“There are so many takes on food in the world that it can feel impossible to know what’s noise and what’s actually helpful.”

In my functional medicine practice, we zoom out from the trends and look at something much simpler and much more powerful: Food as information.

Every bite you eat sends a message to your body. It tells your hormones how to communicate, your nervous system how safe you are, your mitochondria how much energy to produce, and your gut microbiome which bacteria should thrive. Food shapes inflammation, blood sugar, sleep, mood, and how well your body repairs itself.

That’s what functional medicine is really about. It reminds us that the body isn’t guessing. It’s responding to the inputs we give it. And while food is, of course, fuel, it’s also one of the most consistent streams of data your body receives all day long.

When we understand that, eating stops being about perfection or pressure. We don’t have to moralize food to appreciate its impact. We simply need to understand the science of how it speaks to the body — and that’s where functional medicine shines.

It becomes a conversation, one where your body is always listening.

Your body reads food like code

When we talk about food as information, we’re talking about biochemistry. Every bite you take triggers a cascade of signals throughout the body.

Here’s what the science tells us:

• Protein signals your body to build and repair tissue, stabilize blood sugar, and produce satiety hormones like GLP-1 and peptide YY.
• Fiber feeds your gut microbiome, which produces short-chain fatty acids that lower inflammation, support immunity, and regulate mood.
• Healthy fats help create hormones, stabilize energy, and support brain function, because your brain is nearly 60% fat.
• Colorful plants deliver antioxidants that protect cells, support detoxification pathways, and calm oxidative stress.
• Sugar-rich or ultra-processed foods spike cortisol, destabilize the gut, and create blood sugar volatility that affects mood and sleep.

Nothing you eat is neutral. That doesn’t make food moral or immoral — it simply means everything you eat contains information that your body has to interpret.

How food talks to your hormones

Your hormones respond directly to the information they receive from your meals. When you eat protein, healthy fats, and fiber-rich carbohydrates, your body gets a steady, predictable signal: Your blood sugar stays stable, inflammation stays low, and your metabolism feels supported.

When meals are irregular, imbalanced, or built mostly from ultra-processed foods, your body gets a very different message. Your blood sugar swings. Cortisol ramps up. Insulin spikes. And over time, these signals disrupt hormone balance — especially estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones, and even testosterone.

Functional medicine views food as a powerful hormonal regulator, not because of restriction, but because of rhythm, quality, and information.

“Functional medicine views food as a powerful hormonal regulator, not because of restriction, but because of rhythm, quality, and information.”

That’s why it pays close attention to:

• Protein intake for hormone synthesis
• Healthy fats for estrogen and progesterone production
• Fiber for detoxification pathways that metabolize hormones
• Micronutrients like magnesium, zinc, B vitamins, and omega-3s that regulate hormonal rhythm

Your body’s takeaway is simple:

Balanced meals = balanced hormones.

When you feed your body well, your hormones respond with steadiness, resilience, and clarity. When you don’t, your hormones compensate — often with symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, cravings, acne, irregular cycles, or sleep disruption.

Your hormonal landscape is dynamic, and food is one of the biggest levers you have.

Your gut microbiome is listening too

The gut microbiome is one of the biggest information hubs in the body. Functional medicine also teaches us that eating is relational. You’re not just feeding yourself; you’re feeding trillions of microbes that live inside you. The bacteria in your gut help regulate inflammation, immunity, digestion, and neurotransmitters like serotonin.

“You’re not just feeding yourself; you’re feeding trillions of microbes that live inside you.”

The food you eat is the primary factor shaping which microbes thrive.

• Fiber and plants feed beneficial bacteria.
• Ultra-processed foods feed inflammatory bacteria.
• Polyphenols (in berries, greens, herbs, cacao) act like instructions for the gut lining to repair itself.

This is why functional medicine often starts with the gut. When the gut receives the right information, everything downstream — hormones, mood, skin, metabolism — improves.

Food and your nervous system: Safety vs. stress

Most people don’t think of eating as a nervous-system experience, but it is. That’s because your body is constantly asking, Am I safe right now?

When you eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and engage your senses, you activate the parasympathetic nervous system — the “rest and digest” state where digestion and absorption actually happen.

When you eat distracted, rushed, anxious, or standing over the sink, your body gets the opposite signal. In fight-or-flight, digestion slows. Acidity changes. Enzymes decrease. Nutrients aren’t absorbed efficiently. Cortisol takes over, and your body prioritizes survival over digestion.

“When you eat distracted, rushed, anxious, or standing over the sink, your body gets the opposite signal. In fight-or-flight, digestion slows.”

You could eat the healthiest bowl on earth, but if you’re eating in fight-or-flight mode, your digestion won’t fully activate because your body is focused on “urgent” matters.

You cannot metabolize what you don’t feel safe enough to digest.

This is why, in my practice at Love Life, I teach my patients to “activate” their meals: a few intentional breaths before eating, putting your phone away, relaxing your shoulders, letting your body know the stressor is gone.

That small shift reactivates the parasympathetic system. Digestion improves. Blood sugar stabilizes. Your gut-brain axis gets the message: You’re safe to eat.

Food is emotional too — and that matters

Functional medicine is not rigid. It doesn’t ask you to eliminate the joy of food. Food is connection. Food is memory. Food is culture. Food is comfort and celebration and it’s even identity and love.

From a physiological standpoint, positive emotion around food increases oxytocin, the hormone that fosters safety, bonding, and relaxation. This improves digestion and lowers stress hormones, which means your body absorbs nutrients more effectively when you feel at ease.

“Positive emotion around food increases oxytocin, the hormone that fosters safety, bonding, and relaxation.”

You don’t have to choose between nourishing your body and enjoying your food. Functional medicine believes in both.

Eating for energy, not exhaustion

Your mitochondria — the energy powerhouses in your cells — respond directly to your meals. This is a big part of your metabolic health.

Nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium, omega-3s, antioxidants, and amino acids give them the raw materials they need to function. Ultra-processed foods, chronic blood-sugar spikes, and nutrient-poor meals leave them depleted, which is why they’re so often tied to fatigue and burnout.

“Your mitochondria — the energy powerhouses in your cells — respond directly to your meals.”

Food gives your mitochondria instructions: Make energy, or slow down to protect me.

Another cornerstone of metabolic health is steady blood sugar, one of the most foundational pieces of functional medicine. Because when blood sugar is chaotic, everything else is chaotic. Unstable blood sugar can impact:

• Hormone balance
• Sleep
• Mood
• Energy
• Thyroid function
• Cravings
• Inflammation
• Stress response

Even if your labs are “normal,” daily blood sugar swings can disrupt your adrenal system and push your body into a pattern that feels like burnout.

One of the simplest principles is the “protein-and-fiber-first” approach. When you build meals that include protein, fiber, and healthy fat, you slow down glucose absorption, improve insulin sensitivity, and create a steadier internal terrain for your hormones and nervous system.

Your biology thrives on steadiness, not spikes.

The functional medicine approach to eating

Functional medicine isn’t about rigid food rules. It’s about understanding the impact of food and using that information to nourish the whole system.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

1. Food Without Morality

No “good” or “bad” foods — just understanding how different foods communicate different things to your body.

2. Stable Blood Sugar

Balanced meals with protein, healthy fats, and fiber send a calming message to hormones and metabolism.

3. Eating With Awareness

A few breaths before eating and slowing down helps your body drop into the parasympathetic state where digestion actually happens.

4. Feeding the Microbiome

More whole foods, more colors, more fiber. This is information that heals.

5. Choosing Pattern Over Perfection

What you do consistently matters more than any single meal.

Functional medicine meets you where you are and helps you understand why your body feels the way it feels — and how food can support you, not overwhelm you.

Food is a conversation, not a test

When we look at food as information, we stop chasing trends and start understanding our own bodies. We stop eating from fear and start eating from clarity. We stop labeling foods as “good” or “bad” and start asking better questions: What message is this sending to my body? How does this help me feel? What is my body telling me in return?

Functional medicine doesn’t expect perfection. It asks for awareness. It invites you to slow down enough to ask your body what it needs. It reminds you that your body isn’t trying to make your life difficult — it’s always communicating, always adapting, always doing its best with the information it’s given. What you eat becomes part of that information.

“Your body isn’t trying to make your life difficult — it’s always communicating, always adapting, always doing its best with the information it’s given.”

When you choose foods that support steadiness, safety, and nourishment, your body responds in kind. And the good news: Uou don’t have to overhaul your life to start. Small shifts create real change.

Food can be medicine.

Food can be grounding.

Food can be comfort, culture, and connection.

Food can be information that helps your body do what it was designed to do: heal, repair, restore, and thrive.

Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino is a Board-Certified Family Physician and the Lead Functional Medicine Physician at Love.Life. Specializing in women’s health and hormone optimization, she has been featured in Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and Women’s Health. As a functional practitioner and a breast cancer survivor, Dr. Tolentino is dedicated to uncovering the root causes of health challenges, employing a holistic, whole-person approach to empower lasting wellbeing. Follow her on Instagram here for more insights.

The post Food Is Information: What Functional Medicine Gets Right About Eating appeared first on The Good Trade.

Our team has tested and researched dozens of clean supplement brands — these are our favorite CBD gummies to help you catch Zzzs that are accessible and affordable, too.

Take a pause and consider this: Sleep is essential for human life. Everyone knows this, and almost no one denies it. But how many of us are motivated to get good sleep because of the why we need sleep? Consistent, quality sleep maintains overall health and wellbeing — and it’s crucial to bodily functions like restoring brain function, consolidating memories, and regular and much-needed internal and external physical repair. While it’s true that individual sleep needs fall on a spectrum based on age and current health parameters, adult humans generally benefit most from 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately, many of us admit to struggling to get even one night of good, restful sleep a week. Poor quality sleep could be a result of many factors, including (but not limited to) lifestyle choices, exposure to blue lights and screens, diet, stress, environment, illness, heredity, sleep disorders, and more. Some of these factors are more within our control than others. As a result, many of us need help to get our valuable shut-eye.

What are the benefits of CBD for sleep?

The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a complex network of receptors that influence pain, emotions, and even sleep patterns within the body. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound that is extracted from leaves, flowers, and stems of the cannabis plant. When consumed, CBD interacts with our ECS, assisting in the regulation of the body’s internal clock, which means it also plays a role in regulating our sleep-wake cycle. In addition to this, CBD can offer relief of stress, pain, and inflammation, all factors that can negatively affect sleep quality. 

And while CBD is great for facilitating comfortable sleep, there is another cannabinoid known as Cannabinol (CBN) that thrives at inducing sleep. CBN is considered a lesser-known, minor cannabinoid, meaning it’s found in smaller amounts among cannabis plants, but it certainly is not small in its positive effects on sleep. While CBD and CBN bind to the same receptors in the brain, CBN is considered more calming, facilitating signalling to the brain and body that it’s time for rest and making it perfect for inducing sleep. 

Findings suggest CBN reduces the number of times one wakes up throughout the night. And it doesn’t cause next-day fatigue or grogginess. Because what good is superb sleep if you feel sluggish the next day? Supplements that contain both CBD and CBN in addition to small amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol also from the cannabis plant) can offer a synergistic and holistic compounding effect, offering an increased reduction in tension and more relief from aches and discomfort. THC, commonly known for its psychoactive effects, is useful for sleep in micro doses and has been proven to improve sleep latency — that’s the amount of time it takes to fall asleep — and increase deep sleep, but again, we stress this is in small doses. Substantial doses of THC can have a disturbing effect on sleep and should be avoided for sleep improvement or support purposes.

What should you look for when shopping for CBD and CBN gummies?

Although CBD oils tend to be more concentrated and are a more direct route into the bloodstream, many people are unable to tolerate the taste or texture — which makes tasty gummies both a treat and a sleep aide. That said, CBD/CBN gummies may take longer to kick in as they work their way through the digestive system and into the bloodstream, so plan ahead for timing well with desired bedtime. As with any gummy supplement, pay attention to sugar content and avoid brands and gummies with large amounts of added sugar or synthetic fillers of any kind. And because everyone’s ECS is different, utilizing cannabinoid products for positive health effects can take some personal experimentation. So all the brands recommend customers start with the smallest dose possible — maybe even half a gummy — and note the effects before increasing to the next dose.

