Frequently Asked Questions

New Chapter’s Probiotic Nutrients™ deliver vitamins and minerals in the form of probiotically cultured whole food rather than the chemical forms found in conventional vitamin and mineral supplements. Research has shown that nutrients from cultured foods are more potent, bioavailable, and safer than the synthesized or isolated forms. Probiotic Nutrients are also the only line of nutritional supplements made with at least 70% organic ingredients and certified by a third party to the USDA’s National Organics Program.

Unlike conventional vitamins and minerals, New Chapter’s vitamins and minerals are food. Better yet, they are pre-digested, organic cultured food. So when you take New Chapter vitamins your stomach is NOT empty: it has inside it a good friend – cultured organic food – waiting to be comfortably digested. New Chapter’s Organic Probiotic Nutrients are also rich in ferment metabolites, bacteriocins and plant enzymes, and they are thus soothing to the entire gastrointestinal tract and promote digestion, detoxification and elimination.

New Chapter’s Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Regulatory Compliance team have over 47 years combined experience divided equally between New Chapter and related industry experience. From Paul Schulick, New Chapter’s Founder & Chairman, down through the organization, all New Chapter Associates share in our commitment to quality. 
New Chapter requires that all lots of raw materials used for the manufacture of our products are tested for potency markers, heavy metal contamination and/or microbiological content. Our co-processors forward this information on a Certificate of Analysis for our approval prior to use or shipping. We randomly verify information contained on C of A’s through third-party laboratory analysis.
New Chapter does finished product testing on weights, potency, marker assays, micro and heavy metals. We also do expiration date testing on a random basis for the duration of declared shelf life: 18 months to 3 years.

Short answer: they are not. We reject the theory that supplementation must be taken in huge doses of inert or bi-phasic isolated vitamins. It is a common misunderstanding that milligrams measure potency. They do not! Milligrams measure only weight and do not reflect cellular activity. New Chapter’s Organic Probiotic Nutrients™ deliver biotransformed vitamins and minerals in their finest cultured form, much in the same way as miso, kefir, tempeh, and yogurt. Research consistently demonstrates that New Chapter’s Organic Probiotic Nutrients are more active than conventional isolated or synthetic vitamins.

New Chapter currently offers one product specifically designed for children called Immunity Take Care™ for Kids.  Other products that were not specifically designed for children but may be safely administered under the guidance of a healthcare practitioner include: Wholemega™, Ginger Honey Tonic, All-Flora™ and Berry Green®.

All of New Chapter's products are formulated to support the nutritional needs of the body and maintain its healthy function and structure. The FDA prohibits us from recommending or prescribing products to individuals for disease conditions, however, we can suggest that you speak with a licensed healthcare provider familiar with nutritional supplements to see if one or more New Chapter supplements may be appropriate to optimize your health. Additionally, on our website you may view specific health support protocols by utilizing our Vitamin and Supplement Advisor designed by New Chapter’s Director of Medical Education, Dr. Taryn Forrelli.

All of our New Chapter products are formulated for adult human beings. Please consult with a veterinarian who specializes in holistic and complimentary care to see if and at what suggested usage you may use an herbal, mushroom, or nutritional supplement product for your pet's specific needs.

No.

Yes. All New Chapter products are naturally gluten-free.

Generally, corn allergies or sensitivities are a response to the protein portion of the grain, and since maltodextrin is derived from corn starch, it rarely creates immune responses in individuals sensitive to corn protein. However, trace amounts of the protein may be present and we recommend that individuals speak with their health care practitioners about their personal experience with products containing maltodextrin to determine if they are appropriate. 

The only New Chapter product that contains dairy is Probiotic Immunity™. The form of dairy in this product is probiotically cultured organic milk which is similar to yogurt or kefir.

Although true soy allergies are very rare, many people have difficulty digesting unfermented soy. Whole, unprocessed soy contains nutrient blocking factors, such as phytate, which interfere with its potential benefits. Fermented soy, on the other hand, agrees with almost everyone, even people with soy sensitivities. Probiosis of soy also changes isoflavones from inert forms into their activated aglycone genestein, dadzein, and glycitein forms.

