Further Food Review
Dr. Ritika Nigam (B.Sc, DDS, RHN, YTT) Table of Contents
About Further Food
Hippocrates once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Further Food, a women-owned brand making nutritional supplements to nourish the mind, body, and soul, seems like it takes inspiration from this saying.
The company combines ancient healing practices with modern science to make a variety of natural products. Having several doctors, nutritionists, and experts behind their supplements, it comes as no surprise that this brand has 67.7k followers on Instagram.
While they are pretty popular on social media, does this brand stand out from other brands that also believe in the power of food? Are these products tried, tested, and true?
Keep reading this Further Food review as I highlight the story behind its creation, some specific products, and other nitty-gritty details about this brand.
Overview of Further Food
On a quest to help her diabetic father cope with his illness and other friends diagnosed with chronic diseases, Lillian Zhao founded this company in 2014.
Zhao decided to exit the finance world and merge her Chinese-rooted traditions with her business background. She founded Further Food with a mission to help those suffering from illnesses through natural means.
With its headquarters based out of Bakersfield, California, all of its products are manufactured in the United States. Their women-only team consists of many talented naturopathic doctors, scientists, dietitians, and holistic nutritionists.
In addition to being cGMP-certified, their products undergo third-party testing for heavy metals. What’s even more commendable is their commitment to sustainability, demonstrated by their recyclable shipping packages.
Their collagen products are packed in post-consumer recycled jars that use less carbon and plastic than regular plastics.
Today, Further Food makes several collagen products, herbal supplements, and superfood blends to make your body stronger and mind sharper.
This Further Food review will highlight some of its products’ key features.
Highlights
- Made using cGMP guidelines
- Third-party tested for heavy metals and impurities
- Sells collagen powders, herbal blends, and superfoods
- Made in the US
- Positive customer reviews
- Non-GMO and sugar-free
- 30-day 100% money-back guarantee
- Orders over $49 get free shipping in the U.S.
- Ship to Canada and other countries
- User-friendly website with several bonus recipes
Further Food Collagen Peptides Powder Review
I’m confident that you know at least one person who takes collagen every morning for glowing skin. Is it a fad, or is there actually research to support collagen for skin and hair health?
Keep reading this Further Food review as I answer just that, honing in on one of their products: Collagen Peptides Powder.
Sourced from grass-fed and pasture-raised South American cows, these collagen peptides have a lot of benefits to offer when it comes to skin, hair, nails, muscles, bones, and gut health.
What’s even more exciting is that this low-calorie powder is dissolvable in any beverage and keeps you full, preventing your cravings for sweets and savory items.
This dairy-free and sugar-free beverage costs:
- One-month supply costs $25. Subscribe and save 15%, for $21
- Three-month supply costs $55. Subscribe and save 15%, for $47
- Stick packs (22 servings) cost $30. Subscribing will drop the cost to $25
Now that you know more about this collagen powder, let’s look at the finer details.
Ingredients Label
Further Food keeps it simple when it comes to ingredients. There is only one, which is the hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides. In simple terms, this means that the protein collagen has been broken down into shorter segments called peptides.
Collagen itself is a stable and robust protein, and its components called amino acids are twisted, resembling multiple ropes wound around each other. This makes it quite large and unabsorbable. Breaking it down into shorter peptides makes[1] it more digestible and absorbable. This ultimately makes it more effective.
This Further Food review will talk about collagen in more detail below but before that, let’s take a look at the nutritional content of this product. I bet you can’t wait to find out how many calories this drink has.
Nutritional Value
One scoop of collagen is 29 calories, out of which most of the calories come from protein. There is 7g of protein in every scoop of this product. There is also 24mg of sodium and only 1g of carbohydrates, with 0 sugars present. Good news: there is no fat or cholesterol.
This scoop makes for a guilt-free protein-rich drink to enhance your hair, skin, nails, bones, and gut health. Next up, let’s look at some benefits of the Further Food Collagen Peptides Powder.