Many of the gummies featured in this guide also contain other herbs and substances known to help calm the system and to naturally facilitate better quality sleep. Those include the popular sleep aid and well-studied melatonin, l-theanine, which offers support for the body’s stress response system, and passionflower, a botanical known to have a mild sedative effect. Among CBD gummies, you may also see valerian — a sleep-promoting root — and chamomile — a safe and relaxing herb that has been used for centuries in sleepytime teas and relaxation formulas. 

Our criteria:

Our editors have personally used and researched the top clean supplements on the market. For this guide, we’ve compiled our favorite CBD gummies for supporting your sleep. We’ve chosen only brands that use clean and traceable ingredients in thoughtful dosages — with options for a range of budgets. We regularly update this list with emerging favorites that meet the criteria below.

• QUALITY | The brands on this list have traceable sourcing and relevant third-party lab testing to ensure you’re getting the best quality CBD without heavy metals or harmful toxins and additives. We’ve prioritized organic options as possible, and noted that below.
• DOSAGE | We’ve included information on each brand’s dosage, and highlighted products that use the latest science to determine their dosage for sleep support.
• AFFORDABILITY | This list includes options for affordable CBD gummies so you can access CBD-driven relief on any budget.

If you’re interested in CBD gummies to support other aspects of your life, take a look at our favorite CBD gummies for pain management and for periods.

1. Batch 

American made

Third party tested

Vegan

Best For | Stress reduction
Sugar | 2.5g of added sugar
Dosage | Original 25 mg CBD + 15 mg CBN / extra strength 50 mg CBD + 30 mg CBN
Contains THC | Yes
Prices starting at | $60 (30 servings)

In addition to CBD and CBN, Batch’s raspberry flavored Nighttime CBD + CBN Gummies offer a trio of botanicals,  including 25 milligrams of passion flower and 50 mg of l-theanine guaranteed to reduce stress and calm your mind and your body. These boast the ability to help you stay asleep for up to 8 hours and may also aid sleep latency, or the time it takes you to fall asleep. Batch CBD products contain less than 0.3% THC by weight, which offers all the benefits without the high. Batch hemp extracts are non-GMO and are sourced from the Umpqua strain of hemp grown in Neillsville, WI.

Customer Review | “These things are amazing! If you struggle with sleep due to your brain cycling through topic after topic of things you can’t fix in the overnight hours, this stuff could change your life! You will feel your brain gears slowing until you just don’t want to overanalyze your life choices anymore and instead fall into uninterrupted sleep! – Michelle W. (Read more reviews.)

2. Mesobis

Gluten free

Subscriptions available

Third party tested

Vegan

Best For | Deep sleep
Sugar | 3g of added sugar
Dosage | 10 mg THC, 5 CBN in each gummy. 
Contains THC | Yes
Prices starting at | $30 for a pack of 10

Mesobis THC/CBN Dream “gomitas” (the Spanish term for gummies) are hand-poured into pyramid molds and infused with passionfruit, showcasing the company’s desire to celebrate Latin roots, culture, and culinary vibrance and share it with the world. Dream Passionfruit gummies contain a full-spectrum blend of cannabinoids and terpenes and offer a 2:1 THC to CBN ratio to calm restless sleepers and improve overall sleep quality. Mesobis says consumers can expect the onset of effects about 60 minutes after and to last for 2 to 5 hours. They recommend you start with a fourth of a Gomita and work your way up based on your tolerance. Based on the ratio, these gomitas can be shipped to 35 states.

Customer Review | “I have severe insomnia and have had to take Ambien, Trazodone, and Doxepine. I have replaced all of those with 2/3 of a Mesobis gomita at bedtime. I sleep better than I have in year, and I don’t feel sluggish in the morning. My performance at work has also improved. – No name  (Read more reviews.)

3. Good Organics

American made

Gluten free

Subscriptions available

USDA organic

Vegan

Best For | Sleep cycle regulation
Sugar | 2 grams
Dosage | 30 mg CBD/3 mg CBN/1mg THC/ 3 mg of melatonin 
Contains THC | Yes
Prices starting at | $50 for 30 gummies 

Good Organics Nighttime CBD Gummies with CBN are full-spectrum berry-flavored gummies with low sugar content and infused with 30 milligrams of premium hemp extract per serving. All. If you’re looking for a good way to wind down and get good sleep, these gummies make a great addition to a relaxing evening routine followed by a good night’s sleep. Good Organics products are crafted from natural ingredients that combine CBD, THC, and CBN for added for boosted relaxation, calming, and sleep-enhancing effects. These also contain melatonin to regulate your sleep cycle and promote a more restful night.

4. Sunmed

American made

Subscriptions available

Third party tested

Vegan

Best For | Science-backed sleep support
Sugar | 4g
Dosage | 60 mg total cannabinoids, 16mg CBN, >1mg Delta-9, THC
Contains THC | Yes
Prices starting at | $60 for 30 

Full Spectrum Sleep CBN Gummies were some of the first hemp products on the market and the company offers scientifically backed data to show their effectiveness on improved sleep quality, enhanced sleep onset, reduced fatigue, and even reduced feelings of anxiousness. Sunmed uses a proprietary formula that contains the full spectrum of cannabinoids, which means it includes CBN, CBD, and Delta 9 THC. Sunmed sleep gummies are blueberry flavored and do contain 4 grams of sugar, which is on the higher side for this guide. Sunmed claims just one gummy an hour before hitting the sack will allow you to drift off in no time and wake without any groggy or psychoactive side effects.

Customer Review | “My husband and I take the nighttime gummies every night.They really do make a huge difference with our sleep. They are super tasty too.” – Jennifer Dougherty (Read more reviews.)

5. Head & Heal

American made

Subscriptions available

USDA organic

Best For | Immune boosting
Sugar | 3g
Dosage | 10mg CBN
Contains THC | No
Prices starting at | $45 for 30 

Head & Heal’s Elderberry Sleep Gummies are infused with real elderberry juice, offering an added health-benefiting bonus. Elderberry is known as an immune-boosting powerhouse and combined with 10 mg of CBN for good sleep. They also cover all the bases when it comes to environmental consciousness. Head & Heal grows, harvests, and processes its CBD. The CBD used in their gummies comes from Certified Organic hemp grown on a Certified Organic veggie farm in Cortland, NY, using regenerative farming methods. The CBD/CBN extract is processed into water-based nanoparticles, making it more bioavailable. 

Customer Review | “Amazing! I take one about an hour before bed. I am able to fall asleep quickly and sleep through the night without waking up in pain! Please never stop making them!!!” – Georgette  (Read more reviews.)

6. Cornbread Farms 

American made

Budget friendly

Subscriptions available

Third party tested

USDA organic

Vegan

Best For | Dose versatility 
Sugar | Organic Blue Agave, organic cane sugar
Dosage | 25mg CBD / 1mg THC, up to 100mg CBD / 4mg THC
Contains THC | Yes
Prices starting at | $39 for 25

Cornbread Farms’ Hemp Sleep Gummies come in three doses and are made with full-spectrum hemp extract that contains varying concentrations of CBD and THC based on your needs. They are also infused with herbal additives, such as valerian root, chamomile, lavender, and promise to help you fall asleep and stay asleep, still without any sign of a hangover the next day. These gummies are melatonin-free and come in strawberry flavor. The 750 mg dose contains 25mg CBD to 1mg THC. The 1500mg option contains 50mg CBD to 2mg of THC, and the 3000mg CBD Sleep gummies contain 100mg CBD to 4mg of THC. Choose your dose. 

Customer Review | “I find myself able to relax and drift off to sleep after trying these gummies for the past month. I am noticing the ability to stay asleep longer and able to fall asleep faster if I do wake. Thank you for your products.” – Susan (Read more reviews.)

7. Feals 

American made

Subscriptions available

Third party tested

Vegan

Best For | Well-rounded sleep support 
Sugar | 2g
Dosage | 5mg CBN, 10mg CBD, 1.5mg THC
Contains THC | Yes
Prices starting at | $55 for 30

Dosed with a triple threat of CBN,  CBD, and THC, Feals’ convenient blackberry-flavored Bedtime Berry Sleep Gummies are carefully formulated to help achieve a good night’s sleep. Feals uses an extract sourced from organic hemp grown in Colorado to make these gummies, and the company is so confident about their effectiveness that they offer a money-back guarantee to anyone who doesn’t absolutely love them.  

Customer Review | “I was using the original Feals gummies for sleep, they were ok, but once I tried the sleep specific ones – it’s a game changer, I fall asleep faster and sleep longer, my 2 main issues with sleep.” – Tatiana (Read more reviews.)

Featured image is from Cornbread

Randi Donahue is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is currently earning an MS in Health Science and Functional & Integrative Nutrition from Northwestern Health Sciences University. She brings over 10 years of research and writing expertise, focusing on making complex health and wellness concepts more accessible to readers. When not writing about health topics, you can find her reviewing the latest outdoor products and wellness tech. Based on Florida’s Gulf Coast, she and her family are passionate about nature and believe the path to a healthy and prosperous life requires authenticity, kindness, and a whole lot of fresh air.

The post 7 CBD Gummies For Sleep appeared first on The Good Trade.

What I Love:

• Truly effective wind-down support: AGZ’s calming blend — especially the L-theanine, ashwagandha, and valerian — noticeably made it easier to transition into sleep.
• Melatonin-free but still powerful: I loved that it supported my natural rhythms without using synthetic melatonin, which produces some grogginess or hormonal effects I like to avoid.
• Thoughtful, clean formulation: The third-party testing, vegan-friendly ingredients, and absence of sugar make AGZ a truly good-for-you supplement.
• Convenient, travel-friendly design: The single-serve packets and included frother made it easy to keep my routine consistent, even while traveling.
  

Things To Note:

• Calming elements can hit emotionally at first: The initial nervous system unwind made me more emotional than expected, which took a couple of nights to adjust to!
• Plan to use when you can get a full night of sleep: When I tried to use AGZ with less than my normal 8–9 hours of sleep, I had difficulty getting up in the morning. Best to use it when you’re able to get a full night of sleep.

I never had trouble sleeping until I got a few years into my 30s. Much to my surprise, I started to experience all of those disruptions that I’d heard so much about. From the trouble winding down to the 3:00 a.m. wake-ups and even the occasional night sweat, I’m now one of those people who “have trouble sleeping.” Luckily, it isn’t all the time, but I find that the smallest thing can throw me off my routine. So I’ve started taking some steps to ensure my nights are as comfortable and uninterrupted as possible. That means I’ve stopped drinking wine, invested in breathable, organic bedding, and I started experimenting with magnesium earlier this year.

“When I’m thinking about supplementing for sleep, I want something that is super natural and gentle to support my existing rhythms without changing them.”

I’m a bit crunchy at heart, so I avoid pharmaceuticals as much as possible. (I’m the type that when I have a headache, I drink a glass of water.) That means I also shy away from the synthetically derived melatonin that dots the shelves of my local pharmacy. When I’m thinking about supplementing for sleep, I want something that is super natural and gentle to support my existing rhythms without changing them.

AGZ, a nighttime drink from the creators of AG1, was super promising. The blend of herbs, minerals, and adaptogens, sans melatonin, sounded right up my alley. I was intrigued to go through the process from winding down to waking up, so I added it to my routine for a month. Here’s what happened. 💤

Why is restful sleep so important?

As a recent convert to the “trouble sleeping” club, I’ve also started to get interested in the science of sleep. It’s usually the simple things that can support our wellbeing the most: Morning walks in sunlight, slowing down and removing stressors, and, of course, sleep. 

“Our nightly Zzzs are a critical time that supports learning, immune function, heart and metabolic health, emotional stability, and brain aging.”

Our nightly Zzzs are a critical time that supports learning, immune function, heart and metabolic health, emotional stability, and brain aging. As we rest, our bodies consolidate memories, remove waste, and modulate our hormones to repair our cells and keep everything in balance. If you have a hard workout, most of your muscle repair happens overnight too. While most of us are familiar with the short-term impacts of loss of sleep like impaired daily functions, forgetfulness, and even food cravings, I’m increasingly interested in how sustained sleep can help us in the long term, too, keeping us healthy and alert for decades to come.

