NOW Foods

What is Now Foods Fenugreek 500 mg?

Now Foods Fenugreek 500 mg is a food supplement based on fenugreek seed (Trigonella foenum-graecum), supplied in vegetable capsules. Each capsule provides 500 mg of seed; the reference serving is two capsules, or 1,000 mg.

The formula runs to four lines and that is its chief merit: fenugreek seed, hypromellose for the capsule shell, plant-derived stearic acid and silicon dioxide as anti-caking agents. Nothing else. This is not a standardised extract but the whole seed reduced to a powder — a distinction that matters, and one we return to below.

Fenugreek is a legume that has been grown since antiquity in the Middle East and India, where the seed is as much a spice as a plant of traditional use. The product is non-GMO, vegetarian, vegan, kosher and halal. You will find it in our fenugreek range.

What does a two-capsule serving contain?

The table is short because the product is too, and that counts in its favour: there is nothing in this capsule beyond what is declared. Two pieces of information are missing, however, and we will not invent them: the number of capsules per bottle is not disclosed in the information available to us, and there is no standardisation to an active compound — no saponin percentage, no 4-hydroxyisoleucine content. Check the capsule count on the label of the bottle you receive.

That last point is the most important thing to understand before buying. A whole seed product delivers the plant as it is, in its natural proportions; a standardised extract concentrates a specific fraction and states a percentage. Both approaches have their merits, but they are not comparable: 1,000 mg of seed is not the equivalent of 1,000 mg of extract, and nobody can tell you what they correspond to. Now Foods has opted for the simplicity and traceability of the seed; that is consistent with the brand's positioning.

On the regulatory side, it needs saying plainly: no health claim is authorised in Europe for fenugreek. Not for hormones, not for blood sugar, not for appetite, not for anything else. The applications submitted did not result in approved wordings. So we describe a plant of traditional use and its dosage, without attributing any effect to it. Any product page promising you otherwise is stepping outside the legal framework.

How do you take Fenugreek 500 mg?

Dose: 2 capsules, or 1,000 mg of seed. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: with meals, for digestive tolerance. Frequency: 1 to 3 times a day depending on your needs, so 2 to 6 capsules daily. Duration: the manufacturer does not state a course length or a mandatory break — we flag that rather than invent one.

Start at the lowest dose, two capsules once a day, and only increase afterwards if you wish. Fenugreek is known for two well-recognised and harmless effects: digestive discomfort in some people, and a change in the smell of sweat and urine, which take on a maple syrup note. That is not a product quality issue, it is the plant.

Increase your water intake while supplementing. And if the idea appeals to you, the manufacturer states that you can open the capsules and infuse the powder for 5 to 10 minutes in hot water — this is the traditional use of the seed, and the taste is very distinctive. Close the bottle tightly after each use and keep it cool and dry.

Who is this fenugreek for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at adults who want to bring fenugreek into their routine in a simple, measured form, rather than buying loose seed of unknown quantity and origin. The vegan formula, free from major allergens, makes it an easy product to fit in.

The restrictions are clear. Adults only. Not recommended for pregnant women — fenugreek is traditionally associated with an effect on the uterus, and caution is called for. If you are breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor before use. Stop immediately if any adverse effect occurs.

On allergens, the formula is particularly clean: free from yeast, wheat, gluten, soya, maize, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts and sesame. It is, however, made in a facility that handles other ingredients containing these allergens. One thing to be aware of: fenugreek belongs to the legume family, like peanut and chickpea, and cross-reactions have been described in people allergic to peanut. If you have a legume allergy, ask your doctor for advice.

What you should not expect from it: nothing specific, and that is the honest answer. With no authorised claim and no standardisation, this product cannot promise any measurable effect. It will not make you lose weight, gain weight, or raise anything at all. Natural colour variation from one batch to the next is normal: this is plant material, not a synthetic molecule.

Fenugreek or ashwagandha?

These are the two plants we are most often asked to compare side by side, and the choice deserves to be set out calmly.

Ashwagandha has one genuine practical advantage: it is almost always sold as a standardised extract, with a stated withanolide percentage and a standardised daily dose. You can therefore compare two brands against each other, which is impossible with a non-standardised whole seed. That is the one to favour if reproducibility matters to you and you want to be able to check what you are taking from one bottle to the next. We should add, though, that it too has no authorised health claim in Europe.

Now Foods Fenugreek keeps two advantages. The first is price: it is one of the cheapest supplements in the range, and at 1,000 mg per serving a bottle lasts a long time. The second is the simplicity of the list — four ingredients, seed and capsule shell among them. If you are looking for the raw plant rather than a concentrate, this is precisely the product. The rest of the American range can be browsed in Now Foods, and the other plants in this category in maca and tribulus terrestris.

Frequently asked questions

How many capsules should you take a day?

Two capsules make up one serving, or 1,000 mg of seed, and the manufacturer allows one to three servings a day. Start with one serving a day, with a meal, and only increase if you wish to and if digestive tolerance allows.

How many capsules does the bottle contain?

This information does not appear in the data supplied by the manufacturer, and we will not estimate it. The count is printed on the bottle label: at two capsules a day, divide it by two to work out how many days it covers.

Why does sweat smell of maple syrup?

This is a well-documented effect of fenugreek, caused by sotolon, an aromatic molecule present in the seed and eliminated through sweat and urine. It is harmless and entirely reversible on stopping. Some people notice it in the first week, others never do.

Is this a standardised extract?

No. It is whole seed reduced to a powder, with no standardisation to an active compound. It is a formulation choice Now Foods stands behind, but it does mean you cannot compare this product with a concentrated extract on milligrams alone.

Can it be used as an infusion?

Yes, the manufacturer states so explicitly: open the capsules and leave the powder to infuse for 5 to 10 minutes in hot water. This is the traditional use of the seed. The taste is pronounced, bitter and slightly sweet — many people prefer to swallow the capsule.

Is it suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is hypromellose, a plant cellulose, and the stearic acid used is plant-derived. The product is declared non-GMO, vegetarian, vegan, kosher and halal by the manufacturer.

Can it be taken with a peanut allergy?

Ask your doctor for advice. Fenugreek is a legume, like peanut, and cross-reactions have been described. The formula itself contains none of the major allergens, but this botanical kinship warrants caution.

Where can you buy Now Foods Fenugreek 500 mg?

The bottle can be ordered on this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. Now Foods is an American brand we have stocked for a long time for one simple reason: its ingredient lists are short and readable, which has become rare.

In Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we mainly recommend to those who already know why they have come looking for it. If you are after a micronutrient foundation instead, the multivitamins range is a better starting point.

What is Now Foods' Boron 3 mg?

Now Foods Boron 3 mg is a boron food supplement in vegetable capsules, dosed at 3 mg per serving and sold in a bottle of 100 capsules. The boron is supplied as Bororganic Glycine from Albion™, in other words chelated to glycine — the same family of forms as the magnesium or zinc bisglycinates.

The formula is short, and that is its main merit: chelated boron, rice flour as an excipient, a hypromellose capsule, stearic acid of plant origin and a little non-GMO maltodextrin. No flavouring, no colouring, no preservative. The manufacturer states production in Canada and a vegan, gluten-free composition.

Boron is a trace element found in fruit, vegetables and nuts. It is not a common nutrient in the sports aisle, and there is one thing to know from the outset that shapes this entire page: boron has neither a nutrient reference value nor an authorised health claim in Europe. We will therefore attribute none to it. The American manufacturer's full range can be found in the Now Foods aisle.

What does one capsule contain?

One line in this table deserves an explanation, because it often causes confusion: the 3 mg refer to elemental boron, and not to the weight of the salt. The manufacturer does in fact state the equivalent, 30 mg of sodium borate. That is the first reflex to have with any chelated form — compare elements, never salts.

On the amount itself: 3 mg a day is a cautious dose. By way of a benchmark, EFSA sets 10 mg a day as the tolerable upper safety limit for adults, from all sources combined. You are therefore at less than a third of that ceiling, which leaves room for the boron supplied by food. It is a formulation choice we find sensible: many products on the market go up to 6 or 10 mg with no justification.

And now the point you will read almost nowhere else. No health claim is authorised in Europe for boron, and no nutrient reference value has been established. In practice, that means we have no right — and no basis — to assert anything at all about bones, joints, hormones or testosterone. You will find those assertions all over the internet; they rest on no opinion from any European health authority. What we can describe is factual: a trace element, a chelated form, a dose, a format.

How should Boron 3 mg be taken?

Dose: 1 capsule a day. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: with a meal, breakfast or lunch. Frequency: 1 serving a day, not to be exceeded. Duration: the manufacturer advises continuous use of at least 3 months, with a one-week break every six months if you wish.

Take the capsule with a meal rather than on an empty stomach: it is a matter of digestive comfort, as some people tolerate trace elements poorly on an empty stomach. A glass of water is enough, and the capsule goes down without difficulty.

The bottle of 100 capsules covers more than three months at one serving a day — it is a format that lasts, and the arithmetic is easy to do. Do not exceed one capsule a day: that is the recommended daily dose given on the label, and there is nothing to suggest that going beyond it is of any use.

Do not count on feeling anything. A trace element at 3 mg produces no sensation, and that is normal. If you are after an effect you can feel session after session, this bottle is not where you will find it — look instead towards the pre-workouts, which operate in a completely different register.

Who is boron for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at adults. As the capsule is made of hypromellose, a plant cellulose, and the composition contains no ingredient of animal origin, it is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets. The manufacturer also declares it gluten-free and GMO-free.

The manufacturer advises against it for under-18s and asks pregnant and breastfeeding women to consult a healthcare professional before use. Two warnings deserve careful reading. First, in the case of kidney disorders: boron is eliminated by the kidney, and it can accumulate when the kidney is not working properly — medical supervision is then necessary. Second, in the case of hormonal or anticoagulant treatment, the manufacturer recommends prior medical advice. It also advises against taking sulphur or selenium supplements at high doses at the same time.

The product contains no major allergen, but it is manufactured in a facility that also handles WHEAT, MILK, EGGS, SOYA, FISH, CRUSTACEANS, NUTS and SESAME, with possible traces.

What not to expect from it, and we should be direct: it is not a testosterone booster. You will read that promise more or less everywhere about boron; it rests on no claim authorised in Europe, and we will not repeat it. Nor is it a joint product, nor a performance product, nor a substitute for a diet rich in fruit and vegetables — which remains the primary source of boron.

Boron or zinc?

This is the comparison that makes the most sense, because these two minerals are bought for the same reason by a good share of customers, and because the answer is clear-cut.

Zinc is the better choice, and by a long way, if your motivation is hormonal. The reason is simple and verifiable: zinc has an authorised health claim in Europe — it contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood — where boron has none. It is not a matter of taste or brand, it is a difference in regulatory status, based on EFSA's examination of the scientific data. For an equivalent budget, a well-dosed zinc answers that expectation better. Zinc also benefits from other solid claims, on immunity and protein synthesis.

Boron keeps two situations for itself, and they are honest ones. The first: you already cover your zinc — through a multivitamin or a ZMA — and you certainly do not want to add more, the safety limit being quickly reached. Boron competes with nothing and stacks with no risk of exceeding a limit. The second: your diet is very low in fruit, vegetables and nuts, which are its main sources. In those two cases, 3 mg a day in a short, clean formula is defensible. Outside them, start with zinc and vitamin D.

Frequently asked questions

Does boron increase testosterone?

No health claim is authorised in Europe for boron, on this point as on any other, and we will therefore make none. It is the most widespread assertion about it on the internet, and that is precisely why we prefer to be explicit. If that is your objective, zinc is the only mineral in the aisle to carry an authorised claim on testosterone.

Is 3 mg a day a lot?

No, it is a cautious dose. EFSA sets 10 mg a day as the tolerable upper safety limit in adults, from all sources combined. At 3 mg, there is still room for the boron supplied by your diet. Do not exceed the daily capsule: there is nothing to suggest that taking more is of any use.

Why is there no % NRV on the label?

Because no nutrient reference value has been established for boron at European level. Without an NRV, no percentage can be calculated, and the label therefore carries a statement of absence rather than a figure. It is not an oversight by the manufacturer, it is the rule.

How long does the bottle of 100 capsules last?

