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2022-05-14 17:18:06 By : Ms. Kristine Zong

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The global dietary supplement market is thriving—it’s currently valued at $71.81 billion and expected to reach $128.64 billion by 2028, according to market research firm Fortune Business Insights. That’s a lot of nutrients, and they come in many forms from flavored waters to powders to gummies to tablets. The FDA does not review any dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed, much to the ire of health advocates and consumers. This, of course, puts the onus on buyers to do their research and be well-informed when evaluating labels. Knowing which brands to trust is essential—you want the ones that consistently follow best manufacturing processes, have transparent sourcing and supply chains and take extra measures to test and ensure the accuracy and safety of their products.

A complex of B vitamins can help minimize the impact of stress on the body.

But it should be mentioned: Not everyone needs to take supplements. You can certainly get all your necessary vitamins and nutrients from foods, and in fact, nutritionists would prefer that you do, since whole foods, unlike isolated compounds in a pill, contain constituents that work in harmony to keep your body humming. Nevertheless, if you are deficient in certain essentials or could use a boost, supplements can be effective and beneficial. The key is to run whatever you’re considering by your primary care doctor since supplements can interfere with certain medicines and health conditions. You also want to be sure the brand you’re taking is trustworthy.

With that in mind, we asked nutritionists for the vitamins and supplements they consistently recommend, in terms of quality of ingredients, safety and effectiveness of formulas, transparency in the manufacturing process, validity of scientific data for label claims and accuracy of dosage amounts.

Ahead, you’ll find 10 brands that you can confidently rely on, as well as the best options to take from each, in the opinion of our experts. Again, make sure you check in with your doctor before incorporating these into your routine and don’t mix and match formulas without getting their approval first. (And if you want to boost your healthy habits by eating more nutritious foods, too, here’s what to cook up).

“B vitamins are essential for the creation of energy, neurotransmitters and hormones,” says James. “But under stress, we use them up more.” Thorne’s comprehensive formula contains all eight B vitamins that have been methylated (i.e. kept in their active state) to help increase absorption and bioavailability, she says.  

“Vitamin B-12 is important to consider if you’re vegetarian or vegan since B12 is found in animal proteins,” says Middleburg, adding that methyl B-12 “is better absorbed and retained” than its manufactured form (cyanocobalamin).  

“Vitamin C is an antioxidant that supports immune health,” says Young, who recommends healthy adults take 500 milligram daily to boost their defenses and protect cells against free-radical damage that may play a role in many diseases.

“Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, which is the culprit behind most diseases from diabetes to heart disease,” says Slayton, who prefers O.N.E Omega. “Omega 3s are also useful for mood and joint health—this is the brand my clients take.”

Algae Omega is a good vegan option for omega 3, says Young. It’s made from fairly harvested microalgae and each dose contains a hefty 715 milligrams of total omega 3s to support vision, heart and brain health and immunity.

Ther-Biotic is Middleburg’s top choice since it contains multiple strains of probiotics, which deliver the most benefits, and have been validated with 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Capsules are then coasted in an acid-stable, gel-like matrix that protects the probiotic bacteria from stomach acid so it can be released into the body intact.

“The Caviar Collagen Ruby Elixier contains collagen in a delicious black current juice, which not only tastes good but helps the synthesis of collagen in the skin, hair and bones,” says James. Each travel-sized ampoules contains 11 grams of protein, making it “a quick and portable snack,” she says.

Middleburg swears by the Baby & Me 2 Pre-Natal multivitamin, which she took during her own pregnancies. It’s formulated by Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, M.D., the brand’s chief medical advisor, and contains iron and vitamin B12 paired with real foods (organic oranges and broccoli) as well as methylated folate, the active form of folic acid.

Brain Calm contains gamma amino butyricacid and lycine to calm the nervous system and relaxing passion flower, says Slayton. “Many of my clients have ‘monkey mind’ before bed, when anxiety can rise, and taking this at night can help.”

Slayton recommends Omega-7 Complete year-round for overall health but especially in winter to combat “dry skin, dry hair,” she says, adding that the capsules are kosher and made with a supercritical CO2 extraction method to preserve the potency of the berry’s healing nutrients.