Clearly, sleep is such an important lever for our health. When it suffers, we might start to feel like the wheels are coming off the bus. 🚌

About AGZ

AGZ is a nighttime drink carefully crafted to support restful and restorative sleep. With clinically studied adaptogens, herbs, and minerals, it optimizes your nightly rest so you can reach your full potential during the day. The concoction of key ingredients in AGZ supports your whole sleep cycle from wind down to wake up. You might recognize some of the more familiar sleep-supporting compounds (and notice the conspicuous absence of melatonin) and, if you’re like me, discover a few new ones as well.

“The concoction of key ingredients in AGZ supports your whole sleep cycle from wind down to wake up.”

Here’s how it breaks down: L-Theanine and Ashwagandha work together to calm the nervous system and the body. Valerian promotes relaxation, too, and is active in helping you unwind. Magtein Magnesium L-Threonate is a clinically tested form of mag that improves sleep quality and cognitive function. And saffron, an antioxidant that reduces your oxidative stress, helps both sleep quality and supports your mood upon waking. Those are the major players, but there’s also tart cherry juice powder (for fans of the sleepy girl mocktail) as well as chamomile flower extract, holy basil leaf extract, and lavender for more subtle and tasty relaxation.

I should mention that AGZ is third-party tested for quality so you can be sure it is clean. That means heavy metal, allergens, pesticides, toxins, and other harmful chemicals are either not present or within healthy limits. And there’s no sugar — so the sweetness comes from the natural flavors mixed with coconut milk powder, alkalized cocoa powder, and stevia leaf plus monk fruit extract. It’s also vegan and Paleo-friendly, if you fall into one of those buckets.

My review of AGZ

As soon as my AGZ arrived at my doorstep, I tore it open and started to think about testing. For the first few nights, I took it consistently, no matter what my need for it was. (My detailed notes on what happened are below!) For the rest of the month, I used it intermittently when I wanted extra support with sleep. That means I took it when I was feeling stressed and unable to wind down, if I was already running on little sleep, if I’d had a few drinks with dinner, or any other moment where my sleep might be interrupted or less consistent than usual. Here’s how it went.

Choosing my flavor

AGZ comes in three different flavors — Mixed Berry, Chocolate, and Chocolate Mint — and I was determined to try them all. I quickly took to the Chocolate Mint as my favorite flavor. It was part personal preference (a certain nostalgia for mint chocolate chip ice cream) and part culinary objectivity. In other words, chocolate mint makes sense alongside the blend of supplements in AGZ. Second place was Chocolate, and third was Mixed Berry. Though, honestly, it’s one of those things where I could grow to love the taste of any of them. The brand suggests mixing with milk or a milk alternative, if you want something a bit creamier. The packets already contain coconut milk powder, so I stuck with water. Either way, it feels like your night with an adult flavored milk, which I loved. 🥛

Making the drink

The powder is packaged in travel packs, which is super convenient for sticking to your routine, even as you travel or spend the night away from home. (Especially since that’s when you probably need help sleeping the most!) So decide your preference between water and milk — and then what temperature you like. You can use cool, room temp, or even hot water or milk without worrying about potency, which is nice. AGZ sends you a frother with your order, which makes the whole ordeal really seamless. The suggestion is to dissolve one packet of AGZ into 4–6 ounces of liquid. What’s most important is you don’t fill up your cup too much so that it doesn’t overflow when you go in with the frother.

The experience

The wind-down effect of this stuff is so real! AGZ recommends taking it 60–90 minutes before bed, and I think you can get away with two hours. But, let’s be honest, you’re not going to make it much longer than that. Within the first hour, I start to get a pervading sense of calm, followed by that drifting off feeling. I took it a couple of times when I had a few last tasks to attend to, and at the two-hour mark, I was done for (in the best way). I slept through the night each time I took AGZ.

“Within the first hour, I start to get a pervading sense of calm, followed by that drifting off feeling.”

My best advice is to give yourself time to acclimate to AGZ — especially if you have anything else going on in your life at the same time (and who doesn’t?!). I found that the calming effect of the L-theanine and/or ashwagandha had a big impact on my emotional regulation. In other words, I was a teary mess after the first two nights that I took AGZ. While attributable to what was going on in my personal life, it was striking to see how quickly removing my baseline anxiety exposed the more watery emotions underneath. Another thing: I did miss one morning of Pilates. That night, I took AGZ with the plan to wake up a couple of hours short of my normal 8–9 hours. When the morning came, I simply couldn’t get out of bed. If you’re planning to run short on sleep with AGZ, it might take a bit of trial and error.

Overall, I seriously loved the experience of taking AGZ. It was relaxing and supportive — ferrying me from my sometimes stressful, long days of work in NYC to a deep slumber that left me feeling prepared for the next day. 🌃

Is AGZ worth it?

At $79/mo, AGZ is priced equivalent to a nice meal out or a touch more than a parking ticket for me here in NYC. For consistently great sleep, this is a small price to pay. Even for the relaxing effects before sleep: Worth it! You can try out a 12-count variety pack for $40 to experiment with flavors and give it a try before committing. There’s almost nothing more important for your physical and mental health than getting restorative, truly restful sleep. AGZ works, and it’s enjoyable too, so who wouldn’t sign up for that?

THIS STORY IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT AGZ

Ashley D’Arcy is the Senior Editor at The Good Trade. She holds an MA in Philosophy from The New School for Social Research and has contributed to esteemed outlets such as The Nation, 032c, and Yale School of Management’s Insights where she’s leveraged her expertise in making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. In addition to her editorial work, she is training as a psychoanalytic mental health professional and provides care to patients in New York City. Ashley also explores sustainable fashion, clean beauty, and wellness trends, combining thoughtful cultural critiques with a commitment to mindful living.

The post Is AGZ Worth It For More Restful Sleep? We Review appeared first on The Good Trade.

What I Love:

• I appreciate that Needed’s Stress Support formula relies on clinically studied ingredients like Sensoril® ashwagandha and Affron® saffron, which makes me feel more confident in what I’m taking.
• The capsules are completely tasteless and odorless, which matters to me since I’m sensitive to scents and flavored supplements.
• I love that Needed is transparent, third-party tested, and mission-driven — it aligns with my values and helps me trust the product even more.
• After consistent use, I feel more grounded and supported, especially during long stretches of work and parenting when my stress naturally spikes.

Things To Note:

• Stress Support is one of the few items in Needed’s product line that is not to be taken while pregnant due to insufficient safety data about how ashwagandha can affect a woman’s body during pregnancy.

As a full-time working mother of two, I’m deeply committed to finding ways to support how my body experiences and manages stress. It’s important to me to do everything I can to care for myself as someone whose mental health requires consistent support while I also care for my two children.

Alongside diet, exercise, meaningful lifestyle changes, and the guidance of a functional medicine clinician, I’ve built a holistic foundation for both my mental and physical well-being over the last five years. While I’m generally skeptical of supplement brands, I’ve found value in creating a curated regimen based on my specific biomarkers and that fills nutritional gaps and supports my body where it needs it most. 

Needed has been a brand I’ve trusted throughout this process and one that aligns with my focus on evidence-based, targeted support. Anything that helps build resilience to everyday stress matters to me, and I approach these tools with both intention and care. 🤲

Why I trust Needed above other supplement brands

Needed is a women-centered supplement company on a mission to deliver radically better nutrition for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and lifelong health. Unlike most prenatal or women’s health brands, Needed prioritizes optimal — not just minimal — nutrient levels (what initially drew me to the brand when I first learned about how 95% of women are nutritionally depleted) by carefully selecting forms and doses informed by a collective of over 10,000 practitioners, including OB-GYNs, midwives, dietitians, and naturopaths.

“As someone who is incredibly selective of which supplements earn a spot in my lineup, I’m happy to add Needed’s Stress Support to my arsenal of tools to support my mental and physical wellbeing.”

Their “Needed Standard” requires every ingredient to be third-party tested, vetted by experts, and backed by clinical insight. They also build life-stage supplement plans — for perinatal phases, stress, sleep, or even men’s fertility — making their system deeply personalized. On top of that, Needed is mission-driven: it’s B Corp and climate-neutral certified, and places social and environmental responsibility at the heart of its growth.

I’ve been consistently taking Needed’s Prenatal Multi or Women’s Multi over the last five years (based on my particular life stage), along with their Collagen Protein and Hydration Support. As someone who is incredibly selective of which supplements earn a spot in my lineup, I’m happy to add Needed’s Stress Support to my arsenal of tools to support my mental and physical wellbeing.

Quick note: It’s important to indicate up front that Needed’s Stress Support is one of the few items in their product line that is not to be taken while pregnant due to insufficient safety data about how ashwagandha can affect a woman’s body during pregnancy.

What is actually in the capsules, and how strong is the science?

In an industry that follows a different regulatory pathway than prescription drugs and utilizes unwanted ingredients and fillers to make a profit, Needed’s transparency and third-party testing are what originally drew me to the brand. Each of their product pages publishes a full supplement facts panel and a per-serving breakdown. 

The Stress Support’s key active ingredients (per two-capsule serving) are:

• Sensoril® Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) — 125 mg — a standardized root/leaf extract widely used in clinical trials for stress, cortisol reduction and perceived stress improvement. Sensoril is one of the better-researched ashwagandha extracts and is included here at a clinically relevant dose.
  
• Affron® Saffron (Crocus sativus stigma extract) — 28 mg — a patented, standardized saffron extract shown in randomized trials to support mood, reduce occasional stress and even improve sleep measures in some participants.
  
• Rhodiola rosea standardized root extract — 200 mg — an adaptogen commonly used to reduce occasional fatigue and support mental performance and resilience under stress.
  
• Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) 10:1 leaf extract — 200 mg — an Ayurvedic adaptogen traditionally used for emotional balance and everyday stress response.
  
• Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) root extract — 200 mg — used in Ayurvedic practice to support female hormonal support and stress resilience.
  
• Schisandra berry — 125 mg — another traditional adaptogen included for vitality and central nervous system resilience.

This formula’s credibility comes from using branded, standardized extracts with clinical trials:

• Sensoril® Ashwagandha (125 mg) — multiple human trials (including randomized controlled studies) indicate Sensoril can reduce perceived stress and lower cortisol in 4 – 8 weeks at doses around 125–250 mg/day. A recent clinical paper found reductions in stress markers and PSS scores over ~8 weeks at similar doses. This provides the strongest single-ingredient clinical support in the formula (link to the clinical trial here).

• Affron® Saffron (28 mg) — randomized trials using 28 mg/day of Affron reported reductions in negative mood and stress/anxiety scores over 4 weeks, with larger trials showing benefits over 8–12 weeks for mood and emotional wellbeing. Affron has an increasingly robust clinical literature for mild mood disturbances and sleep quality (link to the clinical trail here).

The other botanicals (rhodiola, holy basil, schizandra, shatavari) have more variable but supportive traditional and clinical literature for stress resilience and occasional fatigue, and when combined, they form a classic adaptogen stack. Overall, the formula blends stronger clinical ingredients with traditional herbal supporters, making it a thoughtful design for general stress and mood support.

Other formulation notes to keep in mind are that the capsules are vegan, non-GMO, made without common allergens, and intended for preconception and postpartum use (again, not to be taken during pregnancy).

How long until I feel noticeable results?

As mentioned earlier, nothing is a magic pill, and no supplement is a cure-all. I appreciate Needed’s realistic timeline breakdown and the way they rightsize expectations based on what the clinical studies suggest. 

Here’s what you can expect:

• First week: some users may notice improved sleep or subtle relaxation benefits (saffron/Affron has some trials showing early sleep improvements).
  
• 4 – 8 weeks: measurable reductions in perceived stress, cortisol markers and mood improvements are commonly reported in Sensoril and other trials — this is the window where many participants in the clinical trials see statistically significant changes.
  
• ~3 months: sustained mood benefits and emotional well-being are where some of the larger Affron and longer trials show continued or maximal effects; long-term resilience and sleep improvements are more likely after consistent use.
  