Yes. New Chapter's Probiotics deliver non-GMO organic soy in its fermented whole-food form, similar to miso, tempeh and natto. Unlike unfermented soy or isolated soy components, these traditional soy foods have been consumed for thousands of years and are associated with the health and longevity of traditional Asian cultures.  Many research studies suggest that regular consumption of fermented soy is associated with numerous health benefits, including the maintenance of normal cell growth in breast tissue.*

Yes. A recent peer-reviewed scientific review of fourteen clinical trials examining the effects of soy on the thyroid concluded that in the absence of an iodine deficiency, there is little evidence that soy foods or soy isoflavones adversely affect thyroid function and that “hypothyroid individuals need not avoid soy foods.” In fact, some studies suggest that soy may actually promote normal thyroid cell growth. To help ensure healthy thyroid function, our Probiotic Nutrients™ contain a whole-food form of iodine.

New Chapter® cannot provide information about combining prescription medicines with herbal or nutritional supplements. We suggest you always advise your prescribing physician or pharmacist about the use of dietary or herbal supplements. Only he or she can determine the risk for herb-drug interactions and supervise your response to the prescribed therapy*. You may also want to consider consulting with a qualified expert in herbal and nutritional therapy on this matter. For a referral database of licensed Naturopathic Physicians and Holistic Medical Doctors in your area, please visit: www.naturopathic.org or www.holisticmedicine.org.
Herb-drug interactions have been identified with respect to a handful of herbs and vitamins, however the vast majority of this information remains unknown. While herbal medicine has experienced a long history of safe use, this history has not included many of the modern pharmaceutical medications that are frequently used today. By making your health care provider aware of your supplement regimen, you are protecting yourself from any known potential interactions and allowing for any future information on this topic to come to light.

Perfect Prenatal™, Wholemega® Prenatal, Ginger Honey Tonic, Berry Green®, Probiotic All-Flora®, Immunity Take Care®, and Bone Strength Take Care® are the only products New Chapter recommends for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Although many herbs and nourishing whole foods have long been used to promote health and comfort during pregnancy, the majority have simply not been thoroughly evaluated in clinical studies for safety during this cherished phase in a woman's life. Therefore, we suggest that pregnant or breastfeeding women use any of our products only after consulting with their health care provider or qualified expert in herbal and nutritional medicine.

These herbal extracts, formulated by Founder & Chairman Paul Schulick, contain medicinal spices like those grown at our Costa Rican certified organic farm. These healing herbs are extracted using a dense, superfluid form of carbon dioxide and are concentrated up to 300 times. Although it is safe to take our supercritical extracts on an empty stomach, we recommend taking them with meals, as they may create a slightly warming feeling in the stomach for some individuals who are not used to such concentrated healing spices. When taken with a meal, that healing heat will work to activate phytonutrients in the herbs while facilitating optimal digestion.

NOT UNTIL AFTER THESE PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN OPENED, New Chapter's "live active culture" probiotics are designed to be shelf-stable in their growth medium and deliver the labeled potency of probiotic species for the life of the product. To maintain optimal effectiveness, we suggest refrigerating all live probiotics after opening and using them before the date on bottle.

In early 2010, New Chapter launched a newly reformulated series of Every Woman and Every Man multi-vitamins. Driving the reformulation was the desire to incorporate the latest innovations in whole-food nutrient sourcing, update nutrient levels based on the most current science, deliver more herbal support, and enhance compliance by reducing the number of tablets required per serving.  Examples of these changes include:

• An increase in the level of probiotic vitamin D3 in all multi-vitamins from 400 IU per serving to 1000 IU which is the amount of vitamin D most nutritional experts now believe is required on a daily basis for maintaining healthy blood levels
• The addition of Lithothamnion, a sea algae featured in our Bone Strength Take Care, as a whole-food source of bioavailable calcium and magnesium
• The addition of Vitamin K2 (MK-7) from Natto, the only clinically researched form of vitamin K2.  Vitamin K2 is now understood to be essential for proper calcium utilization throughout the body.
• A change in the serving size of Every Woman and Every Man from 3 tablets to 2 tablets and of Every Woman 2 and Every Man 2 from 6 tablets to 3 tablets.
• An increase in the total amount of herbal support in Every Woman One Daily and Every Man One Daily from 12 mg to 100 mg.

