, where it plays a crucial role in energy production. D-ribose is involved in numerous metabolic processes, including ATP synthesis and regeneration. During intense physical activity or periods of increased energy demand, ATP stores can become depleted. D-ribose acts as a building block to help restore ATP levels more quickly, supporting energy production and cellular function to promote faster recovery after physical activity.
Elderberry
Elderberry, also known as Sambucus, is a shrub that boasts clusters of small, dark purple berries that are burstings with antioxidants and phytonutrients. The elderberry plant has been cultivated in different regions of the world, with different species found in Europe, China, the Rocky Mountains, and Mexico. Elderberry has a long history of use in European folklore and mythology, and was believed to have magical properties. In modern times, it has emerged as a powerhouse of health benefits, including its ability to bolster the immune system to help the body ward off seasonal threats.
Ginger
Ginger is a widely used root veggie that is a fan favorite to combat nausea and to promote immune health during the cold weather months. This flowering plant produces a rhizome that grows in tropical regions around the world, and has been used for thousands of years as a spice, food additive, and traditional medicine by many cultures. In Chinese medicine, it's considered a warming herb that can be used to treat colds and flus. In Ayurvedic medicine, ginger is thought to help digestion and circulation, while also reducing inflammation and improving heart health.The active ingredients in ginger include volatile oils (gingerol and zingiberene) and phenolic compounds (shogaols). These unique phytonutrients are responsible for the many health benefits associated with ginger.
Goji berry
Also known as wolfberries, these small, red berries are packed with nutrients and are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, iron, zinc, and fiber. They also contain a variety of active phytonutrients, including polysaccharides, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, phenolics, phytosterols, and betaine, which have potent antioxidant properties and support immune function, skin and eye health, detoxification, and healthy inflammatory levels.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a beautiful flowering plant that is not only visually appealing, but has also been used in food and traditional medicine throughout the world. There are about 220 different species of hibiscus and the flowers come in a wide range of colors, including red, pink, orange, yellow, and white. The flowers of the hibiscus plant are edible and are used in many cuisines around the world in teas, jams, and as a garnish.
The species Hibiscus sabdariffa contains many beneficial compounds, including vitamin C, anthocyanins, beta carotene, protocatechuic acid, quercetin, polysaccharides, and organic acids. These phytonutrients help to support digestion, hydration, detoxification, and promote healthy blood pressure and body composition.
HMB
HMB (β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate) is derived from the essential amino acid leucine, which is crucial for facilitating muscle protein synthesis. HMB supports muscle protein synthesis while simultaneously hindering protein breakdown. It achieves this through the activation of the mTOR pathway, a pivotal system overseeing the regulation of muscle protein synthesis. Research has found that HMB supplementation helps to conserve muscle mass in both positive and compromised health states. Studies have also revealed that long-term supplementation could potentially improve muscular function in elderly adults, even in the absence of resistance training.
Lemon
Ah, the many uses of lemon. It’s one of the most versatile fruits: use it to flavor your water, brighten the flavor of sweet and savory dishes, add zest to baked goods, lighten dark spots on skin, refresh and hydrate your body, prevent food from turning brown, tenderize cuts of meat, and even as a natural cleaning solution. What can’t lemon do?
When it comes to your health, lemons are full of benefits there too. This citrus fruit contains vitamin C, flavonoids, citric acid and soluble fiber. Known for its high levels of vitamin C, lemons are great for protecting cells from damage and supporting immune function. Vitamin C also promotes collagen production and the health of skin, hair, bones, and joints. The acidic nature of lemon can help to stimulate the production of digestive juices, including stomach acid, bile, and enzymes, which can improve the breakdown and absorption of nutrients from food. The fiber in lemon helps promote digestion and elimination. Additionally, citric acid can help to improve the absorption of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which are important for muscle function and energy production. Overall, lemon is a powerhouse that has an important place in our formulas, both for its flavor and its many functions.
Quercetin
Known as the “King of the flavonoids”, this powerful antioxidant is found in highly pigmented fruits, vegetables and grains. This nutrition superstar helps fight free radicals and promotes healthy aging, normal inflammatory processes, and immune function.
Tapioca fiber
Tapioca fiber is a functional compound derived from organic, sustainably-grown cassava root. It acts as a resistant starch, which is a type of soluble fiber that resists digestion in the small intestine and then moves on to the large intestine where it is fermented by gut bacteria. This fermentation process produces short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, which acts as a fuel source that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The positive effect that resistant starch has on gut microbiota supports regularity, toxin elimination, and immune function and helps protect against pathogens.