A little over three months at one capsule a day. That corresponds exactly to the period of continuous use advised by the manufacturer. Keep it tightly closed, cool, dry and away from light.

Can it be combined with other minerals?

Yes with most of them: boron does not compete for absorption with zinc, magnesium or calcium, unlike those minerals do among themselves. The manufacturer does, however, recommend avoiding sulphur or selenium supplements at high doses at the same time.

Are the capsules suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is made of hypromellose, a plant cellulose, and the stearic acid used is of plant origin. No ingredient of animal origin goes into the composition. What remains are the possible traces linked to the production facility, to be considered if your requirement also covers cross-contamination.

Is medical advice needed before taking it?

In three cases, yes, and the manufacturer says so: in the case of a kidney disorder, of hormonal treatment, or of anticoagulant treatment. As boron is eliminated by the kidney, impaired kidney function can lead to its accumulation. Outside those situations, and in adults, one daily capsule with a meal raises no particular question.

Where can you buy Now Foods Boron 3 mg?

It can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and Europe.

Boron is one of the few products for which we often begin with an awkward question at the counter of our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier: who told you about it, and what for? Nine times out of ten the answer points back to a hormonal promise with no regulatory basis whatsoever, and nine times out of ten we steer people towards something else. It sells less, it helps more. The full aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition selection.

What is Now Foods Zinc Glycinate?

Now Foods Zinc Glycinate is a zinc supplement in softgel form, sold in a bottle of 120 softgels. The mineral is supplied as glycinate — a salt in which zinc is chelated to glycine, an amino acid. It is the best-tolerated form where digestion is concerned, far ahead of the oxide or the sulphate, and it is the whole point of this product.

Its second distinguishing feature is the carrier. The zinc is not dry-compressed into a capsule but suspended in 250 mg of pumpkin seed oil, inside a softgel. This oil is not an active ingredient in the regulatory sense — we will come back to that — but it explains the product's texture and the way it should be taken.

The formula runs to just a few lines: zinc glycinate, pumpkin seed oil, bovine gelatine for the shell, glycerine, water, carob, beeswax and soya lecithin. The American manufacturer states that production is non-GMO. The rest of the range can be found in the Now Foods section.

What does one softgel contain?

The bottle holds 120 softgels, which is four months at one softgel a day.

30 mg of zinc is a high dose, and that should be stated plainly rather than sold as a benefit. The nutrient reference value is 10 mg: you are at 300%. More to the point, EFSA sets 25 mg a day as the upper safe limit for adults, from all sources combined. A single softgel of this product therefore exceeds that limit on its own, before you even count the zinc in your diet. This is a formula designed for the American market, where the ceilings are not the same as in Europe. It is not a dangerous product, it is a product that should not be taken blindly or long-term without a reason — and certainly not on top of a multivitamin that already contains some.

That said, zinc is a mineral with numerous and firmly established claims. We can state, using the exact wording of the European regulation, that zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to normal protein synthesis, to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood, to the maintenance of normal hair, nails and skin, to the protection of cells from oxidative stress and to normal fertility and reproduction. Few minerals cover as much ground.

The 250 mg of pumpkin seed oil, on the other hand, carries no health claim authorised in Europe. You will therefore read no promises about it here. Its documented role is that of a fat-soluble excipient: it acts as the carrier inside the softgel.

How should Zinc Glycinate be taken?

Dose: 1 softgel a day. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: with a meal, preferably dinner. Frequency: 1 serving a day. Duration: the manufacturer advises a course of 2 to 3 months, which may be repeated.

Never take it on an empty stomach. Zinc is the mineral most likely to cause nausea when the stomach is empty, and 30 mg in one go is a good illustration of this: the sensation comes on within half an hour and it is decidedly unpleasant. A meal, even a light one, solves the problem.

Dinner is the most practical slot, for a simple reason of organisation rather than physiology: it is the meal at which people take the fewest other supplements. That matters because zinc competes for absorption with several minerals. Leave at least two hours between it and any iron, calcium or magnesium. That is the rule that counts most in this paragraph, and the one most often forgotten.

On duration: a two to three month course, then a break. Zinc has no perceptible day-to-day effect, and the idea of taking 30 mg continuously all year round is far from trivial — prolonged high-dose supplementation can interfere with copper absorption. If your situation warrants a permanent intake, that is a question for a doctor, backed up by a blood test.

Who is this zinc for, and who is it not for?

It is intended for adults, and its dosage points it towards specific situations: a documented deficiency, a diet low in animal products, or a period of prolonged calorie deficit in an athlete. Outside those cases, a more modest dose is amply sufficient.

The softgel shell is made of bovine gelatine. This product is therefore suitable neither for vegetarians nor for vegans — which is a genuine irony, since diets without animal products are precisely the ones most often short of zinc. The beeswax rules it out of a strict vegan diet as well.

It contains SOYA in the form of lecithin, and traces of WHEAT, GLUTEN, MILK, EGG, FISH and CRUSTACEANS are possible. The manufacturer advises against it for pregnant and breastfeeding women without medical advice and recommends consulting a healthcare professional if you are on any treatment or have a health condition.

It is not suitable if you are already taking a multivitamin, a ZMA or any other supplement containing zinc: the combined total would take you well beyond anything useful. Nor is it suitable if you have no particular reason to supplement — 30 mg a day in someone whose diet already meets their needs brings nothing and is not without consequences in the long run.

What not to expect from it: this is not a testosterone booster. The authorised claim says that zinc “contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood” — maintaining a normal level is not raising it, and the distinction is not merely rhetorical. Nor is it an acne treatment or a performance product.

Zinc on its own or a multivitamin?

The question is worth asking in that order, because most zinc buyers already have a multivitamin in the cupboard without giving it a thought.

A multivitamin is the better choice if your concern is a general one: an irregular diet, skipped meals, uncertainty about your overall micronutrient coverage. It generally supplies 10 to 15 mg of zinc, a sensible baseline dose, alongside the vitamins and the other minerals. In that case you have no reason to add this product: you would double the zinc without gaining anything else.

Zinc on its own is the better choice in the opposite situation: you know why you are taking it, you want to control that one line precisely, and you do not want to swallow anything else. That covers a vegan diet, a deficiency confirmed by a blood test, or a short period of increased need. The glycinate then has a real argument in its favour: it goes down better than the other forms, and with a mineral known for causing nausea, that is no small detail. One last pointer: if zinc interests you for evening sports use, look instead at ZMA products, which combine it with magnesium and vitamin B6 at more measured doses.

Frequently asked questions

Is 30 mg of zinc a day too much?

It is above the safe limit of 25 mg a day set by EFSA for adults, from all sources combined. One softgel a day taken on an occasional basis, during a two to three month course, remains common practice; a permanent intake at that level, on top of other supplements, does not. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Is the product suitable for vegetarians?

No. The softgel shell is made of bovine gelatine, and the formula also contains beeswax. That is all the more unfortunate given that vegetarian and vegan diets are among those most often short of zinc. Check this point before ordering.

What is the pumpkin seed oil for?

It serves as a fat-soluble carrier inside the softgel: it is the medium in which the zinc glycinate is suspended. As no health claim is authorised in Europe for this oil, we will not attribute any to it, whatever assertions you may read elsewhere.

Why should it not be taken with iron or calcium?

Because those minerals use the same intestinal transporters and get in each other's way. The manufacturer recommends leaving two hours between servings. In practice: iron at breakfast, zinc at dinner. It is the simplest rule, and it is enough.

How long does the bottle of 120 softgels last?

Four months at one softgel a day, which is longer than the two to three month course advised by the manufacturer. In other words, one bottle covers a full course and you will have some left over. Store it out of the reach of children, in a dry place away from light.

Is glycinate better absorbed than zinc oxide?

Above all it is better tolerated: chelation to glycine limits gastric irritation, and that is a real benefit you can verify day to day. On absorption itself, we will not repeat any numerical multiplier: those comparisons circulate widely and are validated by no health authority.

Can it be taken at the same time as a whey protein or a creatine?

Yes, there is no known interaction between zinc and a protein powder or creatine. The only thing to watch is other sources of zinc: multivitamins, ZMA, immunity complexes. Add up the milligrams before drawing any conclusion, keeping the limit of 25 mg a day in mind.

Where can you buy Now Foods Zinc Glycinate?

It can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe.

Zinc is one of the few supplements for which we sometimes advise against buying over the counter at our shop in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier. Not because the product is poor — it is well formulated — but because at 30 mg the question “are you already taking some elsewhere?” needs to be asked beforehand, not afterwards. The rest of our everyday supplements can be found in the sports nutrition section.

What is Now Foods Apple Cider Vinegar 450 mg?

It is dehydrated cider vinegar, put into a vegetable capsule, dosed at 450 mg of powder per capsule. The manufacturer states a vinegar obtained by the natural fermentation of apples.

The entire logic of the product lies in the format. Liquid cider vinegar is acidic, it attacks tooth enamel, and its taste puts most people off taking it regularly. The capsule solves those three problems at a stroke: no taste, no acidity in the mouth, no contact with the teeth. It is a convenience product, and that is its only reason to exist.

The composition is short: cider vinegar powder, maltodextrin as a bulking agent, a hypromellose capsule, stearic acid of plant origin and silicon dioxide. As the capsule is vegetable, the product is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The rest of the American range can be found in our Now Foods section.

What does a two-capsule dose contain?

* No NRV has been established for cider vinegar. Other components: maltodextrin (bulking agent), hypromellose (vegetable capsule), stearic acid of plant origin, silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent). The manufacturer declares a product free from gluten, soya, milk, egg, fish, crustaceans, nuts and wheat, made in a facility that otherwise handles those allergens. The number of capsules per bottle does not appear in the data supplied.

Let us now say what those 900 mg represent, because it is the question nobody asks and the one that decides everything. The manufacturer does not publish the acetic acid content of the powder, which is nevertheless the characteristic component of vinegar. Without that figure, it is impossible to say how many spoonfuls of liquid vinegar a two-capsule dose corresponds to, and we will not invent it. What we can say: 900 mg of powder is very little in volume, and probably far less than the tablespoon of vinegar usually talked about.

The second point to put plainly: cider vinegar has no authorised health claim in Europe. None on digestion, none on blood sugar, none on weight. So you will read no promise here, and that is deliberate: what the regulations forbid us to assert, we will not write, not even in a roundabout form.

What remains, and what is true: it is a traditional food, put into a format that lets you take it every day without forcing yourself, with less than 2 kcal per dose and an ingredients list five lines long. If cider vinegar is part of your habits and the taste puts you off, this product answers exactly that need.

How do you take the cider vinegar capsules?

Dose: 1 to 2 capsules. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: with meals, preferably before the main meals. Frequency: up to 3 times a day. Duration: a course of 2 to 3 months.

The manufacturer advises starting with a single capsule a day to gauge digestive tolerance, then increasing as required. That is good advice: vinegar remains an acid, and even in powder form it does not go down the same way for everyone.

Two instructions that carry weight. Take the capsule with a large glass of water, never dry: a capsule that opened in the oesophagus would release its acidic content in the wrong place. And do not chew the capsules — the manufacturer asks this explicitly, and for the same reason.

On duration, two to three months is the marker given. Nothing requires a break, and nothing indicates that going beyond brings anything either. At three daily doses of two capsules, you are taking six capsules a day: that is the stated maximum, and it gets through a bottle quickly.

One piece of data is missing and we would rather put it in writing: the number of capsules per bottle does not appear in the information supplied by the manufacturer. Divide the number printed on the label by your daily consumption to work out how long it will last.

Who are these capsules for, and who are they not for?

The product is for adults only. It suits those who already consume cider vinegar and are looking for a format with no taste and no acidity, those who travel, and those protecting their tooth enamel — liquid vinegar taken daily is aggressive on the teeth, and that is a concrete argument in favour of the capsule.

It is not suitable in case of gastric ulcer or severe digestive disorders: that is the contraindication carried by the manufacturer, and it is logical for an acidic product. In case of pregnancy or breastfeeding, consult a healthcare professional before use. If you are on any medication, tell your doctor you are taking this: the manufacturer explicitly asks that this be done, and the recommendation is worth following.

