The wellness industry is a wild marketplace. You can't trust the marketing alone, and FDA regulation is quite limited. It pays to be cautious. So for this year's Black Friday, we sifted through the markdowns, cross-checked claims, verified third-party tests, and sampled the supplements so you don't have to. If you're looking to stock up or invest in a healthier routine, these are wellness supplements and protein powder deals we'd trust with both our own bodies and wallet.
I'll be refreshing this list with the latest sales, so check back often. For more intel, check out our Best Black Friday Deals roundup or our Black Friday liveblog.
WIRED's Featured Deals
Best Protein Powder Deals
Ritual’s Essential Protein Daily Shake is our top recommendation for women’s protein powder. It’s generally pricier than its competitors, but a $15 discount makes the cost more digestible. Its pea protein is enhanced with L-methionine, and each serving also contains four grams of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Ritual is a great supplement for sensitive stomachs as it’s free from GMOs, stevia, sugar alcohols, and artificial sweeteners. It’s also soy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. Bonus: It’s certified by the Clean Label Project.
Promix Grass-Fed Whey Isolate is a highly digestible protein powder that has been micro-filtered to contain less than 1 gram of lactose, which makes it suitable for individuals with sensitive stomachs. Each scoop delivers 30 grams of protein, as well as 6.6 grams of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and 14.2 grams of essential amino acids. It’s obviously made for protein shakes, but I personally prefer using this supplement in baked goods.
Best Electrolyte Powder Deals
If reviewer Louryn Strampe had a music festival starter pack, Liquid I.V. would be an essential. After downing one of these, her sore throat, dry nostrils, and head instantly feel better. Liquid I.V. comes in 20-plus flavors that will make your water taste sweeter, like passion fruit, mango, and strawberry lemonade. Each packet comes with electrolytes and eight vitamins and nutrients, including vitamin C and B vitamins.
If you prefer fizzy tablets that you can just throw into a glass or water bottle, Plink is refreshing and offers a carbonation that recalls seltzer water. (Though, if you do toss it into a water bottle, leave it momentarily open so the gases can escape.) Plink comes in three flavors—Pineapple Grapefruit, Watermelon, and Pomegranate Berry—but I'd recommend the Variety Pack if you're new to the brand.
Reviewer Louryn Strampe loves the Peach Mango flavor, but she'd also recommend the Blueberry Pomegranate and Piña Colada. In addition to electrolytes, each packet also contains lion's mane mushroom and magnesium L-threonate to boost cognitive health. Fortunately, according to Strampe, the mix doesn't taste like shrooms, but it does have an earthy tang to it.
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