Benefits
There are a ton of research articles on collagen and its benefits, which you will go over below.
- Skin Health
Being one of the most abundant proteins of our skin, collagen production unfortunately declines[2] with age. You probably remember your grandmother’s saggy and wrinkly skin, caused by a decline in collagen. A collagen supplement can strengthen the skin by improving its elasticity. Collagen also has a hydrating effect on the skin.
Several review articles[3] made of multiple studies also suggest that taking 3-10g of collagen for 2-3 months can have substantial benefits on skin elasticity, slowing the aging look of our skin. There is no mention of Collagen helping with acne or other skin-related ailments.
It’s important to mention that smoking, alcohol, and a diet rich in sugars can enhance the decline of collagen. So, a healthy diet with a collagen supplement is ideal.
- Joint, Bone, and Muscle Health
There is a higher risk of bone and joint-related disorders such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis as we age. A review article[4] published in 2016 summarized the beneficial actions of hydrolyzed collagen by protecting the cartilage and bone as we age, reducing pain.
A study done in 2018[5] on post-menopausal women noted an increase in bone mineral density when supplemented with 5g of collagen. Although we need more research on it, it’s promising to read these studies, mainly since Further Food contains 8g of collagen in each scoop.
Although collagen proteins show an increase in muscle mass, it is not a substitute[6] for a muscle-building protein powder such as whey protein. Whey is still more effective for building muscle than collagen due to its increased leucine[7] amino acid, and others.
- Other Benefits
Collagen may benefit heart health, gut health, and hair and nails, but more studies need to be done in these areas of interest.
I spoke about collagen as a protein and its associated benefits, but what is collagen exactly? This Further Food review will give you some more info about collagen and how it works in our bodies.
How Does It Work
Collagen is present everywhere in our bodies. It’s in our skin, hair, muscles, bones, and tendons. Although there are several types[8] of collagen, Type I, II, III, and IV are most common. Type I is a significant part of our connective tissue, Type III is found in our skin, and Type II is typically found in your joints.
Type I and III are the main collagen types that you’ll find in this supplement. As a result, this particular powder can help improve your skin, muscles, and bones.
Ever had bone broth and noticed the gelatinous nature of it? Yes, bone broth is a rich source of collagen, and that gelatin[9] comes from collagen.
Another important fact is that vitamin C is needed to make collagen in our body. So while taking lots of vitamin C is good for avoiding those colds and coughs, it also helps make collagen in our body.
So, why not just consume homemade bone broth, you may ask? Well, bone broth does not contain broken-down collagen. This Further Food Collagen Peptide Powder is already broken down, making it more digestible and absorbable.
Consuming bone broth can heal our guts and is a good source of comfort food when you are sick, but we did not find any solid evidence[10] to prove the benefits of bone broth that market labels claim.
Remember that you are not what you eat, you are what you absorb. So you can eat anything you want, but if your body cannot absorb it into your bloodstream and reach different parts of the body, it is not going to be effective.
How to Take & Dosage
Add one scoop of collagen powder to a drink of your choice. You can even add it into baked goods if you want. You can take up to two scoops per day.
Next, I’ll talk about another great product by Further Food that is especially popular now: their Ultimate Immune Support supplement.
Further Food Ultimate Immune Support Revie
Taking multiple supplements can be a chore and a daunting task for some people. However, we all know that taking our immunity up a notch is very important these days. Enter Further Foods Ultimate Immune Support.
This supplement is, in fact, ultimate. It’s made of several vitamins, minerals, herbs, antioxidants, and mushrooms. Dr. Chris Oswald, a functional doctor, made this all-in-one supplement to boost immunity with 27 natural ingredients.
Each bottle comes with 120 capsules and lasts about a month. A one-time purchase retails for $25. The subscription option will drop the cost to $21.
In this Further Foods review, I’ll discuss what exactly is in this seemingly magic immunity pill.
Ingredients Label
It will be easier if I divide the ingredients into specific categories:
Vitamins: It contains Vitamins A, C, D, and E. Vitamins C and D are commonly used for immunity, but these other vitamins can also help with immunity.
