My 6 Month Journey Testing Essential Elements Nutrition Supplements
As someone who has personally tested supplements and vitamins from over 50 top brands, I get asked constantly for my take on the latest health fads. Essential Elements Nutrition kept appearing on my radar, with friends and family wanting my opinion. Known for science-backed formulations free of shady additives, EE offers a little bit of everything. But were their products worth the investment? I decided to find out.
Over the past 6 months, I incorporated a variety of Essential Elements supplements into my routine, tracking my results and gathering feedback from those I shared samples with. Below I cover my in-depth thoughts on this brand‘s strengths and weaknesses.
Overview of Essential Elements Nutrition
Founded in 2013, Essential Elements focuses on using quality ingredients linked to targeted wellness goals, whether that’s hair growth, joint support, immune defense, or athletic performance. You won’t find any useless fillers or artificial junk in their line.
EE partners with third-party labs for rigorous contaminant testing, manufacturing occurs in FDA-registered facilities, and all ingredients are non-GMO verified. These are all reassuring signs of quality and transparency lacking in much of the notorious supplement industry.
While Essential Elements doesn’t disclose much about specific quality control procedures, their commitment to science-backed formulations does set them apart from the endless peddlers of pseudo-health hype and magic pills.
The Supplements I Tested
Over two delivery cycles, I tested the following Essential Elements products:
- Collagen Peptides – for skin, hair, nails
- Elderberry Gummies – immune support
- Glucosamine Chondroitin – joint health
- Hydration Variety Pack – workout recovery
- Magnesium Complex – sleep and muscle relaxation
- Multi Collagen Protein – anti-aging and vitality
I selected this range to target some of my own wellness goals while also gathering broad feedback. The following sections share my in-depth analysis.
Collagen Peptides – My Favorite for Beauty Perks
Collagen supplements promise to restore the plump elasticity of our youth. But do they deliver? I was skeptical to say the least.
After mixing EE‘s powdered collagen peptides into my morning coffee for 3 months, both me and my friends noticed:
- Less joint cracking and pain even after tough workouts
- Skin Looking brighter and more firm
- Nails growing crazy fast and strong
- Significant hair growth – my ponytail feels thicker!
Backed by 5 grams of collagen per serving alongside Vitamin C to optimize absorption, this checked all the boxes. The mild taste stirred into drinks easily. At $34 for a month‘s supply, it provides good value too. Out of EE’s selections, this earns my highest marks.
| Collagen Peptides | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Dosage | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Taste | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Elderberry Gummies – Big Immune Boost!
I‘m obsessed with these Elderberry Gummies! They pack a tasty punch of immune-energizing vitamin C, antioxidant-rich elderberries, bacteria-fighting ginger, and mineral zinc. I noticed:
- Far fewer seasonal colds than normal
- Greater energy – could be the vitamin B addition
- Less inflammation and faster recovery from tough workouts
- My dad‘s chronic sinus issues disappeared!
Made with pectin instead of gelatin, these gummies are vegan and free of the most common allergens. The flavor strikes a nice balance between tart and sweet. My only complaint is the tub‘s huge size – not exactly purse-friendly. At $33 for a 3-month supply, these became a daily staple I can‘t live without!
| Elderberry Gummies | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Dosage | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Taste | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Glucosamine Chondroitin – Powerful Joint Saver
Active folks and athletes need to be proactive protecting joints from inevitable wear and tear. After a decade battling osteoarthritis flare-ups in my knees, I avoid running without my trusty glucosamine chondroitin pills. Most brands leave a nasty medicinal aftertaste though.
Essential Elements GC combo fared better than most, with a surprisingly neutral flavor hiding behind the berry-lemon exterior. Combined with hyaluronic acid and turmeric, it tackles joint inflammation and cartilage breakdown from multiple angles.
Within a week, my knee pain decreased dramatically. The price sits on the lower end too at $28 for a bottle. My one nitpick is the slim 60-pill quantity doesn’t last a month if doubling up for acute pain.
| Glucosamine Chondroitin | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Dosage | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Taste | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Hydration Variety Pack – Tasty Athletic Edge
Props to Essential Elements for making fitness hydration delicious with their powdered drink mix packs. They come in fun fruity flavors like peach mango green tea and contain an optimal sodium/glucose ratio for improved endurance and recovery.