Zyflamend® is an extensively researched patented formulation comprised of specialized extracts of ten herbs and spices, many of which have been used for thousands of years by millions of people to promote health and longevity. The product was formulated based on a large body of scientific research showing that these ten herbs contain hundreds of plant compounds that support a healthy inflammation response.* The herbs are delivered in their whole form, as they are found in the diet, rather than isolated plant constituents, and many are extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide to concentrate the herbal constituents and maximize their effectiveness. Zyflamend® is currently being researched at Columbia University and the Cleveland Clinic. It enjoys enthusiastic world-wide support from physicians and patients alike.

Both! Zyflamend® works to promote a healthy inflammation response, which is required for maintaining the health of joint cartilage.

Yes, Wholemega is tested by independent laboratories for peroxides/TOTOX value (measures of freshness), heavy metals, PCB, and dioxins. The results confirm that the oil meets and exceeds the Norwegian Medicinal Standard as well as the standards set by the Council for Responsible Nutrition and GOED for heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins and freshness. Wholemega is also tested to verify the levels of fatty acids, vitamin D and astaxanthin claimed on the label.

Refrigeration may cause the oil to precipitate making it appear cloudy, however, the quality or beneficial effects of the oil will not be negatively affected.

Many nutritional experts, including the American Heart Association, recommend that healthy individuals consume 2 servings of fish per week or 250-500 mg of omega 3s per day. Every 2 gram serving of Wholemega delivers the 500 mg of omega 3 fatty acids from wild-Alaskan salmon along with other beneficial omegas and vital nutrients such as vitamin D and astaxanthin.  When taken daily, it provides on a weekly basis the equivalent amount of EPA and DHA contained in two and half servings (3.5 oz) of wild Alaskan salmon.  Thus, Wholemega provides a convenient means of obtaining the food-form and food-dose omega 3s so many experts recommend.

The recommended calcium intake for adults is 1000-1300 milligrams per day and is inclusive of both dietary and supplemental calcium. Since the average diet supplies roughly 500-600 mg of calcium a day, it is only necessary to supplement the remaining 500-800 mg per day. A serving of New Chapter's Bone Strength Take Care^® provides 770 mg of elemental calcium from Lithothamnion, a sea plant rich in bioavailable calcium. Therefore, combined with dietary calcium, one serving of Bone Strength Take Care (3 tablets) a day allows one to meet the calcium recommendations being made by their physician and other health authorities.

Ideally, it is best to take one Immunity Take Care^® lozenge daily to help maintain healthy immune health. However, the product can also be used to support defenses when they are challenged. If using the product in this way, we suggest taking 2-4 lozenges daily.

New Chapter is dedicated to delivering the most effective and innovative dietary supplements available. This requires continual evaluation of available science and raw materials. With our new line of LifeShield mushrooms we were able to introduce several new innovations to mushroom supplementation.  First, the LifeShield formulations only contain species of mushrooms supported by both science and tradition. Next is the delivery of the whole mushroom lifecycle – the mycelium, extracellular exudates, fruiting bodies and spores. Each stage of a mushroom’s life cycle adds unique and critical nutrients, which leads to greater activity and protection. Unfortunately, some growers interrupt mushrooms’ life cycles after just two weeks. But New Chapter’s LifeShield Mushrooms are grown for the full cycle -- up to 90 days – to deliver the mushroom’s whole protective shield. Third is the use of superior strains of mushrooms or mushrooms that are selected for the highest Growth Potential. By using such high quality strains, New Chapter offers yet another innovation and a natural products industry first: a line of tonic mushrooms grown and crafted exclusively in the USA that guarantees potency with a minimum level of 15% beta-glucans.

No, the mushroom constituents delivered in hot water extracts have not been proven to be any more bioavailable than from the dry heat-treated whole mushroom powders featured in New Chapter’s LifeShield® mushroom products. Both processes serve to break down cell wall chitin so that the biologically active polysaccharides, such as beta-glucans, can be absorbed and used by the body. Because not all mushroom constituents are soluble in water (i.e. triterpenes and sterols), the obvious drawback to hot water extracts is that they do not deliver the full-spectrum of mushroom bioactives.  New Chapter takes a holistic approach to mushroom therapy.  We believe that the greatest benefits for immune, respiratory, cognitive and liver health as well as overall vitality will be achieved when the whole protective shield of mushroom compounds from the mycelia, fruiting body, spores and ferment metabolites are delivered.  And, because each LifeShield® mushroom product is Potency Assured to provide a minimum of 15% beta-1,3/1,6-glucans, optimum benefit is guaranteed.

