Gerda Endemann, our Senior Director of Science and Research, has a BS in Nutrition from UC Berkeley, a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from MIT and a passion for cherry picking in our wellness shop. She spends a lot of time interpreting research – both established and emerging. You can find some of her deep insights into health conditions in our growing library of articles called goop PhD. You can send your own questions to Gerda at [email protected].
Dear Goop, I want to take a multivitamin, but I have no idea how to choose one. What should I pay attention to and what is special about the goop protocols? – Jessica W.
Hello Jessica. There are so many products out there that choosing a daily supplement is confusing and difficult. It is too much to expect that you know how to go about choosing a brand, let alone a particular phrase. In a recent column, I talked at length about assessing safety and quality. For now, know that goop’s vitamin protocols are manufactured and tested according to Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) as defined by the FDA to ensure they contain the ingredients you want. I have a good feeling recommending these products to my friends and family.
I don’t know enough about you to recommend any particular product, so I’m going to describe the reasons behind goop’s five multivitamin protocols, and from there it should be pretty easy for you to decide which one to go with with your doctor. I think taking a multivitamin daily is a smart idea. Vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients like lutein and polyphenols are lost in food processing, and most of the people I know end up eating refined sugars and flour – things that a daily multi can help with.
Goop’s daily logs were developed by doctors and herbalists for people at different stages of life. The protocols are delivered in practical daily packages and contain important vitamins and minerals. They all contain EPA and DHA, the long omega-3 fats. But they are also uniquely formulated for:
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•Motherhood and energy
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•Menopause and Thyroid Support
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•Immunity, Detoxification, and Skin Health
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•Stress and fatigue
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•metabolism
Around Goop, women between the ages of twenty and fifty know that I don’t hesitate to play the role of mother and ask them about their iron diet when they pass my desk, tired or pale. I highly recommend The Mother Load for people who are menstruating and who are losing iron on a regular basis. The likelihood of suffering from iron deficiency increases with heavy periods if one does not eat a lot of meat and drink tea with meals. And of course, The Mother Load is great for many people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or recovering from childbirth. In addition to the usual vitamins, it nourishes developing brains with choline and extra DHA. *
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goop Wellness THE MOTHER LOAD goop, $ 90 / $ 75 with subscription
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Now that I’m post menopausal, it’s easy to keep my blood iron in a good range and that gives me more energy than before. But menopause brings its own unique problems. What I have to do now are hot flashes. The frequency goes up and down, but they never seem to go away. Sometimes I like a dash of warmth, but not always.
There were two reasons I decided to try Madame Ovary: night sweats that woke me up and hot flashes that prevented me from functioning at crucial times. The results exceeded my expectations. Black cohosh and rhodiola are the main ingredients. Traditional medicine and modern research have shown the value of these herbs in treating mild hot flashes, mood swings, and stress-related fatigue. There is also support for thyroid function through inositol, iodine, and selenium. And my eyes and skin appreciate lutein and zeaxanthin. *
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goop Wellness MADAME OVARY goop, $ 90 / $ 75 with subscription
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If you want immunity, detox, and support for your skin, I recommend Balls in the Air. It has the immunity basics like zinc and vitamins C and D for a comprehensive approach to healthy white blood cells. Vitamin A is included for healthy mucous membrane barriers in the nose. And Balls in the Air contains N-acetylcysteine and niacinamide, making this protocol uniquely able to aid immunity and detoxification in the lungs and skin. Niacinamide, in particular, has been clinically investigated and has proven benefits for healthy, resilient skin cells. *
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goop Wellness BALLS IN THE AIR goop, $ 90 / $ 75 with subscription
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The Herbal Adaptogen Blend in Why Am I So Tired? is designed for a stressed body and mind. Ashwagandha, holy basil and bacopa come from the Ayurvedic tradition and are used to support resistance, calm and focus. Generous doses of B vitamins are included because of their role in biochemical metabolic pathways that generate physical and mental energy. This daily package offers a multi-pronged approach to a full body reset. *
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goop Wellness WHY AM I SO TIRED? goop, $ 90 / $ 75 with subscription
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Metabolism is the sum of the biochemical reactions in your body that create energy and use energy. We burn fats and carbohydrates for energy, and then we use that energy moving, thinking, and digesting. Whether you’re on the track team or just strengthening a growing body, high school is a time often associated with a fast metabolism. For women who feel like their metabolism is slowing down and want to make sure it is fully supported, we recommend High School Genes.
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goop Wellness HIGH SCHOOL GENES goop, $ 90 / $ 75 with subscription
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Like Effing Tired, High School Genes provides generous amounts of B vitamins because they are converted into the catalysts – called enzyme cofactors – that every metabolic reaction requires. But high school genes dig deeper, with alpha lipoic acid (an antioxidant and cofactor for mitochondrial metabolism) and chromium (which helps sugar get into cells to be burned off). This formula benefits from a combination of herbs inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, including green tea catechins, Chinese cinnamon, ginger, and licorice, which support healthy glucose and energy metabolism. *
Regardless of whether you are taking a multi or not, you and your doctor should consider taking additional vitamin D supplements. The vitamin D spray from Nue Co. is the easiest way to take a vitamin: three sprays in the mouth provide a generous 3,000 international units. Vitamin D is difficult to get in with food, and most of our supply comes from biosynthesis in sun-exposed skin. If you use sunscreen, cover yourself up, have darkly pigmented skin, or stay indoors most of the time, chances are you’re not making much of this vitamin, which is essential for immunity and bone health. *
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The Nue Co. VITAMIN D SPRAY Goop, $ 25
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This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied on for specific medical advice. To the extent that this article contains the advice of a doctor or alternative practitioner, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily reflect the views of goop.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