I rotated through the 6-pack on hot yoga days or post long-runs. The electrolyte replenishment reduced muscle fatigue and headaches. The coconut water version tasted dreamy too – way better than choking down plain H20. At $26 for 24 servings, it’s a good bang for your buck that feels like a treat versus a supplement.
| Hydration Variety | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Taste | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Magnesium Complex – Nighttime Game Changer
Between parenting, work, and grad school, who has time for 7-9 hours of sleep? Essential Elements Magnesium Complex became my nightly hack for maximizing rest despite limited time.
Formulated with both immediate and extended release magnesium, it tackles all my sleep-sabotaging issues – anxiety, restless legs, tight muscles. The mineral trio of magnesium, zinc, and manganese relaxes both the mind and body.
Within a few days, I struggled less with early morning wake ups. Falling back to sleep got easier too. The price sits on the lower end for mineral blends. For quality sleep on a budget, this quickly won favor in my cabinet.
| Magnesium Complex | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Dosage | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Multi Collagen Protein – Save Your Money
Collagen proteins promise youthful skin along with joint and gut health perks. Essential Elements Multi Collagen packs types I, II, III, V, and X collagen all in one. I had high hopes for beauty and injury recovery benefits.
Unfortunately after two months, I noticed zero effects. Unlike their Marine Collagen Peptides that delivered obvious hair and nail improvements, this blended collagen powder did zilch for my looks or creaky knees.
I suspect the problem lies in the dosing and absorption rate. Only 10 grams of finished collagen make it into each serving. Without adequate Vitamin C to boost uptake either, much gets wasted in digestion.
Maybe if guzzling 2-3 scoops daily I’d notice something. But for $40 a container, that’s just too pricey for such uncertainty. Save your cash for better options.
| Multi Collagen | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | ⭐⭐ |
| Dosage | ⭐⭐ |
| Value | ⭐ |
How Essential Elements Compares to Top Competitors
Essential Elements makes a reasonable foray into the lifestyle supplement market, but how do they stack up to category leaders? I compared quality, efficacy, pricing, and transparency criteria.
| Brand | Ingredients | Absorption | Testing | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Elements | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Care/Of | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Ritual | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hum Nutrition | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
While Essential Elements clearly sources quality ingredients, they fall a bit short on absorption-enhancing additions like enzymes or lipids. Dosages often land on the lower end of effective ranges too. I‘d like to see more detail on contaminant screening as well.
However, the pricing stays super reasonable for what you get. And excluding dud products like the Multi Collagen, Essential Elements formulations beat out most discount pharmacy brands.
Essential Elements Subscription Worth It?
Like most supplement companies today, Essential Elements tempts customers with subscription delivery savings. By locking in multi-month plans, you save up to 30% an can conveniently get products auto-shipped to your door.
For loyal fans of items like the Elderberry Gummies or Hydration Mixes, I‘d say the discount is worthwhile. Just set a reminder to evaluate in 6 months if you’re still happy or want to swap subscriptions.
However, their 365-day refund policy makes it easy to cancel and get reimbursed for unused products if something stops working for you. This risk-free flexibility counters any hesitation about committing upfront.
Who Can Benefit Most from Essential Elements?
In general, Essential Elements makes smart picks for basic health needs around hydration, occasional immune or joint support, improved sleep quality, or beauty enhancement. Athletes would appreciate their electrolyte mixes too.
However, some products don’t deliver enough firepower for therapeutic benefit if struggling with moderate deficiencies or chronic issues in areas like nutrient absorption, gut health, hormone regulation, or injury recovery.
Those pursuing strict diets like vegan, keto, or allergen-free may also want brands listing more extensive testing details.
The Last Word on Essential Elements Nutrition
At the end of the day, Essential Elements deserves some applause for furthering the industry shift toward high-quality, trustworthy supplements free of unnecessary junk. Their focus on sustainable, ethical practices also adds value.
While they have some room for improving transparency and potency, their fundamental formulations draw from sound evidence versus hype. For an affordable way to augment diet and lifestyle habits, Essential Elements deserves consideration.
Out of all the brands I’ve evaluated, my top picks would still be Care/Of for personalized needs, Hum Nutrition for vegan-friendly potency, and Ritual for premium quality. But Essential Elements holds solid middle ground for budget consumers prioritizing convenience and better-than-basic benefit.