New Chapter's CalMag Bone Health™ formula has been used by thousands of people for bone health benefits in an extremely bioavailable whole food form for many years now. The product delivers a 1:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium, trace minerals such as iodine, zinc, copper, manganese, silica, organic cultured herbal extracts, superfoods and spices and an array of bioactive probiotic ferment metabolites created during the fermentation/biotransformation process.  Because both calcium and magnesium are relatively large molecules (by weight), more 1500 mg of organic food is required to fully incorporate 75 mg of the minerals into a whole food glycoprotein matrix using our dual-stage probiotic fermentation process.  Thus, one serving (3 tablets) of CalMag Bone HealthTM delivers 75 mg of calcium and 75 mg of magnesium.  CalMag Bone HealthTM is an excellent product for maintaining bone health.

New Chapter's Bone Strength Take Care® product delivers a whole food calcium complex along with other nutrients important for bone health, including vitamin D3 and vitamin K2. The calcium complex in Bone Strength Take Care is derived from a mineral-rich form of sea algae called Lithothamnion that is sustainably harvested from pristine waters along the coast of Iceland.  Calcium represents 32% of the make-up of Lithothamnion calcareum while magnesium represents 2%.  Thus, there is 770 mg of calcium and 58 mg of magnesium provided in each serving (3 tablets) of Bone Strength Take Care. Lithothamnion is also a natural source of dozens of other trace minerals important for bone health including strontium, vanadium and silica.  To complete the formula and ensure proper calcium absorption and utilization, Bone Strength Take Care contains 1000 IU of probiotic vitamin D3 as well as a form of natural vitamin K2 extracted from natto that has been clinically shown to promote bone health.* This form of vitamin K is the most bioavailable, bioactive, longest lasting form available. This one of a kind bone strengthening formula is the ideal choice for individuals seeking aggressive bone support.

New Chapter offers two holy basil products. Both provide the healing benefits of this traditional Ayurvedic herb, but because different methods of herbal extraction are utilized in the processing of the herb, each provides slightly different ratios of the plant’s active constituents. Our original Holy Basil product is extracted using water and alcohol and delivered in a veggie capsule, making it suitable for vegetarians. It is Potency Assured™ for ursolic acid, one the plant’s key constituents. Holy Basil Force offers the advantage of supercritical extraction, a process that is especially good at extracting the oily plant constituents (concentrating them 50 times), which are often difficult to extract using conventional methods or without resorting to the use of chemical solvents. We combine the supercritical extract with a water and alcohol extract to provide the most complete representation of all the plant compounds present in the whole herb. Holy Basil Force is Potency Assured™ for ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, rosmarinic acid, eugenol and caryophyllenes. It is delivered in a gelcap.

St. John’s Wort is widely recognized for its ability to safely and naturally support positive emotional health. St. John’s SC27, New Chapter’s original St John’s Wort formula, contains a supercritical extract of the herb, and is Potency Assured™ for hyperforins, a fat-soluble constituent considered to be central to the herb’s positive effect on emotional health. Cutting-edge research has revealed that multiple classes of both fat-soluble and water-soluble phytonutrients, including hyperforins and hypericins, are independently capable of producing beneficial effects, but all of the phytonutrients working in synergy will produce optimum benefit. Following this discovery, New Chapter formulated Serofin, a St. John’s Wort product containing both the supercritical extract found in SC27 and separate hydroethanolic extract of the herb Potency Assured™ for the water-soluble constituent hypericin. While most people consider Serofin to be a superior formulation providing the broadest-spectrum of active constituents, we continue to offer.

The cranberry extracts in Urinary Tract Take Care^® and Candida Take Care^® have been created in different ways so as deliver the unique set of herbal chemistries that target a health benefit. The cranberry extract in Candida Take Care is specifically optimized to maintain a healthy balance of yeast while in Urinary Take Care, the cranberry extract is specifically optimized to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria. To aid in this effect, an optimized extract of cinnamon is added.