Nor is it for you if you are expecting a result. We would rather be clear even if it means selling less: since no claim is authorised for cider vinegar, nobody can promise you anything on digestion, appetite or weight without stepping outside the legal framework. What we are selling here is a practical format for a traditional food, not a solution.

What you should not expect from it, precisely: no weight loss. A calorie deficit makes you lose weight; a vinegar capsule does not. Our weight loss range includes useful products, but none of them replaces what you put on your plate. Do not buy it for that.

Cider vinegar or a fat burner in capsules?

This is the comparison that comes up most often, because the two products are bought for the same reasons — and often with the same hopes.

A fat burner in capsules generally contains caffeine, green tea or green coffee extracts, sometimes carnitine. It shares with cider vinegar the absence of an authorised health claim for most of its ingredients, but it has one concrete advantage: caffeine, for its part, produces an effect you will feel — more energy, a session easier to get through during a period of restriction. It is the better choice if you are after a noticeable boost in training.

Cider vinegar capsules have no stimulant, no caffeine, and therefore no felt effect. That is a drawback if you are after a sensation, and a real advantage if you cannot tolerate stimulants, if you are already taking them elsewhere, or if you want something that can be taken in the evening without touching your sleep. They impose neither cycling nor breaks.

If your starting question was rather about digestive comfort, two other ranges are better placed and rest on more direct logics: our probiotics and our digestive enzymes. And if you are simply looking to secure your micronutrient intake, a multivitamin will do more for you than any of those three.

Frequently asked questions

How much liquid vinegar does one capsule represent?

We cannot say: the manufacturer does not publish the acetic acid content of the powder, which is the only figure that allows the conversion. What we do know is that one capsule supplies 450 mg of cider vinegar powder — a modest weight, and in all likelihood well below a tablespoon of liquid vinegar.

Can the capsules be opened or chewed?

No, the manufacturer asks this explicitly. The contents are acidic: released in the mouth or in the oesophagus, they can be irritant, and they would attack tooth enamel exactly as liquid vinegar would. Swallow the capsule whole with a large glass of water.

Do they make you lose weight?

No, and no claim of that kind is authorised for cider vinegar in Europe. So we will not write it, in any form whatsoever. What makes you lose weight is a calorie deficit held over time — a capsule neither replaces it nor makes it easier.

How many should you take a day?

The manufacturer allows 1 to 2 capsules up to 3 times a day, that is 6 capsules at most. It advises starting with a single capsule a day to gauge digestive tolerance. In practice, two capsules a day with a meal are enough for most people.

Are they less aggressive on the teeth than liquid vinegar?

Yes, and that is the format's most solid argument. Liquid vinegar consumed regularly attacks tooth enamel — this is well documented and it is dentists' first reservation about the habit. The capsule, swallowed whole, does not bring the acid into contact with the teeth.

Are there any contraindications?

The manufacturer advises against the product in case of gastric ulcer or severe digestive disorders, asks for professional advice in case of pregnancy or breastfeeding, and invites you to tell your doctor you are taking it if you are on medication. The product is also for adults only.

How many capsules are there in a bottle?

The number does not appear in the data supplied by the manufacturer, and we will not invent it. The figure is printed on the bottle: divide it by your daily consumption to work out how long it will last. At two capsules a day, the two- to three-month course calls for between 120 and 180 capsules.

Where to buy Now Foods cider vinegar capsules?

The bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. It is a simple product, honestly formulated, and one on which we promise nothing — which, in this category, sets us apart from a good part of the market.

At the Vendargues counter, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the conversation about cider vinegar always starts with the same question: what do you expect from this product? When the answer is “to lose weight”, we recommend something else. When it is “I already take vinegar in the morning and I have had enough of the taste”, this is exactly the right product. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Now Foods Apple Cider Vinegar 750 mg?

Now Foods Apple Cider Vinegar Extra Strength is dehydrated cider vinegar, presented as coated tablets. One tablet provides 750 mg of apple cider vinegar powder, plus 100 mg of calcium and 7 mg of magnesium from Aquamin, a marine mineral extracted from seaweed. The dose is one tablet a day, with a meal.

Cider vinegar is obtained by a double fermentation of apple juice: alcoholic first, then acetic. What gives it its taste and its acidity is acetic acid. The powder used here is that same vinegar, dried, which makes it possible to put it into a tablet without having to drink an acidic liquid.

That is precisely where the point of the format lies, and it is very concrete: liquid vinegar attacks tooth enamel. A coated tablet goes down without prolonged contact with the teeth. The rest of the American range can be browsed in our Now Foods section, and the other products in the same family in our weight loss section.

What is in one Apple Cider Vinegar tablet?

Let us start with what cannot be said, because it is the most important thing about this particular product. No health claim is authorised in Europe for cider vinegar. Not on weight loss, not on digestion, not on blood sugar, not on appetite. It is a fermented food, sold here in dried form, and nothing can be promised of it. You will read the opposite just about everywhere; it is false, and that is precisely why we take the time to write this.

The two minerals in the formula do not change anything either. At 8% of the reference value for calcium and 2% for magnesium, the amounts stay below the 15% threshold that would allow them to be claimed as a source. They are therefore not there to nourish, but to buffer the acidity of the powder — which, on the other hand, does play a real role in how well the tablet is tolerated.

Aquamin is a raw material extracted from calcified marine algae, of Irish origin according to the manufacturer. It provides calcium and magnesium in a plant-based form, which is consistent with the tablet's vegetarian coating.

What this product does well is what the ingredients list only says by implication. It is short, with no colouring, no flavouring, no sweetener, and the manufacturer declares the absence of yeast, wheat, gluten, soya, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, nuts and sesame. In a section where “slimming” formulas pile up ten plant extracts and two stimulants, a product with a single active ingredient has the merit of clarity.

Data missing from the manufacturer's file: the number of tablets per bottle is not disclosed, which makes it impossible to work out how long a course lasts. The information is on the packaging you receive.

Ingredients list

Apple cider vinegar powder, maltodextrin (non-GMO), vegetarian coating (hypromellose, stearic acid of vegetable origin, sunflower lecithin, triethyl citrate, sunflower oil), stearic acid of vegetable origin, silicon dioxide, Aquamin (calcium and magnesium from marine algae).

Free from yeast, wheat, gluten, soya, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, nuts and sesame. A natural variation in colour from one batch to another is possible.

How do you take Apple Cider Vinegar?

Dose: 1 tablet. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: with the main meal. Frequency: once a day. Duration: a course of 3 to 6 months according to the manufacturer.

Taking it with a meal is an imperative instruction here, not a comfort tip. The manufacturer writes it unambiguously: on an empty stomach, a vinegar concentrate can cause digestive irritation. A full stomach buffers the acidity, and the marine calcium in the formula contributes to that as well. If you have ever had acid reflux after a glass of diluted cider vinegar, you know what this is about.

The tablet can be split if you find it large, which the manufacturer permits. Take it with a large glass of water, which helps it dissolve and keeps the acidity away from the oesophagus.

Leave two hours between this and any medication you take. It is a general precaution with acidic products and with minerals, and it is simple to apply: the tablet at lunch, your treatments at their usual times.

A word on the comparison with liquid vinegar, since everyone asks. The liquid costs less and can be found in any grocer's; in exchange, it attacks tooth enamel and has to be diluted carefully. The tablet solves both problems, travels well, and is dosed exactly. That is the only real argument for the format, and it is enough for some purposes.

This product combines without overlap with digestive enzymes, a probiotic or a multivitamin, none of which provides cider vinegar.

Who is Apple Cider Vinegar for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult who wants to work cider vinegar into their routine without drinking an acidic liquid, and who appreciates a short, readable formula. The tablet format is also practical when travelling.

It is not recommended in cases of gastric ulcer or gastro-oesophageal reflux without medical advice. That is an explicit contraindication from the manufacturer, and it makes sense: we are talking about a concentrate of acetic acid. If your stomach is fragile, put the question to your doctor before buying.

It is for adults only, and medical advice is required during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Tell your doctor you are taking it if you are on any treatment, not least because of the two-hour spacing precaution.

What not to expect from it, and this is the part most sites would rather keep quiet. It does not make you lose weight. It does not burn fat. It does not “detoxify” anything — the liver and the kidneys do that job without help. It does not suppress appetite and it does not regulate blood sugar: none of those statements has an authorised claim in Europe. If you are looking to lose weight, what counts is the calorie deficit and physical activity, and no tablet replaces those two levers.

Cider vinegar tablets or a fat burner in capsules?

The two products come up in the same searches, and yet they have nothing in common.

This cider vinegar tablet is a sober product: one active ingredient, two buffering minerals, no stimulant. It contains no caffeine, does not disturb sleep and can be taken at any mealtime. That is its main advantage, and it should not be underestimated if you are sensitive to stimulants.

A fat burner in capsules follows a different logic: carnitine, green tea, guarana, caffeine, plant extracts. Those formulas are more complete, but also more stimulating and more demanding — restricted timing, compulsory breaks, cardiovascular contraindications. If that is the route that interests you, our fat burner capsules section covers it fully.

When is neither the answer? If you expect a supplement to do the work for you. No product in this section has a weight-loss claim, and that is as true of cider vinegar as it is of fat burners. If you still want a stimulant-free formula, our caffeine-free fat burner section is the closest in spirit. And if your stomach is the real subject, a magnesium or a digestive enzyme will answer better than an acid concentrate.

Frequently asked questions

How much cider vinegar per tablet?

750 mg of apple cider vinegar powder, obtained by dehydrating the vinegar produced from the fermentation of apples. To that are added 100 mg of calcium and 7 mg of magnesium of marine origin, present to buffer the acidity rather than to nourish.

Does cider vinegar make you lose weight?

No, and no claim of that kind is authorised in Europe, whether on weight loss, on appetite or on blood sugar. It is a fermented food sold in dried form. Fat loss comes from the calorie deficit and from physical activity, not from a tablet.

Why take it during a meal?

Because a vinegar concentrate taken on an empty stomach can irritate the stomach: the manufacturer says so in black and white. A full stomach buffers the acidity, and the marine calcium in the formula plays its part too. A large glass of water completes the precaution.

Tablet or liquid vinegar?

The liquid costs less but attacks tooth enamel and has to be diluted. The coated tablet avoids that contact, travels easily and is dosed exactly. That is the only real advantage of the format, and it is enough for some purposes.

Is this product suitable for vegetarians?

Yes. The coating is declared vegetarian, the stearic acid is of vegetable origin and the Aquamin comes from calcified marine algae. The manufacturer also declares the absence of yeast, wheat, gluten, soya, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, nuts and sesame.

Can it be taken if you have reflux?

Not without medical advice. The manufacturer explicitly advises against the product in cases of ulcer or gastro-oesophageal reflux. We are talking about a concentrate of acetic acid: if your stomach is fragile, this is not the right product and it is better to know beforehand.

How long does a course last?

The manufacturer mentions 3 to 6 months at one tablet a day. The number of tablets per bottle has not been disclosed to us, so we cannot say how many bottles that represents; the information is on the packaging.

Where to buy Now Foods Apple Cider Vinegar?

The bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, it is a product we sell often, but rarely for the reason the customer imagines: we start by explaining that it does not make you lose weight, and those who buy it afterwards do so in full knowledge of the facts. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition section.

What is Now Foods Vitamin D3 Liquid?

Now Foods Vitamin D3 Liquid is vitamin D3 in liquid form, in a dropper bottle. Four drops provide 400 IU of cholecalciferol, that is 10 µg and 200% of the nutrient reference value. The 59 ml bottle contains around 590 drops, which amounts to 147 servings.

Vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, is the form the skin makes for itself under the effect of ultraviolet rays. It is also the one found in oily fish and egg yolks. It differs from vitamin D2, of plant origin, which the body uses less efficiently.

The liquid form is not a presentational whim: it is what lets you adjust the dose drop by drop. Where a tablet imposes a fixed dose, a dropper lets you take anything from 400 to 2,000 IU according to your needs, without changing product. The rest of the American range can be browsed in our Now Foods section, and the other products in the category in our vitamin D section.

What is in one serving of Vitamin D3 Liquid?

Vitamin D is the best-justified supplement in this entire catalogue for a French population, and that is not a sales argument. Between October and March, at our latitudes, the sun sits too low on the horizon for the skin to make it in useful quantities. Even in Montpellier, where sunshine is generous the rest of the year, the winter window is very real.

