Foundational Vitamins & Minerals
The evidence-backed essentials — the supplements with the strongest research support for general health.
Sports Research D3 + K2
Best D3+K2 combo. Coconut oil base for absorption. 5000 IU D3 + 100mcg K2 MK-7. Clean ingredients, no fillers.
Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate
Best-absorbed magnesium form. No GI issues. 120mg elemental Mg per capsule. Third-party tested. Professional brand used by functional medicine practitioners.
NOW Foods Zinc Picolinate 50mg
Best-absorbed zinc form. Picolinate has 60% absorption vs 20% for oxide. One capsule = full daily dose. Budget-friendly, quality brand.
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
Gold standard fish oil. Triglyceride form (best absorption). Lemon flavor, no fish burps. Third-party purity tested. 1280mg omega-3 per serving.
NOW Foods Vitamin B12 5000mcg
Methylcobalamin (active form). Sublingual lozenges bypass absorption issues. Essential for vegans, older adults, metformin users.
Performance & Muscle
The most researched sports supplements for strength, power, and recovery.
Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine
The gold standard. Micronized for better solubility. 5g creatine monohydrate per serving — the most researched sports supplement in history.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey
Most popular whey protein for a reason. 24g protein/scoop, 5.5g BCAAs. Mixes instantly. Double Rich Chocolate is the classic flavor.
NOW Sports Beta-Alanine
Pure beta-alanine powder. 2g/serving. Take daily to build muscle carnosine (takes 4-10 weeks to saturate — be patient). Tingling is normal and harmless.
Thorne Creatine
NSF Certified for Sport (banned-substance tested). Pure creatine monohydrate. Professional-grade. The choice of athletes subject to drug testing.
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
Best-selling collagen. Types I + III (skin, hair, nails, joints). Dissolves completely in hot or cold liquid. Unflavored.
Sleep, Stress & Calm
Natural compounds for better sleep quality, lower stress, and nervous system balance.
KSM-66 Ashwagandha by Nootropics Depot
Most researched ashwagandha extract. 5% withanolides. 300mg standardized. Reduces cortisol 15-28% in clinical trials.
Suntheanine L-Theanine 200mg
Patented pure L-isomer from green tea. Increases alpha brain waves within 40 minutes. Calm alertness without sedation. Pairs perfectly with morning coffee.
NOW Magnesium Glycinate
Best magnesium form for sleep. Glycine component adds calming effect. 100mg elemental Mg per tablet. Take 2-4 before bed.
Nature Made Melatonin 3mg
USP verified (quality-tested). 3mg is an effective dose — more is not better with melatonin. Take 30-60 min before bed.
Anti-Inflammatory & Joint Health
Natural anti-inflammatories with clinical evidence — alternatives and complements to NSAIDs.
Thorne Meriva-SF Curcumin
29x better absorption than standard curcumin. Phospholipid complex (Meriva). No piperine needed — no drug interactions. Best-in-class curcumin.
NOW Curcumin with Bioperine
Budget curcumin option. Standardized to 95% curcuminoids + piperine for absorption. Good value for daily use.
Sports Research Tart Cherry Concentrate
2500mg tart cherry per serving. Reduces gout attacks 35% and DOMS after exercise. Natural melatonin source for sleep.
Garden of Life Turmeric Extra Strength
Whole-food turmeric + ginger + black pepper + probiotics. 500mg curcuminoids. Fermented for absorption. Organic.
Gut & Digestion
Probiotics, enzymes, and gut-healing compounds backed by research.
Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics
50 billion CFU, 16 strains. Shelf-stable (no refrigeration). Clinically studied strains. Once daily.
NOW Super Enzymes
Broad-spectrum digestive enzymes: protease, amylase, lipase, lactase, bromelain, papain. Take with heavy meals for better digestion.
Thorne L-Glutamine Powder
Primary fuel for enterocytes (gut lining cells). 5g/serving. Tasteless — mix in water. For gut barrier support and recovery.
Omega-3 & Healthy Fats
Quality matters enormously with fish oil — rancidity, oxidation, purity. These are the trusted brands.
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
Gold standard. Triglyceride form. Lemon flavor. 1280mg total omega-3 per serving (650mg EPA, 450mg DHA). IFOS 5-star certified.
Viva Naturals Triple Strength Omega-3
Best budget option. 2500mg fish oil, 1400mg EPA, 480mg DHA. IFOS certified. Enteric-coated (no burps).
Sports Research Antarctic Krill Oil
Phospholipid form (best absorption). Astaxanthin included (natural antioxidant). Sustainable fishery. No fish burps.
NOW DHA-500
High-DHA option. 500mg DHA per softgel (double typical). For brain health, pregnancy, and those wanting to bias DHA over EPA.