Of course, it’s important to emphasize that individual response varies. Some people feel calmer within days (often due to saffron, L-theanine, or placebo/ritual effects), while others need the 6–8 week window for adaptogens to shift biomarkers and perceived stress. Consistent daily dosing (Needed recommends two capsules daily) is crucial for the evidence-based benefits to appear.

My final thoughts

Much of what draws me to Needed is reflected in the brand’s philosophy and formulation standards. Needed is a trusted, reliable source of nourishment through every stage of womanhood and motherhood. Their commitment to evidence-based ingredients, intentional formulations, and genuine support for women’s wellbeing resonates deeply with me.

“Stress Support feels like a natural extension of the larger, holistic work I’m doing to care for myself.”

As someone who is exceptionally selective about the supplements I allow into my routine, choosing a new product isn’t something I take lightly. Yet Needed’s approach continues to earn my confidence, and I’m grateful to add their Stress Support blend to my carefully curated arsenal of tools for both mental and physical health as a ritual of care for my body, which is doing so much on a daily basis.

Stress Support feels like a natural extension of the larger, holistic work I’m doing to care for myself — and a reminder that thoughtful, well-crafted support can make a meaningful difference.

THIS STORY IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT NEEDED

Kate Arceo is the Community Manager at The Good Trade. She has a Bachelor of Science from Evangel University and has over 5 years of experience reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, as well as organic kids’ apparel and nontoxic cosmetics. When she’s not hosting dinner parties with her husband at their home in Southern California, you can find her sipping a latte at their local coffee house or shopping for strawberries with her kids at the farmers market. Say hi on Instagram!

The post Needed’s Sold-Out Stress Supplement Actually Works (2025 Review) appeared first on The Good Trade.

We’re sharing our favorite organic matchas with healthy ingredients, sustainable farming, and thoughtful business practices for a perfect pick-me-up.

Matcha has been having a serious moment. First introduced in Japan in the 1100s by a Chinese Zen Buddhist monk, it’s now become a popular powdered green tea beloved by millions around the globe. Matcha comes from the terms “matsu” (to rub) and “cha” (tea), and has a deliciously nutty, grassy taste. 

It’s often turned to as a coffee alternative since it still provides a boost of caffeine — like most other green teas — but also comes with L-theanine to counteract the negative crash from caffeine and antioxidants which help to reduce damage to your cells and protect against certain diseases. The caffeine in matcha is also absorbed differently by the body so you have a more sustained experience of alertness as compared to your cup of joe. Switching to matcha gives you the energy boost of caffeine without the anxious jitters or afternoon slump. 🍵

Why organic matcha? 

First, you should know how matcha powder is made. It starts with Camellia Sinensis tea leaves called Tencha — the plant grows for several years before reaching maturity. Then, a few weeks before harvest, the plants undergo a shading process to protect them from direct sunlight which levels up the flavor of the leaves. After the leaves are harvested or hand-picked, they’re washed, steamed, dried in an oven, sorted, and ground up into a fine powder — using 100 percent of the plant. 

As is the case with much produce, matcha farms often use harmful chemicals to treat their plants. Organic matcha, however, is grown without pesticides, and since you’re ingesting the entire plant, it’s an overall healthier alternative that reduces your exposure to any dangerous chemicals.

To that end, we’ve found ten high-quality brands sourcing and crafting organic matcha powder for everyday, ceremonial, and wholesale use. Give this yummy coffee alternative a try — you won’t regret it.

Our criteria:

Our editors have hand-selected the brands on this list after researching and vetting heaps of matcha makers to find you the healthiest, best quality organic matcha on the market. Many of the brands on this list carry certifications that ensure they are doing good through their use of sustainable farming and business practices. We update this list regularly with emerging favorites that meet our criteria.

• ORGANIC | All of the options on this list use healthy, organic ingredients that are never treated with hard chemicals.
• SUSTAINABLE FARMS | We’ve noted certifications that ensure that these businesses are using sustainable farming practices so they have a low-impact on the earth.
• ETHICAL BUSINESS | We prioritize brands that give back, use fair labor practices, and have other ethical initiatives built into their model.

If matcha isn’t your cup of tea (literally), check out the other organic green teas we recommend. (And if you’re not yet ready to swap out coffee, that’s okay too — here are our favorite fair trade coffee brands.)

1. Sugimoto Tea

BIPOC Owned

Budget friendly

Family owned

Natural materials

Small business

Vegan

Best For | Affordable quality
Ethics | Family-owned business, USDA certified organic matcha, eco-friendly production, Chagusaba farming (sustainable techniques), vegan
Prices Starting At | $13 for 56g (28 servings)

Zenichi Sugimoto started Sugimoto Tea back in 1946, hand-making and delivering tea to customers by bike. Today, this is a multi-generational family-owned business making some of the best certified organic matcha in the world. The team sources their leaves directly from farmers, working with them as well to be as sustainable as possible. Here you can find culinary matcha, blends (like hojicha matcha lattes), and ceremonial matcha — for under $15, the Organic Daily Matcha makes a whopping 28 servings. It’s delicious, effective, and supports a wonderful small business.

2. Aikenka Matcha

Family owned

Natural materials

Small business

Woman owned

Best For | Handpicked, single-origin ceremonial grade matcha
Ethics | Family-run farms, certified JAS organic, certified organic by ECOCERT Canada
Prices Starting At | $42 CAD for 30g (20 – 30 servings)

Savor the moment and slow down your day with a cup of Aikenka Matcha’s premium ceremonial matcha. The company is all about wellness, ensuring their premium matchas offer gentle, long-lasting energy — plus high levels of L-theanine and chlorophyll for their stress busting and antioxidant benefits. Aikenka Matcha brings back the tea’s traditional meditative and health benefits through their three unique options. The Ceremonial Okumidori Cultivator is Aikenka’s first ever matcha grown on a sustainable solar-powered family farm, with every part of production done on a single estate. The Kagoshima Ceremonial Grade Matcha is sourced from Kyushu, where Tencha leaves grow in the mountainous region to create a delicate and floral aroma, while the Uji Ceremonial Samidori Cultivator comes from a family-owned farm that’s renown for its rare, hand picked cultivation process and has been running since the Edo period. Sip on one of these expertly cultivated matchas, for the ultimate energizing and relaxing daily ritual.

Save 15% off your first purchase with code GOODTRADE15.

The Good Trade Partner

3. Tezumi

BIPOC Owned

Budget friendly

Natural materials

Small business

Vegan

Best For | Large quantities and/or wholesale orders
Ethics | Organic matcha, small business, transparently partner with Japanese farmers, vegan
Prices Starting At | $16 for 20g (10 servings)

If you drink matcha daily and want to stock up all at once, check out Tezumi: You can purchase up to 250g bags to satiate your matcha cravings over an entire year. Tezumi, which means “hand-picked,” was started by three tea enthusiasts — they now team up with artisanal Japanese tea producers to ensure quality, sustainability, and variety. There are four types of organic matcha available, from the slightly fruity Gokou Matcha to the full-flavored Haruto. We’re impressed that every product page shares thorough information from how the tea was cultivated to the exact flavor profiles — transparency at its finest.

4. Ippodo

BIPOC Owned

Budget friendly

Family owned

Natural materials

Small business

Vegan

Best For | Premium grade matcha
Ethics | Family-owned business, JAS certified organic matcha, vegan
Prices Starting At | $18 for 20g (10 servings)

It’s hard to believe but Ippodo has been around since 1717. For over three centuries, this family-owned business has cultivated the highest quality green tea in the heart of Kyoto. Choose from two matchas here — the “light and snappy” organic matcha or the “medium and balanced” premium organic matcha. Both teas are certified organic by the JAS (the Japanese equivalent to USDA organic certifications), and are thoughtfully made in small batches. Reviews praise the incredibly smooth flavor and small energy boost, with many saying they can never go back to any other brand. It’s worth the try!

5. Jade Leaf

Budget friendly

Natural materials

Small business

Vegan

Best For | Matcha sticks and sets
Ethics | USDA certified organic matcha, non-GMO certified, partner with family-run tea farms in Japan, vegan
Prices Starting At | $10 for 30g (15 – 30 servings)

Jade Leaf’s matcha comes from the Kizuna Tea Collective, a group of family-run tea farms across Japan that have been cultivating tea for over 150 years. Farmers receive fair prices, and we all get to enjoy a premium level of matcha not seen in the mainstream. If you’re just starting out on your matcha journey, we highly recommend the starter sets or individually rationed sticks — they’re incredibly easy to use. There’s also ceremonial matcha, culinary matcha, barista matcha, and ingredient matcha if you prefer; all are USDA certified organic and non-GMO. Jade Leaf offers a 100 percent money-back guarantee but we don’t think you’ll need it — this is the good stuff.

6. ITO EN

BIPOC Owned

Budget friendly

Natural materials

Vegan

Best For | Sweet matcha
Ethics | Organic, non-GMO certified, partner with farmers in Japan, vegan
Prices Starting At | $14 for 28 servings

Got a bit of a sweet tooth? You’ll love ITO EN, then! You may recognize ITO EN’s iconic packaging as it’s one of the most popular green tea brands worldwide, often seen in Asian supermarkets, major grocery stores, and even Target. And in addition to loose-leaf tea, the team also carries yummy organic matcha including Sweet Matcha sticks and Matcha Green Tea Sweet Powder. (Don’t worry, there are unsweetened options too!) ITO EN also “partners with the Japanese farming community to preserve the art of tea harvesting,” so purchasing from them means investing in long-standing traditions and techniques.

7. Ikkyu

Budget friendly

Natural materials

Small business

Vegan

Best For | Fresh matcha
Ethics | JAS certified organic matcha, partner with family-run farms in Japan, vegan
Prices Starting At | $16 for 40g (20 – 30 servings)

Ikkyu’s matcha might be the freshest we’ve ever seen — it’s directly sourced from farmers, ground up, and shipped from Fukuoka, Japan every two weeks. There are three organic varieties to choose from: Miyuki, Matsuko, and Mizuho. Matsuko is great for everyday ceremonial grade matcha, while Miyuki is a premium option. Mizuho is a sencha and matcha blend which makes it a bit lighter than the other two. Whichever you choose, they’re all certified organic by JAS and can last for months at a time when unopened. (And if you need a tip on how to enjoy your matcha, we recommend the food pairing suggestions on each page alongside the production information, flavor profiles, and more!)

8. Rishi

Budget friendly

Natural materials

Vegan

Best For | Variety of types (sweetened, cold brew, etc.)
Ethics | USDA certified organic matcha, partner with farmers in Japan, biodegradable tea bags, GMO-free, vegan
Prices Starting At | $12 for 30g (20 servings)

Want to switch up how you get your daily dose of matcha? Look at Rishi’s many options — including cold brew matcha, everyday matcha, and more. Since 2006, Rishi has worked with organic tea farmers in Kirishima, Japan, a lush, mountainous region of the country. In addition to powders, Rishi also carries everything you need to make the perfect matcha at home including a tea whisk and porcelain bowl. All Rishi teas are direct from the source, certified organic, and packaged in eco-friendly materials whenever possible.

9. Cymbiotika

Budget friendly

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Best For | Discounted monthly subscriptions
Ethics | USDA certified organic matcha, partner with family-run farms in Japan, GMO-free, eco-friendly or recycled packaging, vegan
Prices Starting At | $44 for 30 servings; discounted subscriptions available (10% off)

Cymbiotika’s supplements — made of fully traceable ingredients — help you feel like your best self. Their board of advisors includes medically certified professionals, and all products are free from gluten, soy, GMOs, toxins, and preservatives. Their Organic Matcha Powder is ceremonial grade, made to improve focus and concentration as well as enhance metabolism. Cymbiotika sources the matcha from Uji and Kagoshima in Japan from small family farms. Daily drinkers like how it’s clean and rich, without leaving behind any bitter aftertaste. Enjoy this ritual morning after morning with a recurring (discounted!) subscription.