The authorised claims for this vitamin are numerous and solid, and there is no reason to stray from them: vitamin D contributes to normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus, to the maintenance of normal bones, to the maintenance of normal teeth, to the maintenance of normal muscle function, to the normal function of the immune system, to the maintenance of normal blood calcium concentrations and it has a role in the process of cell division. These are the official wordings of the European framework.

The choice of MCT oil as the base is worth pausing on. These are medium-chain triglycerides, derived from coconut and palm kernel. Since vitamin D is fat-soluble, it needs a fatty carrier to be absorbed: here, that carrier is already in the bottle. It is a genuine advantage over a dry capsule, which relies on the meal to supply the fat.

The 147-serving bottle is an unusually long-lasting pack. At four drops a day, it covers close to five months — that is, the whole season in which supplementing makes the most sense.

Missing from the manufacturer's file: the origin of the cholecalciferol is not specified. Most vitamin D3 on the market is extracted from sheep lanolin, but we will not assert that here for lack of information. This product therefore cannot be presented as suitable for vegan diets.

Ingredients list

MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides from coconut and palm kernel oil), vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).

Free from yeast, wheat, gluten, soya, corn, milk, egg, fish and shellfish. Made in a facility that handles other ingredients containing these allergens.

How should Vitamin D3 Liquid be taken?

Dose: 4 drops, up to 20 drops a day according to your needs, that is 400 to 2,000 IU. Carrier: straight into the mouth or in a drink. Timing: during a meal containing fat, preferably breakfast or lunch. Frequency: once a day is enough, even for the full dose. Duration: from October to March at least, all year round depending on your sun exposure.

Shake the bottle before each use: the vitamin D is suspended in the oil and needs to be distributed evenly. This is a manufacturer's instruction, and it takes two seconds.

The manufacturer suggests four drops one to five times a day. In practice, nothing obliges you to split it up: vitamin D is stored in the body, and taking all twenty drops at once with the same meal comes to the same thing while being infinitely easier to keep up. That is the advice we give in the shop, and it beats a five-a-day routine abandoned within a week.

Taking it with a fatty meal counts, even with an MCT oil base. The bottle already supplies the fatty carrier, which is a real plus, but a meal containing fat remains the best context for absorption. Breakfast or lunch work well.

A small hygiene instruction that the manufacturer specifies and that is often overlooked: if the dropper touches your lips, clean it before putting it back in the bottle. On a product that lasts five months, this avoids contaminating the oil. Vitamin D combines without overlap with an omega 3, a magnesium — a mineral involved in its metabolism — or a zinc.

Who is Vitamin D3 Liquid for, and who is it not for?

It suits an adult with little sun exposure, working indoors, or going through the autumn-winter period. The liquid format is particularly well suited to those who dislike swallowing capsules, and dosing by the drop allows fine adjustment, which no tablet permits.

A healthcare professional must be consulted in the event of pregnancy, breastfeeding, drug treatment or a health problem. That is the manufacturer's instruction, and it is justified: vitamin D is fat-soluble, it is stored, and an accumulation from other sources shows up less quickly than with a water-soluble vitamin.

Check precisely what your other supplements contain. A multivitamin, a joint complex or a bone product almost always supply vitamin D, and the intakes add up. The upper safety limit set at European level for adults is 100 µg a day, that is 4,000 IU: this product's maximum dose, 2,000 IU, stays well clear of it, but the sum can change the picture quickly.

What you should not expect from it. You will feel nothing when you take it, and that is normal: no vitamin produces a sensation. It does not improve sporting performance and it makes you neither lose weight nor gain muscle. And above all, it does not replace a blood test: if you are wondering about your status, a test prescribed by your doctor will tell you what no product page can guess.

Liquid vitamin D or capsules?

The two forms are equivalent in substance — it is the same molecule — and the choice comes down entirely to practical criteria.

The liquid format has two advantages that genuinely count. The first is flexibility of dosing: four drops or twenty, you decide, whereas a tablet imposes its figure. The second is that there is no capsule to swallow, which settles the matter for anyone put off by capsules. Add to that the MCT oil base, which supplies the fatty carrier needed for absorption.

The capsule, for its part, wins on simplicity: no bottle to shake, no dropper to clean, no risk of spilling. It slips into a weekly pill organiser, which a liquid does not. And some formulas pair it with other fat-soluble vitamins, such as K2.

When is the capsule the better choice? If you already have a supplement routine in capsule form and simply want to add one line to it. If your goal is broader, a multivitamin already supplies some, in a more modest amount. And for an intake of vitamin C during the same season, a dedicated product rounds out this winter routine nicely.

Frequently asked questions

How much vitamin D per drop?

100 IU per drop, that is 400 IU for four drops, which represents 200% of the nutrient reference value. The manufacturer provides for up to 2,000 IU a day, that is twenty drops, according to individual needs.

Should the doses be split up?

That is not necessary. The manufacturer suggests four drops one to five times a day, but vitamin D is stored in the body: taking the full dose at once with the same meal comes to the same thing and is far easier to keep up over time.

Why an MCT oil base?

Because vitamin D is fat-soluble and needs a fatty carrier to be absorbed. Here, that carrier is already in the bottle, which is a genuine advantage over a dry capsule that relies solely on the meal.

How long does one bottle last?

59 ml, that is around 590 drops and 147 servings of 400 IU. At four drops a day, that comes to close to five months: enough to cover the whole October to March period without reordering. At twenty drops a day, allow one month.

Is this product suitable for vegans?

The manufacturer does not specify the origin of the cholecalciferol, and we will not invent it. Most vitamin D3 on the market comes from sheep lanolin. In the absence of information, this product cannot be presented as suitable for a vegan diet.

Is there a risk of overdose?

The upper safety limit set at European level for adults is 100 µg a day, that is 4,000 IU. The maximum dose provided for here, 2,000 IU, stays well clear of it. Do check your other supplements, though: vitamin D intakes add up and are stored.

Should it be taken all year round?

The period in which supplementing is most justified runs from October to March, the sun being too low then to allow useful production in the skin. The rest of the year depends on your actual exposure. A blood test prescribed by your doctor settles it far better than guesswork.

Where can you buy Now Foods Vitamin D3 Liquid?

You can order the 59 ml bottle on this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. In the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we recommend most readily at the start of autumn, with one simple piece of advice: all the drops at once, at breakfast, and the bottle will see you through to spring. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition section.

What is Now Foods Iron 18 mg?

Now Foods Iron 18 mg is an iron supplement in vegetable capsules, sold in a bottle of 120. The mineral is supplied as Ferrochel™ bisglycinate, a raw material from Albion Labs in which the iron is chelated to two glycine molecules.

That form is not a marketing detail. A conventional ferrous sulphate has to be taken on an empty stomach to be properly absorbed, which brings on the nausea, cramps and constipation that make one course in two get abandoned after a fortnight. A bisglycinate is taken with a meal and goes down far better. With iron, tolerance is not a luxury: it is what decides whether the course will be seen through.

The formula is short: the chelated iron, rice flour as an excipient, a vegetable cellulose capsule, stearic acid of plant origin and silica. The manufacturer declares it free from wheat, gluten, soya, milk, egg, fish, shellfish and nuts. The full range is in the Now Foods section.

What does one capsule contain?

The bottle holds 120 capsules, which is four months at one a day. It is the longest-lasting format in the range, and on a mineral that calls for a course of several months, that saves two or three repeat purchases.

The 18 mg cover 128% of the nutrient reference value, set at 14 mg. This is a corrective dose, designed to rebuild low stores. In someone whose ferritin is normal it brings nothing: surplus iron has no active route of elimination, the body stores it, and that is precisely what should be avoided.

The manufacturer itself writes the following, and that is rare enough to be worth highlighting: “iron supplementation should only be undertaken in cases of proven deficiency or of increased needs identified by a healthcare professional”. We will say nothing different. It is the one everyday supplement in the range where excess causes a genuine problem, and the first step is not to open this bottle but to have your ferritin measured.

That said, the claims for iron are solid and numerous. We can write, using the exact wordings of the European regulation, that iron contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin, to normal oxygen transport in the body, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to the normal function of the immune system and to normal cognitive function. That is why a deficiency shows up first as breathlessness and a drop in tolerance to effort.

How should you take Iron 18 mg?

Dose: 1 capsule a day. Liquid: a glass of water, or better still, a citrus juice. Timing: during a meal. Frequency: 1 intake a day. Duration: 3 to 6 months depending on needs, with a serum ferritin check to fine-tune it.

Two habits genuinely change how much you get out of each capsule, and they cost nothing. The first: pair it with a source of vitamin C — a citrus juice, a kiwi, green vegetables. Vitamin C markedly improves the absorption of non-haem iron. The second, conversely: avoid coffee, tea, dairy products and calcium at the time you take it. Tannins and calcium block absorption, sometimes by half. A cup of tea after breakfast can cancel out a good part of the capsule you have just swallowed.

Also leave at least two hours between it and any other mineral supplement — zinc, calcium, magnesium — since these minerals compete for the same intestinal transporters. The simplest pattern: iron at breakfast with an orange juice, the other minerals at dinner.

On duration, think in months. Rebuilding ferritin stores takes time, and the fatigue linked to a deficiency is not corrected in a week. The manufacturer talks of 3 to 6 months with a blood check: have your ferritin measured again to know when to stop, rather than carrying on out of habit.

Who is this iron for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at adults whose iron status is low: women with heavy periods, people following a vegetarian or vegan diet, high-volume endurance athletes, and anyone whose blood work has shown low ferritin. With a cellulose capsule and stearic acid of plant origin, it suits vegetarian and vegan diets — which is just as well, since those are the people most often short of iron, plant iron being less well absorbed than iron from meat.

The manufacturer restricts it to adults and asks that you consult a healthcare professional if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking medication or dealing with a health problem. None of the major allergens goes into the formula, but the product is made in a facility that handles others.

Keep this bottle out of the reach of children. Accidental ingestion of iron capsules is one of the most serious forms of paediatric poisoning, and a bottle of 120 is not a quantity to leave lying about. It is the most important warning on this page.

What you should not expect from it: this is not a product for tiredness in general. Iron reduces fatigue only when that fatigue is caused by an iron deficiency. Otherwise you are accumulating it with no benefit. Nor is it a performance product: in an athlete whose ferritin is normal, adding 18 mg a day improves nothing. And if you are affected by haemochromatosis or another iron overload disorder, this product is to be avoided entirely.

18 mg or 20 mg: which iron dose should you choose?

We offer two bisglycinate irons, one at 18 mg and the other at 20 mg, and the question of which to choose comes up regularly. It is settled less by the two milligrams between them — negligible — than by three practical criteria.

The format. That is this one's main argument: 120 capsules, or four months of use without a repeat purchase. The iron section also offers bottles of 60 capsules, which cover two months. Over a course of 3 to 6 months, the large format avoids running out — and an interrupted course is of no use at all.

The composition. Here the manufacturer explicitly lists the eight major allergens absent from the formula and names its raw material, Albion's Ferrochel™. That is a useful level of detail if you have multiple sensitivities.

Dosing flexibility. This is the only point where the other product comes out ahead: at 20 mg per capsule with the option of taking two, it allows you to go up to 40 mg in an established deficiency, which this one does not — the dosage is one capsule, full stop. If your doctor has steered you towards a high dose, go for that option; for an ordinary correction and a long course, this bottle is the more practical. One last marker: if your need is general rather than targeted, a multivitamin containing iron provides a more modest maintenance dose, often enough when ferritin is simply low-normal.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a blood test before starting?

Yes, and the manufacturer writes as much itself: iron supplementation should only be undertaken in cases of proven deficiency or of increased needs identified by a healthcare professional. A ferritin and serum iron test answers the question with a single blood draw. Supplementing without a deficiency brings no benefit and makes you accumulate.

What is Ferrochel™?

It is the trade name of the iron bisglycinate produced by Albion Labs. Naming its raw material commits the manufacturer to a specific origin rather than to an adjective. In practice, what matters to you is the chelated form: it can be taken with a meal, which a ferrous sulphate cannot, and it is markedly better tolerated.

Why avoid tea and coffee when taking it?

