What We Actually Recommend: HartsSpace Favorites for Fueling an Active Body

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Recently, we've been putting together a list of our favorite products in collaboration with Amy Naylor, at Human Together. We've been in planning mode for our Unbreakable Event. If you're working toward getting stronger, improving your fitness, supporting healthy aging, or simply feeling better in your body we hope you'll join us August 30th at Edge Fitness. We talk more about this below. In addition to knowing your baseline and fitness levels, nutrition is one of the most powerful tools you have.

But that doesn't mean you need a cabinet full of supplements.

As Nutrition Professionals, we're much more interested in the foundations: eating enough protein, getting adequate fiber and fluids, supporting recovery, and choosing foods and products that make healthy habits easier to actually live out.

We've put together a list of some of the products we commonly recommend. We get asked all the time:

• What is the best protein powder?

• What about creatine?

• How do I stay on track when traveling?

• How can I meet my protein needs on the go? What protein bars are ideal?

  
  

The right products can sometimes make it easier to meet your nutritional needs in real life. There are A LOT of products out there. And over the years, we've found that we recommend the same products pretty consistently based on our own experience, what we've seen helpful in client cases, and what the research says. The list below isn't a huge extensive list of what we recommend, but they are common in the space when folks are focusing on their physical fitness, metabolic health, longevity, and body composition shifts.

To jump to the list, click here

How We Evaluate Supplements: It's Not Just About the Brand

We know choosing the "right" supplement or product is overwhelming, which is part of our job/role as your providers! But if you're doing your own searching, here is what we're considering/what you can keep an eye out for. When we recommend a supplement, we're not just looking at the ingredient list.

We're also looking at how that product is made, how the ingredients are sourced, what kind of quality-control testing is performed, and whether an independent organization has verified those claims.

Why does that matter?

Because supplements aren't all created with the same level of quality control.

Look Beyond "Third-Party Tested"

You may have noticed that many supplement companies advertise that their products are "third-party tested."

That's a good thing but it's worth looking a little deeper.

What was tested?

Who did the testing?

Was the raw ingredient tested, the finished product, or both?

Was the product tested for contaminants? Potency? Purity? Banned substances?

Is there an independent certification verifying the manufacturer's claims?

These distinctions matter.

For example, our preferred Thorne Creatine is NSF Certified for Sport®. That certification includes batch testing for label claims and for nearly 300 substances prohibited by major athletic organizations. Thorne also describes a four-step testing process that includes testing raw materials, in-process products, finished products, and product stability.

Orgain Creatine is another example of a product that takes quality testing seriously. Orgain's creatine is Informed Choice certified, meaning the product undergoes independent testing for substances prohibited in sport. But

So does that mean Thorne is "good" and Orgain is "bad"?

Absolutely not.

Both products provide 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving, and both have meaningful quality-testing measures in place. Orgain isn't an untested or poor-quality product. Their creatine is independently certified through Informed Choice. Thorne's NSF Certified for Sport designation, however, gives us an additional level of third-party verification around the finished product and prohibited substances. That extra layer of testing is one reason we may choose Thorne when the highest level of quality assurance is a priority but it also comes with a higher price tag.

The difference is that the certifications and testing programs aren't identical and for some people, that additional level of verification may be worth paying more for. But I recently was walking through Costco and saw the Orgain Creatine on sale for $15! I posted on my Instagram about it and got multiple messages about if it's a "good one" or not. The distinction lies in the explanation above.

This is an important part of how we approach supplements at HartsSpace:

The highest-priced product isn't automatically the right product for every person. If two products meet your needs but one costs significantly more, your budget matters. We don't believe you should spend money on a supplement at the expense of the other things that support your health.

Sometimes the "better" choice is the product you can afford to take consistently. Sometimes it's the more extensively tested product.

And sometimes the best choice is not taking a supplement at all.

Our job isn't to convince you that you need the most expensive option. It's to help you understand the differences so you can make an informed decision about where your health dollars are best spent.