10. MUD\WTR

Natural materials

Small business

Vegan

Best For | Coffee alternatives
Ethics | USDA certified organic, non-GMO certified, sourced from farms in Japan, vegan
Prices Starting At | $60 for 30 servings; discounted subscriptions available

If you’re trying to avoid or reduce your coffee intake, MUD\WTR’s Matcha is a great alternative. This 100 percent organic blend contains matcha directly from Japan, along with lion’s mane, cordyceps, chaga, and reishi, with flavoring from cinnamon, turmeric, and Himalayan salt. (And it’s gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, Kosher, and Whole30-approved, too.) It’s a gentle caffeine boost without the jitters — and lots of extra healthy additions too. Sign up for a monthly subscription that includes free US shipping and a free frother, and you can cancel anytime.

Featured image is from Rishi

The post 10 Top Rated And High Quality Matcha Powders (2025) appeared first on The Good Trade.

Buying fair trade takes a stand for a system that treats everyone with respect.

Many times, chocolate is oh-so-much more than just candy. In its natural form, it’s a superfood packed with antioxidants and cardiovascular benefits, and studies show chocolate boosts energy, reduces stress, increases concentration and even improves maternal health. This playful, nutrient-dense treat is the perfect pick-me-up and superfood recharge.

“When we buy fair trade products, we are casting a vote for the ethical treatment of the laborers around the world who are responsible for the food we eat.”

So we know chocolate is good for us. But what about the farmers who grow it? The International Labor Organization estimates that there are millions of child laborers working to produce many of our everyday purchases such as coffee and cocoa. As you might imagine, forced laborers are exploited for their work, forced to work long hours with little or no pay, and have little rights.

When we buy fair trade products, we are casting a vote for the ethical treatment of the laborers around the world who are responsible for the food we eat. Fair trade sourcing means not only are workers paid fairly but also they have safe and environmentally-friendly working conditions.

These conscious chocolate brands have made it an integral part of their mission to develop mutually beneficial partnerships by employing fair trade and direct trade practices with the farmers who cultivate their cocoa crops. Oh—and they make delicious good-for-you chocolate.

You might also like our guide to healthy organic meal kit delivery services and fair trade coffee.

1. Alter Eco Foods

Best For | Truffle lovers, eco-friendly practices
Price | $2.99–$4.99 per bar

Alter Eco is a certified B Corporation. They are certified Fair Trade, non-GMO and organic, and they also use compostable packaging and offset carbon emissions by planting thousands of trees within their supply chains. Their fair trade truffles and chocolates are crafted with pure, good-fat-rich superfood, coconut oil. And with no preservatives, no soy, or no palm kernel oil. These little bundles of yummy decadent joy have everything you love—and are also good for you and the planet.

2. Theo Chocolate

Best For | Social impact,variety of flavors
Price | $2.99–$3.99 per bar

Theo Chocolate is dedicated to making our world a better place, and they’re finding ways to do it through their passion for cocoa. Their commitment to social and environmental responsibility has led them to partner with organizations like Eastern Congo Initiative, the Jane Goodall Institute, and the World Bicycle Relief. As the first organic and fair trade chocolate factory in the country, Theo Chocolate’s founding principle is that the finest artisan chocolate in the world can (and should) be produced in an entirely ethical, sustainable fashion.

Also Available At | Sprouts

3. Evolved

Best For | True dark chocolate lovers (72%-100% cocoa)
Price | $2.79–$4.99 per bar

All Evolved chocolate is free of gluten, dairy, or soy. In fact, they use the fewest ingredients physically possible to create chocolate. No junk, no fillers, just the highest quality, fair trade cacao lightly sweetened with organic maple sugar directly sourced from Maple producers in Vermont and Canada. Evolved’s guiding principle is “Chocolate: It’s Food, Not Candy.” When chocolate is done right, it’s a delicious, antioxidant-rich superfood.

Also Available At | Thrive Market

4. UnReal

Best For | Gluten-, corn-, & soy-free candy
Price | $1.99–$9.99 per bar

UnReal is on a mission to unjunk the world by reinventing America’s favorite foods. They started with M&Ms® and Reese’s®, making them without junk and less sugar but with better taste. Every ingredient they use is non-GMO, always real, and never artificial. No gluten, corn, or soy. UnReal uses sustainably sourced and fair trade ingredients. Every bite truly does taste unreal. Watch the founder’s TED Talk to learn more!

Also Available At | Hive , Thrive Market

5. Equal Exchange

Best For | Chocolate minis
Price | $2.99–$6.99 per bar

Equal Exchange‘s mission is to build long-term local partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, and to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers through fair trade practices. Their chocolates and cocoas are crafted using USDA certified organic ingredients, grown with care by small farmer co-ops. We especially love the boxes of 150 minis to keep on our desks for a sweet treat every so often!

6. Dapaah

Best For | Vegan chocolate
Price | £9.99 per bar

Ghana produces 20 percent of the entire world’s supply of cocoa, and it’s about time they were recognized globally for it! Dapaah, run by the Dapaah siblings, is a locally sourced business that works directly with the organic cacao trade throughout the country. Each bar, though vegan, is milky, rich, and especially decadent—and it’s even sweeter to know that their practices are fair trade and farmers are paid sizable wages through a profit share model.

7. Endangered Species Chocolate

Best For | Nature & animal lovers
Price | $2.39–$5.29 per bar

With each chocolate bar, Endangered Species Chocolate is protecting diversity of life on our planet and promoting true global change. Endangered Species Chocolate donates 10 percent of profits to partner organizations that support species conservation, habitat preservation and humanitarian efforts. Their milk and dark chocolate bars and bites are made with shade-grown cacao and natural fair trade ingredients. Choosing their chocolate is one way you can honor farmers and support sustainable farming practices.

Also Available At | Target , Thrive Market

8. Beyond Good

Best For | Chocolate made entirely in Africa
Price | $2.99 – $4.50 per bar

Africa grows 70 percent of the world’s cocoa, yet produces less than one percent of the world’s chocolate. Beyond Good exists to change this by making chocolate entirely on the continent. Beyond Good empowers Madagascan and Ugandan cocoa farmers with skills training and higher wages. So far, they’ve created meaningful income for over 100 people—from chocolate making to packaging production, to the farming of cocoa, spices, and fruits.

Also Available At | Hive , Sprouts

9. Loving Earth

Best For | Australian raw chocolate lovers
Price | $3.50–$8.50

For over a decade, Loving Earth has been dedicated to sourcing and manufacturing the ACO Certified Organic and fair trade raw chocolate. An especially healthy treat, this chocolate contains no cane sugar or dairy and remains completely uncooked and unprocessed. Because the Cacao Beans are not roasted, their natural wealth of phytonutrients remain fully intact. Loving Earth’s raw chocolate contains up to twice the amount of antioxidants of conventionally processed chocolate.

Also Available At | Woolworths

10. Phillip Ashley Chocolates

Best For | Designer chocolate boxes
Price | $35–$250 per box

Named the “Willy Wonka of Chocolate” by Forbes and recognized by Oprah Magazine, the James Beard Foundation, and Vogue, Phillip Ashley Rix is a true chocolate connoisseur. Each box of these luxury chocolates are made in small batches using fair trade and premium ingredients, with a focus on seasonal availability and sustainability. They’re the perfect surprise for your Valentine—or to treat yo’self (you deserve it!).

11. Divine Chocolate

Best For | Milk chocolate lovers, baking bars & powders
Price | $1.99–$6.99 per bar

Divine Chocolate is one of the only certified Fair Trade chocolate companies worldwide that is co-owned by cocoa farmers. This allows co-op members to share in profits and have a larger voice in the cocoa industry. As a certified B Corp, they also prioritize gender equality, women’s professional opportunities, and social entrepreneurship. We love them for their wide selection, availability, and affordable pricing!

Also Available At | Thrive Market

The post 11 Fair Trade Chocolate Companies For Conscious Cravings appeared first on The Good Trade.

What I Love:

• Premium materials, pro-level performance: Made In’s Stainless Steel and CeramiClad lines are crafted in Italy and the USA using 5-ply stainless steel for even heating, incredible heat retention, and long-term durability.
• Safe, non-toxic cookware: All pieces are third-party tested and made without PFAS, PFOA, PTFE, Lead, Cadmium, or BPA, a huge plus if you care about clean cooking.
• Versatile and oven-safe: Stainless Clad pans can handle up to 800°F, and the CeramiClad non-stick up to 550°F, meaning you can easily go from stovetop to oven.
• Beautiful design, built to last: The Limited Edition collection with Antique Brass Handles adds a timeless, elevated touch — equal parts functional and display-worthy. (And perfect for holiday gifting!)

Things To Note:

• Care and maintenance: The stainless pieces are dishwasher-safe and clean up beautifully. Note that the CeramiClad pans are best washed by hand and stored carefully to prevent surface chips.
• Investment worth making: With prices ranging from $349 to $799, these sets aren’t cheap, but their quality, longevity, and performance easily justify the cost — especially if you’re replacing cheaper pans every year.

It seems like everyone these days has some version of the same three goals: Be healthy, save money, and get offline. Funny enough, the answer to all three might just be hiding where we least expect: In our pots and pans.

I’ll admit, takeout has been my default these past few years. Living in LA, I’m spoiled with “healthy” options on every corner, but I still find myself wondering what’s actually in the food. And I honestly just feel better when I’m eating simple, home-cooked meals — fewer ingredients, less oil, no mystery sauces.

“I honestly just feel better when I’m eating simple, home-cooked meals — fewer ingredients, less oil, no mystery sauces.”

The money part doesn’t hurt either. Let’s be real: An Erewhon combo plate (one piece of salmon and two veggie sides) will now set you back around $38. I know…

So, cooking at home has been on my short list for a while — which is why I jumped at the chance to try out Made In Cookware.

I wouldn’t call myself a great cook (or a bad one either). I know how to follow recipes and can usually throw something together from the fridge. But getting closer to home-chef status takes the right mix of ingredients, creativity, time, skill — and, of course, cookware. Made In is known as “the cookware chefs actually use,” so it feels good to start my at-home cooking era with a solid foundation.

“Getting closer to home-chef status takes the right mix of ingredients, creativity, time, skill — and, of course, cookware.”

As a millennial woman, I’m constantly being targeted with “cute” pans that look great on my stove but don’t always hold up in the kitchen. That’s why I love that Made In isn’t just beautiful — it’s the real deal. Expertly crafted in the USA and Europe, made with the best raw materials, tested in world-class kitchens, and designed for actual cooking, not just the aesthetic. They also meet the world’s highest food safety and manufacturing standards… and in a world full of suspicious “non-stick,” that’s pretty important to me.

What really sets Made In apart is how open they are about their process, from their 100-year-old, family-owned roots in Boston to the factories they partner with across the U.S. and Europe. You can actually trace the origin of each piece and see the care that goes into it. There’s no influencer smoke and mirrors, no hidden endorsement deals. Just chefs and home cooks who genuinely use and love the products.

In a cookware world that often feels a little too much like Teflon — slick, shiny, and hard to trust — Made In’s transparency and craftsmanship truly stand out.

Besides everyday cooking, my second culinary focus is being able to cook for friends. Since moving into my two-bedroom house a few years ago, it’s felt like I’m running a hotel (in the best, most fun way, of course). There’s almost always someone staying in the second bedroom, and over time, hosting has become one of my favorite parts of life. In a world full of screens, constant notifications, and endless news, getting together with friends feels like a little reset — a chance to be present, share some laughs, and just enjoy the moment.

“In a world full of screens, constant notifications, and endless news, getting together with friends feels like a little reset.”

The one challenge? I didn’t have enough cookware to actually make a meal for more than two people. So when I discovered Made In’s cookware sets, I knew they were the missing piece, the answer to finally being able to host the dinner parties I’d been dreaming about.

For this review, I tested 2 collections, and I’ve been cooking with these pieces for about 6 weeks now:

• The Limited Edition Stainless Clad Collection with Antique Brass Finished Handles ($799 – on sale now)
• CeramiClad™ Non Stick Frying Pan Set ($349 – on sale now)

So let’s get into the review!

Shipping and delivery

My new cookware showed up fast, packed in sleek, branded boxes that were 100% recyclable and super easy to break down. Inside, everything was thoughtfully arranged — pans and lids snug in layered cardboard with clever cutouts to keep them protected. It felt like unboxing a gift (and would make an amazing one, too).

My dinner party dreams with The Limited Edition Stainless Clad Collection

The day my new cookware arrived, I had two guests staying with me, my besties Deb and Andrew, which felt like the perfect excuse to christen my new cookware with an impromptu dinner party.