Minerals: The star amongst these minerals is zinc. There is also selenium and copper added for that added boost to your immunity.
Antioxidants: Although vitamins A, C, E, and the minerals act as antioxidants in your body, there are added antioxidants such as green tea extract, quercetin, and bioflavonoids.
Herbs: There are many herbs in one pill of Ultimate Immune Support. These include astragalus, echinacea, elderberry, andrographis leaf, goldenseal, eleuthero root extract, schisandra berry, olive leaf, garlic, and ginger root. I’ll be expanding on some of them below.
Mushrooms: Lastly, their mushroom blends contain maitake, chaga, reishi, and turkey tail.
Some of the ingredients above are placed into proprietary blends such as Super Herbs, Power Mushroom, Vibrant Flavonoid, and Traditional Respiratory Blend.
Thankfully, their inactive ingredients are clean, containing mainly rice concentrate and powder.
Nutritional Value
Since there are 27 ingredients in this concoction, this Further Foods review will highlight some of the leading powerhouses. There are negligible calories in each serving of Ultimate Immune Support.
There is 500mg of vitamin C, 23mg of zinc, and 2,000 IU of vitamin D in every four capsules.
For the proprietary blends, there is 380mg of the Super Herb blend, 300mg of the Power Mushroom Blend, 200mg of the Vibrant Flavonoid Blend, and 200mg of the Traditional Respiratory Blend.
A downside of this product is that it does not consider each individual’s baseline status. It’s always best to talk to your doctor and get blood work done before taking this supplement.
Another downside is the proprietary blends themselves. For example, we don’t know the exact amount of ginger and garlic in these capsules. The amount may be too small to be effective. That’s not to say that this product won’t help with your immunity – it still may be very beneficial.
Lastly, I don’t know the sources of these vitamins. For example, where do they get their vitamin C? Fruit, or corn? We just don’t know.
Let’s change gears and look at some benefits of this product.
Benefits
We all know the overall benefit is to boost your immunity. Let’s take a look at some specific benefits of certain ingredients.
Green tea extract: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate[11] in green tea extract, is one of the most potent antioxidants and helps in preventing cell damage by free radicals.
Quercetin: Belonging to a family of plant compounds called Flavonoids, quercetin is present in many fruits and vegetables and is also known for its high antioxidant capacity[12].
Astragalus: A common herb used in Chinese medicine, it is known to help your immune system and decrease inflammation[13] in your body.
Elderberry: This fruit is high in vitamin C and can reduce the length and severity[14] of an upper respiratory infection.
Goldenseal is used[15] as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. Schisandra berry is an adaptogen[16] helping the body deal with stress and has antioxidant capacities.
The mushroom blend[17] also has antioxidant capacities and can benefit the immune system.
How Does It Work
Antioxidants are substances that help neutralize the free radicals in the body. Production of free radicals is a normal process that occurs while we are performing regular activities. So warding off these free radicals is essential with antioxidants to prevent cell damage from happening.
Research[18] shows that supplementing with antioxidants can help your immune response. So all the ingredients in this product help your immunity.
How to Take & Dosage
The brand recommends taking four capsules with water and food every day. It also mentions that you can up the dose to 8 caps a day when needed for an increased immunity boost.
So, if your child caught a cold from school, you can up the amount you take. However, we recommend you check with your doctor, as we mentioned above.
This Further Food review will now change gears and hone in on one of their other collagen products. So keep reading.
Further Food Hazelnut Collagen Peptides Review
Pure collagen powder can be pretty dull and bland-tasting for some consumers. Luckily, Further Food has come up with their Hazelnut Collagen Peptides Powder to solve this problem.
This supplement is hazelnut flavored, as the name suggests. It also has an added brain-boosting mushroom called lion’s mane.
While the regular collagen peptides powder comes in a greenish-bluish recyclable bottle, this collagen comes in a brown hazelnut-colored bottle. A month’s supply of the product costs $30, with the subscription option lowering the price to $26.