A note on ordering through Amazon:

While Amazon can be convenient, we recommend being a little more cautious when purchasing supplements there. The seller matters. Even when you're looking at a product from a reputable brand, it's important to make sure you're purchasing from the brand itself or an authorized seller, rather than an unknown third-party seller. Concerns can include improper storage, expired or counterfeit products, or products that have been tampered with. When possible, we recommend purchasing directly from the manufacturer, an authorized retailer, or through a practitioner dispensary like Fullscript, where available.

We're including our favorite list, with links, below!

We're especially excited about these right now because we're featuring several of them at our upcoming Unbreakable Event.

View the Unbreakable Event here

Unbreakable Event

Why We're Talking About This at Unbreakable

Unbreakable (happening on August 30th at Edge Fitness), isn't about chasing a smaller body or trying to look younger. It's about knowing what your body can do and building the strength, balance, and capacity to keep doing those things for years to come.

At the event, we'll be looking at several simple markers of physical function, including grip strength, balance, push-ups, and sit-to-stand ability.

These assessments give us a snapshot of where you are today.

But knowing where you are is only useful if you know what to do with that information.

That's where the bigger conversation comes in: strength training, adequate nutrition, recovery, protein, hydration, and the daily habits that help us build and maintain physical capacity as we age.

We'll have the opportunity to sample and learn about several of the products below at Unbreakable, so you can try them before deciding whether they're something you'd actually want to incorporate into your routine.

Now Let's Talk Specifics

Our Unbreakable Team worked together to come up with our list of favorites! Below, we're including our favorite products, with links. I'll also include the products I often see at Costco since many of our clients do their bulk shopping there and you often find good deals! We are also including links to our Fullscript Dispensary. Fullscript is a portal that ensures utmost quality in products. You can use the store link to order within fullscript (not just the products we're recommending). We're not including Amazon links, for reasons discussed above. For products we like that aren't in Fullscript, we're linking to their direct site.

See the full Unbreakable Fullscript Collection here

Our Favorite Protein Options

Protein is one of the nutritional foundations we come back to again and again, particularly when we're talking about maintaining muscle, supporting strength training, recovering from exercise, or simply making sure you're adequately nourished throughout the day.

And while we always prefer food first, (at the event, we also will give you our favorite, food-first proteins we use in our own lives), protein powders and bars can be incredibly useful when life gets busy.

Protein Powders

A few of our favorites include:

Thorne Protein A convenient option for smoothies, shakes, or adding additional protein to a meal or snack. Available through our HartsSpace Fullscript dispensary

Transparent Labs Protein A protein powder option for those who prefer a simple ingredient profile and want to choose a flavor and formulation that works for them. Shop Transparent Labs

Clean Simple Eats Protein A convenient option with a variety of flavors that can make getting enough protein a little more enjoyable. Shop Clean Simple Eats

Truvani Plant-Based ProteinA plant-based option for those who prefer or need a dairy-free protein powder. Shop Truvani

A note on choosing a protein powder

We tend to recommend whey protein first when someone tolerates dairy well. Whey is a complete protein, rich in essential amino acids like leucine, and is especially effective for supporting muscle protein synthesis.

But whey isn't right for everyone. If you don't tolerate dairy or prefer plant-based options, we look for a powder that provides 20–30 grams of protein per serving, ideally from a blend of complementary plant proteins like pea and rice. We also consider the ingredient list, added sugars, sweeteners, and, most importantly, how well you tolerate it.

Protein Bars

Protein bars aren't a replacement for balanced meals, but they can be a useful emergency snack when you're heading from work to the gym, traveling, running errands, or simply realize you haven't eaten enough.

Two options we like:

BUILT Bars — Shop BUILT

Barebells — Shop Barebells (also found at Costco often)

The goal isn't to eat protein bars because they're "healthy."

The goal is to have convenient options that help you stay nourished when real life gets in the way of your ideal meal plan.

Creatine: More Than a Muscle-Building Supplement

Creatine is one of the supplements we especially like talking about in the context of healthy aging and strength. Creatine has been extensively studied for its role in supporting muscle performance and strength, which makes it particularly interesting for women who are intentionally working to maintain or build muscle as they age.

Our preferred options include:

Thorne Creatine — available through Fullscript

Momentous Creatine — available through Fullscript

Orgain Creatine — Shop Orgain (Also at Costco!)