After unboxing, we headed to McCall’s — one of my favorite neighborhood markets in LA — to grab ingredients for two dishes: Pan-Seared Halibut and Zucchini Ricotta Summer Pasta with Peas. By the time we got home, a few more friends had RSVP’d via text, so dinner for three quickly turned into dinner for six.

“I now get why chefs swear by these pieces.”

We put the new cookware to the test: The 2 QT Stainless Clad Saucepan, the 8 QT Stainless Clad Stock Pot, and the 10″ Stainless Clad Frying Pan. I now get why chefs swear by these pieces. Made In’s Stainless Clad line is completely coating-free and non-reactive, meaning zero leaching of metals or chemicals into your food.

Every piece is third-party tested by Light Labs and made without PFAS, PFOA, PTFE, Lead, Cadmium, or BPA, which made me feel even better about cooking for friends.

Each pan is crafted in Italy using premium 5-ply stainless steel — five layers that create incredible heat retention, even heating, and easy temperature control. The handles stayed cool on the stovetop and felt balanced in my hand. The walls are curved for deeper searing and easier flipping, and that rolled rim made pouring sauces effortless. Every piece can go from stovetop to oven up to 800 degrees.

“Each pan is crafted in Italy using premium 5-ply stainless steel — five layers that create incredible heat retention, even heating, and easy temperature control.”

I opted for the collection with Antique Brass Finished Handles, which adds a beautiful, elevated touch to my kitchen. I love pieces that feel like timeless classics rather than trends.

We followed a few of Made In’s cooking tips, which really helped us get the best results from each pan. First, in the 2 QT Saucepan, we preheated the pan for a couple of minutes before adding oil, then sautéed garlic until fragrant. We tossed in peas, zucchini, and a little corn — everything cooked evenly without sticking or scorching. Finally, we stirred in marinated feta to create a light, creamy sauce that coated the pasta beautifully.

Next, the 8 QT Stock Pot, we boiled a big pot of water for fresh pasta. The water came to a boil quickly, and the pasta cooked perfectly in just 3 minutes. We drained it, then poured it right back into the stock pot to eventually toss with the sauteed veggies, feta, and lemon zest, before serving straight from the stove.

Finally, for the halibut, we used the 10″ Frying Pan. Following Made In’s directions, we preheated the pan, added a drizzle of oil, then placed the fish — patted dry and seasoned simply with salt and pepper — into the pan. A few minutes on each side gave us that perfect golden crust, and a quick butter baste with lemon and thyme made it smell (and taste) heavenly. The fish was tender on the inside, crisp on the outside — even Andrew, who never eats fish, asked for seconds. That alone speaks volumes about the power of good ingredients and great cookware.

“A few minutes on each side gave us that perfect golden crust, and a quick butter baste with lemon and thyme made it smell (and taste) heavenly.”

We plated the meal with a side salad, and my friends — also self-proclaimed takeout people — were thrilled to have a home-cooked dinner. We lit candles, ate off my prized china collection (a birthday gift from Deb), and laughed while telling stories about our week.

After dinner, we gave everything a quick wash with warm water and popped the pans in the dishwasher. I love that they’re dishwasher-safe! The best part? Going to bed with no dirty dishes in the sink.

Every day made easy with CeramiClad™ Non Stick Frying Pan Set

Back to regularly scheduled eating — every morning, I make eggs. Usually with some sautéed veggies, plus a side of sauerkraut, avocado, and turkey sausage. As a single person, the CeramiClad 8” Frying Pan is the quickest way to cook breakfast and the perfect size for two eggs. Before, I only had a 10” pan, so I love the ease and control of this smaller size.

“As a single person, the CeramiClad 8” Frying Pan is the quickest way to cook breakfast and the perfect size for two eggs.”

Recently, my go-to breakfast has been thinly sliced zucchini, crisped in a little olive oil, with two sunny-side-up eggs cooked right on top. When the whites are mostly set, I add a splash of water and cover the pan with my 8” Stainless Steel lid to let the steam finish them off. The result? Perfect eggs with jammy yolks and golden zucchini underneath.

If you’re a lazy cook like me, non-stick is essential for quick, everyday meals — but some coatings can be toxic and leach into your food. Made In’s pans don’t. The CeramiClad collection pairs their award-winning 5-ply Stainless Clad base with a high-performance, American-made non-stick ceramic for a clean-eating, even-heating pan you can rely on daily.

The pans are handcrafted in the USA, and the handles stay cool on the stovetop while feeling balanced and ergonomic. The stainless steel base works on all cooktops — gas, electric, or induction — and they’re oven-safe up to 550°F. Like all Made In cookware, every piece is third-party tested and made without PFAS, PFOA, PTFE, Lead, Cadmium, or BPA.

And while the 8” pan has become my weekday go-to, I already have big plans for the larger sizes. I’m staying in LA for Thanksgiving this year, and one of my best friends (also named Grace!) will be in town for a month. We’re planning a pancake Friendsgiving, and I can’t wait to see how my favorite gluten-free pancake mix from Honey Hi x CAP Beauty turns out on the non-stick pans.

“The pans are handcrafted in the USA, and the handles stay cool on the stovetop while feeling balanced and ergonomic.”

These pans need to be hand-washed to maintain their non-stick nature, but they are easy to clean and get food off of, so I don’t mind. I have noticed a few tiny chips in the non-stick from stacking the pans, but nothing that affects my cooking! (And Made In does sell pan protectors to prevent this. They’ve thought of everything.)

Is Made In worth the investment?

When it comes to buying cookware sets, you’re going to spend more upfront. Think of it as investing in your kitchen and in the way you cook. But here’s the thing: If you go for high-quality pieces, you won’t have to keep replacing them every year, which actually saves you money in the long run. I’ve learned this the hard way. Over the past four years, I’ve gone through at least four of those trendy, colorful non-stick pans… ringing up around $150 each. One by one, the non-stick wore off, and then I was back to square one.

“If you go for high-quality pieces, you won’t have to keep replacing them every year, which actually saves you money in the long run.”

Made In’s Limited Edition Stainless Clad Collection ($799) gives you a complete kitchen foundation: Saucepans, stock pots, and frying pans designed to be used for years, not replaced every season. If you prefer non-stick, the CeramiClad Non-Stick Frying Pan Set ($349) offers the same durability with a safer, long-lasting ceramic coating.

For me, investing in these sets isn’t just about the cookware itself. It’s about setting up a kitchen I can rely on, whether I’m cooking for one or hosting friends. Paying more up front means fewer replacements, better food, and saving money and time on replacements.

In the end, Made In made cooking easier for me — and more fun. That first dinner party set the tone, turning my cookware into keepsakes tied to memories. It’s safe to say my home-cooking era is officially underway. 👩‍🍳

THIS STORY IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT MADE IN

Grace Abbott is a LA-based freelance Brand & Marketing Strategist and a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She has a degree in Graphic Design from Parsons School of Design and is the founder of How To Go Freelance — a brand dedicated to empowering creatives to monetize their skills and build personal brands. Beyond work, she’s always studying a new spiritual modality, painting her bedroom a new color, practicing Pilates, hosting friends, or going on a nature walk with her chihuahua, Donnie. Find her on Substack or Instagram.

The post I Hosted A Dinner Party With Made In Stainless Steel And CeramiClad Cookware appeared first on The Good Trade.

We’ve researched and taken clean supplements as part of our wellness routines for years — these are our top choices for ACV gummies that are clean and gentle at a range of price points.

Over two thousand years ago, Hippocrates used vinegar medicinally to treat his patients’ wounds. 

Fast forward to 18th century United States, and vinegar was commonly used to treat all sorts of ailments — from rashes to stomachaches to diabetes. 

Medicine has come a long way since then, but vinegar’s medicinal uses are still widely regarded. If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably seen plenty of wellness influencers touting the benefits of drinking a shot of apple cider vinegar daily. But what exactly does it offer to a modern wellness regimen? Let’s find out.

What are the benefits of apple cider vinegar gummies?

According to modern studies, apple cider vinegar’s benefits hold up. It’s high in acetic acid, and that’s where most of its benefits seem to come from. It’s been shown to help balance blood sugar levels and hunger cues. It’s also shown promise in lowering cholesterol levels, although more research is needed on that front. AVC’s enzymes can also help with digestion, too.

But if the thought of taking a shot of vinegar every morning makes your stomach churn, you’re not alone. That’s why plenty of supplement brands make ACV gummies — they’ll give you your daily dose of cider vinegar, concentrated into a tasty little gummy.

And there’s another benefit to these supplements — they all contain other nutrients that plain ACV doesn’t. Almost every gummy on this list has vitamin B12, too, since it’s an essential nutrient that helps your body with the formation of DNA, red blood cells, and nerve cells. Some gummies contain vitamins like B6 or folate, too.

Our criteria:

We’ve personally taken, researched, and corresponded with the top clean supplement brands for years. For the list below, we’ve selected the best apple cider vinegar gummies that use clean ingredients, low or no added sugar, and gentle yet effective formulations. We update this list regularly with our emerging favorites that meet the following criteria.

• CLEAN & ORGANIC INGREDIENTS | Each of these gummies contains natural and organic ingredients, starting with high quality apple cider vinegar, with no unnecessary fillers so you’re only getting pure goodness.
• LOW OR NO ADDED SUGAR | Apple cider vinegar has some naturally occurring sugar (it’s made of apples, after all!) so we’ve selected brands that minimize added sugar, and noted below exactly how much is in each gummy.
• GENTLE, EFFECTIVE FORMULATIONS | ACV can be harsh to drink on its own. The gummies below make it easier to digest, and many are fortified with additional ingredients like vitamin B12 and probiotics to further boost the benefits.

If you‘re looking to up your supplement routine, check out our favorite magnesium supplements, fiber supplements, and women’s multivitamins to cover all your bases!

1. Hum

Eco friendly packaging

Gluten free

Science backed

Third party tested

Vegan

Best For | Added probiotics
Sugar | 3g added sugar
Prices starting at | $26; $0.87/serving

Hum Nutrition’s Pro ACV Gummies take all the digestive benefits of apple cider vinegar and combine that with probiotics (Bacillus Coagulans, to be precise) for even more gut health support and vitamin B12 for nerve health and red blood cell development support. The vegan gummies use 100% organic apple cider vinegar that contains the “mother,” or the strains of beneficial bacteria that turn the cider into vinegar. A two-gummy serving size contains 500mg of cider vinegar, 100% of your daily value of vitamin B12, and three grams of added organic cane sugar. The gummies have some impressive clinical efficacy results, too — in a study of 100 patients with infrequent stools, 98% achieved normal digestive regularity after taking the gummies once daily. Hum is known for their lineup of clean, clinically backed supplements, and each bottle they sell prevents two to four plastic bottles from entering the ocean.

Customer Review | “I love these ACV gummies. I feel like I have so much energy after taking them. They also support a healthy gut, metabolism and digestion!” – Shelli H. (Read more reviews.)

2. MaryRuth Organics

B corp

Dairy free

Gives back

Gluten free

Soy free

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | B Corp that gives back 
Sugar | 2g added sugar
Prices starting at | $22; $0.73/serving

Similar to Hum’s ACV gummies,, MaryRuth Organics’ Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies contain 500mg of organic cider vinegar in each two-gummy serving. They also add in vitamin B12 to help the body maintain proper nerve and blood cell health — each serving contains 50% of your daily B12 value along with 2 grams of added organic cane sugar. The gummies up the cardiovascular benefits and heart-health power with the addition of beetroot and pomegranate. As a certified B Corp, MaryRuth Organics is committed to caring for people and planet, giving to organizations like No Kid Hungry and formulating their products with only high-quality ingredients. 

Customer Review | “This vitamin is the best tasting in my opinion. It has helped me with my heart burn and has helped me feel less bloated. I will be taking this for the rest of my life, it’s THAT good.” – Sharayah (Read more reviews.)