Because their tannins sharply reduce the absorption of non-haem iron, the kind found in supplements and plants. Calcium and dairy products have the same effect. Leave two hours between them. Conversely, a glass of citrus juice taken with the capsule improves absorption: it is the single most rewarding habit on this page.

How long does the bottle of 120 capsules last?

Four months at one capsule a day, which covers most of a 3 to 6 month course. That is the main practical appeal of this product: you do not have to reorder part-way through, and an interrupted iron course loses much of its point.

Are the capsules suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is vegetable cellulose and the stearic acid used is of plant origin; no ingredient in the formula is of animal origin. That fits the people concerned, since diets without animal products are among those where the question of iron comes up most often.

Does this iron cause constipation?

Far less than a ferrous sulphate. Chelation to glycine limits the digestive irritation and constipation associated with conventional ferrous salts, and allows the capsule to be taken during a meal. Some discomfort remains possible, but this is precisely the difference that makes it possible to keep going for several months.

Can it be taken with whey or creatine?

No problem, there is no known interaction. Do watch one detail, though: if you take your whey with milk, do not pair it with the iron at the same moment — the calcium in milk reduces absorption. Simply leave an hour or two between them.

Where can you buy Now Foods Iron 18 mg?

It can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe.

Iron is one of the few products we sell more slowly than the rest, and deliberately so. At our Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the conversation starts with a simple question — do you know your ferritin level? — and sometimes ends with advice to buy nothing until you have the answer. The other minerals and the plant proteins are in our sports nutrition section.

What is Now Foods' Avocado Oil?

Now Foods Avocado Oil is a pure avocado oil intended for external cosmetic use. The bottle contains only one ingredient: Persea gratissima oil, obtained by cold pressing, with no hexane solvent. It comes in 118 ml and 473 ml.

Avocado oil is extracted from the flesh of the fruit and not from the stone, which sets it apart from most vegetable oils, generally obtained from seeds. It is a thick oil, green to yellow depending on the batch, with a discreet, vegetal smell.

A single line in the ingredients list: that is what makes this product worth having. No preservative, no synthetic fragrance, no colouring. You know exactly what you are applying, which is far from being the case with a supermarket skincare oil. The rest of the American range can be browsed in our Now Foods section.

What does avocado oil contain?

Cold pressing is the only technical mention that really counts here. An oil extracted with heat or with solvent costs less to produce, but the process degrades some of the fragile compounds in the flesh. Cold pressing preserves them, at the cost of a lower yield — which is what explains the price difference between two oils that look identical.

The main fatty acid in avocado oil is oleic acid, the same one found in olive oil. It is a monounsaturated fatty acid, stable, which gives the oil its enveloping feel and its good keeping qualities compared with oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are more fragile.

The manufacturer notes the natural presence of squalene, sterolins, lecithin and chlorophyll, along with several vitamins. We pass this information on and attribute it, without turning it into a promise: no quantity is given for these compounds, and we will not estimate them. They are natural constituents of avocado flesh, present at levels that vary with the origin and the batch.

One practical consequence of this purity: the colour and appearance vary from one bottle to the next, and small natural particles may appear. That is not a fault, it is the sign of an unrefined oil.

Ingredients list

Persea gratissima (avocado) oil. No preservative, no artificial colouring, no synthetic fragrance.

Not recommended if you have a known allergy to avocado. The manufacturer also states that the product is not tested on animals.

How do you use avocado oil?

Amount: a few drops, 2 to 3 for the face, more for the body. Surface: clean, dry skin, or slightly damp skin after showering. Timing: preferably in the evening for the face. Frequency: as needed, daily if you wish. Use: external only.

Start with a tolerance test, and that is not just a form of words. Apply a few drops to the crook of your elbow and wait twenty-four hours before the first application on your face. It is the precaution the manufacturer asks for, and it holds for any pure vegetable oil, however gentle.

On the face, two to three drops are enough, as a night serum or mixed into your usual cream. Avoid the eye contour area, as the manufacturer specifies. On the body, apply to skin that is still damp after showering: the oil holds the water at the surface and sinks in better.

A word on how an oil works on the skin, because the confusion is permanent. A vegetable oil does not hydrate: it contains no water. What it does is form a film that slows the evaporation of the water already present in the surface layers. That is exactly why applying it to damp skin, just after a shower, gives a far better result than on perfectly dry skin: you are trapping water instead of covering a desert.

On hair, it is used as a pre-shampoo mask, applied to the lengths and left on for twenty to thirty minutes. This is the use where the large 473 ml size makes complete sense: a hair mask uses far more than a facial treatment.

Storage: close the bottle carefully after each use and keep it away from heat and direct light. In the height of summer in Montpellier, a spell in the fridge does no harm — the oil sets slightly in the cold and becomes fluid again within a few minutes in your hand, without causing the slightest problem.

Who is avocado oil for, and who is it not for?

It suits dry or dehydrated skin, dry and brittle hair, and anyone looking for a single-ingredient product rather than a cosmetic formula thirty lines long. It also serves as a massage base, on its own or combined with essential oils.

It is not suitable if you have a known allergy to avocado, an explicit contraindication from the manufacturer. It is for external use only: this bottle is not intended for cooking, whatever the quality of the oil it contains. Avoid the eye contour area, and stop using it if a skin reaction occurs.

Oily or blemish-prone skin should try it cautiously on a small area: it is a rich oil, and not every skin type tolerates it on the face. On the body and the hair, the question arises far less.

Nor is it suitable if you are looking for a product that smells good. With no added fragrance, a pure avocado oil has a discreet but very real vegetal smell that some people do not care for on the face. That is the price of a one-line ingredients list, and it is better to know before opening the 473 ml bottle. A drop of essential oil can put that right for body or massage use, never around the face.

What not to expect from it. It is not a food supplement and it has no nutritional effect: the vitamins mentioned by the manufacturer are constituents of the oil, not a dietary intake. It is not a dermatological treatment: a skin condition is a matter for a doctor. And an oil does not replace a moisturiser — it limits water loss, it does not supply any.

Avocado oil or a supplement taken internally?

The question often comes up in the shop, and the answer is clear-cut: these are two completely different approaches.

This oil works where you apply it, and nowhere else. It is external care in the strict sense: it forms a film that limits the evaporation of water at the surface of the skin. It is useful, it is immediate, it is visible, and it has nothing to do with what you eat.

If your concern is your skin, your nails or your hair from the inside, other products come into play, and they have authorised claims that this oil does not. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin, nails and hair; vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. Our collagen section and our multivitamin section cover that approach.

In which cases do the two complement each other? Almost always, in fact, since they do not work in the same place. A supply of omega 3 or vitamin E is a matter of diet; an avocado oil is a matter for the bathroom. There is no reason at all to choose.

Frequently asked questions

Can this oil be eaten?

No. The manufacturer states external use only, for cosmetic care. That is the wording that appears on the product warning and it is the one that prevails: this bottle is not intended for cooking, whatever the purity of the oil it contains.

What is the difference between the sizes?

The volume alone: 118 ml and 473 ml, with the same oil in both. The small size suits facial use, where two to three drops are enough. The large size is worthwhile for the body and above all for hair masks, which use far more.

What does cold-pressed mean?

That the oil is extracted mechanically, without excessive heating and without hexane solvent. The yield is lower and the cost higher, but the fragile compounds in the flesh are preserved. It is the only technical mention that genuinely distinguishes two oils that look identical.

The oil changes colour, is that normal?

Yes. An unrefined oil naturally varies from green to yellow depending on the origin of the fruit and the batch, and small particles may appear. The manufacturer states this explicitly. It is not a fault, it is the opposite of heavy refining.

Is it suitable for oily skin?

It is a rich oil, to be tested cautiously on a small area before any application to the face if your skin is on the oily side. On the body and the hair, the question arises far less. Do the tolerance test in the crook of your elbow in every case.

Can it be used on hair?

Yes, as a pre-shampoo mask on the lengths, left on for twenty to thirty minutes, or as a few drops on dry hair. It is the use that gets through the most: if that is your main goal, go straight for the 473 ml bottle.

Does it need to be kept cool?

It is not compulsory, but it is recommended in hot weather: keep the bottle away from heat and light, tightly closed. The oil may set slightly in the fridge and becomes fluid again within a few minutes in your hand, with no deterioration.

Where can you buy Now Foods' Avocado Oil?

The sizes can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product we sell with a single warning, always the same one: external use, and a test in the crook of the elbow before applying it to the face. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition section.

What is Now Foods' Probiotic-10 100 Billion?

Now Foods Probiotic-10 100 Billion is a live culture supplement in vegetable capsules. One capsule provides 100 billion colony-forming units, spread across ten strains each named and referenced individually. The product comes in 30 and 60 capsules, and it must be kept refrigerated.

Colony-forming units, abbreviated to CFU, count the micro-organisms viable at the time of manufacture. It is the unit of measurement in this category, and 100 billion per capsule places this product at the top end of the market — the usual formulas sit rather between 1 and 30 billion.

But the most interesting figure on this label is not the CFU count: it is the fact that every strain is identified by its exact reference. Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14, Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04, Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr-32… These codes designate precise strains, not a vague bacterial genus. The rest of the American range can be browsed in our Now Foods section, and the other products in the category in our probiotic section.

What does one Probiotic-10 capsule contain?

Naming the strains is not a bureaucratic detail, it is what separates a serious product from a display product. Two strains from the same bacterial genus can behave very differently, and research is always carried out on identified strains, never on a genus. A product that announces “lactobacilli and bifidobacteria” with no further precision tells you nothing about what you are buying. Here, ten strains, ten references, and the manufacturer states that they are identified by genetic fingerprinting.

The formula also contains fructo-oligosaccharides, fibres that serve as a substrate for the bacteria — this is what is called a prebiotic, as opposed to the probiotic, which refers to the micro-organisms themselves.

On the regulatory side we need to be precise, because this category is saturated with promises: no health claim is authorised in Europe for these strains. Not on digestion, not on immunity, not on transit, not on the microbiota. The dossiers submitted in this category came to nothing. So we describe strains, their number and their directions for use, without announcing any effect. That is as frustrating to write as it is to read, but it is the state of the law.

The manufacturer states production in the United States, non-GMO, kosher and halal, along with the absence of gluten, dairy, soya, egg, fish and tree nuts in the formula.

List of ingredients

Blend of ten lactic acid bacteria strains (100 billion CFU), hypromellose (vegetable capsule), microcrystalline cellulose, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), ascorbyl palmitate, silicon dioxide.

Gluten-free, dairy-free, soya-free, egg-free, fish-free and tree-nut-free. Made in a facility that handles other allergens. Do not consume the desiccant sachet inside the bottle.

How should you take Probiotic-10?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before breakfast, or between two meals. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: a course of 3 months minimum according to the manufacturer.

Let us start with the constraint that decides everything about this product: refrigeration is compulsory, between 2 and 8 °C. This is not a comfort tip, it is what keeps the bacteria alive until the use-by date. Take the bottle out only for as long as it takes to swallow the capsule and close it again straight away. A bottle left for a day on the worktop in high summer loses part of its value, and nobody can tell you which part.

That constraint has a practical consequence you have to accept: this product travels badly. In hot weather, plan to be there for the delivery and to put it in the fridge without waiting. It is the kind of detail that does not show up on a product page, and that nonetheless makes the difference between a bottle that works and a useless one.

Taking it on an empty stomach has a precise reason: stomach acidity. The bacteria have to pass through that very acidic environment to reach the intestine, and an empty stomach is less acidic than a stomach in the middle of digestion. Thirty minutes before breakfast, or two hours after a meal, are the two windows the manufacturer settles on.

If you are on antibiotics, leave at least two hours between them. An antibiotic does not sort between bacteria: taking the two together amounts to destroying what you have just swallowed. This product combines without overlap with digestive enzymes, which act through an entirely different mechanism, or with a glutamine.

Who is Probiotic-10 for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at an adult looking for a formula with identified strains and a high dose, and who accepts the fridge constraint. The 30-capsule size lets you try one month before moving to the 60.

It is not recommended for people whose immune system is weakened, nor for those taking immunosuppressive medication without medical advice. This is the most important contraindication on this page and the manufacturer is explicit about it: giving live micro-organisms to someone whose defences are diminished is not a trivial matter. If you are in that situation, the question goes to your doctor, without exception.