And here's an important point:

Muscle is one of the most valuable forms of "insurance" we can build for our future selves.

The strength you build now can help you continue lifting your groceries, getting up from the floor, hiking, traveling, playing with your kids or grandchildren, and living independently later in life.

That's a big part of what Unbreakable is really about.

Hydration & Electrolytes

Hydration is another area where simple can be incredibly effective.

For most people, water and a balanced diet provide what they need. But electrolytes can be helpful in certain situations, particularly with prolonged exercise, heavy sweating, hot weather, high amounts of stress, or other circumstances where you're losing more fluid and electrolytes than usual.

A couple of options we like:

Thorne Electrolytes — available through Fullscript

LMNT — Shop LMNT <- this is a high sodium option, great for those who sweat a lot (especially if you are considered a "salty sweater", meaning you feel grainy and have a layer of salt on your skin after a sweaty session).

And don't forget the simplest option:

Coconut water can be a convenient food-based source of fluids and electrolytes.

The right choice depends on your activity, sweat rate, diet, and individual needs. More electrolytes aren't automatically better.

Collagen: A Convenient Addition

Collagen is another product you'll see on our list.

We don't view collagen as a replacement for complete protein (it completely lacks tryptophan, an amino acid needed to synthesize serotonin and melatonin). Instead, it can be a convenient addition for people who enjoy it and want to incorporate additional collagen peptides into their routine.

Some options we like include:

Vital Proteins Collagen — available through Fullscript (also often at Costco)

Momentous Collagen — available through Fullscript

Don't Forget Fiber

If there's one category that deserves more attention than it usually gets, it's fiber. Fiber supports digestive health, helps feed our gut microbes, and can play an important role in metabolic and cardiovascular health.

And just like protein, we want most of your fiber to come from actual food: vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.

But supplemental fiber can be a useful tool when you're struggling to consistently meet your needs through food alone or during times of travel.

Two options we like:

Thorne Fiber — available through Fullscript

Momentous Fiber+ — Shop Momentous

Fiber is almost always a bigger discussion, especially if you have trouble tolerating fiber. Reach out to us if you need support in this realm.

What About Supplements?

You'll notice that we haven't included a giant list of supplements here.

That's intentional.

We want to understand why you're taking something, what you're trying to accomplish, whether it's appropriate for you, and how it fits into the bigger picture of your nutrition, lifestyle, labs, symptoms, and goals.

That's also why you'll see many Thorne and Biotics Research products available through our Fullscript dispensary. These are brands we use regularly in our clinical work when a supplement is appropriate for an individual client.

You can browse our curated HartsSpace Fullscript collection for the products we commonly recommend.

Try Before You Buy

One of our favorite things about the Unbreakable Event is that we're not just going to talk at you. You'll have an opportunity to try/take some of these products for yourself.

We'll be featuring several of our favorite nutrition and wellness products alongside the physical assessments, giving you a chance to learn how nutrition, strength, recovery, and healthy aging all connect.

Because ultimately, this isn't about finding the perfect protein powder or the "right" supplement.

It's about building a body that is strong enough, nourished enough, and resilient enough to support the life you want to live.

And that is what Unbreakable is all about.

Ready to Find Out Where You Are?

Come join us at Unbreakable, a women-only event focused on strength, function, and healthy aging. We'll test a few simple markers of physical capacity, talk about what those numbers actually mean, and give you practical tools to help you build strength and resilience for the years ahead.

You don't have to be "fit enough" to come.

You just have to be willing to find out where you are and take the next step from there.

Learn more about Unbreakable

A Note About Our Recommendations

Product recommendations are provided for educational purposes and are not intended to replace individualized nutrition or medical care. Not every product is appropriate for every person. If you're working with a HartsSpace practitioner, we're happy to help you determine which products, if any, make sense for your individual needs.

Some links may take you to our Fullscript dispensary or directly to a manufacturer's website. Fullscript allows us to create curated, patient-facing collections so you can browse products we commonly recommend and purchase independently when appropriate.

The world of nutrition, products, and supplements is WILD. If you have questions or insights, post them here or reach out to our team for an appointment.