3. Garden of Life

1% for the planet

B corp

FSC

USDA organic

Vegan

Best For | Most affordable
Sugar | 2g added sugar
Prices starting at | $26; $0.43/serving

Committed to using only the cleanest ingredients, Garden of Life also backs up its supplements with strong third-party certifications. The B Corp formulates with USDA-certified organic ingredients, and they give back as a member of 1% for the Planet and by donating to organizations like the National Parkinson Foundation. Plus, their Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies are some of the most affordable on the market since it only takes one gummy to get you 500mg of a cider vinegar blend (including ACV and fruits like lemon, strawberry, and blueberry) along with, you guessed it, more than enough vitamin B12. The brand makes Apple Cider Vinegar Probiotic Gummies, too, into which they add two billion CFU of clinically studied probiotics. 

Customer Review | “These are my new favorite gummies. They taste great and the health benefits are outstanding! Will definitely be ordering again soon.” – Ashley B. (Read more reviews.)

4. Future Kind

American made

Cruelty free

Soy free

Third party tested

Vegan

Best For | Rigorous third-party testing
Sugar | 3g added sugar
Prices starting at | $26; $0.80/serving

Love the benefits of taking a shot of apple cider vinegar every day, but hate the taste? Future Kind’s Vegan Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies might be for you. With 500mg of ACV in each serving, the gummies have a crisp apple flavor with none of the unpleasant vinegary-ness. Made in the US, the gummies harness the benefits of ACV, including anti-inflammatory polyphenols and antioxidant-packed micronutrients derived from vinegar fermentation. Taking two apple-flavored gummies daily can help you stabilize your blood sugar and help your body better absorb the minerals from the food you eat. And, like all of Future Kind’s supplements, the gummies have a certificate from their rigorous third-party testing you can see right on the product’s listing.

Customer Review | “I honestly cannot imagine my health journey without these supplements. More energy. Less cravings. It’s all so good. I’d give 10 stars if I could.” – Susannah (Read more reviews.)

5. Trywell

BIPOC Owned

Gives back

Gluten free

Vegan

Best For | Nutrients like vitamin B6, folate, iodine
Sugar | 2g added sugar
Prices starting at | $19; $0.63/serving

Like most of the supplements on this list, Trywell’s Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies contain 500mg of apple cider vinegar to support digestive health, and they’re made with vegan pectin and a touch of sugar. But unlike the others on this list, Trywell’s gummies come in resealable plastic packaging that uses 83% less plastic than a traditional plastic bottle. The gummies also contain beetroot and pomegranate, and they even squeeze a few other beneficial vitamins and minerals in there, too, like vitamin B6, folate, iodine, and vitamin B12. The brand makes a handful of other supplements that all come in reduced plastic packaging, too, and 10% of proceeds from each sale go to organizations that support nutritional literacy among people of color and women, including Color of Change, the Equal Justice Initiative, and Black Lives Matter.

6. Primal Harvest

American made

Dairy free

Gluten free

Soy free

Third party tested

Vegan

Best For | No added sugar
Sugar | 0g added sugar
Prices starting at | $27; $0.90/serving

Primal Harvest’s Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies contain all of the good stuff — including 750mg of cider vinegar per serving — with none of the not-so-good stuff, meaning no added sugars. And each two-gummy serving contains not only 100% of your recommended daily value of vitamin B12, but also 100% of your daily folate, too, which is another essential nutrient for red blood cell formation. The gummies have zero grams of added sugar along with zero artificial flavors or colors at all, getting their color instead from purple carrot juice and beta carotene. And, like all Primal Harvest supplements, they’re made in the US of globally sourced ingredients and third-party tested to ensure quality.

Customer Review | “I have purchased a few different items from Primal Harvest and have not been disappointed yet. I take the Apple Cider Gummies a little while after a meal, and I feel they help me digest better. They have a great flavor and the added B vitamins and folic acid are an extra benefit.” – Ralph Iorio (Read more reviews.)

7. Ora Organics

Accepts insurance

Dairy free

Gives back

Gluten free

Third party tested

USDA organic

Vegan

Best For | Cider vinegar tablets
Sugar | 0g added sugar
Prices starting at | $29; $0.97/serving

Not a fan of gummies? Ora Organics’ “Appley Ever After” cider vinegar tablets give you all the benefits of cider vinegar gummies but in a swallowable pill form, if that’s more your speed (they’re better for your teeth if you’re prone to cavities!). Designed to be taken with breakfast or lunch, the tablets can help to balance your blood sugar levels and support healthy digestive functioning. They’re made with 590 mg of cider vinegar per serving, along with milk thistle seed extract to support liver health and black pepper extract for its anti-inflammatory properties, plus no added sugar, flavor, color, or preservatives. Ora donates 1% of every purchase to a nonprofit of your choice, and they put all their products through rigorous third-party testing.

Customer Review | “I love taking these after food almost like a digestive enzyme. It’s wonderful that they don’t have the bitter taste of ACV, but they work just the same.” – Sarah R. (Read more reviews.)

Featured image is from Trywell

Natalie Gale is a Boston-based freelance journalist. Since 2022, she has been reviewing the top sustainable home, wellness, fashion, and beauty products, sharing her honest opinion on the best finds. When she’s not writing about art, food, or sustainability, you can find her biking to the farmers’ market, baking, sewing, or planning her next Halloween costume. Say hi on Instagram!

The post 7 Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies For Feeling Good In 2025 appeared first on The Good Trade.

If you’ve ever had problems going #2 💩, chances are you’ve been told to up your fiber intake. But what is fiber, and where do we get it from?

Fiber is an indigestible carbohydrate, aka a food your body can’t naturally absorb. Instead, fiber must pass through your stomach, small intestine, and colon, which is why it helps your bowel movements. But wait, there’s more!

There are two types of fibers: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in water — in that way, it becomes more like a gel that can sweep your intestines clean as it moves through your digestive system. We often find soluble fiber in foods like oats, peas, legumes, fruits, and psyllium. Insoluble fiber, however, doesn’t dissolve — so it moves everything in your digestive system along and increases stool bulk (so it’s ideal for those with constipation). Insoluble fiber is found in whole-wheat products, nuts, vegetables, and potatoes. If you consume a combination of the above, a high-fiber diet will help enable regular bowel movements, lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

“If you’re lacking on the fiber front and can’t find it in your day-to-day diet due to dietary restrictions, lifestyle, or otherwise, a fiber supplement could help.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, women need between 21–25 grams of fiber a day — pregnant people could increase their fiber intake for additional health benefits as well, up to 30 grams a day. If you take too much fiber too soon, you could experience negative effects like bloating, gas, or constipation. But if you’re lacking on the fiber front and can’t find it in your day-to-day diet due to dietary restrictions, lifestyle, or otherwise, a fiber supplement could help. 

We’ve rounded up seven of the fiber supplements we recommend most for women. These fiber supplements offer 5–7 grams of fiber per serving (or about 20-30% of the recommended daily amount). It’s a good boost to help regulate your body’s digestive and gut health!

As always though, we recommend speaking with your physician or nutritionist to see if a fiber supplement is right for you.

Our criteria:

We’ve researched and personally tried the best brands in the wellness space and have found the following supplements to be the most reliable and generally tolerated of the bunch. We update this list regularly with our emerging favorites that meet the following criteria.

• HIGH-QUALITY INGREDIENTS | The supplements below use natural or organic ingredients that have been checked (in some cases, triple-checked) for quality and efficacy. Ingredients mimic natural sources of fiber we mentioned above, like organic fruits and veggies, beans, oats or bran, etc. None of the formulas include fillers.
• TRUSTED BRANDS | The seven brands below are highly reputable, leverage clinical research to inform their practices, and test formulas via third parties for efficacy and safety.
• TOLERABILITY | These supplements include a generous yet gentle amount of fiber per serving — none should be more than 30% of your daily needs which reduces the likelihood of negative side effects. The formulas also are made for a number of dietary lifestyles, so we’ve noted which options are gluten-, GMO-, or sugar-free and/or suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

1. Thorne

American made

Cruelty free

Natural materials

Vegan

Best For | Prebiotic fiber powder
Fiber Content | 7 grams per scoop (11g of powder per scoop)
Ingredients | Green tea phytosome, guar gum, larch extract, apple pectin, rice bran
Prices Starting At | $40 for 30 servings

Balance your belly’s gut health with Thorne’s FiberMend. This plant-based powder combines decaffeinated green tea, larch tree extract, apple pectic, and rice bran into a gentle formula — one that will simultaneously help digestive function, promote regularity, and balance healthy blood sugar levels. Since it’s odorless and flavorless, you can simply add one scoop a day into your preferred beverage. The fiber in this prebiotic formula is soluble, so you shouldn’t experience any bloating or gas like you might with other brands. See why many doctors, athletes, and even the Mayo Clinic recommend Thorne.

2. Garden of Life

American made

B corp

Natural materials

Vegan

Best For | Probiotics fiber powder
Fiber Content | 9 grams per scoop (27g of powder per scoop)
Ingredients | Organic flax seed, organic sprouts, organic chia, organic millet, organic lentil, organic sunflower seed sprout, organic coconut flour
Prices Starting At | $22 for 10 servings

If you prefer probiotics instead — or you simply want an all-organic option — Garden Of Life’s Organic Raw Fiber Powder is an excellent choice. It’s got nearly a third of your daily recommended serving of fiber (9 grams), as well as omega-3 fatty acids and other superfoods. What you won’t find here? Fillers, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives. In fact, it’s certified USDA organic, non-GMO, and carbon-neutral, and the formula is suitable for vegan, paleo, keto, and gluten-free diets. Say goodbye to constipation or upset stomachs and hello to better GI and heart health.

3. Love Wellness

American made

Natural materials

Vegan

Woman owned

Best For | Vegan capsules & sensitive stomachs
Fiber Content | 500 mg per serving (3 capsules)
Ingredients | Psyllium seed husk powder, organic broccoli powder, organic spinach leaf powder, organic celery seed powder, chia seed powder, flax seed powder, organic kale powder, enzyme blend
Prices Starting At | $30 for 90 capsules (1 month); discounted subscriptions available (25%)

Lo Bosworth (of “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills” fame) launched Love Wellness after personally experiencing digestive and vaginal issues for years. Today, this women’s wellness brand works with doctors to develop products for the gut, brain, and vagina. All products are non-toxic, non-irritating, and free of microbiome and endocrine disruptors. We love the Sparkle Fiber supplement, a capsule filled with super greens and enzymes, to aid with digestion. If you have a sensitive stomach, we like that Sparkle Fiber provides a lower dose of fiber so as to not upset bellies. Every bottle contains 90 capsules (you’ll take up to three capsules daily), and they’re vegan, gluten-, and dairy-free. 

4. Complete Natural Products

American made

Budget friendly

Family owned

Natural materials

Vegan

Best For | Affordable psyllium husk
Fiber Content | 1320 mg of husk per serving (2 capsules)
Ingredients | Organic psyllium husk
Prices Starting At | $13 for 100 capsules (50 servings); discounted subscriptions available (15%)

For fans of Metamucil, we recommend Complete Natural Products instead. That’s because these supplements use the same kind of fiber you’ll find in those OTC brands, but these are USDA-certified organic and vegan. All you’ll find in these capsules are organic psyllium husk and tapioca-derived pullulan so there aren’t any additives, fillers, or binders. CNP is a family-owned brand with 15+ years of experience, and products are organic, kosher, and made in the USA. One bottle contains 50 days’ worth of servings, and there’s an additional discount for subscriptions — get a year’s worth of these capsules and enjoy better digestion for less than $100.

5. mindbodygreen

American made

Family owned

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Vegan

Best For | 360-degree gut health support
Fiber Content | 6 grams per serving (8.2 grams of powder per serving)
Ingredients | Organic guar fiber, organic green kiwifruit powder, organic whole mushroom blend, prebiotics
Prices Starting At | $49 for 20 servings; discounted subscriptions available ($10 off)

Mindbodygreen’s fiber supplements leverage prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic support — aka all the comprehensive support you need for better gut health. Named Organic Fiber Potency+, this powerful blend focuses on reducing gas and bloating, improving regularity, and balancing blood sugar and healthy cholesterol levels. Nearly all diets can enjoy this supplement — it’s vegan, organic, soy-, gluten-, dairy-, and GMO-free. Best of all, the Organic Fiber Potency+ is HSA and FSA eligible through Truemed. Easily invest in your long-term health with this once-a-day serving.