Medical advice is also required in the event of pregnancy, breastfeeding or ongoing medication. The product is for adults only, and the desiccant sachet inside the bottle obviously must not be consumed.

What you should not expect from it. No health claim exists for these strains in Europe: not digestion, not immunity, not transit. A digestive disorder that persists, pain or an established change in transit are matters for a doctor, not for a supplement. And a higher CFU figure does not automatically mean a better product: it is the strains and their documentation that count, not the race to the billion.

100 billion CFU or a more modest dose?

This is the question everyone asks in front of this category, and the answer is not the one people expect.

A high dose is not in itself a guarantee of superiority. Published protocols use very variable quantities depending on the strains, and much of the work concerns doses well below 100 billion. What counts more is the precise identification of the strains — which this product does very well — and regularity in taking it.

Where, then, does the value of such a high dose lie? In the margin: bacteria suffer losses in storage and on the way through the stomach, and starting from 100 billion leaves more survivors than starting from 5 billion. That is safety-margin reasoning, not a promise of proportional efficacy.

In which cases is a more modest product enough? Often, and that is what we say readily in the shop. A lower dose costs less, is sometimes stable at room temperature — a serious advantage — and suits maintenance use. Our spirulina section and our other everyday supplements do in fact offer options that simply go in a cupboard. And if your subject is digestive comfort after meals rather than the microbiota, our oat flour section and dietary fibre sources answer a different logic, through the plate.

Frequently asked questions

How many live cultures per capsule?

100 billion colony-forming units, spread across ten strains. That is a dose at the top end of the market, the usual formulas sitting rather between 1 and 30 billion. The formula also contains fructo-oligosaccharides, fibres that serve as a substrate for the bacteria.

Does it really have to be kept in the fridge?

Yes, between 2 and 8 °C, and it is imperative. It is the condition for the bacteria to stay alive until the use-by date. Take the bottle out only for as long as it takes to swallow the capsule and close it again immediately. In hot weather, put it somewhere cold as soon as your order arrives.

Why take it on an empty stomach?

Because the bacteria have to pass through the stomach to reach the intestine, and an empty stomach is less acidic than a stomach in the middle of digestion. The manufacturer settles on thirty minutes before breakfast, or two hours after a meal.

Can it be taken with antibiotics?

Not at the same time: leave at least two hours between them. An antibiotic does not distinguish useful bacteria from the rest, and taking both together would destroy what you have just swallowed. If you are on medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Why are the strains numbered?

Because two strains from the same bacterial genus can behave very differently, and because research is always carried out on identified strains. The codes La-14, Bl-04 or Lr-32 designate precise strains. A product that writes only “lactobacilli” tells you nothing about what you are buying.

What is the difference between the pack sizes?

Only the number of capsules: 30 or 60, with the same formula. At one capsule a day, that represents one or two months. Since the manufacturer recommends a course of three months minimum, the 60 size is more consistent if you have already made up your mind.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

The shell is a vegetable capsule made of hypromellose, and the manufacturer declares the absence of gluten, dairy, soya, egg, fish and tree nuts. It also states that the product is non-GMO, kosher and halal, and made in the United States.

Where can you buy Now Foods' Probiotic-10?

The pack sizes can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always warn about the fridge constraint: it is the leading cause of disappointment with this product, and the local summer does not forgive a bottle left in a car. The rest of our selection can be browsed in the sports nutrition section, and micronutrient intakes in our multivitamins.

What is Now Foods Methyl B-12 5000 mcg?

Now Foods Methyl B-12 5000 mcg is a vitamin B12 supplement in tablets that dissolve under the tongue, providing 5,000 µg per tablet. The sizes listed here: 60 and 120 tablets, that is two or four months at one dose a day.

Two things set this product apart in the vitamin B aisle. The first is the form chosen: methylcobalamin, one of the coenzyme forms of B12, where most supplements on the market use cyanocobalamin, which is cheaper and more stable. The second is the addition of folate in the Quatrefolic® form, namely (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate — the directly active form of folate, rather than synthetic folic acid.

The rest of the tablet is what gives it its texture and its taste: fructose, sorbitol, hydroxypropylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, citric acid, stearic acid and magnesium stearate of plant origin, natural flavourings. The manufacturer states a composition with no artificial preservatives, no synthetic colourings and no sweeteners. Now Foods is an American brand whose range we stock in our Now Foods aisle.

What does one tablet contain?

NRVs within the meaning of Regulation 1169/2011: 2.5 µg for vitamin B12, 200 µg for folate. One labelling discrepancy deserves to be flagged rather than glossed over: the manufacturer, being American, expresses folate as 680 µg of dietary folate equivalents (DFE), a calculation convention specific to United States regulations, for an actual quantity of 400 µg of 5-MTHF. We show the actual quantity. Depending on which value is used, the European percentage would come out at 200% or at 340%: we prefer to give the more conservative figure and explain why.

Now for the number that leaps off the page. 5,000 µg is two thousand times the European reference value. That looks absurd, and it is not quite: B12 is absorbed only in very small amounts at each dose, and massive doses are the usual way of getting round that limit in people who absorb it poorly. What matters here is that this product is not a maintenance dose. For a simple top-up, a multivitamin providing 2.5 or 25 µg does the job.

On safety, two markers. EFSA has set no upper limit for vitamin B12, which is water-soluble and cleared in the urine. It does, however, set 1,000 µg a day as the limit for folic acid in adults: the 400 µg in this tablet stay below that, but if you are already taking a multivitamin or a pregnancy supplement, add it all up.

The applicable regulatory wordings are precise, and they are broad. Vitamin B12 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, to the normal functioning of the nervous system, to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to normal red blood cell formation, to normal homocysteine metabolism, to normal psychological function and to the normal function of the immune system. Folate contributes to normal blood formation, to normal amino acid synthesis, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and to the growth of maternal tissue during pregnancy.

How do you take Methyl B-12?

Dose: 1 tablet. Liquid: none, the tablet dissolves under the tongue. Timing: in the morning, with a meal. Frequency: one dose a day. Duration: the manufacturer sets no course length; where status is deficient, supplementation is generally long-term and is managed with a doctor.

The instructions come down to a single sentence: place the tablet under the tongue and let it dissolve for two to three minutes rather than swallowing it straight away. The manufacturer also advises keeping it away from hot drinks. One honest clarification: we have no ANSES or EFSA source establishing that the sublingual route does better than a swallowed tablet, so we will not write that it is superior. What we can say is that the format is pleasant, naturally flavoured, and calls for no glass of water — which, on a daily dose taken over the long term, counts for more than you might think.

The morning dose is the one the manufacturer settles on. The taste is slightly sweet, the fructose and the sorbitol serving as the base: this is not an unpleasant tablet to let dissolve, unlike a good many vitamins.

One point of common sense to finish with: B12 is measured by a blood test. If you are supplementing at 5,000 µg, a blood test taken afterwards no longer means very much. Have your status checked before you start, not after.

Who is this product for, and who is it not for?

It is aimed at three specific situations, and the manufacturer names them itself. Vegetarians and vegans first: vitamin B12 is almost exclusively of animal origin, and supplementing it is not a convenience but a necessity on a vegan diet. Then older people, whose digestive absorption declines. And diagnosed deficiencies, under medical supervision.

The manufacturer asks you to consult a healthcare professional if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, and recommends medical supervision for a high dose taken over a prolonged period. That instruction should be taken seriously: this is not a product to take “just in case” for two years without ever having a check-up. The product is declared free from gluten, wheat, soya, milk, egg, fish and nuts, but made in a facility that handles other allergens.

It suits you less well if you eat meat, fish and eggs regularly: in that case there is no reason at all to take 5,000 µg, and a multivitamin already covers the requirement comfortably. It also contains sorbitol, a polyol that can upset a sensitive gut at repeated doses.

What not to expect from it. This is not an energy product. “Contributing to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue” means correcting a shortfall, not giving a lift to someone whose status is normal — the distinction is crucial, and it is the one the aisle glosses over most often. Nor is it a performance product: no sports claim exists for B12.

Methyl B-12 on its own or a multivitamin?

That is the real choice, and it depends entirely on your diet.

A multivitamin generally provides 2.5 to 25 µg of B12, among some twenty other nutrients. It is the better choice if you eat a bit of everything in an irregular way and are looking for a general safety net: one dose, one bottle, everything covered. Its drawback is that it covers nothing in depth, and its B12 content bears no comparison with this one.

Methyl B-12 does the opposite: a single nutrient, dosed very high, plus folate. It is the right choice on a vegan diet or where absorption is impaired — two situations in which a multivitamin will not be enough. If that applies to you, take the problem as a whole: a diet without animal products also calls for keeping an eye on iron and on protein intake, which our plant proteins aisle covers. And avoid the most widespread shortcut: spirulina has many merits, but it is not accepted as a reliable source of vitamin B12. Do not count on it for that.

Frequently asked questions

5,000 µg, isn't that far too much?

It is two thousand times the European reference value, and it is deliberate: B12 is absorbed only in a small proportion at each dose, which high doses make up for. EFSA has set no upper limit for this vitamin, which is water-soluble and cleared in the urine. It remains a corrective dose, not a maintenance dose.

Methylcobalamin or cyanocobalamin?

Methylcobalamin is a coenzyme form, directly usable; cyanocobalamin is a synthetic form, more stable and cheaper, which the body has to convert. The authorised regulatory wordings are identical for both, and we have no official source establishing that one is superior to the other.

What is the difference between 400 and 680 µg of folate?

None in quantity: these are two ways of describing the same thing. The tablet provides 400 µg of (6S)-5-MTHF; the figure of 680 µg corresponds to the conversion into dietary folate equivalents, an American convention. On a European label, it is the 400 µg value that should be compared.

Does it really have to dissolve under the tongue?

That is what the manufacturer asks for, two to three minutes, avoiding hot drinks just afterwards. We have no official source proving that this route does better than a swallowed tablet. The tablet is flavoured, though, and needs no water, which makes a daily dose easier to keep up.

How long does one bottle last?

Two months for the 60-tablet size, four months for the 120, at one tablet a day. The manufacturer sets no time limit: on a vegan diet, supplementation is generally permanent, and that is a point to settle with a doctor.

Can it be taken during pregnancy?

Not without medical advice: that is the manufacturer's explicit statement. Folate has a particular role during pregnancy, but pregnancy supplements already contain it, and the combined total must stay below the limit of 1,000 µg a day set by EFSA for folic acid. This question is one to settle with your doctor or your midwife.

Is the product suitable for vegans?

Yes. No ingredient of animal origin goes into the composition, the stearic acid and the magnesium stearate both being of plant origin. That is logical: vegans are precisely the primary audience for this product, vitamin B12 being almost absent from the plant kingdom.

Where can you buy Now Foods Methyl B-12 5000 mcg?

Both sizes can be ordered from this page, and we ship anywhere in France and in Europe. The 120-tablet bottle makes sense if you are settled into a vegan diet for the long term; the 60-tablet one is enough to start with.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is one of the few products where we begin by asking a medical question: have you had your B12 measured? The advice changes entirely depending on the answer, and a measurement taken after supplementation has begun is worth nothing. The rest of the aisle can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.

What is Now Foods Biotin 5000 mcg?

It is a biotin supplement in vegetable capsules, dosed at 5,000 µg per capsule. The formats listed: 60 and 120 capsules, that is two or four months at one capsule a day.

Biotin, also known as vitamin B8 or vitamin H, is a water-soluble B-group vitamin. The formula is about as simple as a supplement can be: biotin, rice flour as a carrier, a hypromellose capsule, stearic acid of vegetable origin and silicon dioxide.

As the capsule is plant-based, the product is suitable for vegetarians. The manufacturer declares it free from wheat, gluten, soya, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, nuts, sesame and GMOs. The rest of the American range is in our Now Foods section, and the whole category in vitamin B.

What does one capsule contain?

Other ingredients: rice flour, hypromellose (vegetable capsule), stearic acid of vegetable origin, silicon dioxide. NRV within the meaning of Regulation 1169/2011: 50 µg. Pack sizes: 60 or 120 vegetable capsules.