Candida Take Care^® has less than one half gram carbohydrates per serving – most come from the excipients, but a good percentage (40%) comes from the actual cranberry extract. The small amount of carbohydrates present in Candida Take Care has not been shown to affect the efficacy of the products microbial balancing properties.

Not yet! Currently, over half of our products are either certified organic or made with at least 70% organic ingredients. As a certified organic company New Chapter is committed to the organic movement and will continue to source the finest organic ingredients whenever possible. Please refer to the product label or catalog information for the organic status of individual products.

Approximately 75% of all New Chapter products have been verified as fully compliant to the Non-GMO Project Standard. To date, New Chapter is the only supplement company to have achieved this breadth of compliance.  For more information on the Non-GMO project and the complete list of verified New Chapter products, please visit: http://www.nongmoproject.org/consumers/search-participating-products/search/?brandId=322.

All of the following New Chapter products are considered vegan: Daily Ginger®, Baikal Skullcap, Broccolive® Plus, Berry Green™, Supercritical Diet & Energy™, Green & White Tea Force, Aloe Vera Force™, Probiotic All-Flora®, Chlorella Regularis, Rhodiolaforce 100 & 300™, Holy Basil, Smooth Food 2™, CoffeeBerry™, Probiotic Anti-Aging, and Probiotic Colon™, Candida Take Care™, Histamine Take Care™, Immunity Take Care™, Urinary Take Care™, LycoPom, and Zyflamend Vcaps, and E and Selenium.

New Chapter’s Probiotic Nutrients™ Made with Organic Ingredients do not meet strict vegan standards as the vitamin D utilized for culturing with organic whole food ingredients in our vitamin D-containing products is derived from wool wax.

The following Probiotic Nutrient formulas contain vitamin D: Every Man®, Every Man® II, Every Man®’s One Daily, Every Woman®, Every Woman® II, Every Woman®’s One Daily, Every Woman®’s Inner Beauty, Only One™, Perfect Prenatal™, and Tiny Tabs Multi™ and Bone Strength Take Care™.

Yes, New Chapter is certified by several third parties. We are GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) registered by NSF International, the world's leading expert in independent GMP audits and product safety.  Additionally, New Chapter and many of its co-processors are certified to the standards of the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP), as well as, in certain instances, the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) and the European Organic Standard (EEC 2092/91). The third party agency providing New Chapter's limited organic certification is by International Certification Services (ICS). Luna Nueva, our organic ginger and turmeric farm in Costa Rica, is certified biodynamic by Demeter International, the largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture and the oldest traditional organic certification in Europe. New Chapter follows all GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) protocols for GMP compliance and is currently operating under the FDA's guidelines as mandated in 21 CFR for the food industry Parts 100 - 169. We also have a certified Site License with Health Canada's Natural Health Products Directorate, which we renew every year.

Because supercritical extracts are so highly concentrated, they will dissolve most vegetarian capsules. However, we are working with a technology that allows us to offer Zyflamend®, our best-selling supercritical herbal formula, in a vegetarian capsule.

Estrotone® supports both pre- and post-menopausal hormone imbalances. Estrotone contains full spectrum, whole-herb extracts of schizandra, ginger, black cohosh, chastetree and rosemary. The phytonutrients in these herbs safely promote hormone balance, inactivate free radicals associated with aging, and modulate 5-lipoxygenase, thereby promoting normal bone growth and breast health. Supercritically extracted Evening Primrose oil, providing a rich source of the Omega 6 fatty acid GLA, is also added to Estrotone to support hormonal health.

If you are seeking to support hormone balance in the body, your doctor might also want to consider suggesting New Chapter’s Organic Every Woman® II for a balanced broad spectrum multi-vitamin supplement and Broccolive® Plus to support the liver’s role in maintaining hormone balance and detoxification.

DARTvision™ is a breakthrough analytical tool that allows for the accurate identification of the full range of chemistries in a botanical. Information provided by DARTvision™ can help to identify key bioactive chemistries in a botanical. DARTvision™ analysis verifies that herbal extracts created using a chemical-free extraction process are dose-assured i.e. contain the same profile and potency of critical components in every dose. New Chapter is the only nutraceutical company currently selling herbal extracts researched with DARTvision™.