6. Supergut

Dairy free

Gluten free

Natural materials

Soy free

Subscriptions available

Vegan

Best For | Daily gut‑microbiome support, appetite control & metabolic balance
Fiber Content | 6 grams per serving
Ingredients | Resistant starch (green banana powder, Solnul® resistant potato starch), oat beta‑glucan, soluble vegetable fiber (corn), non‑GMO plant‑based blend, with zero added sugar, vegan & low‑FODMAP friendly
Prices Starting At | $27 for 20 20-serving canister; discounted subscription model

Supergut Foundational Daily Fiber is a smart, science-backed way to support your gut every day. It combines green banana resistant starch to help feed your microbiome, oat beta‑glucan for natural GLP‑1 support, and a gentle soluble‑plus‑insoluble fiber blend for smooth digestion without discomfort. We love it for supporting gut health, managing cravings, and building a simple daily fiber habit. We also love that this formula is non‑GMO, vegan, glyphosate‑free, and gluten‑free. It blends easily into coffee, yogurt, oatmeal, or smoothies and the travel-friendly packets make it easy to have your fiber on the go!

7. Pure Encapsulations

Dairy free

Gluten free

Natural materials

Soy free

Vegan

Best For | Overall G.I. function, detoxification & balance
Fiber Content | 4 grams per serving (8.9 grams of powder per scoop)
Ingredients | Psyllium husk, flax, l-glutamine, deglycyrrhizinated licorice extract, marshmallow extract, aloe vera, slippery elm, triphala, belleric myrobalan, amla, stevia
Prices Starting At | $52 for 45 servings; discounted subscriptions available (10%)

Pure Encapsulations G.I. Fortify is a premium gastrointestinal support supplement designed to promote gut health, regularity, and detoxification in a highly tolerable and convenient powder form. Formulated with a blend of high-quality fibers, nutrients, and soothing herbs, this product supports bowel movement frequency, colon function, and microflora balance. Key ingredients include psyllium for healthy stool formation and microflora support, flaxseed for its lignans and essential fatty acids, and glutamine to enhance gut integrity and the mucosal lining. Trusted for its purity, G.I. Fortify is free from unnecessary additives, common allergens, and GMOs, making it gentle on the gut and suitable for those with sensitive stomachs.

SHOP pure encapsulations

8. HUM Nutrition

American made

Budget friendly

Natural materials

Recycled materials

Vegan

Best For | Affordable gummies
Fiber Content | 5 grams per serving (3 gummies)
Ingredients | Prebiotic fiber, chlorophyll, celery juice powder, natural sweetener
Prices Starting At | $20 for 60 gummies (20 servings); discounted subscriptions available (20%)

HUM Nutrition’s best known for its affordable, effective, and delicious wellness products. To help you feel good from the inside out, the team highly prioritizes quality ingredients and clinical research. Everything’s GMO-free, produced in GMP-certified facilities, and even packaged in sustainable materials. The Celery Juice Fiber Gummies acts as a natural detox for your gut and digestive health; three daily gummies provides you with five grams of fiber as well as vitamin A, C, B6, K1, folate, and chlorophyll — it’s an all-in-one! Find HUM online (and sign up for a discounted subscription) or in stores like Target.

The post 8 Best Natural Fiber Supplements For Women (2025) appeared first on The Good Trade.

We’ve personally used and researched the best nut milk makers on the market — these are our top picks.

Whether you’re vegan or simply love the taste of plant-based milk, you are likely familiar with the struggle of finding an affordable nut milk option that isn’t full of seed oils and other questionable ingredients (looking at you, dipotassium phosphate). The good news is, making nut milk at home is incredibly easy, even for those who find DIY challenging. The below nut milk makers require minimal ingredients, less than five minutes, and voila — tasty nut milk without fillers or preservatives! 

Does homemade nut milk need to be fortified?

Because homemade nut- and plant-based milks aren’t fortified like those you can buy in the store, they are often lower in vitamin D and calcium. This isn’t typically an issue as long as you’re receiving your vitamins and nutrients from other sources, like foods high in calcium and vitamin D or quality supplements. If you wish to fortify your nut milk though, you can go a few ways about it. Some brands offer blends to fortify your homemade milk (like this one from Milky Plant). You can also add powder supplements to the milk or ground-up supplements of Vitamin D and calcium (or other vitamins!).

Our criteria:

Our editors have tested, researched, and read thousands of customer reviews to determine the best nut milk makers on the market. All of these brands are simple to use and clean. We’ve included options at various price points so that you can make milk at home, no matter your budget. We frequently update this list with new favorites that meet our criteria below.

• DURABILITY | We use a lot of nut milk in our house, so we have scoured the internet to find machines that will last for many years (and batches of milk making). 
• PRICE | We’ve included nut milk makers in several different price categories so you can decide what best suits your needs and wallet!
• WARRANTY | We’ve included brands offering customer service and warranty options so you can shop confidently and easily.

Pair your nut milk with one of our favorite fair trade coffee brands.

1. Almond Cow

Eco friendly packaging

Small business

Warranty offered

Best For | Nut milk in less than a minute 
Features | Powered by a single button, no secondary filtration or emulsification needed, free shipping
Price | $250

Our team has personally tested the Almond Cow and continues to use this nut milk maker weekly for fresh cashew, almond, and coconut milks. It’s so easy to use and only requires four ingredients (nuts of choice, salt, water, and a dash of vanilla extract), though the recipe book has endless options for different types of milks and ways to use the leftover pulp. The glass jug with the cute cow is one of our favorites for storing fresh milk in the fridge — it truly brightens our day when we see it. And we love how the Almond Cow is super easy to clean! The starter kit comes with a brush for easy scrubbing and we love that this machine has very few parts.

Our Editor’s Review | “When I tell you the instructions were fool-proof and simple—I’m truly confident my two-year-old nephew could use this thing and make a perfect batch. You simply fill your milk maker with water, place your ingredients in the cup, screw on the lid, plug it in, and press the happy cow button on top.” – Kayti Christian, Senior Content Strategist [Read our full review.]

2. Nutr

Budget friendly

Eco friendly packaging

Small business

Warranty offered

Best For | Affordable single-serve nut milk maker
Features | Three blend settings, self-cleaning function, portable, free shipping
Prices | $169

For an affordable, single-serving option (if you live alone or happen to be the only plant milk drinker at your house!), we look to Nutr. Founded in 2021, the wellness brand has been featured on Shark Tank and launched with its signature Nutr Machine — a smart device that creates fresh and nutritious dairy-free milks at the push of a button. They’ve since expanded to include larger nut milk makers for families, but we still gravitate towards the single-serving option for ourselves. The The built-in self-cleaning function makes clean-up a breeze and at only 3 pounds, the machine is compact enough for any counter and easy to transport when traveling.

Customer Review | “LOVE this invention I’m so glad I got it! I use it to create almond milk and oat milk for my cereal, teas and of course latte’s! It’s the perfect amount for a single serving. I even made the cashew cream and it was delectable.” (Read more reviews.)

3. GROWUP

Eco friendly packaging

Small business

Warranty offered

Best For | Smart machine with a touchscreen
Features | Patent-pending filtration technology, safety certifications 
Price | $250

If you’re looking for more of a heavy-duty appliance to create the perfect cup of nut milk, you may be looking for GROWUP’s nut milk machine. The patent-pending technology uses vacuum and filtration to extract the milk and when the milk is pumped out, the pulp stays inside the filter. The machine differs from others in that the extraction process is automated and you can blend nine different plant-based options on the menu — the machine blends each plant base for a specific time, producing milk with the ideal texture for each plant base. Basically, it’s AI for milk-making! Parts are dishwasher safe and there is a “clean function.” GROWUP is also Certified by Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories and ETL to ensure safety against electrical fires, shocks, and hazards.

Customer Review | “I’ve only made hemp milk so far, and the quality and taste is dramatically better than what I was buying from the store.” – Patrick  (Read more reviews.)

4. Soyabella®

Budget friendly

Eco friendly packaging

Warranty offered

Best For | Raw, unheated milk
Features | Patented helical structure and serrated edge on the grinder, built-in safety features, two-year warranty
Prices | $109

For a nut milk maker coming in at just over $100, we love the Soyabella by Tribest, a California-based company that’s been in the wellness product business for over 35 years. We love that this machine can make unheated, raw nut milk, heated plant-based milk, as well as puréed soups, superfood cereals, nut and seed creams, and more. It has built-in safety features, is easy to clean, and is made with food-safe stainless steel. Oh, and it makes up to five and half cups of milk! What’s not to love?

Customer Review | “I love my plant based milk maker. So easy and quick to make delicious drinks for cereal or just plain amazing to drink. And its easy to clean!” – Lynn (Read more reviews.)

5. Bonavita

Eco friendly packaging

Third party tested

Warranty offered

Best For | Large batches of nut milk
Features | BPA free, CETL certified, makes up to two liters, commercially tested
Price | $500

If you’re looking to make some serious batches of nut milk, we recommend the Bonavita machine. It makes up to two liters in less than 12 minutes and, unlike any other nut processor, its revolutionary design is patented, BPA-free, and CETL certified (we love that!). This machine is also commercially tested, so if you run a coffee shop or small restaurant, this is the perfect machine for healthy, fresh nut milk. It’s also dishwasher safe for cleaning and comes with a one year warranty.

Customer Review | “I LOVE my new NutraMilk machine. It has been a lifesaver to make fresh and delicious nut and seed milks for my son who has a dairy allergy (and legume and nut allergies) making it difficult to drink any other kind of store bought alternative milks. I love everything about it! It is such an incredible invention, easy to use, and high quality design. Worth every penny!” – Kimley (Read more reviews.)

6. Milky Plant

BIPOC Owned

Eco friendly packaging

Gives back

Made in the UK

Small business

Warranty offered

Woman owned

Best For | Nut milk maker with UK, EU, and USA compatibility 
Features | Self-cleaning, makes milk with the press of a button, savings calculator, one-year warranty 
Price | £340

For a milk maker that’s available in the UK, Europe, USA, and Australia, we love Milky Plant! This machine makes plant-based milk in less than three minutes, has a self-cleaning feature, and is sleek enough to display on your countertop. We also love that this UK-based brand gives back; for every order, they plant five trees and give back 1% to pressing environmental issues. The savings calculator is also a fun way to see how much money you’ve saved by making the transition from store bought milk to homemade! The fun glass bottle collection is just an added bonus.

Customer Review | “I absolutely love my machine. Easy to use and we have been saving a fortune these past few months using this.” – John (Read more reviews.)

7. Vitamix A3500

Warranty offered

Best For | A blender and food processor that is also a nut milk maker
Features | Touch screen, self-cleaning, five program settings, ten-year warranty
Prices Starting At | $700

Don’t let the price tag on this bad boy scare you: the Vitamix A3500 is much more than a nut milk maker (yet it’s also a nut milk maker!). It has five program settings for smoothies, soups, dips, spreads, desserts, and self-cleaning. It has built-in wireless connectivity to evolve with the latest innovations for years to come, and it basically functions on its own with touchscreen controls and a built-in timer (though you can manually fine-tune any recipe as well). Vitamix also comes with a 10-year warranty and is perfect for the family looking to make nut milks at home, and also so much more.

Our Editor’s Review | “With five program modes, a self-cleaning feature, touch controls, and a rather lightweight pitcher, putting together recipes or blending was seriously a breeze.” – Stephanie Valente, Contributing Editor. [Read our full review.]

Kayti Christian is a Senior Content Strategist at The Good Trade. With an MFA in Nonfiction Creative Writing, her work has appeared in TODAY, Shondaland, and The New York Times. Since 2017, Kayti has been uncovering and reviewing the best sustainable home brands and wellness products. Her personal journey through four years of fertility treatments has inspired her to write extensively about women’s healthcare and reproductive access. Beyond her work at The Good Trade, Kayti is the creator of phone notes, a Substack newsletter with 7,000 subscribers, and the cohost of the FriedEggs Podcast, which delves into IVF and infertility.

The post 7 Best Nut Milk Makers For Easy Homemade Milk appeared first on The Good Trade.