One hundred times the reference value deserves a frank explanation. Biotin is water-soluble: whatever the body does not use leaves in the urine, and EFSA has set no upper limit for this vitamin. The 5,000 µg dose is the American market standard on hair products; it is not dangerous, but nothing shows that it does better than a 50 or 150 µg dose in a person whose status is normal. We would rather say so.

Let us come to what the regulations authorise, because it is the most useful point on this page. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, normal skin and normal mucous membranes, to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to normal macronutrient metabolism, to the normal functioning of the nervous system and to normal psychological function. Those are the exact wordings, and they are broad.

On the other hand, and this is a distinction the whole aisle glosses over: there is no authorised claim concerning nails for biotin. European regulation recognises hair, skin and mucous membranes — not nails. You will read the opposite just about everywhere; that is nonetheless how it stands. A second distinction, just as important: “contributing to the maintenance of normal hair” means avoiding the consequences of a shortfall, not growing the hair of someone whose status is already fine. Biotin deficiency is rare on an ordinary diet.

How should you take biotin?

Dose: 1 capsule. Liquid: a glass of water. When: with a meal, preferably breakfast or lunch. Frequency: one intake a day. Duration: at least 3 months without a break; the manufacturer indicates that the effects generally show after 6 to 8 weeks.

The timescale is the most important thing to take on board here, and it is in no way a sales argument: hair grows about one centimetre a month. Whatever you take, no visible change is possible before several weeks, and judging after a fortnight makes no sense. That is precisely why the 120-capsule format makes more sense than the 60.

Taking it with a meal is advised for digestive comfort more than for absorption, biotin being water-soluble. The real challenge is consistency: pair the capsule with a fixed daily habit, it is the only way to keep going for three months without forgetting.

One pairing that makes sense: zinc also has an authorised wording on the maintenance of normal hair, and vitamin C one on normal collagen formation. If your concern is hair, those three complement one another better than biotin alone pushed to a hundred times the NRV.

Who is this product for, and who is it not for?

It is for adults only and suitable for vegetarians, the capsule being plant-based and the excipients of vegetable origin. Its “free from” list is one of the shortest in the aisle, which makes it a simple option for allergy-prone profiles.

One warning deserves reading twice, because it can have real consequences. High-dose biotin interferes with certain blood tests — thyroid and troponin assays are the most affected — and can skew a result in either direction. Always tell your doctor or the laboratory that you are taking biotin before any blood test. This is not a token precaution: it is the no. 1 reason why this dose has to be flagged.

The manufacturer also asks you to consult a healthcare professional in case of pregnancy, breastfeeding, medical treatment or a health problem. The product is made in a facility that handles other allergenic ingredients.

It is less suitable if you already take a multivitamin or a hair complex: most already contain some, and stacking achieves nothing while making the blood test problem worse.

What you should not expect of it, and we will be direct: biotin does not regrow hair. If your hair loss is recent, heavy or localised, it is a matter for a doctor — iron deficiency, a thyroid disorder or androgenetic alopecia are not treated with a vitamin. Nor is there any claim concerning nails.

Biotin or collagen?

These are the two products most often compared in this aisle, and they do not play the same role at all.

A collagen supplies peptides in bulk quantities — 5 to 20 g per dose — and is taken as a powder. It should be said that, just like biotin on nails, collagen has no authorised health claim in Europe. What can be said about it rests on its composition, not on an effect. It is the choice of those who prefer a massive protein intake to a dosed vitamin, and who accept a powder to mix rather than a capsule.

Biotin wins on a point that is not a small one: it, for its part, does have an authorised wording on the maintenance of normal hair and normal skin. It is the only one of the two whose role the regulations recognise. It is also simpler: one capsule a day, no taste, no preparation, and a bottle of 120 lasts four months.

The advice we give most often: if you are to take only one thing, take the biotin — provided you expect no miracle from it — and add zinc if your diet is short of it. If you want broad cover without multiplying bottles, a multivitamin already contains both, at more moderate and amply sufficient doses.

Frequently asked questions

5,000 µg, isn't that excessive?

It is one hundred times the reference value of 50 µg. Biotin being water-soluble, the excess is eliminated in the urine, and EFSA has set no upper limit. So it is not dangerous, but nothing shows that such a dose does better than a moderate intake in a person whose status is normal.

Does biotin act on the nails?

No claim concerning nails is authorised in Europe for biotin. The permitted wordings cover hair, skin and mucous membranes. You will read the opposite on many packs and websites: that changes nothing about the regulatory framework, and we will not write what is not authorised.

Should you tell your doctor before a blood test?

Yes, every time, and it is the most important point on this page. High-dose biotin interferes with certain blood assays, particularly those for thyroid and troponin, and can skew a result. Always report this supplementation to the laboratory or to your doctor.

How long before you see anything?

The manufacturer speaks of 6 to 8 weeks and advises at least three months without a break. That fits the biology: hair grows about one centimetre a month, and nothing visible can appear sooner. A judgement made after a fortnight is worth nothing.

Are the capsules suitable for vegans?

The shell is hypromellose, of vegetable origin, and the stearic acid is likewise vegetable. The manufacturer describes the product as vegetarian; the biotin in supplements being generally produced synthetically, the formula contains no animal ingredient identified in the data supplied.

Can it be combined with a multivitamin?

Technically yes, but there is little point: most multivitamins already contain 50 to 200 µg of biotin, and stacking adds nothing more. It does, however, make the interference with blood tests worse. Check the label of what you already take before adding this bottle.

How long does a bottle last?

Two months for the 60-capsule format, four months for the 120, at one capsule a day. As the manufacturer recommends at least three months without a break, the 120 format is the most coherent: it covers the advised duration without a gap.

Where to buy Now Foods Biotin 5000 mcg?

The formats can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. If you are starting out, go straight for the 120 capsules: three months is the minimum for judging anything at all.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the aisle where we most often put a product back on its shelf. When hair loss is recent or marked, our answer has always been the same: go and see a doctor before buying a vitamin. And if you are taking biotin, remember to say so at the laboratory before your next blood test.

Glucosamine HCl, chondroïtine et oligo-éléments

Cette formule se distingue sur deux points. D'abord la forme de glucosamine : du chlorhydrate (HCl) et non du sulfate — une forme plus concentrée en glucosamine par milligramme. Ensuite l'ajout de 50 mg de concentré d'oligo-éléments avec luzerne.

Une dose de 2 gélules apporte 750 mg de glucosamine HCl, 600 mg de sulfate de chondroïtine sodique extrait de cartilage bovin, et 50 mg de concentré d'oligo-éléments. Le flacon de 120 gélules couvre 60 doses.

La glucosamine est issue de crustacés : produit à éviter en cas d'allergie aux crustacés.

Composition par dose

Autres ingrédients : hypromellose (gélule d'origine végétale), acide stéarique (source végétale), dioxyde de silicium.

Conseils d'utilisation

2 gélules par jour, au moment d'un repas, avec un verre d'eau. Réservé à l'adulte. Ne pas dépasser la dose journalière recommandée.

Questions fréquentes

Glucosamine HCl ou sulfate : quelle différence ?

Le chlorhydrate est plus concentré en glucosamine par milligramme que le sulfate. En revanche, la plupart des études ont porté sur le sulfate. Les deux formes coexistent sur le marché.

Qu'est-ce que le concentré d'oligo-éléments ?

Un apport de minéraux à l'état de traces, associé à de la luzerne. Il complète la formule sans qu'une allégation lui soit attachée.

Y a-t-il un allergène ?

Oui, la glucosamine est issue de crustacés.

Est-ce végétarien ?

Non. La gélule est végétale, mais la chondroïtine est d'origine bovine et la glucosamine d'origine marine.

Combien de doses dans un flacon ?

60 doses de 2 gélules, soit deux mois.

De la glucosamine seule, à la dose de référence

Cette référence n'apporte que de la glucosamine : ni chondroïtine, ni MSM. C'est le choix de qui veut maîtriser chaque ingrédient séparément plutôt que prendre un complexe.

Une dose de 2 gélules apporte 1,5 g (1 500 mg) de sulfate de glucosamine, issus de 2 095 mg de complexe glucosamine-sulfate de potassium — la dose journalière de référence, atteinte en deux gélules.

La formule est l'une des plus courtes possibles : la glucosamine, la gélule végétale et du dioxyde de silicium.

La glucosamine est issue de crustacés : produit à éviter en cas d'allergie aux crustacés.

Composition par dose

Autres ingrédients : hypromellose (gélule d'origine végétale), dioxyde de silicium.

Conseils d'utilisation

2 gélules par jour, au moment d'un repas, avec un verre d'eau. Réservé à l'adulte. Ne pas dépasser la dose journalière recommandée.

Questions fréquentes

Pourquoi 750 mg par gélule et 1 500 mg par dose ?

Parce que la dose journalière de référence est de 1 500 mg : deux gélules de 750 mg y suffisent.

Pourquoi un « complexe glucosamine-sulfate de potassium » ?

C'est la matière première : le sulfate de glucosamine est stabilisé sous forme de sel de potassium. Il faut 2 095 mg de ce complexe pour apporter 1 500 mg de sulfate de glucosamine.

D'où vient la glucosamine ?

De carapaces de crustacés. Le produit est à éviter en cas d'allergie aux crustacés.

Pourquoi choisir la glucosamine seule ?

Pour doser chaque ingrédient séparément, ou pour l'associer à d'autres produits selon vos besoins, plutôt que prendre un complexe figé.

Combien de doses dans un flacon ?

60 doses de 2 gélules, soit deux mois.

Le Now Foods Resvératrol 350 mg apporte 350 mg de trans-resvératrol par gélule végétale, issus de 700 mg d'extrait de racine et rhizome de renouée du Japon (Polygonum cuspidatum). C'est le dosage le plus élevé du catalogue, en flacon de 60 gélules. Quatre ingrédients en tout.

Le seul repère quantitatif officiel : 150 mg par jour

Il n'existe pas de dose maximale française pour le resvératrol. Mais lorsque l'Union européenne a autorisé le trans-resvératrol de synthèse comme nouvel aliment en 2016, elle l'a fait pour les compléments alimentaires « avec une dose maximale de 150 mg par jour » et « pour la population adulte uniquement ».

Une gélule en apporte 350 mg, soit 2,3 fois ce chiffre. Ce produit utilise un extrait de plante et non du resvératrol de synthèse : le plafond ne s'y applique donc pas juridiquement. Mais c'est le seul repère chiffré que les autorités européennes ont publié pour cette molécule, et nous ne ferons pas comme s'il n'existait pas. Si vous voulez rester plus près de ce repère, le Resvératrol 200 mg du rayon est le choix cohérent.

La mention imposée par la réglementation

La même décision européenne impose d'indiquer, pour les compléments au trans-resvératrol, que « les personnes sous traitement médicamenteux ne doivent consommer ce produit que sous surveillance médicale ». Le fabricant cite nommément les anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens, dont le diclofénac, et signale que le produit peut provoquer une gêne digestive chez les personnes sensibles. À 350 mg par gélule, ces deux points pèsent plus lourd encore.

Composition

Le titrage est à 50 % : 700 mg d'extrait pour 350 mg de trans-resvératrol. Le fabricant déclare les deux chiffres, ce qui rend la quantité réelle vérifiable. Autres ingrédients : gélule végétale (hypromellose), maltodextrine non OGM, stéarate de magnésium d'origine végétale, dioxyde de silicium. Un seul actif, aucune plante ajoutée. Sans gélatine : convient aux végétariens et aux végétaliens.

Comment le prendre

Une gélule par jour, comme l'indique le fabricant. Le flacon de 60 gélules couvre deux mois.

Dans le même rayon

• Resvératrol 200 mg — 200 mg par gélule, plus proche du repère européen de 150 mg, disponible en 60 ou 120 gélules.
• Rayon polyphénols et caroténoïdes.

Questions fréquentes

350 mg, est-ce trop ?

C'est 2,3 fois le plafond de 150 mg par jour fixé par l'Union européenne lorsqu'elle a autorisé le trans-resvératrol de synthèse comme nouvel aliment. Ce plafond ne s'applique pas juridiquement à un extrait de plante, mais c'est le seul chiffre officiel existant.

Puis-je en prendre avec un médicament ?

Uniquement sous surveillance médicale. C'est la mention imposée par la réglementation européenne, et le fabricant cite nommément les anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens, dont le diclofénac.