As you can see, it is slightly more expensive than the regular collagen peptides powder above.
What else sets this collagen powder apart from the one mentioned above? Let’s look as I dive deeper into the final product of our Further Foods review.
Ingredients Label
This delicious collagen powder comes from pasture-raised and grass-fed cows like the Collagen Peptides Powder. It also contains lion’s mane mushroom for cognition and monk fruit used as a natural sweetener.
Lastly, it has hazelnut and other natural flavors, which the brand is not obligated to reveal.
As you can see, this collagen has the added advantage of helping the brain and is sweet and flavored. This makes it a great addition to your coffee or smoothies. Want a brain-boosting and skin-glowing hazelnut latte? Further Foods has just the product for you!
Nutritional Value
Its nutritional profile is very similar to the plain Collagen Powder, with one scoop being 30 calories. It contains 0g of fat and cholesterol. There is 25mg of sodium and 7g of protein. The good news is that there are no carbohydrates or sugar in this product despite its sweetness, thanks to monk fruit.
Benefits
This product provides the same benefits as the Collagen Powder I covered above. In addition, there is lion’s mane, which brings its own set of benefits.
Lion’s mane has been used in Asian cultures as food and medicine. Studies[19] show that lion’s mane can help our brain cells to grow and help with memory. Some preliminary studies[20] also show lion’s mane can help with memory loss in mice and prevent damage due to Alzheimer’s disease.
Some other animal studies[21] show this mushroom helping with symptoms of anxiety and depression. While these animal studies are promising, we need more human research to solidify their benefits further.
Some other potential benefits of lion’s mane could include helping the immune system, diabetes, and inflammation in the body, but research in these areas is still quite new. This Further Food review hopes to have more information in these areas in the next few years.
How Does It Work
Since we already know how collagen works, let’s focus on the lion’s mane mushroom here.
Studies show that this medicinal mushroom increases anti-inflammatory markers and decreases inflammatory markers, helping with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Some experts[22] believe inflammation to be the root cause of chronic illnesses if you didn’t know. So it makes sense that lowering inflammation could help with a whole slew of diseases.
How to Take & Dosage
Add one 8g scoop to any drinks or desserts and consume every day.
Now that I covered some of the brand’s best-selling products, there are still some things you’ll want to know about them. So keep reading as I wrap up this Further Foods review.
Who Is Further Food For?
If you are an adult and want to supplement your health with natural and quality products, you can use Further Food products.
However, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from a medical condition, please talk to your doctor before starting any of their products.
Further Food Side Effects
Although side effects from taking collagen are rare, it is still possible to experience some digestive issues. Symptoms[23] like nausea, bloating, heartburn, and a feeling of fullness[24] are possible.
I recommend you don’t consume the Hazelnut Collagen Peptides or Ultimate Immune Support product if you are allergic to mushrooms. This can lead to breathing difficulties[25], rashes, and more.
As I mentioned before, please check your baseline levels before starting the Ultimate Immune Support product. Although rare, consuming too much vitamin A can lead to liver damage[26]. Consuming too much of anything is not good. It can lead to side effects, so checking with your professional is non-negotiable.
Further Food Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
The first place this Further Food review looked for customer opinions was on their website. I found the Further Food unflavored collagen powder had 979 reviews with a 4.9/5 star rating.
One delighted customer said: “I’ve used it for four years now and can completely tell that my hair is thicker and fuller. My skin also looks better. I keep on recommending further food to everyone!!”
When I looked for reviews on the Hazelnut Collagen Peptides, we found only 28 reviews with a 4.8/5 star average. One happy buyer said:
“The hazelnut flavor is mild but recognizable and I love how easy it mixes with coffee! The addition of the lion’s Mane is an incredible bonus. Love love love Furtherfood!”