Que signifie « 700 mg dont 350 mg » ?

L'extrait est titré à 50 % en trans-resvératrol : il faut 700 mg d'extrait pour 350 mg de molécule. Le fabricant déclare les deux chiffres.

D'où vient le resvératrol ?

D'un extrait de racine et rhizome de renouée du Japon (Polygonum cuspidatum), et non de raisin ni de vin.

Est-ce vegan ?

Oui. Gélule en hypromellose, excipients d'origine végétale ou minérale.

Combien de temps dure un flacon ?

Deux mois à une gélule par jour.

Qu'est-ce que le Malate de Magnésium en capsules ?

C'est la forme du magnésium la plus appréciée des sportifs, et la plus souple à doser de toute notre gamme : une seule capsule végétale par prise, 95 mg de magnésium élémentaire, et 180 capsules par flacon. Vous construisez votre dose capsule par capsule.

Dans un malate, le magnésium est associé à l'acide malique — l'acide des pommes, et surtout un intermédiaire du cycle de Krebs, la voie par laquelle la cellule produit son énergie. C'est cette double nature qui explique sa réputation chez les sportifs.

Le malate est un sel très soluble et bien absorbé, nettement plus confortable que l'oxyde. La formule est vegan : capsule en hypromellose, acide stéarique végétal et dioxyde de silicium, c'est tout.

Ce que le magnésium apporte

• Le magnésium contribue à un métabolisme énergétique normal et à réduire la fatigue.
• Il contribue à une fonction musculaire normale et à l'équilibre électrolytique.
• Il contribue au fonctionnement normal du système nerveux et à des fonctions psychologiques normales.
• Il contribue au maintien d'une ossature normale et d'une dentition normale.
• Il contribue à une synthèse protéique normale et au processus de division cellulaire.

L'intérêt du malate est d'être un sel soluble et bien toléré, et d'apporter le magnésium sous une forme que beaucoup de sportifs privilégient.

Pourquoi les sportifs perdent-ils plus de magnésium ?

Trois mécanismes se cumulent. La transpiration contient du magnésium, qu'une séance longue ou par forte chaleur évacue au même titre que le sodium et le potassium. L'exercice intense augmente l'excrétion urinaire dans les heures qui suivent. Et les besoins suivent la dépense énergétique, la production d'ATP mobilisant des systèmes enzymatiques magnésium-dépendants.

Une supplémentation sécurise donc l'apport là où les pertes augmentent. Voyez aussi nos électrolytes pour l'intra-effort et notre rayon nutrition sportive.

Le format le plus souple du rayon

95 mg par capsule, c'est volontairement peu — et c'est l'intérêt. Toutes les autres références de magnésium de la gamme imposent une dose : 400 mg pour trois capsules de citrate, 200 mg pour deux comprimés de bisglycinate. Ici, chaque capsule est une unité de 95 mg, et vous en prenez une, deux ou trois selon ce que votre alimentation couvre et ce que votre digestion tolère.

Le fabricant recommande 1 capsule, 3 fois par jour : 285 mg au total, soit 76 % de la valeur nutritionnelle de référence, en trois prises — exactement le fractionnement qui donne le meilleur confort digestif.

Lequel choisir dans la gamme ?

• Malate 95 mg en capsules, cette page : une capsule par prise, dosage souple, la forme préférée des sportifs.
• Malate 1 000 mg en comprimés : le même sel, mais dosé par comprimé plutôt que par capsule.
• Bisglycinate : la forme la mieux tolérée digestivement.
• Citrate 400 mg : le meilleur compromis solubilité-prix, le plus polyvalent.

Quand et comment les prendre ?

Le fabricant indique 1 capsule, 3 fois par jour, de préférence au cours d'un repas.

Chez le sportif, la prise la plus utile est celle qui suit l'entraînement, au repas qui suit la séance. Mais l'essentiel reste la régularité : le magnésium travaille par reconstitution progressive de l'apport, en semaines et non en jours.

Le flacon de 180 capsules couvre 60 jours à la dose complète de trois capsules, 180 jours à une capsule par jour.

Espacez d'au moins deux heures une prise de magnésium et une prise de fer ou de zinc. Notre rayon magnésium détaille toutes les formes.

Questions fréquentes

Combien de capsules par jour ?

Le fabricant recommande 1 capsule 3 fois par jour, soit 285 mg de magnésium et 76 % de la valeur nutritionnelle de référence. Vous pouvez n'en prendre qu'une ou deux : c'est précisément l'intérêt du format. Le flacon de 180 capsules couvre 60 jours à trois capsules par jour.

Pourquoi seulement 95 mg par capsule ?

C'est un choix de formulation, et c'est un avantage : chaque capsule est une unité de 95 mg, ce qui permet de construire sa dose librement. Les autres formes du rayon imposent 200 ou 400 mg par prise.

Pourquoi le malate est-il associé aux sportifs ?

Parce que l'acide malique auquel le magnésium est lié est un intermédiaire du cycle de Krebs, la voie de production d'énergie cellulaire.

Le malate est-il bien toléré ?

Oui, c'est un sel très soluble et bien absorbé, nettement plus confortable que l'oxyde. Pour la tolérance maximale, le bisglycinate reste la référence.

Quelle différence avec le Malate 1 000 mg en comprimés ?

C'est le même sel de magnésium. La différence est le format et le dosage par unité : capsules de 95 mg ici, comprimés plus dosés là-bas. À choisir selon la finesse de dosage que vous voulez.

Est-ce vegan ?

Oui. Capsule en hypromellose, et pour seuls autres ingrédients de l'acide stéarique d'origine végétale et du dioxyde de silicium.

Contient-il des allergènes ?

Le détail figure dans l'onglet Ingrédients. Les capsules sont produites dans un atelier certifié GMP qui manipule par ailleurs des ingrédients allergènes.

Où acheter ce malate de magnésium ?

Vous pouvez le commander sur cette page, et nous expédions partout en France et en Europe. Cette référence est tenue en stock à l'entrepôt et n'est pas présentée en rayon à Vendargues : si vous souhaitez la voir en boutique, dites-le-nous à l'avance et nous la faisons venir.

La gamme complète de la marque est sur notre page Now Foods.

Ces informations ne remplacent pas un avis médical.

Un acide aminé essentiel, isolé

La L-histidine est l'un des neuf acides aminés essentiels : l'organisme ne sait pas la fabriquer et doit la trouver dans l'alimentation. Elle est le précurseur de l'histamine et un constituant de la carnosine.

C'est une référence peu courante : la plupart des compléments d'acides aminés l'incluent dans un mélange plutôt que seule. NOW Foods la propose ici isolée, à 600 mg par gélule végétale, issus de 833 mg de chlorhydrate de L-histidine.

Le flacon de 60 gélules couvre deux mois à raison d'une gélule par jour.

Composition par gélule végétale

Apport de référence non établi pour cet acide aminé.

Autres ingrédients : hypromellose (gélule d'origine végétale), cellulose microcristalline, acide stéarique d'origine végétale, dioxyde de silicium.

Végétalien. Sans blé, gluten, soja, lait, œuf, poisson, crustacés, fruits à coque ni sésame ajoutés.

Conseils d'utilisation

1 gélule par jour, à distance des repas, avec un grand verre d'eau. Réservé à l'adulte.

Questions fréquentes

Pourquoi 833 mg de chlorhydrate pour 600 mg de L-histidine ?

Le chlorhydrate est le sel qui stabilise l'acide aminé. Une partie de son poids correspond à l'acide chlorhydrique lié : les 600 mg annoncés sont la quantité de L-histidine apportée.

La L-histidine est-elle essentielle ?

Oui, pour l'être humain : elle fait partie des neuf acides aminés que l'organisme ne peut pas synthétiser.

Dans quels aliments la trouve-t-on ?

Dans les sources de protéines complètes : viande, poisson, œufs, produits laitiers, et en moindre quantité les légumineuses et les céréales.

Le produit convient-il aux végétaliens ?

Oui. La L-histidine est obtenue par fermentation, l'enveloppe est en hypromellose végétale et la formule ne contient aucun ingrédient d'origine animale.

Y a-t-il des précautions particulières ?

Oui. Le produit demande un avis médical en cas de traitement anticoagulant ou antiagrégant plaquettaire, de troubles de la coagulation, ou avant une intervention chirurgicale.

De l'inuline en gélules, sans poudre à mesurer

L'inuline est une fibre alimentaire de la famille des fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS). Elle est le plus souvent extraite de la racine de chicorée ; NOW Foods utilise ici l'agave bleu (Agave tequilana), dont l'inuline a des chaînes un peu plus courtes et un goût plus doux.

La formule est en gélules plutôt qu'en poudre, ce qui évite la cuillère-mesure et le mélange. Trois gélules apportent 1,95 g d'inuline, soit 2 g de fibres alimentaires.

La formule tient en trois ingrédients. Le flacon de 180 gélules représente 60 doses.

Valeurs nutritionnelles

Apport de référence non établi pour ce constituant.

Autres ingrédients : polysaccharide végétal (gélule), stéarate de magnésium d'origine végétale.

Végétalien. Sans levure, blé, gluten, soja, lait, œuf, poisson, crustacés, fruits à coque ni sésame ajoutés.

Conseils d'utilisation

3 gélules par jour, au moment d'un repas, avec un grand verre d'eau. Réservé à l'adulte. Commencer par une gélule les premiers jours permet d'habituer le transit.

Questions fréquentes

Agave ou chicorée ?

Les deux fournissent de l'inuline. Celle de l'agave bleu a des chaînes légèrement plus courtes et un goût plus doux ; c'est la source retenue ici.

Gélules ou poudre ?

Les gélules dispensent de mesurer et de mélanger. La poudre permet des quantités bien plus élevées à moindre coût au gramme ; NOW Foods propose les deux.

Qu'est-ce que l'inuline ?

Une fibre alimentaire de type fructane, constituée de chaînes de fructose. Elle n'est pas digérée dans l'intestin grêle et parvient intacte dans le colon.

La gélule est-elle végétale ?

Oui, elle est faite d'un polysaccharide d'origine végétale, sans gélatine.

Combien de temps dure un flacon ?

180 gélules, soit 60 doses de trois gélules : deux mois.

2 200 mg d'AAKG par dose

AAKG 2200 apporte 2,2 g d'arginine alpha-cétoglutarate par dose de 4 gélules végétales, sous forme de dihydrate. L'AAKG associe la L-arginine, un acide aminé, à l'alpha-cétoglutarate, un intermédiaire du cycle de Krebs. C'est la forme d'arginine la plus utilisée en nutrition sportive, choisie pour sa solubilité.

Le flacon de 180 gélules couvre 45 doses complètes. La formule ne contient ni édulcorant ni arôme : quatre gélules, de l'AAKG, et le strict nécessaire d'excipients.

Composition par dose

Autres ingrédients : hypromellose (gélule d'origine végétale), palmitate d'ascorbyle, dioxyde de silicium.

Formule végétalienne. Sans blé, gluten, soja, lait, œuf, poisson, crustacés ni fruits à coque ajoutés.

Conseils d'utilisation

4 gélules par jour, de préférence à distance des repas, avec un grand verre d'eau. Réservé à l'adulte. Ne pas dépasser la dose journalière recommandée.

Questions fréquentes

Quelle différence entre AAKG et L-arginine simple ?

L'AAKG est un sel d'arginine et d'alpha-cétoglutarate. À quantité d'AAKG égale, la part d'arginine pure est donc inférieure à celle d'une L-arginine libre : les deux ne se comparent pas gramme pour gramme.

Combien de doses dans un flacon ?

45 doses de 4 gélules, soit un mois et demi à raison d'une dose par jour.

Quand le prendre ?

À distance des repas, l'estomac peu chargé ; de nombreux sportifs le prennent avant l'entraînement. Il n'existe pas de moment imposé.

Y a-t-il des situations où il faut l'éviter ?

Oui. Ce produit est à éviter en cas d'herpès simplex, d'infarctus du myocarde ou de maladie coronarienne établie, et demande un avis médical en cas de glaucome, de fonction rénale altérée ou de traitement agissant sur le rein.

Est-il végétalien ?

Oui, la gélule est d'origine végétale (hypromellose) et aucun ingrédient animal n'entre dans la formule.