Ultimate Immune Support has around 23 reviews with a perfect 5-star rating. Another satisfied consumer wrote:
“I love this product!! Not only are the ingredients great, but… a few weeks ago I felt like I was coming down with and cold and started taking this immune supplement. I felt so much better and did not end up getting sick.”
And of course, I made it a point to check for reviews on Amazon where these products all rated highly:
- Collagen Peptides Powder: 4.5/5 stars over 3,929 global ratings
- Hazelnut Collagen Peptides Powder: 4.5/5 stars from 1,488 reviews
- Ultimate Immune Support: 4.4/5 stars over 280 reviews
Let’s kick things off with an extremely enthusiastic reviewer: “I love this product!! This is my third purchase of Further Collagen! I have noticed a tremendous improvement in my knees. I workout & do yoga five times a week & my joints have never felt this good! Side effects are: my nails are stronger, my hair is healthier! It truly does not have a smell or taste to me.”
Most negative reviews talk about it smelling and tasting not so great, or the collagen powder not dissolving quickly. Since each individual has different taste buds, I recommend you give it a try and make your own decision.
Is Further Food Legit?
After reading this Further Food review, you are probably wondering if this brand is legit. Let’s make it simple: this brand has several health experts behind its manufacturing processes. What’s music to our ears is that they follow cGMP guidelines and are third-party tested.
However, I hate to say this, but there are no third-party certification labels on the bottle or their website. This does not mean that the product is not good. It just makes us less confident in saying it is safe and effective for use.
Is Further Food Worth It?
If you are still hesitating to press that “pay” button, hear us out. Further Food ingredients are clinically effective, made into clean formulations without artificial additives, fillers, and processed sugars.
I’m happy that they are tested by third parties, but not having a third-party certification raises our eyebrows slightly. Despite that, their products have fantastic customer reviews and are reasonably priced.
I can’t help but say that their products are worth it, especially the collagen peptides.
Does Collagen Help You Lose Weight?
Although there are no substantial human studies to prove the relation between collagen and weight loss, it is possible that it can have some effects on your weight. Some studies[27] show that collagen intake can increase satiety and reduce cravings.
There are also studies[28] that show that when combined with resistance training, collagen supplementation can increase muscle mass and decrease fat. Plus, we already know that it can help with joint pain and improve mobility.
So, although not supported directly, there are some indirect reasons why collagen may help you lose weight. Supplementing collagen with diet and lifestyle changes is essential if your goal is to lose weight.
Further Food Promotions & Discounts
If you buy two or more products, you can get 10% off your order by using the code BUNDLE10. Also, you can sign up for an account and earn reward points. When you earn 500 points, you get $5 off.
Where to Buy Further Food
If you are interested in purchasing online, you can use their official website or Amazon. There are also some retail stores where you can buy them.
FAQ
Is Further Food vegan?
No, Further Food Collagen Peptides come from cows. The Ultimate Immune Support supplement is not certified vegan. The vitamin D in it may be sourced from animals, but we can’t say for sure.
Is Further Food gluten-free?
Although Further Food products don’t contain gluten, they are not manufactured in gluten-free verified facilities so cross-contamination can occur. Their Superfood Matcha is an exception which is verified gluten-free.
What is Further Food’s Shipping Policy?
Further Food ships to the U.S, Canada, and other countries. Their US shipping charges are $5 for each order. There is also an expedited shipping option to get it to you in 2-3 business days for $18 within the US.
Orders over $49 qualify for free shipping. Orders ship using DHL and FedEx. They normally take 3-7 business days.
International orders are shipped using DHL International and depending on the country, taxes and duty fees may apply. International orders take anywhere between 7-21 business days.
What is Further Food’s Return Policy?
They have a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee if you are unsatisfied with your order. You can email them at [email protected] within 15 days of your purchase to process the refund.
How to Contact Further Food
If you still have some questions about Further Food or any of their products that we couldn’t answer here, you can contact them directly using one of the following:
- Email: [email protected]
- Online Contact Form
- Phone: 1-646-580-8045
For more women-owned brands we’ve reviewed, check out the links below!
